Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia: Primarchs: The Horus Heresy, Book 4

It was really fun reading about Perturabo and seeing him as a young child and man. He's got lots of problems, that's for sure. I wish this whole series was just the Primarchs in their youth and it ends with them meeting the Emperor. That would have been best but I still enjoyed this.

The infamy I heard regarding Guy Hailey made me suspicious of his work, but this novel has done away with such presumptions. This novel is one of the best in the Horus Heresy, worth a read if you ever have the chance.

It didn't make the big man feel very redeemable, but it definitely helps put perspective on the way he thinks. We all know that he is a neurotic, sociopathic, brilliant, but overbearing and Dower individual. This book just flavors the personality traits and where it comes from. He's basically the butt monkey whose back is always made to feel like it's breaking from not only the expectations of his multiple fathers/masters, but his own unobtainable need to perpetuate perfection.For someone who believes themselves to be perfect, he has so many mortal failings. A narcissist.Definitely worth a read.

I honestly hated this book as much as I enjoyed every minute within its pages.The book is pre-Heresy, so of course you won't get a full and solid example of the Primary as Graham McNeil wrote in his earlier works. No. This is a story about a troubled boy, terrified and alone, who goes to great lengths for recognition and victory. Terrible lengths, yes, but great.Perty isn't having a good time of it in this book, his legion less so. Throughout its telling Guy Haley does an outstanding job of painting a world of wonder and grimdark tragedy, the likes of which are every reason you might have got into this setting in the first place.The Hrud are a terrible but simple enemy, and it is through the Legion's campaign against them that the essence and flaw of their very iron is exposed in full.I loved few, and hated many of the iron warriors. For their cowardice before a father, but duty and dogma to fulfilling their role as Legiones Astartes. Tools of Iron.I hated Perty more so. For Guy Haley has given me exactly what I wanted and more in this character as not simply a Primarch, but a human of vanity and idiocy. Even with all his brilliance, I loved and hated that the Perturabo I was so infatuated with throughout this story could be so Cold and Merciless while being equally so Expressive and Tender hearted.I got what I paid for and more, yet I will leave you with this honest piece of advice, or rather, knowledge going in:It all comes down to that one moment, be it 28 pages or 13, that the story's tale will come together to make up the whole, and it is up to you to find out if you've learned something or not. For this is a grim and dark far future, and the light of its great golden age is coming to an end.

This book offers more than just a backstory on Perturabo. It shows his philosophical side along with his more serious and non caring side. When it comes to his legion, it's shown by a few characters that they're legit scared of failing Perturabo, and I feel that this is really well done considering the character this book is based on. A perfect mix of action and storytelling.

The most sane and likeable of the traitor Primarchs. This is a great insight of Perturabo.His determination, genious and foundations of his fall told beautifully.I highly recommend to fans.

Perturabo has never been one of my favorite Primarchs. He still isn't. However, this is a well written look at a Primarch he uses his men like playing pieces and will happily see them removed from the board so he wins.He's clearly exploited by Horus, but I don't think he would have been much better without the grinding that his Legion is exposed to.Great series.

Haley did him justice and the story flows smoothly through. A must read for Iron Warriors/horus heresy fans! I can recommend this book.