This is the second book of the Horus Heresy Series. This book is the beginning of the political aspects of the Heresy. Horus is injured by a magical weapon and in order to save him the astartes are tricked by an agent of chaos into taking him to a fane so that he can be healed. While being healed he is duped by the gods of chaos into beginning a war for the throne of Earth. This book is more political and internal than the first book, it was interesting, but not as fast paced or engaging. I am interested in finishing the series though, so it couldn't have been that bad. ( )

Horus becomes more and more jealous of his brother Primarchs (that share same feelings) and tries to rise up above them. Soon he will be faced with decision - to follow his brothers and Emperor or to cut them down and establish himself as a ruler of humanity. Not that much action in this book, but nevertheless good presentation of inner conflicts in a person of Horus - super-man, almost a demigod creature that feels confined by his duties toward ordinary humans and to his father Emperor. Decision is to be made made that will bring thousands of years of darkness to humanity. ( )

The great Crusade that has taken humanity into the stars continues. The Emperor of Mankind has handed the reins of command to his favoured son, the Warmaster Horus. Yet all is not well in the armies of the Imperium. Horus is still battling against the jealousy and resentment of his brother primarchs and, when he is injured in combat on the planet Davin, he must also battle his inner daemons. With all the temptations that Chaos has to offer, can the weakened Horus resist?

The epic tale of the Horus Heresy continues in the sequel to Horus Rising. The fate of the galaxy now rests in the simple choice of one man: loyalty or heresy?

-- from the back cover. ( )