The third book in the first trilogy of the Horus Heresy is fantastic. This is a book about the first stand for the emperor against the Traitor Horus, and the great battle of Isstvan III. Horus shows his true colours to the imperium, the rememberencers are killed and the next stage of attack is planned. Ben Counter, while obviously working from Dan Abnett’s outline, is a great author. He is a very descriptive writer, and makes you feel as if you are present during the bloodshed and his word choice evokes just the right emotions from the reader. I anxiously await the next book in the Horus Heresy, as well as other novels by mister Counter. ( )

Third book in the series takes place on planet Istvaan that is to become a battlefield between loyal and traitor (Horus lead) Space Marine Legions.
Great story and lots of action. Recommended. ( )

The third book of the Horus Heresy has the traitor Horus finally showing his true colours. Having decided to wage war on the Emperor he once served, his first move is to purge the loyalists on his fleet, and even those from within his own legion.

He sends all those he cannot trust from his own and three other legions to the surface of a planet to fight against some rebels there. Once the battle is underway the planet is subjected to a vicious double attack - a biological weapons designed to kill everything living, followed by a planet-wide firestorm. Of course, adeptus astartes are hard to kill...

This is a solid entry in the Horus Heresy series, better than the second book, which I felt stuttered. ( )