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Mephiston: Blood of Sanguinius


Mellow

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I bought the olde Mephiston: Lord of Death when that came out in early 2013. I was not too impressed, and to be honest, I do suffer from a spot of "Buyer´s Regret" on that one, as I do not really fancy the Blood Angels. I will be giving this one a pass, but if a mate was to buy it, I would certainly borrow and read it...

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I'm interested in reading Darius Hinks' version of the Blood Angels. I don't remember him writing 40k (maybe a short story here or there?) since his novella for Architect of Fate. He's been mostly doing WHFB and one contribution to Hammers of Sigmar, but what I read from him was neat.

 

This one seems to have a LOT of Ecclesiarchy characters and even Sisters, and mostly Mephiston and Librarians, so it is interesting in that regard too. Not a straight up battle story, hopefully.

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Just finished a first read through, will give it a more in depth review after another couple but enjoyed this novel for several reasons. All bias aside as it's a BA related novel but decent pace, story is okay-involves Tzeench shenanigans but, for me, it's more about Mephiston's need to understand his change from Calistarius, self-exploration etc, main Pov character Antos (sp) is a Librarian-check out the extract on BL, sets up the outline due to the "vision"-and mainly follows him and Rhealeus(sp) Mephiston's 2nd and "oldest friend", also Antos's mentor at the lexicanium so get the usual talking down/training up/grudging respect scenario going on but again par for the course but means not so much bolter porn as psychic porn as loads of blood fire/lightning and bodies exploding when it comes to any conflict related scenes,argument could be made for a bit Mary-sueish at times but that will depend on the individual as to how much it bothers them.

 

The ending does look like there's a sequel planned though there was a slight moment I had to double check if I'd skipped a page, nothing major, just something that I would have liked to have had a little bit more attention on. Again, personal preference here.

 

Did seem like some new info for scenes on Baal though has been a while since reading older stuff or have blanked them from memory (looking at you Deus series), but there weren't any BA in this who outright fell to the Red Thirst or Black Rage which was a big plus for me, feel it's overused though Mephiston's got his own kind of version of the flaws going on

 

Approx 330 pages on ebook, taking account of the Azreal extract at the end, to me felt value for money

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I'm about a quarter of the way trough the book so far and I quite like it. The novel assumes much in that it expects the reader to be familiar with 40k and the Blood Angels place in it, which is quite refreshing. Another thing I took note of is we now have a name for the Blood Angel's fortress monastery; Arx Angelus. I believe this is the first time we have a name in the lore.

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Darius was mostly doing WHFB. Sigvald for Warhammer Heroes, the Orion trilogy, an Empire novel and such. Not many works overall, but the buzz has been pretty positive from what I saw.

His contribution to Architect of Fate was interesting if a little weird, though I enjoyed it despite it not really fitting well into the anthology (not enough Tzeentch/Fateweaver stuff, like with Ben Counter's novella, whereas Cawkwell and French had direct ties to Kairos); I'd put that down as an editorial issue putting the wrong stories into an anthology.

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Darius was mostly doing WHFB. Sigvald for Warhammer Heroes, the Orion trilogy, an Empire novel and such. Not many works overall, but the buzz has been pretty positive from what I saw. His contribution to Architect of Fate was interesting if a little weird, though I enjoyed it despite it not really fitting well into the anthology (not enough Tzeentch/Fateweaver stuff, like with Ben Counter's novella, whereas Cawkwell and French had direct ties to Kairos); I'd put that down as an editorial issue putting the wrong stories into an anthology.

Aye. I liked the Fateweaver anthology, as it was - but it's a good point.

 

The Fantasy that I've read of his (the Orion trilogy & Storm of Magic novella) were categorically excellent. Between him and Guy Hayley, it looks like I might have to be a Blood Angels fan for a few weeks!

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I've been hoping to pick up the Orion trilogy as an omnibus, but with the End Times and AoS, I'm worried that might not happen outside of digital anymore. Just how The Black Plague trilogy by C.L. Werner only got a digital pseudo-omnibus since, although at least one of the Time of Legends trilogies is getting a reprint in Sigmar.

 

But yeah, I think Blood Angels fans should be pretty damn happy with all the coverage they're getting in 40k right now.

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I've been hoping to pick up the Orion trilogy as an omnibus, but with the End Times and AoS, I'm worried that might not happen outside of digital anymore. Just how The Black Plague trilogy by C.L. Werner only got a digital pseudo-omnibus since, although at least one of the Time of Legends trilogies is getting a reprint in Sigmar. But yeah, I think Blood Angels fans should be pretty damn happy with all the coverage they're getting in 40k right now.

Tailings from the last campaign I guess. in a few moths well get a few wolve books. I guess.

Im more wondering why. Just about all the Angels are heading to Baal. Reinforcements are doubtful. But its not a pretty world like Ultramar. And the nids tactics/ breading has changed.

But the prophecy has Dante on Terra. Surrender the Baal System and be on Terra or stand on Baal with all his sons and die.

In Dante, he gets a message from Astaroth, from Cadia, and he wants marines.

Its not so much happy, as finally the BA get some inner thoughts. ? some attention,  Or maybe its decision time.

The red or the black.

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Darius was mostly doing WHFB. Sigvald for Warhammer Heroes, the Orion trilogy, an Empire novel and such. Not many works overall, but the buzz has been pretty positive from what I saw. His contribution to Architect of Fate was interesting if a little weird, though I enjoyed it despite it not really fitting well into the anthology (not enough Tzeentch/Fateweaver stuff, like with Ben Counter's novella, whereas Cawkwell and French had direct ties to Kairos); I'd put that down as an editorial issue putting the wrong stories into an anthology.

Aye. I liked the Fateweaver anthology, as it was - but it's a good point.

 

The Fantasy that I've read of his (the Orion trilogy & Storm of Magic novella) were categorically excellent. Between him and Guy Hayley, it looks like I might have to be a Blood Angels fan for a few weeks!

 

His WFB stuff - especially skaven shorts were brilliant.

As for Mephiston - in general it's 'ok' story which mostly deals with 2 points -  BA flaws and a way to remove them and showing us the character of Mephiston and his road 'so far'

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I finished the book last night, it has some of my favorite battle descriptions of any recent book and some amazing descriptive and original writing in it. That first chapter about mephistion fighting dust worms that possess dead guardsmen bodies was fantastic. 

 

As far as an actual book about mephistion and his story, just terrible.. awful. nothing happens, no development no explanation just references to 'omg my name was something different and what did happen to me? WHAT HAPPENED!" and nothing deeper than that. don't read this if you want incite into mephistion or a book about that character... read it if you love cool battles and well written action. i feel cheated for thinking i would learn a single new thing about mephistion and his character from reading this book. 

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Love Hinks' work so I hope to tackle this next week but probably gonna be 2-3 weeks. The shorter novels are actually working in my favor here. :smile.:

The shorter novels are an excuse for bad release table, stupid stories and badly written narratives

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Because the quality of a story is directly proportional to its length and effort.

true. Just to compare - since BL has started making short 'novels' the quality suffers a lot. Mostly high quality stuff was then novels were 400 pages each

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It was a sarcastic statement. There's plenty novella length stories or short novels being put out that are high quality content, and there were more than enough disappointing 400 pagers.

It has nothing to do with sarcastic. It is a plain fact. Just check the quality of novels before 2014 and after. Before 2014 novels were much better in general - cause they were novels instead of 'short novels' (Laurie sorry - but let be honest for once - NOVELLAS)

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Are you honestly trying to tell me my cheeky sarcastic statement made with the intent of being sarcastic and cheeky is not in fact sarcastic and has nothing to do with sarcasm when in fact the person making it intended it to have everything to do with sarcasm? Color me educated.

 

On another topic, climate change became more of a concern after pirates stopped sailing the seas. Clearly, the two are directly related.

 

There are many different shifts in BL/GW's policies and modus operandi that happened around the time you refer to. It has nothing to do with the shorter format. A shorter page count does not prevent a stunning narrative, and in fact the shorter medium can be of much higher overall satisfaction because it feels more focused and without needless padding.

 

After 2014, there were a LOT of different decisions made by GW proper that influenced what was even commissioned and put out there, and what requirements the stories might have to get through editing stages. The format isn't at fault - the corporate directives are the primary culprit.

And let's not forget that a bunch of the classics were hardly 400 pages at the same wordcount either. And no, a 50-60k word novel is not a novella. Even the 128 page novellas put out by Black Library are closer to the higher end of the novella spectrum.

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Are you honestly trying to tell me my cheeky sarcastic statement made with the intent of being sarcastic and cheeky is not in fact sarcastic and has nothing to do with sarcasm when in fact the person making it intended it to have everything to do with sarcasm? Color me educated.

 

On another topic, climate change became more of a concern after pirates stopped sailing the seas. Clearly, the two are directly related.

 

There are many different shifts in BL/GW's policies and modus operandi that happened around the time you refer to. It has nothing to do with the shorter format. A shorter page count does not prevent a stunning narrative, and in fact the shorter medium can be of much higher overall satisfaction because it feels more focused and without needless padding.

 

After 2014, there were a LOT of different decisions made by GW proper that influenced what was even commissioned and put out there, and what requirements the stories might have to get through editing stages. The format isn't at fault - the corporate directives are the primary culprit.

And let's not forget that a bunch of the classics were hardly 400 pages at the same wordcount either. And no, a 50-60k word novel is not a novella. Even the 128 page novellas put out by Black Library are closer to the higher end of the novella spectrum.

That depends on opinions. We all read by this point Lauire 2 part interview I think. So 'in general' yes - there are a lot of stuff that gone wrong during 2014-2016 for BL

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I finished the book last night, it has some of my favorite battle descriptions of any recent book and some amazing descriptive and original writing in it. That first chapter about mephistion fighting dust worms that possess dead guardsmen bodies was fantastic. 

 

As far as an actual book about mephistion and his story, just terrible.. awful. nothing happens, no development no explanation just references to 'omg my name was something different and what did happen to me? WHAT HAPPENED!" and nothing deeper than that. don't read this if you want incite into mephistion or a book about that character... read it if you love cool battles and well written action. i feel cheated for thinking i would learn a single new thing about mephistion and his character from reading this book. 

 

Yeah, wasn't a fan of the book overall.  Didn't like the characterization of Mephiston, didn't like the non-resolution, didn't like how the author was forced to backpeddle on the strength of Mephiston's "gift" as the story went on in order to keep it going.  All around, not impressed.

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Finally...after several years (and now I know why), I'll be sitting down and interviewing Hinks about this book. Which also means I insist we touch on his Fantasy novels (Orion trilogy, Sigvald *my fav!*, Warrior Priest, etc.) but it will be a text interview. That should make some of you happy ;)

So, after Adepticon I'll read this book and take listener questions for Darius. You got 3 weeks at least so think about it.

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Ahh, thank you orblivion - I wasn't been able to said it's better: 'author was forced to backpeddle on the strength of Mephiston's "gift" as the story went on in order to keep it going'

I will steal your epic :yes: because you are absolutely right! 


Finally...after several years (and now I know why), I'll be sitting down and interviewing Hinks about this book. Which also means I insist we touch on his Fantasy novels (Orion trilogy, Sigvald *my fav!*, Warrior Priest, etc.) but it will be a text interview. That should make some of you happy :wink:

So, after Adepticon I'll read this book and take listener questions for Darius. You got 3 weeks at least so think about it.

By the way - what are the order and guest for the podcasts now after the Martin one? Whose next and then, what about the Adepticon itself?  Direct post-event podcast?

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