– Customer review on 17/02/2009

The story is set on the world of Nurth, fully 2 years before the 'Heresy' and before Horus becomes the Warmaster.
The book follows the exploits of the Space Marines, Alpha Legion, and their crucial role within the war of compliance, or 'Pacification Campaign', as they arrive on Nurth to back up and support the Imperial Army.

Can Alpha Legion be trusted?
Can the Space Marines trust each other?
And who has been sent with a secret message to the Primarch of the legion and what will that request mean to the legion?
Alpha Legion are the last of the 'Astartes brotherhoods' and they may not last much longer.
Already secrecy and lies and most terrifyingly, truths are beginning to tear the legion apart.

The Imperial army just hopes that when the fighting begins, Alpha legion are on their side and not the mysterious inhabitants of Nerth.
Loyalties will be tested both to the Imperium and more importantly to themselves.

And finally a cunning and devious alien intelligence will be exposed.

Opinion:
~~~~~~~
Abnett is superb with his descriptive talents and indepth characterisation throughout the story.
The tale is carefully crafted with wheels within wheel and sub plots slowly simmering beneath the surface.
And it is not right till the end of the book that the clever and intriguing twists are revealed.

A thoroughly enjoyable read worthy of your time.
A page turner.

– Customer review on 30/10/2008

With twists and turns, this is a great sci-fi action with a bit of thriller thrown in. Good depth to the book and will keep you reading "just one more chapter".

The Alpha legion comes across very mysterious and the ending reveals a lot about how the legion operates and why they turned in the Heresy. Great read!