The Devastation of Baal by Guy Haley (Warhammer 40,000 Novel Review)

Back before the events of Cadia, one of the big criticisms I cited in moving the timeline forward was its end-game events. With authors building up more and more seemingly hopeless battles and conflicts which would annihilate whole factions, it seemed that the writing team had tied themselves in knots. One way or another, most of these have now been dealt with. Some via minor retcons (or push-backs, as we'll get to with tomorrow's codex review) or even writing around them in a few ways. However, those which were directly dealt with were only covered in brief. As such, we now have the Space Marine Conquests series which is being kicked off with a big one: The three-way war between most of the Blood Angels chapters, a massive Hive Fleet and an all too familiar daemonic threat.

Synopsis

Following the battles of the past several years, the Tyranids have been flooding the galaxy with ever greater numbers. While the Imperium has performed victories both pyrrhic and triumphant against them, this has served only to enrage the seemingly thoughtless swarm. A massive tendril of the inbound Hive Fleets is heading to the Blood Angels' homeworld of Baal, stripping planet after planet of life as it advanced upon the desert world.

With several of his companies dispatched to counter the growing crisis surrounding the Cadian Gate, Lord Commander Dante dispatches messengers to gather as many sons of Sanginuius who can be assembled. While a multitude of ships work to delay the Tyranid advance he negotiates with a multitude of Chapter Masters as almost thirty thousand astartes assemble on the red worlds. Yet, even as this is dealt with, another threat is arising. Withdrawing himself from the politics of the outside world, Mephiston looks into the Warp and comes to a horrifying conclusion. Ka'Bandha is coming, determined to claim the souls of the Blood Angels once and for all...

The Good

While James Swallow has repeatedly proven himself a capable writer with certain Blood Angels aspects, and David Annandale has worked great tales with their darker aspects, this book has left the impression that Guy Haley is the master of writing this chapter. Many older or otherwise ignored depictions of this army show up once more here, and he offers a remarkably balanced version of the Blood Angels compared with prior outings. While a certain Fifth Edition codex re-wrote them as Emperor's Children vampires occasionally going "We are cursed! Woe is we!" there was more to them than this. Specifically a previous determined stoicism, willingness to fight their curse to the end and more of a monastic attitude. They were less the pseudo-Greek warrior artists fighting bloodthirst and more Templars afflicted with an ancient plague. Haley re-introduces a great deal of the latter without sacrificing much of the latter, and it's a definite move for the better.

The most obvious improvement is that, while the talk of blood, Black Rage and Sanginuius himself are dominant, it never feels as if it's there sole focus. Each is a matter which defines and is definitely important in distinguishing one group from the next, but even when it is being discussed there's always a definite sense of identity beyond it. For example, many chapters introduced in the Fifth Edition or underwent retcons have had considerable depth added to their few scenes. Moments with the Flesh Tearers, Blood Swords or even new characters such as the Angels Excelsis offer some much-needed variety to the force. Even when the subject of the Red Thirst does arise, there's enough variety in how the subject has been individually confronted to give much more of a sense of identity.

The use of such a varied depiction benefits the book considerably. It makes the Blood Angels' successors read much more like a group of very identifiable forces over simply making it one legion with a few general changes. Yes, that will be the last dig I make at the previous codex, but given the subject matter this was essential. The conclave scenes and gatherings give a real sense of varied forces uniting against a common threat, and the range of personalities, figures and attitudes further support this. Even when you do only see a minor scene or two involving a chapter, they are extremely distinct from those surrounding them.

It helps that Haley gives a great sense of tension as the war moves slowly toward Baal and works through a large ensemble of identifiable characters. This is easily the largest group of naamed figures you will find outside of an Abnett or Dembski-Bowden book, but the vast majority easily stand out from the pages. As such, you never risk mistaking one figure for another among the pages, or confusing one of a multitude of large storylines. More than a few also benefit from the scenes depicted surrounding the chapter, and its legacy. The book takes time to delve into a few events surrounding the chapter's long history and hidden secrets. Thanks to this, we are offered far more insight into Baal itself and the Blood Angels' presence there than in many other novels. A particularly tasty element surrounds Mephiston's personal quest, especially once he begins delving deep into their hidden secrets.

However, perhaps the most beneficial element of the entire book is its treatment of Dante. The Lord Commander might be among the most iconic of the astartes leaders, but that doesn't change the fact that he's all too often overlooked or underwritten. In this case, there's a clear sense of his role within the setting. The thousand years of service he has performed weighs heavily on his shoulders, and there's a clear emphasis placed upon that age above all else. Yet, while it makes him world weary and many react with surprise to his true face, it's always evident just why he is their leader. His tactical capacity, diplomatic talents and steadfast nature mark him out as head and shoulders above all others. It's clear to see why the likes of Seth would respect him despite their contrasting natures, and even why he ends up with the role he was offered at the end of the book. 

Through Dante, and through the elements of their past, there's a real sense of closure of older ideas and a press forward to something new. It's a Viking funeral to some previous ideas, and while it's not discarding them or even torching their entire history, it makes it clear that life is changing. That the galaxy they have long fought for has undergone a massive alteration and they need to change or die to adapt to it.

The Bad

You might have noted that little of the above spoke about the villains of this book. There are two reasons for that. The first is simple spoilers, which cannot be delved into for risk of undermining a few solid ideas. The second is that they, unfortunately, leave little impact. The Tyranids are certainly a horde army, and a major part of their appeal is that faceless nature. Even when Haley opts to attribute a few more human elements to the Hive Mind it's handled deftly enough that it doesn't undermine the book. The problem is that the war itself nevertheless fails to convey the immensity of the swarm or the stages required to confront it.

Whether you enjoyed Uriel's actions in it or not, there's no denying that Warriors of Ultramar did spend a considerable amount of time working toward a massive threat. The fleets repeatedly launched delaying actions, leading to a multitude of spaceborne conflicts. There were large-scale efforts on the ground and months of work leading up to the defensive efforts. You were given vast descriptions of what seemed like a huge campaign with all the logistics, supply problems and planning that involved. That really isn't present here. While it shows up on occasion, it's largely paid lip service. At the most, it exists to support the character drama elements over the conflict in question.

The actual battles feel extremely small thanks to this unwillingness to focus on the war, to the point where it rushes through many essential details. The orbital battle is effectively skipped after the first few moments, with a number of characters dying between chapters after supposedly putting up a heroic effort we barely see. Equally, the Tyranid assaults as they are written lack the sheer emphasis on scale they truly need. The action in question feels extremely small, with minor responses and counters. This is most evident when you have two assembled chapters engaging a supposedly vast force of Tyranids in amassed close combat without being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Or, as a better example, when a huge force is stalled by a moat.

Even the more strategic actions such as a raid on a generatorum is a questionable benefit, as it moves so quickly that little time is spent emphasising its essential benefit to the war effort. Combined with the sheer speed of events and the lack of time to pause or moments to describe how horrific the scars of the war will be on Baal itself, the invasion simply lacks the punch it needs to stand out. This is, admittedly, also not helped by a few problems surrounding the daemons of the book. Little can be talked of this but, for what is supposedly the arch-foe of the whole chapter, his presence proves to be frustratingly underwhelming.

This creates a much weaker second half of what had previously been a very strong book, and few opportunities are present to truly build upon the foundations established there. With a threat like Chaos, the Ork WAAAAGH!s or even the Tau Empire, this might have been a far better tale. Given what the Hive Fleets are best known for doing, it just makes a notably inferior follow-up to a fantastic first part.

The Verdict

This is definitely a book of two halves with strong lore building, character depictions, politics and a careful cultivation of chapter cultures on one side. On the other there's a surprisingly rushed and relatively weak war which the book seems to want to be over and done with. While it certainly ends on a high note and the war itself does serve to benefit the chapter in the long run, it makes its strengths and weaknesses very easy to pick out.

While this is definitely a book worth looking into - especially for Blood Angels fans - there's no denying that it could have been much stronger if given the opportunity. If you are interested in some DIY chapter creation inspirations or even a more detailed depiction of a major world-altering event from modern 40,000 then it's worth picking up. It's not essential reading if you're happy just reading off of the timeline though.

Verdict: 5.8 out of 10