Most people will likely write this one off as bolter porn. Those people would be wrong to do so.
Oh, it's an understandable mistake to make both from the premise and also the fact that the name is synonymous with big explosions now. However, while the novel is undeniably direct, there is much more to offer in this one than merely a lot of 'splosions and some fodder to bump off. In fact, out of all the Space Marine Conquests books thus far, this is probably the one I would recommend to new fans the most. Why? Because it manages to be both elegantly simplistic and trope defying at the same time.
The Synopsis:
As M42 rolls onward, the Imperium continues to fight its ever more desperate battles. Short on men, ships, supplies and with its armies stretched ever thinner, the world of Almace has but a token force to defend it. As a growing force of Word Bearers encroaches upon the system, the Imperium is only able to spare three demi-companies of Imperial Fists, White Scars and Raven Guard to bolster its defenses. Led by Heyd Calder, Suboden Khan, and Sael Karros respectively, they soon begin fortifying the world against the oncoming storm. Fighting against both Almace's bureaucracy and severely limited resources, even their might seems unlikely to turn the tide.
Yet more than merely the desire to spill blood has brought the sons of Lorgar to this world. Something old and very rare resides upon the world, and they will stop at nothing to ensure that it falls within their power.
The Good:
To cite the first point before anything else: This book has seemingly been written to break past concepts. While this isn't some gigantic battering ram hell-bent upon breaking the setting for its own sake, there are multiple counter-arguments made against past depictions. Perhaps one of the biggest ones is in the form of Astartes failing to understand human niceties, or being unable to comprehend such a lifestyle. While they do not appreciate them, each uses them to their own advantage for diplomatic reasons, and it helps to establish Calder's versatility very early on. The book is littered with such moments, both highlighted and kept in the background to give it a surprisingly unique feel to any veterans. The benefit of this is that, even during the conflict's most straightforward moments, it always throws enough surprising curve-balls to keep you hooked.
Another definite benefit stems from the villains of the work. Apocalypse truly comes to life at any moment where Reynolds is given a chance to put any member of the Word Bearers legion into focus. There are many definite shout-outs to the ideas covered in Anthony Reynolds' Word Bearers stories, highlighting past concepts, but this is used to better establish their nature rather than being used as a crutch. If anything, it helps as the points covered end up being almost a commentary on the legion as a whole, and how their depiction in those novels has both helped and held them back. Amatnim, the main antagonist, is also a fantastic creation with a genuinely engaging background and outlook on the universe. He's someone who clearly deserves at least a novella to better expand upon his role, and is a stark contrast to many devout Chaos worshippers. These qualities allow the book to have one of my personal favourite examinations of the legion to date, even if I would not wish for this version to become the definitive one.
Character banter and interactions remain a strong point within the novel throughout it, and this is as evident in its moments with mortals as among the astartes. One great example is where Suboden addresses the naval Captains defending the world. It is a short sequence, but it helps to touch on themes of changing times, the state of the Imperium, and one or two reactions which could only be written with a mortal facing down a seven foot tall giant in white armour. There is a constantly human quality to the work which helps to elevate many scenes which would otherwise feel dead or dull, keeping them easy to read and engaging in a remarkably fun manner.
However, perhaps more than anything else, one major boon to the story is how it handles the ideas of its era. The subject of changing times is a constant focus, and it dominates much of the narrative. However, it's treated as more of a fact and acknowledged as a desperate state of affairs rather than dominating the entire script. Compared with how Spear of the Emperor seemed to be trying to drive a "THE IMPERIUM IS DOOMED!" theme into the reader's skull with the subtlety of a battering ram, Apocalypse acknowledges it. It doesn't downplay the desperation of current times, nor even the fact the Imperium may well lose the war, but it doesn't allow the theme to dominate the story at the cost of other elements. In contrast to some other tales, that kind of balance is extremely welcome.
The Bad:
So, for the bad. While this might sound contrary to some of the points above, the trio of primary loyalist marines feel as if they fit into their chapters a little too well. The Imperial Fist is stoic, the White Scar is a laughing Mongol, and the Raven Guard is sneaky git. While each is certainly given more than enough moments to help humanize them, and break a few tropes along the way, they never fully stand out as their own characters. I ended up enjoying moments surrounding them rather than their personalities and, while they were memorable enough to remember by name, by the end I was still remembering them more by chapter than anything else.
Another issue in regards to the work is how its faster pace leaves events being glossed over in a few key cases. While the system itself is clearly under threat and you can see in many places just how it is on the verge of a total loss, there are elements we learn about after the fact. Segments like the Word Bearers invading a world en mass is told more thought the eyes of its commander than through broader descriptions. The story also lacks the sense of momentum behind events I would normally expect to see, or a much bigger display of sheer carnage. While there is plenty of satisfying action, it is either told from a distance (or through the reactions or characters than direct visuals) or it is delivered via more squad-based combat. For a book called Apocalypse, it just doesn't have quite the bang that you would expect to see.
Finally, there is a somewhat rushed quality to the work. This seems hardly worth noting but, when compared with some of Reynolds' previous stories, it lacks some of the more poetic and nuanced descriptions which makes the atmosphere of his books so excellent. In a few chapters, the prose feels more akin to Graham McNeill's more direct style of presenting events than what typically makes Reynolds books work. However, the novel is still leagues above many other tomes and it only suffers when compared with the likes of the Fabius Bile books.
The Verdict:
Apocalypse is undoubtedly Josh Reynolds' most conventional Warhammer novel to date, but that is by no means a bad thing. As much of this review has covered, its shortcomings do stem from some of its focus on action, but it is far more than just the sum of its parts. This could have just been a by the numbers "marines shoot at one another" read and discard affair, but it instead proves to be a fun and insightful outing. At its absolute worst it's a reminder of some of the novels that dominated the Black Library a good fifteen years ago, but in the best possible way.
If you want to see more of this era, this is the book I would recommend the most alongside the Spear of the Emperor and Devastation of Baal to help explore the Great Rift era wars. It's a great counterpoint to both of those works and an excellent, yet easy to access installment overall. If you overlooked this one due to its title or sounding too unengaging, I would definitely recommend giving it a chance.
The Verdict: 6.7 out of 10
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