I'm very late to the Warhammer Universe and am making my way through the Horus Heresy. This particular book is not only the best book in the series (so far), but possibly the best book I've read in a long time...in any genre.

The way the action is described is brilliant - the author's device of describing coordinated attacks is excellent. A lot is going on and he writes it so you are following the whole thing.. A very masterfully written story, and one I am planning to read again at some point. It's fast paced, and I'd like to read it to see if there's anything I missed.

Very good story - don't even hesitate. If you didn't like the Ultramarines very much when you start this book, you will like them by the end.

Edit: Having now read all the books up to and including the Siege of Terra, I stand by my Best Book in the series assessment.

There's a reason Dan Abnett's Horus Heresy books sell so well. He knows how to hook a reader in and keeps the action going. Characters do develop, and there is downtime for exposition, etc., but this is one of those books that conjures forth the time honored cliche, "I couldn't put it down."

Know No Fear tells of the Battle for Calth (Spoiler Alert if you haven't read the previous Horus Heresy books), in which the traitorous Word Bearer forces ambush the collected forces of the Ultramarines in an attempt to dispose of the legion in one fell swoop.

This novel displays the very best of the Horus Heresy series, whose previous installments range from fabulous to unreadable (see: Descent of Angels for the unreadable end of the spectrum). Action, rich character interaction, mysterious characters and events that foreshadow bigger things to come, and a clear focus on one important event in a much larger theater of war. Abnett is one of a handful of Black Library authors who really understands how to tell a balanced tale. He also seems to understand that the series is getting far too drawn out, with far too much one-sidedness in the constant victories of chaos. Without giving away too much, I'll just say that not only does this book advance the plot considerably, it also throws the reader a bone, so everything is not quite so depressing all the time. It's a small glimmer of hope, but it's there.

One of the best titles in the series, and noticeably so, considering it follows on the heels of some mediocre fare. (For instance, two books covering the fall of Prospero with little new or complicating information between the two perspectives is absolutely unnecessary and redundant.)

This one is highly recommended!

Know No Fear is a action novel which tried to be a tragedy. Unfortunately the tragic aspect lean too heavily on the reader having some for knowledge of who the two groups are to work independently. I am not sure how much of a drawback that is for book 19 of a series. I preferred the tragedy, as the action got a bit repetitive and flowery to be truly great action writing. I had to push myself to finish it, but I quite enjoyed the first 80% of the novel.

I recently read this as part of my ongoing Horus Heresy obsession. What can I say? It was superb. Easily Dan Abnett's best HH book so far. I was unable to put it down, and it hooked from the start. The style he adopts for this book is spot on for the Ultramarines, and is perfectly established by the Mark of Calth countdown device from the opening pages until the end. There is a keen sense of urgency, of precision, and total economy of words that is just PERFECT. I don't know how else to put it.

The dialogue between Guilliman and Lorgar is worth the cost of the book alone. It is priceless. The sense of betrayal and righteous fury felt by the Ultramarines is beautifully conveyed, and the sense of loss, staggering. It reads like a roller coaster juggernaut - out of control in escalating destruction and annihilation. I frankly couldn't believe how far he went with it, but it made it all the more sweeter as things begin to level out a bit later in the book. I don't want to spoil it, so let me close by saying this is essential. Truly essential in the HH series and such a good read. I've gone back to certain passages simply because they were so undeniably captivating.

I'd place this, along with Legion, Mechanicum, Battle for the Abyss and A Thousand Sons.

I haven’t read the book yet but heard a lot of good things. The book arrived in great condition in a reasonable time.

Before I begin my review, I want to recommend that everyone go to the Horus Heresy Omnibus project website and read it in the order recommended there. It made a world of difference when it comes to a coherent reading order rather than read everything in chronological order; trust me on this.

This book is about the Wordbearers betrayal of the Ultramarines and the Imperium at large on Calth. Personally, I'm not a big Ultramarine fan. However, after DA's take on them here, I am more interested in their legion/chapter.

Dan Abnett knocked this book out the park. I appreciate the way he is able to build a setting through the eyes of the people on the ground. In this book their are several PoVs that help build the picture of how underhanded and complete the betrayal is. You are given perspectives from the mechanicum, Captains of space faring vessels, ultramarines, army soldiers and a farmer.

Their is a story trick that Abnett uses in the novel to track time. The Ultramarines are meticulous in the way they annotate battles using the mark system. At the beginning of the book, the clock is negative and building to the betrayal and the way he subverts that expectation was brilliant.

One of the best HH novels I've read and I give it a strong recommendation.

If you think ultramarines are boring, read this. End of the day, great characters and a stellar continuation of the series.

We all know what is going to happen with the main storyline so is it such a bad thing we get all of these spinoffs?The writing style for this cash in is not as refined as the other literature and Dan Abnett goes against 40k continuity by having multiple characters refer to the Emperor simply as God and although it might be overlooked they are not at the point where they are worshipping him quite yet.Now I do really like their portrayal of Guilliman who is the Ultramarines primarch and some of the other characters have interesting personalities for the typically bland Space Marines but it is with the action scenes where the book shines and with it's cover you know what sort of produch you are getting so basically the book is what it is supposed to be and it is a good yet not great book to read through.

Hands down one of the best books I have ever read. Not a dull moment throughout. Great for loyalist and chaos lovers

Here we are... the revenge of the Word Bearer against the Ultramarines, the second ultimate betrayal after Isstvan. Both legion described perfectly, how they differ, how they fight, in this action packed book. A must read for every fan of the Horus Heresy

This is the good stuff.

After four(!) books ranging from mind-numbingly stupid to so-so, fans of the Horus Heresy series are for once in for a treat.

The Word Bearers are attacking the Ultramarines at Calth. And that is pretty much what the whole book is about. There is no half-assed attempt to show both sides of the story, no filler pages, no boring moral dilemma...just good old plain Marines vs. Marine action.

If Dan Abnett can do one thing better than anybody else...it's describing massive battles. And I MEAN massive. The body-count in this book is...staggering. Thousands of Ultramarines gonna bite the dust.

But it is also interesting to see how the Word Bearers have changed since the events of "The First Heretic"...and they do have come a long way.

There is also a short cameo from an old...friend...whom I wouldn't have expected to show up, further increasing the stakes. And though this very story is not completed in this book, it hints at interesting developments in the future...

All in all, I can say to all disappointed fans out there: There's hope for this series still. And it is this novel. It's far from perfect, but it's still pretty fugging awesome!

I finally caught up with the Horus Heresy after an thoroughly enjoyable year or so and I have to say that I am really unsure how to put the horrific, beauty of this book into words.

Dan Abnett is an incredible writer, who has shown to be the most consistent of the Black Library stable, and this latest offering has to be the best of his that I have read and very possibly the most expertly crafted of all the Horus Heresy novels.

The narrative style is very different to many of the previous novels, but works exquisitely with the cyclopean events and manifold characters. The way in which such devastation, wreckage and Chaos plays out as stark, but graceful poetry completely took my breath away. I still find it difficult to comprehend that one of the most deftly detailed and rapturous passages I have ever read simply (nothing Abnett does is simply, but anyway...) details a cataclysmic space collision.

There are many characters and situations in the novel, which enable the reader to gain an overview of the conflict, but these are all expertly managed and crafted, so that the reader feels at least some (or ferocious amounts) empathy and interest for all and their exploits. This overview of this epic battle does not mean that the action is skimmed over. There are pretty much any kind of engagement you can imagine between Astartes from orbital bombardment, space battles (both between ships and space marines on the outside of ships) and all manner of Imperial vehicles to all forms of open and close combat with Astartes, cultists, Imperial Guard and Daemons and all of it is fresh and visceral, plunging you into the action rather than telling it plainly.

The scope of the battles and how they weave into and through the narrative is incredible and the loose, almost impersonal tone, which echoes the Warrior Kings of Ultramar so well, works perfectly as each characters impressions and thoughts colour the world in wonderfully varying hues.

I could go on and on about how incredible this book is, but there are two final points I would like to make. The first is that there is a new dreadnought in this novel and the way Abnett describes the thoughts and feelings he has, about his death and new life, about the fear that is so new to him and the infinite time he will remain in this state, unless slain in battle, are so harrowingly bleak in their perfection. I was truly moved and my fiancee could barely even have me recount it to her without shivers.

The second is probably a really geeky thing but the colour of the helmets blew me away! This might sound ridiculous, but I absolutely adore the differences between the 31st Millennium and the 41st and how the events of the Great Crusade and Heresy affect the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I won't spoil it incase it gives you the geeky goosebumps of joy it gave me.

It's a hard call, but this definitely one of the best books I have ever read, Warhammer or not.

Thank you Mr Abnett for keeping the Heresy alive

Lorgar e i Predicatori attaccano a sorpresa i loro fratelli Ultramarine sfruttando la loro dispersione data dagli ordini del Warmaster..inizia una battaglia violenta e durissima motivata anche da rancori personali e odio profondo..Grande libro pieno di azione e colpi di scena con un ritmo serraritissimo..uno dei migliori