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The Crimson King or Dark Imperium?


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I've read the spoilers for the Dark Imperium but I kind of feel like I need to read it so I have all the bits, however I've read just about every HH book and don't know anything about the Crimson King (no spoilers read) although I've kind of gone off the HH a little as of late since it's been going on for so long. So anyway which would you suggest to read first, which do you think would be the most enjoyable?

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I haven't read Dark Imperium, have read CK. CK reads like a fever dream, very disjointed and all over the place. That may have been intentional, not sure if I'm a fan though.

 

However, not a fan of the book as a whole. The Astartes loyal to the Imperium act very out of character. There's a non TS traitor that just seems to be there for fanservice. Several plot points are left hanging.

 

Lot of stuff happened that just made me go 'what?' and ruined my immersion. Also, one of the most poignant character arcs in the series is changed, and I don't think it was for the positive at all.

I haven't read Dark Imperium, have read CK. CK reads like a fever dream, very disjointed and all over the place. That may have been intentional, not sure if I'm a fan though.

 

However, not a fan of the book as a whole. The Astartes loyal to the Imperium act very out of character. There's a non TS traitor that just seems to be there for fanservice. Several plot points are left hanging.

 

Lot of stuff happened that just made me go 'what?' and ruined my immersion. Also, one of the most poignant character arcs in the series is changed, and I don't think it was for the positive at all.

Exactly.

 

As for the Dark Imperium it starts good but then fail flat, sadly. It's nothing more than the advertisement. At one point we hav CSM sucked into propulsion engine of Repulsor to simply show how awesome the model is, lol.

And as for the Morty he appeared once and fail to appear later at all, after all the grandiose entry, lol.

 

You are trying to chose from bad and bad. Decide for yourself - both are on the same level of disappointment. Crimson King through do require a previous read of 'TS' at least.

It's an interesting question and for me it comes down to what floats your boat, the future or the past.

The future is the exploration of a resurrected Primarch in the most recent view of the Imperium post gathering storm... it's something that really peaks my interest, but as I'm not really invested in the gaming side of WH40k I'm happy to wait a year or so until it comes out in Paperback. It also sounds like it's a standalone title so who knows if there will be more following the end of the book?

The past is the long awaited followup to A Thousand Sons (which still ranks for me as one of the best Heresy titles) and ties into a huge ongoing series I am already quite heavily invested in. I really want to see how things develop and tie into the current state of the heresy... what dangling plot threads are going to be picked up, what in the actual *cuss* is going on with Magnus and finally how is Ahriman getting on with the development of his Rubric.

I would say if you even partly agree with the above go for The Crimson King first happy.png

It's an interesting question and for me it comes down to what floats your boat, the future or the past.

The future is the exploration of a resurrected Primarch in the most recent view of the Imperium post gathering storm... it's something that really peaks my interest, but as I'm not really invested in the gaming side of WH40k I'm happy to wait a year or so until it comes out in Paperback. It also sounds like it's a standalone title so who knows if there will be more following the end of the book?

The past is the long awaited followup to A Thousand Sons (which still ranks for me as one of the best Heresy titles) and ties into a huge ongoing series I am already quite heavily invested in. I really want to see how things develop and tie into the current state of the heresy... what dangling plot threads are going to be picked up, what in the actual *cuss* is going on with Magnus and finally how is Ahriman getting on with the development of his Rubric.

I would say if you even partly agree with the above go for The Crimson King first happy.png

Depends if he likes good read and a fan of TS or want to simply know what happens.

In other cases I don't know why to read that book at all, cause in case of HH progress

it gives nothing except TS vouching for the Warmaster

Does the Dark Millennium really set up how the new 40k is? I'd like to get to know the thought processes or those involved including Roboute.

 

Dark Imperium does give you Roboute Guilliman's point of view and thus a window into his thoughts. Of all the viewpoint characters in the novel, he has more chapters than any other. Other viewpoint characters include a regular Guardsman, a couple of Primaris Space Marines, and Marneus Calgar. There are also a chapter which feature a horde of Nurgle Daemons and a chapter featuring Mortarion and Typhus, but Mortarion isn't a viewpoint character in the same way even in that one chapter.

 

It also establishes at least some of the 8th Edition setting status quo, such as moving the timeline forward by 112 years from the events of the Gathering Storm (while winking at the question of whether or not this now means it's set in the 42nd millennium) and establishing certain facts about the Primaris Space Marines and their disposition, including hints at units we haven't otherwise been told about.

Does the Dark Millennium really set up how the new 40k is? I'd like to get to know the thought processes or those involved including Roboute.

Dark Imperium does give you Roboute Guilliman's point of view and thus a window into his thoughts. Of all the viewpoint characters in the novel, he has more chapters than any other. Other viewpoint characters include a regular Guardsman, a couple of Primaris Space Marines, and Marneus Calgar. There are also a chapter which feature a horde of Nurgle Daemons and a chapter featuring Mortarion and Typhus, but Mortarion isn't a viewpoint character in the same way even in that one chapter.

It also establishes at least some of the 8th Edition setting status quo, such as moving the timeline forward by 112 years from the events of the Gathering Storm (while winking at the question of whether or not this now means it's set in the 42nd millennium) and establishing certain facts about the Primaris Space Marines and their disposition, including hints at units we haven't otherwise been told about.

Indeed - great summary.

What is sad - is that Mortarion was use only for the 'upcoming threat' meme - did appeared in 1 chapter and then was dropped off and forgotten.

That novel did amazing job being a story to supplement the game and 'codex' release, nothing more.

It does one job - hinted and threated a lot and answered, shown nothing at the same time, lol teehee.gif

If you want to know about Primaris and Imperium Nihilis - better read it with the released 8th edition.

If you want to have an interesting 'story' not simply a 'codex' supplement - you could easily skip it.

I thought Dark Imperium was better as a window into Guilliman's attitudes than it was as a straightforward narrative, but retrospectively it makes sense now that Haley's revealed that it's the first part in a series. That makes sense of the brief appearance of Mortarion and the lack of detail as to what happens on Iax after the daemons of Nurgle arrive.

I thought Dark Imperium was better as a window into Guilliman's attitudes than it was as a straightforward narrative, but retrospectively it makes sense now that Haley's revealed that it's the first part in a series. That makes sense of the brief appearance of Mortarion and the lack of detail as to what happens on Iax after the daemons of Nurgle arrive.

I think (if I'm not mistaken) - conflict on Parmenio would be covered in the 8th edition fluff. But we will see - 2 days left.

 

It would be good to cover events outside Ultramar in the next books.

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