Harrowmaster by Mike Books

[Petitioner's City]

Is anyone else reading Harrowmaster? Except for his Huron works, Brooks has been a consistently strong and sometimes excellent contributor, and this is very strong so far!

[Sothalor]

Sorry, was that the book that sold out and was unavailable before its nominal time of sale?

 

Or does that not narrow the scope down enough? 

[Nagashsnee]

8 hours ago, Petitioner's City said:

Is anyone else reading Harrowmaster? Except for his Huron works, Brooks has been a consistently strong and sometimes excellent contributor, and this is very strong so far!

I started it and while not the place for it must say first 1/3 of the book was a chore. Will go into details if a thread pops up but honestly it left me so cold i wont start one just to complain about it. 

[Petitioner's City]

59 minutes ago, Nagashsnee said:

I started it and while not the place for it must say first 1/3 of the book was a chore. Will go into details if a thread pops up but honestly it left me so cold i wont start one just to complain about it. 

 

Ah shame, sorry you didn't enjoy it! I wasn't sure but I've really enjoyed it (I'm half way). It's got a great deconstructive take on the alpha legion, does well at melding lots of different interpretations and past presentations of them (a bit like how David Mack re-introduced the Breen in pocket's Typhon Pact Star Trek novels). It's also quite a cold book - the way people are killed, it does have that sense of many characters with little attachment.

[Ubiquitous1984]

1 minute ago, Petitioner's City said:

 

Ah shame, sorry you didn't enjoy it! I wasn't sure but I've really enjoyed it (I'm half way). It's got a great deconstructive take on the alpha legion, does well at melding lots of different interpretations and past presentations of them (a bit like how David Mack re-introduced the Breen in pocket's Typhon Pact Star Trek novels). It's also quite a cold book - the way people are killed, it does have that sense of many characters with little attachment.

I would like to have started it, but the promised audiobook version never materialised.  It's bonkers IMO (especially in this era of BL books having a print run of about 100 copies worldwide) that every print/ebook release doesn't have an audio version alongside it.  It's not like there is a shortage of narrators out there!

[Nagashsnee]

24 minutes ago, Petitioner's City said:

 

Ah shame, sorry you didn't enjoy it! I wasn't sure but I've really enjoyed it (I'm half way). It's got a great deconstructive take on the alpha legion, does well at melding lots of different interpretations and past presentations of them (a bit like how David Mack re-introduced the Breen in pocket's Typhon Pact Star Trek novels). It's also quite a cold book - the way people are killed, it does have that sense of many characters with little attachment.

I agree with all the above, but the author has a real poor understanding of in universe assets and it drives me mental. 

Spoiler

Take the space battle at the start, the book has 3 loyalist strike cruisers plus the remnants of the local defence ships square off with 1 stolen lunar class cruiser and 2 escorts.  And the strike cruisers lose? I love Battlefleet gothic, i love the 40k ship models and lore and let me tell you the amount of plot armor needed for the lunar to pull off a win is insane. But the novel just handwaves it by saying all the strike cruisers are acting by themselves...ok so 3 strike cruisers each of which is more or less a match for a lunar. 

 

We have said strike cruisers attempting boarding actions AFTER the main battle is done and the Alphas have had time to do a combat withdraw, and in such a bad way that every single boarding pod could be shot down with ease.  

 

You have hastily commandeered hydra tanks shooting down multiple astartes drop ships again with ease. Like these are not fat belly guard landers, these ships are MADE to come in under fire/chase and are specifically designed to drop troops under combat conditions much much worse then 3-5 IG hydras. 

 

Time and time again the novel shows me it has no understanding of in universe weapons, vehicles and even GWs silly silly numbers.  It forces  everyone to act like they have brain damage or else the novel would end in the first 30 pages. 3 strike cruisers drop out of warp, 3 strike cruiser easily overwhelm the single lunar class cruiser either thru mass boarding or simple shoot out. Imperial marines with complete orbital supremacy then engage anything that cant be shot from orbit. 

 

Instead we have the marine lose 1 strike cruiser and a company worth of troops GETTING TO LIGHTLY DEFENDED GROUND. 1/10th of a chapter. :cuss: i think the silver templars end up lose around 2 companies in total during this operation. Plus 1 cruiser dead and 1 cripled.  But the book makes it out like the Alphas need to run away asap. So i ask you my fellow readers, why?  They were winning in orbit and had the better part of 200 KIA enemy astartes already while retreating ( anyone wondering on total numbers, the templars lose 1 strike cruiser on the way in, at least 2 craft on drop and an entire boarding force who never make it out of their pods. Plus actual combat casualties. So 50ish+25ish+50ish+??)   

 

And i cant understand why it was written/allowed to print this way? Cut the strike cruisers down to 1, suddenly the marines have to either pick to mass board the lunar which outguns the cruiser OR go to the planet to help the guard. Have the Alphas man the hydras but then drop the bomb on them that these are the new overlord primaris drop ships and their autocannon battery dont mean smack. Or have the marines drop in you know, drop pods. Make the silver templars a competent threat, give the Alphas a reason to want to :cuss: asap other then because the plot wants them to. 

 

Better yet make it 2 strike cruisers, have 1 engage the lunar one drop the primaris on the planet, suddenly you have the alpha legion on a timer, they either leave fast or the cruisers will overwhelm the lunar cruiser, while they ponder this they meet the primaris, this is also the PERFECT case to name drop minis, this warband doesnt know anything, show off the toys , the ground teams freak out the orbital situation will at BEST be a crippled lunar pulling out a sneaky win somehow. Have the warband fall back and then have them NEED to go somewhere to regroup/take stock. 

 

But that first 1/3 of the book just made me realise that any fight scene/ engagement will happen as the author wants regardless of any sort of in universe logic and i cant stand those kind of BL novels. 

 

[Kelborn]

As we didn't had a related thread, I split up the respective posts from the Upcoming Stuff thread.

 

Reading mixed opinions, not unusual for Brooks' work but until now, I wasn't disappointed. Definitely one I'm very intrigued by.

[cheywood]

I really enjoy Mike Brooks’ writing. I know he’s got his fair share of detractors, but I like his prose and really like his characters. This book is a fun look at the AL in action. It has good action sequences, Alpha Legion shenanigans, some enjoyable if a little loosely defined world building, one really good speech, and an engaging sense of cynicism throughout. I think people will like this more than Huron Blackheart, there’s a lot of meat on the bone comparatively

 

Strengths:

Sense of humor: It’s not comedic like Brutal Kunnin’ and Warboss, but there’s a strong undercurrent of absurdity that generally strikes the right tone and keeps the prose enjoyable throughout

 

Action: There’s more action than I was expecting given the legion in question, and one can wonder if that’s the right call thematically, but the action scenes themselves are fun

 

AL Shenanigans: Brooks understands that the Alpha Legion are scheming little rascals who just can’t stop plotting and planning their tricks. It’s not a book that’s entirely reliant on grand, impossible twists, but it’s not as disappointingly straightforward as Shroud of Night (which I otherwise quite like)

 

Dialogue: I think Brooks’ characters speak in a very easy to understand but still believable enough manner, and their banter is good

 

Flaws:

 

Character Development: I was a little surprised to find this novel so plot heavy and character development light. It’s still a very enjoyable read - maybe the best AL novel in 40k - but I feel the character work doesn’t come close to that which we’ve seen in other CSM novels, or some of Brooks’ other works. I like all the characters, I just don’t really know them deeply

 

Pacing: I like a fast paced work as much as the next guy, but Brooks is packing a lot of story into a medium-sized package. I think it could’ve benefited from more time (and more POVs) to give perspective on characters/past events

 

Rating: 8.5 or 9 (out of 10)

Edited November 19, 2022 by cheywood

[Moonreaper666]

 

 

On 11/2/2022 at 3:23 AM, Nagashsnee said:

I agree with all the above, but the author has a real poor understanding of in universe assets and it drives me mental. 

  Reveal hidden contents

Take the space battle at the start, the book has 3 loyalist strike cruisers plus the remnants of the local defence ships square off with 1 stolen lunar class cruiser and 2 escorts.  And the strike cruisers lose? I love Battlefleet gothic, i love the 40k ship models and lore and let me tell you the amount of plot armor needed for the lunar to pull off a win is insane. But the novel just handwaves it by saying all the strike cruisers are acting by themselves...ok so 3 strike cruisers each of which is more or less a match for a lunar. 

 

We have said strike cruisers attempting boarding actions AFTER the main battle is done and the Alphas have had time to do a combat withdraw, and in such a bad way that every single boarding pod could be shot down with ease.  

 

You have hastily commandeered hydra tanks shooting down multiple astartes drop ships again with ease. Like these are not fat belly guard landers, these ships are MADE to come in under fire/chase and are specifically designed to drop troops under combat conditions much much worse then 3-5 IG hydras. 

 

Time and time again the novel shows me it has no understanding of in universe weapons, vehicles and even GWs silly silly numbers.  It forces  everyone to act like they have brain damage or else the novel would end in the first 30 pages. 3 strike cruisers drop out of warp, 3 strike cruiser easily overwhelm the single lunar class cruiser either thru mass boarding or simple shoot out. Imperial marines with complete orbital supremacy then engage anything that cant be shot from orbit. 

 

Instead we have the marine lose 1 strike cruiser and a company worth of troops GETTING TO LIGHTLY DEFENDED GROUND. 1/10th of a chapter. i think the silver templars end up lose around 2 companies in total during this operation. Plus 1 cruiser dead and 1 cripled.  But the book makes it out like the Alphas need to run away asap. So i ask you my fellow readers, why?  They were winning in orbit and had the better part of 200 KIA enemy astartes already while retreating ( anyone wondering on total numbers, the templars lose 1 strike cruiser on the way in, at least 2 craft on drop and an entire boarding force who never make it out of their pods. Plus actual combat casualties. So 50ish+25ish+50ish+??)   

 

And i cant understand why it was written/allowed to print this way? Cut the strike cruisers down to 1, suddenly the marines have to either pick to mass board the lunar which outguns the cruiser OR go to the planet to help the guard. Have the Alphas man the hydras but then drop the bomb on them that these are the new overlord primaris drop ships and their autocannon battery dont mean smack. Or have the marines drop in you know, drop pods. Make the silver templars a competent threat, give the Alphas a reason to want to asap other then because the plot wants them to. 

 

Better yet make it 2 strike cruisers, have 1 engage the lunar one drop the primaris on the planet, suddenly you have the alpha legion on a timer, they either leave fast or the cruisers will overwhelm the lunar cruiser, while they ponder this they meet the primaris, this is also the PERFECT case to name drop minis, this warband doesnt know anything, show off the toys , the ground teams freak out the orbital situation will at BEST be a crippled lunar pulling out a sneaky win somehow. Have the warband fall back and then have them NEED to go somewhere to regroup/take stock. 

 

But that first 1/3 of the book just made me realise that any fight scene/ engagement will happen as the author wants regardless of any sort of in universe logic and i cant stand those kind of BL novels. 

 

 

Oh bo ho. The Loyalists for once don't have Plot Armor!

 

Nice for Chaos Astartes to have Plot Armor for once

[Nagashsnee]

14 hours ago, Moonreaper666 said:

 

 

 

Oh bo ho. The Loyalists for once don't have Plot Armor!

 

Nice for Chaos Astartes to have Plot Armor for once

 

What if, and prepare yourself for this may shock you, but what if. No one had plot armor, and it was simply well written?  

 

 

[Noserenda]

Just need my audio book version BL, can only sit on an audible credit for so long

[Ubiquitous1984]

2 hours ago, Noserenda said:

Just need my audio book version BL, can only sit on an audible credit for so long

No mention of it in today’s pre-order preview.  

 

Not looking good!

[Roomsky]

Renegades: Harrowmaster - Mike Brooks (finally in paperback)

 

I'll be honest, for the longest time the Alpha Legion were my least favourite traitors, and Alpharius my least favourite primarch. I appreciate them as a plot device, they're decent antagonists, but it was all just too intentionally vague and arms-length for me to really love them. And like with so many of Abnett's ideas, his legion culture-building quickly got run into the ground by lesser authors.

 

AND THEN ALONG CAME BROOKS.

 

First he rehabilitated Alpharius with Head of the Hydra, pulling off one of Black Library's best "have your cake and eat it too" books by finally giving ol' Alphy a distinct personality while keeping everything ambiguous enough to fit the legion. Now, like with Reynolds' Fabius Bile series complementing The Palatine Phoenix, Brooks turns his attention to the modern legion itself. Boy howdy, does he deliver.

 

If I had to highlight one positive aspect about Brooks' writing above the others, it would be how he uses continuity. The man goes toe to toe with Haley and Thorpe when it comes to honouring other authors' ideas in his work; while they don't play a large part in this book, it doesn't pretend that Sons of the Hydra and Shroud of Night don't exist. Even better, it doesn't base important plot beats on those works - to someone unfamiliar with those books, they're just amusing asides that help build character for the speakers. The whole "I am Alpharius" angle is also relegated to a significant sub-set of the former legion, but it doesn't get in the way at all of building a cast that doesn't live in the shadow of Abnett's stuff. It feels cohesive if this is your first Alpha Legion novel, and it feels cohesive if you've read every other Alpha legion novel before it. He also doesn't McNeill it, the universe feels no smaller for all the winks it gives to more seasoned readers.

 

Brooks' other usual strengths are present here too, of course. The prose is a breeze, and it's got an irreverent tone that doesn't detract from the dramatic moments - he always reminds me of Reynolds in that regard. This is also a fairly action-heavy book, but it rarely feels weighed down by it. Brooks' action works really well for me because he basically always has both sides of an engagement being meaningfully challenged. Neither the protagonists nor the antagonists get to say "just as planned" or demonstrate force so overwhelming that they're more an obstacle than a person. Everyone needs to think on their feet despite best laid plans, and no amount of strength or firepower means strategy is a moot point. Even the naïve and straightforward Silver Templars provide rationale for their brute force tactics and keep a back-up plan for when things go sideways. The legion culture-building is of course the main selling point and it excels in it; as I said, I've never liked the XX this much before.

 

The character stuff is more mixed, but that's mostly because there's so many of them. Everyone outside of the Alpha Legion is solid, Inquisitor Hart especially gets enough character focus that I consider him a very above-average Black Library antagonist, but the Alphas themselves tend to exist more in service of demonstrating things about the faction as a whole, rather than them as individuals (contrast the Night Lords trilogy, where First Claw managed both at once.) Like, I get Solomon and his psyker, and I get Xettus and the Unseen's Dark Magos, but the others mostly exist to go "see, Alphas can be blood-hungry, or poison specialists, or excessively obtuse, or Alpharius, or focus on baseline agents!" It's less that I lost track of them and more that I'll remember their MOs, but never their names. I don't even remember the name of the shipmaster guy, and he's a part of Solomon's own band.

 

I will say that I think Nagashnee's criticisms above are legitimate, but they did not effect my rating. Ima be honest folks, I don't actually parse most descriptions of armor or equipment. No matter what you call a gunship, I imagine a Thunderhawk. No matter what you call a space ship, I imagine it's a multi-kilometre plow-headed cathedral. I don't even know what a melta gun or plasma cannon looks like, I just imagine a big plasma pistol. Different tank types? Sorry, sounds like a Baneblade to me. So while of course a book tying into a war game should be accurate with certain unit types, any mistakes made here are quite literally meaningless to me.

 

Again, I'm very pleased with this because it finally feels like the 40k Alpha Legion finally have their defining work. It's hard for me to really articulate how refreshing it was, I encourage peoples to have a read for themselves. I might have rated this a bit lower were it about a better covered faction, but I have to give extra points to Brooks for the boon he just did the Alphas.

 

9/10, Must Read

[Noserenda]

Finally got my audio copy :D It was really excellent, probably my fave Black library listen in a long while especially due to the narrator, who was really fresh after hearing the same old voice(s) on so many BL books. 

Mike Brooks really gets the Alpha Legion in a way i dont think anyone (Abnett included) really does, their strengths AND their flaws and has a few of the more switched on characters recognise them too. I especially like that they know their reputation is such that they can look like they won even when they were running off mid battle, and the focus on shifting to achievable objectives especially. 

I also think that its really obvious when an author has played Battlefleet gothic from their writing, and Brooks is definitely one of them.

Top stuff, big recommend. 

[darkhorse0607]

12 hours ago, Noserenda said:

Finally got my audio copy :D It was really excellent, probably my fave Black library listen in a long while especially due to the narrator, who was really fresh after hearing the same old voice(s) on so many BL books. 

Mike Brooks really gets the Alpha Legion in a way i dont think anyone (Abnett included) really does, their strengths AND their flaws and has a few of the more switched on characters recognise them too. I especially like that they know their reputation is such that they can look like they won even when they were running off mid battle, and the focus on shifting to achievable objectives especially. 

I also think that its really obvious when an author has played Battlefleet gothic from their writing, and Brooks is definitely one of them.

Top stuff, big recommend. 

 

Good to hear about the narrator, I had been holding off because I didn't mesh with his style when he did Leviathan but I might get it now

[Jareddm]

 

Just finished it this morning and can echo pretty much everything said. There's a certain 'light-heartedness' to the writing style that does make me overlook any feelings of plot armor towards the main characters. It reminded me a little bit of an early Star Wars or Indiana Jones tone. I loved the diversity of Alpha Legion warbands, even if we only really got to focus on one or two. It was still nice to show how the warbands have splintered and operate under a wide array of tactics and values. Pretty much every human character made me wish for more details about them, from Captain Va'Kai to Yallamagasa to our bickering Inquisition rivals. Speaking of which, I wasn't sure if the epilogue reveal was supposed to mean anything, as I didn't recognize the character?

 

My main critique is I feel sometimes scenes tended to end a little abruptly, suddenly cutting to after-action reports of characters explaining how everything went according to plan. I don't mind this kind of fade to black approach, I just think the points in the scene when it cuts were a little jarring.

 

Some of my favorite moments: 

Spoiler

-Solomon's almost Ork-like explanation that the reason the Alpha Legion always seems to win is because they keep moving the goal posts.

-Giggling uncontrollably when the Unseen rolled out its guns.

-"I am Alpharius!" "No you're not!"

-Vasila Manatu becoming one of the Dishonor Guard

-Forcibly possessing First Strike with Khorne daemons

-The wild goose chase regarding the Hydra tattoos

 

Still a fantastic book overall. Is it Lords of Silence for Alpha Legion? No, but it's really close imho.

Edited August 26, 2023 by Jareddm

[Roomsky]

The fire psyker

Evelyn also appears in

Rites of Passage. Seems her star's on thise rise.

[Aramis K]

Just finished, enjoyed it, Brooks continues to rise in my estimation with his range of interesting marines, and seeds of cross-cutting characters. A Brooks-verse could be fun.

 

Also

 

Spoiler

"For the Emper-aaaarrrrrgggghhj!"