Renegades: Lord of Excess

[Roomsky]

Renegades: Lord of Excess - Rich McCormick (Audiobook)

 

Another debut novel! Another very good debut novel.

 

This is probably the most ambitious first book I've read since Fire Caste, at times to a fault. There's no 3-act structure here; the first third of the book provides some set-up and gets what I assume is the action quota out of the way, and the last two thirds are basically its own novel slightly compacted into a tighter space. This does make the book a bit messy, but has the benefit of being all killer and no filler after a certain point.

 

While that first third is the least interesting part, I still think it was pretty good. Traitor Astartes vs Genestealer cultists is a rare match-up, and unlike other BL books with similar openings (Wolftime springs to mind) this section still effectively sets up the dynamic of The Adored and gives each character enough development to make sure you're invested in what's to come.

 

The remainder of the book is basically the pivotal moments in Xantine's reign of his now world. The premise alone makes this worthwhile, and while nothing really has room to "sit" and take a breath, it's constantly interesting. The status quo shifts in basically every chapter as someone is always sowing new consequences to reap later. We get rebellions, shifts in political structure, rival Chaos cults, deals, and betrayals. It's never shallow; the themes and character work are more than adequate throughout, but the lightning-fast pacing may not be to everyone's taste. The unique premise certainly helps things in this regard, if this were a typical war story it wouldn't work nearly as well.

 

Our protagonist, Xantine, is a real treat. He sees the daemon sharing his body as a lover, which in itself already sets him apart from your typical Chaos marine, and he's the perfect blend of ambition and total lack of self awareness that I like to call "the Emperor's Children special." Xantine is a man deeply affected by Canticle City's destruction (see Talon of Horus) and is desperate to recapture the glory of his legion's past by reshaping his newly "conquered" world into something perfect. This proves difficult for him, since he expects everyone else to be simultaneously in awe of his brilliance but just as ambitious as he is. Like any good Child of the Emperor, being called out on this doesn't faze him. Man talks the talk and walks the walk, all while actually trusting the daemon living in his head.

 

Speaking of Emperor's Children, I was glad to see a backwater assume they're loyalists because of their name. The story never bothers with the population's grand realization that they're traitors, either - it's a cliché the story doesn't need.

 

The rest of the Adored receive good characterization, as well as each human POV from the world they're now squatting on. Check the amazon extract for any BL book before purchase to make sure the prose gels with you, but I certainly thought it was good. And honestly, despite how messy the pacing made it at times, it really worked for me. Kind of has that classic sci-fi quality of shoving the interesting bits to the fore at the expense of all else.

 

Definitely "To Taste," and my critical mind would probably give this a 7 or 8. Personally though, I've gotta give it a 9, the risks McCormick took with this all really worked for me. Man is the heir to Reynolds' III Legion throne far as I'm concerned.

 

Multiple reviews on Goodreads list "not important to the wider universe" as one of the book's few negatives. I die a little every time I see that sentiment.

[theSpirea]

Awesome review! I was debating whether to order a copy or not, and this review has convinced me (if I can still find a store with a copy available).

"not important to the wider universe" - I feel the same and it's actually these books that are the best ones.

[Roomsky]

33 minutes ago, theSpirea said:

Awesome review! I was debating whether to order a copy or not, and this review has convinced me (if I can still find a store with a copy available).

"not important to the wider universe" - I feel the same and it's actually these books that are the best ones.

 

I feel it's often overlooked that "big" plot developments just exist to sell models. GW tries to make that cohesive and exciting, sure, but they're just glorified advertisements and it shows. I don't disparage fanfiction, but things like Mortarion's Heart, Son of the Forest, Godblight, and The Great Work are just "fix-fics." These "exciting" novels that develop the plot are really just some poor author trying to make GW's hairbrained fluff decisions more cohesive; their story-telling ability will always be limited as a result. Even great books like Spear of the Emperor or Wraight's Watchers of the Throne devote significant time to cleaning up GW's messes, despite peripheral subject matter.

 

That's probably the most material reason why, IMO, these "unimportant" books will always be better - they can be stories first. Lord of Excess doesn't just feel like a story McCormick wanted to tell, but one he was excited to tell. He took some fertile, barely-tapped ground in the wider setting and built a fun story around it. It's the kind of book that reminds me what Black Library was made for. 

 

(This isn't to say I don't want novel adaptions of important developments from the codices, I just think they pull disproportionate focus away from better realized art.)

Edited April 30 by Roomsky

[sitnam]

7 hours ago, Roomsky said:

That's probably the most material reason why, IMO, these "unimportant" books will always be better - they can be stories first. Lord of Excess doesn't just feel like a story McCormick wanted to tell, but one he was excited to tell. He took some fertile, barely-tapped ground in the wider setting and built a fun story around it. It's the kind of book that reminds me what Black Library was made for. 

 

This reminds me of my experience with David Annandale books. His Guilliman novel was awful imo, but stuff like his horror stories or Death of Antagonis just have a different feel to them compared.

[Scribe]

On 4/30/2024 at 10:17 AM, Roomsky said:

Multiple reviews on Goodreads list "not important to the wider universe" as one of the book's few negatives. I die a little every time I see that sentiment.

 

Those people will be the ruination of the setting.

[sitnam]

Just finished this weird novel, and I loved it. I finished Harrowmaster last month, so I was expecting a similar story. Instead, this went in a far different direction and I loved it. Xantine is such a massive dork I couldn't help but root for him

 

One aspect I love is that the Imperium plays no role in the story. Serene has been isolated for so long it is practically an independent planet. Xantine doesn't seem to care at all about the Long War, wanting to play God King on his own rock 

 

The cast of characters has a few atypical members I wish we saw more of in CSM stories. It is great to see a young member of Chaos in Tarrakan. I'm tired of reading about yet another survivor of the Heresy ten millrnia in the future. Likewise, the Word Bearer is a nice addition. Chaos Warbands often have a mix of gene lines.

[grailkeeper]

Should I read this next or Deathworld?

[Roomsky]

1 hour ago, grailkeeper said:

Should I read this next or Deathworld?

 

I think Deathworlder is more consistently good, but besides the portrayal of the Tyranids it's more of a typical story told well.

 

After that first third, Lord of Excess shoots for the moon, I'd say it's more interesting even if it doesn't succeed 100% of the time.

[LemartestheLost]

Just finished the novel and wow, what fun read. Welcome the junior stable Mr. McCormick! Had a feeling this one was going to be a winner after reading the preceding short story. I basically have to echo most of what @Roomsky has stated previously. I definitely struggled with the pacing in the second half, though. I really wish the first half got an additional 150 pages at the original pace and the second half was just stretched out into a second novel. 

 

The warband was everything I hoped it would be as far as a "modern" characterization of the EC goes, I just wish we got more time with some of the traitor astartes. This is definitely Xantine's book, so I understand why it wasn't done, but I would've liked to see some more of the politicking between various members of The Adored from THEIR perspectives once it was clear Xantine had made enemies after becoming the Saviour. A small gripe overall though, maybe we can get some more of that in a (hopeful) sequel. Speaking of Xantine, his possession by and subsequent struggle with the daemon might be my favorite portrayal of a possessed marine since good ole Argel Tal, it's really compelling stuff. The human POVs were absolutely superb and grim, top-notch work by the author. Also, VAVISK! Never thought a Noise Marine with multiple mouths would make me tear up but dammit, what a guy! 

 

In summary, this book wins because it dares, and I want BL to commission more of these out of left field pitches. In contrast to Roomsky though, I had this book at a perfect 10/10 but the messiness of the back end REALLY knocked it down a peg for me. 

Spoiler

Along with the fact that Xantine somehow gets a voidship off the planet's SURFACE and into the warp (presumably) during a full blown 'nid invasion. The Shadow in the Warp just doesn't exist anymore, huh?

 

Final Rating: 8/10

Another SHOULD READ from me. Definitely won't be to everyone's taste but I think a lot of people will be surprised by this one. DO NOT pick up if you dislike the color pink xD.

 

[grailkeeper]

Reading this atm. Better than most first novels that come out from BL. Couple of minor issues here and there like which I think should have been sorted by an editor. Things like characters saying things to each other they both already know, in order to inform the reader. Maybe BL needs better editors more than it needs better writers?

Edited June 9 by grailkeeper

[Roomsky]

Definitely agreed re: editors. I get that keeping a balance between giving notes and keeping the author's voice won't be easy. I get the authors should be doing research going in and doing their own proofreads to avoid repetition or "as you know." But if any reader can look at a passage and go "why didn't they just do X instead?" - why didn't the editors do the same?

 

I mentioned in another thread that Ashes of Cadia is great, except for an illogical set-up. There are like, 5 more believable ways you could get Ursula in that situation without making the reader question everyone's, including Guilliman's, intelligence. For a less modern example: where were the editors for McNeill? His books would constantly buckle under their own weight, and a good editor would have made even his classics notably better.

[cheywood]

40k has seen a lot of first novels from new authors over the past few years. Lord of Excess, in my mind, deserves to be mentioned as one of the better ones. It’s a fun and absolutely horrible story that captures the 40k vibe perfectly despite some rough edges. There are no heroes here, only killers and their victims. I’m very interested to see what, if anything, McCormick does next.
 

The editing here is notably bad. The proofreading seemed fine, but there are lots of first novel moments in the story that you’d think a decent editor would’ve called out. Structurally it’s a little chaotic and McCormick puts in a few pointless passages that could easily be cut, while other subplots are underdeveloped. 
 

The oddest thing was that, in the last couple pages of the book, McCormick says Vavisk is nicknamed ‘little Ferrus’. This is the first time we’ve heard the name and no context for it is given. Am I missing something or is that a really weird inclusion?

Edited July 3 by cheywood

[The Scorpion]

5 hours ago, cheywood said:

The oddest thing was that, in the last couple pages of the book, McCormick says Vavisk is nicknamed ‘little Ferrus’. This is the first time we’ve heard the name and no context for it is given. Am I missing something or is that a really weird inclusion?

I think earlier in the novel Xantine recalls how how he and Vavisk were compared by the other marines to Fulgrim and Ferrus, since they were good friends, one a prettyboy, the other surprisingly ugly for a marine of the 3rd

[aa.logan]

I’ll digest everyone else’s posts on this later, but it absolutely blew my mind.

 

I will be impressed if I like another BL novel as much this year. 
 

Edited August 14 by aa.logan

[aa.logan]

Ok then.

 

Yes, the book feels poorly edited- there are a few instances of information being repeated unnecessarily and it’s quite jarring.

 

My bigger editorial problem is a wider one in BL, however, and it’s not unique to this book. Last year, we had Ashes of Cadia, in which a small group of Astra Militarum soldiers from different backgrounds come together on a world experiencing its final days to retrieve a mysterious artefact against the clock. Then we had Deathworlder, in which a small group of Astra Militarum soldiers from different backgrounds come together on a world experiencing its final days to retrieve a mysterious artefact against the clock. Deathworlder, for the record, is set on an agriworld, where the elites live a life of foppish luxury and splendour and the masses toil on industrial farms that are every bit as hellish and detrimental to health as the worst hive worlds. This status quo exists for years and those at the top grow even more indolent until a Genestealer cult rebellion happens. Then we have Lords of Excess, which, for the record, is set on an agriworld, where the elites live a life of foppish luxury and splendour and the masses toil on industrial farms that are every bit as hellish and detrimental to health as the worst hive worlds. This status quo exists for years and those at the top grow even more indolent until a Genestealer cult rebellion happens…

 

Each book I mention above is great and should be judged on its own merits, but these superficial similarities really grate. Whether it’s because of the release schedule or the commissioning process I don’t know, but *something* could have been done to prevent this. Unless it’s all market research and these trends are what’s “in” right now…

 

Anyway, the book itself.

 

Lords of Excess is perhaps fittingly ambitious; during the initial showdown in the Cathedral, I was really wondering where the book was going to go from there, and I was pleasantly surprised for the remaining 2/3rds of the text. 
 

I loved the different obsessions of the warband and how these influenced their interactions with each other and the populace, and as others have said the fact that they are never shown to be revealed as traitors is great- life under their yolk probably isn’t that different to their previous one under the Imperium. 
 

The bleakness of the book and the way that Chaos acts as a force recalls Dark Apostle, another of my absolute favourites (that was published long enough ago that I don’t mind superficial similarities with), and is what really sets this book above the rest of BL’s recent output for me. It’s simultaneously realistic and gritty whilst being overblown and absurd. Perfect 40k, in other words.