To call The Crimson King 'long-awaited' is an understatement. Seven years, three months and thirty-one Horus Heresy books came between A Thousand Sons and this, its sequel. It was both less and more than I was hoping it would be.
The plot of The Crimson King revolves around Ahriman and a handful of followers on a quest to locate and restore scattered fragments of Magnus's soul, which was shattered along with his spine by Leman Russ's knee. Without his soul intact Magnus is dying, but Ahriman and his fellows have agendas other than saving their father that play out over the course of their mission as prophecy swirls around them and mutation threatens all. There's a daemon bound in an iron casket and plenty of other warp-weirdness to keep the plot afloat between chaotic and well-written action scenes, which are mostly triggered by clashes with a band of loyalists out to stop the Thousand Sons. Characters from McNeill's previous works play big roles in this one but their fates are unpredictable, keeping the reader guessing at every turn.
The Crimson King's plot structure is straightforward and symmetrical, and this works really well to tell the story of two rival warbands with opposing goals. The novel isn't the operatic saga A Thousand Sons was nor does it finish with a huge iconic battle, but it is an engaging and original tale that fills in long-standing gaps in the Heresy lore as well as revealing gob-smacking new secrets. It is a well-crafted and enthralling read essential for all fans of the Heresy.
