The Solar War by John French
(Warhammer 40k: The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra, Book 1)
Released: March 16, 2019 | Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
-
After years of devastating war, Horus and his forces have arrived at Terra. But before they can set foot on the Throneworld, they must first break the defences of the Sol System. Powerful fleets and cunning defences bar their path – but can anything hope to halt the advance of the Traitor armada?
READ IT BECAUSE
The final act of the long-running, bestselling series starts here, with a brutal and uncompromising look at the first stage of the Siege of Terra, the war to conquer the solar system. Armies will fall, heroes will rise and legends will be written…THE STORY
After seven years of bitter war, the end has come at last for the conflict known infamously as the Horus Heresy. Terra now lies within the Warmaster’s sights, the Throneworld and the seat of his father’s rule. Horus’ desire is nothing less than the death of the Emperor of Mankind and the utter subjugation of the Imperium. He has become the ascendant vessel of Chaos, and amassed a terrible army with which to enact his will and vengeance. But the way to the Throne will be hard as the primarch Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian and protector of Terra, marshals the defences. First and foremost, Horus must challenge the might of the Sol System itself and the many fleets and bulwarks arrayed there. To gain even a foothold on Terran soil, he must first contend the Solar War. Thus the first stage of the greatest conflict in the history of all mankind begins. -
Before writing The Solar War, John French spent weeks researching Warhammer 40,000 lore, compiling a 40-page reference document, and drawing maps of the solar system. He even planned Horus’s six-week invasion day by day, figuring out how both Horus and Rogal Dorn would counter each other’s strategies.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆
WOW 😮 Warhammer 40K is insane.
This was my first dive into a Warhammer 40K novel, and honestly? The cover is what pulled me in. But now I’m left wondering, how have I not been reading these already? (Especially considering I’ve had several just sitting on my shelf.)
The Solar War delivers ridiculous amounts of action with a scope and scale that could rival any epic space opera. And the lore? Quite possibly the most extensive, in-depth fictional universe ever created, bar none.
That said, the 40K universe is huge and notoriously unfriendly to newcomers. There’s little hand-holding here, and that sheer complexity can scare away would-be fans, keeping it largely in the realm of dedicated veterans.
Still, The Solar War hooked me. Hard. Enough that I’m now gearing up to start The Horus Heresy from the very beginning, a 50+ book series, just to experience the full saga in all its grimdark glory.
