If the Horus Heresy is a tree, then Angel Exterminatus is a Fulgrim branch, with leaves of Emperor's Children, the Iron Warriors, Salamanders, Raven Guard, and Iron Hands. Set after the events of Fulgrim, it sees the narcissistic leader of the Emperor's Children approach Peturabo of the Iron Warriors looking for help locating an ancient weapon of immense power. The weapon located in a seething riot of Chaos in space, Peturabo agrees to help but keeps to himself his own secret plans for the weapon. Meanwhile, an assassin from the Raven Guard tracks Fulgrim, looking for an opportunity to avenge the death of his primarch.
And so it is that Angel Exterminatus is a wheel within wheels within wheels. Loyalist forces look to avenge themselves on Horus' cabal while the cabal starts to war within itself for advantages and power. McNeill handles this latter part, the conflict between Fulgrim and Peturabo, exceptionally well. The first time the Iron Warriors' primarch has spent serious time under the series' spotlight, readers come to understand him as another shaded primarch. Possessing grand visions for cities and palaces yet not possessing the power to bring the visions to reality, the reader can relate to his big dreams and inability to realize them. The games Peturabo plays and ulterior motives he has toward Fulgrim likewise make him something of a sympathetic character, especially juxtaposed against the decrepit path Fulgrim's choices have led him. And yet Peturabo is no angel. He commits ghastly actions in pursuit of his own survival and success. The conflict between these two characters and the climax of it are the diesel engine the novel is built on.
As with some HH books, a portion of Angel Exterminatus' content feels gratuitous—as if there is a requirement every series' novel has at least one large battle featuring space marines and hits 400 pages. Such is the case here. One of the sub-layers of plot brings in Raven Guard, Salamanders, and Iron Hands. And while there is room for this given their desire to get revenge for Isstvan V, it didn't feel necessary, or even complementary. Without spoiling anything, this sub-plot worms its way through the book, culminating in a climactic battle, a climactic battle that already had massively high stakes given who and what is involved. The space marines blast away on the perimeter of this climax, and while adding noise and potentially heightening excitement, they also feel distracting. Readers want to find out what's happening in the main battle but are regularly interrupted as the focus shifts to yet. another. space. marine. battle. People who can't get enough space marine battles will not complain, but for a series already loaded with such action, Angel Exterminatus seemed like a good opportunity to take a small break and focus on individual concerns. Nothing would have been lost, save 50-75 pages of extraneous story. And those 50-75 pages could always have been used in an anthology...
In the end, Angel Exterminatus has a bit of fluff but remains a quality read. Ending in fiery, dramatic fashion, it portends fiery, dramatic events further down the HH road. I have not read the entire series, but the book seems critical to the overarching storyline, and likely should not be missed for those who are picking and choosing their way through the 60+ books. It goes without saying any reader interested in any of the aforementioned Legions Astartes should check it out.
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