Book review: Garro (Horus Heresy XLII)

This book is an oddity among Horus Heresy novels, as it has been put together from a number of tales released as audio dramas. Garro is constructed as a single novel, however you’ll find some material is repeated throughout. This introductory text from the audio dramas repeatedly tells us who Garro is.

The book is still a useful one, being set both before and after the events of Nemeis and Vengeful Spirit, following the saga from the perspective of Garro. We have seen short stories where Garro, in service to Malcador the Sigillite, travels the galaxy collecting people deemed useful to the secret wars against Horus.

Garro’s old Death Guard livery has been replaced with plain grey armour. The stories in this novel answer questions including how Garviel Loken went from being lost under the rubble in Galaxy in Flames to being part of the strike team in Vengeful Spirit.

As well as the tasks Malcador sets him, Garro is on his own path, a path of faith. The events of Flight of the Eisenstein have left their mark, and Garro finds himself drawn to find the ‘saint’ Euphrati Keeler. She has remained in the solar system since slipping out of the prison she was placed in, preaching the word of the Emperor’s divinity. Garro finds she has many allies including other Astartes. The new faith in the Emperor is not just for common people. Having made his leap into faith, Garro is sometimes surprised by who else is there with him.

Garro does a good job of continuing the story of an important character from the earlier Heresy novels, and of showing the effects of the war beyond the battlegrounds. This book also sets Garro on the path that will conclude in the events of Garro: Knight of Grey.

rating: 3.5 golden thrones