Angron: Slave of Nuceira focuses on the World Eaters, who, in the years of the great Crusade, after their reunion with their Primarch, are divided into two groups over the demand of their violent and deranged gene-sire to have the Butcher's Nails implanted into their skulls. Though the threat of internal strife looms, it is a danger that might never come up, as so far, the Legion's apothecaries and accompanying Mechanicum forces have been unable to even come close to recreating Angron's Butcher's nails. As the captains of the legion argue among themselves over what to do with their father, and his horrifying methods of punishment in the face of their failures, the fleet arrives at the next world to bring into compliance.
It is here, on this world that was once part of the imperium of man, and which has been silent for a number of years, that the World Eaters will finally come face to face with the future their father has envisioned for them.
Slave of Nuceira is about what one would have expected from a story focusing on Angron and his legion, but nonetheless, Ian St Martin does really bring more to the table than just excessive amounts of brutal violence. There is plenty of that, of course, but where the novel really becomes memorable was in the depiction of Angron's early years, before he became the mad beast that he was always going to be. Martin shows, in a few beautiful passages that once upon a time, this was not all that Angron had the potential of being. We get glimpses of a past nobility and more besides. Yet again: The incredible, the tragic Could-Have Been. The book shows that despite all the promise and artistry inherent in each of the Emperor's most impressive creations, even they, even the Primarchs themselves, can fall. Even though he can be of the most blessed nature, and unbroken by the most brutal of nurture, there are certain things that can still ruin a man, and that can destroy him beyond healing. As you can guess; this is pretty much the definitive book on the Butcher's Nails.
Angron is certainly one of the more tragic characters among the 18.
Naturally, knowing where history takes us, we know how this will end, but as I intimated, there are a few surprises to be had. For instance: Even though he's not very prominent here we do get more insight into Kharn, his actions and reasoning, as we do really get to understand the choice that led him down a path of 10 000 years of violence and bloodshed.
It really is a suitable sequel to After Desh'ea as it pretty much picks up a little after that, and builds on the premise laid out by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.
The ending was a bit off, as we're taken out of the realm of the Horus Heresy and into the world of 40k, but as a story in the greater whole of the Warhammer universe it does work. it was just a bit jarring for some reason*. Despite that, it was a good read, though a little predictable in places.
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*Speaking of jarring, here's a cool bit of the book where it (over)indulges itself a bit.
Massive Spoilers below.
This is, pretty much, the climax of the novel, wherein the World Eaters finally have their first succesful implantation of the Butcher's Nails.
It's a creative little gimmick, though I do wonder if this will be reproduced in the trade paperback editions of the book.
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