Warhammer 40K: 10 Essential Reads From The Black Library
5. Night Lords: Omnibus By Aaron Dembski Bowden
Do you like Batman but think his no killing rule seems at odds with his ultimate goal? Ever think he’d probably have more free time if he just killed the Joker? Well the Night Lords attitude to crime prevention may suit you! Their gene-father Conrad Curze believed that the only effective method of rule was fear and this permeates into the actions of his sons.
Aaron Dembski-Bowden is considered a king of the Black Library and this was the series that put his name on the map.
The omnibus follows the Chaos Marine Talos Valcoran known as “Soul Hunter” as he desperately tries to keep himself above the supernatural corruptions offered by the Warp all the while suffering with terrible prophetic visions similar to that of Conrad Curze.
What makes this book stand out is the dynamic of his combat squad. Their personalities clash and if they were not a team, they would murder each other in a heartbeat. Yet through it all they would DESTROY anyone who threatened a member of their team. It doesn’t fall into the standard troupe of forearm clasping and yelling “BROTHER!” that can happen when reading about Space Marines.
At the heart of it they are murderous Space Pirates out for plunder and they aren’t above a little skinning!