This audio drama is all about the turn, the significant moment in allegiances, battles, wars when there is a paradigm shift, and I realise this the moment when I turn from not being able to stand the Emperor's Children, especially Eidolon, to becoming a fan of the ever-splintering Slaaneshi host and nightmare-wrought Cacophoni as they become ever more warped into the Noise Marines we know and love.

Tensions are higher in the III Legion than the evening when a salt-rimed, soaked, and sulky Lucius wouldn't shut up about a certain bloody golden bastard and whinging about drawing first blood, but damned Astartes healing works too fast. With the absence of the Primarch in any of his various states, the Legion is torn on who should be in charge, which leads to further squabbling fratricide.

You know what they say, never bring a bolter to Chaos-blessed horrifying banshee screaming fight...

On the face of it, this is just another tale of the Emperor's Children carrying on their eponymous father's legacy of fostering the most possible toxic family environment, and it is that. But it's also a well written tale with some gloriously excruciating details, both in the physical descriptions of the Dark Prinze's blessings and battle, as well as some decent dialogue.

It's also a significant moment for the Legion as one of these two captains will become Legion Master in the Phoenician's absence and the effects of the atmosphere, toxins, abilities, and combat further reshape the Cataphracti inside and out in a configuration of lament.

I'll admit that I'm a real sucker for Chaos and Noise Marines, so I'm definitely biased with this being my jam, but I do have enough self control and way too much experience in these stories over the year, especially the last week that has seen me able to only do minimal exercise, my share around the house, and be somewhat alive, with the rest of the time horizontal and/ or insomniacally playing Space Marine it the pain is too bad, all while only having enough brain for my Warhammer stories (it's been over 11 hours of audio dramas in the last few days...)...all that to say as much as Black Library and Horus Heresy get graded on curves and I really enjoyed elements of this, I still can't quite give it full marks.

But it is good. I do recommend it, but I'm not Slaaneshi throat screaming about it, unless you are a Child of the Emperor or a plaything of the wee weird Chaos bairn god. ( )