Friday 3 June 2016

Kaelo Rylanus; Roboute Guilliman - Lord of Ultramar Book Review

Hi all

I thought I would post something a little bit different tonight and have a look at my current book. I wanted to write about it now because then I couldn't accidentally include spoilers lol. Long time readers will know that I am a huge Ultramarine fan and that Roboute Guilliman is my favourite Primarch, so when a limited edition book about him was leaked I knew I had to have it.


First of all I would like to discuss the quality of the actual item. The hardback comes in a black protective case which has some embellished symbols and iconography which looks to have been hand painted (not an even finish). But it feels very weighty and secure with what seems to be a magnetic clasp for the fold-down.




Inside the case is the continued artwork from the front cover with Guilliman striding forward (with no iris' or pupils for some reason lol). Behind him are some MKIV marines all in the beautiful Ultramarine blue. On the left hand side is the unique identity number and the book slides out of the right hand compartment.


The book itself has a smooth cover with a fabric spine. The big mans beautiful mug is plastered across the front <3


The pages are thick like light card and have a silver/metallic edge. It's not a particularly long book, rocking in at around 180 pages.

I have read a large chunk of the book already and class it as fair to good. Maybe my expectations were a little bit high (Roboute Guilliman + Great Crusade = boyhood dream) so it's probably my fault partly. Although extremely well written, I am finding it hard to enjoy any of the characters. Guilliman seems to be making mistakes (in the eyes of his entire legion), captains are bickering and there is a large focus on units who are not being utilised (this story arc hasn't concluded so it may be building for the last 50 or so pages). 

What could have been an awesome in-depth description of a massive campaign against an Ork empire has, in my opinion, just turned into a prequel to the Horus Heresy. I personally believe that is a wasted opportunity. This should have been Great Crusade. 

Overall I am reasonably happy with the purchase. The presentation feels a little bit cheap and the book is not what I expected but, as said before, it is very well written. I will buy the future publications for Jaghatai Khan, Corax, Horus and Magnus, probably Vulkan too, but this will purely be because they are potential campaigns that we can reproduce for the blog.

I hope you have enjoyed my little review. Were you lucky enough to get a copy before it sold out? What are your opinions? I am desperate to hear other people's opinions so please comment below.

Stay fluffy

Kaelo

9 comments:

  1. Very nice. I plan on getting Vulkan, at the least. Hopefully they can be ordered through GW stores? We're finally getting our first store in Idaho. If I don't have to pay shipping, all the better. Otherwise it's rather expensive for a novella.

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    1. You usually get free shipping on items at this price point from the website.

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    2. GW stores usually have a bunch of the latest BL novels there :)

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  2. I got it, as I always do with do with the limited editions. Poor back balance :'( Luckily my girlfriend appreciates how beautiful the books are.

    Anyway the story itself definitely comes together as the book goes on. It's not fresh in my mind as I ready my copy a few weeks ago but I'd say it's one of the authors better books, Unburdened for example I had real trouble with. As for them being prequels to the Horus Heresy, that's exactly Black Library's aim with the series whilst showing a more in depth look at the Primarchs characters. I'd say the book succeeds in that regard.

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  3. Yeah I think the author is okay, I was hoping against hope when they first announced the series that Guilliman would be done by ones who have done him well like ADB or Dan. Heck I'd even be psyched if Haley wrote him.

    I am a long time UM fan boy and also love Guilliman so my expectations are too high. I have the book and waiting until I have some nice free time to read it. At least based on the excerpt they had available it seems decent. As for the book itself my only complaint is the artwork. Not a fan of the eyes and artwork in general. I guess NR can't do it all. At least it isn't Russ...god that one is awful!

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  4. I bought the book as well though I haven't read it yet-I'm still having a good time re-reading and catching up on the Heresy novels...all the way from the start...for no other reason other than I can...and I like them...

    Anyway, by once I'm with them the Primarchs series should be well under way...but I plan to read the Beast Arises series exit. Soooo once I've finished the Heresy series and the Beast Arises series then the Primarchs series will, hopefully, be so far done that I can read each book as they come out with little interruption. That's the Grand Plan anyway...

    And I'm collecting them all as the fancy limited edition because it would be rude not to...

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  5. I have just come across this book in my local charity shop,its exactly the same as above but where the ltd edition book number is theres only the 2500 not another number ie 200/2500? any ideas about this?

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  6. Wow lucky dude finding in charity shop! Unsure about the missing number. Would happily aquire this if it were still available :-(

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