Lion El'Jonson: Lord of the First

The Horus Heresy Primarchs, Book 13

By: David Guymer

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Book 13 of the Primarchs series.

Listen to It Because

The Dark Angels have their secrets...and their primarch is no exception. Discover what the Lion was up to while the Great Crusade came to an end.

The Story

Each primarch is an exemplary being, derived from the Emperor’s own genetic stock to embody a facet of His personality. Their powers are unfathomable, but only one of them is the First. Lion El’Jonson is the paragon of what it is to be a primarch. His Legion, pre-eminent for most of their long history, typify the virtues of temperance, pride and martial excellency that the Lion embodies. They are the Emperor’s last line and final sanction. They are His Dark Angels.

Now, while the Emperor gathers His mightiest sons for an assault on Ullanor Prime, the Lord of the First instead draws his Legion to the farthest reaches of the known galaxy, seeking to subdue a single rebellious world. Is this but another example of the Lion’s infamous pride, or is there more afoot amidst that graveyard of empires that is the Ghoul Stars, more than the Lion will share even with his own sons?

Written by David Guymer. Narrated by Jonathan Keeble.

©2020 Games Workshop Limited (P)2020 Games Workshop Limited

The dark majesty of The First

Beautifully written beautifully read, captures the quintessence of the Emperor’s Exterminator. Interesting interactions throughout and bloody action. Really good stuff.

Not what I was expecting (in a GREAT way)

Going into this novella I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised that it took some twists and turns into the realm of horror and mystery.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the Lion and the First Legion, but this story turned that around for me. The characterization of the Lion as a dark genius who does what he must out of a sense of duty was a refreshing change, and it really endeared him to me as a character.

David Guymer’s very clever use of secondary and tertiary characters to set the mood and mystery of the story was clever, and I really appreciated all of the details and depth of the First Legion. Combat scenes came in fast and furious, like a hyperkinetic anime and it was a joy to follow along.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone, whether new to Warhammer or a grizzled veteran of the grim darkness of the future.

Fantastic!

I can’t recall reading or listening to any of Guymer’s books, but I really liked this one. Very well done! As always, Keeble is the best. Definitely my favorite of the Warhammer narrators. Use a credit on this one, you heretics!

Bit boring by comparison to the others in the seri

Read the title it said everything.

Nine eight seven six five for the two one

For the Lion

Entertaining. Interesting ending. A must read for any Dark Angel fan. Certainly one of the better Primarch novels but not top 5.