Vulkan Lives cover art

Vulkan Lives

The Horus Heresy, Book 26

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Vulkan Lives

By: Nick Kyme
Narrated by: Saul Reichlin
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About this listen

In the wake of the Dropsite Massacre at Isstvan V, the survivors of the Salamanders Legion searched long and hard for their fallen primarch, but to no avail. Little did they know that while Vulkan might have wished himself dead, he lives still...languishing in a hidden cell for the entertainment of a cruel gaoler, his brother Konrad Curze.

Enduring a series of hellish tortures designed to break his body and spirit, Vulkan witnesses the depths of the Night Haunter's depravity but also discovers something else - a revelation that could change the course of the entire war.

©2013 Games Workshop Limited (P)2013 Games Workshop Limited Science Fiction Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant  
A really good story about the best primarch! I would recommend for any son of nocturne.

Vulkan lives!

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I really enjoy the style of being in the thoughts of a primarch, it suits Vulcan's more grounded aspect and I found the book in general well written with the performance being well done and captivating, buy it.

Nice to get a primates l primarch's perspective

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I'm so glad I finally picked this book up and listened to it!
I almost didn't buy this book when it was on offer in a 2 for 1 credits deal as id already gone past it in story. But after reading the reviews I thought why not as I hadn't read much about Vulkan yet.
My god am I SO glad I did! its not very often a book grips me from start to finish and there aren't many books that allows you to read and follow the mind and thoughts of a Primarch. This book is just fantastic and has skyrocketed Vulkan into easily my top 5 Primarchs now (maybe even top 3)
My advice is get this book! I'd be very surprised if anyone is dissatisfied after listening to it!

Read it!!!

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The book is intentionally designed as a mirror to the psychological torture of the main character. This is very effective, as the jumping around in time disorienting and unsettling. However, as with most narrative devices, these often run the risk of detracting from the enjoyment of the story. I found that the narrative device, designed to replicate torture, was at times - painful.

Excellent in parts, but an acquired taste

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So, I’ve just finished Vulkan Lives and don’t take my three stars as a hatred for the book, or even a blandness. I actually very much enjoyed good chunks of it, the narration is also pretty solid. Here’s why I’ve said 3 stars, it’s almost a bunch of short stories. Mild spoilers:

There’s a narrative about Vulkan and Nighthaunter pre-betrayal, there’s parts about Istavann V, there’s parts about Vulkan’s capture and torture, there’s a plot about the Word Bearers and some remnants of the legions who survived the drop site massacre and also John Gramaticus.

It just didn’t tie together super tightly or cohesively, I found it a jarring as a single novel but enjoyed some of the stories inside. It’s certainly not the worst HH book I’ve read, nowhere near the best either. Interested to see what other books about the Salamanders do with this foundation.

Kind of a bizarre book

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Decent story but hugely drawn out without much conclusion for any of the characters (other books have given the minor heresy characters a story within a book, not do much here). Maybe just not quite to my tastes I guess, always loved the idea of the honourable but broken Salamanders legion struggling to stay true to Vulcan's ideals of protecting the weak; I didn't find much of that ethos outside of Vulkans own sections of the book. Also not too keen on the voice given to Curze (my own fault for listening to Jonathan Keeble's portrayal of the character directly before this book). Enjoyable and I don't regret listening but certainly not the best.

Not the best of the Horus Heresy

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it was a good book but a bit slow for my liking with the story

slow but good

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This is definitely in the of 5 of the series so far. I loved the narration and was completely engaged in the story the whole time. a great introduction to Vulcan. Loved this book!

One of the best!

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Lots of Curze tormenting Vulkan. LOTS.

The sub-plot(s) with John Grammaticus and Barthusa Narek was far for engaging. Two really interesting characters.

Pretty slow & bleak. Preferred the sub-plot

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I went into the book with low expectations after reading some reviews, and Arbitor Ian giving the collective HH Salamanders novels 1/5. it certainly isn't on par with Legion, Fulgrim or The First Heretic, and the Istvan V sequences feel a bit long at times.

It does however manage to write Vulcan as a good POV character, and the exchanges between him and Kurze lead to a good payoff in the end. The ending brings catharsis in a good way, and the plotline about the broken legionaries and John Gramaticus I found quite compelling.

I'd say give it a spin and make the judgement for yourself - I'm glad I did!

Not as bad as people say

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