Lorgar: Bearer of the Word - Gav Thorpe

Book - Lorgar: Bearer of the Word

Writer - Gav Thorpe 

Series - Horus Heresy: Primarchs #5

Narrator - Jonathan Keeble

Publisher - Games Workshop / Black Library 

There are times when you know beforehand that the book you are picking up is bound to be a bleak and gut-wrenching experience, but you still do read it because you want to observe the execution and the lore. If you are into Horus Heresy you know about the tragic story of Lorgars upbringing from various internet resources, but it will surely be quite difficult to give up experiencing it as a Black Library novel.

Most of the story of 'Bearer of the Word' takes place during Lorgar's younger years, told from the viewpoints of Kor Phaeron and one of his slaves Nairo, as they view the superhuman charisma of Lorgar while trying to manipulate him for their own purposes.

The harsh upbringing of Lorgar is explained through glimpses of his foundation into the religious doctrines of the dry world of Colchis. The geography and broader religion of this world are also explored somewhat during the telling of his story and action takes a backseat as the author focuses more on telling us why and how Lorgar became one of the most important precursors in the design of chaos to bring about the heresy.

None of the characters presented here are likeable, having little redeemable qualities and all vigorously attempting to use Lorgar to promote their own agenda. Kor Phaeron is a despicable father figure and always scheming behind his adoptive sons back for his own vested interests. Even faced with the inevitable coming of the Emperor, he keeps thinking of ways to reestablish his old religion rather than progress into the ways of the empire.

Lorgar himself is a character having multiple layers despite seeming too gullible and innocent at first. I would have really liked it if the author had explored further upon his psyche. I would have loved a chapter detailing the Emperor's arrival and how Kor Phaeron and Lorgar perceived it. And despite everything due to the subject, the audiobook seemed like a hard listen due to mental and physical tortures and other unwholesome aspects of the story.

The narration by Jonathan Keeble was simply sublime and added much to the atmosphere and psyche of the characters and made some of the slog through the harder bits of the prose bearable.

This gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me, and I would definitely like a sequel of sorts detailing further exploration into the early days of the Word Bearers, as I am a fan of them as a Legion (sure as hell I am a minority here).