Excellent, unique in its kind.

Script and direction: 4/5
This is a very well constructed novel, although small introduction launches the plot and provides the framework: there will be blood! And not a little, history take good time to implement this Chapter to present a full and unknown heroes disgrace, but when the action starts it's a real slaughter. I have not felt downtime, schemes declines are measured and used to expand a diverse background. The crescendo story is very compelling and devours greedily, indicating a very good staging.
The characters (many) are very well worked, although some are a bit caricatured I was not so bothered. The hero is particularly well treated, his dishonor, doubts and determination are very well described in the introspective passages on his thoughts in the early chapters. I find it very endearing and the author succeeded in a masterstroke: bring out both the human side and a human-Astartes, an admirable balancing exercise.

Style and Writing: 4/5
I did not know so this author but he surprised me, for good. His style even if it does not equal the large BL is still very pleasant, smooth and catchy. I did not notice any heaviness or stylistic facilities, few imperfections in some dialogues but nothing shocking to me.

Interest Fluffique: 5/5
Then there is the feast, the author spoils us with this Chapter disregarded Excoriators he built their identity in a very meaty, it is full of information on these son of Dorn. The passage on the blades Day is also very informative. The background on Ecclesiarchy is also very present, describing the decadence of this rotting and dogmatic organization, the passage of an Order Adepta Sororitas is also discussed briefly. Icing on the cake: the fluff on the worshipers of Khorne! It focuses on thirty pages but it's very pleasant, description of the components of a Blood Crusade is excellent. We learn the names of many factions that compose it: the rebel regiments IM, cultists and mutants, many renegades Chapters and of course the arch-traitors World Eaters. The demonic bestiary is also well provided.

Personal rating: 5/5
I board enjoyed a very nice novel that completely reassembled in my estimation this series of the Battles of the Astartes, and that made me discover a talented author.
While some readers cried rape because of lack of fluff on the Legion of the Damned, the syndrome is called the "misleading title" but in my opinion it's a kid caprice, totally unjustified. How would reveal tons of information about a legion supposed to be mysterious without breaking the myth? And then there still to some (small) information, not to mention overkill Legionnaires when they finally take action. Personally I loved, they are described in an allegorical and mysterious way as the protectors ghosts they are. The book would have been tasteless without it ...

Overall rating: 18/20