Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia – Guy Haley

4 stars

It was so interesting seeing how Perturabo grew up before the Emperor found him juxtaposed with the meaningless mission Perturabo and his Legion were sent on in the present.

Perturabo was so much harder and colder here than in Magnus’ book, it’s wild to see the difference a few years make. He had such a hair-trigger temper here also that seems to have mitigated by the time he’s running with Magnus and the Sons, and he seems to have gained a little bit more humanity as the years passed after his destruction of his home world.

This book hit me right in the heart! Reading from the perspectives of some of his sons as they fought the hrud and often died horrible deaths was an absolute tragedy. Their struggle and the seeming disconnect with Perturabo were so freaking sad and when it all finally came to a head at Olympia? Horrifying. But it was the massive wake up call that Perturabo needed, allowing him to finally mature and grow into himself.

He’s still kind of a jerk though……