La galaxia arde envuelta en llamas. Los primarcas leales al Emperador se preparan para enfrentarse al Señor de la Guerra Horus y a las legiones traidoras en la arena negra de Isstvan. Una época tan oscura sólo puede ser el anuncio de nuevos sucesos terribles que están por ocurrir. El astrópata Kai Zulane descubre sin querer un secreto capaz de alterar el rumbo de la guerra, y tiene que huir. Se lanza junto a una misteriosa banda de renegados al letal submundo de Terra, donde aquellos en los que antaño confiaba le dan caza como si fuera un criminal. Ante la traición, Kai debe decidir a quién jurará lealtad, y si enterrar o no para siempre algunas verdades.

I really look forward to each Horus Heresy book I can get to and this one really did not disappoint. Granted, the Heresy really took off with the first 3 books, then there's been stories pertaining to this first trilogy since then, but this one was a very interesting "side" story that has huge implications for the galactic civil war portrayed in this saga. Kai Zulane, astropath, has been entrusted with an extremely important piece of information concerning Horus Lupercal's treachery against the Emperor. The problem is he does not know what it is as it has been psychically buried deep within him. This makes him a wanted man, as an outlaw group and others close to the Imperium on Terra are after Kai to use this information. The "Outcast Dead" are imprisoned Space Marines from various legions that seize Kai and set out on a mission to escape from Terra and get Kai to Horus in an attempt to reveal this information he has. The ending is a real bombshell where the Heresy is concerned, and I really enjoyed seeing where Kai ended up as some real nasty battles occur between the Marines and the outlaw group. A worthy addition to the Heresy, IMHO. ( )

Another good addition to the Horus Heresy, but fist off the growing negative. The Black Library needs to hire a proof reader or fire the one they have. I've noticed a lot of problems in the last few additions and this one might be the worst. The Outcast Dead is about a Astropath who is given information that the Emperor wishes to have to help against Horus but who falls in the hands of Space Marines who might want to take him to Horus and the hunt to get him back. There are a lot of good characters in this novel including some from the Unity Wars that predate the Space Marines. ( )