Adrian Southin makes his Black Library debut with Path of Grief, a Warhammer 40,000 short story in which a grieving Aeldari of Saim-Hann relives the trauma that set her on a dangerous trajectory. Itheiul has walked many paths alongside her brother, Arsan, but after his death she has become absorbed by the Path of Grief. As she meditates over the singing spear he used in life, she recalls the desperate battle by his side against the tyranids on a ravaged Exodite world which led to his death, struggling to reconcile herself to the price they paid for victory.
Southin tells a sombre story which cleverly plays with the core Aeldari concept of the Paths and the intense way in which they feel emotion, with Itheiul’s sorrow filling her with both anger and ennui. It starts off quite slowly but builds momentum, and both elements – action and reflection – are executed well. The breathless, fast-paced aerial battle against the tyranids is counterbalanced by Itheiul’s bitterness at what it took from her, and the message is clear – for her there’s no glory in what happened, only grief. Personal, emotional and character-driven, it’s both an enjoyable standalone story and a satisfying, insightful representation of this aspect of the Aeldari in 40k.
