Author Archives: Michael

RAPID FIRE: David Annandale Talks Neferata: Mortarch of Blood

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to David Annandale about his first Age of Sigmar novel, Neferata: Mortarch of Blood, which is available to order right now. As usual, let’s get straight to the questions and David’s answers.

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RAPID FIRE: Josh Reynolds Talks Blackshields: The Red Fief

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to Josh Reynolds about his latest Horus Heresy audio drama Blackshields: The Red Fief, the follow up to the excellent Blackshields: The False War. It’s available to order this weekend, so get ready to pick it up very soon!

As usual, let’s get straight to the questions and Josh’s answers.

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RAPID FIRE: Guy Haley Talks Wolfsbane

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to Guy Haley about his latest Horus Heresy novel Wolfsbane (book number 49!), which is available to order this weekend. You can also have a read of my review here if you fancy checking that out.

As usual, let’s get straight to the questions and Guy’s answers.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Strange Demise of Titus Endor – Dan Abnett

An Eisenhorn short story that doesn’t actually feature Eisenhorn, Dan Abnett’s The Strange Demise of Titus Endor is a bleak, unsettling story and a reminder that the horrors of the 41st millennium come in all sorts of forms. Focusing, unsurprisingly, on Eisenhorn’s old friend Titus Endor, it finds the inquisitor alone in a drab city, hunting an elusive quarry who always seems just out of reach. Musing on recollections of his old master, Hapshant, Endor wonders what happened to his friend Eisenhorn, even as he follows up clues to his quarry’s whereabouts which point to sinister omens and old ghosts.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Keys to Ruin – David Annandale

David Annadale’s short story The Keys to Ruin is (along with his Shattered Crucible) one of four stories from the Legends of the Age of Sigmar: Fyreslayers anthology, intended to introduce readers to the Fyreslayers as a new faction. Battling through legions of daemons and landscapes twisted against them, the Fyreslayers of the Drunbhold lodge follow a little-known prophecy and march to join with another, long-separated lodge. Leaving the great magmahold of Sibilatus and following the ever-present song of the wind, they seek out a realmgate to speed them towards their prophesied destination.

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Hammerhal – Josh Reynolds

Josh Reynolds’ Age of Sigmar novella Hammerhal is a surprisingly ambitious tale filled with action, adventure, faith and dark magic. Spanning the Realms of Ghyran and Aqshy, the twin cities of Hammerhal Ghyra and Hammerhal Aqsha are protected by powerful wards – but a darkness nevertheless grows within their walls, and in the dark Hexwood of the Nevergreen Mountains in Ghyran the beastkin gather. While Lord-Celestant Gardus Steel-Soul lends the Hallowed Knights’ strength to the sylvaneth against the tzaangor beastkin, knight of the Order of Azyr Sol Gage leads his comrades in excising the darkness that lurks within Hammerhal.

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Black Library Weekly – W/C 30/04/18

Hello and welcome to the latest instalment of Black Library Weekly, my regular look at what’s been happening in the world of Black Library. This week has brought with it a new short story featuring the Black Library debut of a brand new faction, some new editions of existing stories at the weekend, a little bit of events-based news…and a whole RAFT of upcoming releases ready to burn through our wallets in August. Without further ado…

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QUICK REVIEW: Backcloth for a Crown Additional – Dan Abnett

In Dan Abnett’s short story Backcloth for a Crown Additional, inquisitor Eisenhorn turns paranormal detective as he investigates the unexpected and increasingly suspicious death of Lord Aen Froigre, head of one of the ancient noble houses of Gudrun. An old friend of Eisenhorn, Froigre’s death is enough to drag Gregor and Bequin away from a precious moment of peace and quiet. What might otherwise have been a simple, if emotional, investigation proves to be rather more complex when it’s revealed that Froigre died of terror, and Eisenhorn detects a trace of warpcraft on the Froigre estate.

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Monthly Highlights – April 2018

April has come and gone in a flash, so it’s time to look back at another month’s worth of novel, short story and audio drama reviews to pull together my Monthly Highlights. It’s been another excellent month in terms of the standard of stories I’ve been reading and reviewing, but one particular author – and one story especially – stands out as an absolute highlight. As usual I’ve also picked a couple of honourable mentions from among everything else I’ve read, and this month all three of my choices are Black Library stories. With that in mind, let’s crack straight on.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Sea Taketh – David Guymer

The first ever Idoneth Deepkin story from Black Library, David Guymer’s The Sea Taketh explores a creepy new side to Age of Sigmar. Kharadron sky-captain Ingdrin Jonsson mounts a dangerous expedition to the bottom of the ocean to find and explore the abandoned city of Aighmar, claiming his rightful plunder as per the Kharadron Code. Not all of the Mortal Realms’ inhabitants recognise the Code, however. Fearful of what he has stirred up from the deeps, Jonsson flees for the safety of his airship, only to find the haunting call of the ocean dogging his every step.

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