Author Archives: Michael

Severed – Nate Crowley

It’s a rare Warhammer 40,000 story that’s told from a necron viewpoint, however Nate Crowley’s novella Severed achieves the unexpected – adding a fascinating sense of character, pathos and even soul to the supposedly soulless necrontyr. Vargard Obyron has fought beside Nemesor Zahndrekh for millennia, applying his loyalty and skill at arms in concert with Zahndrekh’s unrivalled strategic insight despite his lord’s idiosyncratic, troubled world view. Tasked with a mysterious mission to the Ghoul Stars alongside an old and dubious ally, they find themselves confronted by a darkness that profoundly challenges the bond between them, and Zahndrekh’s already tattered sanity.

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The First Wall – Gav Thorpe

Following on from The Solar War and The Lost and the Damned, Gav Thorpe’s The First Wall tackles the next brutal stage of the Siege of Terra as the traitors push hard against Terra’s defences, both physical and metaphysical. Determined to prove himself to Horus and humble his loyalist brother Dorn, Perturabo tasks the blunt instrument of Warsmith Kroeger with taking the Lion’s Gate spaceport. As the Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists clash in their thousands, Custodian Amon Tauromachian investigates the growing influence of the Lectitio Divinitatus within the Palace, while in distant Afrik proud volunteers of Addaba Hive join the muster, and embark on an epic journey to Himalazia.

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QUICK REVIEW: Path of Grief – Adrian Southin

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.

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Author Spotlight – Denny Flowers

Welcome to this instalment of my Author Spotlight series of interviews, which aim to give an overview of each author’s background and approach to writing, and a slightly more detailed look at one of their books in particular. In this instalment I spoke to Denny Flowers about his background, influences and route to writing for Black Library, some great writing advice, Drukhari love stories (…sort of), and his new Necromunda novella Low Lives (which is available to buy right now).

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Code of the Skies – Graeme Lyon

A Kharadron Overlords novella for Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Graeme Lyon’s Code of the Skies is a pacy, action-packed and well-observed tale of the conflict between head and heart. Admiral Borri Kraglan has a reputation for rash decisions, and when a strange duardin artefact is discovered in the treasury of a conquered Dreadhold, she convinces her crews to bend the Kharadron Code and follow her on a dangerous mission. Borri believes the artefact is a map to the location of the fabled lost sky-hold Barak-Zhoff, but she risks breaking more than just the Code on her journey to find it.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Sorcerer’s Tale – Guy Haley (At the Sign of the Brazen Claw Part Four)

Guy Haley’s multi-part Age of Sigmar story At the Sign of the Brazen Claw reaches its fourth and penultimate instalment with The Sorcerer’s Tale, in which Hyshian sorcerer Pludu Quasque tells a story of arrogance, envy and dread. He tells how, as a young man, he ignored his father’s advice, neglected his studies and let bitterness cloud his judgement until a final rash act saw him oath-bound to retrieve a long-lost jewel from the depths of the skaven underworld. As Prince Maesa, Shattercap and the other travellers listen to Quasque’s dour tale, the storm shaking the inn steadily grows in intensity.

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Castle of Blood – CL Werner

CL Werner’s Castle of Blood, his first full Warhammer Horror novel, is a dark and often disturbing Age of Sigmar murder mystery packed full of despicable characters, ingeniously lethal traps and a hideous daemonic threat. In the town of Ravensbach, eight families receive invitations to join the Count von Koeterberg for dinner at the ominous iron castle of Mhurghast, each wondering why they have been invited. Once gathered together, the bitter old Count reveals his motivation, setting loose an ancient daemon whose terrifying presence turns the families against each other and even themselves in the name of long-desired revenge.

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Mark of Faith – Rachel Harrison

In her second Black Library novel, Mark of Faith, Rachel Harrison tackles both the Sisters of Battle and the Inquisition in an intense and emotional story featuring the expected themes of faith and fervour but also family, purpose and the possibility of rebirth. After losing everything in defence of Ophelia VII, Sister Evangeline of the Order of Our Martyred Lady is sent on a divine quest to seek out the Shield of Saint Katherine in Imperium Nihilus. To Inquisitor Ravara of the Ordo Malleus, Evangeline’s mission offers the opportunity to serve her own ends and undo a terrible wrong. Haunted by ghosts of the past and wrestling with their duties, both find their faith tested and their paths profoundly challenged.

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Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – via Grimdark Magazine

It’s with great pleasure that I can tell you I’ve had my first review published by the excellent Grimdark Magazine, for Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. If you haven’t come across Grimdark Magazine before, and in case the name hasn’t given the game away, it’s a website and (quarterly) digital magazine specialising in science fiction and fantasy of the darkest dark. You should check it out, it’s awesome! Go on – here’s the link. I’ve reviewed a story from the magazine before, but I’m delighted to be now writing reviews for the site, although don’t worry – it’s in addition to Track of Words, not instead!

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The Beast Inside – Darius Hinks

A follow up to his novel Blackstone Fortress, Darius Hinks’ audio drama The Beast Inside sees dashing, debonair Janus Draik return to the Blackstone to seek out the dreaded Ambull. Fearing that rival Rogue Trader Ava Victrix means to try and capture the beast and return it to Precipice – where it might run riot and cause untold chaos – Draik is determined to find it first and kill it. Accompanied by the kroot Dahyak Grekh and a group of retainers he sets off in search of the Ambull, but finds the fortress crawling with Chaos cultists and strange, lethal insect-like creatures.

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