Category Archives: Reviews

Auric Gods – Nick Kyme

Book three in the Black Library Novella Series 1, Nick Kyme’s Auric Gods is a sort of 40k-noir story crossed with an exploration of the role of the Adeptus Custodes in the Dark Imperium era. On a world at the fringe of the Sol system, peacekeeper Ursula Gedd and the shadowy Meroved – once a Shield Captain of the Adeptus Custodes, now an Eye of the Emperor – investigate worrying patterns within their city, Vorganthian. Meanwhile on Terra, three Custodians are gathered by Trajann Valoris and sent out from the Throneworld to recover a dangerous artifact, stolen from deep beneath the Imperial Palace.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Blood Bound – Rob Sanders

Available either as a standalone e-short or within the Dan Abnett-edited Sabbat Crusade anthology, Rob Sanders’ The Blood Bound is an Iron Snakes short story which follows on from an early Gaunt’s Ghosts tale. Sergeant Porphyrian and Squad Orpheon have been tasked by the Ordo Hereticus to investigate the disappearance of a Commissariat ship carrying the notorious heretic Sholen Skara. Finding the defiled corpse of the vessel in orbit above an eerily silent Imperial world, it soon becomes clear that while their orders are to retrieve Skara alive, that might just be easier said than done.

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Titandeath – Guy Haley

Guy Haley’s Titandeath, book 53 in the Horus Heresy series, is the penultimate novel before the Siege of Terra begins and the first proper look at the vast battle for the Beta-Garmon system. With both sides throwing ever-increasing numbers of troops and war machines into the grinder, the focus here is on the Titan Legios of Solaria (or Imperial Hunters) and Vulpa (Death Stalkers) as they clash throughout the system. There’s history between the two Legios that goes beyond general antipathy for the opposing side, and for Princeps Esha Ani Mohana of the Legio Solaria there’s a very personal element at the heart of the conflict.

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Steel Daemon – Ian St. Martin

Book two in the Black Library Novella Series 1, Ian St. Martin’s Steel Daemon is a gritty, uncompromising story which pits a traumatised airman and a cynical tank crew against the horrors of the Crimson Slaughter during the 13th Black Crusade. After his Marauder is downed, young Heit Lytviak finds salvation in the shape of the Cadian Leman Russ battle tank Imperial Son, joining as an impromptu and somewhat ill-disciplined gunner under the steely supervision of Lieutenant Knispel. Against the brutality of the Crimson Slaughter, however, the Cadians are cut off from their lines and forced onto the back foot.

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QUICK REVIEW: At the Sign of the Brazen Claw – Guy Haley

The first instalment in a five part serial, At the Sign of the Brazen Claw sees Guy Haley continue the saga of Prince Maesa and Shattercap with a story within a story. Atop a lonely mountain in Shyish there lies an inn called the Brazen Claw, where Maesa and Shattercap shelter from a storm and wait for a Kharadron airship, alongside the innkeeper, his family and other guests. To fill the time the innkeeper suggests the telling of tales, and proceeds to regale his guests with the story of how he came to build the inn of the Brazen Claw.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Firstborn Daughter – Filip Wiltgren

Another Black Library debut in the pages of Inferno! Volume 1, Filip Wiltgren’s The Firstborn Daughter is a tale of prejudice and treachery amongst the Vostroyan Firstborn, and a warning against idolising your heroes. Lieutenant Ekaterina Idra leads her light platoon against the traitor forces on Tovoga, despite the grumbling of men not used to being led by a woman. When she joins forces with the renowned Major Haskel, at first she’s happy to be fighting alongside a hero of the Imperium. As Haskel grows increasingly erratic, however, Idra finds herself viewing the man in an increasingly negative light.

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Realmslayer – David Guymer

After the fateful events of Slayer, and the death of the Old World, it looked for a while as though we’d seen the end of Gotrek and Felix. In David Guymer’s Realmslayer, however, Gotrek steps into the Age of Sigmar, doom unfulfilled, angrier than ever, missing his axe, and wondering what’s going on. Oh, and voiced by Brian Blessed too! Across a four-part audio drama Gotrek battles his way through Aqshy and Shyish in the dubious company of fyreslayers, a Khainite aelf, a necromancer and even a manling or two, searching for his place in this new world…and also Felix.

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The Bloodied Rose – Danie Ware

The first book in the Black Library Novella Series 1, Danie Ware’s The Bloodied Rose picks up the story of Sister Superior Augusta after the events of the short story Mercy. Having returned to the Convent Sanctorum of the Order of the Bloody Rose to rest and induct the newest member of the squad, Augusta and her Sisters are unexpectedly ordered back to Lautis, the site of their recent confrontation with the orks. The Sisters sent in to secure Lautis have gone silent, and Augusta’s mission report questioned, so she is tasked with returning and finishing what she started.

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Dark Imperium: Plague War – Guy Haley

The sequel to 2017’s Dark Imperium and the second book in the trilogy, Guy Haley’s Dark Imperium: Plague War continues the story of Guilliman’s ongoing battle against the forces of his brother Mortarion. With the Death Guard rampaging throughout Greater Ultramar, Guilliman makes for embattled Parmenio where he hopes to bring Mortarion to battle and kill his corrupted brother once and for all. Forces from both sides of the conflict are drawn to Parmenio, from Mortarion’s daemonic allies to the great space station Galatan, while Guilliman’s determined secular stance is challenged by growing evidence of something (potentially) divine making itself known.

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QUICK REVIEW: Hallowed Knights: The Denied – Josh Reynolds

A short, twenty-ish minute ‘commuter audio’, Josh Reynolds’ The Denied is part of the wider Hallowed Knights series although it features new characters rather than familiar faces. Fulfilling an oath to the Collegiate Arcane, Knight-Questor Akastus has tracked down the aelf corsair Salekh after the theft of a dangerous artifact. Akastus plans to return to Hammerhal Ghyra and hand the corsair over for punishment, but as he marches Salekh in chains through the insalubrious docklands, it becomes clear that other forces are on the hunt for his prisoner as well, on behalf of ‘she who was denied’.

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