Monthly Highlights – February 2018

Welcome to March! 2018 is two months down already, if you can believe it, and in February I posted twenty-one reviews of books, short stories and audio dramas here on Track of Words. As with last month, when I published my first Monthly Highlights article, I’m taking a quick look back at everything I read and pulling out a few highlights. Once again I’ve picked a single story to be the main highlight, along with a couple that merit notable mentions.

Last month I went with an audio drama as my main highlight, but while February was chock full of short stories, this time I’m going with a novel – although once again it’s something I picked up as a pre-release at an event. February’s highlight for me was Wolfsbane by Guy Haley, the 49th novel in the Horus Heresy series. Check out my review here.

Keep reading…

Ashes of Prospero – Gav Thorpe

The second novel in the burgeoning Space Marine Conquests series, Gav Thorpe’s Ashes of Prospero sees the Space Wolves stretched thin in the wake of the Cicatrix Maledictum and Magnus’ assault on Fenris. When a weary Njal Stormcaller finds the spirit of a dead Thousand Sons sorcerer lodged within his mind, the revenant reveals that Bulveye and remnants of the 13th Grand Company still fight on, trapped within the Portal Maze. Though loathe to trust the ghostly presence, the prospect of retrieving Bulveye is enough for Njal to risk venturing to Prospero with what few battle brothers he can find.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: Bloodwalker – CL Werner

A tale of Malus Darkblade in the original Warhammer setting, CL Werner’s Bloodwalker was first published in volume two of the 2012 Black Library Weekender anthology before getting the standalone eshort treatment. Set somewhere between the events of the original Abnett/Lee stories and Werner’s own End Times novel Deathblade, it sees Malus and Spite making their way to Hag Graef only to be variously ambushed, betrayed and forced to battle a horrific daemon. Malus has powerful enemies, but some dangers are enough to force unusual alliances…at least temporarily.

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: Dirty Dealings – Rachel Harrison

Kora Zekk, protagonist of Rachel Harrison’s Necromunda short story Dirty Dealings, is a sharp, tough, hard-nosed hustler. She’s also not what she claims to be. Written in a noirish first person, full of cynical observations on life in the underhive and deadpan immodesty, she talks us through the stages of a meticulously planned con, starting with selling exotic weaponry to a gang of Orlocks but leading up to something much bigger. It’s Kora against the world, but you get the sense she’s more than capable of taking on the challenge.

Keep reading…

Black Library Weekly – W/C 19/02/18

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 been a busy one on the Black Library front, with no fewer than six new short stories, three new novels, and even a dedicated Black Library day in Games Workshop/Warhammer stores around the world. Lots to talk about, so let’s get straight to it…

Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW: Once a Stimm Queen – Robbie MacNiven

Robbie MacNiven’s Necromunda short story Once a Stimm Queen tackles the strained relationship between two rival gangs, with the added complication of the underhive’s black-clad Enforcers getting in the way of cooperation. Sy and Jennix are both juves in the Escher gang the Stimm Queens, out on a routine job running stimms for a Goliath gang when the Enforcers strike and Sy makes a risky break for safety. Years later, the Enforcers get involved once again in Stimm Queens business, only this time Jannix is older and wiser, and won’t go down without a fight.

Keep reading…

RAPID FIRE: Dan Abnett Talks The Magos

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 Dan Abnett about his latest 40k novel, The Magos, which is available to order right now. I suspect this is going to be a very popular book…

Keep reading…

RAPID FIRE: Josh Reynolds Talks Lukas the Trickster

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 40k novel, Lukas the Trickster, which is available to order today.

Continue reading →

QUICK REVIEW: Scar Crossed – Nick Kyme

Nick Kyme’s tongue-in-cheek Necromunda short story Scar Crossed borrows heavily, as you might have gathered from the title, from Romeo and Juliet, as a drunk named Bharde tells a tale of forbidden love in the underhive…to save his own skin. It follows two juves, Rom – a Goliath – and Juli – an Escher – as they make an ill-fated bid to forge a bright future together despite the ill-will of their respective Houses. When true love is at stake, what could stop them being together…aside from two gangs of violent, armed-to-the-teeth underhivers and an untrustworthy bounty hunter?

Keep reading…

RAPID FIRE: Gav Thorpe Talks Ashes of Prospero

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 Gav Thorpe about his latest 40k novel – Ashes of Prospero, the second book in the new Space Marine Conquests series. It’s available to order as of tomorrow, in paperback or ebook.

Keep reading…