Tag Archives: Novella Series 1

Heart of Winter – Nick Horth

Nick Horth’s Age of Sigmar novella Heart of Winter features the aelf Fleetmaster Arika Zenthe – originally introduced as a secondary character in City of Secrets, she’s now front and centre in her own story. A Scourge Privateer of considerable reputation, Zenthe leads her crew into Ghur, the Realm of Beasts, intending to kill her father and see out a decades-long grudge. Little does she know that her mission will eventually take her from her father’s Black Ark to the frozen darkness of a sylvaneth-infested forest in search of a powerful artefact known as the Heart of Winter.

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The Bone Desert – Robbie MacNiven

Following on from where David Guymer left off with Realmslayer, Robbie MacNiven’s novella The Bone Desert follows Gotrek Gurnisson and his reluctant companion Maleneth as they weather assassination attempts, the elements and each other’s company. Having learned of an inscription hinting at the location of Gotrek’s axe, the unlikely pair are travelling through the arid Bone Desert, heading for the distant city of the Eight Pillars. Despite Maleneth’s attempts to steer them towards an outpost of her Order, Gotrek single-mindedly sets his sights on the city, however it seems there are others who don’t want them to reach their goal.

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The Red Hours – Evan Dicken

The Red Hours is Evan Dicken’s longest Black Library story to date, an Age of Sigmar novella set in a bleak outpost in Chamon, the Realm of Metal. Disgraced and discredited in the eyes of his Freeguild commanders, Captain Byrun Hess is unceremoniously posted to the ominously named Grave of Heroes, where he finds his new command to be somewhat smaller and less orderly than he’s used to. When a brutal shardstorm sweeps in out of nowhere and forces them into hiding, Hess and his newfound comrades quickly find themselves facing much more than just the natural dangers of Chamon.

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Warqueen – Darius Hinks

An action packed tale of the Chaos-worshipping Darkoath tribes, Darius Hinks’ Age of Sigmar novella Warqueen takes place on the Arad Plains in Aqshy, the Realm of Fire. Warqueen Vedra has united the Darkoath tribes into a great host – the Untamed – with just one more battle required to finish driving the forces of Khorne from their lands. When treachery within the tribes is revealed on the eve of that final battle, Vedra only becomes more determined to fulfil her destiny and lead her people into a future of endless war in the name of their god, Tzeentch.

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Wanted: Dead – Mike Brooks

After a recent-ish set of Necromunda short stories teased us with brief glimpses of the underhive, Mike Brooks’ novella Wanted: Dead finally affords us a longer visit. This tells the story of Jarene, a hardened Escher ganger and member of the Wild Cats gang, who finds herself in a tight spot when an ambush goes awry. Life in the underhive is tough at the best of times, but when the Wild Cats find wind up outlawed, hunted and on the run, Jarene has to dig deep and make some difficult decisions if she’s to survive, and protect those she loves the most.

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Dreadwing – David Guymer

The second of two Siege of Terra prequel novellas (see also Spear of Ultramar), David Guymer’s Dreadwing explores a little of what Lion El’Jonson and his Dark Angels were getting up to that prevented them from reaching Terra. Engaged in a campaign of harassment against Traitor-held worlds, tensions within the I Legion are rising as the question of whether to return to Terra becomes ever more important. While the Lion broods in silence, his lieutenants Redloss and Holguin – of the Dreadwing and Deathwing respectively – are at odds, one keen to continue the campaign and the other desperate to head for Terra.

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Spear of Ultramar – David Annandale

One of two Horus Heresy novellas billed as prequels to the Siege of Terra, David Annandale’s Spear of Ultramar provides a brief but satisfying exploration of the challenges facing Guilliman and the Ultramarines as they race for Terra. Set after the events of Ruinstorm, the Ultramarines find their path blocked by the Carchera system, which is defended by a single Grand Company of Iron Warriors. Despite being vastly outnumbered the Iron Warriors are determined to delay Guilliman for as long as they can, so lay a trap that they know the Avenging Son will recognise, but will have no choice but to spring.

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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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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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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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