Friday 2 August 2013

CLINT WERNER DAY/SKAVEN NIGHT: Plague Doktor, Plague Priest, Dead Winter, Blighted Empire - CL Werner

Release Date: 30/06/13
Publisher:  Black Library

SYNOPSIS:
As the black death sweeps across the Empire, indiscriminately killing rich and poor alike, the people cling to any hope of deliverance. When a ragged group of scavengers, on the run from Imperial authorities, enter the town of Amorbach, one of them is mistaken for a plague doktor – a sinister figure, but one who brings hope. Can he maintain the deception long enough to escape from the town, or will the truth be discovered?


REVIEW:
If you’re looking for a tale (or perhaps tail) featuring everyones favourite plague spreaders, then Clint has done a cracking short story as those within the Empire start to learn not only the deviousness of the Horned Rat’s followers but also get to see how easy mankind falls apart when the pestilence hits.

The prose as usual is sharp, the characters interesting to be around and whilst you may not be quite sure whats happening throughout, Clint really does deliver giving the reader a story that hits the mark wonderfully. All round a great short story and one that I had a lot of fun reading. Can’t wait to get on with Plague Priest.



Release Date: 30/06/13
Publisher:  Black Library

SYNOPSIS:
As skaven Clan Filch plots to deliver a deadly plague to the lands of men, one of the ratmen discovers a counterplot that puts him and his clan in deadly peril. While the Black Plague comes closer to completion, Skritsch finds that the plague priests of Clan Pestilens – the evil geniuses behind the monstrous disease – want to increase their power by releasing the infection in Skavenblight and destroying their rivals in one fell swoop. Can the humble clanrat stop this dastardly plot, or will Clan Pestilens reign supreme over all skavendom?


REVIEW:
The second short story by Clint featuring those downright dirty double dealing skaven as the political machinations of inner skaven council policies come to the fore in this release. Its cunning, it has some great twists in the “tail” and of course fans of the ratkin will absolutely love this release. All round, it currently feels like its Skaven month at Black Library and I for one will be high pawing with the best of them. LOL



Release Date: 30/06/13
Publisher:  Black Library

SYNOPSIS:
More than a thousand years after the Age of Sigmar, the Empire he struggled to create rests on the edge of destruction – the reign of the greedy and incompetent Emperor Boris Goldgather has shaken down the great and prosperous edifice of his erstwhile realm. Without warning, a terrible and deadly plague strikes, wiping out entire villages and leaving towns eerily silent through the long frozen months. As the survivors struggle to maintain order and a worthy military presence, vermin pour up from the sewers and caverns beneath the cities, heralding a new and unspeakable threat – the insidious skaven!


REVIEW:
This week, it really does feel like all I’ve been reading are tales of the Ratkin, yet what makes this title even better is that its set during the rain of Emperorer Boris, a lowdown double dealing self serving penny pincher who not only sets the ruling elite against each other but leaves the populace to fend for itself during the outbreak of “The Black Plague.”

As usual with these types of book its mainly based around the politics involved and when the action happens its thick, its fast and of course it works extremely well with the finality as well as brutality involved. The outline works very well and when you look at how the Skaven manipulate each other as well as trying to further their own cause, it’s a book that’s been a pure delight to read. Yes its different to the normal BL titles out there but that makes it all the more delicious.




Release Date: 30/06/13
Publisher:  Black Library

SYNOPSIS:
The Black Plague spreads across the Empire, followed by a tide of monsters from legend: the skaven. In Altdorf, Emperor Boris’s troops valiantly hold off the ratmen while the corrupt Emperor escapes to safety. In Middenheim, Graf Gunthar and his son Mandred defend their city against a horde of the vile invaders. And in Sylvania, the skaven find more than they had expected in the form of the necromancer Vanhal and his army of the dead... an army that gets larger as the plague worsens.


REVIEW:
The second book in the Black Plague series and one that not only sets this up for a pivitol point in the history of the Empire but one that really goes to show how the best laid plans of Rats and Men can go Awry. As with the first outing the book is full with intrigue, has political machinations and also cracking bloodthirsty combat that leaves a high bodycount on both sides.

Add to the mix that the story is set to play for keeps and its taking a high toll on all around all makes this a book that will keep you glued whilst you pray that your favourites live through. Great stuff.



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