Release Date: Out Now
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
Trapped in an overturned tank after being caught in a bombing run on Armageddon, Commissar Sebastian Yarrick fights to escape and return to his forces, but as he emerges, he finds himself surrounded by greenskin foes. Can the Old Man of Armageddon survive the onslaught with power claw and Evil Eye, or will he finally fall to the servants of the Great Beast Ghazghkull Thraka?
REVIEW:
Recently I’ve had a thing for short story fiction, so I’ve spent quite a bit of time diving from the far future to the distant past and somewhere in between. What you get in this title in the ever popular Yarrick series is a short story of a hard fought war of attrition against the Greenskins and as usual the reader isn’t let down as we not only find our principle hero in a tight squeeze (literally) but also get to see him power his way through.
As you’d expect with a short story, the prose is hard hitting, to the point and when added to a character that you love to spend time around generates a tale that not only gives you hardcore action but also generates a tale that fits in exceedingly well for the characters traits. All round a lot of fun and a tale that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Release Date: 18/04/14
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
Yarrick: the very name carries the weight of legend, of great deeds and of wars won for the Imperium. But Sebastian Yarrick, who fought on Armageddon, who Space Marine Chapter Masters show their fealty to on bended knee, was not always Lord Commissar. He was once just a man, a newly minted officer from the ranks of the schola progenium.
His first mission under the tutelage of Lord Commissar Rasp was on Mistral. Here, an uprising of barons had upset the delicate balance of power. But, as Yarrick was soon forced to learn, Mistral and Imperial politics are often murky, the truth seldom clear cut. As war engulfs the world, a plot unravels that pits old friends against one another and fashions unusual alliances. Chaos cults, the fanatical Adepta Sororitas and clandestine inquisitors all stand between Yarrick and his mission. Here is where the legend began. In this crucible was Lord Commissar Sebastian Yarrick forged in blood.
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of the 40K world and whilst its been a while since I dipped into it, I thought that it was about time I returned with, in my opinion, one of the best Commissar’s out there, Commissar Yarrick. As you’d expect from a Yarrick story, it hits hard, has some great action sequences and douses the pages with Imperial Zeal washing planets clean in the blood of their foes.
It’s a great piece of writing and for me, one of my highlights of Sci-Fi for the year, although the one thing that always niggles me with prequel stories is that you know damn well that there’s never any serious threat to the principle character as their timeline is already written. Don’t get me wrong, it does what you want, but when you know that there’s no real threat of death, it’s the subsequent supporting characters within that really become the ones you care about.
All round, it’s a great piece of 40K fiction and whilst some of the danger was missing for me on a personal level, I did love the whole arc with the politics carefully balanced against the action. A great piece of writing and I really can’t wait to embark again with Yarrick on his next adventure.
Release Date: 17/01/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
From the ashes of the Second War for Armageddon, a hero of the Imperium emerged. War-torn and bloody, Commissar Yarrick swore vengeance upon the beast that escaped his righteous wrath, the despoiler of Armageddon - Ghazghkull Thraka.Tracking down the ork warlord to the desolate world of Golgotha, Yarrick leads an armoured company to destroy the beast but does not reckon on Thraka's cunning. Ambushed, his army all-but destroyed, Yarrick is captured and awakes to find himself aboard the beast's space hulk facing a fate worse than death...
REVIEW:
War is a battle of two sides and perhaps one of the most evenly matched were that of Commissar Yarrick and Ork Warboss Ghazghkull Thraka. Here in this short story, the two face off and meet head to head cold calculating intelligence tempered with brute strength against a man facing not only his own demons but those his foe conjures. Its dark, its full of bleak hopelessness yet through it all the troopers faith in the Emperor remains strong.
All round a thoroughly enjoyable story and one that not only stuck with me after finishing but had me demanding more as I want to see the next chapter in this epic battle.
