Release Date: 18/05/17
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
The Dark Angels Chapter sprang from the First Legion of Space Marines to fight and die at the Emperor's side. But over ten thousand years, even the most staunchly loyal warriors of the Imperium can fall from grace, and the Dark Angels guard their own murky secrets most carefully - only Supreme Grand Master Azrael knows them all. A legend among Space Marines, he has fought for centuries and ever at the forefront of battle. Now, with the enigmatically alien eldar as his uneasy and unlikely allies, he must tread the fine line once more between the pursuit of victory, and keeping the Chapter's past safely buried...
REVIEW:
I love a story that takes readers on a journey with the legendary heroes of the Space Marines, however for me, this short tale could have been extended wonderfully by enriching the heroes past with exploits that helped make him a stand out candidate for the post of Supreme Grand Master.
Yes we had some solid flashbacks to him as a normal human but for me, its the choices made and heroism demonstrated as a space marine that should have been the key for this book. Thats ot to say its a bad book, far from it, the writing is crisp, the prose sharp and the battle sequences work wonderfully well. However for me, I really wanted a bigger build up to his elevation and hope that subsequent titles will do that.
All round cracking fun.
Release Date: 29/08/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
As Calth burns, the Battle Titans of the Fire Masters legion take to the streets of the city of Ithraca, ready to massacre the fleeing civilian population in the name of their new, dark masters. But the remaining loyalist engines of the Legio Praesagius - the True Messengers - still stand ready to defend the Imperium, even in the face of almost certain death. With the nearby Ultramarines forces scattered and lost, the people of Ithraca must fend for themselves as gigantic war machines unleash apocalyptic weaponry across the ravaged skyline...
REVIEW:
The audio books from the Black Library are always good fun to listen to and whilst they usually are told from a quite small point of view of huge epic battles, bloodshed as well as wonderfully acted by the talent, this one is a little different as we get the story partly from a civilian point of view.
Its wonderfully descriptive, the dialogue works wonderfully and the sound effects generate a story that will have the listener on tenterhooks as it slowly unveils itself, told from multiple points of view including Space Marines, Chaos, civilians as well as from the War Machine Gods that stride the Battlefield of death. Its definitely different and Gav Thrope really has captured the terrible confusion of a war being fought. All round a great piece of Audio fiction and one that I’ll be listening to again in the near future. Magic
Release Date: 18/07/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
Gotrek and Felix: unsung heroes of the Empire, or nothing more than common thieves and murderers? The truth perhaps lies somewhere in between, and depends entirely upon whom you ask... A collection of timeless tales featuring the Slayer Gotrek Gurnisson and his human companion Felix Jaeger. From the undead-ridden marshes of Hel Fenn, where an ancient evil lurks, to the court of a skaven lord in the depths of a dwarf hold, the duo face excitement, danger and intrigue at every turn.
REVIEW:
OK, this compendium is a set of stories that have previously been released in other forms (including as individual E-books.) It is a great item to have if you haven’t stepped into the E-Book world yet but if you already purchased them separately you may want to give this a miss. Don’t get me wrong the stories were a lot of fun to reread, but part of getting a new book is receiving an adventure you’ve yet to embark upon where every twist keeps you gripped. As a huge fan of Felix and Gotrek I tend to remember what has gone before. All round a solid enough book and a great one to own if you like to keep your paperback collection complete.
Release Date: 18/07/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
Life as a princess in the colony of Athel Toralien is a constant struggle for recognition and purpose. When Hellebron, daughter of the city’s ruler, is snubbed by Queen Morathi, she vows to make a name for herself and claim her rightful place in the court at the capital, Anlec. Her ambition takes her into a life of battles against foul creatures, sectarian war, betrayal and gruesome sacrifice in a dangerous grab for power, as Hellebron seeks to become high priestess of the cult of Khaine, the Lord of Murder, The Bloody-handed God.
REVIEW:
This is a book that, for me, took quite a bit of time to get into. It wasn’t a badly written novel but the titles beginning was not only very slow but felt more of a filler than any real substance to add to the tale. Don’t get me wrong, when you get past this beginning piece and into the action it really does pick up with great combat sequences, a wonderful turn of phrase alongside bringing the Khaine Cult alongside Witch Elves into their own, but getting past that start is going to be something that quite a few regular readers will have problems with.
All round it is a solid enough story and the fact that it concentrated on two Witch Elves make this a title that’s worth sticking with. However if you’re buying this because of the usual assurance of the quality of Gav’s wrting this isn’t his best in my opinion.
Release Date: 17/01/13
SYNOPSIS:
As the battle-brothers of Fifth Company struggle to keep the Chaos-worshipping forces of the Unworthy at bay in the warrens of Port Imperial, it falls to the elite warriors of the Ravenwing to hunt a mysterious traitor, one of the Fallen. What awaits Sergeant Cassiel and his Black Knights squad in the depths of the corrupted space station?
REVIEW:
Whilst I love short stories, there are some that just don’t hit the spot for me and sadly that was the case with this outing from Gav Thorpe as his Biker marines tale felt not only convoluted but sadly unfulfilled with characters which didn’t leap from the page to my imagination. Whilst the story had a lot of high octane action and of course a huge body count, the overall effect felt more about getting one line out at the tales end rather than delivering something special to add to the marine mythos.
All round, whilst it was OK, it didn’t excite me in quite the same way as other BL short stories have done and whilst it is quite cheap I’d advise saving the money and going for something more hard-core like Andy Hoare’s Commissar. That really was something epic.
Release Date: 06/12/12
SYNOPSIS:
The Ravenwing stand apart from the rest of the Dark Angels Chapter – these dynamic Space Marines take to the battlefield upon steeds of adamantium and plasteel, and swoop from the skies in lightning-fast speeders to bring death to the foes of the Imperium.
When he joins their prestigious ranks, Brother Annael finds himself thrust into a whole new world of shadowy intrigue, and privy to secrets unknown to his common battle-brothers. In the wake of the conflict at Kadillus, hints of a dark conspiracy begin to emerge, and it soon becomes apparent that the Ravenwing has a sacred duty far more vital than hunting down orks...
REVIEW:
With there being so many secrets amongst the Followers of the Emperor, one of the darkest has to perhaps be the one hidden by the Dark Angels chapter themselves with only a few knowing it. It’s definitely one hell of a hook and when added to the wonderful writing style of an author who knows not only how to twist the readers perception but deliver political machinations alongside goals whilst surrounding the characters within war with their foes as well as themselves and you know that it’s a book that is going to deliver a hell of a lot.
Add to the mix some wonderful turns of phrase, some cracking Warhammer action alongside the use of fast action machines to take these hunters to their prey and all round you know that the reader is going to be in for a hell of a ride. Cracking stuff all round and definitely something that is going to earn the chapter a few more fans.
Release Date: 27/09/12
SYNOPSIS:
Malekith, betrayer and usurper, architect of the great war that will forever divide the race of elves. Alith Anar, wrathful avenger whose spirit will forever haunt the traitorous druchii. Caledor, reluctant leader, the one elf who can hold back the darkness and restore peace to Ulthuan. Witch King, Shadow King and Phoenix King. Their deeds are legend. This is their story.
REVIEW:
Whilst I love getting books when they are released, when its part of a series I tend to get a little impatient, especially when it’s a key series in the history of one of the races in the Warhammer world. Don’t get me wrong, whilst each of these titles are standalone, they really do add a greater context to the pointy eared ones as they have their own civil war. Its wonderfully rich, has great characters with each book being action packed with sword work, heavy blood price and of course double dealing.
Add to this the subtle plot points (some of which you miss during your first readings), cleverly crafted sleight of hand alongside author skills that help bring the world to life and all in it’s a great compendium all round. Great stuff.
Release Date: 13/09/12
SYNOPSIS:
Aradryan has chosen to leave his sheltered life on Craftworld Alaitoc and walk the Path of the Outcast, seeking the myriad pleasures and threats the wider galaxy has to offer. Still unfulfilled as a ranger, he is lured into the life of a star pirate, bringing him into conflict with the Imperium of Man. A chain of events is set in motion that could have catastrophic consequences for Alaitoc, forcing Aradryan to take drastic action if his old home is to survive.
REVIEW:
The Eldar return in the concluding part to Gav Thorpe’s Eldar Path trilogy, bringing the mysterious lithe Xenos in hard core action sequences to the readers imagination. It’s imaginative, the author bringing all their talents to give you the mysteriousness alongside solid prose with a wonderfully almost poetic turn of phrase as agenda’s are revealed and the fates are cast.
Add to this cracking pace with barely a moment to breathe and all in for me this is the best of the series. Cracking stuff all round and a wonderful read.
Release Date: 02/01/12
SYNOPSIS:
As the Horus Heresy divides the Imperium, Corax and his few remaining Raven Guard escape the massacre at Isstvan V. Tending to their wounds, the bloodied Space Marines endeavour to replenish their numbers and return to the fray, taking the fight to the traitor Warmaster. Distraught at the crippling blow dealt to his Legion, Corax returns to Terra to seek the aid of his father – the Emperor of Mankind. Granted access to ancient secrets, Corax begins to rebuild the Raven Guard, planning his revenge against his treacherous brother primarchs. But not all his remaining warriors are who they appear to be… the mysterious Alpha Legion have infiltrated the survivors and plan to destroy the Raven Guard before they can rebuild and threaten Horus’s plans.
REVIEW:
Whilst I’ve been into the Horus Heresy for quite some time this one in the series, which whilst OK, didn’t quite hit the same spot or level that quite a few of the others did for me as personally I felt that Gav tried to cram a little too much into the title and whilst succeeding didn’t get it in enough detail to make it convincing enough for myself as a reader. It does have some decent characters, it has some acceptable prose, but considering it’s during a pivotal point in mankind’s civil war then it should have perhaps split the plot between two titles to allow them to be explored fully rather than rushing through to get to the meat of the tale.
All in, it is a middle of the road title for the series which in my opinion is a great shame as the rich and vivid tapestry really has all the elements available to create something a little special with enough freedom for the authors to move within the established structure.
Release Date: 01/09/11
SYNOPSIS:
The ancient eldar are a mysterious race and each devotes their life to a chosen path that will guide their actions and decide their fate. Thirianna abandons her simple existence to embark upon the mysterious Path of the Seer. She will tread a dark and dangerous road that leads her to the other realm of the warp, where daemons are made flesh and nightmares are manifest, for only there can she realise her psychic abilities. After unleashing her powers in battle and communing with the spirits of her craft world, Thirianna turns her skills to discerning the future amidst the myriad strands of fate. Her visions reveal a great threat descending on Alaitoc, and both the living and the dead will march to war to defend it.
REVIEW:
What Gav Thorpe does well is present the reader with characters that they can not only associate with but breathes life into cultures that are hard for readers to imagine. Here in the second title in the Path of the Eldar series he brings the magical aspect to life as the Eldar fight to save their homeworld from the trespasses of the Space Marines.
As usual the characters are wonderfully descriptive as well as emotionally rounded, the plot line is fast paced and with the addition of bloody combat for each step taken by both sides its one that the readers will love as it takes a different angle in the world as opposed to the oft treaded ground of the warriors of mankind. Add to this some decent twists and turns with an overall arc that demonstrates that the fight for survival is harsh as well as brutal and it’s a book that really adds some extra depth to the universe.
Release Date: 04/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Ullsaard has won the crown
But when he is confronted with a truth too shocking to contemplate, he has to make the impossible choice between power and honour.
And now the real battle has begun in this stunning sequel to The Crown of the Blood, packed with gargantuan battles, demonic magic and treacherous politics.
REVIEW:
More well known for writing in established universes its always good when an author steps out of the shadows into a world of their own and with last year’s explosive fantasy debut in his own world, we knew that the reader would be in for one hell of a ride. It’s bloody, it’s gory and if you’re a fan of the type of battle sequences reminiscent of Howard then this is an author for you. Add to this an in depth world to explore, double dealing, threads ending and new ones being interwoven by the Norns and it’s a series that really is one you cannot ignore.
As with the previous it might not be for everyone but for me it hit the spot as a lot of the in depth work to help establish was conducted in the first outing. Well written, cunningly plotted and above all else a combat story of survival that shows that Thorpe is more than prepared to slaughter a world to establish his own rule. Great stuff.
Release Date: 09/06/11
SYNOPSIS:
The dwarfs are a stoic and long-lived race. Their unbending will and pride serve them as fearsome warriors on the battlefield and the greatest craftsmen across the Old World. But cross them at your peril, as a dwarf grudge is never forgotten, a quest for revenge handed down from generation to generation until the debt is settled in blood - In this action-packed omnibus, the bravery and resilience of the dwarfs is brought to life as they wage war against the twisted powers of Chaos, vile skaven ratmen, brutal greenskins and their oldest adversaries, the mysterious and powerful elves. From the ancient dwarf holds to the killing fields of the Empire, war will be waged in the name of Grungni , Grimnir and Valaya, and no foe shall forget the day they met these unbreakable warriors in battle. Contains the novels Grudgebearer, Oathbreaker and Honourkeeper.
REVIEW:
Fans of the stunties will love the chance to grab this compendium title made up of three of the best tales of dwarven heroics, vengeance and of course grudges from the Black Library. Contained within this title is: Grudge Bearer, Oathbreaker and Honour Keeper alongside the short story Ancestral Honour which makes up some seriously good value for money. Add to this two of the Black Library’s very talented authors, some great prose, some addictive dialogue along with the acquired dwarven humour which pretty much translates to an axe in the head and the reader really is in for a high octane combat driven set of stories that will inspire many a table top general to re-enact. Great stuff all in.
Release Date: 26/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
Ulthuan is burning. Its peoples are scattered, its lands in ruin. Under the iron fist of the Witch King dark elves sack and pillage. His desire is nothing short of total domination and the utter extinction of the high elves. Skies blacken with the wings of dragons and smoke occludes the sun. Daemons crawl from their hell-pits, hungering for souls. Through the fires of civil war, a general becomes a king. Prince Caledor takes up the Phoenix Crown and with it the hopes of all of Ulthuan. Though it is a burden unwished for, he is the last heroic thread that can unite the realm of the true asur. Darkness closes, filled with the screams of war. Dead elves soak the land in blood, anointing a spell of unbinding, a cataclysm intended to end the very world.
REVIEW:
The final part in the Age of Legends Sundering series and one that really has set up for an explosive conclusion as the Elves bring it all together for the war that will last millennia as they each seek dominance within their own realms. It is well written, the tale crafted with the blood of the fallen and it’s a civil war on a scale that neither side will relinquish or give quarter for. Definitely a seriously good release in the series and one that is quite fitting for its conclusion. That said, my favourite still has to be Shadow King but this one definitely hits the spot and is a title that many fans will find satisfactory for their bloodthirsty needs especially when the politics as well as xenophobia hits the fan in this no holds barred battle for supremacy.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Faced with an ork invasion of Piscina IV, the 3rd Company of the Dark Angels believes the threat to be minimal. As enemy numbers continue to increase, their commander, Captain Belial, insists that his Company are strong enough to resist. But Scout-Sergeant Naaman knows just how dangerous this foe can be, and when a renewed greenskin offensive takes the Dark Angels by surprise, the orks swarm towards Kadillus Harbour. Little do the Dark Angels know of the technological power available to the xenos, and the true scale of the threat they face. Belial, Naaman and their fellow Astartes fight a desperate siege at Kadillus, knowing that they must hold out until Imperial reinforcements arrive or the planet will be lost.
REVIEW:
Whilst I usually love pretty much anything that the Black Library releases where mankind struggles against the many enemies both external and internal, this title by Gav Thorpe felt a little flat against a lot of the other releases.
It is well written and there’s a lot of bloody combat which is backed with some serious warfare against the greenskin xenos but against a lot of the other titles within the Space Marine Battle sequences it felt a little bit samey without breaking any new ground. Likewise the title failed to benefit from various pace breaks which kept the excitement level set a full auto without allowing the readers chance to reload. A great shame all in as this series has been something special but unfortunately this title may well only appeal to Marine Commanders if not some of the Ladz Mobz.
Release Date: 01/10/10
BOOK BLURB:
The Sword of Khaine resides upon the Blighted Isle, veiled in mystery and guarded by forces both living and dead. Despite the warnings, Aenarion rides out upon his dragon Indraugnir to seek the prize in order to save his homeland of Ulthuan. The journey is fraught with danger, and Aenarion must confront daemons, spirits and the elemental forces of nature itself if he is to succeed. But in drawing the blade from the Black Anvil, he will unleash the ancient and malevolent force that will tear the elven race apart…
REVIEW:
Fan’s of the Warhammer Pointy Eared ones will lap up this new audio CD as to be honest it’s action all the way as the Phoenix King carves his legend.
Told by Beth Chalmers, this tale is just the thing for long car journey’s or to raise the moral of the elven general prior to entering the combat of the fantasy battle table. Add to the mix atmospheric music, additional vocal talents to bring the vocals to life and you know that no expense has been spared to bring this offering to the fan, especially when some of the best Warhammer authors are drawn into the fray for the plot, in this case Gav Thorpe. Great stuff.
Release Date: 08/07/10
BOOK BLURB:
The ancient eldar are a mysterious race, each devoting their life to a chosen path which will guide their actions and decide their fate. Korlandril abandons peace for the Path of the Warrior. He becomes a Striking Scorpion, a deadly fighter skilled in the art of close-quarter combat. But the further Korlandril travels down this path, the closer he gets to losing his identity and becoming an avatar of war.
REVIEW:
The Eldar rise with this, the latest offering from Gav Thorpe. Add to the mix his own special blend of combat mixed with the aesthetic almost feline manoeuvres from this xenos race and you know that the Eldar army is on the march. What you also get from Gav is ideal combat descriptiveness, some good solid dialogue and all bound together with a plot arc that will just enthuse itself to the readers psyche. Its inventive, its got emotional context and it is a tale that many fan has been demanding. Bring on the war.
BOOK BLURB:
He had brought his master’s Empire to the furthest reaches of the world. All had fallen before him. Now he longs for home.
But home isn’t what it was. Could it be that everything he’s fought for all those years has been a lie?
A sweeping fantasy of immense battles, demonic magic and dark politics.
REVIEW:
Having loved Gav Thorpe’s writing from his Black Library offering I knew that this would be something different and I hoped special. Yes, it has his combat sequences that are pretty unique, yes it has his touch of sparse descriptiveness that allows you to get to the meat of the story without unnecessary fussiness and backed it up with politics that make this a reasonable opener for a new epic fantasy series.
It has all the elements to make this something special although for me personally I found the book blurb off putting alongside something that could have been better phrased for the market. All in it is a good solid opening to a new series although it may not appeal to a lot of Gav’s established fans who prefer not having to go through quite a long set up.
BOOK BLURB:
When his family is betrayed and slain, Alith Anar, ill-fated prince of the Nagarythe, is forced to walk a dark path. With the island of Ulthuan in the grip of a civil war with their evil counterparts, the druchii, Alith Anar follows his destiny to become the Shadow King. Hunting his enemies from the darkness, he is now on a quest for vengeance that will never end.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of the Time of Legends series this offering, the second in the Sundering series continues to follow the descent into Civil War of the Elves. Cracking creatively as well as pretty unique in the history of the Warhammer world, this offering really does tick all the boxes for me as a reader. The narrative is of top quality, the description nearly as beautiful as the Everqueen herself but perhaps what this author has done best is the combat sequences taking the characters from general all out war to Guerrilla Warfare that is reminiscent of a Robin Hood setting. A great tale and one that will invariably get the Shadow Warriors some deserved recognition.
BOOK BLURB:
A brand new story exclusively available as an audio drama on CD complete with musical score, the sounds of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and professional voice acting.
After the horrors of the Dropsite Massacre, the Raven Guard are trying to survive in the caves and mountains of Isstvan V. Their plight is desperate, and escape from the roaming Chaos Legions seems impossible. Can they hold out against the forces of the World Eaters long enough to reach an unlikely salvation?
REVIEW:
With reading time at a premium these days it’s always a delight to find a book that can be tackled at other times so these audio book releases from the Black Library have been ideal. Not only do you get a great story of heroism but you’re backed up with cracking narration and voice characterisation for each of the cast members. Its good solid fun and something I’ve been enjoying immensely.
Here in their latest offering the Raven Guard are fighting against the World Eaters in a no quarter asked or give battle to the death. Gory, high ideals and above all a story arc that not only fits in well with the world but also one that gives the reader that satisfied feeling as the last word fades. Great stuff.
