“Berthold’s Beard” by Joshua Reynolds (Black Library)

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ReynoldsJ-BertholdsBeardA Gotrek & Felix short story

When Gotrek and Felix agree to help an impoverished nobleman reclaim his birthright, they are thrown into a battle for survival against a creature from their darkest nightmares.

Previously printed in the Black Library Weekender 2012 Saturday Anthology, Berthold’s Beard is a quick tale featuring the Dwarf Slayer and his human companion. It’s quite fun, too, indicating once again that the Gotrek & Felix franchise remains in safe hands.

Berthold’s Beard captures the tone and fun of William King’s and James Nathan Long’s G&F fiction, but does not ape their style. The story is an odd one, to be sure, but no less fun for it. It is, however, very short, which makes it rather tricky to review without spoiling everything. Our heroes have been hired by an heir to the Berthold line, to complete a legacy quest – they must travel to the ancient Berthold family country estate and return with something, by way of proving the nobleman’s heritage and therefore gaining access to the family’s vast fortunes. Sounds easy, right? Yeah, it’s really not that simple. But then, it never is when Gotrek and Felix are involved…

If you’re a fan of the series, then this short story will tide you over until you can get hold of the latest novel, Road of Skulls (out now in paperback and eBook). As I said, the series is in very safe hands, and Reynolds has faithfully recreated the fun and adventure of the previous instalments of the series. I’m really looking forward to reading his first full-length contribution (I may read it next week, we’ll see).

If you’ve never read the series, I think it’s about time you pick up either the first Omnibus paperback, or at least the Trollslayer eBook. If you’re worried because you’ve never read any Warhammer fiction, then this would also be a perfect starting point. (Many moons ago, that’s exactly what this series was for me.)

Recommended.

***

UPDATE: Apologies for getting the second author’s name wrong – it was, of course, NATHAN Long who took over from Will King.

“Yarrick: Chains of Golgotha” by David Annandale (Black Library)

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Annandale-Yarrick1-ChainsOfGolgothaAn excellent Commissar Yarrick Novella

From the ashes of the Second War of Armageddon a hero of the Imperium emerged. War-torn and bloody, Commissar Yarrick swore vengeance on 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…

This is a very fine science fiction novella. Annandale has been writing for Black Library a while, now, and with each new release I am even more impressed. Taking on one of the most beloved Imperial characters from the Warhammer 40,000 canon, though, could be a daunting task. Annandale has risen to the task admirably, however, and has managed to capture the essence of Yarrick and his struggle against Ghazghkull excellently. Chains of Golgotha absolutely does his subjects justice.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, but predominantly from Yarrick’s. The others, from Colonel Rogge and Teodor Helm, for example, add extra colour and allow Annandale to step back and show us how those around Yarrick see him. It offers a nice juxtaposition with his own insecurities and recognition of how people view him. His loyal aide de camp, Lanner, is very good at keeping Yarrick grounded, for example.

“For my pains, my reward was a barrage of outrages too studied to be real. They were theatre for my benefit, and it was theatre that I needed, especially since Armageddon. It was one thing to be aware of one’s own legend. Lanner made sure I didn’t believe in it.”

The story takes place two years into this current campaign, and it is not going very well for the Imperial forces. Yarrik has accepted that he has a nemesis, an enemy who is making statements in his attacks and strategies aimed at him, taunting him at the same time as destroying as many Imperial forces as possible. That nemesis is Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, a hulking beast of an ork warlord, who has been uniting hundreds, if not thousands, of ork warbands and has cut a bloody swathe across space. He is not an opponent to take lightly, but nor is he a typical ork leader.

“As much as it disgusted me to even articulate the thought, there was a monstrous truth that had to be faced: Thraka had the potential to become the ork emperor.”

Late in this campaign, we join Yarrick as he is leading his army to a rendezvous point. It’s been a long, hard-fought campaign, and as well as the continued depravations of the ork forces, support for the war (political and moral) has waned precipitously.

“I had to fight tooth and nail for every tank, every rifle, and every man of my army, every single day since the enthusiasm for the crusade had evaporated in its second year.”

Little does Yarrick know, however, that things are going to get much, much worse for him. As the Imperials are ambushed and their troops either butchered or captured, Chains of Golgotha morphs into a very interesting, unique Warhammer 40,000 tale. We’re taken aboard a vast space hulk, and Yarrick comes face-to-face with Thraka. As I just said, though, this is a highly original story, and nothing plays out as I expected. I will, therefore, not spoil any more of the plot – needless to say, though, this worked for me on every level.

Chains of Golgotha is a great intro to the character. I really liked the tone and voice of the story and of Yarrick. Annandale’s writing is excellent, as well. The author has a gift for giving all of his characters distinct personalities and voices. It hasn’t always worked for me in the past (Mephiston, sadly, was rather odd in Eclipse of Hope), but he nails it in this novella. I’ve also really enjoyed some of his other work (Carrion Anthem, especially). In this story, he once again shows his gift for bringing the maelstrom of warfare to life on the page – it’s an absolute whirlwind at the start, but on the hulk it becomes much closer, more atmospheric and in some ways even more brutal.

Yarrick: Chains of Golgotha is a fantastic novella, and hopefully the first of many Yarrick tales to come. Annandale is definitely one of Black Library’s best up-and-coming authors.

Highly recommended.

[Chains of Golgotha is also available as a special edition hardcover, but I bought the eBook edition.]

Upcoming: “The Divine Sacrifice” by Anthony Hays (Corvus)

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Hays-TheDivineSacrificeThe Divine Sacrifice is Anthony Hays’s second Arthurian Mystery, following on from the well-received The Killing Way (2011). Sadly, I wasn’t able to get around to the first novel, but I have been interested in historical thrillers ever since I read some of Bernard Cornwell’s novels (true, not technically “thrillers” per se, but I history nevertheless). With the release of this second novel, I just might get my act in gear and try to catch up. Here’s the synopsis:

Welcome to fifth-century Britain: the Romans have left, the Saxons have invaded, the towns are decaying and the countryside is dangerous.

Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, an embittered former soldier who lost a limb in combat, is now a trusted advisor to Arthur, the High King of all Britannia. When a monk dies in horrific circumstances in Glastonbury Abbey, the Abbot calls for Malgwyn to investigate.

His search for the truth will draw him into an intricate web of religious, economic and political deceit – and a conspiracy that could endanger everything Arthur has fought for.

The Divine Sacrifice will be published in the UK by Corvus in April 2013. (It would appear that Corvus also has US eBook rights, as it is listed on Amazon.com as well.) The Divine Sacrifice was published in the US back in 2011 by Forge Books.

Also on CR: “Influences & Inspirations” Guest Post by Anthony Hays

Upcoming: “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” by Holly Black (Little, Brown Young Readers)

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BlackH-ColdestGirlInColdtownI have never read anything by Holly Black, sad to say. I have no idea why – a number of my friends have sung her praises. And, indeed, her novels all sound pretty cool. With her latest novel, to be published in September 2013, I may well finally address this oversight.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown has been described as a “story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing”. Here’s the synopsis:

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

Also? How cool is that cover? Very atmospheric and… well, chilling.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown will be published in the US by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and in the UK by Indigo (an Orion Youth imprint).

Review: BETRAYER by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (Black Library)

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DembskiBowdenA-HH24-BetrayerThe Heresy continues, as another brother falls

The Shadow Crusade has begun. While the Ultramarines reel from Kor Phaeron’s surprise attack on Calth, Lorgar and the rest of the Word Bearers strike deep into the realm of Ultramar. Their unlikely allies, Angron and the World Eaters, continue to ravage each new system they come across – upon the garrison planet of Armatura, this relentless savagery may finally prove to be their undoing. Worlds will burn, Legions will clash and a primarch will fall.

Betrayer, the 24th novel in Black Library’s New York Times-bestselling Horus Heresy series, advances the cause of the traitor Legions. One more brother will fall utterly into the grip of Chaos, twisted and manipulated by another. Dembski-Bowden, probably my favourite author working on BL fiction, has written a nuanced novel – one that is thought-provoking, tragic and utterly compelling. Betrayer is another excellent addition to the series. Continue reading →

Review: ANGEL EXTERMINATUS by Graham McNeill (Black Library)

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McNeillG-HH23-AngelExterminatusThe Iron Warriors, the Emperor’s Children, and secrets between brothers

Perturabo – master of siegecraft, and the executioner of Olympia. Long has he lived in the shadow of his more favoured primarch brothers, frustrated by the mundane and ignominious duties which regularly fall to his Legion. When Fulgrim offers him the chance to lead an expedition in search of ancient and destructive xenos weaponry, the Iron Warriors and the Emperor’s Children unite and venture deep into the heart of the great star maelstrom that haunts Perturabo’s dreams. Pursued by vengeful survivors from Isstvan V and the revenants of a dead eldar world, they must work quickly if they are to unleash the devastating power of the Angel Exterminatus!

In Angel Exterminatus, McNeill gives us a story of a rebellion under strain. The novel follows two traitor legions that could not be more different: the stoic, methodical Iron Warriors; and the wild, arrogant Emperor’s Children, who have given themselves wholesale to the debaucheries of Chaos. The story maintains the high standards of the Horus Heresy series, and certainly justifies the new hardcover editions. This is a solid addition to the series. Continue reading →

Review: SHADOWS OF TREACHERY, edited by Christian Dunn & Nick Kyme (Black Library)

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Various-HH22-ShadowsOfTreacheryA Horus Heresy Anthology

From the battlefields of Phall and Isstvan, to the haunted shadows of Terra itself – the greatest war in the history of mankind rages on. While the traitor Legions continue their campaign of terror across the galaxy, preparations are made for the defence of the Imperial Palace and the final, inevitable reckoning that must yet come between Horus and the Emperor…

I know a few readers who really don’t like the Horus Heresy anthologies of short stories, but I rather like them. They offer some great gap-filling fiction for specific events (noteworthy or just interesting), and are great for marking time between the full-length novels. It’s just a pity that some of these stories couldn’t be longer still – there are two novella length stories (one by the great Aaron Dembski-Bowden), but the rest of the stories within are pretty short. I think it’s a good collection, but some people may be disappointed with the fact that three of the stories are just prose versions of audio-books. As someone who prefers prose to audio, though, I thought this was a great read and addition to the series. Continue reading →

Review: FEAR TO TREAD by James Swallow (Black Library)

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SwallowJ-HH21-FearToTreadThe Blood Angels, at long last…

Since the earliest days of the Great Crusade, Sanguinius – angelic Primarch of the IXth Legion – was ever among the closest and most loyal of Horus’s brothers. But the Blood Angels have long kept their true nature hidden from the rest of the Imperium, and when the Warmaster hints that the key to their salvation may lie in the ruins of a conquered world, the sons of Sanguinius race to claim it. Now, as the revelation of their betrayal dawns and the traitors’ hand is revealed, the Blood Angels must face all the warp-spawned armies of Chaos, as well their own personal daemons, upon the blasted plains of Signus Prime…

This novel has been highly anticipated by a great many WH40k and Horus Heresy fans. The Blood Angels, one of the most popular loyalist Astartes Legion, finally get some of their story told. And Swallow nails it. This is an epic sci-fi tale of honour, nobility, betrayal and a deadly, hidden flaw… Continue reading →

Review: FALSE COVENANT by Ari Marmell (Pyr)

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MarmellA-W2-FalseCovenantWiddershins rides again, thieving and attempting to survive a nasty supernatural threat

It’s over half a year since the brutal murder of Archbishop William de Laurent during his pilgrimage to the Galicien city of Davillon. During that time, the Church of the Hallowed Pact has assigned a new bishop to the city — but it has also made its displeasure at the death of its clergyman quite clear. Davillon’s economy has suffered beneath the weight of the Church’s displeasure. Much of the populace — angry at the clergy — has turned away from the Church hierarchy, choosing private worship or small, independent shrines. And the bishop, concerned for his new position and angry at the people of Davillon, plans to do something about it. 

But a supernatural threat is stalking the night-time streets, come to infiltrate the seedier streets of Davillon, to intertwine its tendrils through the lower echelons of society. Faced with both political upheaval and a supernatural threat to its citizenry, the local representatives of the Church are paralyzed and the Guardsmen are in over their heads. 

Into this mix, you have to add Widdershins, the hero of Thief’s Covenant, gifted member of the Finders Guild, and sole worshipper of the god Olgun. This second Widdershins adventure maintains the fun and excellent pacing of the first, and shows that Marmell has the ability to write for younger readers and adults with equal skill. This novel, while not perfect, was a lot of fun and showcases Marmell’s gift for writing the sinister side of fantasy as well as the fun side. Continue reading →

Review: THE PRIMARCHS, edited by Christian Dunn (Black Library)

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Various-HH20-PrimarchsFour Tales of the Primarchs

Created in the Emperor’s own image, the Primarchs had long thought themselves to be princes of the universe and masters of their own destiny – they led the Space Marine Legions in glorious conquest of the galaxy, and no enemy of the Imperium could stand against them. However, even amongst this legendary brotherhood, the seeds of dissent had been sown long before the treacherous Warmaster Horus declared his grand heresy.

In this highly-anticipated anthology, we are presented with four stories of the Primarchs. We see the rifts within and between the two sides, traitors and loyalists. Each story looks at the psychologies and psychoses of the Primarchs, how those close to them perceive them, and how they consider different events.

Overall, this is a superb anthology, and I really hope Black Library release at least a couple more similar anthologies in the future, looking at some of the other Primarchs. This certainly lived up to my expectations. Continue reading →