black library book reviews

Best Warhammer Horror Books From The Black Library

The Black library contains horrors of all kinds.

Warhammer's universe is home to some of the most entrancing stories you can find in the world of fiction. The incredibly versatile franchise features something for everyone, from comedic political undertones to grimdark horror settings that keep you awake at night. Today, we're here to talk about some of the best novels you can find that do the latter.

Warhammer's universe is no stranger to horrific settings, but few do it as well as these choices. We've gone to the Black Library and pulled a few volumes off the shelf to dust off for your enjoyment. Let this list serve as a primer for you to go out and grab as many books as you can!

Warhammer: The Deacon Of Wounds

Warhammer: the resting places, warhammer: the bookkeeper's skull, warhammer: briardark, warhammer: black-eyed saint, warhammer: dark harvest.

A bit more haunting post-Pandemic

Warhammer: The Deacon of Wounds is set on Theotokos, a planet dying of thirst. This story follows the Arch-Deacon Ambrose and his rise to influence as he deals with a new mysterious sickness.

• Set on the dying planet of Theotokos
• Full of intrigue

First off the shelves of the Black Library is Warhammer: The Deacon of Wounds. Aside from having possibly the coolest name a book could have, this story also follows a uniquely twisted story. Set on the planet of Theotokos where the residents are dying of thirst, Arch-Deacon Ambrose finds himself able to bring water to the residents at last. Doing so gives rise to a mysterious new pandemic that's more sinister than just a pathogen, leading to a horrific story that hits a bit harder since the 2020 pandemic.

Ideal for new or budding fans

The Resting Places is a collection of stories out of the Black Library that's perfect for beginners. If you're a new reader looking to learn as much as possible, or if you just don't want to commit to a full novel, this is an excellent choice.

• Serves as an anthology
• Great for people looking to read multiple stories
• Not as big of a commitment as a full novel

If you aren't sure where you want to start in the Warhammer libraries , the Black Library offers an excellent starting point for fans of all sorts of literature. This piece is a collection of short stories, serving as an anthology rather than a single novel. Some of the most well-known and beloved authors in the Warhammer franchise have stories in here, making it an excellent choice for fans who haven't yet decided on where they want to start. It's not as big of a commitment as a full novel, so if you just want to flick through a few stories, this is the ideal choice.

Great for fans of investigations

The Bookkeeper's Skull is a fantastic story for fans of investigations and mysteries. This story follows a cadet who's investigation leads to uncovering a horrific, hidden cult.

• Features cult horror
• Heavy on investigation
• Great for fans of eldritch horror

The Bookkeeper's Skull is one of the best novels for fans of investigations and eldritch horror similar to Lovecraftian tales . This story focuses on a cadet new to the job whose investigation into a sleepy town begins to uncover a cult. Fans of stories that focus on detectives, mystery, and twists and turns are certain to love this story. It's also not terribly long, making it a good starting point for readers who are new to the Black Library.

Ideal for fans of grimdark monster hunts

Are you a fan of monster-hunting stories? Warhammer: Briardark follows the story of Samuel Helmgaart as he tracks an unknowable evil before it can claim the life of someone he loves.

• High-stakes story
• Features a haunted forest, which is always fun
• Heavy on the monster hunting

Briardark is one of the more stripped-down stories , focusing mostly on a personal tale. Despite that, it's also one of the highest stakes that you'll find in these stories, particularly for parents who can empathize with the main character. The story follows beast hunter Samuel Helmgaart, a known and respected tracker reeling with grief. As an unknowable evil from a nearby forest seems to target his daughter for death from beyond the grave, Samuel is forced into action to keep his daughter from falling prey to the evil.

Zealots, fear, and insanity

The Black Eyed Saint follows the story of Runar Skoldolfr and Tiberius Grim as they lead an expedition into the Blood-Rock Peaks to answer a call for help. Once there, the expedition finds itself separated in their journey to save the village.

• Follows the story of an expedition
• Full of zealotry and fear
• High-octane, gripping story

Readers who are fans of intense, high-octane stories are certain to love this selection from the Black Library. When a woman from a neighboring township shows up begging for help, Runar Skoldolfr and Tiberius Grim set off for an expedition to the Blood-Rock Peaks to answer the call. Once there, the expedition finds itself separated, desperately fighting against the locals to try to get back together and solve the issue. This story is full of religious zeal, horrific phobias, and insanity.

Nothing is what it seems

Warhammer: Dark Harvest follows a disgraced warrior-priest stuck in an isolated village. Dark Harvest is a grimdark story that focuses as much on the spiritual horror as it does physical.

• Features a spiritual conflict
• Heavy on religious themes without being too heavy-handed
• Takes place in the Greywater Fastness

Following the story of a disgraced warrior-priest on a journey across the Greywater Fastness, Dark Harvest is a story with some spiritual and religious tones that many readers will love. Much of the horror and conflict of this story focuses on internal battles, but as our hero is stranded in an isolated, grim village, there's suspicion around every corner.

Do I Need To Read Warhammer Books To Play The Game?

Absolutely not! Many of the books are separate from the games, and most games don't follow the books closely if there's a relation. Reading the novels is great for worldbuilding, but don't treat it as a must if you just want to play the games.

What Is The Black Library?

In the Warhammer universe, the Black Library is where the Eldar race keeps their knowledge, primarily focused on Chaos and the Necrons. In our universe, the Black Library was founded in 1997 as a publishing company, focused heavily on Warhammer stories.

Are The Warhammer Books Canon?

Anything created, published, or licensed by Games Workshop Limited is considered canon. Other stories are on a case-by-case basis, with some being partially canon, and some being non-canonical.

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Bone2pick Conspicuously Conventional Contributor

Black library discussion & reviews.

Discussion in ' Discussion of Published Works ' started by Bone2pick , May 27, 2021 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); It's high time this forum had a dedicated thread where fans of Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40k (&30k), as well as other Games Workshop properties can discuss our appreciation of Black Library fiction. Might you have a favorite Black Library book or author? Then be sure to tell us what or who they are. If you've read a Black Library book recently and have a hankering to leave a review, please do so here. And if you have a question or two for any of our forum's Black Library readers, don't hesitate to ask. Book Reviews Flesh and Steel, by Guy Haley The Unremembered Empire, by Dan Abnett Fabius Bile: Primogenitor, by Joshua Reynolds Gotrek & Felix Omnibus, by William King The Talon of Horus, by Aaron Dembski-Bowden Scars, by Chris Wraight Fabius Bile: Clonelord, by Joshua Reynolds Alpharius: Head of the Hydra, by Mike Brooks Vengeful Spirit, by Graham McNeill  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); A book review to get things rolling. After straying from Black Library for a few years to read other things, I recently returned with Flesh and Steel by Guy Haley. What initially attracted me to this story was that it was from BL's Warhammer Crime imprint, which I hadn't read before. From what I can surmise, Warhammer Crime is a line of books for featuring the rampant crime and corruption within the 40k setting. So think noir cyberpunk detective/police stories, as opposed to 40k standard fare—grimdark military shoot'em ups. Besides never having read a Warhammer Crime story, I'd also never read anything from Guy Haley (though I'd heard good things). And I was pleased to discover his prose, at least for briskly-paced genre reading, was up to snuff. For the record, that is a benchmark I'm perfectly happy with. Haley's prose consistently painted immersive scenes, occasionally made me smile because of its voice and vivid description, and never got hung up with exposition or anything similar. That's more or less what I mean when I describe prose as "up to snuff". The book has two main characters: a male Imperial probator (detective) named Noctis, who is rather archetypical (disaffected booze-guzzling sleuth), though a good enough version of one. And a female tech-priest (cyborg) named Lux, who is an investigator for the Adeptus Mechanicus. I found Lux to be the slightly more compelling of the two. As far as what I most enjoyed from the book, number one would be the gingerly handled romantic tension between the main characters. I feared Haley would rush the two together, but to my pleasant surprise he did not. Noctis and Lux's chemistry and relationship arc are the brightest parts of the story in my opinion. And the second part that I most enjoyed was the book's thorough depiction of the strange and delicate partnership between the Mechanicus and the rest of the Imperium. As to what I thought the weakest part of the story was, that would be the actual crime itself. The driving force of the story. It was perfectly plausible and well-thought out, but it lacked emotional stakes. And by that I mean so long as the main characters survived working the case, it wouldn't much matter if it was solved or not. Neither character would have been haunted if they failed to bring the principal criminals to "justice". And I felt that was a big misstep. Rating: 3.5 stars. Nearly all the individual parts of the story were "good enough" but none of them were special. And unfortunately those parts didn't come together to create a book greater than the sum of its parts. I'm happy I read it, but I'm hoping for more out of the next Warhammer Crime I read. Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55509453-flesh-and-steel?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=9LwOc5MSsL&rank=1  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); I recently finished The Unremembered Empire by Dan Abnett. For those who might not know, Dan is one of the most, if not the most, prolific Black Library authors. The man can seemingly produce a genre novel as fast as Bob Ross could paint a landscape. More importantly, the publisher's readership by and large love him. With that in mind, I was excited to ease back into the Horus Heresy series with something from him. As I mentioned in my review of Flesh and Steel , I hadn't read anything from Black Library in years. Betrayer was the last HH story I read, which was the 24th book (including a few anthologies) in the series. The Unremembered Empire is the 27th installment. I opted to skip the ones in between, as I have done in the past with anthologies and certain authors I don't enjoy. *cough* Nick Kyme *cough* That did end up being somewhat of an error in judgement though, because while reading TUE I got the impression I would have benefited from reading Mark of Calth first. It wasn't a big deal, but I figured I should mention it. I'm pleased to say this book exceeded my expectations. Dan's characterization of Roboute Guilliman was brilliant. The Ultramarines Primarch was farsighted. He was tormented. He was heroic. He was vulnerable. He was magnificent. With Guilliman Dan took an exceptionally powerful, traditionally "good" hero and made him as compelling as any morally grey character in a similar genre. That feat alone requires talent. Outside of Guilliman there were lots of other terrific character showings and arcs. I'm not including names to avoid spoilers. But I want to note that Dan spread the awesomeness around, even to many of the book's lesser/supporting, non-POV characters. The pacing is perfect. No exaggeration. The plot is high-stakes yet personal, and full of surprises. Speaking of plot, Dan is a master at knowing precisely what "cards" to reveal to his readers, which ones to keep secret, and which ones to hint he might play. That skill (intuition?) helps him craft a totally captivating, page-turning reading experience whenever he fires on all cylinders—which he did in this book. The second half of The Unremembered Empire transitions from a science-fantasy thriller into an action horror. Things get scary. Things get bloody. And at the end of it all, the principal characters, those who managed to survive at least, are significantly changed. And in terms of the bigger picture of the Heresy this book is must read. Rating: 5 stars. This was nearly all that I could hope for out of this franchise. I can't think of any story out of Black Library that I've enjoyed more. I've always been a fan, but after reading The Unremembered Empire I now hold Dan Abnett in even higher esteem. I do have one caveat though: if you haven't read anything from the Horus Heresy series TUE shouldn't be your entry point. It's built off of too much that's come before it. Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143885-the-unremembered-empire?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=7VNsshFpLi&rank=1  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Back with another review. I actually have several Black Library books in my reading pipeline, so you can expect more reviews after this one. That said, today's post will cover Fabius Bile: Primogenitor by Joshua Reynolds. Primogenitor—if I'm not mistaken—is the first installment of a trilogy featuring the 3rd Legion's infamous Chief Apothecary. And I'm pleased to report it's chock-full of Chaos Space Marine awesomeness. The book has two main characters, one of which is Bile (obviously), and the other is Oleander Koh, who also happens to be an Emperor's Children apothecary. In fact, Oleander served as one of Bile's "students" prior to the events of the story. One of the cool features of both main characters essentially being military medics/field surgeons is that Reynolds has them perceive problems—be they tactical, social, or anything else—similar to how a physician would perceive a wound or illness. This helps give the story a fresh style when compared against other 40k books. "We are all damned, but do not think that makes us equal. I saw Chemos at the height of its glory, and was with the Phoenician at the moment of his apotheosis. I walked through the fires of Isstvan and made a coat from the skins of my brothers. I am father to a new age of gods and monsters." ~ Chief Apothecary Fabius Bile Primogenitor shines in several respects, but Reynold's dialogue is its brightest spot in my opinion. Every conversation left me with the impression that it had been finely tuned. And every exchange, no matter how brief, always offered something interesting. Even the barbs and threats, as copious as they are, help define the volatile and long-spanning relationships within the story. The deeper into the book you read the deeper the conversations get. That's when the heart and soul of the story finally reveals itself — through debate/argument over the historical successes and failures of the traitor legions (specifically the Emperor's Children) and whether or not they are presently on the "right" path or not. And if not, will they ever be? Could they ever be? As wicked as the protagonists undeniably are, Reynolds shows us that their tortured souls still long, and in some cases hope, for a more noble existence. Beyond dialogue, Primogenitor has top-notch, immersive description. A worthy plot. Mysterious and very capable antagonists. And above average quality action scenes. Even better than the actual combat, is the unrelenting threat of combat. Because the protagonists are Chaos Space Marines, and because Reynolds is a talented author, he makes you feel like violence could erupt at nearly any moment in the story. Rating: 4.5 stars. Compared against the outstanding 5 star book I reviewed before this, Primogenitor was an ever so slight drop-off in quality. It didn't have quite the level of surprise, emotional exploration, and character arc resolution. But it's still a fantastic Warhammer story; I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I would strongly recommend it to any 40k reader. Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430435-fabius-bile  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Another post, another review. This one is a slight departure from my previous reviews, as it pulls from the Warhammer Fantasy universe. I have to admit that, before reading this book — which is actually a three novel omnibus — I hadn't read so much as a single WF story. I've always found 40k to be the more compelling of the two settings, and I can't imagine that will ever change. That said, I recently felt an urge to start shuffling some Warhammer Fantasy books into my to-read list, and what more conventional way to kick things off than with the first Gotrek & Felix Omnibus. Goodreads link: Gotrek & Felix For those who might not know, Gotrek & Felix are a (somewhat) comedic Sword & Sorcery duo within the Warhammer Fantasy setting. Full disclosure: comedy heavy action-adventure stories generally aren't my cup of tea — I prefer more dramatic/serious tones and stakes. But Gotrek & Felix are such popular characters from Warhammer Fantasy — they're practically synonymous with it — and I wanted to give them (and author William King) a chance to win me over. I'll start with saying: I like the two main characters. They wouldn't make my short list of my favorite Sword & Sorcery protagonists, but they're compelling enough to hold my interest and cheer for. One could argue that Felix is the only "legitimate" main character, and that Gotrek is merely a supporting character, as the former receives the lion's share of character development, and we're never offered Gotrek's POV. I think I remember reading more than one Goodreads reviewer complain about that. I wouldn't complain about it, though, because the way that I see it: the disparity in character development is by design and facilitates their stories. To expand on that, Gotrek's role (oddly enough) reminded me of Santa Clause in the 1994 remake of Miracle On 34th Street . In that movie Santa was a main character in the sense that (1) he was aligned with the other protagonists, and (2) the story wouldn't work if you removed him. He was inarguably essential. Yet Saint Nick's character arc was flat; he didn't undergo significant change. The actual character development in the film happened with the other main characters. Santa, as the living, breathing spirit of Christmas, was functionally the engine for the film's plot, as opposed to the one who most benefits from overcoming the central conflict. And the same is true for Gotrek. The slayer is the embodiment of combat, courage, and adventure, and serves as the engine for the duo's plots. An overall problem I had with the stories relates to King's prose — it was pedestrian at times. And that's not a criticism I often level, as I have a higher tolerance for plainish writing than your typical literature enthusiast. To be more clear, his writing was clean enough, but it never sparkled. It didn't pack much punch. And as a result it didn't paint vivid, striking imagery. So that was disappointing. Because the omnibus features three novels, I've divided my ratings accordingly. Trollslayer Rating: 4 stars. My favorite book of the omnibus. An introduction of the characters via dark fantasy adventures, all of which had a pleasing blend of comedy, action, and horror. Trollslayer's fast pace, plentiful thrills, and satisfying endings made up for the vanilla writing. Skavenslayer Rating: 3.5 stars. The second book smartly fleshed out Felix's backstory, but it offered only one enemy for our duo. Another knock was the skaven being more cartoonish than the monsters in Trollslayer. As a consequence, the stakes didn't feel as high. Demonslayer Rating: 2.5 stars. Poorly paced with too much travel time, and two uneventful/unmemorable voyage layovers. There's also a skaven (yes, them again) subplot that feels uninspired and unnecessary. Ultimately I'm happy to have read Gotrek & Felix's first omnibus, but I'm also happy to put them behind me and keep rolling through my to-read list. Do I intend to pick up their second omnibus in the future? Maybe. But likely not for a while.  

Seven Crowns Moderator Staff Supporter Contributor Contest Winner 2022

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); What a great thread! I'm a big fan of Gotrek and Felix. I've read all of them. Well, there's a couple new ones I need to get to still. All of the old omnibus ones is what I mean. The concept is so fun. And I agree with you on Dan Abnett. He's unusually good. He can build up characters SO fast. It's very strange, and really, worth studying. He can drop in a new character and detail them in such a way that you really care about them quickly. He gets that done in less than page. It's remarkable. (And then he kills the character and you feel awful, haha.) He knows how to write action too. There's an aspect to his writing that is very cinematic, for lack of a better word. AND he's got that statured British voice. Just the way he phrases his sentences really works. My favorite work by him is Eisenhorn. I guess that's pretty much a gold standard if you're a W40k fan, so I can't pretend it's a surprising choice. If you haven't read it though (dear reader) and really like action sci-fi, it is very highly recommended from me. This (below) is the book that got me into Warhammer 40k. It has a really good selection of short stories and really shows the hopelessness of what humanity's facing. When you really think about how they're facing defeat on every front, it makes sense that humans would become so ruthless. If we can't have it, then no one can. For me, the title sold it. (titles do matter)  

Steerpike Felis amatus Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Bone2pick said: ↑ travel time, and two uneventful/unmemorable voyage layovers. There's also a skaven (yes, them again) subplot that feels uninspired and unnecessary. Ultimately I'm happy to have read Gotrek & Felix's first omnibus, but I'm also happy to put them behind me and keep rolling through my to-read list. Do I intend to pick up their second omnibus in the future? Maybe. But likely not for a while. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Seven Crowns said: ↑ My favorite work by him is Eisenhorn. I guess that's pretty much a gold standard if you're a W40k fan, so I can't pretend it's surprising. If you haven't read it (dear reader) though and really like action sci-fi, it is very highly recommended from me. Click to expand...

Night Herald The Fool Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Gosh, I haven't read any 40k books in such a long time (and never read any Warhammer Fantasy, even though I am a fan of that setting also). The only authors I remember by name are Dan Abnett and Graham McNeil. I enjoyed the latter's Ultramarines stories very much, as I recall ( Nightbringer , Warriors of Ultramar , and especially Dead Sky Black Sun). I also fondly remember some of the Horus Heresy novel, namely the first three which deal with the fall of the Warmaster himself, the Thousand Sons ones, and Mechanicus , plus certain others I'm surely forgetting. I own maybe twenty of those books, but I haven't read them all. I really should fish them out of that cardboard box and try to find some extra shelf space. I fell out of the 40k thing for a number of years, but I've been getting back in there. I'd love to read some Imperial Guard stuff, preferably something in a Military Fiction vein (I know, how are you ever gonna find that in the 41st millennium?). I did read one Ciaphas Cain novel, and that's not quite what I have in mind. Big battles, campaigning, ensemble cast, camaraderie, footslogging, that sort of stuff. I'm guessing Gaunt's Ghosts is good for that type of thing?  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Night Herald said: ↑ I'd love to read some Imperial Guard stuff, preferably something in a Military Fiction vein (I know, how are you ever gonna find that in the 41st millennium?). I did read one Ciaphas Cain novel, and that's not quite what I have in mind. Big battles, campaigning, ensemble cast, camaraderie, footslogging, that sort of stuff. I'm guessing Gaunt's Ghosts is good for that type of thing? Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Checked another book off my Black Library to-read list. I'm now keeping a separate list just for their stuff. While I'm always happy to dig into a highly rated BL story, I was especially pumped to read and review this next novel for two big reasons: (1) it's by an author who has written some of my favorite 40k fiction, and (2) it features Chaos Space Marines/Legionaires, the faction I've always found to be the most compelling. I'm referring to the first installment of the Black Legion Series, The Talon of Horus , by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, aka ADB. Goodreads Link: The Talon of Horus (Black Legion #1) I'm disappointed to report the book elicited mixed feelings from me. Much more so than any of my previous reviews. A truly bittersweet read. On the bright side, its positives range from really good to outstanding. The best being Abaddon's characterization/evolution. ADB's portrayal of him was so smart and so adroitly executed that I believe its impact will benefit the 40k line going forward, if it hasn't already. For what it's worth, I don't consider myself generous with that level of praise. Outside of Abaddon's portrayal, ADB's setup and given motivations for the creation of the Black Legion were also great. And that was critical, as those are the crux of both the story's heart and plot. Everything about the founding of Abaddon's Legion makes sense, and just as importantly, it casts the Warmaster's lot in a more dignified light. In terms of prose, I've always considered Aaron's to be a cut above the average BL author. He has a distinct voice. Very masculine phrasing, if that means anything to you. He seemingly can't help but inject a roguish charm and rock 'n' roll edge into his writing. His authorial voice does have a gentler side, though. And while it's rarely elegant, it's sincere, passionate, and offers a rewarding perspective. The pacing of the book was a minor issue for me. It's first person POV, and the story frequently breaks for lengthy-ish introspection from the main character. Admittedly, I enjoyed much of it. But there were times when the introspection came at the expense of narrative tension. And upon reflection, I wish some of those pages were used for additional plot or character moments. A bigger issue for me was that outside of Abaddon — who isn't introduced until nearly two thirds into the story — I wasn't enamored with any of the characters. The main/POV character, a Thousand Sons sorcerer named Khayon, has some qualities that appealed to me, but also aspects that rubbed me the wrong way. Power level being one of the latter. His bonded companions (a daemon wolf and female dark eldar [think succubus]) being another. As to the rest of cast, a handful of Chaos Space Marines were moderately intriguing, but none of them were given an especially memorable moment. I was particularly disappointed that Khayon's longtime companion and former mentor, a brother Thousand Sons sorcerer, never had a defining scene. That still strikes me as an egregious wasted opportunity. Khayon's starship hosts a unique machine spirit that I also have mixed feelings towards. I'll leave it at that, because explaining it would require a spoiler-filled paragraph or two, and I'd rather just elaborate on my power level gripe and wrap up this review. I understand that Chaos sorcery is an awesomely potent force. I honestly do. And I acknowledge the 40k setting is populated with all sorts of demigod tier beings. That's partly why I love it so much. But when I read stories from this genre I need the protagonist(s), no matter how powerful they are, to be pushed to their limits. And I by and large feel Khayon wasn't. His sorcery is ridiculously versatile, accessible, and provided an all-too-convenient solution to many of the problems he faced. For those who might want specifics I'm including brief examples/spoilers. To be clear, it's not any single feat of sorcery that was the problem (well, maybe...) it's that they're all in his magical toolbox, and it's wide open as to what else is in the box. .SpoilerTarget"> Spoiler: Khayon's Feats of Sorcery He can read minds. He can easily disintegrate an Astartes — a Legion champion for that matter — despite suffering from a heavily bleeding gut wound. He can pull a mortal back from the brink of death (female dark elder) and provide them with sorcery-powered life indefinitely. He can rewire a rival Legionaries' brain and make them completely under his control. He can instantly summon a greater daemon capable of tearing apart twenty battle ready Chaos Space Marines. He can telekinetically haul a massive starship across space and then hurl it at a planet. Keep in mind these are all in-book feats. Rating: 3.5 stars. On one hand I view The Talon of Horus as significantly better than the overwhelming majority of 3.5 star books, but on the other hand the parts that disappointed or bothered me left quite an impression.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Finished the 28th installment of the Horus Heresy series, Scars by Chris Wraight. I hadn't read Chris before, but the Black Library readership generally speaks well of his work, so I was happy to give him a shot. And as a bonus, this book brought me back to my favorite era/corner of the 40k universe — the Horus Heresy. I can't remember if I've already revealed that, for me, the HH is the juiciest part of the setting. The filet mignon, if you will. The crème de la crème. But in case I haven't, I feel it's worth mentioning. Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143803-scars Compared against the other Legions, I've long felt the White Scars were one of the least interesting. They were definitely in my bottom tier, along with the Imperial Fists and World Eaters. So I'm grateful that Wraight's Scars made enough of a positive impression to bump them out of my Heresy cellar. In my opinion, the greatest "big picture" achievements of the novel are (1) it serves as a proper introduction of the Legion's Primarch, Jaghatai Khan, and (2) it provides a logical and satisfying reason as to why the fifth Legion has largely been removed from the early events of the Heresy. The series' readership needed both of those things from this book, and Wraight delivered. So Kudos to him for that. He also delivered a worthwhile plot, with sufficient tension and the right amount of action beats. And he explored many of the distinctive aspects of the White Scars, such as their Mongolian-inspired culture, their Librarians' (Stormseers) unique perspective of the Warp, as well as their relationships with some of the other Legions. Scars had several gripping scenes, but the brightest spot — the most "Heresy epic" moment — was Jaghatai Khan's encounter with Magnus the Red, Primarch of the Thousand Sons. Their dialogue was so significant and emotionally charged, that I would argue it was actually the book's climax, rather than the demigod duel that soon followed it. In terms of criticisms, I felt that outside of Jaghatai, the personalities and voices of the White Scars Legionaries were too similar. Almost monolithic. And while the plot, action, and character arcs were all good, none of them were top of the class Black Library quality. Rating: 4 stars. A worthy and important installment to the Horus Heresy series, but only offers one truly special scene.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Chaos (aka Renegade) Space Marines have long been my favorite 40k faction. I've likely already divulged that somewhere in this thread, and if so I apologize for repeating myself. I merely bring it up in order to elaborate on why . Despite what you might suspect, it's not on account of their obvious 'edgy' qualities: their fearsome look, their battle savagery, their nigh rockstar villain status within the setting. Okay, admittedly some of those things do factor into it. But they aren't the primary reason. That would be their pathos. Traitor Astartes rejected what they swore to uphold, what they were (literally) transformed to defend, and what their magnificent God-Emperor demanded of them. They sold their souls and sealed their contracts with the transhuman blood of their battle brothers. In some instances they did so with laughter on their lips, others with tears on their cheeks. For those sins they are damned and rightfully hated. And they all-too-often hate themselves — also rightfully. Their history, present, and foreseeable future is utterly tragic. To some extent they remind me of a handful of people in my life — mostly extended family members and childhood friends — who had so much potential, so much beautiful promise in their youth, but due to their devastatingly bad choices, wasted it. Sadly, there are no do-overs in this world. Those individuals can never amount to what they could have been, and never outrun the fallout of their failures. But I hold out hope that some of them, through great effort and recompense, will manage to rekindle a bit of that laudable fire that once burned so brightly inside them. An ember for a measure of self-worth. For peace. Do most Black Library stories featuring Chaos Space Marines successfully explore that theme? Of course not. Some don't even attempt to. But Fabius Bile: Clonelord by Josh Reynolds does, and it delivers much more than that. The sequel has an outstanding cast of distinct characters — even better than the previous installment — and each one is smartly given individual attention. The action is excellent, often offering surprises. And in every instance I can remember, the combat helps develop one or more of the characters. "I am — I was — the last crusader, and this was my city on the hill. The pinnacle of renewal, cast down by barbarians. The banner of science, trod into the dust of ages by the boots of brute ignorance." ~ Chief Apothecary Fabius Bile Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/37120505-fabius-bile Like the previous book in the series, the dialogue in Clonelord proves to be its choicest cut of meat. Each character speaks with their own interesting voice. And every conversation adds something worthwhile, and builds anticipation for future conflicts. Simply and honestly, it's the best dialogue I've ever read from Black Library. The book also raises a notable thought provoking-question, one I can't remember ever reading before. I'm putting it in spoilers though, because it strongly hints at Fabius's central dilemma. .SpoilerTarget"> Spoiler If there was someone from your past who you lost forever, who you once loved, revered, and needed, but who failed and abandoned you in your most trying time, would you bring them back into your life and attempt the relationship again, with the benefit of a clean slate, if you had the power? Rating: 5 stars. This is my Chaos Space Marine story. It's the one I've been waiting for.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Mike Brook's Alpharius: Head of the Hydra was my first taste of The Horus Heresy: Primarch's series — I've got a lot of catching up to do — and, unfortunately for me, the shortish novel proved thoroughly unappetizing. Even more so than a typical Warhammer book, I had hoped this story would leave me satiated. Four stars or better, to be precise. There're a couple of reasons for that: the first and primary one being that the Alpha Legion has long been one of my three favorite Legiones Astartes (Death Guard and the Iron Warriors being the other two). The second reason being that, outside of Dan Abnett's Legion , I hadn't read a good story with the Twentieth Legion as the protagonist. So this one needed to deliver the goods. Goodreads link: Alpharius (The Horus Heresy: Primarchs #14) Sadly, it didn't even come close. In what ways did Brook's Head of the Hydra disappoint me? His prose for starters; it was subpar in nearly all aspects. His sentences were too often prosaic, overly explanatory, and constructed with abysmal word economy. I could offer an abundance of examples of the kind of writing that I'm referring to, but a handful will likely be enough to convince you. In the spoiler below are excerpts from the book where Brooks dutifully reminds his readers that Primarch Alpharius — in case anyone might be unaware — is in fact superior to normal humans. .SpoilerTarget"> Spoiler: Beyond Mortal Page 10 I soar on, avoiding the blasts of gun emplacements thanks to my reflexes, against which no mortal enemy could hope to triumph. Page 10 (referring to himself) A mortal could not have managed this manoeuvre; it is doubtful they'd have even survived it. Page 45 However, I was not a mortal, and my bursts of stubber fire found and dropped the first, the second... Page 46 Hugrid was only mortal, and so I was several steps ahead of him. Page 54 My senses are many times sharper than those of a normal human, but even so, I would struggle in these conditions. Page 133 I wasn't the Wolf King or the Night Haunter, but my senses were still far beyond those of a mortal. Even when read in isolation, none of the above are up to snuff writing in my opinion. And together they strike me as unforgivably uninspired, and frankly amateurish. I expect better from even the middle tier Black Library storytellers. As you might imagine, Brook's bush league prose resulted in his action scenes being an absolute slog to get through. Considering the story's genre, that's fairly damning. Combat was described very mechanically, and in nearly every instance lacked emotional stakes. Additionally I found his dialogue insipid. And while his characterization of Alpharius did portray the Primarch's superhuman guile, it offered little else. I never felt Alpharius's gravitas, and if his flaws were put forward I either missed them or have already forgotten them. Rating: 1.5 stars. I didn't see any evidence from this book that Mike Brooks possesses the necessary writing chops to produce a novel, be it Warhammer fiction or any other fiction, that would be worth my time.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Continuing with the Horus Heresy series (at least with the books I deem essential), my latest read was Vengeful Spirit by Graham McNeill. Before I get into my review, I'd like to mention that McNeill's Storm of Iron , published back in 2002, was the first Black Library novel to impress me. The first one to leave me thinking: Finally, a proper 40k story . More importantly Storm of Iron was the main reason why the Iron Warriors became, and remain, my most favoritest Legion. As I've already mentioned in an earlier review, I'm especially sweet on the Alpha Legion and Death Guard, but the Iron Warriors are securely at the top of my Traitorous Trinity. And I'll always carry a level of gratitude towards Graham for that. Vengeful Spirit (for me) proved to be a typical McNeill-caliber book; by that I mean it has a fair amount to praise, and nearly as much to criticize. I'll start with the outright good: The description. This has always been one of McNeill's strengths. The way he might write a starship coming apart, or drop pods burning through a Hive World's atmosphere, or a godlike Primarch unexpectedly entering a room, generally falls within the 'very good' to 'wonderfully cinematic' range. Furthermore, his 40k vocabulary is second to none. His comprehensive knowledge and presentation of the technology, voidcraft, military equipment, and warp metaphysics within the universe creates a vibrant, fully realized setting. The book's primary plot, which features the Sons of Horus, was decently compelling. In a big picture sense the narrative events are worthy of a Horus Heresy novel. But McNeill stuffed the book with somewhat minor POV characters and subplots, and not all of them earn their pages. Some of the better storylines include "Little Horus" Aximand's, Knight House Devine's, the Ultramarines', and a certain disaffected Legionary's that I won't name/spoil. Some of the poorer storylines include the Blood Angels', the combat medic's, and the Death Guard's. Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18775295-vengeful-spirit In my estimation McNeill's dialogue generally runs in the range of 'good enough' to 'disappointing.' As a storyteller, this is his biggest obstacle to greatness. And this limitation is one of my biggest issues with Vengeful Spirit. Horus Lupercal and Ezekyle Abaddon, two of the series most iconic and influential characters, especially suffer from uninspired dialogue. The climax is okay, but it doesn't deliver any jaw-dropping surprises. And I can't help but feel that it should have. Rating: 3 stars. A reasonably enjoyable yet admittedly bloated installment. The writing quality is mostly there, but it juggles too much.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); I finished Pharos , the 34th Horus Heresy installment by Guy Haley, and I was emphatically disappointed. Not with the writing/prose — Haley is competent enough in that respect. The storytelling (plot, characters, climax, etcetera) however, left everything to be desired. My complaints mostly boil down to me feeling that the book has an unconscionable lack of character development. And that missing ingredient (unsurprisingly) spoiled nearly every one of Pharos’s storylines. When I neared the end of the book I couldn’t help but question some of Haley’s choices. Questions such as: Why were the Primarchs not given more page time? Why were the Night Lords so uncharacteristically inept? Why was Captain Corvo, who plays a large role in the climax, introduced so late into the story? Why is Pollux pictured prominently on the book’s cover when he plays a relatively minor role? Who even is the book’s main character? One compliment I will pay Pharos — I wish I could give it more — is that its few scenes featuring Primarch Sanguinius were legitimately Horus Heresy worthy. It’s too bad he didn’t play a more central role, considering he’s a bonafide legend within the canon, and has more personal and political concerns to wrestle with than any other character in novel. Rating : 2 stars. Hopefully this is the worst story I’ll ever read from Haley. Goodreads link: Pharos (The Horus Heresy #34) ~~~​ After Pharos I read Fulgrim: The Palantine Phoenix , a Primarch series novel by Josh Reynolds, and I was once again impressed with Mr. Reynolds. This is only the third story I’ve read of his, yet I’m ready to place him in my top tier of Black Library authors, along with Abnett and Aaron Dembski-Bowden. I’ve seen enough. He’s intelligent, his themes are powerfully delivered and pose worthwhile questions. He writes more compelling dialogue than anyone at Black Library. He has a clear understanding of the Warhammer universe. And most importantly, he understands human concerns and motivations. I was bummed to learn Reynolds no longer writes for BL. While I acknowledge it’s unlikely, I hope someone over there will convince him to come back. If only for another book or two. Anyway, in this shortish novel Fulgrim attempts to bring a sovereign world into the ever-expanding Imperium via diplomacy. For me, this premise proved to be an interesting new flavor of Heresy-era story. It offered the readership an example of how a Legion and its Primarch, in some instances, make efforts for peaceful annexations as opposed to drop podding ceramite boots on the ground. Reynolds wisely doesn’t hinge the book on whether Fulgrim is successful or not. Instead his tale reveals if the Phoenician is actually as committed to peaceful transitions of power as he believes himself to be. One of the talents top tier Black Library authors all share, is that they can lead the faithful Warhammer readership into new narrative terrain, and by and large receive praise for doing so. Earning adulation, rather than howls of objection. It’s a tricky tightrope to walk, and it requires perfectly attuned instincts. Reynolds has this ability. Rating: 4 stars. Very good and surprisingly very fresh, though not quite as succulent as his Fabius Bile books. Goodreads link: Fulgrim (The Horus Heresy: Primarchs #6)  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Finished an omnibus. Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium , Sandy Mitchel. Despite this being 40k, and highly rated by the readership, and written with a character voice and overall prose I enjoyed, I wasn’t the target audience for this character/series. My rub is that Commissar Cain is a man with a snappy sense of humor, an understandable (and comical) reluctance to put himself in harm’s way, and has the security of many more layers of plot armor than a typical Black Library protagonist. In short, his stories are lighthearted action comedies. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but I prefer my 40k fiction to take itself serious — biblically serious. Maximum danger, maximum stakes, unabashedly melodramatic. Rating: 2.5 stars https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/588333.Hero_of_the_Imperium  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); I recently jumped back on the Horus Heresy train to read The Path of Heaven by Chris Wraight, and was rewarded for doing so. It’s a fine installment. I was particularly impressed with Wraight’s characterizations of his principal antagonists, Primarch Mortarian and Lord Commander Eidolon. The White Scars get thoroughly bloodied in this story. Noteworthy sacrifices were made. And the stage was left artfully set for a universe-defining showdown on Terra. Rating: 4 stars https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/28956049-the-path-of-heaven  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Finished another one. The Master of Mankind , Aaron Dembski-Bowden. This Horus Heresy novel turned out to be a game changer. A rare Black Library offering that actually adjusted my understanding of the 40k setting. Specifically my knowledge of the Emperor’s vision for the Imperium, His emotional attachment (or lack thereof) for His Primarchs, and when and how the warp-free future for mankind became impossible. ADB was in top form when he wrote this. The characterizations, the world insights, the stakes of the plot... All exceptional. Anyone who enjoys reading 40k fiction should read this book. Rating: 5 stars https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33303512-the-master-of-mankind  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Finished two books. Mortarion: The Pale King , David Annadale. With the Death Guard being one of my three favorite Legions, this volume of the Primarch Series was a must read. After finishing the book I can’t quite judge it as top-shelf 30k fiction — at least two additional character-driven chapters, especially in the later half of the book, would have greatly improved it — but overall Annadale’s story was very satisfying. And I appreciate that he took the opportunity to emphasize some of Mortarion’s commendable aspects, such as the Primarch’s benevolence and humility in victory. Rating: 4 stars https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60483879-mortarion?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=OmNSsQZgQi&rank=4 The Flight of the Eisenstein , James Swallow. This was a reread, and unfortunately it wasn’t as good as I remembered. Stiff dialogue. Unremarkable characterizations. And an underwhelming climax. On the plus side, I appreciate what the novel’s plot added to the canon. Rating: 2.5 stars https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80155.The_Flight_of_the_Eisenstein  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); Attempted to read two books, but only finished one. Praetorian of Dorn , John French. This book is confusing and awful. Snatches of scenes. Underdeveloped characters. Nothing connected with me — I was never invested. I forced myself to get halfway through it before quitting and forgetting. Rating: DNF Fabius Bile: Manflayer , Josh Reynolds. The grand finale of Reynolds’ Chaos Space Marine series staring the 3rd Legion’s mad genius apothecary. The first half of Manflayer doesn’t quite stack up when compared against the author’s better output — especially the chapters featuring the Drukhari (dark eldar). And Reynolds’ normally first-rate dialogue isn’t as sharp throughout the whole book, which was a bit disappointing. That said, Reynolds manages to tighten the plot and up the stakes in the second half, and he delivers a great ending to drop the curtain on one of the few, truly remarkable 40k series. Rating: 4 stars The previous installment, Fabius Bile: Clonelord is in my estimation the crown jewel of Reynold’s work with Fabius. It is a stunning stained glass window within 40k’s towering cathedral of canon. In case anyone might be interested, I would include Reynolds’ Fulgrim: The Palantine Phoenix as part of the Fabius Bile series. And my suggested reading order would be: (1) Fulgrim: The Palantine Phoenix , (2) Fabius Bile: Primogenitor , (3) Fabius Bile: Clonelord , and (4) Fabius Bile: Manflayer . ~~~​ “Are you mad?”​ Fabius looked down at the flowers that crept across the nearby vines. “Madness is a matter of perspective as well as context. The actions of a lunatic may well prove sane, when viewed at a distance.”​ Skalagrim growled deep in his throat. “The question was rhetorical. I know you’re mad. But what I do not know is when you crossed the line from mad to suicidal.”​ Fabius turned back from the flowers. “I am tired of running. I ran from Terra. From Arden. From Harmony. From Urum, Lugganath and Solemnace. I have spent my life running from the knife. Running from the stone.” He crushed the blossom. “The running ends here. My story ends here, for good or ill.” ~ Fabius Bile: Manflayer ​  

w. bogart Contributor Contributor Blogerator

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); My only trip into the Warhammer universe was with the BloodBowl books. They were a fun read years ago, the computer game version of the books is fun, especially the play by play from the commentators.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_7ed338a581faeb317fa3d64bcd1d45d1'); }); I’ve read a few Warhammer books over the last few months, none of which (thankfully) were bad. Here they are: Sanguinius: The Great Angel , Chris Wright The Deacon of Wounds , David Annandale Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia , Guy Haley The reason I came back to update this thread, though, is that I just finished Assassinorum: Kingmaker by Robert Rath, and it‘s awesome (4.5 stars). It’s a black ops thriller with loads of court intrigue. The story is very smartly plotted, as well as impressively paced. It has several surprises, ranging from heroic to tragic. And the three main characters are distinct, flawed and compelling. Everything about the novel struck me as inspired and polished. I’m excited to read more from this author.  

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Book Review: Saturnine – Limited Edition Hardback

This review does NOT contain spoilers for Saturnine. That wouldn’t be nice. 

“There is work to be done,’ he announced. ‘I’m aware.’ said Abbadon. ‘My beloved lord,’ said Eidolon, ‘grows–‘ ‘Many more supple breasts every day?’ asked Aximand.

• The Mournival doing what they do best, this is an actual quote and in no way altered.

Dan Abnett is inarguably one of the most talented voices in the Horus Heresy series and has been a titan throughout the history of the Black Library’s catalog.  Saturnine sees him returning to the story of the Horus Heresy, filling in some of the empty canvas between Horus’s first assault on Terra, and the inevitable and galaxy-shattering showdown on the deck of the Vengeful Spirit . Saturnine is set at the midpoint of the siege; the traitors are making real and serious gains across Terra, and within the Palace perimeter. The end of the previous book in the series The First Wall sets the series up for the beginning of the true assault on the Imperial Palace, turning the grueling siege combat that was established in the Horus Heresy lore way back in issue 268 of the Citadel White Dwarf Magazine into shockingly rendered combat scenes throughout the theatre of operations. Saturnine picks up a scant hour after the final act of First Wall , with Rogal Dorn and his commanders scrambling to secure the palace perimeter in the face of ever-growing odds and ever-increasing threats.

As I promised above, as I am one of the very few people with access to this book, I will avoid spoilers, and skim over details but, my intent for this review is to hove to the characterization and presentation of two primarchs who have been around for the vast majority of the Horus Heresy series, but have never  really  been fleshed out to the extent of the major characters in the Prosperine War/Ultramar Shadow Crusade books.

So far, three out of the four published siege books have focused on single primarchs doing what they do best against the backdrop of Horus’s grand assault on his father’s capital city. Lost and the Damned  had Dorn hovering in the background while Sanguinius did his thing.  First Wall  had a fairly nuanced depiction of the Iron Warriors’ relationship with their genefather, Perturabo, but also focused on Dorn’s relationship with his sons, both favored, or otherwise.

Rogal Dorn and Perturabo have been described as the bitterest of rivals ever since the inception of the grander Horus Heresy Narrative, brothers evenly matched in knowledge, skill, and ability, but with such a gulf of animosity and…. familial recognition between the two of them. The set up for this rivalry borrows heavily from the trends and genres that feature fraternal rivals and was only really ever going to come to tears. The characterizations of the resolute defender and the grim, unstoppable attacker have been established throughout the narrative, but at the end of the conflict, we know that the two men share more than just complementary skillsets. Perturabo is a cultured and surprisingly sensitive soul-  he appreciates and seeks art in his personal time, he indulges in the hope (well, early on) that his work will be for a true, better imperium, he keeps plans for Imperial cities that are filled with art, beauty, and peace. Similarly, Dorn is all-in on the idea of preserving the Imperium his father has set out to build. Time and again, the Praetorian is described as being a master at defense, and an utterly immovable opponent in anything from argument to personal combat. Dorn lives and breathes his duty to the Imperium.

Such unyielding faith, loyalty, and clear-sighted focus are the greatest strengths of the Primarch of the VIIth Legion, and maybe the only things holding Terra together, but they’ve also been shown to be the cracks that get past the Primarch’s stoic exterior.

Faith, whether literal or figurative, has been a huge part of the Heresy story until now. The atheistic faith of the Great Crusade kept the momentum going to recapture the galaxy. The personal faith of the individual Astartes in their captains, chapter masters, and Primarchs is what led to the establishment of Legiones Astartes characterizations. The faith Lorgar held that must to be something bigger led to the (re?)introduction of Chaos into the Emperor’s armies. The faith of a small band of remembrancers in the Emperor’s suppressed Divinity is what led to a warning of Horus’s rebellion reaching the Emperor in the first place.

At the opening of this novel the Imperial Palace,and its defenders are enduring their 100th day of the assault. For the transhuman demigods in charge, it is uniquely stressful and frustrating that they cannot find the decisive fulcrum to break through. For the unaugmented humans, soldier, civilian, and administrator; it’s mind-shattering. Faith begins to break down, in institutions, in individuals, in systems of operation, and entire ethical frameworks. The entire human identity seems to be in freefall for Traitor and Loyalist alike. The unfolding battle sorely tests the mental and physical strength of even the transhuman Astartes, and the grinding attrition of the siege erodes even Dorn’s legendary resolve.

Rogal Dorn seems to discover a sense of humor in this situation, cracking uncharacteristic jokes with Constantin Valdor, Kyril Sindermann, even human General Staff officers. Such a break in the normal stony facade of the VIIth primarch is what begins to worry both the reader and the shell-shocked defenders. Perturabo has similarly found an STC cache of chill pills, shocking the traitor command structure by taking a day off to unwind and run literal tabletop war games with himself, inviting Abaddon along for commentary and company. The effect of these scenes is subtle but telling. Dorn maintains faith because he not only has to but wants to; the loyal son refusing to acknowledge the alternative should he fail. Perturabo announces he has given up his hope of there ever being peace, and finds himself further at odds with his brothers than ever before, fondly recalling learning via observation of Dorn’s war-making. The Primarchs, genetically and metaphysical avatars of human perfection start to show strain under the magnitude of their set roles. This slow erosion of monolithic personalities sets a tone of creeping unease for the majority of the novel, and that’s before the metaphysical angle gets involved. Sanguinius and the Khan, among others, make appearances in this book, but they fill known aspects of long-established lore; there is a wild Chogorian cavalry charge, and Sanguinius continues his habit of big-game hunting at the worst moments, but nothing more.

The Traitor Primarchs are… around (refer to my opening quote), and a few make appearances towards the climax, but the story doesn’t focus on their somewhat dull shenanigans in favor of the more grounded combat.

The themes of faith, duty, rivalry, and self-worth are what has kept me coming back to the Black Library, and wider Warhammer universes as I’ve gotten older. Beneath the stories of superhumans wailing on each other with industrial power tools, are heavy concepts that touch on character flaws instantly recognizable to millions of people. Dorn’s struggle with duty, reality, faith, self-doubt, and managing expectations of others puts a previously-inviolate demigod in a position of surprising vulnerability, and that’s where this novel starts. Similarly, the Siege of Terra series has so far, done an amazing job on focusing on the human cost and the experience of the average palace defender. Saturnine is not a break from the action in any sense, but it does take time to let scenes and coordinated actions breathe amidst all the horror and artillery fire.

This book is a welcome return from Abnett, and sets the series up for a truly apocalyptic second half. I cannot wait for the wider release to hit in July, and hope that you all have a chance to read. I will update this review after that release with spoiler information.

A note on these Limited Editions:  These are spectacular collector’s items. The artwork is gorgeous, and the overall construction, presentation, and just physical feel of the books make each a definite showpiece item. Unfortunately, I missed the initial window to buy this beauty and had to buy this one off an eBay reseller. It cost me $160 US to get this particular item, but I also had it in my hands the day after the seller received it. Now, I don’t begrudge the secondary market their profit, but I feel as though there has to be another way for the wider reader base to get these amazing products. Perhaps a secondary run of unsigned items might alleviate the mad-dash for the checkout button on a Saturday evening?

Final Vertdict: 

10/10 – A master returns to the Heresy, and everything is richer for it.

Want to discuss the book? Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below (but be respectful about spoilers!) or email us at [email protected] .

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The Resting Places (Warhammer Horror) Paperback – April 11, 2023

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• Part of series Warhammer Horror
• Print length 336 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Warhammer Horror
• Publication date April 11, 2023
• Dimensions 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches
• ISBN-10 1800262620
• ISBN-13 978-1800262621
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Warhammer Horror (April 11, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1800262620
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800262621
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.1 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches
• #137 in Vampire Horror
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David annandale.

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Jake Ozga has written several short horror stories and a novella for Black Library

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Erik Larson vividly captures the struggle for Fort Sumter

‘the demon of unrest’ zooms in on a place, time and small group of actors whose individual dramas encapsulate broader events in the run-up to the civil war.

So many books on the American Civil War have been published in the past 160 years that it’s been estimated they average out to at least one per day since the surrender at Appomattox. Still, they keep coming, rank upon rank, a relentless army of paper and ink.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Every generation revises its understanding of the conflict and its causes, heavily influenced by the context of the times. A century or so ago, in an era of racial denialism, historians groped for any explanation besides slavery to define the war’s origins. Half a century later, in the aftermath of the civil rights movement, White scholars began paying serious attention to the roles African Americans played in the conflict’s onset and outcome. (Black scholars had been doing so since the 19th century.) A decade ago, after the election of America’s first Black president, the war could be portrayed as an awakening of the national conscience that, despite its awful cost, would eventually bend history’s arc toward justice.

Now, the popular historian Erik Larson has written a Civil War story that — as he says in the book’s first paragraphs — was shaped by the events of Jan. 6, 2021 , when the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a mob of self-proclaimed American patriots (some of whom, with no apparent sense of irony, brandished Confederate flags while howling imprecations against “traitors”).

“As I watched the Capitol assault unfold on camera,” Larson writes in “ The Demon of Unrest ,” “I had the eerie feeling that present and past had merged. It is unsettling that in 1861 two of the greatest moments of national dread centered on the certification of the Electoral College vote and the presidential inauguration. … I realized that the anxiety, anger, and astonishment that I felt would certainly have been experienced in 1860-1861 by vast numbers of Americans.”

Although the book’s subtitle promises a Civil War “saga” — suggesting an epic sweep across years and battles — this isn’t quite right. Rather, as he has done artfully in his previous books (which have together sold some 10 million copies), Larson zooms in tightly on a specific place, time and small group of actors whose individual dramas are supposed to encapsulate broader historical events. His main narrative ends before the war’s first drop of blood has been shed.

The object of Larson’s concentrated focus is the five-month period between Abraham Lincoln’s election to the presidency, in November 1860, and the surrender of Fort Sumter by a small federal garrison, which had held on while surrounding Southern states proclaimed their secession from the Union. Meanwhile, leaders in Washington and the nascent Confederacy maneuvered to determine the fate of the South Carolina outpost, the last significant bastion of federal authority in the rebel South. The fort finally struck its colors on April 13, after two days of relentless artillery bombardment by Confederate forces encircling Charleston Harbor, a battle that nonetheless concluded with only a few minor injuries on each side.

Perhaps no other historian has ever rendered the struggle for Sumter in such authoritative detail as Larson does here. Having picked his way through a vast labyrinth of primary and secondary sources (some of them contradictory), he emerges with a narrative that strides confidently from one chapter to the next. Few historians, too, have done a better job of untangling the web of intrigues and counter-intrigues that helped provoke the eventual attack and surrender — how a few slightly different decisions by leaders on both sides could have led to dramatically different outcomes in the secession crisis, ones that might not have involved a war at all.

Larson begins each section of his book with an epigraph taken from a 19th-century manual on the intricate protocols of dueling. This points to a central theme: that the Sumter contest was a match of strength and wits by gentlemen on both sides whose behavior was governed not just by differing strategies and ideologies, but by a strict sense of honor.

Yet it also points to some of the book’s deficiencies. Larson’s Civil War is a “mano a mano” between a few elite White men in Washington and Charleston, while the other 30 million Americans remain a vague offstage presence. This is despite the fact that the rapidly shifting tides of public opinion in both North and South ultimately determined the course of the Sumter standoff — just as much as, or even more than, the political leaders’ thrusts and parries. It’s also an odd choice given Larson’s initial claim that his narrative was shaped by the storming of the Capitol — as if he had seen that recent moment as simply a test of wits between President Donald Trump on one side and President-elect Joe Biden on the other.

Black Americans are almost always treated as an unnamed, undifferentiated mass of passive victims: Although Larson unmasks the cruelty and hypocrisy of wealthy White enslavers, Frederick Douglass appears just once in the book’s 500 pages. Other Black activists, authors and strategists never do. Abolitionists (White as well as Black) are hardly mentioned, and then only as radical irritants to both sides whose inconvenient existence inflamed the tensions that led to disunion. In this sense, “The Demon of Unrest” sometimes reads more like a product of the 1920s than of the 2020s.

Even in his portrayals of the White elite, Larson makes puzzling choices. Very early in the book, he devotes more than 30 pages to the prewar life of a loathsome planter turned senator, James Henry Hammond of South Carolina, seeming to set him up as one of the narrative’s major characters. But then Hammond largely disappears, popping up just a few times in passing.

Overall, the Confederate figures in Larson’s book are more fully fleshed out than those above the Mason-Dixon Line, with the sole exception of Lincoln. It’s difficult to find new things to say about the 16th president, but Larson has an eye for the illuminating detail. For instance, he describes a “yard sale” of household goods (including six chairs, a mattress and some comforters) that the Lincolns held in early 1861 to help fund their train journey to the inauguration. It’s a sign of just how middle-class the family was, a stark contrast to nearly all who occupied the White House before or since.

The most fascinating character in “The Demon of Unrest” is Maj. Robert Anderson, the reserved, gray-haired U.S. Army officer who held Fort Sumter for half a year, despite the vast military superiority of his massing Confederate foes and the feeble, vacillating support of the Buchanan administration. A Kentuckian and former enslaver, Anderson nonetheless did his duty, knowing that — in the words of another officer at the fort, Abner Doubleday — “the first shot fired by us would light the flames of a civil war that would convulse the world.” A willing withdrawal from Sumter, meanwhile, would have signaled the federal government’s acquiescence to secession and possibly sealed the nation’s dissolution.

The portrait of Anderson is Larson at his best. It is also a reminder of the intricate contingencies of history, whose outcomes do sometimes depend — at least partly — on the decisions of a single person.

Adam Goodheart is a historian at Washington College and the author of “1861: The Civil War Awakening.”

The Demon of Unrest

A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War

By Erik Larson

Crown. 592 pp. $35

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A new collection of Emily Dickinson's letters has been published by Harvard's Belknap Press, edited by Dickinson scholars Cristanne Miller and Domhnall Mitchell. Three Lions/Getty Images hide caption

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55 Books by Black Authors That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf

Put these books on your must-read list.

G rowing up as a young Black girl in the South, I saw positive representations of Black and Brown excellence: My family members were college-educated, working professionals and pillars in their communities. They owned churches, shoe stores, homes and property, and they held themselves in high esteem despite some of the negative stereotypes presented on the news and in the media. I fondly remember my mother, who received her bachelor's in English Literature, bringing home books by Black authors—titles like Before the Mayflower: A History of the Negro in America , Africans in America: America's Journey Through Slavery , The Souls of Black Folk , The Color Purple and The Bluest Eye .

Even in my youth, I was aware of the power of reading , and when my parents shared with me that it was once illegal for Black people to know how to read, I embraced it even more. I devoured books that showcased the vast and uniquely diverse spectrum of Black life. And despite often reading books in school that presented Black people and their ancestry homogeneously, I have always felt empowered in my identity as a result of the knowledge I gained from books and the wise people around me.

In my teenage years, I decided to become an English Literature major, like my mother. I always understood that books provide an entry point into the minds of others. Like an invitation to a well-thought-out event, the best books leave an indelible imprint. Whether teaching or entertaining, the written word has a way of moving people while providing a greater understanding of a person, place or thing. That is certainly true of books by Black authors, which can highlight certain experiences and issues that often don't receive the attention they deserve.

The books on this list include novels, memoirs, biographies and more, all written by Black authors in the past several years. While they deal with a wide range of issues—some are feminist stories, some are books about racism and others are pure entertainment—they all offer important and thought-provoking perspectives. They're also page-turners, and many of them have racked up numerous awards and earned a place in the hearts of millions of readers. You're about to see why.

Join the free Reader's Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.

1. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

There has long been an unspoken connection between the Black and Jewish communities, both of which take center stage in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store . The story opens with a mystery in 1970s Pennsylvania before jumping back in time to 1925. Here, in the thriving Chicken Hill neighborhood, Black and Jewish people live together, bound by secrets, ambition and survival. With his latest novel, New York Times bestselling author James McBride showcases his powerful storytelling and suggests love and a sense of community have the power to transcend the weight that is often placed on matters of race. It's an excellent read worth savoring. Need more proof? A mere four months after its August 2023 publication, it earned the title of the best book of the year from both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

2. The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate

Hattie McDaniel is known for her roles in films like Gone with the Wind , Alice Adams and Song of the South , and she was the first Black woman to win an Oscar. Yet her journey was marred with racism, caricatures and, at times, rejection, not just by Hollywood but also by some of her Black contemporaries as well. Though she was a trailblazer who broke many barriers in Hollywood, many felt as if her portrayal of the mammy stereotype did more damage than good. But bestselling author ReShonda Tate's The Queen of Sugar Hill —a dynamic fictionalized account of McDaniel's life spanning immediately after her Oscar win in the 1940s to the time of her death in 1952—highlights her grit, tenacity and Hollywood experiences, along with the pain she endured at the hands of racist institutions during the height of her career. What I loved most about this novel is that it entertainingly shares the glamour of old Hollywood without shying away from some of the ugly truths about racism in America's history. Lovers of old Hollywood and meaty historical fiction books will adore this one!

Looking for your next great book? Read four of today's bestselling novels in the time it takes to read one with Fiction Favorites !

3. Purple Rising: Celebrating 40 Years of the Magic, Power and Artistry of The Color Purple by Lise Funderburg and Scott Sanders

Named one of Oprah's favorite things of 2023, Purple Rising pays homage to Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize–winning book The Color Purple . When it was published in 1982, Walker's novel became a global phenomenon, giving birth to a 1985 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg, a 2005 Broadway musical and a 2023 film adaptation of the Broadway show. Purple Rising , published in November 2023, celebrates The Color Purple and its contributions to America's literary and film canons with more than 50 original interviews and new images from the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Blitz Bazawule, Oprah Winfrey and many others. But this book isn't just aesthetically pleasing; it's truly a beautiful compilation of The Color Purple 's legacy.

4. This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets edited by Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is a literary force: He's won the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award and countless other accolades. He recently received an Emmy for his television show The Crossover , based on his YA book of the same name. And he's currently the new literary and artistic director of the nonprofit education center Chautauqua Institute. So it's not surprising that his new poetry anthology, T his Is the Honey , was named by Publisher's Weekly and Lit Hub as one of the most highly anticipated books of 2024.

This Is the Honey features works by Amanda Gorman, Nikki Giovanni, Clint Smith, Rita Dove and Alice Walker, among many new voices, and centers themes that range from love and parenting to heritage, Black joy, politics and more. If you were a fan of Alexander's recent memoir Why Fathers Cry at Night , you will appreciate this compilation of prolific Black poets , which was published on Jan. 30, 2024.

5. 27 Summers: My Journey to Freedom, Forgiveness and Redemption During My Time in Angola Prison by Ronald Olivier and Craig Borlase

Life in prison and redemption are not often synonymous with one another. Yet in 27 Summers , author Ronald Olivier delivers the true story of his life sentence in prison and the power of God's grace and mercy. His tale is that of an overcomer, and this memoir candidly shares how he gained hope for a renewed life while in a prison cell for 27 summers. Olivier grew up in the Eighth Ward of New Orleans, and by the time he was 12 years old, he'd already witnessed a murder. At 16, he killed someone.

What I love most about this 2023 memoir is that it's not just another sad story about Black men and the prison system. Contrarily, this book is an aspirational testimony to how Olivier believes that it was God who stepped in and changed his life. Though he was convicted of second-degree murder and served almost 30 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Olivier's life changed, and he eventually became the director of chaplaincy at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. This feel-good book sends a message to readers of all backgrounds that even when the odds are against you, you can change for the better.

Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more books, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

6. Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne

If you're a fan of Jane Austen's romance novels , you'll love the latest book from the author of Pride and Protest . Nikki Payne's Sex, Lies and Sensibility , which hits shelves on Feb. 13, 2024, has been dubbed the sexy, modern adaptation of Austen's Sense and Sensibility . When two sisters find out that the only thing they've inherited from their father is a worn-down inn in a quaint Maine town, they roll up their sleeves and get to work revamping it. The only thing standing in their way is a good-looking squatter. If you value diversity and lead characters of color, this is the romance for you: It centers on the rich culture of Black and Indigenous people.

7. Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Take My Hand was one of the most highly anticipated fiction books of 2022 , and for good reason. It delves into the forced sterilization of Black women in the American South during the 1970s. Based on true events, the timely story sheds light on the history of the health-care system in America and how it often negatively impacts the lives of those who are Black and poor. Our grim history is explored through the lives of tween sisters Minnie Lee and Mary Alice Relf, who are not sexually active and are being coerced into sterilization without knowing it. Dolen Perkins-Valdez masterfully makes an argument on behalf of the disenfranchised and marginalized and uses historical fiction to amplify the history of racial inequality and injustice in the health-care system. Take My Hand diplomatically cuts to the core of America's long-hidden legacy of traumatizing the Black body.

8. The Personal Librarian by Victoria Christopher Murray and Marie Benedict

The New York Times bestselling The Personal Librarian has been hailed by the Washington Post as "historical fiction at its finest" and tells the story of Belle da Costa Greene, a "White-passing" Black woman who became a powerful force in the art world. Not only was da Costa Greene the personal librarian of J.P. Morgan, but she also built his famous rare books and manuscript collection and became one of America's most prominent librarians. In 1924, she was named the first director of the Pierpont Morgan Library. The Personal Librarian , which came out in 2021, centers her story and provides an opportunity for readers to explore and further examine what it means to be Black in America.

9. Wahala by Nikki May

Published in 2022, Wahala centers on three Anglo-Nigerian pals whose longtime friendship is upset when the charming Isobel bursts into their group. Hailed as a mix between My Sister, the Serial Killer , Sex in the City and Big Little Lies , the book delicately delves into the dynamics of female friendship and explores themes of colorism, multiculturalism and even internalized racism. If you're curious about Nigerian cooking and fashion and want a refreshing take on culture through a biracial lens, this book is the perfect read for you.

10. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Landing on the New York Times bestseller list when it came out in 2022, Black Cake opens with the death of matriarch Eleanor Bennett. She's left her two adult sons a small inheritance: a voice recording and a traditional Caribbean black cake. They raise more questions than answers, hinting at long-buried family secrets. As the men puzzle out their mother's history, they grapple with their estrangement from each other and the spiritual and emotional ramifications of their mother's hidden past. As readers soon find out, secrets, once discovered, can make or break a family. If you find yourself hungry for more after devouring Black Cake , you're in luck. It recently premiered as a Hulu original TV show produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films.

11. Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb

If you were mesmerized by Brendan Slocumb's The Violin Conspiracy , there's good news: The author is back with another music-inspired story. (No surprise there: He's a violinist and spent years as a music teacher.) One of Reader's Digest 's most anticipated books of last year, Symphony of Secrets follows a music professor who gets the shock of a lifetime when he discovers that the object of his longtime study may have stolen his music from an unknown Black woman living in the 1920s. The modern-day mystery at the crux of the book uncovers a twisted history that could change the music world.

12. Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

Presidential inaugural poet—the youngest in U.S. history—Amanda Gorman captured the nation's attention in 2021 with her poem "The Hill We Climb." Published later the same year, Call Us What We Carry is a meditation on identity, history and language. This inspirational book is a definite must-read for anyone looking for a powerful poetry collection that shares messages of hope and reckoning.

13. Lone Women by Victor LaValle

From the award-winning author of The Changeling comes another tense horror novel that'll have you flipping pages faster than you can say "keep the lights on." Lone Women takes readers to the American West in 1915, where Adelaide Henry arrives with a steamer trunk. It's locked and must be kept that way—otherwise, people will die. A well-plotted, genre-blending tale that ratchets up the suspense and weaves mystery throughout (what, we ask, is in that trunk?), Lone Women is must-read fiction.

14. Decent People by De'Shawn Charles Winslow

A taut mystery that explores the types of murders that make headlines and see police action, De'Shawn Charles Winslow's 2023 novel, Decent People , tackles race, money and class in segregated '70s North Carolina. When three Black people are murdered and the police seem uninterested in solving the crime, a retiree who has just returned to town takes it upon herself to uncover the secrets.

15. Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

In her powerful 2022 debut novel, Tara M. Stringfellow explores three generations of a Southern Black family, along with long-buried secrets, matrilineal tradition and the healing power of art. When Joan, her mother and her little sister return to the family's ancestral home, family secrets come to light, and the family's lineage becomes an open gateway through which history and unspoken memories can pass. Memphis is a page-turner, and it's the perfect pick for simultaneous mother-daughter reads .

16. Y ou Don't Know Us Negroes and Other Essays by Zora Neale Hurston

In the words of literary powerhouse Toni Morrison, "Hurston was one of the greatest writers of our time." And You Don't Know Us Negroes provides another opportunity to step into the mind of the great cultural anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. This collection of essays spans more than 35 years and further solidifies the vibrant Harlem Renaissance writer's place in literary history. Throughout her long career, she reshaped literature, took ownership of words (especially Black vernacular) and archived Black culture in the process.

Edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Genevieve West, this 2022 compilation of Hurston's essays offers her thoughts on Black vernacular, historically Black colleges and universities, religion, voting, jazz, folklore, race relations and many other topics. It includes essays like "What White Publishers Won't Print" and "How It Feels to Be Colored Me." If you're looking to dig deeper into the mind of an unapologetic literary genius, you will definitely want to read this book.

17. Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead

If you loved Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad and devoured The Nickle Boys (or any of his other works), you'll consider this good news: The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner released another must-read novel in the Ray Carney series in 2023. So if you haven't read the first ( Harlem Shuffle ), now's the time to do so. In Crook Manifesto , you'll visit seedy New York City of the '70s, where Carney and his crew are running heists and other crimes. The city comes alive in Whitehead's skillful hands—it's as much a character as Carney and his endearing partner in crime. If you're looking for outstanding books by Black authors, you can't go wrong with Whitehead.

18. You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen

A powerful YA novel that shines a spotlight on characters often overlooked in literature, You Truly Assumed explores what it means to be both Black and Muslim. When a terrorist attack happens in a community, hatred and Islamophobia begin to grow. That's why Sabriya, a studious and thoughtful teenager, turns to her blog for comfort. But when a post she shares goes viral, it creates a wildly popular space for other Muslim teens to share their thoughts and experiences. Laila Sabreen's You Truly Assumed centers teen voices, the Muslim faith and Islamophobia with great care.

19. God Is a Black Woman by Christena Cleveland

When Christena Cleveland had a crisis of faith, she ended up on a 400-mile walking pilgrimage to the Shrines of the Black Madonnas to find healing. Readers will be able to draw a line from that experience to the publication of this 2022 book. God Is a Black Woman boldly rejects the notion of White, patriarchal Christianity while encouraging readers to connect with the divine outside the context of Western perceptions of the religion. A work of nonfiction , the book tackles themes of theology and healing while exploring the notion of the sacred Black feminine.

20. T he Great Mrs. Elias by Barbara Chase-Riboud

Barbara Chase-Riboud, author of the award-winning Sally Hemings , is back with another book about a powerful woman hidden in history. The Great Mrs. Elias brings to life the story of Hannah Elias, one of the wealthiest Black women in the early 1900s. An unsolved murder and case of mistaken identity prompt the police to knock on Hannah's door, setting off a suspenseful tale studded with scandal and intrigue.

21. Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen

The second installment in the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted book series, this 2022 title tackles what it means to be a Black woman and single mother. In Black Girls Must Be Magic , Tabitha Walker is at a crossroads in her life: She recently found out that she's pregnant. As the pressures of life mount, she must balance and prioritize self-love all while trying to keep her proverbial village together. This debut novel is a bit magical itself, combining an engaging plot, relatable situations and characters you'll absolutely root for.

22. Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray

Hailed as the "buzziest book of 2021" and optioned by Netflix in a seven-figure deal, Beasts of Prey is your new reading obsession. The first in a three-book fantasy series , it follows two Black teens as they journey into a magical jungle to track down a monster that has been menacing their city for a century. The book takes inspiration from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as Ayana Gray's discovery of Octavia Butler. It's packed with monsters, mythos and lots of Black girl magic.

23. We Are N ot Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

Many believe that the bonds of true friendship can never be broken, but what happens when issues of race fray the ties that bind? In We Are Not Like Them , a childhood friendship is tested by the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager by a White police officer. In this riveting book club pick , themes of friendship, marriage and career ambition collide against a backdrop of racial tension. Published in 2021, this is a timely story that's perfect for a buddy read with friends.

24. Hope and Glory by Jendella Benson

Jendella Benson's Hope and Glory , a heartbreaking yet hopeful family drama published in 2022, centers on a Nigerian immigrant family in London. With the death of her father, Glory Akindele returns home after living her most fabulous life in California to find her family has fallen apart. In her quest to reunite them, she learns a secret that could totally destroy everything she's working to reconcile.

25. Something Good by Vanessa Miller

If women's fiction is your go-to genre, you'll want to snap up this 2022 story that's sure to inspire. Vanessa Miller's Something Good is a redemptive tale about three women linked through an accident that left a man paralyzed. This inspirational story delves into themes of guilt, anger and forgiveness—read it when you need a pick-me-up. And if you love a good story about strong Black women, be sure to check out Miller's latest book, The American Queen .

26. Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Rom ance, Being Seen and Happily Ever Afters edited by Jessica P. Pryde

A play on the phrase Black Lives Matter , the title of this 2022 essay collection is a reminder that all aspects of Black lives have significance. And that includes Black romance, something modern entertainment is still sorely lacking. Black Love Matters is an insightful essay anthology that centers the voices of Black readers, writers and cultural commentators. It shares the diverse ways in which Black people express and perceive love.

27. Peace Is a Practice: An Invitation to Breathe Deep and Find a New Rhythm for Life by Morgan Harper Nichols

Life is stressful, but Morgan Harper Nichols's 2022 self-help book is a balm for trying times. In Peace Is a Practice , she invites readers to live in the present while actively pursuing and embracing peace. The beautiful book gently nudges us to let go of regrets, pursue meaning and purpose in life, and allow faith to usher in confidence while shoving anxiety and fear out the door. Through it, we can explore different ways of pursuing peace in our daily lives. It's one of the best books by Black authors for finding inspiration. And if you like to keep your bookshelves stocked with encouraging books, check out Nichols's You Are Only Just Beginning , a beautiful, colorful read full of motivation .

28. Don't Cry for Me by Daniel Black

Jacob and Isaac haven't spoken in years, but now that he's on his deathbed, Jacob has something to say about family history, relationships and the terrible way he reacted when Isaac came out. With 2022's Don't Cry for Me , Daniel Black provides a peek inside the often-strained relationships between Black fathers and their gay sons. Poignant, timely and beautifully written, this LGBTQ book centers on themes of ancestral legacy, generational pain and family dynamics.

29. Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

Pheby Brown isn't simply enslaved. The protagonist of Sadeqa Johnson's 2021 novel, Yellow Wife , lives in one of the most harrowing slave jails in all of Virginia. Though promised her freedom at the age of 18, she soon learns that nobody keeps a promise to a slave. This book, which details her fight for freedom, incorporates elements of the true story of Robert Lumpkin, one of the most brutal slave traders in the South. A definite must-read, it has drawn comparisons to Solomon Northup's 12 Ye ars a Slave and Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Wench .

30. Ida B. the Queen : The Extraordinary Life an d Legacy of Ida B. Wells by Michelle Duster

Ida B. Wells was born into slavery in 1862, but in 2020—nearly nine decades after her death—she won a Pulitzer Prize. Written by Wells's great-granddaughter Michelle Duster, 2021's Ida B. the Queen brings to life the legacy of a woman who was a force during the civil rights era and was considered a threat to the FBI. A truly incredible Black American you probably didn't learn about in history class, Wells was an investigative journalist, suffragist and anti-lynching activist who lived a life committed to fighting racial injustice and inequality. This nonfiction book dynamically delves into the impact she had on American society during a pivotal time in this country.

31. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

Released in 2021, Zakiya Dalila Harris's debut novel, The Other Black Girl , delves into the microaggressions that editorial assistant Nella Rogers experiences as the only Black employee at her job with Wagner Books, a story Harris wrote while working as an editorial assistant herself. This smartly written satire examines issues of race, authenticity and workplace culture in a way that many of us can relate to. But it does so much more—expect thrills, twists and a genre-bending story you won't be able to put down. When you've turned the final page and are hankering for more, give the Hulu television series, which debuted in September 2023 to great critical acclaim, a binge-watch.

32. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

The caste system isn't something that happens only in faraway places—it's something that happens right here in America. That's what Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson explores in Caste , her 2020 book about the rigid hierarchy of human rankings. In addition to her unflinching look at the United States, she delves into the caste system in India and Nazi Germany as well.

So what, exactly, does caste mean? "Caste is the granting or withholding of respect, status, honor, attention, privileges, resources, the benefit of the doubt and human kindness to someone on the basis of their perceived rank or standing in the hierarchy," Wilkerson has said. "What some people call racism could be seen as merely one manifestation of the degree to which we have internalized the larger American caste system."

Want more? Wilkerson's bestseller was adapted for film, and the resulting flick—2023's Origin , directed by Ava Duvernay—was recently released to rave reviews.

33. Lifting as We Climb: Black Women's Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne

Evette Dionne won a Coretta Scott King Author Honor award for her 2020 novel, Lifting as We Climb . In it, she examines the contributions of Black women and their efforts in ending slavery, fighting for the right to vote and more. This book also examines the fight for Black women to be treated equally by their White peers, highlighting the reality that many White suffragists did not treat their Black female counterparts well or fairly.

34. Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson

In this poignant memoir , legendary actress Cicely Tyson shares her truth about her six decades in the entertainment industry, as well as the lessons about love, life and loss she learned along the way. Just as I Am was published just two days before Tyson passed away in late January 2021, and it quickly topped multiple bestseller lists. If you don't know much about Tyson, now is the time to learn. She was known for her integrity, her elegance and grace, and her unflinching commitment to taking on only those roles that elevated the consciousness of others and presented Black female characters with dignity.

35. Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

Black Buck is a New York Times bestseller that gets real about the many compromises Black people make while navigating America's workforce. Mateo Askaripour's debut novel is a racial satire, and it centers on a Black salesman who works at an extremely successful start-up and comes up with a plan to help young people of color infiltrate the country's sales force. It dives into code-switching and ultimately shows how this linguistic back-and-forth takes a toll psychologically and emotionally over time.

36. How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

Released in 2021, this nonfiction book by Atlantic writer and poet Clint Smith explores America's history as a slave-owning nation and examines its many monuments and landmarks in relation to slavery. How the Word Is Passed reveals how important aspects of our country's history are often hidden in plain sight and how they have shaped our world.

37. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Are you a fan of historical fiction? You won't want to miss this page-turner, which reveals how the memory and residue of captivity still lingers generations later. It tells the story of two sisters—one who was captured and sold into slavery and the other who marries an Englishman and lives in a castle. Themes of generational trauma, blood memory and colonization run deep. Since its publication in 2016, Homegoing has received numerous literary accolades, including the Hemingway Foundation PEN Award, the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature and the American Book Award.

38. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Open Water , Caleb Azumah Nelson's 2021 debut novel, digs into race, masculinity and love. In this beautiful story, two Black British adults who both received scholarships to private schools, fall in love. She's a dancer, and he's a photographer, but while the two artists seem akin to soul mates, their relationship is tested by fear and violence. This novel explores the psychological and emotional trauma that can accompany being seen as just a "Black body."

39. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Set in a fictional Louisiana town in 1848, The Vani shing Half follows twin sisters Stella and Desiree. Both have light skin and hazel eyes. Both feel the impact of the hierarchy of racial constructs. Yet their futures stand in stark contrast. This sweeping, generational novel examines themes of "passing," colorism and the concept of race. This thought-provoking work from Brit Bennett, author of The Mothers , was named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR , the Washington Post, the New York Times and even Barack Obama.

40. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Yaa Gyasi's follow-up to Homegoing is equally stunning and completely different. In 2020's Transcendent Kingdom , she tells the story of a Ghanaian family based in Alabama that is greatly impacted by depression, grief, science, faith and love. Gifty, who's working on her PhD in neuroscience at Stanford, is determined to understand the science behind all the pain she has seen in her family. But in the process of looking for answers, she is drawn back to the faith of her youth.

41. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

The 2021 prequel to the blockbuster YA novel The Hate U Give offers a glimpse into Garden Heights nearly two decades earlier. Familiarity with Thomas's debut novel is nice but not necessary. In Concre te Rose , she provides a thorough and introspective look inside the psyche of the 17-year-old son of an infamous drug lord and the many challenges he faces. While the protagonist, Maverick Carter, appears to have everything under control, his world is upended when he finds out he has a child. He's forced to decide whether he wants to aspire to the drug-lord legacy of his father or break free from that generational pattern to give his child a different life. Some good news for bargain hunters: The e-book is free on Kindle Unlimited .

42. The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne

This biography of Malcolm X chronicles the iconic leader's life from his childhood in Nebraska to his death in Harlem in 1965, focusing on his integral role in the struggle for Black freedom. The Dead Are Arising made quite a splash when it debuted in 2020, and it has since racked up a number of accolades, including the 2021 Pulitzer Prize and the 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

43. Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

Travel back to 1921 with Randi Pink's Angel of Greenwood . In this YA novel, set in a neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, dubbed Black Wall Street, 17-year-old Isaiah Wilson, an avid reader, and Angel Hill, a studious, Bible-loving 16-year-old, come together to help their English teacher run a mobile library. All is well until one fateful day—May 31, 1921—when their city is attacked by a White mob. For those who aren't aware, that event subsequently became known as the Tulsa Race Massacre, and it left 36 people dead. The 2021 publication of Pink's novel marked the 100-year anniversary of the massacre and serves as a reminder of the events that get lost in history.

44. White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue … and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson

In 2019's White Negroes , author Lauren Michele Jackson calls for a brutally honest look at cultural appropriation . The book's message asserts that while America and Americans have profited from Blackness, Black pioneers are often left behind when it comes to the benefits. A mixture of narrative, scholarship and critique, Jackson's exploration of the topic is insightful and highlights how this cultural theft has exacerbated inequality in this country.

45. Aftershocks: A Memoir by Nadia Owusu

Family secrets leave an emotional residue, and the people involved in them have to somehow press through the pain. That's the throughline of 2021's Aftershocks , which deeply cuts into Nadia Owusu's experiences as a woman who has lived in many different nations, has had many different career paths and has grappled with secrets come to light. Of her writing, Owusu has said, "A story is a flashlight and a weapon. I write myself into other people's earthquakes. I borrow pieces of their pain and store them in my body. Sometimes, I call those pieces compassion. Sometimes, I call them desecration."

46. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Warning: You won't be able to put this one down. Kiley Reid's debut novel, published in 2019, examines race and privilege , raising powerful questions about identity, class, interpersonal relationships and more. Emira, a babysitter in the home of Alix, a blogger and public speaker, learns of her employer's racist past through Alix's ex, who Emira is coincidentally dating. But nothing is ever as it seems when it comes to well-meaning racists. Such a Fun Age immediately became a New York Time s bestseller and went on to win the African American Literary Award in 2020. If you're a fan, be sure to check out Reid's newest novel, Come and Get It .

47. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Leah Johnson's debut YA novel, which came out in 2020, centers on Liz Lighty, a high schooler who devises a plan to leave her small town of Campbell, Indiana. With no other way to earn the cash, she joins a prom contest with the hopes of winning scholarship money and finds herself with a crush on one of the other girls in the competition. Yo u Should See M e in a Crown is the fun, queer romance novel you (and your teen) have been waiting for. And don't miss Johnson's sophomore effort, Rise to the Sun .

48. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

How's this for the punishment not fitting the crime: Amal, a talented 16-year-old, is put in prison for throwing a punch. So begins this novel in verse, a story about the fiercely sympathetic Amal and his fight for justice. Award-winning author Ibi Zoboi co-wrote this gem with Yusef Salaam, who spent six years in prison as a result of a wrongful conviction. Published in 2020, Punching the Air humanizes the many multidimensional human beings behind bars who have had their lives interrupted by an unjust and racially biased judicial system and institutional racism .

49. Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

This thought-provoking, riveting mystery shines a bright light on rape culture, impressionable teenage girls and the older male predators who can spot vulnerability a mile away. Enchanted Jones aspires to become a professional singer, so she's thrilled when R&B artist Korey Fields notices her at an audition. But things don't turn out as she planned. See, Korey is dead. And though she can't remember the night before, Enchanted knows that's blood on her hands … Like Tiffany D. Jackson's gripping debut, Allegedly , 2020's Grown is a tightly plotted mystery full of twists and turns.

50. T he Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph

It's not enough to say that you're not racist—you need to be anti-racist . And even if you mean well, there are a few things you need to learn to be a true ally. This honest and powerful book, published in 2020, offers up the author's personal experiences with everyday racism, along with the experiences of well-known artists and activists. It features interviews with Toni Tone, writer Angie Thomas and April Reign, creator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. What makes The Black Friend so potent is that Frederick Joseph speaks directly to White people as a Black person—a Black friend—and highlights the dangers of Black tokenism in an honest, unapologetic manner.

51. Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard by Echo Brown

Morris Award finalist Black Girl Unlimited —a semi-autobiographical tale infused with magical realism —centers on a girl from the East Side whose childhood in a rough neighborhood has been far from perfect. When she transfers to a wealthy school on the West Side, she finds inspiration. But at the same time, depression creeps in as she struggles to understand the intersection of the two worlds she's living in. The guilt and pressure that often accompany those who "make it out" of their disenfranchised neighborhoods and communities make for an important sub-narrative in the book, which came out in 2020.

52. Black Girl Magic by Mahogany L. Browne

Designed to encourage young Black girls and teens to embrace their beauty and brilliance, this poem was published in 2018 as a form of resistance to society's message that Black girls aren't enough. Within the pages of this poetry book , Mahogany L. Browne has crafted words of empowerment and strength that will inspire young Black girls to embrace their own unique "magic." If you have little ones, this is one of the best children's books by Black authors to read with them.

53. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

This thrilling fantasy novel received one of the biggest YA publishing deals ever, had film rights scooped up by Fox 2000 Pictures and became an instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller when it was released in 2018. The first in a three-book YA series , Children of Blood and Bone is a West African–inspired fantasy that will appeal to teens and adults alike. Pick up this novel for exquisite world-building, well-drawn characters, magic and a fight for power. Children of Blood and Bone is a thrilling read that, while strictly fantastical, explores relevant issues of police brutality, discrimination and violence.

54. Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown

Next time you're in the mood for magic, pick up Diane Marie Brown's multigenerational historical fiction novel, Black Candle Women , which will transport you to 1950s New Orleans. The 2023 novel introduces readers to four generations of Black women dealing with a family curse: Anyone they fall in love with ends up dead. The narrative sails through a present timeline and the past, when the women's line was originally cursed. Fans of Practical Magic will go wild for this story—it's a perfectly witchy read for Halloween.

55. Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson

Based on the true story of the women of the Six Triple Eight—the primarily Black postal battalion of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps—Kaia Alderson's 2021 novel, Sisters in Arms , is like a slice of hidden history. Dive into the lives of the fictional Grace Steele and Eliza Jones, two Black women members shipping out with the battalion on a mission to deliver mail in the European Theatre of World War II. This timely book is a great read for history buffs looking to learn more about Black women and the role they played in World War II.

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At Reader's Digest , we're committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Lynnette Nicholas tapped her background as an entertainment journalist with more than 10 years of experience writing about culture, books and the arts to curate this list. We relied on reputable primary sources, verified all facts and data, and backed them with credible sourcing. We will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team , our contributors and our editorial policies .

The post 55 Books by Black Authors That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf appeared first on Reader's Digest .

A Stunning Visual Celebration of Black Rodeo

A new photo book reorients dusty notions of a classic American pastime.

Credit... Ivan McClellan

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By Walker Mimms

Walker Mimms’s writing on art and culture appears in The Times, The New York Review of Books, The Guardian, and other places.

• April 19, 2024

In several frames of the artist Arthur Jafa’s seminal 2016 video collage of Black America, “Love Is the Message, the Message Is Death,” a felled bullrider scoops himself off the dirt.

It’s a moment anatomized in rich circumstantial detail by Ivan McClellan’s EIGHT SECONDS: Black Rodeo Culture (Damiani, $49.95) . A convert to Black rodeo, the Kansas City, Kan., native understands that its stated purpose — eight seconds on an angry animal — conceals a whole world of tailgating, parading, mucking, rehearsal and style.

A retired bullrider strokes a muzzle in Oklahoma, his jewelry glinting; a toddler holds a riding crop in a truck bed; and a shirtless boy sips soda out of a can while a horse nuzzles for hay nearby. A man in a Compton Cowboys beanie nurses a blunt in his California horse pen. McClellan reveals, as Jafa does to more tragic effect, that even the quickest glimpses of a subculture can turn into spectacle.

Details like these revise the membership of an antique American archetype. So do McClellan’s vivid equestrian portraits, where a woman’s cable-knit sweater rhymes with her horse’s white braids and a stoic rider stands wrapped in a bridle the same blue as his headphones, his arms laced with intricate tattoos.

Because the photos are presented without places or dates, this respectful and revealing book can reasonably be taken as a portrait both national and timeless: an ur-text for the recent rodeo turn of Beyoncé, or the heady western meditations of Jordan Peele.

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Jamaica Kincaid and Kara Walker unearth botany’s buried history  to figure out how our gardens grow.

A new photo book reorients dusty notions of a classic American pastime with  a stunning visual celebration of black rodeo.

Two hundred years after his death, this Romantic poet is still worth reading . Here’s what made Lord Byron so great.

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Black Library Reviews

Below is a list Black Library reviews, organised A-Z by author. Short stories and audio dramas are marked as such.

There are hundreds of reviews available here – click on the letters below to go straight to each section.

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Dan Abnett – Anarch Dan Abnett – Backcloth for a Crown Additional (short story) Dan Abnett – Blood Games (short story) Dan Abnett – Blood Pact Dan Abnett – Eternal (short story) Dan Abnett – First and Only Dan Abnett – Forgotten (short story) Dan Abnett – Ghostmaker Dan Abnett – Ghostmaker (short story) Dan Abnett – Hereticus Dan Abnett – Honour Guard Dan Abnett – Horus Rising Dan Abnett – I Am Slaughter Dan Abnett – Killbox (short story) Dan Abnett – Legion (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Dan Abnett – Lepidopterophobia (short story) Dan Abnett – The Magos Dan Abnett – Malleus Dan Abnett – Master Imus’ Transgression (short story) Dan Abnett – Midnight Rotation (short story) Dan Abnett – Misbegotten (short story) Dan Abnett – Missing in Action (short story) Dan Abnett – Necropolis Dan Abnett – Perpetual (audio drama) Dan Abnett – Pestilence (short story) Dan Abnett – Playing Patience (short story) Dan Abnett – Ravenor Dan Abnett – Regia Occulta (short story) Dan Abnett – Sabbat Crusade Dan Abnett – Salvation’s Reach Dan Abnett – Saturnine Dan Abnett – The Curiosity (short story) Dan Abnett – The End and the Death Volume 1 (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Dan Abnett – The End and the Death Volume 2 (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Dan Abnett – The Fall of Malvolion (short story) Dan Abnett – The Keeler Image (short story) Dan Abnett – The Sabbat Worlds Crusade Dan Abnett – The Strange Demise of Titus Endor (short story) Dan Abnett – The Warmaster Dan Abnett – Thorn Wishes Talon (short story) Dan Abnett – Xenos Edoardo Albert – Born of the Storm (short story) Edoardo Albert – Green and Grey (short story) Edoardo Albert – Kasrkin Edoardo Albert – Last Flight (short story) Edoardo Albert – Lords of the Storm Edoardo Albert – Silent Hunters Nicholas Alexander – The Emperor’s Grace (short story) David Annandale – Abyssal (short story) David Annandale – Black Atonement (audio drama) David Annandale – Castellan David Annandale – Curse of the Wulfen David Annandale – Doombound (audio drama) David Annandale – Gates of the Devourer (short story) David Annandale – Honour and Wrath (short story) David Annandale – Iron Corpses (audio drama) David Annandale – Judge of the Wastes (audio drama) David Annandale – Knight of Corruption (short story) David Annandale – Lemartes: Guardian of the Lost David Annandale – Mephiston: Lord of Death David Annandale – Neferata: Mortarch of Blood David Annandale – Obsidian (short story) David Annandale – Prologue to Nikaea (short story) David Annandale – Roboute Guilliman: Lord of Ultramar David Annandale – Ruinstorm David Annandale – Shattered Crucible (short story) David Annandale – Sons of Titan David Annandale – Spear of Ultramar David Annandale – The Atonement of Fire (short story) David Annandale – The Binary Succession (audio drama) David Annandale – The Damnation of Pythos David Annandale – The Dance of the Skulls (short story) David Annandale – The House of Night and Chain David Annandale – The Hunt (short story – Warhammer Horror) David Annandale – The Hunt for Vulkan David Annandale – The Keys to Ruin (short story) David Annandale – The Last Wall David Annandale – The Revelation of the Word (audio drama) David Annandale – The Skeleton Key (short story) David Annandale – The Unsung War (short story) David Annandale – The Vorago Fastness (short story) David Annandale – True Name (audio) David Annandale – Warden of the Blade David Annandale – Warlord: Fury of the God-Machine David Annandale – Watchers In Death David Annandale – Yarrick: Concordat (short story) David Annandale – Yarrick: The Wreckage (short story) David Annandale, Phil Kelly & Josh Reynolds – The Wicked and the Damned

Alan Bao – Runner (short story) Barrington J. Bayley – Battle of the Archaeosaurs (short story) Barrington J. Bayley – The Lives of Ferag Lion-Wolf (short story) Jonathan D. Beer – The King of the Spoil Black Library Advent Calendar 2014 Black Library Advent Calendar 2014 – Recap Black Library Advent Calendar 2015 Black Library Advent Calendar 2015 – Recap Black Library Advent Calendar 2016 Black Library Advent Calendar 2016 – Recap Black Library Advent Calendar – 6 Blood Angels Short Stories Black Library – Anathemas (Warhammer Horror Anthology) Black Library – Blades of the Traitor Black Library – Champions of the Mortal Realms Black Library – Death and Defiance Black Library – Echoes of War Audio Drama Collection Black Library – Gods & Mortals Black Library – Honour of the Space Marines Black Library – Inferno! Presents The Emperor’s Finest (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Black Library – Inferno! Volume 1 Black Library – Inferno! Volume 5 Black Library – Invocations (Warhammer Horror Anthology) Black Library – Legacies of Betrayal Black Library – Legends of the Dark Millennium: Space Wolves Black Library – Legends of the Dark Millennium: Ultramarines Black Library – Legion of the Damned: Digital Collection Black Library – Lords and Tyrants (Reviews List) Black Library – Maledictions (Warhammer Horror Anthology) Black Library – Meduson Black Library – Myths & Revenants (Reviews List) Black Library – No Good Men (Warhammer Crime Anthology) Black Library – Renegades of the Dark Millennium Black Library – Sanction & Sin (Warhammer Crime Anthology) Black Library – Scions of the Emperor Black Library – Sedition’s Gate Black Library – Servants of the Imperium Black Library – Shattered Legions Black Library – Sons of the Emperor Black Library – The Horus Heresy Cover Art Collection Black Library – The Realmgate Wars: Call of Archaon Black Library – The Realmgate Wars: Ghal Maraz Black Library – The Realmgate Wars: Hammers of Sigmar Black Library – The Realmgate Wars: War Storm Black Library – The Successors Black Library – Visions of War: The Art of Space Marine Battles Mark Brendan – Tenebrae (short story) Mike Brooks – A Common Ground (short story) Mike Brooks – Choke Point (short story) Mike Brooks – Dead Drop (short story) Mike Brooks – Rites of Passage Mike Brooks – Road to Redemption Mike Brooks – Serpents of Ardemis (short story) Mike Brooks – The Lion: Son of the Forest (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Mike Brooks – The Path Unclear (short story) Mike Brooks – Wanted: Dead Mike Brooks – Where Dere’s da Warp Dere’s a Way (short story)

Braden Campbell – Cepheus (short story) SP Cawkwell – Silver Skulls: Portents Sarah Cawkwell – The Heart of the Fallen (short story) Sarah Cawkwell – The Pact (short story) SP Cawkwell – The Siege of Naggarond (short story) SP Cawkwell – The Tyrant’s Champion (short story) Andy Chambers – Ancient History (short story) Andy Chambers – Deus Ex Mechanicus (short story) Andy Chambers – Survival Instinct Robert Charles – Faith in Thunder (short story) Mark Clapham – Blood of Sanguinius (short story) Mark Clapham – Hollow Beginnings (short story) Mark Clapham – The Known Unknown (short story) Andy Clark – Becoming (short story) Andy Clark – Blacktalon: Hunting Shadows (short story) Andy Clark – Blacktalon: When Cornered (short story) Andy Clark – Celestine: The Living Saint Andy Clark – Crusade Andy Clark – Fist of the Imperium Andy Clark – Gloomspite Andy Clark – Gorechosen (short story) Andy Clark – Kingsblade Andy Clark – Knightsblade Andy Clark – Shroud of Night Andy Clark – Warhammer Quest Silver Tower: Labyrinth of the Lost Andy Clark – Whiteout (short story) Marc Collins – Champions, All (short story) Marc Collins – Duty Unto Death (short story) Marc Collins – Ghosts of Iron (short story) Marc Collins – Grim Repast Marc Collins – Helbrecht (included in a Short and Sweet reviews post) Marc Collins – The Shaper of Scars (short story) Ben Counter – Arjac Rockfist: Anvil of Fenris Ben Counter – Battle for the Abyss Ben Counter – Cassius Ben Counter – Daemon World Ben Counter – Feast of Lies (short story) Ben Counter – Gift of the Gods (short story) Ben Counter – Heart of Decay (audio drama) Ben Counter – Kill Shot (audio drama) Ben Counter – One Bullet (short story) Ben Counter – The Caged Wolf (short story) Ben Counter – The Flesh of the Angel (short story) Ben Counter – The World Engine Ben Counter – Words of Blood (short story) Jamie Crisalli – The Measure of Iron Jamie Crisalli – The Serpent’s Bargain (short story) Jamie Crisalli – Ties of Blood (short story) Nate Crowley – Empra (short story) Nate Crowley – Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh! Nate Crowley – Severed Nate Crowley – The Enemy of My Enemy (short story) Nate Crowley – The Twice-dead King: Ruin Nate Crowley – The Twice-dead King: Ruin (Victoria Hayward guest review)

EJ Davies – Sturmhex (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – At Gaius Point (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Black Legion Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Blood and Fire Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Bringer of Sorrow (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowdwn – Echoes of Eternity (included in a Short and Sweet reviews post) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Extinction (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Heart of the Conqueror (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Into Exile (short story) Aaron Dembksi-Bowden – Massacre (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – The Master of Mankind Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Ragnar Blackmane Aaron Dembski-Bowden – A Rose Watered with Blood (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Spear of the Emperor Aaron Dembski-Bowden – The Abyssal Edge (short story) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – The Long Night (audio) Aaron Dembski-Bowden – The Talon of Horus Aaron Dembksi-Bowden – Without Fear (short story) Evan Dicken – Acts of Sacrifice (short story) Evan Dicken – Fangs of the Rustwood (short story) Evan Dicken – The Path to Glory (short story) Evan Dicken – The Red Hours Chris Dows – Augur of Despair (audio drama) Chris Dows – First To Hunt (short story) Chris Dows – Glory From Chaos (short story) Chris Dows – Martyrs of Elysia (audio drama) Chris Dows – Monolith (short story) Chris Dows – Renegades of Elysia (audio drama) Chris Dows – Scions of Elysia (audio drama) Chris Dows – The Red Path Miles A. Drake – The Flesh Tithe (short story) Miles A. Drake – What Wakes in the Dark (short story) CZ Dunn – Bloodspire (audio drama) CZ Dunn – Jackalwolf (short story) CZ Dunn – Signal to Noise (short story) CZ Dunn – The Rage of Asmodai (audio drama) CZ Dunn – The Watcher (audio drama) CZ Dunn – Within These Walls (short story)

Matthew Farrer – Crossfire Matthew Farrer – Snares and Delusions (short story) Matthew Farrer – Vorax (short story) Peter Fehervari – Altar of Maws (short story) Peter Fehervari – Aria Arcana (short story) Peter Fehervari – A Sanctuary of Wyrms (short story) Peter Fehervari – Casts A Hungry Shadow (short story) Peter Fehervari – Cult of the Spiral Dawn Peter Fehervari – Fire and Ice Peter Fehervari – Fire Caste Peter Fehervari – Legends of the Dark Millennium: Genestealer Cults Peter Fehervari – Nightbleed (short story) Peter Fehervari – Nightfall (short story) Peter Fehervari – Out Caste (short story) Peter Fehervari – Requiem Infernal Peter Fehervari – The Crown of Thorns (short story) Peter Fehervari – The Greater Evil (short story) Peter Fehervari – The Reverie Peter Fehervari – The Sins of My Brothers (short story) Peter Fehervari – The Thirteenth Psalm (short story) Peter Fehervari – The Walker in Fire (short story) Peter Ferervari – Vanguard (short story) Jaine Fenn – From the Deep (short story) Steven B Fischer – The Emperor’s Wrath (short story) Steven B Fischer – The Weight of Silver (short story) Steven B Fischer – Witchbringer Michael R. Fletcher – A Tithe of Bone (short story) Michael R. Fletcher – Strong Bones (short story) Denny Flowers – A Question of Taste (short story) Denny Flowers – Low Lives Denny Flowers – Outgunned Denny Flowers – Salvation’s Crucible (short story) Denny Flowers – The Hand of Harrow (short story) Denny Flowers – The Last Voyage of Elissa Harrow (short story) Matt Forbeck – The Hack Attack (short story) John French – A Coin for the Carrion Thieves (short story) John French – Agent of the Throne: Ashes and Oaths (audio drama) John French – Agent of the Throne: Blood and Lies (audio drama) John French – Agent of the Throne: Truth and Dreams (audio drama) John French – Ahriman: All Is Dust (short story) John French – Ahriman: The Dead Oracle (short story) John French – Ahriman: Eternal John French – Ahriman: Exile John French – Ahriman: Exodus John French – Ahriman: The First Prince (audio) John French – Ahriman: The First Prince (short story) John French – Ahriman: Fortune’s Fool (short story) John French – Ahriman: Gates of Ruin (short story) John French – Ahriman: Hand of Dust (short story) John French – Ahriman: The Hounds of Wrath (short story) John French – Ahriman: Key of Infinity (audio drama) John French – Ahriman: King of Ashes (short story) John French – Ahriman: Sorcerer John French – Ahriman: Unchanged John French – Black Oculus (short story) John French – Champion of Oaths (short story) John French – Child of Night (short story) John French – Daemonologie: A Question Asked of Darkness (short story) John French – Dark Compliance (audio drama) John French – Grey Angel (short story) John French – Now Peals Midnight (short story) John French – Ordo Sinister (short story) John French – The Passing of Angels (short story) John French – Praetorian of Dorn John French – Slaves to Darkness John French – Son of Sek (short story) John French – Tallarn: Executioner John French – Tallarn: Ironclad John French – Tallarn: Siren (short story) John French – Tallarn: Witness (short story) John French – Templar (audio drama) John French – The Absolution of Swords (short story) John French – The Blessing of Saints (short story) John French – The Eagle’s Talon (audio drama) John French – The Eagle’s Talon (short story) John French – The Horusian Wars: Divination John French – The Horusian Wars: Incarnation John French – The Horusian Wars: Resurrection John French – The Knave of Stars (short story) John French – The Maiden of the Dream (short story) John French – The Mistress of Threads (short story) John French – The Purity of Ignorance (short story) John French – The Solar War John French – The Son of Sorrows (short story) John French – The Spirit of Cogs (short story) Toby Frost – Straken

Games Workshop – Warhammer: The End Times – Archaon Games Workshop – Warhammer: The End Times – Glottkin Games Workshop – Warhammer: The End Times – Khaine Games Workshop – Warhammer: The End Times – Nagash Games Workshop – Warhammer: The End Times – Thanquol LJ Goulding – Daedalus (audio drama) LJ Goulding – Heloth (short story) LJ Goulding – Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium (audio drama) LJ Goulding – Mortarion’s Heart (audio drama) LJ Goulding – Prince of Blood (short story) LJ Goulding – Terminal Velocity (short story) LJ Goulding – The Aegidan Oath (short story) LJ Goulding – The Heart of the Pharos (audio) LJ Goulding – The Last Council (short story) LJ Goulding – The Word of the Silent King (short story) Lora Gray – Five Candles (short story – Warhammer Horror) Lora Gray – He Feasts Forever (short story – Warhammer Horror) Jonathan Green – Journey of the Magi (short story) Jonathan Green – Salvation (short story) Eric Gregory – Bossgrot (short story) Eric Gregory – The Fourfold Wound (short story) Eric Gregory – The Warden in the Mountain (short story) David Guymer – A Last Sniff of Glory (short story) David Guymer – A Lesson in Iron (short story) David Guymer – A Place of Reflection (audio drama) David Guymer – Bear Eater (short story) David Guymer – Beneath the Black Thumb (short story) David Guymer – Death by a Thousand Gnaw-Bites (short story) David Guymer – Dreadwing David Guymer – Echoes of the Long War David Guymer – Ferrus Manus: Gorgon of Medusa David Guymer – Force of Personality (short story) David Guymer – Four Thousand Days (short story) David Guymer – Gods’ Gift (short story) David Guymer – Gotrek & Felix: City of the Damned David Guymer – Gotrek & Felix: Kinslayer David Guymer – Gotrek & Felix: Rememberers (short story) David Guymer – Gotrek & Felix: Slayer David Guymer – Grombrindal: Chronicles of the Wanderer (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) David Guymer – Hamilcar: Champion of the Gods David Guymer – Heirs of Grimnir (audio drama) David Guymer – Marienburg’s Stand (short story) David Guymer (and Josh Reynolds) – Mortarch of Night David Guymer – One, Untended (short story) David Guymer – Realmslayer (audio drama) David Guymer – The Age of Enlightenment (short story) David Guymer – The Calculus of Battle (audio drama) David Guymer – The Court of the Blind King David Guymer – The Eye of Medusa David Guymer – The Hardest Word (short story) David Guymer – The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer – The Learning (short story) David Guymer – The Palace of Memory (audio drama) David Guymer – The Sea Taketh (short story) David Guymer – The Tilean’s Talisman (short story) David Guymer – The Unlamented Archpustulent of Clan Morbidus (short story) David Guymer – Thorgrim

Guy Haley – At the Sign of the Brazen Claw (short story) Guy Haley – At the Sign of the Brazen Claw Part 2: The Merchant’s Story (short story) Guy Haley – At the Sign of the Brazen Claw Part 3: The Prince’s Tale (short story) Guy Haley – At the Sign of the Brazen Claw Part 4: The Sorcerer’s Tale (short story) Guy Haley – At the Sign of the Braze Claw Part 5: The Hounds of Nagash (short story) Guy Haley – Avenging Son Guy Haley – Baneblade Guy Haley – Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work Guy Haley – Bozgat’s Big Adventure (audio drama) Guy Haley – Corax: Lord of Shadows Guy Haley – Dante Guy Haley – Dark Imperium Guy Haley – Dark Imperim: Plague War Guy Haley – Darkness in the Blood Guy Haley – Duty Waits (short story) Guy Haley – Emp-Rah’s Eye (short story) Guy Haley – Engine of Mork (short story) Guy Haley – Evil Sun Rising Guy Haley – Flesh and Steel (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Guy Haley – Grandfather’s Gift (short story) Guy Haley – His Will (short story) Guy Haley – Hoppo’s Pies (short story) Guy Haley – Hungerfiend (audio drama) Guy Haley – Hunter’s Moon (audio drama) Guy Haley – In the Grim Darkness (short story) Guy Haley – Klaw of Mork (audio drama) Guy Haley – Konrad Curze: The Night Haunter Guy Haley – Man of Iron (short story) Guy Haley – The Painted Count (short story) Guy Haley – Pantheon (short story) Guy Haley – Perturabo: Hammer of Olympia Guy Haley – Pharos Guy Haley – Prince Maesa Guy Haley – Redeemer (short story) Guy Haley – Savage (short story) Guy Haley – Shield of Baal: Wraithflight (short story) Guy Haley – The Armour of Fate (short story) Guy Haley – The Autumn Prince (audio drama) Guy Haley – The Beheading Guy Haley – The Crystal of Fate (short story) Guy Haley – The Devastation of Baal Guy Haley – The Emperor’s Architect (short story) Guy Haley – The End of Daze (audio drama) Guy Haley – The Final Compliance of Sixty-Three Fourteen (short story) Guy Haley – The Gift of Khorne (short story) Guy Haley – The Glorious Tomb (audio drama) Guy Haley – The Laurel of Defiance (short story) Guy Haley – The Lost and the Damned Guy Haley – The Rise of the Horned Rat Guy Haley – The Sands of Grief (short story) Guy Haley – The Solace of Rage (short story) Guy Haley – The Trial of the Chosen (short story) Guy Haley – The Volturung Road (short story) Guy Haley – The Waaagh! Faker (audio drama) Guy Haley – Throneworld Guy Haley – Titandeath Guy Haley – To Speak As One (short story) Guy Haley – Twisted (short story) Guy Haley – Valedor Guy Haley – Wolfsbane Andy Hall – Da Bank Job (short story) Andy Hall – Foul Play (short story) Alex Hammond – The Demon Bottle (short story) Rachel Harrison – A Company of Shadows (short story) Rachel Harrison – Blood Rite Rachel Harrison – Dirty Dealings (short story) Rachel Harrison – Execution (short story) Rachel Harrison – Fire and Thunder (short story) Rachel Harrison – Honourbound Rachel Harrison – Mark of Faith Rachel Harrison – The Darkling Hours (short story) Rachel Harrison – The Way Out (audio drama) Rachel Harrison – Trials (short story) Ray Harrison – Dishonoured (short story) Ray Harrison – The Blooding (short story) Maria Haskins – The Jagged Edge (short story) Rob J Hayes – Anarchy’s End (short story) Victoria Hayward – The Carbis Incident (short story) Justin D. Hill – Cadia Stands Justin D. Hill – Cadian Honour Justin D. Hill – Deadhenge (short story) Justin D. Hill – Last Step Backwards (short story) Justin D. Hill – Lost Hope (short story) Justin D. Hill – Storm of Damocles Justin D. Hill – Terminal Overkill Justin D. Hill – The Battle For Markgraaf Hive (short story) Justin D. Hill – The Battle of Tyrok Fields (short story) Justin D. Hill – The Deserter (audio drama) Justin D. Hill – The Sanguinalia Day Massacre (short story) Darius Hinks – Blackstone Fortress Darius Hinks – Burned (short story) Darius Hinks – Ghoulslayer Darius Hinks – Illyrium (audio drama) Darius Hinks – Mephiston: Blood of Sanguinius Darius Hinks – The Beast Inside (audio drama) Darius Hinks – The Neverspike (short story) Darius Hinks – Warqueen Michael J. Hollows – The Warp’s Curse (short story) Nick Horth – Callis and Toll: The Old Ways (short story) Nick Horth – Callis and Toll: The Silver Shard Nick Horth – City of Secrets Nick Horth – Heart of Winter Rik Hoskin – In the Mists of Chaos (short story) Tom Huddleston – Realm Quest: City of Lifestone

Cameron Johnston – Faith in Iron (short story) Andy Jones – Grunsonn’s Marauders (short story)

Nicholas Kaufmann – The Child Foretold (short story) Paul Kearney – Calgar’s Fury Paul Kearney – Calgar’s Siege Paul Kearney – Dark Hunters: Umbra Sumus Paul Kearney – The Blind King (short story) Matt Keefe – Expectatio (audio drama) Matt Keefe – The Book of Transformations (short story) Phil Kelly – Blades of Damocles Phil Kelly – Brethren (audio) Phil Kelly – Death Knell Phil Kelly – Farsight: Crisis of Faith Phil Kelly – War of Secrets William King – The Mutant Master (short story) William King – The Wrath of Khârn (short story) Gary Kloster – Spark of Revolution Gary Kloster – The Perfect Assassin (short story) Nick Kyme – Assault on Black Reach Nick Kyme – Auric Gods Nick Kyme – Chirurgeon (short story) Nick Kyme – Deathfire Nick Kyme – Dreams of Unity (short story) Nick Kyme – Knights of Macragge Nick Kyme – Mercy of the Dragon (short story) Nick Kyme – Motherlode (short story) Nick Kyme – Nightfane (audio drama) Nick Kyme – Rebirth Nick Kyme – Sepulturum Nick Kyme – Sons of the Forge Nick Kyme – Stitches (short story – Warhammer Horror) Nick Kyme – Stratagem (audio drama) Nick Kyme – The Burden of Angels (short story) Nick Kyme – The Gates of Terra (short story) Nick Kyme – The Imprecations of Daemons (audio drama) Nick Kyme – The Last of the Longhorns (short story) Nick Kyme – The Lightning Golem (short story) Nick Kyme – The Unending Storm (short story) Nick Kyme – Veil of Darkness (short story) Nick Kyme – Vengeful Honour (short story) Nick Kyme – Volpone Glory

Mike Lee – Legacy of Dorn Mike Lee – None More Loyal (short story) Mike Lee – Traitor’s Gorge Dale Lucas – Blessed Oblivion (short story) Graeme Lyon – Beneath the Rust (short story) Graeme Lyon – Black Iron (short story) Graeme Lyon – Bride of Khaine (short story) Graeme Lyon – Code of the Skies Graeme Lyon – Dismember the Titans (short story) Graeme Lyon – Mazlocke’s Cantrip of Superior Substitution (short story) Graeme Lyon – The Eighth Victory (short story) Graeme Lyon – The Librarian’s Acolyte (short story) Graeme Lyon – The Sacrifice (short story) Steve Lyons – Bad Blood (short story) Steve Lyons – Dark City (short story) Steve Lyons – Exodus (short story) Steve Lyons – Eye of the Dragon (short story) Steve Lyons – Iron Resolve Steve Lyons – Left for Dead (short story) Steve Lyons – Solace (short story) Steve Lyons – The Silence (short story)

Robbie MacNiven – A Brother’s Confession (short story) Robbie MacNiven – A Song for the Lost (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Blood and Iron (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Blood of Iax Robbie MacNiven – Carcharadons: Red Tithe Robbie MacNiven – Carcharadons: The Reaping Time (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Death Warrant (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Fixed (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Heartwood (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Once a Stimm Queen (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Redblade (short story) Robbie MacNiven – Scourge of Fate Robbie MacNiven – Stone and Iron (audio drama) Robbie MacNiven – The Bone Desert Robbie MacNiven – The Lost King (short story) Robbie MacNiven – The Young Wolf’s Return (short story) George Mann – Shrike George Mann – The Geld (audio drama) George Mann – The Karsharat Abomination (short story) Mike Mason – Potentia (short story) Will McDermott – Soulless Fury Will McDermott – Underhive Apex (short story) Peter McLean – Baphomet By Night (short story) Peter McLean – Blood Sacrifice (short story) Peter McLean – Lightning Run (short story) Peter McLean – No Hero (short story) Peter McLean – Sand Lords (short story) Graham McNeill – Knights of the Imperium Graham McNeill – Luna Mendax (short story) Graham McNeill – Magnus The Red: Master of Prospero Graham McNeill – Mechanicum Graham McNeill – Morningstar (audio drama) Graham McNeill – Old Wounds, New Scars (short story) Graham McNeill – Sons of the Selenar Graham McNeill – Storm of Iron Graham McNeill – The Ancient Awakes (short story) Graham McNeill – The Colonel’s Monograph Graham McNeill – The Corpse Road (short story) Graham McNeill – The Crimson King Graham McNeill – The Death of Uriel Ventris (short story) Graham McNeill – The Devine Adoratrice (short story) Graham McNeill – The Kaban Project (short story) Graham McNeill – The Seventh Serpent Graham McNeill – The Staff of Asclepius (short story) Graham McNeill – The Wolf of Ash and Fire (short story) Graham McNeill – Thief of Revelations (audio drama) Graham McNeill – Vengeful Spirit Graham McNeill – With Ice and Sword (short story) Graham McNeill – Wolf Mother (short story) Liane Merciel – Blacktalon (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Liane Merciel – Oracle (short story) Liane Merciel – Roadwarden (short story) Sandy Mitchell – Ciaphas Cain: Choose Your Enemies Sandy Mitchell – Dead in the Water (audio drama) Sandy Mitchell – Hidden Depths (short story) Sandy Mitchell – The Cost of Command (short story) Sandy Mitchell – The Greater Good

Aron Nemeth – Above and Beyond (Part 1) Aron Nemeth – Above and Beyond (Part 2) Aron Nemeth – Above and Beyond (Part 3)

Jake Ozga – Skull Throne (short story)

Steve Parker – Deathwatch Steve Parker – Exhumed (short story) Steve Parker – Headhunted (short story) Steve Parker – Rynn’s World Joe Parrino – Assassinorum: The Emperor’s Judgement (audio) Joe Parrino – Assassinorum: Execution Force Joe Parrino – Cold Roads (short story) Joe Parrino – Loss (audio) Thomas Parrott – Fates and Fortunes (short story) Thomas Parrott – Isha’s Lament Thomas Parrott – Loyal to the End (short story) Thomas Parrott – Salvage Rites (short story) Thomas Parrott – Spiritus in Machina (short story) Thomas Parrott – The Test of Faith (short story) Chris Pramas – The Black Pearl (short story) David Pringle (editor) – Wolf Riders

Robert Rath – Assassinorum: Divine Sanction (short story) Robert Rath – Assassinorum: Iron Sight (short story) Robert Rath – Assassinorum: Kingmaker Robert Rath – Assassinorum: Live Wire (short story) Robert Rath – The Garden of Mortal Delights (short story) Robert Rath – The Infinite and the Divine Robert Rath – War In The Museum (short story) Jude Reid – Creed: Ashes of Cadia Gordon Rennie – Rites of Passage (short story) Anthony Reynolds – Children of Sicarus (audio) Anthony Reynolds – Khârn: Eater of Worlds Anthony Reynolds – The Infinite Tableau (short story) Anthony Reynolds – The Purge Anthony Reynolds – Vox Dominus (short story) Anthony Reynolds – Word Bearers: The Omnibus Josh Reynolds – A Dirge of Dust and Steel (short story) Josh Reynolds – A Memory of Tharsis (short story) Josh Reynolds – A Trick of the Light (short story) Josh Reynolds – Apocalypse Josh Reynolds – Auction of Blood (short story) Josh Reynolds – Black Rift Josh Reynolds – Blackshields: The Broken Chain (audio drama) Josh Reynolds – Blackshields: The False War (audio drama) Josh Reynolds – Blackshields: The Red Fief (audio drama) Josh Reynolds – Bonegrinder (short story) Josh Reynolds – Dark Harvest Josh Reynolds – Death’s Head (short story) Josh Reynolds – Doc Morgrim’s Vow (short story) Josh Reynolds – Eight Lamentations: Spear of Shadows Josh Reynolds – Eight Lamentations: War-Claw (audio drama) Josh Reynolds – Enyalius, In Memoriam (short story) Josh Reynolds – Fabius Bile: Clonelord Josh Reynolds – Fabius Bile: Primogenitor Josh Reynolds – Fabius Bile: Repairer of Ruin (audio) Josh Reynolds – Fulgrim: The Palatine Phoenix Josh Reynolds – Fury of Gork Josh Reynolds – Ghosts of Demesnus (short story) Josh Reynolds – Half-Horn (audio drama) Josh Reynolds – Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden Josh Reynolds – Hallowed Knights: The Denied (audio drama) Josh Reynolds – Hammerhal Josh Reynolds – How Vido Learned the Trick (short story) Josh Reynolds – Kal Jerico: Sinner’s Bounty Josh Reynolds – Light of a Crystal Sun (short story) Josh Reynolds – Lukas the Trickster Josh Reynolds – Manglers Never Lose (short story) Josh Reynolds – Master of the Hunt (audio drama) Josh Reynolds (and David Guymer) – Mortarch of Night Josh Reynolds – Nagash: The Undying King Josh Reynolds – Prodigal (short story) Josh Reynolds – Skaven Pestilens Josh Reynolds – Soul Wars Josh Reynolds – The Art of Provocation (audio) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: Assault on the Mandrake Bastion (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: Bridge of Smoke (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: The Gnawing Gate (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: In the Walls of Uryx (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: The Scarlet Lord (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: Six Pillars (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Black Rift of Klaxus: Ten Skulls (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Howling Ship (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Iron Promise (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Last Gift (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Lord of the End Times Josh Reynolds – The Mirrored City Josh Reynolds – The Resolute (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Return of Nagash Josh Reynolds – The Road of Blades (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Tainted Axe (short story) Josh Reynolds – The Zheng Cipher (short story) Josh Reynolds – Waking the Dragon (short story)

Rob Sanders – Adeptus Mechanicus: Skitarius Rob Sanders – Adeptus Mechanicus: Tech-Priest Rob Sanders – Archaon: Everchosen Rob Sanders – Army of One (short story) Rob Sanders – By The Horns (short story) Rob Sanders – Cybernetica Rob Sanders – Daemon of the Deep (short story) Rob Sanders – Distant Echoes of Old Night (short story) Rob Sanders – Eye of the Storm (short story) Rob Sanders – Fearful Symmetries (short story) Rob Sanders – In the Lands of the Blind (short story) Rob Sanders – Ironfire (short story) Rob Sanders – Myriad (short story) Rob Sanders – Predator, Prey Rob Sanders – See No Evil (short story) Rob Sanders – Shadow of Ullanor Rob Sanders – Sons of the Hydra Rob Sanders – The Blood Bound (short story) Rob Sanders – The Darkness of Angels (short story) Rob Sanders – The Dread Sentinels of Dorn (short story) Rob Sanders – The Ember Wolves (short story) Rob Sanders – The Harrowing (short story) Rob Sanders – The Honoured Rob Sanders – The Wolf Within (short story) Rob Sanders – Unearthed (short story) Cavan Scott – Doom Flight (short story) Cavan Scott – Flayed (short story) Cavan Scott – Hidden Treasures (short story) Cavan Scott – Warped Galaxies: Attack of the Necron Cavan Scott – Warped Galaxies: Claws of the Genestealer AND Secrets of the Tau Andy Smillie – A Son’s Burden (short story) Andy Smillie – Death’s Shepherd (short story) Andy Smillie – Divine Will (short story) Andy Smillie – Herald of Sanguinius (audio drama) Andy Smillie – Hunger (audio drama) Andy Smillie – Of Gods and Men (short story) Andy Smillie – Sins of the Father (short story) Andy Smillie – Sons of Wrath Andy Smillie – The Assassination of Gabriel Seth (audio drama) Andy Smillie – The Kauyon (short story) Andy Smillie – The Tau’va (short story) Gavin G. Smith – Apex Predator (short story) Matt Smith – City of Blood (short story) Matt Smith – In Service Eternal (short story) Matt Smith – The Price of Duty (short story) Matt Smith – The Twisted Runes (short story) Lucien Soulban – Altar of Cyrene (short story) Adrian Southin – Path of Grief (short story) Simon Spurrier – Elucidium (short story) Ian St. Martin – A Lesson in Darkness (audio drama) Ian St. Martin – Angron: Slave of Nuceria Ian St. Martin – City of Ruin (short story) Ian St. Martin – Deathwatch: Swordwind (short story) Ian St. Martin – In Wolves’ Clothing (short story) Ian St. Martin – Legends of the Dark Millennium: Deathwatch Ian St. Martin – Lucius: The Faultless Blade Ian St. Martin – Of Honour and Iron Ian St. Martin – Pride and Fall (short story) Ian St. Martin – Steel Daemon Ian St. Martin – Taker of Heads (audio drama) Ian St. Martin – The Embrace of Pain (audio drama) JC Stearns – The Oubliette JC Stearns – Turn of the Adder (short story) JC Stearns – Voice of Experience (short story) JC Stearns – Void Crossed (short story) JC Stearns – Wraithbound (short story) Richard Strachan – Blood of the Everchosen Richard Strachan – Blood of the Flayer (short story) Richard Strachan – Hallowed Ground (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Richard Strachan – The End of Enlightenment James Swallow – Corsair: The Face of the Void (audio drama) James Swallow – Exocytosis (short story) James Swallow – Garro: Ashes of Fealty (audio) James Swallow – Garro: Knight of Grey (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) James Swallow – Garro: Shield of Lies (audio) James Swallow – Garro: Vow of Faith James Swallow – Ghosts Speak Not (short story) James Swallow – Lantern’s Light (short story) James Swallow – Lost Sons (short story) James Swallow – Nemesis (guest review) James Swallow – Patience (short story) James Swallow – Reflection in Blood (short story) James Swallow – The Buried Dagger

Adrian Tchaikovsky – Day of Ascension Gav Thorpe – Acceptable Losses (short story) Gav Thorpe – Accept No Failure (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Angels of Caliban Gav Thorpe – Angels of Darkness Gav Thorpe – Ashes of Prospero Gav Thorpe – Asurmen: The Darker Road (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan Gav Thorpe – Blood Gold (short story) Gav Thorpe – Catechism of Hate Gav Thorpe – Corax: Soulforge Gav Thorpe – Dark Son (short story) Gav Thorpe – Eye of Night (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Fireheart (short story) Gav Thorpe – Ghost Warrior Gav Thorpe – Hand of Darkness (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Heirs of the Laughing God: A Deadly Wit (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Holder of the Keys (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Indomitus Gav Thorpe – Inheritor (short story) Gav Thorpe – Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence Gav Thorpe – Know Thine Enemy (short story) Gav Thorpe – Last Chance (short story) Gav Thorpe – Lord of the Cosmic Gate (short story) Gav Thorpe – Lorgar: Bearer of the Word Gav Thorpe – Master of the First (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Our Martyred Lady (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Purity is a Lie (short story) Gav Thorpe – Ravenlord Gav Thorpe – Rogal Dorn: The Emperor’s Crusader (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Gav Thorpe – Sanguis Irae (short story) Gav Thorpe – Scrape to Victory (short story) Gav Thorpe – Shadow of the Past (short story) Gav Thorpe – Shadows of Heaven (short story) Gav Thorpe – Sin of Damnation Gav Thorpe – The Beast Must Die Gav Thorpe – The Board is Set (short story) Gav Thorpe – The Curse of Khaine Gav Thorpe – The Emperor Expects Gav Thorpe – The Grey Raven (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – The Shadowmasters (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – The Value of Fear (short story) Gav Thorpe – Valerius (audio drama) Gav Thorpe – Vengeance of the Immortal (short story) Gav Thorpe – Warbeast Gav Thorpe – Wild Rider Gav Thorpe – Wrathspring (short story)

Noah Van Nguyen – Godeater’s Son (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Nik Vincent – The Fissure (short story)

James Wallis – The Dead Among Us (short story) Danie Ware – Forsaken (short story) Danie Ware – Mercy (short story) Danie Ware – Sacrifice (short story) Danie Ware – The Bloodied Rose Danie Ware – The Crystal Cathedral (short story) Danie Ware – The Triumph of Saint Katherine Danie Ware – Wreck and Ruin CL Werner – Bloodwalker (short story) CL Werner – Castle of Blood CL Werner – Cult of the Warmason CL Werner – Guns of the Black Eagle (audio drama) CL Werner – Iron Devil (short story) CL Werner – Lord of Undeath CL Werner – No Honour Among Vermin (short story) CL Werner – Overlords of the Iron Dragon CL Werner – Profit’s Ruin CL Werner – Reflections in Steel (short story) CL Werner – Scent of a Traitor (short story) CL Werner – Shiprats (short story) CL Werner – The Deeper Shade (short story) CL Werner – The Witch Takers (short story) CL Werner – Wardens of the Everqueen CL Werner – Wrath of the Wolf (short story) Matt Westbrook – Bladestorm Matt Westbrook – Medusan Wings (written by Ian St. Martin) Timandra Whitecastle – Galene of Ulgu (short story) Richard Williams – Orphans of the Kraken (short story) Filip Wiltgren – A Firstborn Exile (short story) Filip Wiltgren – The Firstborn Daughter (short story) Nicholas Wolf – Miracles (short story) Nicholas Wolf – Reborn (short story) Justin Woolley – Redemption Through Sacrifice (short story) Alec Worley – Broken Saints (audio drama) Alec Worley – Dredge Runners (audio drama) Alec Worley – Martyr’s End (short story) Alec Worley – Pride and Penitence (short story) Alec Worley – Repentia (short story) Alec Worley – Stormseeker (short story) Alec Worley – The Wraithbone Phoenix Alec Worley – Whispers (short story) Chris Wraight – Allegiance (short story) Chris Wraight – Argent (short story) Chris Wraight – Blackshield (short story) Chris Wraight – Blood of Asaheim Chris Wraight – Brotherhood of the Moon (short story) Chris Wraight – Brotherhood of the Storm Chris Wraight – Daemonology (short story) Chris Wraight – Endurance (short story) Chris Wraight – Fatespinner (short story) Chris Wraight – Jaghatai Khan: Warhawk of Chogoris Chris Wraight – Leman Russ: The Great Wolf Chris Wraight – The Lords of Silence Chris Wraight – Parting of the Ways (audio) Chris Wraight – Restorer (short story) Chris Wraight – Scars Chris Wraight – Siegemaster (short story) Chris Wraight – The Chalice (short story) Chris Wraight – The Fall of Altdorf Chris Wraight – The Hunt for Magnus Chris Wraight – The Interrogation of Salvor Lermentov (audio drama) Chris Wraight – The Last Son of Prospero (short story) Chris Wraight – The Sigillite (short story) Chris Wraight – The Soul, Severed (audio) Chris Wraight – Two Metaphysical Blades (short story) Chris Wraight – Unification (short story) Chris Wraight – Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne Chris Wraight – Vaults of Terra: The Hollow Mountain Chris Wraight – Warhammer Age of Sigmar: The Gates of Azyr Chris Wraight – Warhawk (included in a Short and Sweet review roundup) Chris Wraight – Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor’s Legion Chris Wraight – Watchers of the Throne: The Regent’s Shadow Chris Wraight – Wolf King

Rob Young – Longshot

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Handful Of Dice

Warhammer in all its flavours

Black Library Book Review: Horus Rising (2006)

Horus Rising is the first book in the expansive Horus Heresy series, which covers the events of the Great Crusade and the corruption of Warmaster Horus during the Horus Heresy, some ten thousand standard years before the usual Warhammer setting of the 41st Millenium. The novels in this series are written by many well known Black Library names, but all fit into the same narrative arc. Dan Abnett, who you might know from First and Only , Ghostmaker and the rest of the Gaunt’s Ghosts series, has penned the first book. The series doesn’t try to tell the story of Horus’s treachery chronologically, more to provide us with different tales from this period of the Imperium of Man’s history. That said, the first three books are meant to be a trilogy that covers Horus’s fall to the foul influence of Chaos.

In Horus Rising we’re taken back to the 31st millennium where under the direct command of the Emperor humanities Great Crusade has, over the course of slightly more than two centuries, has spread the Imperium’s control across the galaxy. We join the frontlines a year after Horus, the first primarch, has been named Warmaster and given command of the Emperor’s forces whilst he returns to Terra to complete other objectives. The book takes us through three battles with xenos and human exclaves, following the Luna Wolves and their attached remeberancers mostly through the perspective of Captain Garviel Loken as he watches the start of Horus’s corruption from his position as one of his inner circle.

Dan Abnett once again does a brilliant job of laying the foundation to a strong series of books. He introduces a cast of characters that contains some very recognisable names. He does a very good job pulling existing characters backstories together seamlessly and, though the book drops you in the middle of a huge Imperial Crusade, you don’t feel like you’re joining the narrative part way through. Instead you jump right into the action of the crusade and Abnett gets you quickly invested in the characters.

I came into the novel with a cursory knowledge of the Horus Heresy and some of the characters involved. I was a bit concerned that I’d find the book a bit hard to access, but that’s not the case at all, and I spent a decent chunk of the time thinking ‘I recognise that name as a Big Bad™’, which immediately had me intrigued by the development of that character and how they became corrupted.

Overall the book is a great introduction to the 31st millennium and once again a triumphant read from Abnett which I’d highly recommend – my only warning would be that it’s the start of a long series and your wallet may not thank you!

We rate Horus Rising:

Let us know what you thought of the book down in the comments!

Have you enjoyed this review or found it helpful? You could always tip the author with  a coffee (or something stronger) . If you want to pick up anything Warhammer related then check out  Element Games . They have up to 25% off on a wide range of units, box sets and accessories. Finally, make sure you’re following us on  Instagram  to stay up to date and get involved in our community!

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Screen Rant

Creature from the black lagoon lives is the perfect reinvention of a horror icon.

Image and Skybound's new Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives! mini-series is the perfect reinvention of this Universal Monsters icon.

• Image and Skybound's new Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives revives a classic horror icon for a modern audience.
• The book is centered around Kate Marsden, who hunts a serial killer in South America, facing local superstitions and mysterious forces--including the Creature.
• Skybound's Universal Monsters line brings fresh life to timeless characters, like the tragic Gill Man.

Warning: contains spoilers for Creatue from the Black Lagoon Lives! #1!

Image and Skybound’s new Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives perfectly brings the horror icon into the 21st century. Image and Skybound recently launched a new Universal Monsters imprint, featuring some of the venerable studio’s biggest creatures. After successfully rebooting Dracula and Frankenstein, the Gill Man gets his shot at the big time in Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives. It is one of the best horror comics of 2024.

Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives was written by Dan Watters and Ram V and drawn by Matthew Roberts. Set many years after the classic film, journalist Kate Marsden is pursuing a serial killer who has taken refuge in the jungles of South America.

Kate grapples with her own inner demons while searching for her target and deals with local superstitions that speak of a “creature” living in the water.

As Kate closes in on her prey, she learns other forces are at work, forces much older than she could imagine.

The Universal Monsters Franchise is the First Cinematic Universe

Creature from the black lagoon was ahead of its time.

The Universal Monsters franchise is one of the most endearing in pop culture. Kicking off with 1931’s Dracula , the line would go on to include other monsters, such as the Wolfman, the Invisible Man and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, also called the Gill Man. Released in 1954, Creature from the Black Lagoon was a smash hit, spawning several sequels. It also catapulted the Gill Man, designed by Milicent Patrick, into the hearts and minds of horror fans everywhere. Image and Skybound have been reinvigorating these icons for a new era, and this is their latest triumph.

Although Milicent Patrick now gets credit for creating the Gill Man's appearance, for many years credit was given solely to Bud Westmore.

Watters, Ram V and Roberts have created a book worthy of the name Creature from the Black Lagoon . In the original movie, the Gill Man is kept off-camera for the first part, with viewers only seeing tantalizing glimpses before the monster stands revealed. The creative team of Lives has taken a similar approach. The Gill Man is hardly present in the first issue, only alluded to in folklore and stories. The original movie was ahead of its time in how it handled women characters, and the creative team keeps this going by centering the action on Kate Marsden.

Batman Once Fought Against The Universal Monsters

Creature from the black lagoon lives is another triumph for skybound's universal monsters line, it keeps the spirit of the classic film alive.

The Gill Man is a tragic figure in pop culture. A holdover from another era, he simply wants to be left alone, but humans will not grant him this wish. The Gill Man is misunderstood, like most monsters are. Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives #1 continues this theme. Gill Man is hardly the scariest character in the book. The serial killer Kate is chasing is a far bigger threat, as seen when he actually catches up with her at the end. Only one issue in the series promises a grand reinvention of this horror icon.

Creature From the Black Lagoon #1 is on sale now from Image Comics!