Release Date: 18/05/17
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
In the hellish sprawl of Imperial Terra, Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Erasmus serves as a stalwart and vigilant protector, for even the Throneworld is not immune to the predations of its enemies. In the course of his Emperor-sworn duty, Erasmus becomes embroiled in a dark conspiracy, one that leads all the way to the halls of the Imperial Palace. As he plunges deeper in the shadowy underbelly of the many palace districts, his investigation attracts the attention of hidden forces, and soon Erasmus and his acolyte Spinoza are being hunted – by heretics, xenos, servants of the Dark Powers, or perhaps even rival elements of the Inquisition itself. They eventually discover a terrible truth, one that if allowed to get out could undermine the very fabric of the Imperium itself.
REVIEW:
A cracking novel set on throne world from Chris Wraight which goes to show that whilst the rest of the Imperium think that its a shining beacon of the Emperors might, that the reality for those who live there is that its a dog eats dog world where death is cheap and human life even cheaper.
Its well written, has great prose and as we get to follow the principle characters get to see how thier life experiences not only changes thier points of view and actions but helps give strength where the other is weaker. Back this up with a seriously kick ass plot, top notch dialogue alongside being characters that the reader can associate with all round makes this a book that is a pure joy to read. Can't wait for more of this duo's adventures.
Release Date: 24/10/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
For millennia, the elves of Ulthuan and the dwarfs of the mountain realm have been friends and allies. Now that time is over and the War of Vengeance has begun. Prince Imladrik, master of dragons and Ulthuan's finest warrior, is ordered to leave his beloved homeland and lead his host in a war he does not believe in. Facing the fury of the dwarfs, the jealousy of his brother and the ever-present threat of Malekith's dark elves, Imladrik must balance his love for his wife and home with the thrill of battle.
REVIEW:
The second book in the War of Vengeance series that this time takes the point of view of the Elves, from a hero who’s fighting a war he doesn’t believe in. Its tragic, it brings the a believability to the fore and also the chance to bring the strength of character through due to the struggles on both personal and for the culture to which he battles for their survival.
It’s a great read and really does work well on so many levels. The action is solid, the prose cracking and when added to an overall arc that furthers the series to a wonderful level all round gives a story that will have many readers demanding the third part.
Release Date: 14/03/13
Publisher: Black Library
SYNOPSIS:
The feral warrior-kings of Fenris, the Space Wolves are the sons of Leman Russ. Savage heroes, few can match their ferocity in battle. After half a century apart, Space Wolves Ingvar and Gunnlaugr are reunited. Sent to defend an important shrine world against the plague-ridden Death Guard, the Grey Hunters clash with the pious Sisters of Battle, who see the Space Wolves as little better than the enemy they fight. As enemies close in around them and treachery is revealed, Gunnlaugr and his warriors must hold the defenders together - even as hidden tensions threaten to tear their pack apart.
REVIEW:
Usually I’m a huge fan of the Space Wolves and any action that they take part in, however this time there was just something about it that I couldn’t get into. It wasn’t a badly written book, far from it but for me I found the character one that I just couldn’t associate with, the action sequences seemed a lot of the same old what’s gone on before and for me it really didn’t give me something unique or a tale that stood out on its own.
That said, the author does give it some good action sequences, some solid prose but all round for me, it’s a book that I just couldn’t get on with.
Release Date: 27/09/12
SYNOPSIS:
Rebellion consumes the province of Averland and civil war looms, while orcs threaten to sweep out of the mountains and devastate the land. Suspecting the taint of Chaos behind the uprising, the Emperor Karl Franz sends two of his greatest champions to defeat the greenskins, thwart the Dark Gods and restore Imperial rule to Averland.
REVIEW:
This compendium is a duology and deals with a complex plot arc for the two heroes involved. Its wonderfully crafted, has the obligatory sword skills and also deals quite heavily with political machinations. Its clever, it has some solid twists and of course if you haven’t got the two individual titles make a wonderful addition for any Warhammer fan. Add to this an author who knows how to keep you glued with a solid sense of pace and all in it’s a great read.
Release Date: 26/06/12
SYNOPSIS:
After months spent in the service of the Chaos god Slaanesh, the ruling classes of the Contqual sub-sector have finally brought true damnation upon their people - innumerable hordes of foul and lascivious daemons swarm from a tear in the fabric of reality to embrace their mortal pawns and drive them on to ever more depraved acts of worship. It falls to the merciless Space Marines of the Iron Hands Chapter to cleanse these worlds of the warp's unholy taint, and it is upon the surface of Shardenus that the fate of a billion lost souls will be decided.
REVIEW:
As a long-time fan of the Warhammer Space Marine Battle series (this being the 10th book in the series) I’ve come to expect more and more from each offering to see where the various authors push the boundaries. Here in this title, Chris Wraight takes the Iron Hands deep into the heart of a battle against followers of the Chaos God Slaanesh on a world that has turned from the light of the God Emperor.
The combat is gruelling, the inter combatant relationships fraught as mistrust vies against the goals and when added to an author who knows how to gain every twist from the reader to the maximum effect, allows the reader to get a story that will haunt them long after the final battle is won as the cost of blood and death is counted by friends and foes alike in a never ending eternal struggle. Add to this great dialogue and an author who feels like they’ve explored the inter unit relationships in depth and all in you’re in for a real treat. Great stuff.
Release Date: 06/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
Witch hunter Lukas Eichmann investigates a series of bizarre murders, which ultimately lead him into the haunted depths of the Empire at the head of an army of fanatical warriors. In the Drakwald Forest, Luthor Huss, warrior priest of Sigmar, battles to free the denizens of the forest from a plague of the walking dead. As their fates entwine, the two warriors confront a threat that will decide their future, while Huss must face a secret from his past if he is to survive and embrace his destiny as the Hammer of Sigmar.
REVIEW:
In a dark world there has to be beacons of light and that’s exactly what this latest title from Chris Wraight brings to the fore as one of Sigmar’s Priests raises the Warhammer to fight the dark taint alongside a Witch Hunter. It’s dark, it demonstrates that even when hope looks bleak there are those who pick up the gauntlet and of course, brings a tale packed with action, death and blood to the reader.
The prose is sharp, the action heavily packed into the pages and when you add an overall arc that gives the reader what they want, it’s a book that doesn’t hold back. Great fun all round and a great way to kick off the new year. Magical.
Release Date: 09/06/11
SYNOPSIS:
It is M32, a thousand years after the Horus Heresy. The Scouring is over and the Imperium at the height of its post-Crusade power. When Magnus the Red is tracked down to Gangava Prime, the Space Wolves hasten to engage the daemon primarch. Even as Great Wolf Harek Ironhelm closes on his ancient enemy, the Fang on the Space Wolves home world is besieged by a massive force of Thousand Sons. A desperate battle ensues as the skeleton forces of Wolf Lord Asvald Greylock attempt to hold back the attacking hosts before the last of his meagre defences gives in. Though a single Scout ship survives to summon Great Wolf Harek Ironhelm back to Fenris, none of the defenders truly realise the full scale the horror that awaits them, nor what the Battle for the Fang will cost them all.
REVIEW:
OK, if I had to pick one chapter of mankind’s Astarte’s to follow I’d have to select the Space Wolves (sorry Graham) as I love their brutality as well as Norse heritage. They have great characters and with their heroes it was only matter of time before they’d step into their own during one of the massive sieges of the Space Marine Battle series. Here you get an almost Gemmellesque scenario as Dros Delnoch is replaced with the Fang and the Marines own home planet as the forces of the Thousand Son’s attacks Fenris.
Its beautifully written, with the brutality of every inch of bloody ground ingraining its own memory upon the landscape. Add to this great author description, cracking prose and characters that the reader will care about and it’s going to be a hard one for the Wolves to not only swallow but will cause more than a few mournful howls from the commanders of their troops on the war game battle tables around the world. A real gem of an addition and perhaps my favourite Space Marine Battle title to date.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Averland burns. An army of cultists rises in the corrupted city of Averheim. The Theogonist Volkmar marches towards the city in a race to snuff out the rebellion before it grows too widespread to defeat. Schwarzhelm races to return to the site of his recent battles, as does the spy Pieter Verstohlen, evading assassins while trying to discover the truth of the conspiracy that drew him away. But none of these holds the key. Out in the wilderness is Kurt Helborg, Grand Marshal of the Reiksguard. Only he has the indomitable strength of will to hold together the province in its hour of need. Only he can rally the terrified citizens of Averland to resist the infernal powers that beset them
REVIEW:
The second title in the Kurt Helborg series and just as complex as the original which demonstrates that the Black Library not only does great combat and bloody battlefields but also delves into the psychological long game that the Chaotic Powers are want to play in. Its definitely a great read and one that we had a lot of reading pleasure trying to figure out what was going to happen as the characters are played off against each other.
Overall a magic offering and one that we loved to the last page. Now all we need is the third part and we’ll be ready to roll. Chris really is setting the standard for the psychological games in the Fantasy world and one that really means he’ll have to be watched.
BOOK BLURB:
Fresh from the slaughter of the Emperor's enemies in the north, Ludwig Schwarzhelm, Emperor's Champion, is sent to Averland to oversee the inauguration of a new elector count. Beset by greenskins, and hampered on all sides by the ambitions of rival magnates, he is soon fighting to keep the fractious province together. But the rot runs deep. Powerful forces in Altdorf seem determined to see him fail, and suspicion falls on even his most trusted allies. When all is at its bleakest, the mark of Chaos and the full horror of his task is finally revealed. Alone, doubted by those closest to him, this will be Schwarzhelm's greatest ever challenge, one on which the destiny of the Empire itself depends.
REVIEW:
The Warhammer world is not only a war torn battlefield through strength of arms but also through the desolate lands of the mental sparring. Which is what Chris Wraight bring’s to the table in this offering. Where many are famed for their battlefield prowess and in particular the hero of this offering its to the mental battlefield that a the battle hardened warrior is most challenged. Beautifully written with something for all fans of fantasy as the mental sparring is just as good and at times better than the physical battle descriptions. A great title and one that I really want a sequel for.
BOOK BLURB:
Magnus Ironblood joins an Inperial force to try and bring down secessionist forces, and finds himself in a bloody battle against deadly foes.
REVIEW:
The second novel in the Empire Army series and one that takes the Black Library into a separate direction as the tale of the Engineers gets there first outing in a story that will bring them to the fore rather than a support role. It will appeal to those who utilise the Empire Army and will perhaps bring a request by fans for the new weapon to make its way into standard warfare. If you want a tale where the principle player deals with emotional trauma as well as long seated doubts alongside finding his place in the world anew then this will really strike not only a chord but unleash the full metal at the gateway of the readers imagination.
