Category Archives: Black Library

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop, Warhammer 40k

Book Review – Valdor: Birth of the Imperium

May 1, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

A Horus Heresy novel by Chris Wraight

There are a few characters beyond the Primarchs that loom large within the Horus Heresy. The Emperor, Malcador and Valdor are three of them. And Chris Wraight takes us back to the beginning of the Imperium and the role of Valdor in it’s birth.

From the Book

Constantin Valdor. It is a name that brings forth images of heroism, honour and peerless duty. For it is he who commands the will of the Legio Custodes that most esteemed and dedicated cadre of elite warriors. He is the Emperor’s sword, His shield, His banner and he knows no equal. Clad in shining auramite, his fist clenched around the haft of his Guardian Spear, he is the bulwark against all enemies of the throne, within or without.

Nearing the end of the wars of Unity, Valdor’s courage and purpose is put to the test as never before. The petty warlords and tyrants of Old Earth have been all but vanquished, and the Emperor’s armies are triumphant. What now for the nascent Imperium and what fate its forgotten soldiers, its Thunder Warriors and armies of Unity? A new force is rising, one which shall eclipse all others and open the way to the stars. But change on Terra is seldom bloodless and for progress to be ensured darker deeds are necessary.

Review

Valdor has always been part of the story of the Imperium, but the Horus Heresy has allowed Chris Wraight to give him a lot more background here, and – crucially – background of the Birth of the Imperium.

This is a story from a time in the Warhammer 40k lore of which not much is written. The Emperor has conquered Old Earth, but not all the denizens of the planet are convinced this is a good idea… and the Emperor doesn’t do weak or bloodless.

I was recommended this book some time ago and added it to my To-Read pile on Goodreads. … Why did I wait? … It’s a great addition to the story of the Imperium and in particular that thorny transisition from Thunder Warriors to Space Marines.

Thunder Warrior – John Blanche / Games Workshop

I don’t often say a book is essential reading, but Chris Wraight has got a story here that fits this bill. And he writes well, as well! Go out there and buy it, now!

Declan & Eeeyore

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

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— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Lorgar: Bearer of the Word

April 3, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

Horus Heresy: Primarch series #5 by Gav Thorpe

The 5th Novella in the Primarch Series brings us to The Bearer of the Word – Lorgar. We’ve reviewed a few in this series already – this is number 11! There have been no ‘timing’ issues yet with stories ruined.

Cover picture of Lorgar: Bearer of the Word by Gav Thorpe

From the Book

Most devoted of all the primarchs, it was Lorgar who first fell to the lure of Chaos. Once known as Aurelian, this golden son of the Emperor of Mankind found himself an outcast because he worshipped his father as a god. Humbled before the ruins of Monarchia, chastened and brought low, Lorgar yearned for deeper meaning. He found it in the power of Ruin and thus began the descent into heresy. His fate had not always been so. On Colchis, his adopted birth world, Lorgar was not always the zealot, though his path would be nurtured by the priest Kor Phaeron.

Review

Gav Thorpe has always been a great writer and has had significant success since leaving the hallowed pages of WD.

And with Lorgar: Bearer of the Word; he smashes it out of the park! This is the book I was hoping all the Primarch books would be. It’s the origin story of Lorgar. How he is found on Colchis. When he is adopted by Kor Phaeron. And how he is manipulated / prepared for greatness by the priest.

The descriptions of the desert, his challenges, the treatment of Lorgar by Kor Phaeron and his reaction as a young child were expertly written and very believable. Many of the Primarchs had tough upbringing on their new homeworlds, but it is fair to say Lorgar’s wasn’t the easiest.

The action is mostly set on Colchis. There is the occasional flash forward to Lorgar burning his chapter’s books after censure by the Emperor. However, fortunately, this is a tiny part of the novella so doesn’t distract from the story being told.

A must read for me in the series – great work from Gav Thorpe.

Declan & Eeeyore

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Mephiston – Blood of Sanguinius

March 27, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

Mephiston series #1 by Darius Hinks

The 1st Novel in the ‘Mephiston’ series is by Darius Hinks and brings us the Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels in all his glory.

From the book:

A religious civil war brings the Blood Angels, commanded by Chief Librarian Mephiston, to a shrine world where they find a mystery that might help Mephiston understand how he survived the Black Rage – and perhaps cure the Blood Angels of their affliction.

The shrine world of Divinatus Prime has become lost to the light of the Astronomican and no ship can piece its veil. Only the Lord of Death himself, Blood Angels Chief Librarian Mephiston, has any hope of discerning the fate of this once pious world. After enacting a powerful blood ritual, Mephiston and an honour guard of his fellow Blood Angels reach the stricken shrine world to find it seized by religious civil war. Each faction fights for dominance of a potent artefact, the Blade Petrific, said to be wrought by the Emperor Himself. Yet there is more at work here than a mere ideological schism, for Mephiston believes Divinatus Prime could offer answers to how he became the Lord of Death, he who resisted the Black Rage, and possibly even a way to end the curse of ‘the Flaw’ in all Blood Angels.

My last review of Darius Hinks’ work did not go well in the case of Dominion, but as Blood Angels are my favourite chapter I wanted to give him a second go… and I’m glad I did.

This first in a trilogy of books about Mephiston of the Blood Angels, sees him hunting down a relic – The Blade of Petrific – which was once touched by the Hand of The Emperor Himself… (lots of capitalisation there).

The Blade is held on Divinatus Prime but it has gone ‘missing’ and Mephiston is the only one capable of travelling through the Warp to get to it. Fortunately, he can bring an honour guard of his fellow Blood Angels and some other Librarians.

As you may expect from a Warhammer 40k novel, this has lots of shooting, and just general ‘Grim Darkness’… there is death here. There is also a lot of background knowledge assumed – unlike Dominion – this is not intended as an introductory book to the Warhammer 40k universe – or even the Blood Angels.

And that is fine, different books can have different aims and in this book Hinks shows the power, knowledge and skills of Mephiston to the ‘max’. It’s a great book for this, and if you already like Blood Angels and Mephiston in particular then this is definitely one for you. It also means I can happily move Hinks off my ‘naughty’ shelf and read some more of this novels.

My grade for the book is probably slightly biased by it including Blood Angels, and it’s probably only 3 stars if you don’t like the Chapter… but that’s the joy of Black Library releasing so many books – there’s definitely something for everyone.

PS – I listened to the audiobook for this, which I do regularly, and I’ve always pronounced Mephiston as ‘Mef-is-ton’, but the narrator said ‘Meh-fist-on’… another childhood assumption gone, but I’m not sure after 35 years I can change how I say his name!

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Roboute Guilliman: Lord of Ultramar

March 20, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

Horus Heresy Primarchs #1 by David Annandale

The 1st Primarch novel (novella) takes us to the Ultramarines and their Primarch – Roboute Guilliman.

From the book:

Long before the coming of the Imperium, the realm of Ultramar was ruled by Roboute Guilliman, the last Battle King of Macragge. Even after learning of his true heritage as a primarch son of the Emperor of Mankind, he strove to expand his domain as efficiently and benevolently as possible, with the XIII Legion Ultramarines as his alone to command. Now, facing a rival empire on the ork-held world of Thoas, Guilliman must choose his weapons carefully – otherwise his dream of a brighter future could be lost forever.

Do like ‘Practicals’, or is your Google Search locked on ‘Theoreticals’? If you can answer yes to these questions then this is the book for you… but it does get grating. I get that this is how we know we are dealing with the Ultramarines, but it probably didn’t need repeating quite so often.

That gripe aside, Roboute Guilliman is on the Ork held world of Thoas where there are strange pyramids, which appear to have been built by humans before or during the Age of Darkness. The Orks just want to kill Ultramarines, but Roboute Guilliman also wants to answer the question of what happened to the humans who used to live on Thoas.

He has recently put a new Chapter Master in charge of the 22nd Chapter of the Ultramarines… someone from outside the Chapter – against the tradition established. In doing this he also sidelines the Destroyers which form a large portion of the 22nd Chapter. This decision causes descent within the Chapter, and his refusal to deploy the Destroyers causes additional friction.

The balance of the 22nd Chapter are left as rearguard against the Orks, and in fighting a Pyramid is destroyed… causing significant damage to the Ultramarines.

Annandale does a a good job of telling the story, and Guilliman comes across as a true combat beast, besting all the Orks that try to kill him, whilst investigating the reason for the lack of Humans on the planet. It is an interesting story — but I struggled too much with the ‘Practicals’ and ‘Theoreticals’!

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – The Long Promise

March 13, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

A Warhammer 40k short-story by Mike Brooks

The Long Promise was released in 2023 but re-released in the free ‘Black Library Celebration 2025’ anthology available in English, German & French either from a local Warhammer store or free from Black Library with most purchases.

This coincides with World Book Day (6th March), and as avid readers ourselves we will be marking this occasion by reviewing all 4 stories in the anthology – and encouraging reading of course!

From the book:

Solomon Akurra, Chaos Lord of the insidious Alpha Legion, infiltrates a Deathwatch watch station. When this most elite and pious of kill teams returns, Akurra offers them the real truth…

Stories of the Alpha Legion can be hit and miss, but one thing they always are is different. With their love of subterfuge, scouting and infiltrating they are unlike any other Space Marine chapter, and Mike Brooks has done well here to bring Solomon Akurra’s motives to life in a short story.

The Deathwatch come back to their watch station and find an Alpha legion vessel and Akurra quickly begins to question them over the vox – will they let him go, to discover what he knows, or will they hunt him throughout the ship and ensure his end?

I very much enjoyed this short story, and one of the interesting pieces was the tie back to a human with our narrator (of sorts) being Tulava Dyne, a sanctioned pskyer who has defected to the Alpha Legion. Importantly this allows the viewer to have a more human perspective on the Space Marines of the Alpha Legion – something that is not always achieved.

And the narrative rattles along at a pace – no wasted words here – such that you reach the end, and really want more of the story. A great sign.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Web of Ruin

March 12, 2025 Declan and Eeyore 1 Comment

An Age of Sigmar short-story by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Web of Ruin was released in 2023 but re-released in the free ‘Black Library Celebration 2025’ anthology available in English, German & French either from a local Warhammer store or free from Black Library with most purchases.

This coincides with World Book Day (6th March), and as avid readers ourselves we will be marking this occasion by reviewing all 4 stories in the anthology – and encouraging reading of course!

From the book:

The Tarantulos Brood are Slaves to Darkness who seek out mutagenic substances to uplift their mortal forms and grow ever closer to the sacred shape of their spidery god. In order to reach the top of their power structure they must demonstrate that they can wrangle the most deadly arachnids into servitude. Follow as one Broodkin seeks out his Chaos tained prey.

When Warcry was released Warhammer Community put one of the models from the Tarantulos Brood on the Rumour Engine… and all the Gloomspite players thought that we would be getting new spiderfang grots… or something. Because spiders were always a Destruction thing. To say that the Destruction community was ‘not happy’ with a Slaves to Darkness unit taking their spiders would be an under statement.

Well Adrian Tchaikovsky brings us a story from the Tarantulos Brood as they are ambushed (unsuccessfully) by a Grot Shaman and are told of the location of a Arachnarok spider who is close to death. The Brood can’t resist and force the Grot to lead them to his spider… who will emerge victorious.

This is another great short story, and has characters that even those new to Age of Sigmar will be able to understand. There are humans worshippping Chaos via a Spider God and Grots (goblins) trying to ambush them and then stop them reaching their version of a Spider God – and Arachnarok Spider (although Tchaikovsky never uses this term).

Could this be the revenge Destruction want from their false spider brethren, or will Slaves to Darkness arise triumphant?

Whilst this is a good story, I again have to question why it was in the compilation for 2025… a quick look at the Games Workshop website to see Warcry and the game itself is ‘Online only’… oh dear!! but you can’t even buy the Tarantulos Brood – they are discontinued. Weird!

But the star rating is for Adrian Tchaikovsky’s writing, not the strange editing decision.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – The One Road

March 11, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

An Age of Sigmar short-story by David Guymer

The One Road was released in 2023 but re-released in the free ‘Black Library Celebration 2025’ anthology available in English, German & French either from a local Warhammer store or free from Black Library with most purchases.

This coincides with World Book Day (6th March), and as avid readers ourselves we will be marking this occasion by reviewing all 4 stories in the anthology – and encouraging reading of course!

From the book:

Out for the count and oblivious to the world around him, Gotrek Gurnisson becomes a prime target for the vengeful Slyvaneth. Can the bold riders of the Freeguild Cavaliers reach the stricken baggage train containing the blacked-out Slayer before the forest warriors do?

For those of a certain vintage, they will remember Gotrek (with Felix) as being key adventurers within the Warhammer World (that was). Well, Gotrek is now in the mortal realms of Age of Sigmar and – whilst I don’t think he should be there (he isn’t a god.. really!) – it does give David Guymer a perfect opportunity to explore the Realms through the eyes of someone who only knew the Old World – much like the reader.

Since the proper introduction of humans to the Age of Sigmar setting in the guise of the Freeguild, the Realms are also being fleshed out well, and there is a faction that we (humans…) can consider ours – which is important for story telling.

In this short story, we don’t see Gotrek much – he is instead the basis of an excuse for a story – rather than the main character within it.

And David Guymer does well here – sure it’s short, but there is a little character development here, some enemies, a short battle and an heroic rescue (maybe not in the that order)… and I lost myself for 30 minutes reading it. So I think he got it near perfect!

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Visage

March 10, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

A Horus Heresy short-story by Rich McCormick

Visage was released in 2023 but re-released in the free ‘Black Library Celebration 2025’ anthology available in English, German & French either from a local Warhammer store or free from Black Library with most purchases.

This coincides with World Book Day (6th March), as as avid readers ourselves we will be marking this occasion by reviewing all 4 stories in the anthology – and encouraging reading of course!

From the book:

Following the Battle of Signus Prime, the indignation shown by Erebu, Dark Apostle of the Word Bearers, is met with brutal retribution from Warmaster Horus. After having his tattooed visage flayed from his skull, Erebus seeks the power of the the avatars of Chaos to restore his faith in the Dark Gods.

If you like your Grim Dark fiction to be very Dark and exceedingly Grim then this is one is definitely for you. Having someone flay the skin from your skull would kill most mortals, but Space Marines are made of stern stuff, and Erebus even more so.

Rich McCormick does well to show the insidious power and questions of the Dark Gods, as well as Erebus’ communications and discussions with them and – ultimately – where Erebus feels he fits within the Heresy of Horus.

However this is a strange story to chose for the first in this anthology (and indeed inclusion in it at all). World Book Day tends to be aimed at younger listeners and whilst this anthology isn’t directly related to that, it is released along the same time. To be fair to the chaps at the Warhammer store where I picked mine up he did say I probably shouldn’t be reading it to my daughter (2) who was with me at the time… so points there; but overall a strange inclusion in a taster set that parents may be picking up for their kids to see what the setting is about.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Rogal Dorn: The Emperor’s Crusader

March 6, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

Horus Heresy Primarchs #16 by Gav Thorpe

The 16th Primarch novel (novella) takes us to the Imperial Fists and their Primarch – Rogal Dorn.

From the book:

As the Great Crusade enters its sixth decade, the fleets and armies of the Emperor spear out into the galaxy to bring the Imperial Truth to thousands of worlds. Expansion has been swift, but must now be tempered with consolidation. Even so, the Emperor demands that the boundaries of the Imperium be pushed further into the unknown.

The Master of Mankind tasks four primarchs with the dangerous mission of securing the worlds of the Occluda Noctis – hundreds of star systems on the far side of the Northern Major Warp Storm, whose warp-churning presence casts a shadow on the guiding light of the Astronomican and blinds even the Emperor’s psychic sight. Rogal Dorn leads his Imperial Fists directly into the heart of this cosmic twilight. Isolated, battling a foe the likes of which nobody has encountered before, Dorn must use all of his strategic genius and irresistible will to conquer the darkness in the name of the Emperor.

Not many of the books in the Horus Heresy have four Primarchs, and even fewer of the Novellas so it strange that the author has chosen to do this for a book pertaining to be about one Primarch.

Dorn clashes with Lion El’Jonson about how to fulfil the Emperor’s commands and how to bring The Night Crusade to a successful conclusion. The Lion does not come out well in these discussions, and Dorn definitely comes across as the ‘better’ Primarch (by which I mean more competent and able to lead his men).

Dorn leads his fleet and Chapter into the darkness of The Night Crusade and is able to outflank, and out plan his enemy, despite them having a seemingly impossible ability to navigate between star systems without going through the Mandeville Points.

Dorn uses all the resources at his disposal, augmenting his Navigators with his Librarians to break through the long night.

I very much enjoyed how everything tied together, although the battle sequences are much shorter than other books and the novella format was perhaps too short for the story that Gav Thorpe wanted to tell. But all that said, it is a very good addition to the Primarchs series.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Lion El’Jonson: Lord of the First

February 27, 2025 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

Horus Heresy Primarchs #13 by David Guymer

The 13th Primarch novel (novella) takes us to the Dark Angels and their Primarch – Lion El’Jonson.

From the book:

Each primarch is an exemplary being, derived from the Emperor’s own genetic stock to embody a facet of His personality. Their powers are unfathomable, but only one of them is the First. Lion El’Jonson is the paragon of what it is to be a primarch. His Legion, pre-eminent for most of their long history, typify the virtues of temperance, pride, and martial excellency that the Lion embodies. They are the Emperor’s last line and final sanction. They are His Dark Angels.

Now, while the Emperor gathers His mightiest sons for an assault on Ullanor Prime, the Lord of the First instead draws his Legion to the farthest reaches of the known galaxy, seeking to subdue a single rebellious world. Is this but another example of the Lion’s infamous pride, or is there more afoot amidst that graveyard of empires that is the Ghoul Stars, more than the Lion will share even with his own sons?

One of my favourite things in the novella’s and books of the Horus Heresy is hearing about the different alien species the Emperor’s sons meet alien species that will never appear in a rulebook and will never have miniatures. This freedom allows the authors to explore alien species without limitation.

The enemies facing Lion El’Jonson and his Dark Angels are facing the Khrave who are able to take over the minds of weaker species… but in the Dark Angels – and The Lion – they may have finally met their match.

The Khrave are well written, spooky and scary and use psyker powers in some extreme ways – they definitely add peril to the book as the human elements of the Dark Angels fleet and Imperium army cannot be trusted to stand alongside the Space Marines – and so they must fight the enemy – and those members of the fleet/army taken over by the Khrave – on their own.

Guymer also throws in scenes between the Lion and the Emperor – it is always interested to read above the Emperor in these books – and this definitely adds flavour to the Dark Angel’s Primarch…

However the way they kill the Khrave – using weapons only they have access to – is characterful but always leaves the question ‘why not against Horus then…?’ and this is a question I found difficult to overlook.

Overall it’s a good book, with a well written and described enemy which is let down a bit by a disappointing ending.

— Declan & Eeyore

From the Book

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From the Book

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