Category Archives: Black Library

Black Library, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Cadia Stands

January 14, 2022 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

By Justin D Hill

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This week our book review returns to the world of Warhammer 40k and the cutting edge of the ongoing story – the Fall of Cadia!

The problem with Galaxy defining novels, which include a major change in the story, is that they are difficult to write. There are so many characters to include, so many people who are very likely to die, and a bad guy – Abaddon – throwing a space station at a planet…

Hill makes a good stab at bringing together the story of the Fall of Cadia and the attack of Abaddon, but it is too much for one book… starting on the planet with Cadian regiments returning, it takes the reader through the initial attacks, the orbital fights, the invasion of the Black Legion, the fall of Cadia, the flight and start of New Cadia… phew.

A good attempt, but ultimately the scope was just too grand, I struggled to follow the story (and I’ve read the crib-notes from other Warhammer 40k publications), and I’m a fan of the setting. Definitely not one that casual readers will be wanting to pick up.

— Declan

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Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Gitslayer

November 12, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 1 Comment

By Darius Hinks

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

The Bad Moon is rising and Gotrek Gurnisson once again finds himself in the middle of the action, fighting his greatest enemies and trying to find his doom – although in the Age of Sigmar – his doom finding is a little more limited and currently is based around him wanting to remove the Fyreslayer rune from his chest.

The latest in a (very) long series of books!

Darius Hinks has once again been given the job of adding to the saga of Gotrek and his new companion – Maleneth Witchblade (an Aelf). If you read my review of Dominion, you will know that I like his writing, and this novel is no exception. This being a Warhammer Age of Sigmar novel I’m not pretending that it is a classic to rival some fantasy epics from yesteryear but it is a good fun yarn, with plenty of combat, some character development for Gotrek, Duardin and (more importantly than all that…) Gitz!

It won’t surprise regular readers to hear that I love the Gitz (Goblins) since I started Warhammer Fantasy Battle back in the late <cough> 1980s. Since then the little goblins (or Grobbi to Gotrek) have seen new developments, have conquered the World’s End Mountains, made Scrappa-spill and started to control the Bad Moon… all while worshiping Mork (or possibly Gork). And it is great to have them here.

The Gotrek books often spend a large number of pages building character and giving background to the ‘Big Bad’ of the book and Gitslayer is, fortunately, no exception. Unlike Dominion where the Kruleboyz were only seen from the viewpoint of the humans and Stormcast, or Gloomspite where the Gitz got limited ‘screen time’, Gitslayer puts them front and centre.

There are descriptions of mushrooms, magic, bottles, potions, squigs and, of course, the Bad Moon itself; all coming together to threaten the Kharadron Overlords who have promised to help Gotrek remove the rune from his chest. These descriptions are fabulous and I won’t spoil any of the fun of reading them for the first time, but if you like Gitz this is a great book and succeeds where Gloomspite failed.

The main character remains Gotrek, but we know how it is going to end, as he searches for his Doom, or Felix, or both. We know he’ll upset some locals, get drunk and then save the day… but still we read for the journey. And Gitslayer delivers on this journey.

Love it!

— Declan

Black Library, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Belisarius Cawl – The Great Work

November 6, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 2 Comments

By Guy Hayley

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

For those who remember the classic boxset – RTB01 – they will know that scale creep for the 25mm to 28mm to 28mm heroic Warhammer 40k left Space Marines looking a little too small… so what to do with all these kits?

RTB01 – My first space marines and the reason for my love of Beakies!

Step forward Belisarius Cawl, and the Primaris Space Marines… this is his story!

Cawl’s had a huge impact on Warhammer 40k … and model design!

Belisarius Cawl has created the Primaris Astartes (Space Marines) in order to combat the threats to the Imperium of Man. This book gives background for Cawl from the time of the Heresy to the present day (41st Millenium), and his relationships with his followers and Primarch Roboute Guilliman.

A good, fast paced story set in two monumental times in the Warhammer universe. It is interesting to see the growth of the Cawl character – with his single-mindedness – and the group he has created and brought around him. Off-set against this is the story of his first realisation that the Imperium needs more assistance, and that he is the one to provide that assistance – by improving on the Emperor’s work.

It is good fun to occasionally read stories about the characters behind the epoch changing / making moments in the 41st Millenium and Haley brings the character to life, as well as giving some threat in the back story, and running both stories at the same time.

— Declan

Black Library, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Fahrenheit 451

October 29, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 1 Comment

By Ray Bradbury

A departure from Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Age of Sigmar reading, but in what may become a semi regular diversion in the Book Review series, I will be reviewing Fahrenheit 451 today. It’s a book that many of you will have heard of, and it’ll be on the required reading of some school curriculum’s but I only first read it in 2016… and again recently.

Published many times over the 50 years since it was published, this cover is an evocative view of the book!

Set in a near future world where books are banned and firemen no longer protect life and property, but burn any books which are found. Enter Montag a fireman who is part of a family of book burners.

A huge novel in America, not quite so important this side of the pond – perhaps as we didn’t have McCarthy-ism on this side of the pond – but poignant none the less. It’s never too late to read a classic novel especially a science fiction one which has been adopted by the mainstream, and it’s easy to see why it remains popular.

The stark warnings are as clear today as they were fifty years – perhaps even more so as we lose books, and embrace 24 hour television and films. A great though provoking piece leaving as many questions opened as answered…

… I suppose the only issue being that I read it on an ebook… what would Mr Bradbury think of that I wonder – I hope he would be happy we were still reading – so however you get it – paperback, audio or ebook as I did – I hope you enjoy it!

— Declan

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – The Lost and the Damned

October 22, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 1 Comment

Book 2 The Siege of Terra by Guy Hayley

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

Guy Hayley returns to the Horus Heresy in the second book from the Siege of Terra. This is the follow on series from Black Library and was made as a great ‘drop in’ point for those who lost track of the Horus Heresy series. I previously reviewed book 1, which can be found here.

From the book:

With the solar defences overcome through the devastating strength of the Traitor armada and the power of the warp, Horus launches his assault on the Throneworld in earnest. After withstanding a ferocious barrage of ordnance, an immense ground war commences outside the Palace with every inch gained paid for in the lives of billions.

On the thirteenth day of Secundus, the bombardment of Terra began… With the solar defences overcome through the devastating strength of the Traitor armada and the power of the warp, Horus launches his assault on the Throneworld in earnest. After withstanding a ferocious barrage of ordnance, an immense ground war commences outside the Palace with every inch gained paid for in the lives of billions. The front lines are beyond horrific and the very air is reduced to poison and blood. Bodies are thrown into the meatgrinder but the outer redoubts cannot possibly hold for long, even with the loyal primarchs to reinforce them. For Horus has his own generals to call upon… Between the plague weapons of Mortarion and the fury of Angron, the defenders face a losing battle.

The Lost and the Damned includes the three Primarchs defending Terra from Horus and the attacks from Mortarion and Angron. Guy Hayley continues to tie together the threads of the battle, and as this book is based on Terra it is much easier to follow than Book 1 (which concentrated on the battle for the Sol system).

Sanguinius also makes his first appearance at the Siege, ignoring his brother Dorn’s instructions to stay behind the Wall, and going out to take the fight to the Heretics. His presence rallies the defenders and brings them hope that victory may be achieved… his appearance is great from a personal point of view, as I collect Blood Angels!

And similarly to much of the Horus Heresy series there are stories of ordinary defenders either from Astra Militarum regiments or from local PDFs.

A really good second book in the series – and definitely leaving me wanting to read the rest!

— Declan

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop, Sci-Fi

Book Review – The Solar war

September 5, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 3 Comments

by John French

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

The Solar War is the beginning of the end in the epic Horus Heresy series from Black Library.

With the Horus Heresy reaching 54 books, countless short stories and novellas I admit to finding it difficult to keep up-to-date with the storyline – and I read a lot, and have known the story since I was 11! As such, it was a great decision to ‘restart’ the series numbering to allow readers to get back on track with the ‘Siege of Terra’ series.

Horus’ fleet has arrived at Sol and must get to the Emperor’s palace on Terra – fortified by Dorn – but first he must fight through the remaining loyal fleet of the Emperor.

The book returns to some of the characters from the start of the series – Mersadie & Logan – and is was fun to read their story of the start of the invasion.

The book includes mass space battles, many (many) deaths as the loyalists attempt to slow down Horus’ treachery.

I did struggle at times with the number and names of the ships many introduced to be destroyed and I did sometimes have to re-read a passage to work out if a destroyed ship was loyalist or traitor. Although they have restarted the numbering, it is difficult to see how anyone who is new to the lore could understand what is happening in the story. Definitely a book for those already invested in the Heresy – although fine if you’ve not read all the previous books.

The pace feels significantly quicker than the rest of the series, so don’t expect another 50 books for the Siege of Terra, but I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

A promising start to the Siege…

— Declan & Eeyore

Age of Sigmar, Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Fantasy, Games Workshop

Book Review – Gloomspite

September 4, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 3 Comments

by Andy Clark

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

I really wanted to love this book. In theory it has everything that appeals to me. Fantasy, set in the new Age of Sigmar world, staring the Goblins (Grots) who were my first army and still grace the wargaming table for me. Unfortunately, it fell down and I think it’s to do with the marketing and editor and not the author – which is even more of a shame.

The book follows a group of mercenaries – Swords of Sigmar – who warn the militia of Draconium about an impending disaster. Unfortunately they don’t know what the disaster is, except it will come from below.

The Swords and the characters in Draconium and well written, interesting characters – with an equal mix of women & men (the characters genders are not relevant to the story, but after so many male fantasy books, this is welcome relief – well done Andy Clark) – and a fun story. 4* for the author.

However, the book’s title in ‘Gloomspite’ and this was released at the same time as the army book. All other races get a book from Black Library with their army as the heroes (or anti-heroes); the Gloomspite (Grots) get a story where humans are the heroes and they are the peril. I know that they are ‘destruction’ but that is no reason to not get a story expanding the reader’s knowledge of the Gitz. I realise it is difficult to write from the point of view of destruction armies, but with the vast world available in Age of Sigmar, it must surely be easier than other fantasy settings. 2* for marketing & editing.

Okay, but not really about Gitz!

— Declan & Eeyore

Age of Sigmar, Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Dominion

September 3, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 5 Comments

by Darius Hinks

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

Straight off, I want to say this – if you’re just after a story from the Warhammer Age of Sigmar this is a fine book, well written with an interesting underlying story.

However, I picked it up because it was the companion book to the recent release of Age of Sigmar 3, which is the first edition to have Destruction (one of the Age of Sigmar factions) as well as the Stormcast. As such, I’m looking forward to more expansion of the history and background of the Destruction races – especially the new Kruleboyz released in the boxed set…

… Unfortunately this book didn’t achieve this. There was the (now reasonably common) Black Library usage of a human as the main character to make them more relatable – in this case a brother and sister whose father had been killed by Orruks (Orcs) before they escaped to Excelsis (a very large city in Ghur – the Realm of Beasts). If you’re not into Warhammer I’ve made this sound a bit confusing, but you can honestly read this book with no knowledge of the background.

The Realm of Ghur becomes one of the things that the siblings must overcome and they encounter monsters not released by Games Workshop (Kraken), and some that have (Kraken Eater Gargant), on their Crusade. If this is familiar to those who have read the Age of Sigmar rule book, it’s because Crusades are a new way to play the game… all good so far.

But… the story revolves around the brother (Niksar), with his sister being relegated to a supporting role. This is unfortunate given the need for Warhammer to appeal to more women readers and gamers, and missed a perfect opportunity in a big release book.

And then my biggest complaint – there is a little background on the Stormcast from the box, but the Kruleboyz (Orruks) only make an appearance late and are hidden behind their mist, only appearing to attack and then be attacked by the Stormcast. There was little development for them and – as they are a new race – I expected a lot more. It’s about time Black Library released some books from the perspective of the ‘bad guys’ which we know they can do, but which is sadly lacking for the new army – and indeed all the Destruction forces.

Disappointing

— Declan & Eeyore

Woeful Wargaming