Tag Archives: David Annandale

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’!

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— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop

Book Review – Neferata: The Dominion of Bones

July 1, 2022 Declan and Eeyore Leave a comment

by David Annandale

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.

But this is only possible because of our wonderful Patreons. So, some articles over 1 year old will now display our Patreon request at the top of the article… like this one! Don’t worry, we are not adding ads – but if you can afford to donate to the site, we would definitely appreciate it. Membership is available from just £1/month (plus taxes!!)

After a few Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra reviews, I decided to take a break with Age of Sigmar, and what better way than to take a step into Nu-Lahmia.

From the book:

Neferata is besieged. To the east, the daemon prince Graunos gathers the legions of the Blood God, seeking to tear the Mortarch from her throne. To the south, Sigmar’s storm heralds the coming of the Anvils of the Heldenhammer, intent on pressing the God-King’s claim. All the while, an ancient enemy grows, hidden within Neferata’s lands. Never has her power seemed so fragile. But, within the dominion of bones, the Mortarch of Blood controls all, and even the champions of the Dark Gods will find themselves puppets in her schemes.

Black Library have more Warhammer 40k/Warhammer 30k releases than Age of Sigmar, but this is slowly improving this as the Age of Sigmar gets more and more background. However, this is almost back to the Old-World as Neferata (brought back by Nagash) is the main protagonist in the book. But caught between the Heldenhammer (Stormcast) and the Blood God how will she retain control?

Lahmian vampires may not be the best vampires on the table top but they are one of the most interesting narratively. Better suited to an RPG than rolling battlefields these creatures are great centre-pieces whilst they manipulate others. And Nu-Lahmia and Neferata have not changed at all – and it’s great to have the stability of knowing the characters.

David Annandale manages to bring this together with Stormcast and Khorne (with a little Nurgle thrown in for good measure), whilst still ensuring that this remained a book about Neferata. It’s a great read, runs at a good pace and has action throughout. Great fun, and perfect for people wanting to bring Lahmian’s into their Age of Sigmar RPGs.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Games Workshop

Book Review – Beast Arises Books 2-4

October 15, 2021 Declan and Eeyore 1 Comment

Predator, Prey by Rob Sanders; The Emperor Expects by Gav Thorpe; The Last Wall by David Annandale

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.

As mentioned in my previous book review on I Am Slaughter by Dan Abnett, The Beast Arises series is now available in compilation E-books. The first of these – Beast Arises Volume 1 – contains the first four books. If you missed that review it can be found here…

There are some spoilers for later in the series included below… you have been warned!!

If you’re keen to hear my opinion on books 2 – 4 just read on:

Predator, Prey by Rob Sanders

This is a great fun, quick to read addition to the story. The Orks are starting to threaten the security and survivability of the Imperium and the Lords of Terra are starting to believe that this may be a threat they need to engage. It’s unashamedly pulp-fiction but it’s fun pulp!

The Emperor Expects by Gav Thorpe

The Beast Ork invasion is ongoing and threatening the Imperium whilst the High Lords of Terra are being taken over by the Navy… who really need to be killing Orks.

More characters are being introduced, and some expansion on the power, prestige, and inertia of the High Lords of Terra continues to add interesting twists to the story. This is still very much about the Imperium though, and whilst the Orks are the greatest threat since the Horus Heresy, there is little included about them.

A great, fast paced addition to the Beast / Ork Invasion series.

The Last Wall by David Annandale

An Ork moon sits over Terra and the Space Marines designated to guard Holy Terra are destroyed… what’s worse, the Black Templars and other successor chapters of the Imperial Fists are too far away to make it back in time.

The High Lords call on volunteers and the Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) to assault the Ork Attack Moon. With the help of the Imperial Navy, and their transport vessels can they make it through and destroy the Moon?

The fourth in the series – another short novella lengths story – they continue to be interesting stories from the 31st Millenium, but do lack for any overarching peril in the story telling. Whilst people and ships can die, we know that the Imperium eventually overcomes the threat.

Some interesting ideas, and fun set pieces – the first four books are an fun light read.

— Declan

Woeful Wargaming