Author Archives: Michael Dodd

QUICK REVIEW – The Black Rift of Klaxus : Assault on the Mandrake Bastion – Josh Reynolds

The first part in an Age of Sigmar mini-series entitled The Black Rift of Klaxus, Josh Reynolds’ Assault on the Mandrake Bastion plays out amidst a grim realm built into the sides of a vast crater, under assault by numerous warrior hosts of the Stormcast Eternals. Lord Celestant Orius Adamantine leads his warriors against the titular Mandrake Bastion and the Khornate forces occupying it, but all the while the chaos warlord known as The Scarlet Lord works to enact a mysterious (and probably fiendish) plan.
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QUICK REVIEW – Ahriman: Hounds of Wrath – John French

Part three of John French’s The Tale of Ctesias from Ahriman: Exodus, and set between Exile and Sorcerer, the short story Hounds of Wrath sees the uneasy pairing of Ctesias and Sanakht tasked with discovering what caused the destruction of one of their ships. As they go looking for answers in the bones and echoes of the ship they instead find daemons on the hunt for Ahriman. Fleeing from this newfound peril they are forced to put their differences aside and work together for once.
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QUICK REVIEW: How The Marquis Got His Coat Back – Neil Gaiman

First published in the Rogues anthology and now available as a pocket-sized little book in its own right, How The Marquis Got His Coat Back sees Neil Gaiman finally return to the London Below of his classic TV series and novel Neverwhere. Here we see the Marquis de Carabas talking his way in and out of trouble in search of his famed coat, along the way visiting the Floating Market and the notorious Shepherd’s Bush, and encountering all manner of dark and dangerous people.
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QUICK REVIEW : Within These Walls – CZ Dunn

Released in late 2015, CZ Dunn’s short story Within These Walls is the third in the ongoing tale of the Dialogus Sister Agentha, a sadly neglected series that seems out of place in the Black Library of today. Following on chronologically from the two previous tales, one of which can be found in the Legion of the Damned Collection (the other as yet only available in an event-only anthology), it finds Agentha called upon by the morally ambiguous Exorcists chapter to translate the text inscribed upon the walls of a daemon’s tomb, with (unsurprisingly) dire consequences.
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QUICK REVIEW – Ahriman: Fortune’s Fool – John French

Part two of John French’s The Tale of Ctesias arc and available exclusively within the Ahriman: Exodus anthology, Fortune’s Fool sees Thousand Sons daemonologist Ctesias documenting the second task he was given upon joining Ahriman’s cabal. When a potential ally arrives bearing the key to finding a safe route out of the Eye of Terror, Ahriman sends Ctesias to greet and negotiate with his former Thousand Sons brother, Ichneumon. Matching his strength and his wits against the newcomer, Ctesias finds himself caught in a typically intricate plan of Ahriman’s, but to what end?
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QUICK REVIEW – Ahriman: The Dead Oracle – John French

In a chronological sense Ahriman: The Dead Oracle is the first short story in John French’s The Tale of Ctesias arc that accompanies and runs through the wider Ahriman series. Set between Exile and Sorcerer we meet daemonologist Ctesias as he first joins Ahriman’s resurgent cabal, taking his place in a mission in that takes him to the domain of Menkaura, the Blind Oracle. Preparing to sully his soul with yet another despicable act, Ctesias soon finds himself in deeper trouble than he expected.
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2015 In Summary

With 2015 rapidly receding into the forgetful distance, now seems as good a time as any to jump on the bandwagon and have a look back at the year that was. Given that 2015 was also the second year that I’ve been posting to the Track of Words blog, it also seems a good opportunity to celebrate another year of book reviews and other ramblings. Keep reading…

QUICK REVIEW : The Wolf Within – Rob Sanders

The Wolf Within is the sixth short story in Black Library’s ongoing Space Wolves serial and the second by Rob Sanders, picking up where The Darkness of Angels left off. With the help of his Dark Angel allies Krom Dragongaze has made it off Commorragh, and before long sees Ulrik the Slayer arrive to return him to his chapter. Despite initial hostilities the Wolves and the Angels soon find themselves united in purpose, tracking down a traitor Marine who might hold a clue to Logan Grimnar’s location.
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QUICK REVIEW : The Darkness of Angels – Rob Sanders

The fifth title in Black Library’s Space Wolves serial sees Rob Sanders get involved with his short story The Darkness of Angels. We last saw Krom Dragongaze fighting for survival in the arenas of Commoragh and that’s where we find him here, battling against all manner of monstrosity and forced to accept help from a Dark Angel, of all people, in order to survive. With time running out for the Marines, can Krom and his new allies find a way to escape?
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QUICK REVIEW : The Silence – Steve Lyons

Black Library’s Deathwatch serial continues with The Silence, Steve Lyons’ second contribution, in which Raven Guard Edryc Setorax puts his stealth skills to use on an eldar exodite world. Leaving his Deathwatch brothers to their own devices and infiltrating deep into enemy territory, he plys his lone (and deadly) trade in pursuit of intelligence on the enemy’s movements and the opportunity to strike a grave blow for the Imperium of Man.
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