Category Archives: Short Stories

QUICK REVIEW: The Crown of Thorns – Peter Fehervari

Part of the Angels of Death collection of micro-short stories, Peter Fehervari’s The Crown of Thorns is a tale of the Angels Penitent, a lesser-known Chapter with grim origins. Brother-Sergeant Montaig is charged with bringing a young neophyte before the Crown of Thorns, the assembly of Chaplains who preside over the Chapter, to face punishment for sinning against the Penitents’ creed. As he escorts the prisoner through the dishevelled fortress monastery, Montaig’s thoughts dwell on the turning point in his brotherhood’s recent history, and the consequences – for himself, the neophyte and the Chapter as a whole – of their bitter faith.

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QUICK REVIEW: Blacktalon: Hunting Shadows – Andy Clark

Blacktalon: Hunting Shadows is available as either a standalone e-short or featured within the Gods & Mortals anthology.

A tale of Neave Blacktalon, Knight-Zephyros of the Hammers of Sigmar, Hunting Shadows sees Andy Clark explore the Brazen Plains of Aqshy as Blacktalon tracks down an elusive mark which has been devastating settlements in the region. Though she normally operates alone, this time – much to her displeasure – she’s been sent assistance in the form of Knight-Venator Tarion Arlor and a band of Palladors. It’s an ominous sign that Sigmar considers her mission so dangerous as to warrant such support, but as the hunt progresses it becomes clear that she’s going to need all the help she can get.

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QUICK REVIEW: No Honour Among Vermin – CL Werner

This short story is available within Inferno! Volume 2 or as a standalone e-short.

CL Werner has history writing about skaven and it shows in his short story No Honour Among Vermin, a devious tale of brutality and back-stabbing. Fylch Tattertail might not be the biggest or strongest of skaven but what he lacks in physical prowess he makes up in sneakiness. As part of a ramshackle crew of untrustworthy skaven undertaking a daring mission to steal a worryingly dangerous artefact from under the noses of a Chaos cult, he needs all of his cunning in order to play his role in the heist, and live to reap the rewards…such as they are.

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QUICK REVIEW: Force of Personality – David Guymer

Force of Personality is available as either a standalone e-short or featured within the Gods & Mortals anthology.

Many are the tales of Hamilcar Bear-Eater and his fearless exploits; in David Guymer’s short story Force of Personality the Lord-Castellant of the Astral Templars finds himself defending unconventional walls from an enemy he can’t even see. Sent alone to bolster the defences of the pontoon city of Nemisuvik, Hamilcar rails against the unnatural artillery employed by its Khornate besiegers and his inability to tackle them face to face. Waiting out a siege isn’t the Bear-Eater’s strong suit, but it’s going to take something special – something really big – for him to bring his enemies to heel and relieve his boredom.

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QUICK REVIEW: Obsidian – David Annandale

Obsidian is available as either a standalone e-short or featured within the Gods & Mortals short story anthology.

One of a growing number of Neferata stories exploring the political power structures of Nulahmia and the relationship the Mortarch of Blood has with her subjects, David Annandale’s Obsidian is a short but satisfying tale of two houses briefly united in unexpected love. When young lovers Karya Treveign and Evered Halorecht seek Neferata’s blessing for their union, it seems as though the ensuing wedding will bring the long conflict between their houses to a close. It remains to be seen, however, whether their love is as star-crossed and innocent as it appears, and how their families will behave during the wedding ceremony.

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QUICK REVIEW: Turn of the Adder – JC Stearns

This short story is featured in Inferno! Volume 2, which is out now.

For his second Black Library short story, Turn of the Adder, JC Stearns explores a little of the impact that the birth of Ynnead has had upon the drukhari. The wyches of the Jade Labyrinth have turned from the Kabal of the Bladed Lotus and sided with the Ynnari, much to the disgust of the Bladed Lotus’ Archon, K’Shaic, who leads an overwhelming assault against the Ynnari forces. Tasked with a key, if secondary, part of the attack, K’Shaic’s youngest son Naeddre sees an opportunity for advancement (in the drukhari fashion) but soon finds his entire worldview challenged by the Ynnari.

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QUICK REVIEW: Ties of Blood – Jamie Crisalli

This short story is featured in Inferno! Volume 2, which is out now.

The Black Library debut for Jamie Crisalli, Ties of Blood is an action-packed short story exploring the rivalry between the Chaos gods and their champions, and the fickle nature of loyalty for those who follow the dark gods. Slaanesh-worshipper Savrian’s devotion to his absent god(dess) is complete, and he risks his life to rescue his son, long thought lost, from the clutches of Khorne-worshipping warlord Chagorath. His plan is simple – infiltrate the Khornate fortress, find his son and leave with the savage warriors none the wiser. When things don’t quite go to plan, his faith is tested as much as his blade.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Wrath of Khârn – William King

First published in issue 231 of White Dwarf way back in 1999 before being included in 2001’s Dark Imperium anthology, William King’s classic 40k short story The Wrath of Khârn is now available as a standalone e-short. As well as having a pun-tastic title it’s a bloody, all-action story showing Khârn where he’s most comfortable – in the thick of the fighting, claiming skulls for Khorne. As he leads a frontal assault on the walls of a Slaaneshi temple he revels in the slaughter inflicted on his foes, but the decadent temptations of Slaanesh test even the Betrayer’s loyalty to his god.

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QUICK REVIEW: Solace – Steve Lyons

This short story is featured in Inferno! Volume 2, which is out now.

Steve Lyons has written plenty about various Imperial Guard regiments over the years, and with his short story Solace he’s tackled the Mordian Iron Guard in a 40k equivalent of a Wild West tale. Guardsman Maximillian Stürm and the remnants of his squad are lost in the forests of Silva Proxima after a devastating aeldari ambush, wounded and weary, when they stumble upon a backwater village apparently untouched by the xenos. The villagers seem welcoming at first, but Stürm is suspicious of their reasons for living in the forest, how they’ve managed to survive, and what they might be hiding.

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QUICK REVIEW: What Wakes in the Dark – Miles A Drake

This short story is featured in Inferno! Volume 2, which is out now.

Miles A Drake’s second Black Library short story (after 2017’s The Flesh Tithe), What Wakes in the Dark is another dark and sinister story of the Death Spectres, set over a hundred years before the Great Rift opened. After receiving an ominous warning foreshadowing darkness and death, Sergeant Achairas joins his forces with those of radical Inquisitor Astolyev to investigate the sudden loss of contact with a secret Inquisitorial outpost. What they find beneath the surface of Thirsis 41-Alpha is worse than anything they could possibly have imagined, as an ancient alien menace comes to wakefulness…and the rest is pretty much history.

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