QUICK REVIEW: Waking the Dragon – Josh Reynolds

Billed as a Warhammer Chronicles story, Josh Reynolds’ Waking the Dragon is a previously unreleased tale of the World-That-Was, and which was originally written as part of the End Times series. The once-powerful Heinrich Kemmler, otherwise known as the Lichemaster, is in dire need of allies. Harried at every turn by the tenacious Duke Tancred, and accompanied only by the ancient wight Krell, Kemmler turns in desperation to the cursed Blood Keep where he hopes to raise an army and gather his strength. The ancient fortress is no longer abandoned, however, and Kemmler’s destiny might not be what he expected.

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Taker of Heads – Ian St. Martin

Taker of Heads is a 70 (ish) minute Mortifactors audio drama which sees Ian St. Martin return to the character of Adoni from his short story Deathwatch: Swordwind. This time it’s a story of Adoni’s youth, as he and his fellow neophytes are deployed to the jungle world of Aztlan to aid the embattled, outclassed Imperial Guard in their fight against the cunning t’au. There’s more at stake for Adoni than just defeating the t’au however, as this mission offers him the opportunity to prove himself a taker of heads, and earn his name and his place within the Chapter.

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Blood of Iax – Robbie MacNiven

Robbie MacNiven returns to the characters introduced in his short story A Brother’s Confession with the novel Blood of Iax, a Dark Imperium-era Ultramarines story featuring a Primaris-only strike force. Blood brothers Kastor and Polixis – Chaplain and Apothecary respectively – are part of Strike Force Fulminata, and are taking the fight to the invading orks on Ikara IX when the tide turns and Imperial forces hurriedly go on the defensive. The arrival of ork warlord Urgork changes everything, especially as his objectives go beyond simply finding the biggest scrap possible – the canny Urgork has a plan, and it involves Polixis.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Interrogation of Salvor Lermentov – Chris Wraight

Chris Wraight’s short audio drama The Interrogation of Salvor Lermentov is a direct sequel to his excellent novel Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne, and as such is somewhat spoilerific (even in its title). It’s a dialogue-heavy two-hander, as Inquisitor Crowl and the captive traitor Salvor Lermentov – voiced by John Banks and David Seddon respectively – match wits in a surprisingly civilised manner. There are no thumbscrews here, just impassioned arguments as two men, both loyal and dedicated in their own way, debate doctrine, history, and the state of the Imperium.

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Priest of Bones – Peter McLean

Peter McLean’s fourth novel, Priest of Bones is the first in a ‘grimdark fantasy’ series featuring crime lords, turf wars, secret police and the effects of PTSD on veteran ex-soldiers. Having survived the horrors of Abingon, Tomas Piety – once a ‘businessman’, now an army priest – returns to his home city of Ellinburg to retake his position, and his streets. What he finds there are businesses taken over in his absence, streets no longer safe for the people living in them, and a new war brewing that promises to be as dark and harrowing as the one he’s just returned from.

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RAPID FIRE: Guy Haley Talks Prophets of Waaagh!

Welcome to this instalment of Rapid Fire, my ongoing series of quick interviews with Black Library authors talking about their new releases. These are short and sweet interviews, with the idea being that each author will answer (more or less) the same questions – by the end of each interview I hope you will have a good idea of what the new book (or audio drama) is about, what inspired it and why you might want to read or listen to it.

In this instalment I spoke to Guy Haley (for the third week in a row!) about his latest 40k audio drama, Prophets of Waaagh!, which contains three short audios (previously released in MP3-only format) all rolled up into a single package. It’s available to order right now via Black Library and also Audible, and it’s brilliant fun!

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QUICK REVIEW: The Emperor’s Wrath – Steven B Fischer

Steve B Fischer’s debut Black Library story, The Emperor’s Wrath is a story of three civilians caught between their world’s corrupt local militia and the vengeful Imperial Guard. As a child, Caius watched the Emperor’s Wrath murder his parents during a brutal rebellion. Growing up in the ruins of his world, trying to look after his younger siblings, he’s become embittered by what he sees as the Imperium’s abandonment of his world. When Imperial forces return he sees little distinction between them and the militia, but it’s not long before he finds himself forced to choose a side.

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Black Library Weekender 2018 – A Survival Guide

The 2018 Black Library Weekender is rapidly approaching, and it promises to be a great weekend at the Nottingham Belfry (3rd and 4th November, in case you were wondering). I’ve been to all of the Black Library Weekenders so far, and a few of the Horus Heresy Weekenders too, so I’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect – barring surprises, at least. There’s going to be a lot going on, and I find it’s usually best to try and plan ahead and get organised before the event kicks off. In this article I’m going to take a look at the sort of preparations you might want to think about, and offer some suggestions for how to get the most out of the event.

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QUICK REVIEW: A Common Ground – Mike Brooks

Mike Brooks’ first Necromunda story for Black Library, released before his novella Wanted: Dead, the short story A Common Ground is a tale of pit fighters and blood-sport brutality, but also of careful planning and lasting legacies. Jaxx is a member of House Goliath, and has chosen to make a name for himself fighting in the arena of impresario Drost Khouren rather than work in the foundries. Shortly after discovering that Khouren rigged his last contest, costing him a shot at a lucrative fight, Jaxx is offered an opportunity to claim one last paycheck, but at a high cost.

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