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Quite enjoying the new(ish) background material in the Dark Elf book. Say what you like about Matt Ward, but he does at least advance the timelines a bit instead of doing a cut and paste from the previous book.

Did Malekith have a girlfriend before or was that something bought in via Gav Thorpe's Sundering novels?

Favourite bit was when the Dark Elves sent emissaries to try and corrupt/influence the Wood Elves. The Asrai listened politely to every word and then walked off without saying anything.

Bit disgruntled to find that the mysterious needle fanged aquatic race who give the Corsairs a bit of grief from time to time don't get much of a mention. Was hoping they'd develop that a bit.

I've seen a bit of lamenting about it around, but in general I don't get the level of some criticism.

I'd agree that the changes to the Dark Elf/Slaanesh situation is a little bit samey with 40K now, I'd always liked the idea that Morathi was using it to her own ends and it kills the memory of the old Storm of Chaos list as well. Although GW has been trying to expunge that from our collective memories for a good while now, still not one hundred percent sure why.

Overall however I like it, the connection to Tyrion with Morathi amuses me, and the little extra bits to detail Malekith's madness are lovely. Loving my Collectors cover as well, Witch Elves for the win.

I found it slighlty dry actually. One of my OCD things with new books is to ALWAYS read the fluff portion of the book before I get to the units which usually puts me a few hours behind the rest of the people that can pose responses.

I found that Morathi got off pretty easy after killing Malekith's love.. supposedly someone that is going to turn him away from his dark path, mom kills her and he's like, "Well, she did it for the best... I'll let it slide." Weak bit of story there.

Does anyone else find it hard to believe that ANY Dark Elf lives much past the age of 50?.. if that old? At the rates that people are getting stabbed in the back and assassinated they seem to be musing their stories too closely to the Skaven, whom after reading this book may seem fairly easy-going.

No one takes the family names but the monikers given to their elder is given to them if they are able to earn the name, strange one here.

I also thought that the end to Dark Elf crusades on the HE soil seemed to be anti-climactic. Then, all of a sudden Malekith gets upset with his armies and they all go away.

Those are a few gripes amongst what overall I feel is a pretty solid bit of fluff. I like "Slaughter Day", it was cool to read about, and some of the other characters have some interesting shadowy stories, like Shadowblade.

 Morathi's Darkest Sin wrote:
I've seen a bit of lamenting about it around, but in general I don't get the level of some criticism.

I'd agree that the changes to the Dark Elf/Slaanesh situation is a little bit samey with 40K now, I'd always liked the idea that Morathi was using it to her own ends and it kills the memory of the old Storm of Chaos list as well. Although GW has been trying to expunge that from our collective memories for a good while now, still not one hundred percent sure why.

Overall however I like it, the connection to Tyrion with Morathi amuses me, and the little extra bits to detail Malekith's madness are lovely. Loving my Collectors cover as well, Witch Elves for the win.

They haven't gone and made Slaanesh the enemy of the elves have they? I like the fact that the eldar have this bit of background as they have always been the creators of Slaanesh but this makes no sense in wfb, especially as there used to be a variant list when the Dark Elves were in fact Slaanesh worshippers instead of Khaine.

Kouran is a badass.

I thought the fluff was pretty good. Nothing over the top, he kept most of the old stuff and the newer material didn't offend me.

Malekith duelling N'Kari was pretty awesome and I'm glad Malekith didn't hold him down and carve his name on the daemon.

I really like the book.

Does anyone else find it hard to believe that ANY Dark Elf lives much past the age of 50?.. if that old? At the rates that people are getting stabbed in the back and assassinated they seem to be musing their stories too closely to the Skaven, whom after reading this book may seem fairly easy-going.

This basically
Dark Elf society is doomed to fail and dwindle rapidly if you believe the way it's written
huge waste of resources and manpower (including waste of "precious" slaves), apparently they don't manufacture anything, so all their equipment is made by untrained unmotivated slave labor (way to go on the quality of the ships / smithing), corruption is rife and you can't trust anyone, any half-skilled dude will get assasinated by rivals ...
They have a dire death rate ...
Basically they're Skaven without the high birth rate (nor the shiny and lustrous fur !)

As I read it I was hoping he'd address the death rate somehow. He made it clear that their worship and sacrifice actually has a palpable response from their gods. Perhaps have it tied into their birth rate somehow.

I thought it would have played well to have the High Elves living stoic altruistic lives on their island as they slide into instinction while across the sea their depraved kin are breeding like rabbits.

I found that Morathi got off pretty easy after killing Malekith's love.. supposedly someone that is going to turn him away from his dark path, mom kills her and he's like, "Well, she did it for the best... I'll let it slide." Weak bit of story there.

Imagine your mom does the same , is the source of support you can be sure of and you are unable to rise the dead. What would you do.
If he caught her red handed or before his babe got killed , then he could do something . After the kill there isn't much things you can do. He ain't going to put his mom in a jail or something.

As I read it I was hoping he'd address the death rate somehow. He made it clear that their worship and sacrifice actually has a palpable response from their gods. Perhaps have it tied into their birth rate somehow.

I somehow doubt that elves have this kind of fertility:
"The gestation period is only 21 days, and litters can number up to 14, although seven is common. They reach sexual maturity in about five weeks"
though that would be one explanation why Wyches are often angry ...

I don't know man, it would explain their clothing choices.