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How do?

So I’m currently ploughing my way through the inaugural volumes of this new imprint. And I for one am impressed. It’s cut straight to the full on Grimdark, but effectively so.

Sure, to a gorehound like myself, and a massive fan of portmanteau films (proud owner of every Amicus entry), the twists aren’t especially subtle. But the stories nicely build the tension and atmosphere.

Yes, I’ve read better. But more importantly, I’ve read far, far worse.

So if you’re sick of ‘good guys win BECAUSE REASONS’ I think you should give this new imprint a whirl. I do not promise you’ll have the same appreciation as I. But I reckon you’ll enjoy it on some level.

Which ones have you read so far?

I just finished the audio trilogy and will be buying the main book, damn it was good, the best story was the female guard one by far, really really enjoyed it, the weakest was the commissar one to me for reasons I won't go into as I want to avoid spoilers, looking forward to reading more.

Excellent to hear some feedback on the new imprints, I’m going to give these stories a go

So far I’m getting through Maledictions, the collection of short stories.

I won’t mention specific plots, because spoilers. But they really do a good job of getting the sheer, inherent horror of the settings across (there’s both AoS and 40k tales)

Now a little over half way through Maledictions, and the quality is if nothing consistent.

It really is delving into the dark and nasty corners of both systems.

I want to check these out but currently still ploughing through the heresy story arc, and theres the konrad novel out next month too..

Sounds great, will add to the shopping list.

I did enjoy the Vampire Genevieve collection from a while back, hopefully similar...

I’d say better.

Genevieve was written before Warhammer was really Warhammer as we know (knew?) it. So there were oddities that prevented me fully enjoying it as a Warhammer tale.

This stuff? Well, it’s definitely atmospheric. And to be honest, AoS being less defined than its predecessor probably helps matters somewhat, as nothing has struck me as ‘but, X’ moment. Hope that makes sense!

Re: Maledictions-

I feel like I'm really jaded when it comes to horror, and almost nothing anymore gets the reaction where I have to put the book down for a second and go, "Man, that's f---ed up."

Peter McClean's 'Predation of the Eagle' got me, though. A+ horror, right there.

Onto the third and final short story of ‘The Wicked and the Damned’.

It’s good. It’s very, very good. It’s 40k on the macro scale. Even if there are better Horror novels out there (let’s face it, much as I’m enjoying this, it is still Black ‘Punk Fiction’ Library publishing), they are most definitely superior 40k stories.

Please folks. Do yourself a favour and cough up the few quid for these two books. I do not guarantee satisfaction, but I do more or less guarantee you won’t feel short changed.

Doubly so if you’re hoping to run a 40k RPG. You know, typing that, that’s exactly what I think is just so damned appealing here. It’s RPG type fiction. No supermen. Not Deus Ex. Just story, and mere mortals caught up in its tides.


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And yes.

Predation of the Eagle is up there among my faves.

Why?

Well, Dear Reader, you’ll just have to find out for yourself. For my lips are sealed.

Im lost, are these a new set of books set within 40k but with a horror twist?

Yup.

Essentially a sub-imprint of Black Library.

Stinkylinky

Only in its infancy, but quite good!

 Ratius wrote:
Im lost, are these a new set of books set within 40k but with a horror twist?

40k and AOS and yep, horror twist and it works very well so far.

First two now done.

What can I say?

Ah. Yes.

Right, onto ‘Perditions Flame’, the first audiobook.

£12 on CD, £9.99 MP3....or £4.99 on iTunes, via Audible.

Should have all this listened to before long.


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Well......that was a pretty excellent tale!

As ever, no spoilers. There’s a lot to enjoy, including Praetorian Guard being now canonically Yorkshire in accent.

And I pretty much guarantee you won’t see the conclusion coming. I didn’t, but it’s good!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Right, onto ‘Perditions Flame’, the first audiobook.

£12 on CD, £9.99 MP3....or £4.99 on iTunes, via Audible.

Should have all this listened to before long.


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Well......that was a pretty excellent tale!

As ever, no spoilers. There’s a lot to enjoy, including Praetorian Guard being now canonically Yorkshire in accent.

And I pretty much guarantee you won’t see the conclusion coming. I didn’t, but it’s good!

Aaaaaaah! I don't like listening to audiobooks (I like controlling my pacing of the story too much), but Praetorian Guard? This may crack me. My beloved pith-helmeted nitwits!

MOAR BOOKS ANNOUNCED!

Slight threadomancy, but a genuine one.

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2019/08/28/a-new-season-of-horror-approaches/

Seems a better release spread, and ideal for long winter nights!

Currently I'm in the middle of The Beast arises, while certainly interesting, it often feels a little too positive about the Imperium. Your 'commercial' here really got me interested. well as A Horrorfan I was interested before, but wasn't sure whether that series would be of high quality. It's much higher on my list now, thank you

 Formosa wrote:
I just finished the audio trilogy and will be buying the main book, damn it was good, the best story was the female guard one by far, really really enjoyed it

What's the title? This sounds like my thing for sure.

I’d say give Maledictions your first whirl.

Being a collection of short stories, it’s easy enough to crack through, and gives a good slice of what the series is like.

Neat, thank you.

Wooooo! SUPER SPOOPY UPDATE!

As we approach Halloween, it’s time to revisit Warhammer Horror - and this time, I’ve snaffled all the short stories.

Again, these are a mix of AoS and 40k, so expect. And as ever, I offer only my thoughts, spoiler free. Please don’t mistake my ramblings for reviews!

Right, time to kick off with the latest one, Runner. Time to read, and I’ll be back soon, I’m sure.


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For extra flavour?

In the pub, on a comfy sofa, next to the open log fire, beer in hand on a rather dull and dreech night.

Pretty much perfect horror story situation.


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Runner was....interesting.

A decent read, but perhaps one for the collected volume rather than bought on its own.

It certainly fits its genre though, and was enjoyable.


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Right.

Blood Sacrifice is next up on my data slate.


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Oooooooooh!

A sequel! To one of the best short stories so far!

All up to date now, barring the three part audio, as that’s coming out as a single release next week, so shall bide my time.

Defo start with Maledictions overall. As a collection of short stories, it offers a decent price for the best selection for those wanting to cut their teeth.

Me again!

Getting through The House of Night and Chain.

It’s good. Very, very good. Lots of atmosphere, and exploring an area of 40k (Planetary Governorship) that I’ve not seen properly covered before.

As it seems you're talking to yourself in the last three posts I just want to say I enjoy reading your short reviews and they definitely make me put them high on my list of stuff to read so, keep them coming.

Try some classics: Poxwalkers outbreak, chaos raptors in the fog or genestealer cult in the underground.

House of Night and Chain is really working for me.

A familiar Gothic Horror haunted house yarn, beautifully inserted into 40k.

True horror? Day in krieg trooper life without siege and trenches!

Some are....but House of Night and Chains is more in the vein of MR James.

But they’re mostly good. And even the ones that didn’t quite grip me are part of anthologies, so no direct loss.