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Just finished the latest Warhammer Horror set in AoS, Dark Harvest by Josh Reynolds.

Was a very atmospheric, gritty look at a very dark corner of the Mortal Realms and whats sleeping there(but waking up) .

In this case, that dark corner is a rundown decrepit village (called a canton in novel) that is a minor settlement outside of Greywater Fastness. The novel right from the outset does a great job of giving the reader a good sense of how devastated and dangerous the area outside of the great industrial city is. That area being called Ghoul Mere, which was mentioned in the Sylvaneth and Cities of Sigmar battletomes. It also paints a good portrait of how the Sylvaneth fought back to the point where there is only 1 route in/out of the city. The Sylvaneth that live in that polluted morass are particularly cruel and are constantly trying to get travelers to do 2 things: stray from the allotted path to be killed, or goad the travelers to violate the uneasy peace that holds sway so they can kill them.

The story is told from the first person perspective of a faithless former warrior priest turned gang enforcer. Throughout the novel we are shown glimpses of who this person was and what they did to lose their faith. His mission, the impetus of the novel, is to tie up one last loose end of that life, killing a former comrade in arms who knows the truth of who the main character is/was. He also can see ghosts, which haunt him in various ways through his journey.
His mission takes him through the aforementioned Ghoul Mere to a town called Wald. Where something just isn’t right, as is the case with isolated towns/villages in these sorts of tales.

Wald is a mostly flooded town with their own customs and is wary of outsiders, if not outright hostile to them. Very quickly you get the sense that Sigmar isn’t the main object of praise in this area. You’re led to believe its Alarielle, given that its in Ghyran, her realm of choice, but its something much darker and it requires sacrifices to wake up. The main character becomes an object of interest very early on to this entity and it starts to stalk him throughout the novel. It even gets into his head and starts speaking with him, taunting him and sometimes praising his chosen prey, revealing truths about what he is. Hint: its a shard of a god that likes to hunt, and its getting stronger, soon to lead its followers on a hunt that the Realm of Life and Mortal Realms has never seen. Like so bad, that the Sylvaneth loyal to Alarielle don’t want it to happen.

After the obligatory double crosses, betrayals and shocking reveals towards the end of the novel, we’re left with an ending that kind of took me unawares. I expected something dark, and it very much was, but it opened up alot of possibilities for future Warhammer Horror stories involving the main character. I’m very much looking forward to those stories.

This is going to be the next book I am going to grab, going by your review and Josh reynold's content, I am quite excited since he is a horror fan.

Josh reynolds is one of the world builders - along with a few others has put soe great meat on the bones.

Enjoyed this alot.

 Mr Morden wrote:
Josh reynolds is one of the world builders - along with a few others has put soe great meat on the bones.

Enjoyed this alot.

That's great to hear I was somewhat dissapointed with court of the blind king.

For anyone else that read this, I got a question or two:

 nels1031 wrote:
For anyone else that read this, I got a question or two:

Spoiler:

What was the event that led the main character to lose it and kill the Arch Lector? It seemed like some infighting amongst Sigmarites (humans, not Stormcast) either through corruption or deception, right? I'm planning to re-read the novel, but I must not have processed how everything went to gak for him in his previous profession, as it is only dealt with in short memories and dreams and I could never piece it all together exactly. I'd buy the book that dealt with that event and the Lord-Veritants interrogation afterwards, personally.

Glad I'm not the only one then. I guess it was ambiguous/vague so it can be explored in later entries, if we're fortunate enough to get some more.

 Mr Morden wrote:
Josh reynolds is one of the world builders - along with a few others has put soe great meat on the bones.

Enjoyed this alot.

I'm about half-way through it. Definitely like the world building, particularly the way the 'City of Sigmar' is kind of an irrelevance. Its a big place, but the novel presents it as the the centerpiece of a larger nation that expanded outward long ago, with old customs that don't mesh with all the shiny Sigmarite that marred the AoS launch. Its the kind of worldbuilding AoS desperately needed from the start.

Voss wrote:

 Mr Morden wrote:
Josh reynolds is one of the world builders - along with a few others has put soe great meat on the bones.

Enjoyed this alot.

I'm about half-way through it. Definitely like the world building, particularly the way the 'City of Sigmar' is kind of an irrelevance. Its a big place, but the novel presents it as the the centerpiece of a larger nation that expanded outward long ago, with old customs that don't mesh with all the shiny Sigmarite that marred the AoS launch. Its the kind of worldbuilding AoS desperately needed from the start.

Spear of Shadows is good at it as well if you have not read - loads of great seeds - sadly does not seem to be doing a sequal.

 nels1031 wrote:
For anyone else that read this, I got a question or two:

Spoiler:

What was the event that led the main character to lose it and kill the Arch Lector? It seemed like some infighting amongst Sigmarites (humans, not Stormcast) either through corruption or deception, right? I'm planning to re-read the novel, but I must not have processed how everything went to gak for him in his previous profession, as it is only dealt with in short memories and dreams and I could never piece it all together exactly. I'd buy the book that dealt with that event and the Lord-Veritants interrogation afterwards, personally.

I took it as


Anyway, finally finished it, liked it, largely. Would have like a few more loose ends at the finale, but its definitely set up for sequel bait.


My biggest complaint would be that the Sylvaneth seem like an absolutely unworkable kind of crazy. As in 'Forces of Destruction' kind of crazy, with no way to get them to go along with Order.
Some of the worst of it seems to be attached to that specific area, but even along the roads elsewhere in the Fastness at the beginning, they seem to be hostile lunatics.

Voss wrote:

 nels1031 wrote:
For anyone else that read this, I got a question or two:

Spoiler:

What was the event that led the main character to lose it and kill the Arch Lector? It seemed like some infighting amongst Sigmarites (humans, not Stormcast) either through corruption or deception, right? I'm planning to re-read the novel, but I must not have processed how everything went to gak for him in his previous profession, as it is only dealt with in short memories and dreams and I could never piece it all together exactly. I'd buy the book that dealt with that event and the Lord-Veritants interrogation afterwards, personally.

I took it as

Spoiler:

The arch lector was sacrificing people (burning them alive in cages) to deliver more souls that could be reforged as Sigmarines). The specifics are unclear, but I think the fire is what spurs him to act, not the caged people burning because he acted. I think. Blacwood also suggests that he thought Sigmar would approve of his actions, but feels now that Sigmar approved more of the other option.

Something that particularly interested me was one of the Sylvaneth taunt him about losing his abilities (in vague terms about storms and lightning), and that left him hollow inside. Wasn't sure if that had to do with losing warrior priest abilities or something... more. I didn't really think so, since his former uniform was pretty normal, but there is a lot thats left untold

Anyway, finally finished it, liked it, largely. Would have like a few more loose ends at the finale, but its definitely set up for sequel bait.


My biggest complaint would be that the Sylvaneth seem like an absolutely unworkable kind of crazy. As in 'Forces of Destruction' kind of crazy, with no way to get them to go along with Order.
Some of the worst of it seems to be attached to that specific area, but even along the roads elsewhere in the Fastness at the beginning, they seem to be hostile lunatics.

Arguably thats because their forest has been turned into a polluted marshland and warzone - some are likely insane, others just filled with anger and hatred, its not much different to what the forces of Nurgle have done to much of their Realm. There is a ceasefire but I don't think it can last.

 Mr Morden wrote:

Voss wrote:

 nels1031 wrote:
For anyone else that read this, I got a question or two:

Spoiler:

What was the event that led the main character to lose it and kill the Arch Lector? It seemed like some infighting amongst Sigmarites (humans, not Stormcast) either through corruption or deception, right? I'm planning to re-read the novel, but I must not have processed how everything went to gak for him in his previous profession, as it is only dealt with in short memories and dreams and I could never piece it all together exactly. I'd buy the book that dealt with that event and the Lord-Veritants interrogation afterwards, personally.

I took it as

Spoiler:

The arch lector was sacrificing people (burning them alive in cages) to deliver more souls that could be reforged as Sigmarines). The specifics are unclear, but I think the fire is what spurs him to act, not the caged people burning because he acted. I think. Blacwood also suggests that he thought Sigmar would approve of his actions, but feels now that Sigmar approved more of the other option.

Something that particularly interested me was one of the Sylvaneth taunt him about losing his abilities (in vague terms about storms and lightning), and that left him hollow inside. Wasn't sure if that had to do with losing warrior priest abilities or something... more. I didn't really think so, since his former uniform was pretty normal, but there is a lot thats left untold

Anyway, finally finished it, liked it, largely. Would have like a few more loose ends at the finale, but its definitely set up for sequel bait.


My biggest complaint would be that the Sylvaneth seem like an absolutely unworkable kind of crazy. As in 'Forces of Destruction' kind of crazy, with no way to get them to go along with Order.
Some of the worst of it seems to be attached to that specific area, but even along the roads elsewhere in the Fastness at the beginning, they seem to be hostile lunatics.

Arguably thats because their forest has been turned into a polluted marshland and warzone - some are likely insane, others just filled with anger and hatred, its not much different to what the forces of Nurgle have done to much of their Realm. There is a ceasefire but I don't think it can last.

Yup, Sylvaneth aren't nice. There are reasons why spite revenant groves exist. Also the book is awesome, I hope this turns into a series where Blackwood deals with the creepy and messed up parts of the realms. What I really enjoyed about this book was the display of the bad side of order.

shinros wrote:
. Also the book is awesome, I hope this turns into a series where Blackwood deals with the creepy and messed up parts of the realms.

Yeah, I'm hoping the same, and I hope they keep the focus on the less savory parts of the Order pantheon.

 nels1031 wrote:

shinros wrote:
. Also the book is awesome, I hope this turns into a series where Blackwood deals with the creepy and messed up parts of the realms.

Yeah, I'm hoping the same, and I hope they keep the focus on the less savory parts of the Order pantheon.

Indeed, but I wouldn't mind exploring each in general. After all, destruction has some really creepy gods Josh can work with.

shinros wrote:

 nels1031 wrote:

shinros wrote:
. Also the book is awesome, I hope this turns into a series where Blackwood deals with the creepy and messed up parts of the realms.

Yeah, I'm hoping the same, and I hope they keep the focus on the less savory parts of the Order pantheon.

Indeed, but I wouldn't mind exploring each in general. After all, destruction has some really creepy gods Josh can work with.

To its credit AoS has not pretended that the Pantheon of Order are the good guys - they are just the less worse Gods. Even back in the glory days Age of Myth it has Nagash, Sotek, Morathi(acting as Khaines voice) , Malerion and others.....

 Mr Morden wrote:

shinros wrote:

 nels1031 wrote:

shinros wrote:
. Also the book is awesome, I hope this turns into a series where Blackwood deals with the creepy and messed up parts of the realms.

Yeah, I'm hoping the same, and I hope they keep the focus on the less savory parts of the Order pantheon.

Indeed, but I wouldn't mind exploring each in general. After all, destruction has some really creepy gods Josh can work with.

To its credit AoS has not pretended that the Pantheon of Order are the good guys - they are just the less worse Gods. Even back in the glory days Age of Myth it has Nagash, Sotek, Morathi(acting as Khaines voice) , Malerion and others.....

Oh yes I agree. I can clearly see why people would choose to follow Nagash or Chaos. It's also obvious why they prosper considering how the Order factions does things.

Yeah, I think the more general problem is that too often they've been shown as not particularly 'less worse.'

The don't have to shown constantly as '100% noble good,' but often they (or their followers) come off as mass-murderers with soul stealing tendencies.

Blackwood's attitude is pretty reasonable, and the setting is hard pressed to explain how mortals benefit from gods at all.

Voss wrote:
Yeah, I think the more general problem is that too often they've been shown as not particularly 'less worse.'

The don't have to shown constantly as '100% noble good,' but often they (or their followers) come off as mass-murderers with soul stealing tendencies.

Blackwood's attitude is pretty reasonable, and the setting is hard pressed to explain how mortals benefit from gods at all.

That's the interesting thing though Nagash is the stark opposite. Yes, he is a meglomaniac but if some heretics burn down your village and kill your friends Nagash will likely wreck them if you pray for revenge.

Why? Because you're his property. An attack on you is an attack on him. That is both good and bad. Nagash is bent towards his path because of his belief that mortals suck in general.

While Sigmar believes that they can self determinate some what, he also thinks that he can defeat chaos. (He can't)