Book Review: The Unforgiven
As I'm quite tired from work and other tasks to properly paint miniatures, I've been doing quite some reading lately, more of its fruits being this book. Third and last book of the Legacy of Caliban, The Unforgiven closes Master of Sanctity and Ravenwing. And how nicely it does!
I might be biased because my main army is Dark Angels, or that the first Warhammer 40,000 books I read were precisely about this chaper, but the way the story unfolds (spoiler beware) after Cypher allows himself to be captured is greatly written. We get to know new secrets and new details not only of the present of the sons of the Lion, but even of their past, all convering on an interesting climax. All of the main characters have their share of action and chapters where they are relevant, among with some lesser soldiers that after past books become more important for the events that happen.
Nice writing, with cliffhangers at the ending of some chapters and switching to other characters so you must keep reading to know the conclussion, quite some action scenes, surprises and plot twists... I've been hooked with reading the book until I finished last night. Definetly recommended for Dark Angel fans.
Tags: Books Warhammer 40000
Book Review: Gods of Mars
Gods of Mars closes the trilogy of Priests of Mars and Lords of Mars. I finally had the time to read it and, while I have enjoyed a lot the full journey, and indeed this third act, this resolution, is good and well written... But I feel left with a taste of "it could be more". Most story arcs get closed, but not all (I won't spoil things, but the book starts with a really interesting "discovery" that is not really used much in the narrative).
The book is full of tension, as many characters in different situations have to resolve sometimes multiple problems, and most events unfold at once, the book jumping from one group of characters to another each few pages. But well done, keeping the tension and usually cliffhangers. Although some battles are quite convenient and some details a bit vague on purpose (to avoid probably impossible scenarios), I enjoyed reading so much about the Adeptus Mechanicus. It has been a good timing to release the books and then the new Warhammer 40,000 army indeed.
A recommended trilogy, although at the time of this writing this ebook costs more than twice than the other two, so maybe start with the others while price goes a bit down.
Note: Careful with The Black Library book description as it spoils a lot. You've been warned.
Tags: Books Warhammer 40000
Assassinorum: Execution Force
People were asking for new boxed games, GW answered... although not exactly as we expected.
Assassinorum Execution Force is a very especifically themed game in which 1 to 4 players command a squad of four assassins that infiltrate a cultist base to kill a chaos sorcerer before it finishes a dark ritual.
The boardgame pieces are really good, both strong (really thick cardboard) and high quality (think latest Space Hulk pieces). There are no doors but some additional room tiles, event cards, markers and dice. Not impressive, and definetly not equal in quantity to Space Hulk, but still ahead regarding quality compared to for example Deadzone or Sedition Wars board pieces and tokens. Expensive or not, but GW's general high bar of control in boardgames is there.
The instructions are small but effective, although I haven't yet read them. The minis are 4 new plastic assassins, one of each specialty (Vindicare, Eversor, Culexus and Callidus), 15 chaos cultists, 3 chaos space marines and a chaos sorcerer with a small familiar demon (that acts as turn counter). One interesting bit is that as they are reusing existing plastic sprues for all foes, the chaos sorcerer is actually the full Chaos Lord double sprue, so you can make the Lord, the Sorcerer or a Terminator Lord. Only four new, but all are nice and good looking. Of course the new assassins are just incredible and very dynamic.
For those seeking the price/value ratio, some quick maths of the prices as of May 2015 of the individual miniatures:
3x Chaos SM: 8.30€
15x Chaos Cultists: 8.30€ x 3 = 24.90€
1x Chaos Sorcerer/Chaos Lord/Terminator Chaos Lord: 19.50€
4 Assassins: 21€? x 4 = 84€ (not yet released standalone)
Total: 52.70 + 84 = 136.70€ retail cost
At Games Workshop's website the game is 100€ but you can easily get it around 20% cheaper (at Wayland for example costs around 82€ at current exchange, with free shipping).
All this means that even without discounts, you will get at least around 36€ of miniatures "free". But truth be said, at the original price it is an expensive game: Most miniatures reused, limited variety of gameplay and scenarios, not too complex rules... Also for advanced Chaos Warhamer 40,000 players (people already with non-basic CSM armies) most minis won't add much value to their collection.
Discounted, for me is a good buy: Reviews say in general the game is fun and engaging (and not easy), for a collector (like me) just the assassins will cost more than 20€ each once sold separately in the future (I did wanted them), and as Dark Vengeance made me start a small Chaos Space Marines force, the minis of this game are a really nice addon to grow that army.
So... make your choice, but definetly hunt online, it does make a big difference and I got no problems finding my copy.
Book Review: Lords of Mars
Following the events of Priests of Mars, this second book Lords of Mars narrates how Magos Kotov comes apparently near his objective, along Black Templars and Cadian forces, but some unexpected events will make the journey harder, way harder than anyone expected. Being a trilogy of course we don't read how things finish yet but we'll enjoy new adventures, perils and amazing discoveries along the Speranza spaceship. I won't enter into spoilers but expect more of the same [high quality content].
This book took me more time to read due to lack of spare time. Sadly I've felt asleep more than once not due to lack of interest but pure exhaustion from work. The same intrigue and pacing of events, discoveries and "internal affairs" from the first title is replicated, adding to the mix quite interesting plot twists. I've directly started reading the third and final book and I am eager for more adeptus mechanicus lore and tales...
Again, highly recommended if you liked the first bok. Let's see if the trilogy ends as good as has been so far.
Tags: Books Warhammer 40000
Awesome Space Wolves custom Imperial Knight
This awesome customized imperial knight, called "Iron Werewolf", is an incredible piece built by ComradeQuiche. I had been following his progress throught his Instagram Account (browsing Instagram by some warhammer tags it is so easy to find nice photos) but this last weeks have been really busy and I hadn't seen the finished results... and oh, boy!
Such a great modding (and 3D printing) job that Forge World should hire him to design an official resin kit. The painting is also so well done that makes the miniature shine even more.
There's a nice gallery and details on the construction of some pieces on this Tale of Painters article.
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