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Warhammer Heroes #4
Sigvald
A Warhammer Fantasy Battles novel
After centuries of debauchery, Sigvald the magnificent rouses his army and leads them to battle against the legions of the Blood God Khorne. Obsessed with the Brass Skull, Sigvald is unaware his enemies are closing in around him…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a darkly entertaining tale of the most vainglorious (and just generally vain) servant of the Dark Gods, and his quest to capture a great artefact guarded by a rival champion.
THE STORY
Prince Sigvald the Magnificent has struck a pact with his Slaaneshi masters that bestows incredible power and beauty, but drives him to ever greater acts of hedonism. Despite his pre-eminence, the champion of Chaos is tricked into an impossible war with the promise of a powerful artefact to slake his dark desires. After centuries of debauchery, Sigvald rouses his army and leads them to battle against the legions of the Blood God Khorne. Obsessed with the Brass Skull, the object of his misguided yearnings, Sigvald is unaware his enemies are closing in around him. In a hellish quest that drives him across the twisted landscape of the Chaos Wastes and culminates in an epic confrontation, he realises that the lures of Slaanesh can never be sated..
After centuries of debauchery, Sigvald the magnificent rouses his army and leads them to battle against the legions of the Blood God Khorne. Obsessed with the Brass Skull, Sigvald is unaware his enemies are closing in around him…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a darkly entertaining tale of the most vainglorious (and just generally vain) servant of the Dark Gods, and his quest to capture a great artefact guarded by a rival champion.
THE STORY
Prince Sigvald the Magnificent has struck a pact with his Slaaneshi masters that bestows incredible power and beauty, but drives him to ever greater acts of hedonism. Despite his pre-eminence, the champion of Chaos is tricked into an impossible war with the promise of a powerful artefact to slake his dark desires. After centuries of debauchery, Sigvald rouses his army and leads them to battle against the legions of the Blood God Khorne. Obsessed with the Brass Skull, the object of his misguided yearnings, Sigvald is unaware his enemies are closing in around him. In a hellish quest that drives him across the twisted landscape of the Chaos Wastes and culminates in an epic confrontation, he realises that the lures of Slaanesh can never be sated..
408 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 28, 2011
About the author
Darius Hinks
109 books136 followersDarius Hinks is an author, writing primarily in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He was born in Birmingham, England, in 1972. He works and lives in Nottinghamshire. Hinks' first novel, Warrior Priest, won the David Gemmel Morningstar award.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 7, 2025
Sigvald the magnificient. Looking at the ratings it has one of the lowest, still with 3.78. But why since it is one of the main evils in all Chaos Wastes... I believe the reason was the dual story within Sigvald "story". What do I mean by this? Well, Sigvald has 40 chapters, alternating between Sigvald tale and a group of Norcsan called the Fallen.
So, this tale begins with the arrival of a Baron from the Empire who wants to use Chaos to help the Empire since he thinks they do nothing to help the Empire.
In the other tale we follow a bunch of characters of several tribes called The Fallen that feel they are doomed\cursed because of something - that they later on attribute to Sigvald. Their mission? Kill Sigvald.
After arriving to Sigvald palace, he sees all sort of debauchery taking place. To be fair he handles quite well but after arriving he gazes upon the latest wife of Sigvald and after a night of lust he vows to kill Sigvald and take her for himself. So it comes to intrigue and battles and such. It's interesting to see that the Baron who is so keen to defeat Sigvald (leading to traps and pointless wars) is also the main reason he becomes not a servant of a daemon but of Slaanesh him/herself.
It's quite interesting. The descriptions of Chaos, of debauchery, of monsters etc is quite good and I really enjoy it. If I have a complain is the pace of the novel. It's fast at parts (mainly the end)but at parts its slow.
I've read now some reviews and most people who gave 2 or 3 are people who probably don't understand what Grimdark is and what BL does. BL gave life to the genre of Grimdark. IT also created worlds where the main character is not a hero or anti-hero but EVIL. This book does not have a single good guy\gal. They are all evil, some more some less but overall they are just plain evil. Probably the only ones that are more "humane" are Norscan that resembles vikings but on steroids. Maybe the son of the Queen can be considered honourable.
Overall the tale of Norscan , although interesting is kind of pointless in the all overachieving arc and if he really want it to have it he could have done it in half the page length.
One of the most interesting parts of this Chaos books like BLood for Blood God, Palace of Plague Lord is the depiction of Chaos. (Khorne, Nurgle and now Slaanesh) There is also Valkia (Khorne again). Intersesting is that even this chaos infuse people know there are lines that shouldn't be crossed... Per example on page 294 "No mortal can travel so far and expect to return" This was Sigvald telling and even a slight tremor on his voice.
What's good and what's bad, well I already talk what's bad or less good. The pace was not that good, some stories drag but overall it was a good story. Really enjoy it but I believe others were better than this. 77/100
So, this tale begins with the arrival of a Baron from the Empire who wants to use Chaos to help the Empire since he thinks they do nothing to help the Empire.
In the other tale we follow a bunch of characters of several tribes called The Fallen that feel they are doomed\cursed because of something - that they later on attribute to Sigvald. Their mission? Kill Sigvald.
After arriving to Sigvald palace, he sees all sort of debauchery taking place. To be fair he handles quite well but after arriving he gazes upon the latest wife of Sigvald and after a night of lust he vows to kill Sigvald and take her for himself. So it comes to intrigue and battles and such. It's interesting to see that the Baron who is so keen to defeat Sigvald (leading to traps and pointless wars) is also the main reason he becomes not a servant of a daemon but of Slaanesh him/herself.
It's quite interesting. The descriptions of Chaos, of debauchery, of monsters etc is quite good and I really enjoy it. If I have a complain is the pace of the novel. It's fast at parts (mainly the end)but at parts its slow.
I've read now some reviews and most people who gave 2 or 3 are people who probably don't understand what Grimdark is and what BL does. BL gave life to the genre of Grimdark. IT also created worlds where the main character is not a hero or anti-hero but EVIL. This book does not have a single good guy\gal. They are all evil, some more some less but overall they are just plain evil. Probably the only ones that are more "humane" are Norscan that resembles vikings but on steroids. Maybe the son of the Queen can be considered honourable.
Overall the tale of Norscan , although interesting is kind of pointless in the all overachieving arc and if he really want it to have it he could have done it in half the page length.
One of the most interesting parts of this Chaos books like BLood for Blood God, Palace of Plague Lord is the depiction of Chaos. (Khorne, Nurgle and now Slaanesh) There is also Valkia (Khorne again). Intersesting is that even this chaos infuse people know there are lines that shouldn't be crossed... Per example on page 294 "No mortal can travel so far and expect to return" This was Sigvald telling and even a slight tremor on his voice.
What's good and what's bad, well I already talk what's bad or less good. The pace was not that good, some stories drag but overall it was a good story. Really enjoy it but I believe others were better than this. 77/100
October 25, 2011
I'm not normally a fan of books based around villains, but I greatly enjoyed this one. I picked it up based on how much I liked Hinks' previous Warhammer novel Warrior Priest, especially considering how interesting he made the background of the Chaos-worshipping villain in that book. Definitely a solid read, in my opinion.
May 21, 2020
This book is incredible. The character of Sigvald is a combination of Hercules, Narcissus, and Tantulus. The book leads the reader through Sgivald's corrupted crazed mind and adventures via the eyes of a character named Schuler in a way that recalls Bram Stoker's classic Dracula. The author further expands the world through Svala and the Fallen. Through their eyes we see more of the world and how Sigvald's choices left their imprint on the world far beyond the borders of the Gilded Palace and Chaos Wastes.
The over all plot of Sigvald is one of corruption, greed and the rocky path of redemption. I highly recommend this book in fact I truly believe that it deserves more than the 3.76 star rating it has been given.
The over all plot of Sigvald is one of corruption, greed and the rocky path of redemption. I highly recommend this book in fact I truly believe that it deserves more than the 3.76 star rating it has been given.
May 21, 2011
Prince Sigvald the Magnificent has struck a pact with his Slaaneshi masters that bestows incredible power and beauty, but drives him to ever greater acts of hedonism. Despite his pre-eminence, the champion of Chaos is tricked into an impossible war with the promise of a powerful artefact to slake his dark desires. After centuries of debauchery, Sigvald rouses his army and leads them to battle against the legions of the Blood God Khorne. Obsessed with the Brass Skull, the object of his misguided yearnings, Sigvald is unaware his enemies are closing in around him. In a hellish quest that drives him across the twisted landscape of the Chaos Wastes and culminates in an epic confrontation, he realises that the lures of Slaanest can never be sated.
This is, unbelievably, the first Warhammer Fantasy novel I have read from the Black Library - so far all my BL reading has been confined to the Horus Heresy and some sterling work by Messrs McNeill and Abnett, and I was extremely interested to see how I would take to something set in the world of Warhammer Fantasy (which I've always found a little generic).
I'm pleased to report that my first experience with BL Fantasy novels is a decent one. Not a brilliant one, but more than good enough to have me reaching for more. Darius Hinks has been shortlisted this year for the Morningstar Award (handed out by the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer/debut) with Warrior Priest, and Sigvald showcases why the public have voted him onto that list.
Hinks' writing is some of the closest I have read to Gemmell himself - at times brisk and perfunctory, but at others willing to move into more poetic territory: "The densely packed pines knifed out of the snow like a threat."
He brings to life the chaotic, dreamy debauchery of the life of a Chaos Champion - perversions and pleasures walk hand in hand in Sigvald's world. Dark and twisted creatures revel in his shadows. I enjoyed seeing the descriptions of Chaos, having played against them for so long, and Hinks presents both the followers of Slaanesh and of Khorne with clear reverence of his subject matter.
So why is this novel merely good after the lavish praise above? Mostly for a reason that is not solely of Hinks' making: presenting a Slaaneshi Chaos Champion as a protagonist makes for rather hard reading.
Sigvald is neither a hero or an anti-hero; he is, pretty much, one of the bad guys, and as a consequence, a little difficult to root for. I like to have a little more humanity in my main characters.
The human interest is provided by the Norscan people, and this helps to mitigate the effect of Sigvald as the main character, but there were a couple of sections featuring the Prince of Chaos where I drifted badly and found my interest waning.
My other issue was that this novel felt very much like the opening novel in a trilogy or similar, which surprised me - I thought it would be a standalone book. Having said that, I would enjoying reading more about Sigvald's shenanigans and I *definitely* look forward to reading more of Darius Hinks' work.
Altogether, Sigvald is an entertaining piece of escapist fantasy fiction, and makes me perfectly happy to continue my foray into Black Library literature!
This is, unbelievably, the first Warhammer Fantasy novel I have read from the Black Library - so far all my BL reading has been confined to the Horus Heresy and some sterling work by Messrs McNeill and Abnett, and I was extremely interested to see how I would take to something set in the world of Warhammer Fantasy (which I've always found a little generic).
I'm pleased to report that my first experience with BL Fantasy novels is a decent one. Not a brilliant one, but more than good enough to have me reaching for more. Darius Hinks has been shortlisted this year for the Morningstar Award (handed out by the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer/debut) with Warrior Priest, and Sigvald showcases why the public have voted him onto that list.
Hinks' writing is some of the closest I have read to Gemmell himself - at times brisk and perfunctory, but at others willing to move into more poetic territory: "The densely packed pines knifed out of the snow like a threat."
He brings to life the chaotic, dreamy debauchery of the life of a Chaos Champion - perversions and pleasures walk hand in hand in Sigvald's world. Dark and twisted creatures revel in his shadows. I enjoyed seeing the descriptions of Chaos, having played against them for so long, and Hinks presents both the followers of Slaanesh and of Khorne with clear reverence of his subject matter.
So why is this novel merely good after the lavish praise above? Mostly for a reason that is not solely of Hinks' making: presenting a Slaaneshi Chaos Champion as a protagonist makes for rather hard reading.
Sigvald is neither a hero or an anti-hero; he is, pretty much, one of the bad guys, and as a consequence, a little difficult to root for. I like to have a little more humanity in my main characters.
The human interest is provided by the Norscan people, and this helps to mitigate the effect of Sigvald as the main character, but there were a couple of sections featuring the Prince of Chaos where I drifted badly and found my interest waning.
My other issue was that this novel felt very much like the opening novel in a trilogy or similar, which surprised me - I thought it would be a standalone book. Having said that, I would enjoying reading more about Sigvald's shenanigans and I *definitely* look forward to reading more of Darius Hinks' work.
Altogether, Sigvald is an entertaining piece of escapist fantasy fiction, and makes me perfectly happy to continue my foray into Black Library literature!
November 3, 2014
Brilliant dark fantasy in the grim world of Warhammer. Complex plot and memorable characters, with satisfying conclusion, which leaves the reader free to imagine what will happen.
July 27, 2019
This was a macabre tale between something out of a LSD haluciantion and Tim Burton movie in much more color.
I did not know what to expect from this book and it left me even more confused on the topic of Warhammer Fantasy world.
I did not know what to expect from this book and it left me even more confused on the topic of Warhammer Fantasy world.
November 5, 2012
While Sigvald is the main focus of the story, it's really the surrounding characters that make the book. There are quite a number of them, and they are well realized and interesting. There are a few varied plot threads going simultaneously in the book and it keeps everything interesting and moving at a brisk pace. Being that Sigvald is a follower of Slaanesh one of the gods of Chaos you know right from the beginning not to expect any kind of good or happy ending, but that doesn't make it any less satisfying.
November 26, 2021
An interesting concept which could have been so much more. The narrative alternates between disjointed depictions of weird wraiths and godlike entities that, ultimately, becomes tedious and difficult to enjoy. Characterisation suffers heavily. Only for fans of the Warhammer Series.
June 9, 2025
Quite disappointed with this one, especially given the potential of this character. While there are chapters that are 4-star worthy, the majority of the book, especially in the first half, is thoroughly 1-star material, and I had to force myself not to DNF it.
My biggest problem is that this should have been advertised as Young Adult fiction. Then I wouldn't waste my time on painfully one-dimensional characters and the "decadence" of The Decadent Host, written by someone who, by the looks of it, has never been to a fun house party, let alone a kinky rave in Berlin.
I could go into the details like how Svala's side of the story, taking up half of the book, is a massive snooze fest But I won't, it's not worth it.
Only for hardcore Warhammer fans.
My biggest problem is that this should have been advertised as Young Adult fiction. Then I wouldn't waste my time on painfully one-dimensional characters and the "decadence" of The Decadent Host, written by someone who, by the looks of it, has never been to a fun house party, let alone a kinky rave in Berlin.
I could go into the details like how Svala's side of the story, taking up half of the book, is a massive snooze fest But I won't, it's not worth it.
Only for hardcore Warhammer fans.
April 7, 2025
This is the most purely enjoyable and entertaining book I have read in a long, long time. The plot never meanders, and does such an incredible job of transforming the daemonic results of chaos influence from horrific to beguiling to hilarious and back again. The characters are all precisely as deep as they need to be, and Sigvald's man child outbursts left me in stitches.
July 23, 2026
As my first Warhammer novel, this was quite an entertaining one!! The author did a good job on his world-building, characters (I really wish there was a drawing of Oddrun, I still can't grasp how to imagine him). Sigvald, I applaud how he made me feel bad for him... Till his spoiled nature came back and I was rolling my eyes.
May 20, 2020
Really good book. Reads like a fairy tale or myth at times. The character of Sigvald is so interesting and well written.
August 11, 2025
A great book.
May 27, 2026
Read this for more motivation and immersion in my Sigvald campaign in total war warhammer.
August 28, 2011
Interesting description of the Chaos wastes, except of that, run-of-the-mill Warhammer Old World book
April 25, 2013
It was a good read and I enjoyed it, it made a change from the warhammer 40k books I normally read.
June 3, 2013
A kind of superficial outsider's story involving Slaaneshi corruption. The best part in the novel is the heartbreaking betrayal at the end when a 'god' reveals itself.
January 28, 2024
Standard Warhammer Fantasy bleakness. I enjoyed getting to know more of the iconic character of Sigvald, but, at times, the story seemed a little too drawn out.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews