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Blackhearts #1
Valnir's Bane
Given a choice between execution or volunteering for a suicide mission, a disreputable band of convicts is assigned to journey deep into enemy-held territory to retrieve an ancient relic that could change the course of the war. Original.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 11, 2005
4 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Long
81 books164 followersNathan Long is a screen and prose writer, with two movies, one Saturday-morning adventure series, and a handful of live-action and animated TV episodes to his name, as well as eleven fantasy novels and several award-winning short stories.
He hails from Pennsylvania, where he grew up, went to school, and played in various punk and rock-a-billy bands, before following his writing dreams to Hollywood - where he now writes novels full time - and still occasionally plays in bands.
His latest novel is Jane Carver of Waar, available March 6th from Night Shade Books. Visit his blog at www.sabrepunk.com.
He hails from Pennsylvania, where he grew up, went to school, and played in various punk and rock-a-billy bands, before following his writing dreams to Hollywood - where he now writes novels full time - and still occasionally plays in bands.
His latest novel is Jane Carver of Waar, available March 6th from Night Shade Books. Visit his blog at www.sabrepunk.com.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 20, 2025
This was my first foray into the fantasy side of the Warhammer world and while certainly entertaining (if you like your fantasy pulpy), I think I prefer the science fiction side. In any case, Long notes in his introduction that he wanted to write a novel featuring 'normal' heroes, e.g., not huge, musclebound, infallible swordsmen, or lordly knights, but simply common folks pressed to their upmost. Long also notes that he basically ripped the theme here from the The Dirty Dozen, with a group of criminals volunteering to undertake a secret mission 'beyond the line' or hang. Yet, while The Dirty Dozen (at least the classic book) spend about 90% of the time on the criminal's backgrounds, Long tosses us into the action almost right off the bat.
The nine convicts (not 12) all receive brands on their hands that marks them as army deserters, to be shot on sight. The Lord who marks them so promises them that after a successful mission, the brand will be removed and they will be rewarded with gold. The mission: escort a priestess to a convent behind enemy lines to retrieve an artifact that may turn the tides of war. Reiner Hetzau quickly emerges as the main protagonist and while a bit of a scoundrel for sure, his crime actually saved an army town; he killed the witch that brought plague to the town but was blamed for the plague. The other convicts have a range of woes that found them in jail (desertion, 'fragging' their commanding officer, rape, etc.) and so make an interesting lot.
Regarding themes, the novel quickly turns into a basic quest format, with the group facing many trials and tribulations along the way. Long's capable prose leads the reader along nicely, along with decent pacing. Unlike the majority of contemporary fantasy, there is not real magic system, just the Chaos and its agents doing their warp thing. The ridged feudal structure of the Empire (not the Imperium) does not go beyond standard tropes. Yet, the 'dirty nine' find they must tackle their foes and predicaments with guile and smarts rather than brawn or magic swords. Neat twist here. Overall, fun stuff, but nothing too taxing or serious. 3 pulpy stars!!
The nine convicts (not 12) all receive brands on their hands that marks them as army deserters, to be shot on sight. The Lord who marks them so promises them that after a successful mission, the brand will be removed and they will be rewarded with gold. The mission: escort a priestess to a convent behind enemy lines to retrieve an artifact that may turn the tides of war. Reiner Hetzau quickly emerges as the main protagonist and while a bit of a scoundrel for sure, his crime actually saved an army town; he killed the witch that brought plague to the town but was blamed for the plague. The other convicts have a range of woes that found them in jail (desertion, 'fragging' their commanding officer, rape, etc.) and so make an interesting lot.
Regarding themes, the novel quickly turns into a basic quest format, with the group facing many trials and tribulations along the way. Long's capable prose leads the reader along nicely, along with decent pacing. Unlike the majority of contemporary fantasy, there is not real magic system, just the Chaos and its agents doing their warp thing. The ridged feudal structure of the Empire (not the Imperium) does not go beyond standard tropes. Yet, the 'dirty nine' find they must tackle their foes and predicaments with guile and smarts rather than brawn or magic swords. Neat twist here. Overall, fun stuff, but nothing too taxing or serious. 3 pulpy stars!!
December 2, 2014
Previously Published at TheQwillery.com
I have two confessions to make. First, I actually bought this book by mistake. Back before I had a smartphone to take notes on, I read an article talking about a great fantasy series called The Black Company, and while I was perusing a bookstore I remembered the article, but only that the word black was in the title. I saw this book, saw Blackhearts, and thought, this is it. Once I got home, I found out I had purchased the wrong book, but the back cover description sounded good so I wasn't too upset. Later, I found The Black Company by Glen Cook. My second confession is I have only ever read one Warhammer book before, and, to be honest, I wasn't impressed. I have also never played their role-playing games, so I have no real background in the Warhammer world. For these two reasons, I left this book on my bookshelf unread for several years. Once again, the Retro Review has come to make amends in my life. For my second Retro Review this month, I will finally read Glen Cook's The Black Company, as it inspired this whole serendipitous event.
Reading Valnir's Bane felt like watching one of your favorite childhood or teen movies on a day you had nothing better to do. I know we all had those films. I can't tell you how many times I watched Die Hard on an old VHS tape as a kid. I loved that film. Valnir's Bane is like that almost immediately: you like the characters, their interaction with each other, and their disdain for authority and rules. The 'heroes' (I use that term lightly because no one but the villains of the book would ever consider themselves heroes) are all very real. Well, let me stop myself, most of them feel real. For the most part, all of the characters are fleshed out as they attempt to fulfill their mission. At the beginning, it takes some time to figure out who everyone is. There are nine prisoners and a leader/guard. Out of the 10, only five make it to the end. Reiner Hetzau, a pistolier, is the primary character and closest thing to a true hero. I say closest because for the first half of the book he's only concerned with protecting his own hide and using the others as bodyguards. He's also a gambler, womanizer and disgraced noble.
Now, I wouldn't consider these characters anti-heroes in today's sense of the word. In today's fantasy fiction with the sub-genre of dark and grim fantasy that's out there, you would expect these guys to be much much worse than they are to be labeled anti-heroes. I'm more apt to call the Blackheart group reluctant heroes. I actually prefer a reluctant hero over an anti-hero because I feel good about rooting for someone even if they try to deny the good inside themselves.
The pacing of the book is perfect for its length. It has an episodic feel as one trial after another hurtles the group toward the climax, where fighting against every opportunity to be heroic until they realize if they don't save the world, no one else will. Long has a talent for putting his characters through hell. I kept thinking that sooner or later these guys have to catch a break, but for the most part they never do. Still, you're kind of glad they don't because they come up with some entertaining ways out of those messes.
For being a book in a shared world, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Long provided enough information to get a feel for the world and the different warring factions. And, for a book this size, Long did a great job spending time with the characters that mattered.
Valnir's Bane is a comfort book, immensely satisfying, with a quick pace. After reading the first book in the trilogy, I look forward to reading the other two books to spend some more quality time with heroes I could relate to. There are a few minor moments of descriptive violence and implied sexual abuse off camera, to borrow a film term, and little if any bad language, for these reasons I have no problem recommending this book to teens or adults. This is definitely a book to borrow from a friend or the library. I personally will be keeping my copy for future reads, but due to the fact you have to hunt for the book, maybe wait to read it before grabbing your own copy.
I have two confessions to make. First, I actually bought this book by mistake. Back before I had a smartphone to take notes on, I read an article talking about a great fantasy series called The Black Company, and while I was perusing a bookstore I remembered the article, but only that the word black was in the title. I saw this book, saw Blackhearts, and thought, this is it. Once I got home, I found out I had purchased the wrong book, but the back cover description sounded good so I wasn't too upset. Later, I found The Black Company by Glen Cook. My second confession is I have only ever read one Warhammer book before, and, to be honest, I wasn't impressed. I have also never played their role-playing games, so I have no real background in the Warhammer world. For these two reasons, I left this book on my bookshelf unread for several years. Once again, the Retro Review has come to make amends in my life. For my second Retro Review this month, I will finally read Glen Cook's The Black Company, as it inspired this whole serendipitous event.
Reading Valnir's Bane felt like watching one of your favorite childhood or teen movies on a day you had nothing better to do. I know we all had those films. I can't tell you how many times I watched Die Hard on an old VHS tape as a kid. I loved that film. Valnir's Bane is like that almost immediately: you like the characters, their interaction with each other, and their disdain for authority and rules. The 'heroes' (I use that term lightly because no one but the villains of the book would ever consider themselves heroes) are all very real. Well, let me stop myself, most of them feel real. For the most part, all of the characters are fleshed out as they attempt to fulfill their mission. At the beginning, it takes some time to figure out who everyone is. There are nine prisoners and a leader/guard. Out of the 10, only five make it to the end. Reiner Hetzau, a pistolier, is the primary character and closest thing to a true hero. I say closest because for the first half of the book he's only concerned with protecting his own hide and using the others as bodyguards. He's also a gambler, womanizer and disgraced noble.
Now, I wouldn't consider these characters anti-heroes in today's sense of the word. In today's fantasy fiction with the sub-genre of dark and grim fantasy that's out there, you would expect these guys to be much much worse than they are to be labeled anti-heroes. I'm more apt to call the Blackheart group reluctant heroes. I actually prefer a reluctant hero over an anti-hero because I feel good about rooting for someone even if they try to deny the good inside themselves.
The pacing of the book is perfect for its length. It has an episodic feel as one trial after another hurtles the group toward the climax, where fighting against every opportunity to be heroic until they realize if they don't save the world, no one else will. Long has a talent for putting his characters through hell. I kept thinking that sooner or later these guys have to catch a break, but for the most part they never do. Still, you're kind of glad they don't because they come up with some entertaining ways out of those messes.
For being a book in a shared world, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Long provided enough information to get a feel for the world and the different warring factions. And, for a book this size, Long did a great job spending time with the characters that mattered.
Valnir's Bane is a comfort book, immensely satisfying, with a quick pace. After reading the first book in the trilogy, I look forward to reading the other two books to spend some more quality time with heroes I could relate to. There are a few minor moments of descriptive violence and implied sexual abuse off camera, to borrow a film term, and little if any bad language, for these reasons I have no problem recommending this book to teens or adults. This is definitely a book to borrow from a friend or the library. I personally will be keeping my copy for future reads, but due to the fact you have to hunt for the book, maybe wait to read it before grabbing your own copy.
May 30, 2012
This book is a cliche. It's the first word that come to my mind. This is a book about men who are about to die and they are given a chance to be free again... Now.. Tell a movie where this happens? Dirty Dozen and more appropiated, the Sven Hassel books. That's right.
Now the story begins with the main character Reiner a man of noble birth contemplating which of the prisioners would do well in a attempt to escape. Afterwards he and others ( the ruthless and bloodthirsty Knight, the pair of villanous pikemen, the cowardly savant Artilleryman, the downtrodden Engineer, the malicious Barber-Surgeon, the plucky young archer and the unfortunate Tilean Rogue)
I didn't like only one person... the knight. He has no character and he sounds like a stupid person. If that is the point Nathan Long wanted to made then he is okay too.
The story itself it's a good one. The main story focus on the attempt to recover a banner which will help the empire win the battle that is coming. The book also focus on betrayal and the instability of the whole pack. Several of the characters die. Some I didn't feel any remorses others I did. Another good thing was their mismatched personalities leading to good dialogues and thoughts.
Even if they are carcerated they are not in the whole ideia evil.
Nathan Long really knows how to write good stories.
Now the story begins with the main character Reiner a man of noble birth contemplating which of the prisioners would do well in a attempt to escape. Afterwards he and others ( the ruthless and bloodthirsty Knight, the pair of villanous pikemen, the cowardly savant Artilleryman, the downtrodden Engineer, the malicious Barber-Surgeon, the plucky young archer and the unfortunate Tilean Rogue)
I didn't like only one person... the knight. He has no character and he sounds like a stupid person. If that is the point Nathan Long wanted to made then he is okay too.
The story itself it's a good one. The main story focus on the attempt to recover a banner which will help the empire win the battle that is coming. The book also focus on betrayal and the instability of the whole pack. Several of the characters die. Some I didn't feel any remorses others I did. Another good thing was their mismatched personalities leading to good dialogues and thoughts.
Even if they are carcerated they are not in the whole ideia evil.
Nathan Long really knows how to write good stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2021
Action Fantasy
The Dirty Dozen are sent on a suicide mission to reclaim a holy relic that can change the tide of war.
Review
This novel started strong and ended strong. Unfortunately, for a chunk of novel it really dragged. Wandering around in a dark cave afraid of your shadow is not the most exciting thing in an action novel. This novel just could have been cut in half and just been called a novella. It could have been a 4-5 fun read. So, is it worth it? Not really. 2.5/5 stars.
The Dirty Dozen are sent on a suicide mission to reclaim a holy relic that can change the tide of war.
Review
This novel started strong and ended strong. Unfortunately, for a chunk of novel it really dragged. Wandering around in a dark cave afraid of your shadow is not the most exciting thing in an action novel. This novel just could have been cut in half and just been called a novella. It could have been a 4-5 fun read. So, is it worth it? Not really. 2.5/5 stars.
May 4, 2021
Hola Amigos! Как всегда пройдемся по пунктам:
О чем: Сеттинг Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Старый Мир раздирают войны, слуги Хаоса атакуют со всех сторон, и на фоне этого отряду заключенных поручают важное, но сомнительное задание по возвращению древнего артефакта.
Персонажи: Главный герой - Райнер Гетцау, наименее справедливо осужденный из всей своей компании, в которой оказались такие же приговоренные к смерти солдаты империи.
Райнер прописан скудно, но все-таки прописан. Ещё у одного товарища хотя бы описана предыстория.
Остальные персонажи абсолютно картонные.
Раскрытием антагонистов Лонг и не думал заниматься.
Повествование:
Книга читается с определенными трудностями. Допускается вина переводчика, и все же повествование подается сухо, неинтересно и со странными оборотами речи.
Боевые сцены скучны и примитивны.
Юмор "пытается быть", но удается это довольно редко.
Мнение: Книгу я читал в сборнике, где первым был представлен написанный после романа рассказ "Безрассудства Гетцау".
Рассказ мне понравился довольно живым и динамичным повествованием, с большою долей иронии. Так он поднял планку ожиданий и от самого романа, и тем сильнее было мое разочарование от скучного и примитивного произведения, что я прочел.
"Проклятие Валнира" - это история о том, как отряд непрописанных персонажей идет "из точки в точку", преодолевая некие приключения, иногда сражаясь и обмениваясь парой скучных, непримечательных фраз.
Без спойлеров и для примера можно изобразить повествование так "Они вышли к реке. Река текла сверху вниз. Они перешли реку. Они увидели врагов. "Вот же неудача" - сказал картонный персонаж. Три врага напали на них. Одного врага картонный персонаж ударил по ногам, а главный герой ударил по голове. Двух других убили остальные. Отряд пошел дальше..."
Ни драматизма, ни интересной и динамичной подачи сюжета, ни интриги, ни саспенса. Просто до ужаса примитивный и слабый пересказ абсолютно безыдейных событий.
Допускаю, что последующие произведения, а именно "Сломанное копье" и "Порченая кровь" вышли у Лонга лучше, но после первой книги желание проверять это отпало напрочь.
Оценка 6/10 (можно советовать только самым ярым любителям WHFB).
Рейтинг "goodreads" - 3.89/5
Моя группа Вконтакте - https://vk.com/ashborndetv
О чем: Сеттинг Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Старый Мир раздирают войны, слуги Хаоса атакуют со всех сторон, и на фоне этого отряду заключенных поручают важное, но сомнительное задание по возвращению древнего артефакта.
Персонажи: Главный герой - Райнер Гетцау, наименее справедливо осужденный из всей своей компании, в которой оказались такие же приговоренные к смерти солдаты империи.
Райнер прописан скудно, но все-таки прописан. Ещё у одного товарища хотя бы описана предыстория.
Остальные персонажи абсолютно картонные.
Раскрытием антагонистов Лонг и не думал заниматься.
Повествование:
Книга читается с определенными трудностями. Допускается вина переводчика, и все же повествование подается сухо, неинтересно и со странными оборотами речи.
Боевые сцены скучны и примитивны.
Юмор "пытается быть", но удается это довольно редко.
Мнение: Книгу я читал в сборнике, где первым был представлен написанный после романа рассказ "Безрассудства Гетцау".
Рассказ мне понравился довольно живым и динамичным повествованием, с большою долей иронии. Так он поднял планку ожиданий и от самого романа, и тем сильнее было мое разочарование от скучного и примитивного произведения, что я прочел.
"Проклятие Валнира" - это история о том, как отряд непрописанных персонажей идет "из точки в точку", преодолевая некие приключения, иногда сражаясь и обмениваясь парой скучных, непримечательных фраз.
Без спойлеров и для примера можно изобразить повествование так "Они вышли к реке. Река текла сверху вниз. Они перешли реку. Они увидели врагов. "Вот же неудача" - сказал картонный персонаж. Три врага напали на них. Одного врага картонный персонаж ударил по ногам, а главный герой ударил по голове. Двух других убили остальные. Отряд пошел дальше..."
Ни драматизма, ни интересной и динамичной подачи сюжета, ни интриги, ни саспенса. Просто до ужаса примитивный и слабый пересказ абсолютно безыдейных событий.
Допускаю, что последующие произведения, а именно "Сломанное копье" и "Порченая кровь" вышли у Лонга лучше, но после первой книги желание проверять это отпало напрочь.
Оценка 6/10 (можно советовать только самым ярым любителям WHFB).
Рейтинг "goodreads" - 3.89/5
Моя группа Вконтакте - https://vk.com/ashborndetv
July 28, 2023
Читаю современную фентези и удивляюсь - авторы(ки), кажется, вообще забыли такие слова, как "приключение" или "героизм", с головой уйдя в литературщину и тонкости однополых переживаний.
Казалось бы, если серьезные литераторы массово демонстрируют вот такое, то чего ждать от серии книг по мотивам настольной игры?
А тут попался просто образец классической heroic fantasy с оттенком "Грязной дюжины" (для молодежи, think Suicide Squad). Условная Европа, условное позднее средневековье, условная Священная Римская Империя погрязла в бесконечных войнах с северными варварами и разнородной нечистью тип�� орков или людей-крыс. Местечковый барон спасает прямо с виселицы десяток военных преступников и под угрозой смерти отправляет на занятую врагом территорию. Задача - проникнуть в руины сожженного монастыря, найти в глубинах тайной крипты священный артефакт Церкви, принести барону.
Отряд "черных сердец" состоит из отборного сброда: дезертиры, мародеры, насильники и просто отмороженные психи. Командовать ими, практически по чистой случайности, вынужден Райнер Гетцау, ни разу не герой войны, а простой мошенник, но, надо признать, довольно обаятельный. Я сначала ожидал совсем отмороженного антигероя, типа вэнсовского Кугеля, но Райнер оказался хоть и трусоват, но в целом парень с совестью и четким моральным компасом, которые раз за разом толкают его в самую гущу опасностей и приключений.
А опасностей и приключений в романе более чем достаточно. Разумеется, с первых же минут все идет абсолютно не по плану, "черные сердца" сталкиваются и с ужасами войны, и с изменой, и с культами Хаоса. Впереди у них погони, сражения, стычки с бандитами, сплав на бревнах по подземной реке, и даже полномасштабная осада замка. Должен сказать, автор не жалеет героев - к концу короткого романа в живых остается не больше половины.
В общем, первосортная приключенческая фентези в любимом жанре "наши диверсанты в фашистском тылу". Очень, очень хорошо. У Лонга вышло еще несколько романов про приключения "черных сердец", буду читать однозначно.
Твердые 8/10.
Казалось бы, если серьезные литераторы массово демонстрируют вот такое, то чего ждать от серии книг по мотивам настольной игры?
А тут попался просто образец классической heroic fantasy с оттенком "Грязной дюжины" (для молодежи, think Suicide Squad). Условная Европа, условное позднее средневековье, условная Священная Римская Империя погрязла в бесконечных войнах с северными варварами и разнородной нечистью тип�� орков или людей-крыс. Местечковый барон спасает прямо с виселицы десяток военных преступников и под угрозой смерти отправляет на занятую врагом территорию. Задача - проникнуть в руины сожженного монастыря, найти в глубинах тайной крипты священный артефакт Церкви, принести барону.
Отряд "черных сердец" состоит из отборного сброда: дезертиры, мародеры, насильники и просто отмороженные психи. Командовать ими, практически по чистой случайности, вынужден Райнер Гетцау, ни разу не герой войны, а простой мошенник, но, надо признать, довольно обаятельный. Я сначала ожидал совсем отмороженного антигероя, типа вэнсовского Кугеля, но Райнер оказался хоть и трусоват, но в целом парень с совестью и четким моральным компасом, которые раз за разом толкают его в самую гущу опасностей и приключений.
А опасностей и приключений в романе более чем достаточно. Разумеется, с первых же минут все идет абсолютно не по плану, "черные сердца" сталкиваются и с ужасами войны, и с изменой, и с культами Хаоса. Впереди у них погони, сражения, стычки с бандитами, сплав на бревнах по подземной реке, и даже полномасштабная осада замка. Должен сказать, автор не жалеет героев - к концу короткого романа в живых остается не больше половины.
В общем, первосортная приключенческая фентези в любимом жанре "наши диверсанты в фашистском тылу". Очень, очень хорошо. У Лонга вышло еще несколько романов про приключения "черных сердец", буду читать однозначно.
Твердые 8/10.
July 23, 2024
This is an intriguing Warhammer fantasy novel featuring a group of ne'er-do-wells, the Blackhearts, who are criminals and bastards (many wrongfully accused), blackmailed by Imperial elites into undertaking a mission. There are many fun reversals and surprises, so I will refrain from spoilers. I really enjoyed the dialogue. Long's screenwriting background is evident, as the characters reveal themselves through their interactions. Long does a good job incorporating Warhammer fantasy lore. The story and characters are emphasized over game lore, but Long ensures not to leave those elements out. There are references to various Chaos tribes, the Skaven, far-flung cities of the Empire and the Old World, orcs, etc. My only quibble is that this is very much a catch-and-release picaresque. Each chapter places the characters in a crucible they need to work their way out of, and after they do so many times, you stop being surprised they survive. Honestly, that is not completely true. Long lulls you into a sense of safety and does not pull punches when it comes to character deaths (which is why I marked this as Grimdark). I'm glad I read this and will read the other Blackhearts novels.
September 24, 2025
A solid concept marred by a tedious and avoidable plot. While the prose always stayed readable, and some of the humor worked, it was all drowned by action with diminishing meaning.
Valnir's Bane is the type of story where the focal characters get (made up examples) attacked by bears, shot by a company of soldiers, fall down a series of waterfalls, all without rest or chance for recovery, and then they get robbed by bandits after having to force march for two days without provisions... It's the type of story where explosions get increasingly louder, and searching for a reason to care gets increasingly harder.
Nathan Long is not as good an author as he thinks. His characters are not as likable as he thinks. And his adventures are not as clever as he thinks.. Even on the lowest metric of judging a work (fun) Valnir's Bane fails. After pushing through dozen pages of meaningless suffering, the only thing Lang delivers is a hollow pay-off as nourishing as lukewarm soup without ingredients.
Valnir's Bane is the type of story where the focal characters get (made up examples) attacked by bears, shot by a company of soldiers, fall down a series of waterfalls, all without rest or chance for recovery, and then they get robbed by bandits after having to force march for two days without provisions... It's the type of story where explosions get increasingly louder, and searching for a reason to care gets increasingly harder.
Nathan Long is not as good an author as he thinks. His characters are not as likable as he thinks. And his adventures are not as clever as he thinks.. Even on the lowest metric of judging a work (fun) Valnir's Bane fails. After pushing through dozen pages of meaningless suffering, the only thing Lang delivers is a hollow pay-off as nourishing as lukewarm soup without ingredients.
October 3, 2019
No good deed goes unpunished and such is the lesson for the anti-heroes of Valnir's Bane. Branded with the Hammer and sent on a suicide mission turned Chaos infested death sentence, this band of disgraced outlaws will have to decide how much their black hearts bleed for the fate of their homeland. Do they walk, taking to lands where their mark means nothing and live out their days or stay and fight the endless cycle of sinful hierarchy versus the terrors of dark gods that easily toy with the designs of humanity?
I would have fucking walked.
Recommended for the lore hungry of Warhammer fantasy or the initiate that want to see just how bad things can get for people caught between the hammer and the anvil of vice and otherworldly corruption.
I would have fucking walked.
Recommended for the lore hungry of Warhammer fantasy or the initiate that want to see just how bad things can get for people caught between the hammer and the anvil of vice and otherworldly corruption.
January 27, 2024
I don't know how I came across this series, but it's been sitting on my shelf for a while. Overall I found the book and series to be ok, but not great. I enjoyed the characters and their comraderie. I also found the story interesting and entertaining. Throughout the series there were things that frustrated me, like the budding relationship was full of pet peeves and tropes along highlighting characters misogyny and homophobia which didn't really add to the plot. The ending to all three books also felt rushed, but were generally good. Overall I feel very neutral to the series. I wouldn't recommend it, but I wouldn't turn someone away from reading it.
October 25, 2021
Easy, fast read, Dirty dozen meets Warhammer world, even though theres like 10 of them. The plot is quite simple, but its fast action for getting out of more demanding books.
The ending is alright and there is good promise for another installments , hopefully we will get to know more about remaining main protagonists.
3,5 and will continue to read another 2 books.
The ending is alright and there is good promise for another installments , hopefully we will get to know more about remaining main protagonists.
3,5 and will continue to read another 2 books.
October 1, 2024
Warhammer Fantasy: Suicide Squad.
Super solid story. Every sequence happens as a result of what came before, nothing is manufactured. Great characters and I can’t not admit this would be perfect to adapt into a mini series.
The cave sequence became ever so slightly dull after the breakneck pace of the first third, but it moves forward eventually and has an excellent final act
GOOD SHIT
Super solid story. Every sequence happens as a result of what came before, nothing is manufactured. Great characters and I can’t not admit this would be perfect to adapt into a mini series.
The cave sequence became ever so slightly dull after the breakneck pace of the first third, but it moves forward eventually and has an excellent final act
GOOD SHIT
September 4, 2018
"The Empire needs Blackhearts like yourselves. Men who will do things that are beyond the pale to the average soldier."
July 24, 2019
Fun adventure in the dark, gritty world of Warhammer!
May 20, 2021
Fun enough if undemanding fantasy romp.
December 28, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyable, action packed, popcorn fantasy. A newfound personal favourite.
June 17, 2023
Pretty good for a Warhammer book.
January 7, 2024
Nathan Long, when empowered by the Warhammer fantasy setting, writes an excellent yarn. True to form this is an entertaining, swashbuckling romp with a grimdark undercurrent.
January 15, 2024
A well-written escapade revolving around a Warhammer Suicide Squad. What's not to like there? It felt like a DND or WFRP adventure put to the page, in a good way.
April 13, 2025
Suicide squad meets Warhammer Fantasy. Lots of action. Decent plot and story. 4/5. Would recommend. Looking forward to start Book 2 of the series.
May 22, 2025
I have read Glenn Cook's The Black Company and felt this book was greater in all aspects. I enjoyed the read. I would read it again- enjoyable characters.
April 24, 2011
(Note: Valnir's Bane is the first novel in the Blackhearts trilogy, collected in the Blackhearts omnibus along with the short stories "Hetzau's Follies" and "Rotten Fruit")
From nowadays fiction, I mostly look up to the titles put out by Black Library, the publisher of Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy novels. After getting familiar with a number of authors, I observed a pattern – my favorites all had one thing in common: they were mainly influenced by classic pulp fiction literature.
Nathan Long caught my attention by accident, when I read an extract from his first Ulrika novel, "Bloodborn". I was impressed by the writing style, and having a hunch I checked the author’s site. Surprise, surprise! Long cites pulp fiction authors (my favorite - Robert E. Howard - included) as his influences. While I don’t question the Ulrika novel’s values, and I’ll most certainly read them in the future, I have no love for vampires at the moment, but Long’s previous three novels – all collected in one omnibus – were exactly to my liking. Right, now, enough with the digressions; let’s get down to business.
Reiner Hetzau, a young man, failed student, gambler, petty criminal and currently a pistolier in the Empire army, is charged – ironically – for a crime he didn’t commit, and sentenced to face the gallows. Salvation comes in an unexpected form of Baron Albrecht Valdenheim. He offers Reiner and his fellow prisoners a grim choice – either death by the noose, or a suicidal secret mission: under the command of captain Veirt they are to escort an abbess of Shallya to a distant convent, retrieve an old relic from its catacombs – the famed battle-banner known as Valnir’s Bane – and bring it back to the Baron, who would use its powers to aid his brother Count Manfred in the campaign of driving the Chaos forces out of the region and retake Nordbergbruche. The 10-men party – dubbed the Blackhearts – embarks on a perilous journey filled with secrets, lies and treacheries.
For the most part, Warhammer is heroic fantasy. On the other hand, the Blackhearts are better called anti-heroic fantasy. They are a pack of motley mercenaries – rogues, thieves, murderers, and rapists, some driven to the life of crime by will and others by unfortunate circumstances. Instead of being driven by honor and justice, the Blackhearts’ actions are mostly fueled by the want to save their own skin. However cynical and pessimistic they may seem at first, the journey will bond them together in ways they couldn’t have imagined. This provides for interesting character development.
Instead of white knights and proud champions we are presented with a group of people which, though not devoid of honor, will try to scheme and wriggle their way out of a fair fight as much as possible. They are, however, often torn between doing the right and the logical thing. While the theme is clichéd, it attracted me because of my love for action films – something that I share in common with the author – and the overall plot reminded me of the recent ensemble action film “The Expendables”.
Still, not all is perfect. The introductory short story included in the omnibus titled “Hetzau’s Follies” is rather mediocre, both in idea and the writing. After reading it, my thrill for this collection ebbed somewhat. “Valnir’s Bane”, the follow up novel to “Hetzau’s Follies”, starts similarly, but gets better as it progresses.
Nathan Long’s writing style is very good, but not excellent. He looks up to the pulp fictionists and offers detailed descriptions of locales, and you’ll always have a clear mental picture of where the characters are. However, his writing does not have that something, that spark that sets apart the outstanding from the rest. What bothered me the most is the lack of description of the main character Reiner Hetzau. Apart from knowing he’s in early twenties, he is a blank figure. Since this man is on the cover of the omnibus, I suppose he is Reiner. Still, Long has a good sense of pacing, and builds the characters fairly well, and by the end of the novel you’ll develop a liking for most of them, no matter how unlikable they were at the beginning.
Action-wise, this novel is not as abundant as some of the other titles in the WHF universe. That is because, as said before, the protagonists are just humans, ordinary people in whose interest is to avoid conflict rather than face it. They never win their battles by might, but cunningness and wits instead. Worry not, though, because “Valnir’s Bane” offers enough action to satisfy your need for bloodshed.
“Valnir’s Bane” is definitely not the greatest read available in WHF fiction. But it’s a solid novel with a nice deviation from the usual heroic fantasy. Recommended.
From nowadays fiction, I mostly look up to the titles put out by Black Library, the publisher of Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy novels. After getting familiar with a number of authors, I observed a pattern – my favorites all had one thing in common: they were mainly influenced by classic pulp fiction literature.
Nathan Long caught my attention by accident, when I read an extract from his first Ulrika novel, "Bloodborn". I was impressed by the writing style, and having a hunch I checked the author’s site. Surprise, surprise! Long cites pulp fiction authors (my favorite - Robert E. Howard - included) as his influences. While I don’t question the Ulrika novel’s values, and I’ll most certainly read them in the future, I have no love for vampires at the moment, but Long’s previous three novels – all collected in one omnibus – were exactly to my liking. Right, now, enough with the digressions; let’s get down to business.
Reiner Hetzau, a young man, failed student, gambler, petty criminal and currently a pistolier in the Empire army, is charged – ironically – for a crime he didn’t commit, and sentenced to face the gallows. Salvation comes in an unexpected form of Baron Albrecht Valdenheim. He offers Reiner and his fellow prisoners a grim choice – either death by the noose, or a suicidal secret mission: under the command of captain Veirt they are to escort an abbess of Shallya to a distant convent, retrieve an old relic from its catacombs – the famed battle-banner known as Valnir’s Bane – and bring it back to the Baron, who would use its powers to aid his brother Count Manfred in the campaign of driving the Chaos forces out of the region and retake Nordbergbruche. The 10-men party – dubbed the Blackhearts – embarks on a perilous journey filled with secrets, lies and treacheries.
For the most part, Warhammer is heroic fantasy. On the other hand, the Blackhearts are better called anti-heroic fantasy. They are a pack of motley mercenaries – rogues, thieves, murderers, and rapists, some driven to the life of crime by will and others by unfortunate circumstances. Instead of being driven by honor and justice, the Blackhearts’ actions are mostly fueled by the want to save their own skin. However cynical and pessimistic they may seem at first, the journey will bond them together in ways they couldn’t have imagined. This provides for interesting character development.
Instead of white knights and proud champions we are presented with a group of people which, though not devoid of honor, will try to scheme and wriggle their way out of a fair fight as much as possible. They are, however, often torn between doing the right and the logical thing. While the theme is clichéd, it attracted me because of my love for action films – something that I share in common with the author – and the overall plot reminded me of the recent ensemble action film “The Expendables”.
Still, not all is perfect. The introductory short story included in the omnibus titled “Hetzau’s Follies” is rather mediocre, both in idea and the writing. After reading it, my thrill for this collection ebbed somewhat. “Valnir’s Bane”, the follow up novel to “Hetzau’s Follies”, starts similarly, but gets better as it progresses.
Nathan Long’s writing style is very good, but not excellent. He looks up to the pulp fictionists and offers detailed descriptions of locales, and you’ll always have a clear mental picture of where the characters are. However, his writing does not have that something, that spark that sets apart the outstanding from the rest. What bothered me the most is the lack of description of the main character Reiner Hetzau. Apart from knowing he’s in early twenties, he is a blank figure. Since this man is on the cover of the omnibus, I suppose he is Reiner. Still, Long has a good sense of pacing, and builds the characters fairly well, and by the end of the novel you’ll develop a liking for most of them, no matter how unlikable they were at the beginning.
Action-wise, this novel is not as abundant as some of the other titles in the WHF universe. That is because, as said before, the protagonists are just humans, ordinary people in whose interest is to avoid conflict rather than face it. They never win their battles by might, but cunningness and wits instead. Worry not, though, because “Valnir’s Bane” offers enough action to satisfy your need for bloodshed.
“Valnir’s Bane” is definitely not the greatest read available in WHF fiction. But it’s a solid novel with a nice deviation from the usual heroic fantasy. Recommended.
June 8, 2025
Valnir's Bane or how to make a suicide squad, Warhammer style
Death row inmate Reiner Hetsau and his gang of criminal friends get an offer they can't refuse: go on a tiny little short expedition deep into enemy territory and retrieve an artifact that will help avert catastrophe. The reward? Freedom... um maybe... um... What? What could possibly go wrong? Absolutely everything...
Long managed to create a bunch of antiheroes who are so likeable in their unlikeability that you'll be rooting for them even when they're robbing a widow or setting fire to an orphanage. Reiner Hetsau is the type of protagonist who would be the villain in any other book, but here he's just a guy trying to survive in absolutely ridiculous situations with an even more ridiculous gang.
The humor in this book works like a well-mixed alchemical potion – just when you stop laughing, the next line of the book will definitely make you laugh again. The book has perfect pacing – action alternates with humor and character development so smoothly that you won't even notice how quickly the pages turn.
From my perspective, Valnir's Bane is the perfect choice for anyone who wants Warhammer fantasy with a smile on their face instead of a grimace of horror. Or both?
Death row inmate Reiner Hetsau and his gang of criminal friends get an offer they can't refuse: go on a tiny little short expedition deep into enemy territory and retrieve an artifact that will help avert catastrophe. The reward? Freedom... um maybe... um... What? What could possibly go wrong? Absolutely everything...
Long managed to create a bunch of antiheroes who are so likeable in their unlikeability that you'll be rooting for them even when they're robbing a widow or setting fire to an orphanage. Reiner Hetsau is the type of protagonist who would be the villain in any other book, but here he's just a guy trying to survive in absolutely ridiculous situations with an even more ridiculous gang.
The humor in this book works like a well-mixed alchemical potion – just when you stop laughing, the next line of the book will definitely make you laugh again. The book has perfect pacing – action alternates with humor and character development so smoothly that you won't even notice how quickly the pages turn.
From my perspective, Valnir's Bane is the perfect choice for anyone who wants Warhammer fantasy with a smile on their face instead of a grimace of horror. Or both?
August 24, 2024
I found it OK. The story follows a group of convicts on a suicide mission to retrieve an ancient relic. An intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver for me. It’s probably a decent read for die-hard Warhammer fans, but others might find it lacking.
October 19, 2014
The dirty dozen/bridge on the river kwai for the warhammer setting. Good, enjoyable fantasy novel. Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
April 26, 2023
Really good book, fast paced and keeps you hooked good opening to the series
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