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Warhammer Age of Sigmar
Godeater's Son
This is a Mortal Realms story with a twist – a virtuous man succumbs to the path of darkness, and wages a war against Sigmar.
Heldanarr Fall dreams of a world without gods.
When the Azyrites descended upon the Burning Valley – a kingdom carved from the Aqshian desert – they brought arrogance and cruelty with their riches, and a god who seemed blind to it all. Despite harrowing losses, Held clung to his people’s ways, forging a new existence without a single prayer to the armoured deity, Sigmar.
Now, all Held wants is solitude. But after saving a Sigmarite priestess from violent death, her troubles catch up to them and destroy the last of his peace. First broken, then enraged, he launches a brutal war of vengeance against Sigmar’s worshippers, and soon finds himself thrust against the Stormcast Eternals, led by the cunning strategist Ildrid Stormsworn.
Alone, he cannot hope to win, yet surrender would mean accepting the mercy of a god he despises. To defeat the Stormcasts and avenge his fate, Held must embrace older, darker powers that risk the very freedom for which he fights. But when Sigmar's rulers are tyrants and the Champions of Chaos prove worthy, which path is the most righteous? And once this choice is made, who will Heldanarr Fall become?
Heldanarr Fall dreams of a world without gods.
When the Azyrites descended upon the Burning Valley – a kingdom carved from the Aqshian desert – they brought arrogance and cruelty with their riches, and a god who seemed blind to it all. Despite harrowing losses, Held clung to his people’s ways, forging a new existence without a single prayer to the armoured deity, Sigmar.
Now, all Held wants is solitude. But after saving a Sigmarite priestess from violent death, her troubles catch up to them and destroy the last of his peace. First broken, then enraged, he launches a brutal war of vengeance against Sigmar’s worshippers, and soon finds himself thrust against the Stormcast Eternals, led by the cunning strategist Ildrid Stormsworn.
Alone, he cannot hope to win, yet surrender would mean accepting the mercy of a god he despises. To defeat the Stormcasts and avenge his fate, Held must embrace older, darker powers that risk the very freedom for which he fights. But when Sigmar's rulers are tyrants and the Champions of Chaos prove worthy, which path is the most righteous? And once this choice is made, who will Heldanarr Fall become?
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2023
40 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Noah Van Nguyen
21 books30 followersI'm the author of Elemental Council, Yndrasta: The Celestial Spear, and Godeater's Son. I live in the US with my wife. In early 2025, our son's going to join us and ruin our good time. We can't wait.
Check out my blog, The Lingual Fantast! (noahvannguyen.com)
I like coffee. It's a problem. I'm decent with foreign languages. I'd love to hear from you if you care to share.
Check out my blog, The Lingual Fantast! (noahvannguyen.com)
I like coffee. It's a problem. I'm decent with foreign languages. I'd love to hear from you if you care to share.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 12, 2023
Is The Godeater’s Sun the best AoS book? From the limited sample that I’ve read, I’d say absolutely yes. It‘s depiction of Fall’s gradual embrace of Chaos might even be the best representation of the Dark Gods in all of BL’s output too. For any fan of Warhammer of any stripe, I’d say it is a must-read.
The decision to write from the first person is a great one, one that is enhanced by the audiobook- Timothy Watson gives excellent bastard. In using this approach Godeater’s Son feels not unlike Cornwall’s Winter King books. Like those we see a society brought low by time, some parts clinging to what came before, others adapting to and embracing the new order. In Van Nguyen’s hands, the Great Parch feels like a long-established setting, not one being explored for (presumably) the very first time. Nothing feels inconsequential and many small details return to significance later in the story.
Obstentiously charting the rise to prominence of a Chaos Champion, the titular Heldanarr Fall, this book is about much more than that. Drawing on the author’s own military experiences, it explores the impact than an occupation can have on a population in a way that is more nuanced than your typical BL novel. Familial and cultural relationships are also explored and the book also explores the importance of friendship bonds. That’s not to say it’s all introspective meditation on themes and feelings and stuff- the book is full of well-written action, and does a good job of gradually increasing the scale of conflicts as Fall’s status grows.
The decision to write from the first person is a great one, one that is enhanced by the audiobook- Timothy Watson gives excellent bastard. In using this approach Godeater’s Son feels not unlike Cornwall’s Winter King books. Like those we see a society brought low by time, some parts clinging to what came before, others adapting to and embracing the new order. In Van Nguyen’s hands, the Great Parch feels like a long-established setting, not one being explored for (presumably) the very first time. Nothing feels inconsequential and many small details return to significance later in the story.
Obstentiously charting the rise to prominence of a Chaos Champion, the titular Heldanarr Fall, this book is about much more than that. Drawing on the author’s own military experiences, it explores the impact than an occupation can have on a population in a way that is more nuanced than your typical BL novel. Familial and cultural relationships are also explored and the book also explores the importance of friendship bonds. That’s not to say it’s all introspective meditation on themes and feelings and stuff- the book is full of well-written action, and does a good job of gradually increasing the scale of conflicts as Fall’s status grows.
February 28, 2023
‘Want is a poor fuel for faith,’ she said. ‘Faith is what the gods want. Not this. Not desperation.’ Even now, years later, I say all faith is desperation. Not a mortal in the realms worships the gods for nothing. Once I had been certain this was why my people, vagrants from cradle to cairn, made for a stronger breed than the Azyrites I had met. Our desires were enormous. Our wants, unsated. In our starving childhoods we had amused ourselves with toys built from refuse. We had struggled to fill our bellies and asked for nothing from the divine. Yet Azyrites like Se Roye and her broad-backed Freeguilders had been born in castles. They beseeched their God-King for trifles – and their God-King provided.
December 10, 2024
The best black library novel. An actual slow decent into chaos. There's even themes! In a black library novel! I've kept telling people warhammer is satire for so long that I forgor what it was like to eat good again!
Unfortunately, I am a slaanesh player, so I'm obligated to give this a zero out of five.
Unfortunately, I am a slaanesh player, so I'm obligated to give this a zero out of five.
August 27, 2023
There are some really interesting concepts here, in particular the impact of colonialism with the Azyrites as the occupiers, and Aqshy really comes to life with some cool locations and ideas. Thematically it’s a book with a lot of possibilities, especially when you also factor in Fall’s determined rejection of all gods. But for me it tried to do far too much, rushing to cram too many ideas into a single story and as a result ending up with characters I didn’t really believe in and a plot that didn’t engage me. There’s a lot of narrative convenience at play here, not to mention odd pacing both in-universe and for the reader, and Fall seems to swing between a simple tribesman and an educated, erudite warrior.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2023/08/...
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2023/08/...
April 15, 2023
Godeater’s Son is an enthralling read, touching on a wide range of topics rarely covered in Warhammer fiction.
Heldenarr Fall is an interesting, at times relatable, yet also somewhat unlikeable antihero who struggles to reconcile his want for revenge and justice in a realm that cares little for the weak and poor.
The world feels real and complete, with characters that ebb and flow through the story as needed.
A very entertaining look at the trials and tribulations faced by mortals in The Mortal Realms.
Heldenarr Fall is an interesting, at times relatable, yet also somewhat unlikeable antihero who struggles to reconcile his want for revenge and justice in a realm that cares little for the weak and poor.
The world feels real and complete, with characters that ebb and flow through the story as needed.
A very entertaining look at the trials and tribulations faced by mortals in The Mortal Realms.
April 13, 2023
Well written, and does a great job of bringing the weirdness of the Realm of Fire to life. Also explores the question of "what can make someone embrace the dark gods of chaos?" convincingly.
The actual story is more a smoldering fire than a raging fire though, and I had to put in some effort to fan the flames of passion and motivate myself to keep reading at times.
The actual story is more a smoldering fire than a raging fire though, and I had to put in some effort to fan the flames of passion and motivate myself to keep reading at times.
September 20, 2024
Too many clichés after an amazing start really undermine what could have been an excellent story.
February 4, 2024
This is a complex book. The protagonist’s background and motivations are complex. This book combines historical and social allusions to South and North America and even the oil economy. The family and friend relationships range from sad to bittersweet; there is no happiness as we measure happiness. The philosophy of chaos is bleak but also attractive; it is the last blade that destroys the wielder as well as the victim. It reminds me of Fight Club; people will find meaning in despair. They have to. It is a good thoughtful story; not typical of many AOS novels. I say that in full respect and appreciation of all the AOS stories. Good read.
May 7, 2024
This is a real tussle of a book.
Like most Warhammer novels, its all about conflict. So that's a tussle.
It's also a tough read.
It's tough because Nguyen has a rather poetic style, made even more imaginative by the voice of the narrator. This is a well-developed voice, but an annoying one. It's tough to put up with Fall.
It's also a tough read because, while it starts with a bang, much of the middle is a bit of a slog, weighted down by proper nouns, time skips, and, again, the narrator's apparent attempt to make his experience as cryptically explained as possible.
On some levels this style works because we're talking about fantasy in a mythical realm full of gods and souls that work with vague mechanics; on other levels its unnecessarily circuitous.
The ending, however, makes it all worthwhile. This book deserves the praise we nerds heap on it.
If you like Warhammer, Chaos especially, it's a real treat if you go in understanding what you're getting. If you don't know much about Warhammer this will either be a huge hit or a huge miss, depending on your taste.
Like most Warhammer novels, its all about conflict. So that's a tussle.
It's also a tough read.
It's tough because Nguyen has a rather poetic style, made even more imaginative by the voice of the narrator. This is a well-developed voice, but an annoying one. It's tough to put up with Fall.
It's also a tough read because, while it starts with a bang, much of the middle is a bit of a slog, weighted down by proper nouns, time skips, and, again, the narrator's apparent attempt to make his experience as cryptically explained as possible.
On some levels this style works because we're talking about fantasy in a mythical realm full of gods and souls that work with vague mechanics; on other levels its unnecessarily circuitous.
The ending, however, makes it all worthwhile. This book deserves the praise we nerds heap on it.
If you like Warhammer, Chaos especially, it's a real treat if you go in understanding what you're getting. If you don't know much about Warhammer this will either be a huge hit or a huge miss, depending on your taste.
December 28, 2023
A new dark lord rises
WOW, I was not expecting that!
I have not been a fan of Age of sigmar much, and I have certainly not read much up on that setting. However, this novel does not really require you to know much in order to become immersed as the author does an incredible descriptive telling of what you need to know through the eyes of our character, Held.
Plot twists, slaughter, combat, Khorne, comrades, traitors, and enemies nearly everywhere, Noah Van Nguyen takes you on a wild ride that was a really well put together epic story.
I can't wait to find out more about the godeaters son!
WOW, I was not expecting that!
I have not been a fan of Age of sigmar much, and I have certainly not read much up on that setting. However, this novel does not really require you to know much in order to become immersed as the author does an incredible descriptive telling of what you need to know through the eyes of our character, Held.
Plot twists, slaughter, combat, Khorne, comrades, traitors, and enemies nearly everywhere, Noah Van Nguyen takes you on a wild ride that was a really well put together epic story.
I can't wait to find out more about the godeaters son!
September 11, 2023
Muy buen libro. No solo por ser entretenido sino también por lo que te hace pensar o reflexionar. Me gustó la postura o visión de mundo que muestra con respecto a las convicciones religiosas, el fanatismo, y la evolución de los individuos con poder político, militar, o incluso religioso. Por ese “extra” le doy unas bonitas 4 estrellas.
March 30, 2024
Heldenarr Fall is a great character and we see his entire development in this one novel. The writing style is great and it does a great job and making you root for the bad guy (good guy?). I would 100% recommend this for general fantasy lovers, rebels, those against organized religion or Black Library enthusiasts.
February 18, 2024
"We are mortals of dust and clay but some higher sickness within us worships the narcotic transcendence of violence".
January 14, 2025
One of the best Age of Sigmar novels to date. Very well written with gritty combat and conflicted characters.
February 26, 2025
A very well written story that flowed well. It was very gorey and pretty gross in it's descriptions, which was good, because I had a clear idea of what was happening.
February 26, 2025
Best Warhammer book I ever read, and the only one to get me misty-eyed.
April 20, 2025
3.7
Can be quite cryptic and difficult to follow at times but first person perspective is well thought out and there’s definitely a long enough burn to make the ending feel worth it
Can be quite cryptic and difficult to follow at times but first person perspective is well thought out and there’s definitely a long enough burn to make the ending feel worth it
July 18, 2025
Great book about the chaos waste, and a great ending for the book with a twisted i wasn't expecting.
November 2, 2025
Great twists and surprisingly thought provoking characterisation for a novel about people stabbing and eating each other.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews