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Path of the Dark Eldar #2
Path of the Incubus
The eternal city of Commorragh has been cast into turmoil by the Dysjunction, a cataclysmic disturbance in the very fabric of its existence. As the streets are inundated with horrors from beyond the veil, Supreme Overlord Asdrubael Vect battles to keep his enemies in check and maintain his stranglehold over the riven city. Kabal turns upon kabal, archon against archon as the fires of hell are unleashed. Redemption for Commorragh rests in the hands of a disgraced incubus warrior wrongly accused of triggering the Dysjunction itself. His efforts to reclaim his lost honour could save the city or damn it forever – assuming it can survive the daemonic invasion and the archons’ deadly battles for supremacy.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Murder and betrayal in a dark city in this sequel to Path of the Renegade.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Murder and betrayal in a dark city in this sequel to Path of the Renegade.
279 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2013
23 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 9, 2013
The Dark Eldar series was as satisfying as the Craftworld Eldar series was disappointing. Definitely recommend it.
February 4, 2020
So, you're a writer for hire and a publishing company, let's say they're called the Black Library, get in contact saying they want you to write a trilogy of novels.
'I'll see if I can fit you in,' you say, when what you actually mean is, 'Thank God, now I'm not going to have to moonlight as an Amazon delivery man.'
And then you get your brief.
Turns out, you've got to write a trilogy of novels in which the heroes are a bunch of psychopathic interstellar elves who don't so much get off on causing pain and death but actually need to do so in order to stop themselves being dragged down the insatiable maw of the hermaphroditic, but mostly female, goddess of excess. These are interstellar elves who take seriously Aleister Crowley's dictum, 'Do what thou wilt shall be all of the law.'
So, how do you write about them? Do you take them seriously as creatures dedicated to pain and excess? Do you make them the monsters they truly are? Trying to think of an example in a human context, the obvious - Nazis, serial killers, etc - come to mind but a better example for the truly stomach churning nature of these elves of excess would be Ian Watkins, the child-molesting lead singer of the Lost Prophets, since he combined both the rock star glamour and the truly disgusting determination to plunge to the depths of what is possible in human depravity.
Andy Chambers, thankfully, decided not to go there. I don't think I could have born a trilogy in the company of creatures as depraved as that. So, yes, they are Dark Eldar, sadists and masochists, but the torture is largely off page and the machinations brought to the fore, so the trilogy can be enjoyed as a ruthless political thriller, House of Cards in the stars. As such, Chambers creates a cast of amusingly ruthless characters, illuminates - as far as is possible - the Dark City, Commorragh, where the Dark Elves dwell, and takes us on thrilling journeys along the webway, the skein of twisted reality that slides between our world and the Warp, where the Dark Eldar hide from that thirsty god who desires their souls.
So, a thoroughly enjoyable romp among the stars in the company of pschyo elves, rather than a face plant into depravity. Phew!
'I'll see if I can fit you in,' you say, when what you actually mean is, 'Thank God, now I'm not going to have to moonlight as an Amazon delivery man.'
And then you get your brief.
Turns out, you've got to write a trilogy of novels in which the heroes are a bunch of psychopathic interstellar elves who don't so much get off on causing pain and death but actually need to do so in order to stop themselves being dragged down the insatiable maw of the hermaphroditic, but mostly female, goddess of excess. These are interstellar elves who take seriously Aleister Crowley's dictum, 'Do what thou wilt shall be all of the law.'
So, how do you write about them? Do you take them seriously as creatures dedicated to pain and excess? Do you make them the monsters they truly are? Trying to think of an example in a human context, the obvious - Nazis, serial killers, etc - come to mind but a better example for the truly stomach churning nature of these elves of excess would be Ian Watkins, the child-molesting lead singer of the Lost Prophets, since he combined both the rock star glamour and the truly disgusting determination to plunge to the depths of what is possible in human depravity.
Andy Chambers, thankfully, decided not to go there. I don't think I could have born a trilogy in the company of creatures as depraved as that. So, yes, they are Dark Eldar, sadists and masochists, but the torture is largely off page and the machinations brought to the fore, so the trilogy can be enjoyed as a ruthless political thriller, House of Cards in the stars. As such, Chambers creates a cast of amusingly ruthless characters, illuminates - as far as is possible - the Dark City, Commorragh, where the Dark Elves dwell, and takes us on thrilling journeys along the webway, the skein of twisted reality that slides between our world and the Warp, where the Dark Eldar hide from that thirsty god who desires their souls.
So, a thoroughly enjoyable romp among the stars in the company of pschyo elves, rather than a face plant into depravity. Phew!
February 18, 2017
Overall I thought this was a great book though I'm hoping the point of the various plots get wrapped up in a way that makes sense in the final book of the trilogy. I am a big Dark Eldar fan- my favorite Warhammer 40,000 army (I have been playing them since their first appearance though their lack of competitiveness in recent editions have stifled my intetest to play them). What I enjoyed most was the author giving some shining moments to a great deal of the Dark Eldar's various classes- Wyches, Archons, Incubi, haemonculi, wrecks, talos and cronos, along with notable Dark Eldar personalities like Drazhar and Vect. While I understand that most of these only had cameo appearances and weren't fleshed out, it was still good to see these aspects brought to life momentarily in story. I especially enjoyed the contribution of The Harlequin Morley to the story, the additional information on the Incubi's fallen Phoenix Lord Arhra and the appropriate continuous theme of constant backstabbing, conspiracies, plot and counter-plot from all involved (and I'm not talking about just the Dark Eldar).
March 5, 2015
Damnit!! It's a trilogy itself!!
That what I thought after seeing the announcement on Black Library for the omnibus edition.
When reviewing the Path of the Renegade three years ago (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I kinda lamented it only being one part, and only being loosely coupled to the Eldar Path-trilogy of Gav Thorpe.
Well, as it turns out, this is the Dark Eldar Path-trilogy; and as it turns out, it's just as awesome.
The Renegade was about a craftworld eldar joining the "Dark Kin", and experiencing just how wicked the Eldar Empire was before the Fall: because that's what the Dark Eldar are, surviving Eldar that made the decision not to do a damned thing about their wicked ways. In the safety of the Webway they practice the same excesses as before, and when their soul gets damaged by She Who Thirsts after spending some time in Realspace they drink the suffering of their victims to repair themselves.
The Renegade connects somewhat to the Outcast in the Path trilogy
The Incubus actually connects a lot to the Warrior in the Path trilogy: Eldar mythology speaks of the Phoenix Lords, to which the shrines of the aspect warriors are devoted. However, the same mythology speaks of the Scorpion aspect, for which two Phoenix Lords existed: first there was Arhra, but because he was too violent he got replaced by Karandras. Arhra still has his shrine, one shining with dark light, where the incubi are trained.
The story follows the incubus from the first part, now elevated to main character, as he tries to recify the dysjunction unleashed upon the Dark City. Think of it as the protective bubble around the city that got punctured, and Chaos finds its way in. He is accompanied by a Harlequin that strives to protect the Eldar Race as a whole. They are opposed by a band of Craftworld Eldar - a Warlock and a band of Dire Avengers - that follow their own motives; and no, this is not your typical Good versus Evil setting.
While the story of the incubus is the main story, the other story threads are just as exciting. The archon, main character of the first part, has to continue trying to survive on the highest levels of diplomacy, scheming and outright betrayal. The haemoculus has to dodge assassination attempts from his erstwhile coven. The Dark City itself, while in outright danger, works as never before. The Dark Eldar show their worth in a real crisis, and its truly horrible (in a good sense).
If you'd consider the Eldar series alien, then this Dark Eldar series is really really Alien with capital A. Again the reader gets plunged into the set of gruesome values that the Dark Kin abide by; and while sometimes bordering on horror, the race is more understandable after you get to appreciate the exact reasons behind the horror.
While I thought the first book somewhat slow, this one really got me captivated. While it being a very stressful and exhausting week, I still HAD to read a bit further every chance I got. The author switches really fast between the main story and the substories, and each and every time there's a cliffhanger; but no part felt boring.
Now, on to the last part, on to the Path of the Archon. The situation in the Dark City got resolved (c'mon, that's not a spoiler), but the big question remains: what now??
Like the first part of the series: this is Advanced WH40K Lore, not for people that barely know the Universe... and also not for the Faint of Heart
That what I thought after seeing the announcement on Black Library for the omnibus edition.
When reviewing the Path of the Renegade three years ago (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I kinda lamented it only being one part, and only being loosely coupled to the Eldar Path-trilogy of Gav Thorpe.
Well, as it turns out, this is the Dark Eldar Path-trilogy; and as it turns out, it's just as awesome.
The Renegade was about a craftworld eldar joining the "Dark Kin", and experiencing just how wicked the Eldar Empire was before the Fall: because that's what the Dark Eldar are, surviving Eldar that made the decision not to do a damned thing about their wicked ways. In the safety of the Webway they practice the same excesses as before, and when their soul gets damaged by She Who Thirsts after spending some time in Realspace they drink the suffering of their victims to repair themselves.
The Renegade connects somewhat to the Outcast in the Path trilogy
The Incubus actually connects a lot to the Warrior in the Path trilogy: Eldar mythology speaks of the Phoenix Lords, to which the shrines of the aspect warriors are devoted. However, the same mythology speaks of the Scorpion aspect, for which two Phoenix Lords existed: first there was Arhra, but because he was too violent he got replaced by Karandras. Arhra still has his shrine, one shining with dark light, where the incubi are trained.
The story follows the incubus from the first part, now elevated to main character, as he tries to recify the dysjunction unleashed upon the Dark City. Think of it as the protective bubble around the city that got punctured, and Chaos finds its way in. He is accompanied by a Harlequin that strives to protect the Eldar Race as a whole. They are opposed by a band of Craftworld Eldar - a Warlock and a band of Dire Avengers - that follow their own motives; and no, this is not your typical Good versus Evil setting.
While the story of the incubus is the main story, the other story threads are just as exciting. The archon, main character of the first part, has to continue trying to survive on the highest levels of diplomacy, scheming and outright betrayal. The haemoculus has to dodge assassination attempts from his erstwhile coven. The Dark City itself, while in outright danger, works as never before. The Dark Eldar show their worth in a real crisis, and its truly horrible (in a good sense).
If you'd consider the Eldar series alien, then this Dark Eldar series is really really Alien with capital A. Again the reader gets plunged into the set of gruesome values that the Dark Kin abide by; and while sometimes bordering on horror, the race is more understandable after you get to appreciate the exact reasons behind the horror.
While I thought the first book somewhat slow, this one really got me captivated. While it being a very stressful and exhausting week, I still HAD to read a bit further every chance I got. The author switches really fast between the main story and the substories, and each and every time there's a cliffhanger; but no part felt boring.
Now, on to the last part, on to the Path of the Archon. The situation in the Dark City got resolved (c'mon, that's not a spoiler), but the big question remains: what now??
Like the first part of the series: this is Advanced WH40K Lore, not for people that barely know the Universe... and also not for the Faint of Heart
September 10, 2021
This one is a mixed bag. Like the previous book, I really enjoyed all the lore present in this book. Seeing the Incubi and the ways they interact with Commorragh and its politics, seeing the Asuryani from the outside this time, plus some of the more slapdash politics of the lower kabals (as opposed to the high tiers) really brought the whole world to life. All the characters I liked in the previous book returned, once again engaging even if there still wasn't much in the way of "development" except in one notable case. Maybe that's not unusual when you might live for a thousand years?
Overall though, I felt myself getting a little impatient with this book. The main characters spend pretty much the entire book split up, each following their own plotline. By the end there were a lot of them, and Chambers seemed to take a bit too much pleasure in cutting between them at pivotal moments. This was especially frustrating considering that only one of the plotlines really served the narrative and had any direction and urgency. Everyone else was basically in survival mode the entire story, without any clear or interesting goals outside of "try not to get killed." Even then, the main thread following the titular Incubi seemed drawn out in places, despite being the most compelling. By the end there was so little plot advancement overall for most of the characters that the book could have been half as long and achieved the same effect, which was primarily getting everyone where they needed to be for book 3.
Luckily, I liked Morr and Motley so much, and the time I spent with them, that it pushed me through to the end. The finale was definitely the most satisfying of the three books, which, oops, spoils what I think about Path of the Archon. I think if you liked Renegade enough, it's worth continuing here just for this pair if nothing else. But I also think you could chop this book in half and have a better paced story. Maybe if Renegade had ended sooner, and combined its rushed third act with a slimmed Incubi, it could have been a better balance. For me, anyway.
Overall though, I felt myself getting a little impatient with this book. The main characters spend pretty much the entire book split up, each following their own plotline. By the end there were a lot of them, and Chambers seemed to take a bit too much pleasure in cutting between them at pivotal moments. This was especially frustrating considering that only one of the plotlines really served the narrative and had any direction and urgency. Everyone else was basically in survival mode the entire story, without any clear or interesting goals outside of "try not to get killed." Even then, the main thread following the titular Incubi seemed drawn out in places, despite being the most compelling. By the end there was so little plot advancement overall for most of the characters that the book could have been half as long and achieved the same effect, which was primarily getting everyone where they needed to be for book 3.
Luckily, I liked Morr and Motley so much, and the time I spent with them, that it pushed me through to the end. The finale was definitely the most satisfying of the three books, which, oops, spoils what I think about Path of the Archon. I think if you liked Renegade enough, it's worth continuing here just for this pair if nothing else. But I also think you could chop this book in half and have a better paced story. Maybe if Renegade had ended sooner, and combined its rushed third act with a slimmed Incubi, it could have been a better balance. For me, anyway.
January 26, 2014
Maybe ***1/2, if I'm feeling generous, but maybe not.
I wanted to find out how the story continued, and read more description of the "Dark City," but there are problems with this installment in the Dark Eldar series: Morr and Motley's story is interesting - the most interesting subplot in the entire book, giving some fascinating background about the Incubi in general, while adding to the legends of Arhra - but it's not enough to carry the book by itself. The rest of the subplots felt ancillary, as if they were there either to fill space or to show what the Dark Eldar were capable of (Bellathonis's machinations, Yllithian's political maneuvering and paranoia, etc.), but they were typically slow. Bezieth and Kharbyr in particular felt like they added virtually nothing to the story arc.
What really killed it for me, and kept me from possibly rating it higher, was the editing. Black Library is typically fairly fastidious in their editing - I have rarely found any errors in their books - but it felt like they just phoned this one in. Either they hired a new editor, or they didn't particularly care about the editing, I don't know what happened; whatever the cause, there were enough misspellings and missing words in this book that it seriously bothered me.
I will be reading the final installment after it's released, but I think my expectations will be lower when I get to Path of the Archon.
I wanted to find out how the story continued, and read more description of the "Dark City," but there are problems with this installment in the Dark Eldar series: Morr and Motley's story is interesting - the most interesting subplot in the entire book, giving some fascinating background about the Incubi in general, while adding to the legends of Arhra - but it's not enough to carry the book by itself. The rest of the subplots felt ancillary, as if they were there either to fill space or to show what the Dark Eldar were capable of (Bellathonis's machinations, Yllithian's political maneuvering and paranoia, etc.), but they were typically slow. Bezieth and Kharbyr in particular felt like they added virtually nothing to the story arc.
What really killed it for me, and kept me from possibly rating it higher, was the editing. Black Library is typically fairly fastidious in their editing - I have rarely found any errors in their books - but it felt like they just phoned this one in. Either they hired a new editor, or they didn't particularly care about the editing, I don't know what happened; whatever the cause, there were enough misspellings and missing words in this book that it seriously bothered me.
I will be reading the final installment after it's released, but I think my expectations will be lower when I get to Path of the Archon.
September 5, 2016
There's an entertaining enough book buried in this mess, but it's just barely visible. An editor might have cleaned up the purple prose, addressed the weird tonal shifts, and cleaned up the glaring inconsistencies that occur from passage to passage.
And, even with all of those flaws, this could have been an acceptable diversion. Except there are like a half-dozen stories, interwoven to the point where progress on any one thread is always incremental. It kills the pacing of the book; it's like reading a rather dull glacier. This is not the sort of book that should be a chore to plod through; this was a chore and a failure.
And, even with all of those flaws, this could have been an acceptable diversion. Except there are like a half-dozen stories, interwoven to the point where progress on any one thread is always incremental. It kills the pacing of the book; it's like reading a rather dull glacier. This is not the sort of book that should be a chore to plod through; this was a chore and a failure.
June 11, 2021
This series kicks ass! It gives you a really good look into how life in the Dark City works while also not making it to 'human' in the process. Never while reading this did I get the feeling I was just reading about some oddly dressed humans. While the characters are great and relatable and the city of Commorragh is wonderfully fleshed out it still remains very...alien, very strange.
Getting to see how the Exodites and Harlequins live and operate was also a very nice. The action was amazing as well and once again gives you a good look at how the Dark Eldar fight whether it be against each other or other races.
Morr, Motley and Bellathonis are characters I will never forget.
All I can say is read this. You will not regret it.
Getting to see how the Exodites and Harlequins live and operate was also a very nice. The action was amazing as well and once again gives you a good look at how the Dark Eldar fight whether it be against each other or other races.
Morr, Motley and Bellathonis are characters I will never forget.
All I can say is read this. You will not regret it.
December 30, 2022
How do you write a good sequel?
You could take the cast of the first book, mix and mash them together and into unique stories that interweave and connect, and then bring other characters up with even more character as you write.
Doing that would make the sequel sing the praises of the first, but in doing so find its own voice, and actually become even better than the first.
And that's what Mr Chambers has done. Bravo sir. I look forward to the third book immensely, but am sad to know it's the end of this serise
..... At least for now.
The dark kin have a funny way of comeing back even when you think they're dead....
You could take the cast of the first book, mix and mash them together and into unique stories that interweave and connect, and then bring other characters up with even more character as you write.
Doing that would make the sequel sing the praises of the first, but in doing so find its own voice, and actually become even better than the first.
And that's what Mr Chambers has done. Bravo sir. I look forward to the third book immensely, but am sad to know it's the end of this serise
..... At least for now.
The dark kin have a funny way of comeing back even when you think they're dead....
August 21, 2020
There is a lot going on here. There are multiple plot lines that each address part of the story, but do not intersect. However, the plot lines do, mostly, resolve and the only cliffhangers are minor and to be expected.
It helps to read Path of the Renegade just before this one in order to keep track of who all the characters are.
It helps to read Path of the Renegade just before this one in order to keep track of who all the characters are.
August 26, 2018
Liked this better than Path of the Renegade. Motley was a great character once elevated to the fore. Comparisons between Incubai and the Aspects were good too.
September 24, 2021
An amazing novel,we definitely need more books with incubi characters. The plot was pretty fun. However,it was the pacing that hindered my reading experience. In the beginning it kinda feels all over the place with so many things happening at once. When everything blends in together towards the end,you are truly able to understand things clearly and appreciate their depth.
June 15, 2022
Pretty good!
April 1, 2015
Автор явно "расписался" по сравнению с первой частью. Герои обрели индивидуальность, мотивы и цели. Перед лицом катаклизма Разобщения, когда город Комморра распадается на части под атаками сил варпа, каждый делает что может и что умеет для спасения себя и ситуации. Нашлось даже место альтруизму, благородным жертвам и товариществу пред лицом превосходящего врага.
Благополучный финал, достигнутый реками крови и горами трупов очень в стиле Вархаммр 40к и в то же время удовлетворяют естественную потребность читателя " чтобы все кончилось хорошо". Для произведения по такой сложной теме как темные эльдары твердая 5. Коварство, жестокость, гримдарк, эпичность и фатализм. Все по канонам. Все на местах.
Благополучный финал, достигнутый реками крови и горами трупов очень в стиле Вархаммр 40к и в то же время удовлетворяют естественную потребность читателя " чтобы все кончилось хорошо". Для произведения по такой сложной теме как темные эльдары твердая 5. Коварство, жестокость, гримдарк, эпичность и фатализм. Все по канонам. Все на местах.
July 12, 2013
A crowning achievement and a proud in depth study of the Dark Eldar bravo Andy Chambers for writing something unique and gripping. I finished the book in a week and it was a delightful and repeatable journey.
May 3, 2014
really 4.5 but better than a 4
Basically I liked the flow of this story better than book 1 of the trilogy and I liked the way "the onion peeled" layer by layer. Moxley's character develops the history of the Eldar much better than what can find in the game Codex's.
Basically I liked the flow of this story better than book 1 of the trilogy and I liked the way "the onion peeled" layer by layer. Moxley's character develops the history of the Eldar much better than what can find in the game Codex's.
April 15, 2014
A massive Disjunction throws the Eternal City into turmoil and kabals try to overthrow the old order. The novel is a light page turner with interesting characters and good small scale action. It's interesting to see how different treacherous characters can actually be kind of likeable.
March 17, 2013
A great continuation in the trilogy. It has a good flow and characters that are easy to get attached to.
April 20, 2013
More DE fun from Mr. Chambers. If you liked the first book, this one is even better.
April 28, 2013
Path of the Archon
Path of the Haemonculi
Path of the Dracon
Path of Vect
ETC
More Dark Eldar books MUST be written...
Path of the Haemonculi
Path of the Dracon
Path of Vect
ETC
More Dark Eldar books MUST be written...
May 14, 2014
Ambitious tale with many subplots and characters, who struggle to survive in a daemon-infested city...
February 20, 2015
verry good second part to the already good first book in thge series...nice characters and good Story...worth reading
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews