Children of Teclis

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

by Evan Dicken

A Lumineth Realm-lords Novel

Loreseeker Elarin delves into the tomb-prison of Nagash in order to prevent his resurrection. What she finds there is not what she expects.

READ IT BECAUSE
It’s a fascinating glimpse of two very different aelven cultures – the blighted and desperate Idoneth Deepkin, and the skilled but haughty Lumineth Realm-lords.

THE STORY
Nagash is cast down. The Lumineth stand triumphant. Mighty Teclis, in his wisdom, has left his children to guard the tomb of the Great Necromancer.

Loreseeker Elarin the Illuminated is one such soul. Determined to prevent Nagash’s resurrection, she delves deeper than any other, risking both the ire of her allies and her very being to uncover the secrets of Marrowscar.

However, a hidden danger lies at the heart of this ancient Ossiarch necropolis. The Idoneth Deepkin, reavers from the ocean floor, intend to use Marrowscar’s forbidden knowledge to heal their withered souls, even at the cost of Lumineth lives. If Elarin is to save her kin and stop the return of the God of Death, she must do the unthinkable and damn her Deepkin cousins to their nightmare existence.

Genres: Fantasy

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2023

Reviews

[Anthony Nardiello · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shines at its best when it is focused on what is obviously the core of the story, the differing perspectives on the Lumineth and Idoneth lifestyles, and how both groups view the god that created them, Teclis. If that core had been the focus of the book, then I easily could see it being one of my favorite in the Warhammer series!

Instead, we have plot points about Necromancy, Nagash, and the his potential return which just feels like padding and a waste of space! The Ossiarch’s in this book have none of the character that you usually like to see in their more focused series. Nagash, if you have no understanding of who he is, is literally just a boogeyman with which to kickstart the plot!

The results of this leaves the book lacking, as if the author set out to write an IDK vs Lumineth book, and was forced to include the Ossiarch and Nagash plots for company mandates. Overall, 3/5, because when the book is focused on its emotional core, it is so good!

[Davy Delbeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children of Teclis is a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who wants to familiarize with both Aelven races but it's needlessly muddied by the presence of the Ossiarch Bonereapers. It's only there to push the narrative forward. Weirdly though, I found the battle scenes to be a bit of a drag. This novel actually shines at it's dialogue. I read this novel with the soundtrack of Game of Thrones playing in the background and felt it suited it perfectly.

Like in A Song of Ice and Fire, Evan Dicken succeeded in making you understand what ticks both factions and by doing so, empathize with their cause. Even when they perform heinous acts. I especially liked how our main character Elarin fought to make, what she perceives, the best choice at every point of the story, only to find that she was wrong. It's what I like about Warhammer as a franchise. The gray zone of morality and how you navigate and survive in such a world.

I'll definitely check out Dicken's other work after this!

[Luc Forsyth · Rating 2 out of 5]

i’m plenty familiar with warhammer 40k but new to any of the novels and sigmar world, so this was a real challenge to adjust to all the names, places, factions, roles etc. you’re really thrown in the deep end, with lots and lots to remember and keep up with. that was a shock to the system for sure.
the overall tone is fun and i really liked the protagonist, flawed and as headstrong as she was, and i liked how much she messed up throughout the story, odd as that sounds. that being said, the plot is kind of messy! there’s a lot of back-n-forth, lots of overcomplicating the situation and with the onslaught of people and places to remember, it got difficult to keep up with everything and everyone involved.
also was there a teensy weensy smidge of enemies-to-lovers? did i read that right? i thought elaris and echaros could’ve had something there. maybe it’s just me.
overall pretty fun, but a hassle to read. i like the lumineth and idoneth a LOT though

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Lumineth book, even better Idoneth book

For fans of the Magic of the Realms. Very magic heavy with fun insights into how Lumineth spellcraft works and also insights into the magics of Idoneth sorcery. While this is a Lumineth starring book I find that the Idoneth Deepkin steal the show as this is one of the best and most interesting looks we get into their workings. Very illuminating to see the contrasts and comparison between Teclis' favored children and the children he failed

[Jo Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but lacked that special sauce that really pulls me in as a reader; its style and prose isn't much to speak of. That said, I LOVED the tone and the overall plot, even if some elements could have used more pages to progress really organically. The book does a lot with a little, but I don't know if it being "little" was especially necessary. Still, it's good to see an organic, VERY cynical plot in the world of AOS. It's not often you see characters make so many wrong choices for fairly intelligent, believable reasons.

[James Simmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is surprisingly dark for an AoS book if you are used to the tones of many others. I struggled about 1/3 into the book either due to pacing or the lack of something special and captivating but it was worth finishing as there is some payoff in seeing character grow and the outcomes of sibling factions. It wouldn't be my first recommendation for LRL, but considering how absent Deepkin books are. It re-ignited the interest to maybe paint some up.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read about trauma that scorns friendship and irreconcilable differences. The ending was sad but realistic.