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Warhammer Age of Sigmar
Yndrasta: The Celestial Spear
An Age of Sigmar NovelOnly the kill soothes the storm in my soul. Only the kill proves I am the daughter Sigmar made me to be.READ IT BECAUSEFollow Sigmar’s Prime Huntress, Yndrasta, as she stalks her prey through the treacherous Realm of Ghur. Can she find and slay this creature, or will she discover a more dangerous monster in her own reflection?THE STORYThe nomadic sled-city of Riika-Min glides endlessly along the icy tundra of Ghur, its denizens’ existence entwined with the rhythm of the realm. But something is disrupting the balance of the Realm of Beasts, and when a kraken suddenly attacks, Sigmar sends his master tracker, Yndrasta, the Celestial Spear, to hunt it down.In Riika-Min, Yndrasta meets Njda, trying to guide her people to safety. Njda is at once fearful and in awe of the golden-clad warrior from the sky, and soon learns how dangerous it can be to get between a hunter and her quarry – because for all her fearsome beauty, Yndrasta is just as deadly as the beast they seek.As they close in on their target, Njda must teach Yndrasta the ways of the Realm of Beasts, and she soon finds herself wondering who the real monster is – the leviathan lurking in the deep, or the Celestial Spear sent down from the heavens?
- GenresFantasy
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2023
20 people are currently reading
156 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 11, 2023
Noah Van Nguyen has, once again, brought a corner of the Mortal Realms to life. Yndrasta, The Celestial Spear is as much about life in the forests and tundra of Ghur as it is the eponymous Stormcast. Van Nguyen’s previous novel, The Godeater’s Son, stood out partly because of the fidelity of the world-building, with attention paid to developing different cultures and linguistic features, and he repeats the trick here. The culture of the nomadic reindeer-herding inhabitants of Rikka-Min draws on that of the real-world Sámi, but the characters we meet aren’t poorly-sketched parodies. The band thrown together in the opening chapters are economically developed, all with compelling histories and relationships that nicely add to the story.
As with this novel’s preceding short, Monsters, Van Nguyen’s take on the Stormcast is complicated. Yndrasta is more inhuman than anything, but still relatable. The repetition of her titles, most notably ‘Sigmar’s most perfect daughter’ rings ever more hollow each time- is that something to actually be proud of? Her actions throughout the book undercut the notion that her brethren are heroic, altruistic or noble- or at least as these terms are often understood. We get flashbacks of her fragmented memories that serve to inform her of what drove her to be the sort to be selected by Sigmar, and also what this has cost her. Yes, she is serving a greater good, but the novel leads the reader to consider the cost of these actions- once again, how different is she from the monsters she hunts?
This book isn’t self-important, pious or boring though. The opening is unsettling and has a sense of unfolding horror, the action scenes are exciting and the inevitable pitched battle at the conclusion is bloody and chaotic. The book managed to transport me from my garden on the hottest day of the year to Ghurish winter with ease. Van Nguyen makes Yndrasta genuinely awesome to the mortals she encounters and her battlefield prowess does the same to the reader. There’s a scene involving a whale that does this incredibly well, but also has possibly made me laugh more than in any other BL novel. There’s a heart to this book, it has a rare for BL exploration of romantic and familial love, and this helps to add to the stakes of the story.
The author has done more than any other to get be not only interested in but invested in the setting. Cannot wait to read more from him.
As with this novel’s preceding short, Monsters, Van Nguyen’s take on the Stormcast is complicated. Yndrasta is more inhuman than anything, but still relatable. The repetition of her titles, most notably ‘Sigmar’s most perfect daughter’ rings ever more hollow each time- is that something to actually be proud of? Her actions throughout the book undercut the notion that her brethren are heroic, altruistic or noble- or at least as these terms are often understood. We get flashbacks of her fragmented memories that serve to inform her of what drove her to be the sort to be selected by Sigmar, and also what this has cost her. Yes, she is serving a greater good, but the novel leads the reader to consider the cost of these actions- once again, how different is she from the monsters she hunts?
This book isn’t self-important, pious or boring though. The opening is unsettling and has a sense of unfolding horror, the action scenes are exciting and the inevitable pitched battle at the conclusion is bloody and chaotic. The book managed to transport me from my garden on the hottest day of the year to Ghurish winter with ease. Van Nguyen makes Yndrasta genuinely awesome to the mortals she encounters and her battlefield prowess does the same to the reader. There’s a scene involving a whale that does this incredibly well, but also has possibly made me laugh more than in any other BL novel. There’s a heart to this book, it has a rare for BL exploration of romantic and familial love, and this helps to add to the stakes of the story.
The author has done more than any other to get be not only interested in but invested in the setting. Cannot wait to read more from him.
July 1, 2023
Without a doubt this is the best Age of Sigmar book Black Library have released - and the second best was Noah Van Nguyen's last novel, Godeater's Son. The mortal realms have often come across a little bland in fiction for me, but not here. One more novel this good from Noah Van Nguyen and I'm going to start saying that AoS has found its own Aaron Dembski-Bowden or Chris Wraight!
July 17, 2023
I bought this book because it is very very pretty. It turns out it is also a great story, with excellent world building, a unique take on Stormcast and their relationship with Sigmar, and more realm beasts than you can shake a (frozen) stick at. Worthy 5 stars.
November 9, 2025
Hard to review.
I think 75% of this book should be way more interesting than it is. I can't say why, but almost every human character fell flat for me until the end. I know Nguyen can write compelling mortal characters because he did it a lot in Godeater's Son, they just don't land for me here, especially the main character I think. Also the final battle feels cluttered and hard to follow. I had an especially difficult time figuring out how the main character helped near the end. Ultimately the mortal characters had me put down this book for a while as I read other stuff.
The other 25% of this book is really compelling I think. Most of this compelling stuff I'd say comes from Ynrasta who this book presents as really interesting, but I also quite like the epilogue, where all the characters end up, and the section building up to the final battle.
I think 75% of this book should be way more interesting than it is. I can't say why, but almost every human character fell flat for me until the end. I know Nguyen can write compelling mortal characters because he did it a lot in Godeater's Son, they just don't land for me here, especially the main character I think. Also the final battle feels cluttered and hard to follow. I had an especially difficult time figuring out how the main character helped near the end. Ultimately the mortal characters had me put down this book for a while as I read other stuff.
The other 25% of this book is really compelling I think. Most of this compelling stuff I'd say comes from Ynrasta who this book presents as really interesting, but I also quite like the epilogue, where all the characters end up, and the section building up to the final battle.
August 25, 2025
As a non-native speaker, the wording in this book gave me trouble. It took some time to understand what the author wanted to say in the first couple of chapters. The second half of the book is where it starts to get interesting for me.
August 6, 2023
Noah’s previous book ‘Godeaters Son’ was excellent; and this was a perfect follow up.
Yndrasta is an interesting and dichotomous character that deserves a novel like this - characterful, with tremendous world building.
Njda is a tremendous foil for Yndrasta, a mirror for her mortal self, as she struggles to comprehend the value and motives of the people she saves. She encompasses the sheer brutality and vengeance of Sigmar, while presenting as a beautiful angelic saviour.
A must read for anyone who is a fan of the Mortal Realms, it delivers a deep, impactful tale that opens so many doors to explore.
Yndrasta is an interesting and dichotomous character that deserves a novel like this - characterful, with tremendous world building.
Njda is a tremendous foil for Yndrasta, a mirror for her mortal self, as she struggles to comprehend the value and motives of the people she saves. She encompasses the sheer brutality and vengeance of Sigmar, while presenting as a beautiful angelic saviour.
A must read for anyone who is a fan of the Mortal Realms, it delivers a deep, impactful tale that opens so many doors to explore.
January 31, 2025
I really wanted to like this book. The ideas within are great: the Incarnates as protectors of cities, tjatsar Mai/old man jasper as a mibd controlling leviathan, Yndrasta as Sigmar's weapon who struggles with humanity, a city made out of sled houses pulled by reindeer!
However, few of these ideas delivered. Before we get to know Reindeer City (Riika Min) at all, it is destroyed. Our MC is thrust into a quest with a handful of other survivors, all of whom have longstanding issues with eachother. Over the course of the book, these issues just kind of go away? Until suddenly at the end they all consider each other family.
Yndrasta is barely present, amd when she is she's pretty boring, and her struggle over being sigmar's weapon and not a person feels half-baked at best.
The best section was the end, where Yndrasta and old Jasper May fight whike orrucks attack a free city. Honestly, I wish that had ben the whole book.
However, few of these ideas delivered. Before we get to know Reindeer City (Riika Min) at all, it is destroyed. Our MC is thrust into a quest with a handful of other survivors, all of whom have longstanding issues with eachother. Over the course of the book, these issues just kind of go away? Until suddenly at the end they all consider each other family.
Yndrasta is barely present, amd when she is she's pretty boring, and her struggle over being sigmar's weapon and not a person feels half-baked at best.
The best section was the end, where Yndrasta and old Jasper May fight whike orrucks attack a free city. Honestly, I wish that had ben the whole book.
May 6, 2024
Fine story, not a fan of the storytelling style
Shifting between two characters with more focus on a character that the book isn't titled after. I get the need to have a human to contrast the might and eternal being that is Yndrasta but then also adding a tribal aspect to the character that while learning the culture was cool, the beliefs of the character seemed to abstract alot of detail when told from her point of view. The ending also felt rushed with a final battle in a city that I couldn't quite get the lay of and by the time I was starting to the battle was over and characters died somewhat unceremoniously. It just felt weird to have them there and then just kind of have a single sentence sending them off. The thing that really saved the book for me was every moment with Yndrasta, if only there were more moments with her.
Shifting between two characters with more focus on a character that the book isn't titled after. I get the need to have a human to contrast the might and eternal being that is Yndrasta but then also adding a tribal aspect to the character that while learning the culture was cool, the beliefs of the character seemed to abstract alot of detail when told from her point of view. The ending also felt rushed with a final battle in a city that I couldn't quite get the lay of and by the time I was starting to the battle was over and characters died somewhat unceremoniously. It just felt weird to have them there and then just kind of have a single sentence sending them off. The thing that really saved the book for me was every moment with Yndrasta, if only there were more moments with her.
January 26, 2025
I really enjoyed learning how life looks like for regular people in the Mortal Realms. Van Nguyen has woven an unique tapestry of living, superstition and traditions for the people in Realm of Ghur. The stark contrast between the main character and the titular character makes for interesting moments that examines the power of community and stories.
However, I feel a bit disappointed at how it all ends. This is my first Warhammer: Age of Sigmar novel so I might've jumped into this with wrong expectations. I loved Yndrasta but I can't help but feel a bit let down at . I'm well aware that this might be entirely intentional as to convey the pointlessness of it all, but it felt a bit unfair here.
However, I feel a bit disappointed at how it all ends. This is my first Warhammer: Age of Sigmar novel so I might've jumped into this with wrong expectations. I loved Yndrasta but I can't help but feel a bit let down at . I'm well aware that this might be entirely intentional as to convey the pointlessness of it all, but it felt a bit unfair here.
October 24, 2024
Unreadable garbage! Without doubt one of the worst pieces of prose I have ever attempted to read. Mis titled, Disjointed and lurches from scene to scene with no flow whatsoever. Very difficult to work out what is going on at all. I am a huge fan of age of Sigmar collecting and painting the models and have enjoyed the black library so far. Unfortunately this book is not for me and I will not be reading this author again.
Even my wife who is an avid fantasy fiction reader threw this onto the floor in frustration after reading the first chapter saying she didn’t know what the author was talking about.
Even my wife who is an avid fantasy fiction reader threw this onto the floor in frustration after reading the first chapter saying she didn’t know what the author was talking about.
April 7, 2025
I am a big fan of the Warhammer Hobby specifically 40k, although im not a major fan of reading Sci-fi, so I decided to delve into Warhammer’s Age of Sigmar with this Novel and I was extremely impressed by the character driven storytelling!
The book was daunting as there is so much lore behind AOS but after 2-3 chapters I felt as though I knew everything I needed!
What surprised me was that Yndrasta was not the main character but this surprise was welcome in the fact thay Njda, Magga, heigen, bavval & Valter are all well rounded unique characters with beautifully crafted motives!
I will most definitely be reading more from Van NGuyen as this novel has re-sparked a recently lost love of Fantasy Writing.
The book was daunting as there is so much lore behind AOS but after 2-3 chapters I felt as though I knew everything I needed!
What surprised me was that Yndrasta was not the main character but this surprise was welcome in the fact thay Njda, Magga, heigen, bavval & Valter are all well rounded unique characters with beautifully crafted motives!
I will most definitely be reading more from Van NGuyen as this novel has re-sparked a recently lost love of Fantasy Writing.
March 24, 2024
Thrilling, full of ambience and violence, and it really made this snowy part of Ghur feel alive. Some frustrations with interactions with the characters, but perhaps that was the intent. The people felt painfully real and complicated. Yndrasta’s growth throughout the tale was also a joy to experience. I think this one beats out Hamilcar’s novel as my favorite AOS book, but only just.
May 19, 2024
I picked this up expecting something more akin to the Realmgate Wars stormcast stories or the Steelsoul series. Very little focus on the book’s namesake, which was disappointing. It did give some insight into life in the realms and was okay as a story, but I was expecting more of a tale of Yndrasta herself.
August 8, 2024
I really enjoyed the story but a lot of the Njda chapters were hard to follow, I could tell what he was trying to do by writing the story through her eyes/thoughts but jeez the wording would make it feel like I was reading something originally written in a different language that was poorly translated to English.
August 21, 2024
Finished Yndrasta, I’d give it 4.5 out of 5, I’d heard Noah van Nguyen was really good at world building specifically from a mortal/human perspective and after reading one of his books I’d say he really does deserves that praise!
The main group of characters were all really fun and interesting, Yndrasta herself was totally different than I expected.
The only thing I struggled with was that they use a lot of Sami words and terminologies that confused me and it took me about 60 pages to get my bearings and figure out the difference between a Siida and a Boazu etc.
The main group of characters were all really fun and interesting, Yndrasta herself was totally different than I expected.
The only thing I struggled with was that they use a lot of Sami words and terminologies that confused me and it took me about 60 pages to get my bearings and figure out the difference between a Siida and a Boazu etc.
October 14, 2024
A book with so much potential, but unfortunately falls short due to pretentious wording which is widely unnecessary. As a result, the pacing feels off and prevents you from being able to lose yourself in the text. This felt more like a chore to read, which is disappointing as there is a good story here, even with limited characters and narrow plot.
April 25, 2025
more of a 2.5 in that it's got a bunch of elements that're very close to making it a good book, but the author doesn't know how or wasn't allowed to push it over the line and do anything that'd make it interesting to read
October 19, 2023
Might be the worst piece of prose I have read in my life. I do not remember when I was so disappointed.
It reads like a book written by a child, first one at that.
It reads like a book written by a child, first one at that.
Read
July 30, 2024I wish it just had... like... more Yndrasta
January 18, 2025
Всъщност (засега поне) единствената реално добра Warhammer книга, която съм чел.
Направо заслужава другите да ги понижа със звезда, за да е ясна разликата
Направо заслужава другите да ги понижа със звезда, за да е ясна разликата
January 23, 2025
Was good.
dnf
February 5, 2025DNF at about 50%. Not only am I bored out of my mind, but I'm irritated. This is so jumpy and confusing. I just can't take it anymore. Maybe I'll revisit it in the future, but definitely not now.
April 28, 2024
This is my first Warhammer Age of Sigmar story, with the exception of those in the horror imprint. I don't usually read AoS, as I know very little about the world, as my focus is on the Warhammer 40k universe.
The world building was fine, although a little tricky to just jump into without much prior knowledge of AoS. There were quite a few things that I ended up looking up or skimming past because I don't have any previous experience with this world and the species that inhabit it. What I did learn about it was kinda cool though, and does have me interested in finding out more. Although it still doesn't compete with 40k in my opinion.
I was very glad that I went into this book pre-warned that there would be very little of Yndrasta in it, despite her being the title character. I think I would have been more disappointed if I hadn't already known that was going to be the case. Even so I was still surprised by just how little page time she got.
The story actually follows Njda and her companions as they travel across Ghur. I can understand the author's choice here to explore Yndrasta from a human viewpoint rather than trying to form a story from someone's point of view that seems very disconnected and without many feelings, but I still feel it lacked something. The author's note at the end was particularly interesting in explaining some of the choices they made while writing this book.
The plot was fine, but not overly engaging. I didn't find myself eager to pick the book up to find out what happened next. Despite the characters coming upon some serious trouble, the stakes never felt too high. Which might be something to do with the fact that I wasn't overly invested in the characters.
Overall, this was an interesting glimpse into life on Ghur, but that's about all it's got going for it. I'm not sure I'd be interested in rereading it.
The world building was fine, although a little tricky to just jump into without much prior knowledge of AoS. There were quite a few things that I ended up looking up or skimming past because I don't have any previous experience with this world and the species that inhabit it. What I did learn about it was kinda cool though, and does have me interested in finding out more. Although it still doesn't compete with 40k in my opinion.
I was very glad that I went into this book pre-warned that there would be very little of Yndrasta in it, despite her being the title character. I think I would have been more disappointed if I hadn't already known that was going to be the case. Even so I was still surprised by just how little page time she got.
The story actually follows Njda and her companions as they travel across Ghur. I can understand the author's choice here to explore Yndrasta from a human viewpoint rather than trying to form a story from someone's point of view that seems very disconnected and without many feelings, but I still feel it lacked something. The author's note at the end was particularly interesting in explaining some of the choices they made while writing this book.
The plot was fine, but not overly engaging. I didn't find myself eager to pick the book up to find out what happened next. Despite the characters coming upon some serious trouble, the stakes never felt too high. Which might be something to do with the fact that I wasn't overly invested in the characters.
Overall, this was an interesting glimpse into life on Ghur, but that's about all it's got going for it. I'm not sure I'd be interested in rereading it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews