The High Kâhl's Oath

by Gav Thorpe

A Warhammer 40,000 Novel

The galactic core is beset by warp storms of a fury the Leagues of Votann have not seen for ten millennia. With both the Imperium of Man and the powers of the warp encroaching further and further onto the Kin’s territories, war reigns supreme amongst the coreward stars.

READ IT BECAUSE
Read what happens when a Hernkyn Prospect leader and her companions are plunged into a venture beyond their wildest expectations, and find themselves set against an ancient, deadly foe guarding a mysterious but magnificent prize.

THE STORY
Myrtun Dammergot, leader for the Kindred of the Eternal Starforge, is in her element, exploiting the unending conflict and living a life of adventure, without the unwanted burden of responsibility.

But when a messenger from her Kindred’s Hold ship brings news that upends everything she knows, responsibility, challenges, and opportunity come knocking.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Action

263 pages, Hardcover

First published November 16, 2024

About the author

Gav spent 14 years as a developer for Games Workshop, and started writing novels and short stories in the worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 when the Black Library imprint was launched in 1997.

He continues to write for Black Library, and his first 'homegrown' novel series The Crown of the Blood has been released via Angry Robot.

Currently living in Nottingham, Gav shares his home with his loving and very understanding partner - Kez, and their beautiful little boy - Sammy.

Reviews

[Pablo Raak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bueno, una lectura... curiosa.

He leído novelas de Warhammer antes, aunque no tantas como otras personas y nunca de Warhammer 40.000. He leído, claro, libros de ejército, códices y batallatomos, pero no tanto novelas, y cuando han sido novelas, han sido novelas de Age of Sigmar. Esta ha sido mi entrada en la sección de 40k de Biblioteca Negra. Os cuento esto porque puede que esto altere mi percepción de la novela o del autor con respecto a la opinión que voy a dejar aquí.

Intentaré que sea sin spoilers, pero por si acaso, os hago un resumen previo: me ha parecido la ostia. Un poco tontorrona también, pero me ha gustado mucho. Le quito una estrella por cosas que ya entraré más a fondo en la review, así que si quieres mi opinión spoiler-free, hasta aquí puedo leer.

Ahora ya, vamos a por la review de verdad.

Había oído cosas de Gav Thorpe antes. Cosas buenas, muchas malas. Cuando se anunció que le habían dejado a él la primera novela de los enanos espaciales (de los que soy fan) hubo muchas quejas. Quejas especialmente de los fans de los eldar (de los que también soy fan), que suelen hablar de él y hacer memes acerca del trabajo tan nefasto que hizo este autor con los elfos del espacio.

No he leído las novelas de los eldar de Gav Thorpe (y, dado las tan ominosas recomendaciones, dudo si hacerlo o no). Se dice de ellas que hace a los eldars débiles, cliché, insoportables, que los somete a un montón de sufrimiento para nada, se va por las ramas con cosas de lore de las que podría ser interesante saber más para luego aparcarlas y no volverlas a mencionar. Se dice, pues, que es lo peor que les ha pasado a los eldar.

Bueno, pues no he leído las novelas de elfos espaciales de Gav Thorpe, pero por lo pronto la novela de enanos espaciales de Gav Thorpe no es como esas.

Vale que sí, algunas veces hace eso irse por las ramas con cosas de lore que podría estar más chula desarrollar y luego pum, vuelta a la trama y casi no se vuelve a hablar de ellas. Vale que algunos enanos espaciales de esta novela (o votann, si prefieres) son muy "enanos", muy cliché. Muy estereotipo. Vale que algunas cosas suenan demasiado a las pelis del Señor de los Anillos de Peter Jackson o a Star Wars. Sí, todo eso es cierto. Pero aquí los enanos no son ni débiles (de hecho, están rotos perdíos), ni insoportables y lo cierto es que les he cogido cierto cariño, aunque no tanto como el que me gustaría porque al final en esta novela pasa todo demasiado deprisa y no da tiempo a encariñarse de verdad, más sobre esto luego. Hay una diferencia muy grande, cuando lees novelas de Warhammer, entre leer novelas que son merchandising y novelas que son fanfiction. Esta novela es fanfiction. Es el trabajo de un fan para fans, y se nota y se disfruta como tal.

¿Y supongo que ese siempre fue el problema de Thorpe con los eldar? El propio autor se declara "a fan of dwarfs" en el propio preámbulo del libro y se nota. Tal vez les dieron los libros de los elfos al autor equivocado, al autor que le gusta demasiado lo de "malditos orejas picudas". Pero bueno, esta review no es sobre los libros de eldars de Gav Thorpe. Es sobre el libro de votann de Gav Thorpe. Y vaya libro.

Si bien no es nada del otro mundo (no deja de ser una especie de mezcla entre el Planeta del Tesoro y la historia media de enanos de Warhammer Fantasy, con algunas cosas de el Señor de los Anillos y Star Wars para dar sabor), al menos sí que es un trabajo muy disfrutable. Y apasionante a veces. La parte dentro de la nave tiránida... La desastrosa cena con los imperiales (que parece una sitcom, por dios)... la parafernalia de las cortes de los votann... Los propios Votann (en mayúscula, los superordenadores que guían a esta raza) hablando... Sí que le falta algo de enjundia a veces, como que le faltan unas 100-200 páginas más para explayarse a gusto o que los antagonistas fueran algo más que monstruos sin nombre. Tiránidos, orkos, guerreros del Caos, ninguno llega a tener ni nombre, son amenazas anónimas. Por último, el clímax me pareció algo *meh*. Y encima cierra como si fuera el principio de una saga (aunque es autoconclusiva, no os asustéis, es autoconclusiva, relax).

Precisamente porque le han faltado villanos con enjundia o por esa prisa por acabar que tiene algunas veces (muy notada en ese clímax tan, tan... "chimpún", tan "y ya está") creo que no se merece las cinco estrellas. Pero las cuatro que tiene se las merece más que de sobra. Es un 4,5 si me dejaran ponerlo. Por lore, por gusto de ser un fan leyendo a un fan y sobre todo por los personajes. Me cago en los Ancestros, qué personajes.

Cuando agarré esta novela jamás (¡jamás!) habría imaginado que la novela la iba a llevar palante, primero, una enana bien mayor, una abueleta motocicleta con ganas de marcha. Myrtun Dammergot que REINA (literal y figuradamente). Y encima es que no sólo es una novela llevada por una señora, es que es una novela llevada por una señora que va casada con UN ROBOT. Un robot que le gusta leer y los mapas. Lutar me calienta el corazón y me alegra muchísimo que la novela fueran estos dos y no ningún otro enano. ¿Cuántas veces habéis leído un matrimonio al borde de la jubilación con ganas de una aventura más antes de retirarse? ¿Cuánto tiempo hacía desde que leíais parejas de vejetes en fantasía? Yo puedo decir que no hace mucho porque me hinqué la Narrativa Completa de Terramar de Úrsula K. le Guin el año pasado, pero no sabía cuánto más lo necesitaba otra vez. Y no sabía cuánto necesitaba que encima uno en la pareja fuera UNA MÁQUINA. ¡Es encantandor!

A estos se unen otros tantos más. Jôrdiki, una grimnyr (una psíquico que se conecta con los superordenadores Votann) en prácticas a la que prácticamente tienen adoptada los protas. Fyrtor, un capitán de nave prospectora que es un Enano Muy Enano. Dori, que es el típico enano dramático (tipo Matador o Thorin Escudo de Roble). Y luego un par de personajes de los que no quiero hablar mucho, pero que son básicamente el lameculos y el robot que te mandan siempre Weyland-Yutani en las pelis de Alien. Aplaudiendo, a-plau-dien-do. Casi que son ellos dos los auténticos villanos de la historia, si no fuera porque realmente no son villanos. Es que los votann funcionan como Weyland-Yutani en verdad. Que no se os olvide que esto, queridos, es el oscuro futuro del Cuadragésimo-Primer Milenio (¡aunque hay sorpresa al final! ¡Léanlo para saber más!). Incluso en esta novela donde, diría yo que por una vez, triunfa el amor.

Yo que sé, es una novela tontorrona, la verdad.

Pero es una novela tontorrona que he disfrutado y ojalá hubiera durado un poco más. Es un trabajo de un fan para fans y, si te gustan los enanos como me gustan a mí, creo podrías disfrutarla. Eso sí, ten en cuenta que se queda algo corta y, también, una advertencia más para el público español: la versión inglesa de esta novela es difícil de leer. Tiene un vocabulario elevadete, puedo jurar que he leído muchas partes con un diccionario al lado y eso que tengo el C1 certificado por Cambridge.

Ojalá más novelas así de tontorronas en el 40k, en verdad. ¡Aunque, bueno, es precisamente mi primera novela de 40k! Menuda entrada...

Gav Thorpe, si me lees (sé que no, estoy esribiendo en español, lol), sé que te acusan muchos crímenes con los eldars, pero yo no los conozco (por suerte o por desgracia). A lo que a mí respecta, esta novela es un regalo. Espero una segunda parte. ¡Los Ancestros te vigilen si la haces!

[Leo The Creep · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get what this book was going for. Having to Introduce culture, ideals, technology, and etc made me think this book would be a hard read, but I feel like it was done well enough. It's not bad at all, but I feel like the characters were just bland. The writing was fine, and so was the story, but I just wish that this was maybe a bit more focused of a story.

(Personal gripe here includes spoilers) I also didn't enjoy how the main character was the High Kahl, I wish we got a character that wasn't the most important person in their empire. I feel like a character that was just an equivalent of a rogue trader would have given a more interesting story.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally a much needed Votann book!

Overall this was a fun read! Seeing the universe from the perspective of both the Hearthkyn & Ironkin, and how they interact and see the other factions beyond the Galactic Core.

There's lots of good lore to be had too, I can see myself picking up a small team of Votann after this.

My only gripe with the book is that it feels rushed and ends too quickly. It does set itself up nicely for a good sequel which I do hope it gets!

[Matt Gerlach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Mystery plotline, that integrates with the major principles of the 40k faction really well. Amazing dive into the Leagues of Votann society, culture, and world view. The faction has a great scifi foundation, and this book is a quite entertaining exploration of some of that. It probably would be pretty confusing to someone not semi-familiar with that foundation ahead of time.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great introduction to what the Leagues are like and the story is... ok. The choice of showing a language barrier with the imperium was more annoying to read than funny.

ALSO omg some of the early chapters are just way too long.

[Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was probably unfair of me to expect something other than branded fandom pulp in my branded fandom pulp novel, but everything in this book is just so disposable.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

excessively slow, but I am grateful for at least one Votann book.

[Cory Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entirely middle-of-the-road sci-fi adventure book.
I did find the introduction of the Votann into the 40k universe interesting, and their nuances and culture kept my attention. The flaws come with the pacing and the general lack of any meat on this books bones.
Still had a good enough time with it though and I am glad the Votann have introduced more mainline robot characters, as I am a big fan of the robotic life. :)

[Martin Paris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bookended with glorious combat, there's a large lull between that feels bland, and that's the majority of the book.

In the grim darkness of the far future, I suppose only the Votann could evoke 2025 Earth progressive approaches to language, by use of preferred pronouns (character Kyr Starbound they/them, though referenced on page 127 as "his"?) and plentiful female leadership roles.

I can appreciate that the Leagues are more cultured than their backwater cousins of the Imperium, it was a surprise to see this in the 40k Universe.

A wonderful and inspired choice to have Imperial dialogue phonetically spelt, as it really paints the Imperium as "other".

"Brü" thrown in now and then to scratch our Dwarf nostalgia.

Absolutely unbelievable that a Chaos Space Marine could fall so easily.

Once you understand Thorpe's approach of:
"First sentence of dialogue." Large amount of internal thought exposition "Second line of dialogue" you long for the novel equivalent of "show don't tell".

Like how I feel towards the model designs of the Votann lacking unique identity, so too does this novel and the characters there in.

[Trai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The High Kahl's Oath is a pretty easy read that tells the exciting adventure of the Myrtun Dammergot, leader of the Grand Endeavor and living legend, as she comes to terms with the choices of the Votann. Overall, the book is a fun read. The leading characters are all strong in personality and unique enough to stand out from some of their counterparts. Some of the side characters were pretty strong in personality too. Despite seeing the ultimate goal of the journy about halfway through, I think the battles and the stakes presented were enough to keep one going. Overall, an enjoyable popcorn flick of a book. Definitely want more Votann books now that we've been given this. The Ancestors are Watching

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audio book was well recorded and an easy listen! The author’s use of descriptive writing was decent, and pacing/course of events was easy to follow.

A few character interactions did feel like they lacked some depth. A few descriptions of enemy ships or environments get a bit glazed over quickly assuming you already know more about Warhammer and can infer what is being described; this is ultimately where I believe the author falls a little short.

This ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I’m looking forward to how Gav continues the series.

I recently got into miniature painting, and this really helped add context to a faction I’ve enjoyed pouring time into. Space dwarves and well written, I recommend giving this a listen/read!

[Zare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read.

Idea of space dwarfs is truly amazing one, especially when one considers their approach to wealth, accumulating goods of any kind and being pretty handy with creating almost anything. They are for all means and purposes short, with pretty short fuses too, equivalent of space elves.

So, when League of Votann novel came out, I was on a lookout to purchase it.

And it does not disappoint.

So first thing first, Kin are the capitalists - everything is for sale and if you try stepping into their territory uninvited, you are gone. You need mercenary work - of course. You need mining done for certain percentage of earnings - they are your people. But you try to cross them (and this is also true for their internal schemes) war is coming.

They wield fantastic technology - Kin being offshoot of humanity from the Golden Age, all the technology is first rate human tech from before the fall, all the Mechanicum's wet dreams and nightmares. Integrated in the Kin's ranks are Ironkin, sentient machines with all the rights and privileges of the Kin themselves. Access to such high technology makes Kin very dangerous to any opponent.

Novel walks us through the social organization, various guilds, way Kin get created (they are clones brought to life through specific clone bodies for specific purpose) and the way they steer through their rather dangerous life. All of this is great, you can feel the same dynamic as with Dwarves of the Mountain from Hobbit. They are very technically savvy, and they like to laugh about Imperium's beliefs but scratch the surface and you will see society very much religious (but dont tell them it is religion), their spiritual life led by Votann, giant sentient machines that direct every Kin's action through short communiques, apparently intentionally made difficult to decipher and thus requiring communicator cast to interpret them for the leadership. Why such ambiguous approach, well if one looks at the way of making sure that cloned population evolves more or less naturally, they need to give the Kin some breathing space for free initiative, for good or bad. At least that is my view.

So for all means and purposes these are tribes, very much infused with "chosen one" syndrome, each member highly individualistic but also devoted to the Kindred and League they belong to. With highly militaristic approach to life, ingrained aggressiveness, access to high technology and treating any foreigners primarily as target for their smashing firepower, Kin are more Old Testament Middle East than Viking (which are used as a basis when one takes into account names, titles etc).

I wont go into the details of the story, because to say anything is to ruin the experience. But for all means and purposes this is equivalent to fantasy dwarves' expedition to Dragon Mountain filled to the brim with monstrosities of all kinds. But this being W40K, ending is ..... lets say bitter.

Now, I am taking one star off for two reasons.

First is the constant internal dialogue of our main characters. To sum it up - this level of self-doubt, and constant repetition of certain thought paths is interesting at first, puzzling (because of repetition) as story moves forward and then boring as it becomes more and more dominant. It is some weird paralysis through analysis situation, totally mind boggling and taking place under great stress not because of some reason, but by design (!?!) In W40K to have something like this would mean loss of epic proportions. In this case, it ends up relatively well, but man .... it is horror.

Second is the need to be current with our worldly politics. I have to admit I would not even notice this before until it became like a requirement to be progressive. So, in short, this society of clones and walking robots, has identity issues. How in the name of all that is sane can a clone or mechanical sentient construct, that knows what one was created for, have an identity crisis? They all believe they were brought to life in the specific body (biological or mechanical) for a specific Votann goals, but they have identity issues (which basically translates to this is not what I am here for)? Weird. Then we have female Kin basically being the only sound of reason and decisive action. Every male is pissed, obedient or just outright wrong or selfish (like Lekki), fighting good but for any decision you can bet they will make wrong one by default.

Don't get me wrong, W40K has great female characters, even whole organizations made exclusively out of them, where they are deadly and decisive factors in the stories. And this is on both sides - of good and evil - but here it all sounds too much like current politics.

Again, this is SF story and you can put whatever and as long one enjoys the setting and universe everything goes. But with all the politics in last few years there seems that template exists and this is to be applied to everything, whether or not it makes sense. And it is just ridiculous. I mean to introduce the sexuality into society that is grown from genetic incubators (and thus why have any genders to begin with) .... I dont understand why things moved this way, was it truly necessary?

But that aside (and for me all these items become a background noise, and I just concentrate on the story) this is very interesting story and definitely needs a sequel (there is seed of sequel at the end, hopefully we will get one).

Very interesting story about mighty Kin, with attempt to put slightly too much into the first novel about them. Hopefully with sequels, story will become better defined.

Recommended.

[Matthew Gilliland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid entry book for the Votann. It was clearly written for this purpose and I believe it served that purpose very well.

I am very familiar with 40K (read like 50 of their books and play the game), but have virtually no knowledge of the Votann/Space Dwarfs.

This book presents them to be much more reasonable than nearly all of the other 40K races and cultures. They are driven by the need to keep their race alive, to profit and rise in the ranks and oaths. So they are very fantasy dwarf in that way, but also it reminded me of the companies in the Alien Franchise, but without the evil CEOs. Even the way the travel in the Warp is much more reasonable and sane then the others.

The ships go out to make profit and gather resources to bring back to their home. They invade Tyranid Bioships to harvest them for food and also the materials they are carrying. They respond to Imperial distress calls to work as mercenaries. They go on adventures into the unknown or lost to find something of value to their people whether it is lost tech, treasure or information.

It doesn't do anything creative or even very unexpected, but it is an enjoyable read.

They drink beer, seek treasure and swing axes.

However, they are are clones or androids, wear power armor, have future guns and plasma axes, cybernetics, some of them are made to be psychic and fly massive star ships.

I feel like it was clearly inspired by The Lord of the Rings the Mines of Moria. The vast underground network, password riddle door, lost treasure, overran by orks, population wiped out with a guide book to explain what happened and a band of adventurers going in.

I feel like if you have interest in the Votann then this book is worth your time.

The book also ends where it could have a sequel. Which I would gladly buy or if you could play that scenario as a campaign inspiration.

[Ian Cranmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, while I know that I have a baseline of liking just about any book set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, I was not expecting to so whole-heartedly love this book. I think the Leagues of Votann present such an interesting take on the grimdark genre; a people that is simultaneously technologically advanced, but still held back by dogmatic tradition and near-religious reverence of their Ancestors. The more of them that get their entire memories and lives uploaded into their titular Votann, the more they fill them with redundant bloat that has rendered them ponderous. Essentially, it's like they've downloaded too many pictures onto a computer, and rather than deleting some of the similar shots, they let them pile up into obscurity. Asking a computer to perform a simple task and then receiving a riddle in answer is so fun in a science-fantasy setting.

This book feels the closest out of any Black Library book I've read to an honest to goodness adventure. The characters are great, the stakes are high, and the call to set out on another journey is palpably strong. While I would have loved the final conflict of the B-story to have been a bit more fleshed out, I cannot help but hope for a follow-up to Myrtun Dammergot and the Kindred of the Eternal Starforge's story. The Ancestors are watching!

[Juan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally speaking, a very good book for ambience purposes and to get more information on the Leagues of Votann. However, it does have a few glaring issues, in my opinion.
Generally speaking, the fights are well and good, except for the main adversaries -the ork warlord on myrtun's side and the space marine on lekki's-, who fall quite quickly and without much fanfare, especially the SM: they are a HORRENDOUS threat, yet here he was treated as little more than a slightly more resilient cultist. It'd have been better to just make him a heretic commander or sorcerer; a chaos SM among normal people should have been a dreadful, TERRIFYING prospect.
Also, when they enter the hold it is mentioned how important finding Orthonar's axe is, yet the subject is never breached again, which is kind of jarring.
Finally, the ending seems rushed, just 'oh btw we're gonna find a new votann'. I think the situation deserved a few more pages where myrtun gets back, lekki's story gets a bit more closure, and we see the start of a new beginning.
Despite all these flaws, I'd be really keen to see a sequel focusing on the hunt for this forgotten Votann :)

[Jacob Bennike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy damn is this a great book. This is the most captivated I’ve been of a story in a long time and Gav Thorpe really delivers! The characters are interesting, well written and see a lot of development and I really hope we’re going to get more books with them.

You can read this book without knowing much about 40K, and you can certainly skip it if you’re only interested in the big galaxy picture, but it’s an awesome insight into the lives and culture of the new Squarts. Easily putting the leagues of votann as the most interesting thing that has happened in the 40K universe for a good while. At least for me.

[Andrew Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite of Gav Thorpe’s books for a while but BL and GW really missed a beat by not having this out with the main Votaan release.

As plot’s go it’s a little generic but as a vehicle to delve into the background, and character of the kin it is solid. And the plot revelations at the end were done well enough that I would really like to see a sequel.

At the end of the day, I now want to go out and paint some orange Votaan, which is a sure sign of a successful Warhammer novel about the newest faction.

[J P L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warhammer is my guilty pleasure. Don't at me.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it much either. It was just a weak "ok". There are one or two interesting characters, and diving into the lore of the LOV faction is super interesting, even if the book barely explores it.

The action and battle bits are mostly boring, save for some parts near the end. Myrtun is kind of whiney, which can get annoying. There is a weird ultimate sacrifice at the end from a character that nobody could possibly be invested in that just gets brushed off in the epilogue.

[Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book for the Leagues of Votann from black library. It is not as combat heavy as I’m sure some Black Library regulars would be looking for, but it does an amazing job of setting up some background and lore to build off of for the future of the Leagues of Votann. If you’re interested in the lore of this new faction it is a great read, if you’re looking for constant bolter/chainsword action this won’t be your cup of tea.

[Keifer Gove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great groundlevel look into the kin

Over all pretty good. The pacing was wonky at times and I think it would have benefitted from sticking to the main character and her group more. I need more lore for the kin. It was great getting a more personal look into the leagues of votann. I simply just need more.

[Robert Furlong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't lie, I was expecting way worse from the multiple reviews saying that this book didn't have a good plot. However, I personally was sucked in by the plot and really want to see more from this protagonist in the future. This book is a great source of not only League culture, but also good insights into how Tyrannids and Orks function as well.

[Michael Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this introduction to the League of Votann, it felt like three stories in one with an overal theme running through it but when you're after lore I feel this was a great way to do that, who the Votann are, what they are like, how they treat others etc. Hopefully just the start and more to come with more focus.

[John K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another foolish business decision by warhammer 40k. Females are a minority of your readers. This book is mostly female characters. I am a male. I do read sororitas books, or books like the one with female characters I have seen before. But this is just pandering to females. Wake up wh40k, I am close to stopping reading the ENTIRE series. This is disgusting.

[K'Hill Lesemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read! It’s not a heavy in depth read like I was expecting based on some other Black Library novels. A fast paced adventure into the lore of the Leagues of Votann. It has me ready for the next installment!

[fruit brutalist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad that the Votann finally got a book but I hope the next one is a little more interesting. Also, please get a different audiobook narrator for the next one, cuz this one was distractingly bad.

[Vargas, A, · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of the squats but I enjoyed this story. It fleshed them out quite a bit and gave great insight into their interactions with other races. Some parts were a little hard to follow as they have different nicknames to different factions, which makes sense story wise.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Gav's anyway, and especially Gav's dwarfs. This was different again, and a wonderful exploration of something genuinely new.

Some really memorably funny, emotional scenes stand out head and shoulders above (ahem) many other good books I'd read recently.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

There absolutely positively needs to be a sequel to this. Mirtun’s story cannot end like this.

Please Black Library and Mr. Thorpe, do not leave me hanging like this.

[Andrew Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, not great.

[Tyler Tarter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was hoping for as a Kin player. The lore bits were nice, but the story felt super rushed.