What do you think?
Rate this book
Warhammer Age of Sigmar
Anvils of the Heldenhammer: The Ancients: Warhammer Age of Sigmar
A Warhammer Age of Sigmar Audiobook
Against orders from her superiors and faced with a horde of the Blood God’s faithful, a Stormcast Eternal undertakes a mission that may prove more treacherous than she could have ever imagined.
LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
It’s an action-packed adventure following a Stormcast Eternal that must decide whether what they truly believe to be right is more important than their faith in the God-king.
THE STORY
It has been twenty years since Anvilgard – now known as Har Kuron – fell to the Daughters of Khaine, and a terrible secret waits in the occupied city’s depths.
Knight-Incantor Tivrain Greymantle is haunted by the call of her brothers and sisters, who Morathi-Khaine has imprisoned there, knowing that if they were killed or released, her perfidy would be revealed to Sigmar as he reforges their souls. Commanded by her superiors to forget their captured comrades, Tivrain resolves to do the defy Sigmar himself, brave the steaming jungles of Aqshy’s Crucible of Life, infiltrate Anvilgard, and liberate them.
Pursued by her superiors and on a collision course with a horde of Khornate Bloodbound, Tivrain and her companions forge onward, unaware that their mission – and destinies – may prove more treacherous than they could have ever imagined.
Against orders from her superiors and faced with a horde of the Blood God’s faithful, a Stormcast Eternal undertakes a mission that may prove more treacherous than she could have ever imagined.
LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
It’s an action-packed adventure following a Stormcast Eternal that must decide whether what they truly believe to be right is more important than their faith in the God-king.
THE STORY
It has been twenty years since Anvilgard – now known as Har Kuron – fell to the Daughters of Khaine, and a terrible secret waits in the occupied city’s depths.
Knight-Incantor Tivrain Greymantle is haunted by the call of her brothers and sisters, who Morathi-Khaine has imprisoned there, knowing that if they were killed or released, her perfidy would be revealed to Sigmar as he reforges their souls. Commanded by her superiors to forget their captured comrades, Tivrain resolves to do the defy Sigmar himself, brave the steaming jungles of Aqshy’s Crucible of Life, infiltrate Anvilgard, and liberate them.
Pursued by her superiors and on a collision course with a horde of Khornate Bloodbound, Tivrain and her companions forge onward, unaware that their mission – and destinies – may prove more treacherous than they could have ever imagined.
- GenresFantasy
Audible Audio
First published October 26, 2024
5 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 14, 2025
I'm came to this because it seemed like extra background for a campaign I'm planning for the Soulbound RPG and because it appeared to be a blending of the mythos of Age of Sigmar with the plot of Rambo: First Blood Part II. So, I had to see how that turned out!
I'm glad that premise got me to pick up this book up. It had great characters, fun details about the world, and it expertly and poignantly illustrated the tragic existence of the Stormcast Eternals. It also had some awesome battle scenes reminiscent of the Siege of Gondor in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
I'm glad that premise got me to pick up this book up. It had great characters, fun details about the world, and it expertly and poignantly illustrated the tragic existence of the Stormcast Eternals. It also had some awesome battle scenes reminiscent of the Siege of Gondor in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
August 10, 2025
I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator (Gabrielle Nellis-Pain) did an excellent job.
The book's interesting premise - a cadre of Stormcast Eternals struggling to extract/free comrades - is overwhelmed by a bloat of undeveloped characters (protagonists and antagonists) and scenes pulled from a Random Encounter Table. The hype around this book should (unfortunately) be tempered by the caveat, "For a Warhammer novel."
The biggest foil for the story is the antagonists. There are too many and each of them is so underdeveloped that I can only call them "antagonists" because of their function within the story, rather than out of any inspired feeling. I think the story would have benefited from totally eliminated or spotlighting the [Chaos Faction]. And I think the best solution would have been to really focus on the Stormcast struggle with themselves.
The question that was teased, and I wish had been the main focus of the book, is, "What is my purpose?" That's relatable and one thing that the existence of a Stormcast *ETERNAL* can facilitate an imaginative exploration. There's SO MUCH exposition about this, but hardly anytime for me to sit with it in order to care.
A case-in-point, which I don't consider spoiling, is a Stormcast's relationship with an insurgent human. We meet them at the beginning of the book, then find them just before the final act and are treated to a big speech about, "This mortal is what I'm living for! And what I will die for!" This could have been evocative, but we haven't spent more than 1000 words on these "characters" so I don't feel anything with this proclamation. There are many other moments in the story where I thought, "Oh, the author is really laying it on thick with these two!" It all felt like making up for time wasted elsewhere.
This story is mediocre. The lead is compelling, but the ensemble is forgettable. This book is fine to pass the time, but underwhelming and unsatisfying.
The book's interesting premise - a cadre of Stormcast Eternals struggling to extract/free comrades - is overwhelmed by a bloat of undeveloped characters (protagonists and antagonists) and scenes pulled from a Random Encounter Table. The hype around this book should (unfortunately) be tempered by the caveat, "For a Warhammer novel."
The biggest foil for the story is the antagonists. There are too many and each of them is so underdeveloped that I can only call them "antagonists" because of their function within the story, rather than out of any inspired feeling. I think the story would have benefited from totally eliminated or spotlighting the [Chaos Faction]. And I think the best solution would have been to really focus on the Stormcast struggle with themselves.
The question that was teased, and I wish had been the main focus of the book, is, "What is my purpose?" That's relatable and one thing that the existence of a Stormcast *ETERNAL* can facilitate an imaginative exploration. There's SO MUCH exposition about this, but hardly anytime for me to sit with it in order to care.
A case-in-point, which I don't consider spoiling, is a Stormcast's relationship with an insurgent human. We meet them at the beginning of the book, then find them just before the final act and are treated to a big speech about, "This mortal is what I'm living for! And what I will die for!" This could have been evocative, but we haven't spent more than 1000 words on these "characters" so I don't feel anything with this proclamation. There are many other moments in the story where I thought, "Oh, the author is really laying it on thick with these two!" It all felt like making up for time wasted elsewhere.
This story is mediocre. The lead is compelling, but the ensemble is forgettable. This book is fine to pass the time, but underwhelming and unsatisfying.
November 13, 2025
Hard to rate this one, it's more a 3.5, probably not for me on reflection, but I was glad to have read it.
Thematically, there was a lot to enjoy; the discussions around memory are well evoked, especially by the end, and there a number of engaging speeches and dialogue spread throughout which expand on the nature of what it is to be Stormcast. My heart was genuinely touched a few times, and as I did with Blacktalon, came out of it with a great sympathy for the mortals and a seething hatred for Sigmar.
Alas, the constant need to reiterate everyone's full name and rank, along with the exposition can make the whole thing feel very clunky and in service to showcasing the model range rather than delight you with its prose. It's all very clear and easy to follow, but I struggled with portentousness at times, and some of the dialogue, especially the villains, can get a bit Saturday morning cartoon, despite the interesting ideas the book deals with.
Thematically, there was a lot to enjoy; the discussions around memory are well evoked, especially by the end, and there a number of engaging speeches and dialogue spread throughout which expand on the nature of what it is to be Stormcast. My heart was genuinely touched a few times, and as I did with Blacktalon, came out of it with a great sympathy for the mortals and a seething hatred for Sigmar.
Alas, the constant need to reiterate everyone's full name and rank, along with the exposition can make the whole thing feel very clunky and in service to showcasing the model range rather than delight you with its prose. It's all very clear and easy to follow, but I struggled with portentousness at times, and some of the dialogue, especially the villains, can get a bit Saturday morning cartoon, despite the interesting ideas the book deals with.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews