The Embrace of Pain

Black Library Advent Calendar 2016 #12

by Ian St. Martin

Lucius the Eternal is openly challenged by a champion of the old Death Guard Legion. Could an immortal daemonhost, blessed by Nurgle, be the undoing of the blademaster’s curse?

While voyaging through the depths of the warp, the infamous blademaster Lucius the Eternal is challenged by a servant of another god - a champion of the old Death Guard Legion, no less. Keen to remain dominant over his preening and ambitious rivals in the Cohors Nasicae, Lucius takes up his sword without a second thought... but could an unfeeling daemonhost of Nurgle, or the voices inside his own head, be the undoing of his Slaaneshi curse?

Lucius the Eternal is a fascinating character, and his unique curse (or blessing, depending on your point of view) coupled his pride and pitted against the gifts of Nurgle make for one hell of a tale.

Written by Ian St Martin. Performed by John Banks, Antonia Beamish, Robin Bowerman, Steve Conlin and Luis Soto.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, 40k, Short Stories

Audiobook

First published December 12, 2016

Reviews

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know how to start this one...

Lucius the Eternal has been my favourite 40k character since I got into the setting like 6 years ago. The Embrace of Pain, Ian St. Martin's first audio drama, and his second time working with the Soulthief himself. The Embrace of Pain opens up wonderfully, with suitibly creepy music, and a bone chilling intro that really sets the mood for a story about our debauched sword master. The world building and description perfect, while the action scenes were break-neck fast and horrendously bloody, and the voice acting and sound design could not have been any better. The story really shines when focusing on the big man himself, with the rich, cultured voice and the sarcastic arrogance Lucius is well known for. Normally, I'd like to add some kind of constructive criticism, especially since my favourite character is involved, but Mr. Martin nailed this one perfectly!
Easily my favourite audio drama that BL has produced to date. Damn good Mr. Martin! Thank you for the awesome story, and for easily surpassing my hopes for this audio drama!
Really can't wait for the novel!

[RatGrrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Black Library Advent Calendar short audio drama depicting a Champion of Nurgle infiltrating the ship of and challenging the Victor Szaz of the Dark Millennium, Lucius, the Eternal.

This was just what I needed as something to listen to while at low brain power. The description of the Warp in the opening was awesome and unreal as that nightmare realm should be and I really liked the details about how warped and weird the Chaos Space Marines have become, particularly the bat-come-bird of prey Raptors. The way the Nurgle element made it through the gellar field and grew was nasty and nice.

Unfortunately, the actual focus of the story, the duel, was a bit lackluster making this an OK affair that I'm glad I got in a Humble Bundle a while back, rather than purchasing this outright.

It kept me from embracing my chronic pain and being present for 20 minutes so I have to give it that, but I can't really recommend this for anyone who is an absolute 40K completionist, fiend, or Lucius Stan.

(Does Lucius even have fans, beyond himself? I know I'm not fit to judge being a granddaughter of Nurgle and a Saul Tarvitz fangirl)

[Michael Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2016 Black Library Advent Calendar hits day twelve with the fourth of six audio dramas, The Embrace of Pain by Ian St. Martin. Presumably a prequel to the upcoming novel Lucius: The Eternal Blade it finds Lucius’ vessel The Diadem assaulted by a vast, plague-ridden daemonic entity deep within the Eye of Terror. With its geller field breached and corruption spreading through its corridors, Lucius faces off against the guiding intelligence of the attack, a daemon of Nurgle who was once a warrior of the Death Guard. Though supremely confident in his martial skills, has he underestimated the danger this time?

Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...

[Hawke Embers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dripping with atmosphere and full of tantalisingly evil characters, Ian St. Martin and the Black Library/Heavy Entertainment Audio team really make you feel as if one of these characters might rip through the warp and seize you by the neck, leaving you feeling as if you can never truly relax while taking it all in. (In a good way)

A brilliant little audio drama that is short and sweet.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my kind of thing, though I have a lot of these audio books, purchased ina humble bundle, I find I'm not really a fan of them Mostly, because the stories are mediocre, and the audio adaptions are not all that great. Mostly because the background music/sounds don't really line up with what's being narrated in the story. I really liked the Graphic audio sound effects, and I guess I got spoiled by them, so now when something doesn't match the story being told (sounds don't line up with the narration), it irritates me.. Still, it was a short piece, so certainly suitable for something quick and sweet if you want a quick listen.

[Vansh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midling Children. Cringe ahh freaky bob clone here tryna pick a fight with rottigus' cousin and too craven to do so. Lucius the eternal? more like Lucius the stinky, Lucius the freaky, Lucius the "I turn humans into drugs and put them in my nose". SMH

Sincere apologies friends, I do not like most Emperor's Children. That said, the book is exactly what you expected- hateful, narcissistic and plain idiotic. Ian Martin really knows what makes EC at their core.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Valiant to write a Lucius story that doesn't employ his main conceit but it turns out he's just kind of boring otherwise.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little on the hammy side. I don't know that Lucius' adversary was particularly interesting.

[Bea O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of characterisation and world building in such a small package. I love this

[Garett Heavrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s flip a coin heads you lose and tails Lucious win

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slanesh vs Nurgle, let the battle begin! Ok well not quite but two avatars, a battle of wills and promises that test the strength of belief. This was interesting to see how much pleasure can twist the wills but pain can become fleeting as you end up chasing the balance to further extremes each time. A great battle but a scary thought of how much can the chase of pleasure cause us to lose ourselves to before we reach the point that we fall to death and decay.