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Empire Army #5
Warrior Priest
Warrior Priests are the holy crusaders of the Empire, crushing daemons, witches and heretics alike with righteous fury. These bold men wield death and damnation, with warhammers held high and the word of Sigmar on their lips. They provide the final bastion against the forces of darkness that would run rampant and forever turn the hearts of men. Jakob Wolff is one such warrior, and sets out to track down his brother, whose soul has been tainted by the Ruinous Powers. Family must be put to one side as he battles to prevent the Empire from sinking into Chaos, with only his strength of arms and the purity of his beliefs to call upon.
- GenresFantasy
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Darius Hinks
108 books129 followersDarius Hinks is an author, writing primarily in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He was born in Birmingham, England, in 1972. He works and lives in Nottinghamshire. Hinks' first novel, Warrior Priest, won the David Gemmel Morningstar award.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 21, 2020
Pretty mediocre
January 27, 2013
Full review can be read over at The Founding Fields: http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/01/...
Eroldren reviews Darius Hinks’ debut novel that is part of the Empire Army series and Morningstar 2011 awarded (David Gemmell Legend Awards) Warrior Priest.
“Watch out, Darius Hinks’ knack for writing danger can tear you straightaway into the ravaged Old World of Warhammer and keep you hooked to the very end.” – The Founding Fields
A while back I picked up Warrior Priest on the basis of that Black Library reported Darius Hinks was given a certain award: the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best New Fantasy Author. I've never had gone out my way to get ahold a new book on the word it was just recently bestowed an award, however, both the cover and an enticing enough book blurb got the better of me and I decided to see what the author had to offer. By the end of the book that purchase was justified and it was worth it. Darius Hinks is indeed a name to watch out for among the wave of new talent joining Black Library and the literary world.
Since then he’s been the author of a handful of titles, such of the likes of the Chaos-centric Warhammer Hero novel Sigvald; Sanctus for Architect of Fate, a Space Marine Battles novella anthology. And as well a Wood Elf trilogy that’s in the works which opened with Orion: The Vault of Winter. After again rereading Warrior Priest, all the titles mentioned present themselves as interesting BL venues I've yet to pursue.
For the reader’s notice, there are minor spoilers in this review but nothing of substantial material.
Before getting into the nitty gritty of Warrior Priest, Darius’ debut novel designated as part of the Empire Army novels, a short series of five independent titles and authors that are meant to serve as a means of introducing oneself with elements of Mankind and the Warhammer world. So if you’re a tad interested in reading Warhammer Fantasy fiction but don’t have any clue where to start, any of these Empire Army novels are there out there to pick up and help familiarize yourself with the inner workings of the universe.
As for the book at hand… War consumes the Ostland province we’re tossed into a village commotion: a witch burning. Told through the perspective of Anna, a priestess of Shallya and the misfortunately accused “witch” tied at the stake, unexpected circumstance lead to her freedom from her demises. Midst this distressing hour our central cast appears: Brother Jakob Wolff and Ratboy (Brother Wolff’s acolyte) arrive to seize the long sought Otto Sürman, a cruel lay Witch Hunter who condemned Wolff’s parents to death as cultists. Yet a disgraceful truth is finally realized by Jakob after paying decades in penance: the occult activities discovered long ago belonged to none other than his own brother, Fabian. With the shameful knowledge of his treacherous brother is no doubt in league with the Dark Powers and now seeks to undermine the army of General von Raukov that’s assembling to confront the incoming Chaos horde, Jakob vows to bring down his righteous fury.
Throughout of the remaining story it’s primarily set from Ratboy’s eyes, rather than from the viewpoint of Brother Wolff who you would've been expecting initially based off the book’s blurb, a fully ordained warrior priest of Sigmar instead that of the apprentice. However, it was of no matter for me for the majority of the book until I reached about two thirds way in.
In his search to determine the whereabouts of Fabian, it is Jakob’s smoldering wrath that pushes the narrative forward that’ll lead him towards his goal. Along the way characters are brought in to populate aspects of this broken world that join aside by our main trio, whether they are citizens barely clinging to faith or men seeking to aid the war effort, all of them brings you into a convincing dark atmosphere. The horrors of war are conveyed wonderfully as though Darius understands all spectrums of war and how to make use of them. There’s something just simply fascinating about Darius Hinks’ aptitude for writing this believable account and violence that just wraps me in complete immersion from start to finish.
Eroldren reviews Darius Hinks’ debut novel that is part of the Empire Army series and Morningstar 2011 awarded (David Gemmell Legend Awards) Warrior Priest.
“Watch out, Darius Hinks’ knack for writing danger can tear you straightaway into the ravaged Old World of Warhammer and keep you hooked to the very end.” – The Founding Fields
A while back I picked up Warrior Priest on the basis of that Black Library reported Darius Hinks was given a certain award: the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best New Fantasy Author. I've never had gone out my way to get ahold a new book on the word it was just recently bestowed an award, however, both the cover and an enticing enough book blurb got the better of me and I decided to see what the author had to offer. By the end of the book that purchase was justified and it was worth it. Darius Hinks is indeed a name to watch out for among the wave of new talent joining Black Library and the literary world.
Since then he’s been the author of a handful of titles, such of the likes of the Chaos-centric Warhammer Hero novel Sigvald; Sanctus for Architect of Fate, a Space Marine Battles novella anthology. And as well a Wood Elf trilogy that’s in the works which opened with Orion: The Vault of Winter. After again rereading Warrior Priest, all the titles mentioned present themselves as interesting BL venues I've yet to pursue.
For the reader’s notice, there are minor spoilers in this review but nothing of substantial material.
Before getting into the nitty gritty of Warrior Priest, Darius’ debut novel designated as part of the Empire Army novels, a short series of five independent titles and authors that are meant to serve as a means of introducing oneself with elements of Mankind and the Warhammer world. So if you’re a tad interested in reading Warhammer Fantasy fiction but don’t have any clue where to start, any of these Empire Army novels are there out there to pick up and help familiarize yourself with the inner workings of the universe.
As for the book at hand… War consumes the Ostland province we’re tossed into a village commotion: a witch burning. Told through the perspective of Anna, a priestess of Shallya and the misfortunately accused “witch” tied at the stake, unexpected circumstance lead to her freedom from her demises. Midst this distressing hour our central cast appears: Brother Jakob Wolff and Ratboy (Brother Wolff’s acolyte) arrive to seize the long sought Otto Sürman, a cruel lay Witch Hunter who condemned Wolff’s parents to death as cultists. Yet a disgraceful truth is finally realized by Jakob after paying decades in penance: the occult activities discovered long ago belonged to none other than his own brother, Fabian. With the shameful knowledge of his treacherous brother is no doubt in league with the Dark Powers and now seeks to undermine the army of General von Raukov that’s assembling to confront the incoming Chaos horde, Jakob vows to bring down his righteous fury.
Throughout of the remaining story it’s primarily set from Ratboy’s eyes, rather than from the viewpoint of Brother Wolff who you would've been expecting initially based off the book’s blurb, a fully ordained warrior priest of Sigmar instead that of the apprentice. However, it was of no matter for me for the majority of the book until I reached about two thirds way in.
In his search to determine the whereabouts of Fabian, it is Jakob’s smoldering wrath that pushes the narrative forward that’ll lead him towards his goal. Along the way characters are brought in to populate aspects of this broken world that join aside by our main trio, whether they are citizens barely clinging to faith or men seeking to aid the war effort, all of them brings you into a convincing dark atmosphere. The horrors of war are conveyed wonderfully as though Darius understands all spectrums of war and how to make use of them. There’s something just simply fascinating about Darius Hinks’ aptitude for writing this believable account and violence that just wraps me in complete immersion from start to finish.
May 9, 2018
In a world so rich with history and so many ways to approach a Warrior Priest of Sigmar it's very disappointing to find a completely generic 2D character, a generic plot, a boring somewhat lacking worldbuilding and generic description and dialogue. I struggled through the first patiently waiting improvement, but decided to just skim ahead a some point. The end was not much better.
2 stars are generous.
2 stars are generous.
February 21, 2017
As a big fan of the series, I felt that this one fell somewhere in the middle in terms of enjoyment and quality. I agree with other reviewers that there is lots of filler in this book. The main characters lack much in the way of discernible growth and development but nonetheless are still intriguing enough characters.
The massive flashback in the middle of the book really derailed things for me. You almost forget what the main story line was by the time you return to it. In addition, the main antagonists scheme does really seem excessive and utterly fraught with potential issues. Start a war to lure your brother to you?!....
Anyways, if you a fan of the series you will like this book. If you're not, I wouldn't bother with it.
The massive flashback in the middle of the book really derailed things for me. You almost forget what the main story line was by the time you return to it. In addition, the main antagonists scheme does really seem excessive and utterly fraught with potential issues. Start a war to lure your brother to you?!....
Anyways, if you a fan of the series you will like this book. If you're not, I wouldn't bother with it.
January 25, 2015
I have to say that though the book is very competently plotted, the writing is unexciting. There are too many cliches - the characters too often fit the stereotypes - the dialogue is never crisp, there's never any subtext. There is rarely any sense of a real, individual world - just a muddy mid-medieval fantasy place, utterly unspecific; there's no humour to lift the book.
The best parts are the diversions - the strange old uncle who teaches Fabian all his magic, with his druggy wife, or the two Southerners searching for death in their own different ways and bound by friendship. The central characters? meh.
You want medieval warfare? Go and play D&D instead.
You want tentacles? Read Lovecraft.
The best parts are the diversions - the strange old uncle who teaches Fabian all his magic, with his druggy wife, or the two Southerners searching for death in their own different ways and bound by friendship. The central characters? meh.
You want medieval warfare? Go and play D&D instead.
You want tentacles? Read Lovecraft.
October 2, 2018
Set in the old Warhammer timeline, follows Jakob Wolff (the titular warrior priest) as he tracks down cults of the ruinous powers.
This could have been a good book, but seemed choppy in places, with a flashback half way through that would have worked better as first chapter warm up (although it doesn't deal too much with Jakob).
The story is predictable, with characters that didn't really grow on me. The first big bad was dealt with fairly easily, the second could have been made more interesting, and the main character just ploughs through everything with his faith as a shield.
Some secondary characters are equally shallow and bolted into the back story.
The last third of the book picks up with some big battles and a bit more character development, but comes rather late to make me care.
This could have been a good book, but seemed choppy in places, with a flashback half way through that would have worked better as first chapter warm up (although it doesn't deal too much with Jakob).
The story is predictable, with characters that didn't really grow on me. The first big bad was dealt with fairly easily, the second could have been made more interesting, and the main character just ploughs through everything with his faith as a shield.
Some secondary characters are equally shallow and bolted into the back story.
The last third of the book picks up with some big battles and a bit more character development, but comes rather late to make me care.
February 18, 2017
This was an okay book.
Hinks has put together a nice group of characters in this novel. From the warrior priest, to Ratboy, to the priestess, each has their own reasons for traveling together throughout the novel, which helps to move the plot along. Despite this though, there isn't that much development that occurs between the characters. Except for the priestess, Ratboy, nor the warrior priest change that much. Instead, they move from one event to the next, never really changing, with only a fledgling romance and one moment of doubt to break things up.
Along the way, the group meets a bunch of side characters who are arguably far more interesting than the warrior priest and his ward. The priest of Morr was an interesting character for the time we see him and his pet raven. The insane witch hunter looked like he was going to play a major roll in the story, but instead seemed to get stuck into a deus ex machina roll and any/all potential he had got tossed aside as if Hinks wasn't sure what to do with him. And the warrior priest's brother, though supposedly the primary antagonist in the novel, hardly felt that way at all until the final confrontation.
Now that I have finished the novel and am thinking back to it, this story could have been streamlines a lot more than it was. Originally I was going to say something negative about the massive flashback and change of POV to the warrior priest's brother, but it was actually one of the more engaging points of the book. We got to see how the brother fell, the reasons for his anger and hate, and overall, what makes him a far more engaging and developed character than the protagonist.
The same goes for the insane witch hunter. We get to spend a large chunk of time as he heals after his encounter with the warrior priest, and see how his madness works. He is easily the scariest character in this novel and a lot could have been done with him. That is one reason it's such a shame that he is there only to show up at the right time and provide an easy out for Hinks during the confrontation.
In the end, there isn't a lot that is special in this book, other than the side characters that populate it. A lot could have been done with the trio, but instead a fair chunk of pages get taken up with the flashback to the brother, the healing of the witch hunter, and the meetings with other side characters. These spaces, though easily the better parts of the book, could have been used to develop the protagonist and his ward, turning this into a book that really is about the warrior priest. (which is the title of the book after all...)
Hinks has put together a nice group of characters in this novel. From the warrior priest, to Ratboy, to the priestess, each has their own reasons for traveling together throughout the novel, which helps to move the plot along. Despite this though, there isn't that much development that occurs between the characters. Except for the priestess, Ratboy, nor the warrior priest change that much. Instead, they move from one event to the next, never really changing, with only a fledgling romance and one moment of doubt to break things up.
Along the way, the group meets a bunch of side characters who are arguably far more interesting than the warrior priest and his ward. The priest of Morr was an interesting character for the time we see him and his pet raven. The insane witch hunter looked like he was going to play a major roll in the story, but instead seemed to get stuck into a deus ex machina roll and any/all potential he had got tossed aside as if Hinks wasn't sure what to do with him. And the warrior priest's brother, though supposedly the primary antagonist in the novel, hardly felt that way at all until the final confrontation.
Now that I have finished the novel and am thinking back to it, this story could have been streamlines a lot more than it was. Originally I was going to say something negative about the massive flashback and change of POV to the warrior priest's brother, but it was actually one of the more engaging points of the book. We got to see how the brother fell, the reasons for his anger and hate, and overall, what makes him a far more engaging and developed character than the protagonist.
The same goes for the insane witch hunter. We get to spend a large chunk of time as he heals after his encounter with the warrior priest, and see how his madness works. He is easily the scariest character in this novel and a lot could have been done with him. That is one reason it's such a shame that he is there only to show up at the right time and provide an easy out for Hinks during the confrontation.
In the end, there isn't a lot that is special in this book, other than the side characters that populate it. A lot could have been done with the trio, but instead a fair chunk of pages get taken up with the flashback to the brother, the healing of the witch hunter, and the meetings with other side characters. These spaces, though easily the better parts of the book, could have been used to develop the protagonist and his ward, turning this into a book that really is about the warrior priest. (which is the title of the book after all...)
August 8, 2011
At least this book was true to its description. Overall it wasn't bad, it ties nicely in with the rest of the Empire series. The main antagonist's plan seemed a bit like overkill, especially given he's a follower of Tzeentch. One secondary character's constant brushes with death also became tedious, unless he has some hidden reason for his fortitude. But overall, it was a relatively solid read.
April 5, 2014
Really enjoyed the story, but I found the poor editing of the book very distracting, hence the lower star rating. Spelling errors/inconsistencies, and more than one the wrong person was referred to by name, and one someone ended up having a conversation with themselves! Makes me think that the BL editors put less than their best effort in...
July 25, 2012
A very straightforward read. Was this worthy of the Gemmell Award? Hell no! This could have been edited to half it's size. It was action filled (tons of mass combat) with ok characters but nothing more than a good bus read to pass the time.
June 18, 2012
Surprisingly awesome.
September 15, 2012
Fascinating dark tale. Still like Gotrek better, but this one was entertaining. =)
November 21, 2012
Not bad but he seemed to get tired alot Fabian Wolff was an awesome character especially when he was "tutored"
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews