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Hallowed Knights #1
Warhammer Age of Sigmar - Seuchengarten: Hallowed Knights Band 1
A Warhammer Age of Sigmar novel
During the greatest battles of the War for Life, the Stormcast Eternals suffered a great tragedy: the Hallowed Knights Lord-Castellant Lorus Grymn was lost to the Realm of Chaos. Now his fellow Steel Souls venture into the domain of Nurgle himself in search of their lost comrade…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a return to the Mortal Realms… sort of. It's something new for the Age of Sigmar as the Stormcast Eternals take on Chaos not just in the usual places, but right in the very heart of the Dark Gods' own domain.
THE STORY
As the War for the Realm of Life continues, Lord-Castellant Lorrus Grymn leads the battered remnants of the Steel Souls warrior chamber against the sargasso-citadels of the Verdant Bay. The Hallowed Knights claim victory, but at a terrible cost – Grymn is lost to Realm of Chaos. Now Gardus, newly-reforged and fresh from the destruction of the Scabrous Sprawl, must lead his warriors into the foetid heart of Nurgle's realm in search of the Lord-Castellant, where they must once more brave the horrors of the Realm of Decay...
During the greatest battles of the War for Life, the Stormcast Eternals suffered a great tragedy: the Hallowed Knights Lord-Castellant Lorus Grymn was lost to the Realm of Chaos. Now his fellow Steel Souls venture into the domain of Nurgle himself in search of their lost comrade…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a return to the Mortal Realms… sort of. It's something new for the Age of Sigmar as the Stormcast Eternals take on Chaos not just in the usual places, but right in the very heart of the Dark Gods' own domain.
THE STORY
As the War for the Realm of Life continues, Lord-Castellant Lorrus Grymn leads the battered remnants of the Steel Souls warrior chamber against the sargasso-citadels of the Verdant Bay. The Hallowed Knights claim victory, but at a terrible cost – Grymn is lost to Realm of Chaos. Now Gardus, newly-reforged and fresh from the destruction of the Scabrous Sprawl, must lead his warriors into the foetid heart of Nurgle's realm in search of the Lord-Castellant, where they must once more brave the horrors of the Realm of Decay...
Perfect Paperback
First published June 17, 2017
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About the author
Joshua Reynolds
313 books339 followersJosh Reynolds’ work has previously appeared in such anthologies as Historical Lovecraft from Innsmouth Free Press and Horror for the Holidays from Miskatonic River Press, and his novel, Knight of the Blazing Sun, is currently available from Black Library. He can be found at: http://joshuamreynolds.wordpress.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 29, 2017
Let's get the obvious out of the way here. This is an Age of Sigmar novel, so in part you know what you'll be signing up for. There's plenty of fighting to be found, because of course there is. There's a whole buffet of settings and locales which, quite frankly, all but put me off my lunch on more than one occasion. If you like anything with even the faintest mote of Nurgle's festering blessings upon it, then Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden is a must(y)-read.
Pirates man. Nurgle frigging pirates! No more traipsing over endless grim battlefields for Age of Sigmar. Oh no, Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden takes the archetypes we know and love (or love to hate) and chucks them into an overflowing vat of bilge water during high tide. Not once in over two decades of reading Warhammer literature did I imagine Plaguebearers hoisting the main sail, but here we are, and here we have an example of just how well it can be done.
Delightful (or disgusting) as the battles going on around the characters may be, it is their internal conflicts which stand out in Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden.
Never in seven times seven years did I imagine that the standout characters of this book wouldn't be the 'poster boys' Gardus and Grymn (though they do shine with the radiance one might expect. It is in fact Tornus and one of the better characters in Nurgle's roster (who's name I won't spoil) who turned Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden from fun frolic into the plague realms to something altogether exquisite.
Laughs too were to be found while reading the book. One in particular between two Stormcast debating the finer tactical points of a shield caught me off guard and set off a laugh so loud I believe the neighbours heard it over their incessant hoovering and X-Files reruns.
Now let's be fair here. Most books, be they great or otherwise, have a tendency to leave the reader wanting just a little more of a particular scene or character. Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden does indeed have this, but only in one place. A philosophical debate is set up, one that promises to be a hoot, and then falls away in favour of some good old fashioned Rotbringer bashing. To call this a problem, however, is to invite falsehood. There was enough to give me a glimmer of hope and laughter, and the fact I'm already buying a goat to sacrifice for just one more line of said debate is more praise for this fact than disappointment.
Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden is, without a doubt, worthy of a seat upon the pinnacle of Age of Sigmar literature so far, and dare I say will keep its place at the table for many years to come.
(Count the Seven. Seven paragraphs. Count the Seven).
Pirates man. Nurgle frigging pirates! No more traipsing over endless grim battlefields for Age of Sigmar. Oh no, Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden takes the archetypes we know and love (or love to hate) and chucks them into an overflowing vat of bilge water during high tide. Not once in over two decades of reading Warhammer literature did I imagine Plaguebearers hoisting the main sail, but here we are, and here we have an example of just how well it can be done.
Delightful (or disgusting) as the battles going on around the characters may be, it is their internal conflicts which stand out in Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden.
Never in seven times seven years did I imagine that the standout characters of this book wouldn't be the 'poster boys' Gardus and Grymn (though they do shine with the radiance one might expect. It is in fact Tornus and one of the better characters in Nurgle's roster (who's name I won't spoil) who turned Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden from fun frolic into the plague realms to something altogether exquisite.
Laughs too were to be found while reading the book. One in particular between two Stormcast debating the finer tactical points of a shield caught me off guard and set off a laugh so loud I believe the neighbours heard it over their incessant hoovering and X-Files reruns.
Now let's be fair here. Most books, be they great or otherwise, have a tendency to leave the reader wanting just a little more of a particular scene or character. Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden does indeed have this, but only in one place. A philosophical debate is set up, one that promises to be a hoot, and then falls away in favour of some good old fashioned Rotbringer bashing. To call this a problem, however, is to invite falsehood. There was enough to give me a glimmer of hope and laughter, and the fact I'm already buying a goat to sacrifice for just one more line of said debate is more praise for this fact than disappointment.
Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden is, without a doubt, worthy of a seat upon the pinnacle of Age of Sigmar literature so far, and dare I say will keep its place at the table for many years to come.
(Count the Seven. Seven paragraphs. Count the Seven).
February 17, 2020
This is set in the Age of Sigmar timeline. As Chaos has taken over the world, Sigmar returns and with a new weapon- Stormcast Eternals. Warriors who can be killed but reform to fight again. These Stormcasts, led by Lord Castellant Lorrus Grymn of the Steel Souls, engage in a fight with Nurgle.
Events lead to their eventual entrampment in Nurgle's plane. Gradus of the Steel Souls leads a party into Nurgle's realm to assault it and return the Lord Castellant. This was a pretty epic fight as these Stormcasts wage war on Grandfather Nurgle.
While I am not as familiar with the Age of Sigmar as I am with the Old World lore, it was still a nice and fun read. I might have liked it more with some better background, but this was still a good book to read. Fun and exciting, it introduced me to the world setting for Age of Sigmar.
Events lead to their eventual entrampment in Nurgle's plane. Gradus of the Steel Souls leads a party into Nurgle's realm to assault it and return the Lord Castellant. This was a pretty epic fight as these Stormcasts wage war on Grandfather Nurgle.
While I am not as familiar with the Age of Sigmar as I am with the Old World lore, it was still a nice and fun read. I might have liked it more with some better background, but this was still a good book to read. Fun and exciting, it introduced me to the world setting for Age of Sigmar.
January 27, 2019
Bueno, tuvo que pasar. Nunca he sido un lector de la Black Library, pero sabía que algún día pasaría por mis manos una obra de Games Workshop. A fin de cuentas, crié mi hábito lector en los relatos grimdark que venían en las White Dwarf, cuando sólo tenía 12 añitos. Ahora, y con la inestimable ayuda de un grupo de lectura de Warhammer del que formo parte, por fin me meto en este mundillo.
Como digo, tengo poco recorrido como lector de Warhammer. Antes de que os lo preguntéis, no: no he leído ni una sola de las novelas de la Dark Heresy (todavía). Y la única novela del universo Gotrek y Félix que he leído es Vidente Gris (que es reconocida por muchos como una de las peores, ¿por qué? A mí me gustó...). Así que, evidentemente, tengo una perspectiva muy reducida de lo que producen o dejan de producir los autores de la ilustre Biblioteca Negra. Pero sí que tengo algo de más experiencia con las novelas de Magic: the Gathering y Dragonlance, así que sé a lo que me estoy enfrentando.
Y a lo que sé que me estoy enfrentando, como ya he dicho otras veces, es a merchandising. Y es que, seamos sinceros: todos estos universos literarios son productos de venta y catálogos de miniaturas. Y en esta novela no es excepción. Pero, como en todas las otras novelas de merchandising que he leído, eso no es impedimento para disfrutar y en esta también he disfrutado. Tiene sus problemas (que describiré a continuación), pero he disfrutado.
Os pongo un poco en situación. Esta novela se ubica en la nueva y joven épica de los Reinos Mortales, los ocho planos de existencia que son el campo de batalla eterno del Orden, el Caos, la Muerte y la Destrucción. Y es el setting por defecto de la línea de miniaturas Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. La novela nos coloca en uno de estos ocho planos: Ghyran, el Reino de la Vida, y nos permite tomar partido y presenciar un nuevo enfrentamiento entre las fuerzas del Orden (en este caso representadas por los Hallowed Knights de los Stormcast Eternals) y del Caos (representados por los Nurgle Rotbringers en esta ocasión). Si alguno se está preguntando a qué viene tanto espanglish, es que es la política actual de la empresa con sus nombres, que se ha mantenido más o menos estable en la novela. Muchas personalidades y entidades del libro tienen sus nombres traducidos, pero también hay muchas que están en frío y eficente inglés.
Esto, evidentemente, es y ha sido una cosa que ha dificultado la lectura, pero una vez te acostumbras a que salten nombres en otra lengua casi que lo dejas pasar. Eso sí, no dejas de tener la sensación de que quieren dejar muuuy clarito qué unidad (comprable en la tienda) está saliendo en cada escena. Y eso hace a veces farragosa la lectura.
Estos puntos negativos son los que, entiendo, quitarían a cualquier lector normal de esta novela. Esto es una obra para personas que quieren saber más de sus miniaturas y su mundo, está claro. Y eso no está mal, a ver: cumple su función. Y lo cierto es que la cumple muy bien. ¿Que no se la leerá nadie que no le interese Age of Sigmar? Seguro. Pero tampoco es que la vayamos a pedir más, ¿no?
Así pues, supongamos que te gusta Age of Sigmar y quieres saber más. Pasado este crucial cuello de botella, pasas al otro cuello de botella que le encuentro a esta novela: la cantidad de personajes.
En esta novela hay personajes buenos, meridianos y regulares. No pasa nada: en todas las novelas los hay. El problema es que hay MUCHOS personajes. Dado que sigues las aventuras de una huestormenta de los Hallowed Knights, el libro se esfuerza en presentarnos y hacer queribles a-casi-todos-y-cada-uno de los miembros del ejército, algo que es imposible. En un determinado momento de la lectura te preguntarás "¿y este pajo metálico cuándo ha salido, que no le reconozco?". Y serán raros los personajes que al final consigan calarte. Precisamente acabas casi cogiéndole más cariño a algunos malos de la historia que a los buenos, por el simple hecho de que son menos en número.
Pero, obviando la enorme cantidad de soldados no-anónimos que olvidarás al instante, hay otros que se hacen de querer. De todos los que hay me acuerdo de Gardus, el Lord Celestant (el jefe de la compañía), que fue médico antes de ser soldado de Sigmar y una especie de linterna purificadora andante. De Tornus, mi favorito, un guerrero del Caos reconvertido a sigmarita y del que todo el mundo se esfuerza en recordarle un pasado que quiere olvidar. De Morbus, el Mago Alfa y maestro de ceremonias de la Huestormenta, que es un personaje que consigue dar empaque y gravedad a todas las escenas en las que sale. De Cadoc, un insoportable príncipe que hace de bully de Tornus. Y de Enyo, Power Ranger Rosa de la Huestormenta (hay más chicas en el ejército -gracias a los dioses- pero de Enyo es de la única de la que te acuerdas al final).
Todos estos personajes están más o menos bien, les coges el cariño suficiente como para que te dé pena que mueran (no me pasó lo mismo, por ejemplo, con los personajes de la Quinta Era de Dragonlance). Morbus incluso está bastante bien escrito: a veces ni siquiera habla, pero su simple presencia ya hace que los personajes tengan que pensarse lo que dicen, como si les hubiera replicado antes de hablar.
Además, están todo el rato diciendo "¡Sólo los fieles!". Consiguen que te acabes vienendo arriba.
Pero, de nuevo, casi que te acuerdas más de los malos, por repugnantes que sean. He de recordar que los malos de esta historia son heraldos de Nurgle, señor de la descomposición y la enfermedad, por lo que son ASQUEROSOS de leer en todas y cada una de sus interacciones. Pero, obviando eso, su personalidad "borderline" es digna de leerse. Gutrot Spume tiene unos diálogos geniales y Bubonicus tiene una ingenuidad e integridad dentro de su locura general que consigue que hasta le tengas cariño. Todo esto sumado al hecho, ya impresionante y delicioso, de que se narra su vida desde su punto de vista. Algo que disfruto, puesto que yo fui jugador del Caos en su día y casi nunca tuve la oportunidad de observar qué hay en el interior de la cabeza de un guerrero del Caos. Si os interesa lo más mínimo saber cómo piensan los guerreros de Nurgle TENÉIS que leer esta novela. A mí ya me han dejado comprado para la novela de la Varanguard. Ya no seré del Caos, pero quiero saber más de ellos sí o sí.
Así pues, los personajes están ok. Pero, ¿y el worldbuilding? ¿Qué hay de él? Bueno, del worldbuilding hay una cosa que me gusta y una que no.
Y ahora es cuando vienen los spoilers, así que cuidado si aún no la habéis leído.
Lo que me gusta de esta novela es que, de la mitad para delante, ocurre toda entera en el Jardín de Nurgle, un trozo del (hasta ahora) desconocido Reino del Caos. Lo que no me gusta es... pues precisamente eso, que ocurre en el Jardín de Nurgle.
Al desplazar la acción al terrible matadero con forma de vergel podrido que Nurgle usa como jardín de placer, se gana la oportunidad de saber cómo funcionan los Reinos del Caos, desconocidos hasta ahora para mí. Pero, a cambio, se pierde la oportunidad de desarrollar cómo funcionan los Reinos Mortales, que me interesan mucho más, puesto que son los nuevos. No pasaba nada porque el Caos siguiera siendo una masa amorfa (¿o debería decir disforme?) e intangible. Precisamente lo guay del Reino del Caos es cuando es inefable. Pero los Reinos Mortales me interesan porque me estoy iniciando en Age of Sigmar, así que claro, me quedo con ganas de más.
Además, las partes del Jardín (que son muchas) están todas descritas con enfermizo detalle, incidiendo en la enorme cantidad de pústulas, bilis, bubas, zarpullidos, pelusas y demás cosas asquerosas que el Abuelo Nurgle se ha dedicado a colocar allí. Leer las partes que ocurren en el Jardín sienten como dormir una fiebre de 38º con mocos en la garganta, de estos que dan dolor de barriga. Pero, teniendo en cuenta que es el dios de la plaga y la enfermedad, casi que debe ser el efecto deseado. Pero me alegro de que se acabara, uf. La próxima novela será de otro Dios del Caos o no será.
Así pues, en worldbuilding me quedo con ganas de más. Pero también aprueba porque permite conocer cómo piensa el Caos. Y porque ha vuelto la magia del Viejo Mundo, ampliada, mejorada, reafirmada y potenciada. Espero, en próximas novelas, saber más de esas voces que escuchan todos los magos y de ese lenguaje que todas las cosas hablan, con una de las ocho lenguas cósmicas. Y de cómo los poderes del Caos y de la Muerte vigilan lo que los magos hacen, puesto que interfieren en sus dominios, y quiero saber los resultados que puede tener fallar en esconderse de estas fuerzas vigilantes en las tinieblas.
Así pues, como ya he dicho varias veces en esta review, esta novela cumple, en lo poquito y en lo justito para que la apruebe. No se me quedará para siempre grabada en la memoria, pero no me arrepiento de haberla leído. Y no ha sido para nada un viaje desagradable y difícil: al contrario, siempre he querido leer más. Como ya digo, si te interesa el mundo de Age of Sigmar, y (sobre todo) si te interesa cómo funciona el Caos (especialmente Nurgle), deberías echarle un vistazo. Esta es una novela para fans y se nota. Tal y como dirían los Hallowed Knights, que no podrían haberlo resumido mejor:
¿Quien disfrutará de esta novela?
¡SÓLO LOS FIELES!
Como digo, tengo poco recorrido como lector de Warhammer. Antes de que os lo preguntéis, no: no he leído ni una sola de las novelas de la Dark Heresy (todavía). Y la única novela del universo Gotrek y Félix que he leído es Vidente Gris (que es reconocida por muchos como una de las peores, ¿por qué? A mí me gustó...). Así que, evidentemente, tengo una perspectiva muy reducida de lo que producen o dejan de producir los autores de la ilustre Biblioteca Negra. Pero sí que tengo algo de más experiencia con las novelas de Magic: the Gathering y Dragonlance, así que sé a lo que me estoy enfrentando.
Y a lo que sé que me estoy enfrentando, como ya he dicho otras veces, es a merchandising. Y es que, seamos sinceros: todos estos universos literarios son productos de venta y catálogos de miniaturas. Y en esta novela no es excepción. Pero, como en todas las otras novelas de merchandising que he leído, eso no es impedimento para disfrutar y en esta también he disfrutado. Tiene sus problemas (que describiré a continuación), pero he disfrutado.
Os pongo un poco en situación. Esta novela se ubica en la nueva y joven épica de los Reinos Mortales, los ocho planos de existencia que son el campo de batalla eterno del Orden, el Caos, la Muerte y la Destrucción. Y es el setting por defecto de la línea de miniaturas Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. La novela nos coloca en uno de estos ocho planos: Ghyran, el Reino de la Vida, y nos permite tomar partido y presenciar un nuevo enfrentamiento entre las fuerzas del Orden (en este caso representadas por los Hallowed Knights de los Stormcast Eternals) y del Caos (representados por los Nurgle Rotbringers en esta ocasión). Si alguno se está preguntando a qué viene tanto espanglish, es que es la política actual de la empresa con sus nombres, que se ha mantenido más o menos estable en la novela. Muchas personalidades y entidades del libro tienen sus nombres traducidos, pero también hay muchas que están en frío y eficente inglés.
Esto, evidentemente, es y ha sido una cosa que ha dificultado la lectura, pero una vez te acostumbras a que salten nombres en otra lengua casi que lo dejas pasar. Eso sí, no dejas de tener la sensación de que quieren dejar muuuy clarito qué unidad (comprable en la tienda) está saliendo en cada escena. Y eso hace a veces farragosa la lectura.
Estos puntos negativos son los que, entiendo, quitarían a cualquier lector normal de esta novela. Esto es una obra para personas que quieren saber más de sus miniaturas y su mundo, está claro. Y eso no está mal, a ver: cumple su función. Y lo cierto es que la cumple muy bien. ¿Que no se la leerá nadie que no le interese Age of Sigmar? Seguro. Pero tampoco es que la vayamos a pedir más, ¿no?
Así pues, supongamos que te gusta Age of Sigmar y quieres saber más. Pasado este crucial cuello de botella, pasas al otro cuello de botella que le encuentro a esta novela: la cantidad de personajes.
En esta novela hay personajes buenos, meridianos y regulares. No pasa nada: en todas las novelas los hay. El problema es que hay MUCHOS personajes. Dado que sigues las aventuras de una huestormenta de los Hallowed Knights, el libro se esfuerza en presentarnos y hacer queribles a-casi-todos-y-cada-uno de los miembros del ejército, algo que es imposible. En un determinado momento de la lectura te preguntarás "¿y este pajo metálico cuándo ha salido, que no le reconozco?". Y serán raros los personajes que al final consigan calarte. Precisamente acabas casi cogiéndole más cariño a algunos malos de la historia que a los buenos, por el simple hecho de que son menos en número.
Pero, obviando la enorme cantidad de soldados no-anónimos que olvidarás al instante, hay otros que se hacen de querer. De todos los que hay me acuerdo de Gardus, el Lord Celestant (el jefe de la compañía), que fue médico antes de ser soldado de Sigmar y una especie de linterna purificadora andante. De Tornus, mi favorito, un guerrero del Caos reconvertido a sigmarita y del que todo el mundo se esfuerza en recordarle un pasado que quiere olvidar. De Morbus, el Mago Alfa y maestro de ceremonias de la Huestormenta, que es un personaje que consigue dar empaque y gravedad a todas las escenas en las que sale. De Cadoc, un insoportable príncipe que hace de bully de Tornus. Y de Enyo, Power Ranger Rosa de la Huestormenta (hay más chicas en el ejército -gracias a los dioses- pero de Enyo es de la única de la que te acuerdas al final).
Todos estos personajes están más o menos bien, les coges el cariño suficiente como para que te dé pena que mueran (no me pasó lo mismo, por ejemplo, con los personajes de la Quinta Era de Dragonlance). Morbus incluso está bastante bien escrito: a veces ni siquiera habla, pero su simple presencia ya hace que los personajes tengan que pensarse lo que dicen, como si les hubiera replicado antes de hablar.
Además, están todo el rato diciendo "¡Sólo los fieles!". Consiguen que te acabes vienendo arriba.
Pero, de nuevo, casi que te acuerdas más de los malos, por repugnantes que sean. He de recordar que los malos de esta historia son heraldos de Nurgle, señor de la descomposición y la enfermedad, por lo que son ASQUEROSOS de leer en todas y cada una de sus interacciones. Pero, obviando eso, su personalidad "borderline" es digna de leerse. Gutrot Spume tiene unos diálogos geniales y Bubonicus tiene una ingenuidad e integridad dentro de su locura general que consigue que hasta le tengas cariño. Todo esto sumado al hecho, ya impresionante y delicioso, de que se narra su vida desde su punto de vista. Algo que disfruto, puesto que yo fui jugador del Caos en su día y casi nunca tuve la oportunidad de observar qué hay en el interior de la cabeza de un guerrero del Caos. Si os interesa lo más mínimo saber cómo piensan los guerreros de Nurgle TENÉIS que leer esta novela. A mí ya me han dejado comprado para la novela de la Varanguard. Ya no seré del Caos, pero quiero saber más de ellos sí o sí.
Así pues, los personajes están ok. Pero, ¿y el worldbuilding? ¿Qué hay de él? Bueno, del worldbuilding hay una cosa que me gusta y una que no.
Y ahora es cuando vienen los spoilers, así que cuidado si aún no la habéis leído.
Lo que me gusta de esta novela es que, de la mitad para delante, ocurre toda entera en el Jardín de Nurgle, un trozo del (hasta ahora) desconocido Reino del Caos. Lo que no me gusta es... pues precisamente eso, que ocurre en el Jardín de Nurgle.
Al desplazar la acción al terrible matadero con forma de vergel podrido que Nurgle usa como jardín de placer, se gana la oportunidad de saber cómo funcionan los Reinos del Caos, desconocidos hasta ahora para mí. Pero, a cambio, se pierde la oportunidad de desarrollar cómo funcionan los Reinos Mortales, que me interesan mucho más, puesto que son los nuevos. No pasaba nada porque el Caos siguiera siendo una masa amorfa (¿o debería decir disforme?) e intangible. Precisamente lo guay del Reino del Caos es cuando es inefable. Pero los Reinos Mortales me interesan porque me estoy iniciando en Age of Sigmar, así que claro, me quedo con ganas de más.
Además, las partes del Jardín (que son muchas) están todas descritas con enfermizo detalle, incidiendo en la enorme cantidad de pústulas, bilis, bubas, zarpullidos, pelusas y demás cosas asquerosas que el Abuelo Nurgle se ha dedicado a colocar allí. Leer las partes que ocurren en el Jardín sienten como dormir una fiebre de 38º con mocos en la garganta, de estos que dan dolor de barriga. Pero, teniendo en cuenta que es el dios de la plaga y la enfermedad, casi que debe ser el efecto deseado. Pero me alegro de que se acabara, uf. La próxima novela será de otro Dios del Caos o no será.
Así pues, en worldbuilding me quedo con ganas de más. Pero también aprueba porque permite conocer cómo piensa el Caos. Y porque ha vuelto la magia del Viejo Mundo, ampliada, mejorada, reafirmada y potenciada. Espero, en próximas novelas, saber más de esas voces que escuchan todos los magos y de ese lenguaje que todas las cosas hablan, con una de las ocho lenguas cósmicas. Y de cómo los poderes del Caos y de la Muerte vigilan lo que los magos hacen, puesto que interfieren en sus dominios, y quiero saber los resultados que puede tener fallar en esconderse de estas fuerzas vigilantes en las tinieblas.
Así pues, como ya he dicho varias veces en esta review, esta novela cumple, en lo poquito y en lo justito para que la apruebe. No se me quedará para siempre grabada en la memoria, pero no me arrepiento de haberla leído. Y no ha sido para nada un viaje desagradable y difícil: al contrario, siempre he querido leer más. Como ya digo, si te interesa el mundo de Age of Sigmar, y (sobre todo) si te interesa cómo funciona el Caos (especialmente Nurgle), deberías echarle un vistazo. Esta es una novela para fans y se nota. Tal y como dirían los Hallowed Knights, que no podrían haberlo resumido mejor:
¿Quien disfrutará de esta novela?
¡SÓLO LOS FIELES!
October 12, 2018
I fully admit that this took quite a long time to finish. It was the first Age of Sigmar book that I bought, actually, and so I was left a bit dazzled and confused by the Stormcast themselves. That's really not the story's fault, more a nitpick of the Lore/IP than anything. When I did finish this book I was more familiar with what particular Stormcast units did what, but even so I still found myself having to check google to be sure of the differences between the various knights were.
Full disclosure: I returned to and finished this book immediately after I finished Shadespire: The Mirrored City and after that pitch black book, it has absolutely skewed my perspective on overall tone.
That all aside it really was a bright story. Colourful, heroic and vibrant and I would dare to say mirthful. The Age of Myth may be well passed but it gave me the feeling I'd expect from it. Gods and mortals and everything in between scrambling across a plague-green hell after one lost soul. The more I reflect on it, Plague Garden had all the makings of the Hero's Journey, although specific events were handled through different cast members.
I've come to expect it from Josh's work but his characters really are a work of art. He doesn't bully us into feeling a particular way about a character, he lets them do as they would and allows us to form our own opinions. Gardus is simply good, even when that compulsion leads him and those that have faith in him into incredibly dangerous acts of heroism. Spume may be a selfish, squid-bellied, surly heel of a pirate but he's whimsical in his terribleness, driven and focused.
Oh, and the Order of the Fly may be my favourite new faction in the whole of Age of Sigmar. In no small part thanks to Lord-Duke Gatrog and Bubonicus. I do hope that the blighted Duchies fare better in their upcoming short story. I'd like to see them come out on top, for once.
Full disclosure: I returned to and finished this book immediately after I finished Shadespire: The Mirrored City and after that pitch black book, it has absolutely skewed my perspective on overall tone.
That all aside it really was a bright story. Colourful, heroic and vibrant and I would dare to say mirthful. The Age of Myth may be well passed but it gave me the feeling I'd expect from it. Gods and mortals and everything in between scrambling across a plague-green hell after one lost soul. The more I reflect on it, Plague Garden had all the makings of the Hero's Journey, although specific events were handled through different cast members.
I've come to expect it from Josh's work but his characters really are a work of art. He doesn't bully us into feeling a particular way about a character, he lets them do as they would and allows us to form our own opinions. Gardus is simply good, even when that compulsion leads him and those that have faith in him into incredibly dangerous acts of heroism. Spume may be a selfish, squid-bellied, surly heel of a pirate but he's whimsical in his terribleness, driven and focused.
Oh, and the Order of the Fly may be my favourite new faction in the whole of Age of Sigmar. In no small part thanks to Lord-Duke Gatrog and Bubonicus. I do hope that the blighted Duchies fare better in their upcoming short story. I'd like to see them come out on top, for once.
June 26, 2018
While I was tooling around in Warhammer world (one day I will explain my weird habit of reading game manuals for fun and not necessarily to play said game) I jumped off into age of Sigmar. I have read Warhammer fantasy and enjoyed it, but honestly at first glance, Sigmar seemed like space marines in fantasy land, while.....I am a fan..not what I wanted to read.
However, Josh Reynolds is one of my favorite Black Library writers and the tale he tells here is TOP notch. We get to see into the world of the stormcast and get to know them a bit, which in my readings so far, is not that common.
And...the trip into Nurgle's realm...wow. For some reason the plague lord is my favorite of the chaos baddies, and I loved the gross look at his armies.
IF you are a Warhammer fan, this read is for you. for sure (and yes, I broke my review rules a bit)
However, Josh Reynolds is one of my favorite Black Library writers and the tale he tells here is TOP notch. We get to see into the world of the stormcast and get to know them a bit, which in my readings so far, is not that common.
And...the trip into Nurgle's realm...wow. For some reason the plague lord is my favorite of the chaos baddies, and I loved the gross look at his armies.
IF you are a Warhammer fan, this read is for you. for sure (and yes, I broke my review rules a bit)
July 22, 2018
Josh Reynolds writes masterpieces, he creates well rounded characters. Engaging plot, good pacing and enjoyable fights. His books make me think of lord of the rings. There is a grand feeling that he captures better then most and he brings the reader in and sells me on every character. (Even those I don’t actually like.) He has fantastic quotes, and insight into Nurgle. This is just wonderful, I consider it one of the most enjoyable books over ever read. It really sells me on Age of Sigmar.
August 2, 2017
A great journey into the depths of burgled realm, who would attempt this?
Only the faithful!
Enjoyable read with good development of character and an insight into the individual personalities of one of the best stormhosts.
Only the faithful!
Enjoyable read with good development of character and an insight into the individual personalities of one of the best stormhosts.
July 29, 2023
Plague Garden tells the story of the Gardus Steelsoul and his Hallowed Knight followers as they journey into the horrific world of the dark plague god’s garden. They embark on a rescue mission to save one of their own who has been forced into the heart of this dark dimension.
A fun fantasy story, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The main focus and emphasis is on the Stormcast eternals, so keep that in mind. But I did enjoy the emphasis placed on Nurgle and his followers. A fun fantasy story and a good entry for anyone who wants to try out the lore of the Sigmar universe. Keep in mind that there is a lot of gore and gross out action, as it involves the plague god and his followers. A fun read though, all in all.
A fun fantasy story, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The main focus and emphasis is on the Stormcast eternals, so keep that in mind. But I did enjoy the emphasis placed on Nurgle and his followers. A fun fantasy story and a good entry for anyone who wants to try out the lore of the Sigmar universe. Keep in mind that there is a lot of gore and gross out action, as it involves the plague god and his followers. A fun read though, all in all.
January 8, 2020
I don't know how to measure the success of gameline books. It is not great. I did make me appreciate Nurgle and want to paint some plague knights, as well as some Hallowed knights. Maybe that's the highest complement I can give one of these books.
You get some better looks at both Reforging than you do from the earliest stories (Gates of Azyr). I have a better feeling for Sigmar as a person, which is nice. The villains are characterized as chivalrous in their own disgusting way.
A fine thing to paint to when you don't really want to pay attention. I can't recommend for someone who has no interest in Age of Sigmar. I found myself looking at models as they listed names like Liberators, Retriburters, and Judicators.
Nurgle's Garden is a really cool concept, though.
You get some better looks at both Reforging than you do from the earliest stories (Gates of Azyr). I have a better feeling for Sigmar as a person, which is nice. The villains are characterized as chivalrous in their own disgusting way.
A fine thing to paint to when you don't really want to pay attention. I can't recommend for someone who has no interest in Age of Sigmar. I found myself looking at models as they listed names like Liberators, Retriburters, and Judicators.
Nurgle's Garden is a really cool concept, though.
August 23, 2024
A fairly decent entry in the AoS series. Being a Nurgle fan, getting a guided tour of the Grandfathers "garden" was certainly an eye-opener.
The exploration of Knight-Venetor Tornus was intriguing too, him walking between the life he knew and the one he now leads did lead to some interesting interactions between him and both Stormcast allies and Rotbringers foes.
The exploration of Knight-Venetor Tornus was intriguing too, him walking between the life he knew and the one he now leads did lead to some interesting interactions between him and both Stormcast allies and Rotbringers foes.
July 6, 2018
Fun summer read, just in time for AoS 2.0
August 27, 2024
Fun read, but a lot of the scenes felt repetitive.
January 17, 2026
zzzzzzzzz.....
May 6, 2018
Continuing one of the most enjoyable storylines from the Age of Sigmar Realmgate Wars series, this returns to the Hallowed Knights’ campaign in Ghyran against the forces of Nurgle. As Lord-Castellant Grymn leads his warriors against the sargasso-citadels of the Order of the Fly, Lord-Celestant Gardus Steel Soul prepares to return to Ghyran and rejoin his warrior-chamber, accompanied by the contentious figure of Tornus the Redeemed. When Grymn is lost to the Garden of Nurgle, Gardus leads a rescue mission that risks the very souls of the Hallowed Knights.
The Stormcasts-on-a-quest structure is starting to get pretty tired now, but thankfully Reynolds finds ways to avoid some of the obvious pitfalls, not least by subverting the narrative get-out-of-jail-free card that reforging offers – both in terms of the impact it has on characters, and also the warping nature of the Garden of Nurgle. Speaking of which it’s nice to see the variety in Nurgle’s followers, with a variety of beliefs and sometimes conflicting ideologies – characters like Gutrot Spume are fun to spend time with, but the Order of the Fly are particularly interesting and prove surprisingly relatable antagonists. For all its familiarities, there’s more than enough here to set it apart from what’s gone before, and it certainly feels like the most cohesive and well-developed of this sort of Age of Sigmar story so far.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/04/...
The Stormcasts-on-a-quest structure is starting to get pretty tired now, but thankfully Reynolds finds ways to avoid some of the obvious pitfalls, not least by subverting the narrative get-out-of-jail-free card that reforging offers – both in terms of the impact it has on characters, and also the warping nature of the Garden of Nurgle. Speaking of which it’s nice to see the variety in Nurgle’s followers, with a variety of beliefs and sometimes conflicting ideologies – characters like Gutrot Spume are fun to spend time with, but the Order of the Fly are particularly interesting and prove surprisingly relatable antagonists. For all its familiarities, there’s more than enough here to set it apart from what’s gone before, and it certainly feels like the most cohesive and well-developed of this sort of Age of Sigmar story so far.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/04/...
February 8, 2019
I listened to this audiobook that takes place in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe. If you are unfamiliar with the Age of Sigmar miniatures game, imagine if two heavy metal album covers went to war with each other. The game has great imagery but I wasn't sure if there was enough there for a compelling novel. I was wrong. There was a great chapter that convinced me that the Lord of Decay wasn't such a bad thing after all. The book deals with themes of honor and faith. There is plenty of action and gore. Who would I recommend this book to? Only the faithful!
June 6, 2025
Plague Garden begins with promise, establishing a richly detailed world and well-developed characters. The early chapters build tension and atmosphere effectively, immersing readers in the grim domain of Nurgle. The author does an excellent job of capturing the hopeless, eternal torment of Nurgle's realm, making it feel truly oppressive.
However, as the story unfolds, the Stormcasts feels far too powerful, carving through Nurgle’s forces with astonishing ease. Iconic foes like Blightkings and Great Unclean Ones—known in the game for their resilience and durability—are dispatched without resistance, reducing what should be grueling battles into mere exercises in repetition. The lack of real peril makes it difficult to stay invested, as victories come too easily, stripping the narrative of tension. The sheer lack of casualties among their ranks makes their entire journey feel artificial rather than a desperate struggle.
A more compelling version of the story would have acknowledged the brutal cost of venturing into Chaos. Had fallen Stormcast souls been lost forever, their quest to rescue their friend would have carried true weight, making every sacrifice meaningful. Instead, their Lord-Relictor—a character with spirit-sight, ensuring the souls of the fallen return safely to Sigmar—always finds "one more ounce of strength" to summon storms, lightning, and magical sails. His abilities feel limitless, turning him into an unmistakable Mary Sue, further removing the stakes from the story.
Despite the strong character development and evocative setting, Plague Garden ultimately falls flat due to its lack of narrative tension. The relentless victories of the Stormcasts, their immunity to genuine risk, and the absurd ease with which they dismantle Chaos forces make the book a frustrating read for those who appreciate high-stakes storytelling. A promising premise is ultimately wasted on a conflict that never truly feels like a challenge.
June 16, 2022
This book reminded me of Saving Private Ryan, but with immortal fantasy paladins. It also has the steep ask of making a cast of lawful good paladin style characters have distinct personalities enough to carry an entire book. Josh Reynolds does this in various ways: Giving them moral dillemas to fight, giving them easily identifiably quirks, such as extreme arrogance, or being the wise Gandalfish one, for example. It's not perfect, but it works well enough that I felt invested in seeing the main characters succeed.
He also does an excellent job of describing the hell they are in. Being within Nurgle, the god of disease and decay's realm means lots of very unpleasant and digusting descriptions, which were undoubtedly fun to write and imagine. Some of the villains do border on being a bit of a cartoon, but the subject matter of Nurgle is so ridiculously unpleasant and gross, it would possibly be unbearable without some levity. I will say some of the plots had me really intrigued on where they might go, and for reasons I feel like may have involved GW editors stepping in, those kind of just got swept under the rug by the end of the book and ultimately didn't go anywhere.
Most surprisingly, he does a decent job of humanizing what would usually feel unhumanizable....those being the Nurgle chaos knights, who are disgusting, but surprisingly live by their own kind of code they uphold. I mean, they are still torturers and slave owners, but at least there is an attempt made.
Overall, probably close to my favorite Warhammer book from any of the settings. Maybe only second to the first Malus Darkblade novel. Josh Reynolds being one of the better GW writers has proven true, so I'm excited to read the next book by him.
He also does an excellent job of describing the hell they are in. Being within Nurgle, the god of disease and decay's realm means lots of very unpleasant and digusting descriptions, which were undoubtedly fun to write and imagine. Some of the villains do border on being a bit of a cartoon, but the subject matter of Nurgle is so ridiculously unpleasant and gross, it would possibly be unbearable without some levity. I will say some of the plots had me really intrigued on where they might go, and for reasons I feel like may have involved GW editors stepping in, those kind of just got swept under the rug by the end of the book and ultimately didn't go anywhere.
Most surprisingly, he does a decent job of humanizing what would usually feel unhumanizable....those being the Nurgle chaos knights, who are disgusting, but surprisingly live by their own kind of code they uphold. I mean, they are still torturers and slave owners, but at least there is an attempt made.
Overall, probably close to my favorite Warhammer book from any of the settings. Maybe only second to the first Malus Darkblade novel. Josh Reynolds being one of the better GW writers has proven true, so I'm excited to read the next book by him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2024
A solid and well developed foray into the Mortal Realms, Hallowed Knights: Plague Garden is a fun read that keeps a fairly quick, action packed pace one would expect from the usual pulp-filled Black Library publication. Following the Hallowed Knights, a chamber of Stormcast (kind of like a chapter of space marines for 40k fans like me who are just dipping their toes into work), the story covers a wide spread of characters which do well to round out the warriors as being more than just dudes in armour hitting people. The novel is also helped by the characterization of the villains, both the various Knights of the Fly (think Bretonnia meets Nurgle), and the Nurgle pirate captain Splume who was particularly vile and enjoyable to read about. These, coupled with the grim, and utterly disgusting/disturbing landscape of Nurgle's Plague Garden (practically a character itself at times) make for enough interesting hooks to keep one engaged.
If you're a fan of Stormcast, Nurgle and his brood, or looking for a solid entry way into the world of the Age of Sigmar, Plague Garden is an easy recommend.
4/5, a fun read.
If you're a fan of Stormcast, Nurgle and his brood, or looking for a solid entry way into the world of the Age of Sigmar, Plague Garden is an easy recommend.
4/5, a fun read.
July 24, 2020
A fun pulpy read that manages to capture the Stormcast zealotry and conflicting mass production mood as well as Plague Knight “chivalry.” The ending is a bit too cheery for a war hammer story in my opinion but it also held that edge that these many struggles throughout the pages were ultimately pointless in a seemingly unending way, which is nice.
Also this book is heavily favorited towards the Stormcast in terms of who wins which gains some criticism but I feel like it was bearable only because it showcased how the ranks of chaos are ever open to internal conflict without a common enemy to fight with.
Also this book is heavily favorited towards the Stormcast in terms of who wins which gains some criticism but I feel like it was bearable only because it showcased how the ranks of chaos are ever open to internal conflict without a common enemy to fight with.
October 4, 2021
An excellent AoS Stormcast tale starring my favorite Stormhost, the Hallowed Knights. Great contrast and coexistence or grimdark and noblebright as the most paladin-like of the Stormhost walk into the seven hells of Nurgle's Garden (which makes one wonder where exactly Gardus was hot-footing it away from Bolathrax on his previous trip).
Good fights, good characters (Tornus, Gardus, Lorrus, Gutrot Spume, Urslaug, and MORBUS) and development, great tension, and, wow, that ending.
You have to be an AoS fan to understand it, but if you are, this is highly recommended. My favorite AoS novel thus far.
Good fights, good characters (Tornus, Gardus, Lorrus, Gutrot Spume, Urslaug, and MORBUS) and development, great tension, and, wow, that ending.
You have to be an AoS fan to understand it, but if you are, this is highly recommended. My favorite AoS novel thus far.
January 10, 2024
This is maybe 4/5 Age of Sigstars™.
I'm only just sinking my teeth into Age of Sigmar but I'm digging it so far. No it's not quite the same as Fantasy Battles, but whatever. I wasn't super invested in that setting anyway and quite frankly I love Space Marines. So fantasy Space Marines are my jam.
I didn't realize before reading this that Gardus and the Hallowed Knights are featured in previous AoS novels so I'll be going back to those before continuing. All around pretty entertaining. I do wish that it was a little more tightly plotted and had more fleshed out characters, but I came here for fantasy Astartes killing demons and I got that in spades
I'm only just sinking my teeth into Age of Sigmar but I'm digging it so far. No it's not quite the same as Fantasy Battles, but whatever. I wasn't super invested in that setting anyway and quite frankly I love Space Marines. So fantasy Space Marines are my jam.
I didn't realize before reading this that Gardus and the Hallowed Knights are featured in previous AoS novels so I'll be going back to those before continuing. All around pretty entertaining. I do wish that it was a little more tightly plotted and had more fleshed out characters, but I came here for fantasy Astartes killing demons and I got that in spades
March 17, 2019
Buen libro si tenemos en cuenta que siempre ganan los buenos. Soy una fiel seguidora del Dios de la Plaga Nurgle y he agradecido tanto detalle del Jardín del Abuelo. Considero que el escritor describe de forma magistral todo lo que tiene que ver con las cosas asquerosas que dotan a todas las cosas de Nurlge de un "algo" maravilloso.
Ha habido puntos en los que me he sentido enferma y realmente indispuesta leyendo ciertas definiciones. Si buscais un libro que, aún ganando los fieles, cuente cosas del Abuelo, teneis que leerlo.
Ha habido puntos en los que me he sentido enferma y realmente indispuesta leyendo ciertas definiciones. Si buscais un libro que, aún ganando los fieles, cuente cosas del Abuelo, teneis que leerlo.
January 5, 2018
Was a good read. Focus is still generally on the Stormcasts particularly Grymn and Gardus. One interesting fact I noticed is compared to the first 8 books of the Realmgate wars series theres a lot more mention of female stormcast. The best characters in my opinion were actually a couple of the Knights from the Order of the Fly.
The ending was interesting if a little abrupt, it shows something is possible that really hadnt been touched on in the Warhammer universe before.
The ending was interesting if a little abrupt, it shows something is possible that really hadnt been touched on in the Warhammer universe before.
April 5, 2018
This is a really great book that turns some established ideas about Chaos and turns them on their head. We get to see a lot of Nurgle’s realm in great detail including the shipping that was very characterful. I also liked that there were women on both sides that weren’t just token additions. It was a good listen that for me summoned up images of The Nightmare before Christmas and the Cabinet of Dr Calgari with a distinctly gross flavour.
May 14, 2021
it is a bit overly fond with its attempts to gross out the readers and the story doesn't actually allow for the full range of human(ish) relationships or challenges, but it is a fun adventure story about heroes trying to maintain their faith in essentially hell.
If you are willing to buy into the premise, then you will have fun. It is very much written for Warhammer Age of Sigmar fans. If you are not already at least a little bit into that setting, this story won't really sell you on it.
If you are willing to buy into the premise, then you will have fun. It is very much written for Warhammer Age of Sigmar fans. If you are not already at least a little bit into that setting, this story won't really sell you on it.
January 31, 2019
At the heart of this story of Stormcast Eternals waging holy war in Sigmar's name against the legions of Nurgle, is the theme of redemption. Redemption both for souls lost to the sins of Chaos, but also for those whose souls waver in the struggle and suffer from doubt and despair.
I really enjoyed this.
One of Josh's best works in my opinion.
I really enjoyed this.
One of Josh's best works in my opinion.
February 28, 2020
Ultimately, it's sort of standard military-sci-fi stuff, with a veneer of fantasy slapped on top, but there are hints of a more interesting story that just wasn't explored. Elements with Gatrog, and Tornus the Redeemed, hint of a story that could have explored the nature of identity and redemption, and it's a pity Reynolds ultimately went for a less nuanced tale.
August 4, 2020
Nur die Gläubigen
Treue, Glauben und ein reich des Chaos
Wer es gerne chaotisch, blutig und wild hat, ist hier genau richtig.
Die Krieger des Gottkönig Sigmar versuchen einer der Ihren, aus den Händen der Anhänger Nurgles zu befreien und geraten immer tiefer in das Reich des Chaos.
Ein sehr gut gelungener Warhammer Band
Treue, Glauben und ein reich des Chaos
Wer es gerne chaotisch, blutig und wild hat, ist hier genau richtig.
Die Krieger des Gottkönig Sigmar versuchen einer der Ihren, aus den Händen der Anhänger Nurgles zu befreien und geraten immer tiefer in das Reich des Chaos.
Ein sehr gut gelungener Warhammer Band
August 5, 2020
Great Dante Alighieri - esque story about stormcast going into the realm of Nurgle. Great and nasty depictions of the garden. A must read for every age of sigmar fan because Josh Reynolds does a really good job on describing the horrors of the realm of Nurgle. The characters of the novel are great too and I will be reading other Hallowed Knight novels.
November 1, 2023
The first part of the book is a battle between Stormcasts and Nurgle Knights. I think this is the one I've most enjoyed.
Then, it comes a loooooong quest to retrieve someone. Upsides and downsides, in general terms the narrative goes at a nice pace but also it's a bit tedious and repetitive sometimes.
The ending is fine, but nothing really memorable I'm afraid.
Then, it comes a loooooong quest to retrieve someone. Upsides and downsides, in general terms the narrative goes at a nice pace but also it's a bit tedious and repetitive sometimes.
The ending is fine, but nothing really memorable I'm afraid.
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