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The Black Library Novella Series 1 #1
The Bloodied Rose
An Adepta Sororitas novella
From the depths of a crumbling cathedral come bloodied nightmares, intent on fulfilling their dark purpose by any means necessary. Only one thing stands in their way: the wrathful, holy fire of the Adepta Sororitas.
READ IT BECAUSE
After her first Adepta Sororitas story, the fantastic 'Mercy', Danie Ware returns with a longer tale of Sister Superior Augusta and her squad bringing their faith and fury to their enemies.
THE STORY
From the blasphemy of the fallen… Our Emperor, deliver us. At the edge of the Imperium sits the fetid jungle world of Lautis. Amidst the creeping foliage and ancient monuments, a horror is rising. From the depths of a crumbling cathedral come bloodied nightmares, intent on fulfilling their dark purpose by any means necessary. Only one thing stands in their way: the wrathful, holy fire of the Adepta Sororitas. Filled with the light of the Emperor, Sister Superior Augusta and her squad are a force to be reckoned with. They are here to purge the darkness from Lautis with prayer and bolter, and nothing will stop them. But the things that dwell in the darkness aren’t afraid. Augusta must put her trust in her Battle Sisters and lead them into the shadows of the crypts in search of the truth. Faith and fire are powerful weapons, but will they be enough to defeat the sinister powers that lurk in the deeps?
From the depths of a crumbling cathedral come bloodied nightmares, intent on fulfilling their dark purpose by any means necessary. Only one thing stands in their way: the wrathful, holy fire of the Adepta Sororitas.
READ IT BECAUSE
After her first Adepta Sororitas story, the fantastic 'Mercy', Danie Ware returns with a longer tale of Sister Superior Augusta and her squad bringing their faith and fury to their enemies.
THE STORY
From the blasphemy of the fallen… Our Emperor, deliver us. At the edge of the Imperium sits the fetid jungle world of Lautis. Amidst the creeping foliage and ancient monuments, a horror is rising. From the depths of a crumbling cathedral come bloodied nightmares, intent on fulfilling their dark purpose by any means necessary. Only one thing stands in their way: the wrathful, holy fire of the Adepta Sororitas. Filled with the light of the Emperor, Sister Superior Augusta and her squad are a force to be reckoned with. They are here to purge the darkness from Lautis with prayer and bolter, and nothing will stop them. But the things that dwell in the darkness aren’t afraid. Augusta must put her trust in her Battle Sisters and lead them into the shadows of the crypts in search of the truth. Faith and fire are powerful weapons, but will they be enough to defeat the sinister powers that lurk in the deeps?
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2018
31 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Danie Ware
59 books205 followersAuthor of the Ecko trilogy (CyberPunk/Fantasy mashup) and Children of Artifice (queer science fantasy). Writer of Sisters of Battle (and other things) for WarHammer 40k, Judge Anderson for Rebellion, Twilight Imperium for Aconyte Books, and numerous short stories.
Reader, writer, crusader geek, re-enactor (retired) and role-player. After seventeen years conjuring PR, events and social media for Forbidden Planet (London) Ltd, you can now find me in the Manga/GNs at Waterstones Piccadilly.
Follow me on most Social Media channels as @Danacea
Reader, writer, crusader geek, re-enactor (retired) and role-player. After seventeen years conjuring PR, events and social media for Forbidden Planet (London) Ltd, you can now find me in the Manga/GNs at Waterstones Piccadilly.
Follow me on most Social Media channels as @Danacea
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 1, 2021
Tempted to give this four stars due to how straightforward the plot was, but on the other hand - my god is it nice to read a standard 40k demon-slaying violent romp with good detailing and most importantly, WOMEN!
It's a hundred pages of badass women taking up their bolters and prayers and killing demons and protecting each other and singing hymns to the Emperor, and I loved it.
It's a hundred pages of badass women taking up their bolters and prayers and killing demons and protecting each other and singing hymns to the Emperor, and I loved it.
March 1, 2025
3.5*
Good little story, well told with good pacing that manages the tension well.
In my opinion, the interest lies in following Sister Augusta's squad at a human level. I'm talking about fighters of faith in the God Emperor, not fanatical mystics quick to see miracles, which can quickly prove to be a slippery slope with the Adepta Sororitas. The tactics are logical and military, and not simply a matter of going in with a bolster. The characters, apart from Augusta, are sketchy but promising, reacting to each other like human sisters-in-arms, and I hope to see them again in the author's other stories.
I regret that the conclusion is a little too "gentle". Augusta is too lenient with Viola and I regret a certain lack of rigidity which would be more believable given her status as Sister Superior. Or maybe I'm just used to it from my other readings.
The 2nd point that irritates me is the overuse of Latin sentences, which end up sounding a bit show-offish.
Good little story, well told with good pacing that manages the tension well.
In my opinion, the interest lies in following Sister Augusta's squad at a human level. I'm talking about fighters of faith in the God Emperor, not fanatical mystics quick to see miracles, which can quickly prove to be a slippery slope with the Adepta Sororitas. The tactics are logical and military, and not simply a matter of going in with a bolster. The characters, apart from Augusta, are sketchy but promising, reacting to each other like human sisters-in-arms, and I hope to see them again in the author's other stories.
I regret that the conclusion is a little too "gentle". Augusta is too lenient with Viola and I regret a certain lack of rigidity which would be more believable given her status as Sister Superior. Or maybe I'm just used to it from my other readings.
The 2nd point that irritates me is the overuse of Latin sentences, which end up sounding a bit show-offish.
May 6, 2019
A genuinely fun read, with brilliant pacing that showed off a flare for the dramatic and a proper understanding of how to build tension.
I really enjoyed how information was revealed as the story went on. My 40k knowledge is rudimentary at best, so being faced with a puzzle (especially a blood soaked, Chaos ridden one) that had the characters baffled was brilliant. It’s one of the few 40k stories I’ve read that doesn’t feel like I needed a codex with me while I was reading it. The story felt like a normal horror story, simply set within the horrors of the 41st millennium.
It’s also the first one where the character’s devotion to the Emperor doesn’t bore me to death. They were passionate, but they were also actual people. With personalities. They were afraid. If that isn’t a sign I need to stop reading anything with loyal Astartes in it, I don’t know what else is.
I really enjoyed how information was revealed as the story went on. My 40k knowledge is rudimentary at best, so being faced with a puzzle (especially a blood soaked, Chaos ridden one) that had the characters baffled was brilliant. It’s one of the few 40k stories I’ve read that doesn’t feel like I needed a codex with me while I was reading it. The story felt like a normal horror story, simply set within the horrors of the 41st millennium.
It’s also the first one where the character’s devotion to the Emperor doesn’t bore me to death. They were passionate, but they were also actual people. With personalities. They were afraid. If that isn’t a sign I need to stop reading anything with loyal Astartes in it, I don’t know what else is.
December 26, 2023
Short and sweet, and profoundly readable for someone not too steeped in 40k lore. It would seem that the selection of novel(la)s varies considerably and one needs to fish around to find stuff that suits one’s palate - like this (pretty straightforward) story of a squad of sisters sent to check on a world they have recently cleansed that has gone silent in the interim. The only tiny nitpick is that there were perhaps too many names to keep track of everyone in such a short span of pages, but that may have been my lack of concentration these days. I will definitely be looking for more about the Sisters of Battle and more from Ware.
January 4, 2019
Fantastic novella. Very descriptive of the Warhammer universe and had a lot of insight on the Sisters of Battle. I would like to read more about the Sisters of the Bloody Rose. Augusta’s group of warriors were very interesting to read about.
November 26, 2018
The Sisters of Battle are sometimes described casually in the fandom as the Space Marines' female counterparts. While the space nuns with guns share a culture of monastic austerity, rigid discipline, martial valor, and undying fanaticism, it is more accurate to say they are the human version of the Space Marines. For all their zeal, the Sisters are also jumpy and anxious when confronted with an ominous mystery and experience fear in battle that causes them to freeze or fall back on singing and litanies to push through it. This is something I would definitely like to see explored more in future stories about them.
Ware also did a good job keeping the Sisters sympathetic to the reader without watering down their religious extremism and xenophobic nature.
Ware also did a good job keeping the Sisters sympathetic to the reader without watering down their religious extremism and xenophobic nature.
April 20, 2021
There needs to be another of these and from this author.
This book is great for Sisters of Battle or Imperium. It was well written, though I wish it was longer. To be clear the length of the book fits the take nicely I just love the style. It was more realistically depicted then other Sisters of Battle books I've read as well.
This book is great for Sisters of Battle or Imperium. It was well written, though I wish it was longer. To be clear the length of the book fits the take nicely I just love the style. It was more realistically depicted then other Sisters of Battle books I've read as well.
November 24, 2018
A good read with an interesting premise, Danie Ware's use of pros is a pleasure to read! Though sadly; an obvious use of charter categorisation pulled me out of the experience enough to keep this story from being a page turner for me.
Going into this I was exited! Finally, a new Sisters of Battle novella/story and featuring the Order of the Bloody Rose no less! As someone with an actual SoB Bloody Rose force I was very interested in picking this one up.
The opening to this book is pretty amazing. The action and little details throughout the book is a real treat, it is amazing to see well written Sororitas kicking ass and being bad-ass rather than being slaughtered; which has happened just enough in other novels to become noticeable. I feel Ware's use of banter and characterisation was very authentic and I was genuinely entertained for the most part.
There were a couple of minor editing errors that I noticed but nothing narrative breaking, my biggest disappointment in this story is the use of charter categorisation. I feel that Ware put a little too much real world emphasis on characters identities and names, the kind of thing that made me realise that I was not in the grim darkness of the far future but rather that I was reading something in 2018, it was jarring and a little upsetting as the story was otherwise well done.
I will keep an eye on any potential future works from this author but with a healthy dose of skepticism. :)
Also, as a side note, can we take a moment to appreciate how cool the cover for this book is?... So cool!
Going into this I was exited! Finally, a new Sisters of Battle novella/story and featuring the Order of the Bloody Rose no less! As someone with an actual SoB Bloody Rose force I was very interested in picking this one up.
The opening to this book is pretty amazing. The action and little details throughout the book is a real treat, it is amazing to see well written Sororitas kicking ass and being bad-ass rather than being slaughtered; which has happened just enough in other novels to become noticeable. I feel Ware's use of banter and characterisation was very authentic and I was genuinely entertained for the most part.
There were a couple of minor editing errors that I noticed but nothing narrative breaking, my biggest disappointment in this story is the use of charter categorisation. I feel that Ware put a little too much real world emphasis on characters identities and names, the kind of thing that made me realise that I was not in the grim darkness of the far future but rather that I was reading something in 2018, it was jarring and a little upsetting as the story was otherwise well done.
I will keep an eye on any potential future works from this author but with a healthy dose of skepticism. :)
Also, as a side note, can we take a moment to appreciate how cool the cover for this book is?... So cool!
November 8, 2018
This picks up the story of Sister Superior Augusta after the events of the short story Mercy - having returned to the Convent Sanctorum of the Order of the Bloody Rose to rest and induct the newest member of the squad, Augusta and her Sisters are unexpectedly ordered back to Lautis, the site of their recent confrontation with the orks. The Sisters sent in to secure Lautis have gone silent, and Augusta’s mission report questioned, so she is tasked with returning and finishing what she started.
It continues the strong start made with Mercy, but while the short story only really had scope for action and aggression this slightly longer story (it’s a 140-page novella) provides the time and space to explore a little more of the characters themselves and the wider context of their Order. There’s the occasional moment of convenient plotting here and there, and as the action ramps up any subtlety goes out the window, but that’s not really a bad thing in context of this sort of story. Overall it’s tremendously entertaining, and a great example of how satisfying the Sisters of Battle can be when they’re written well.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/11/...
It continues the strong start made with Mercy, but while the short story only really had scope for action and aggression this slightly longer story (it’s a 140-page novella) provides the time and space to explore a little more of the characters themselves and the wider context of their Order. There’s the occasional moment of convenient plotting here and there, and as the action ramps up any subtlety goes out the window, but that’s not really a bad thing in context of this sort of story. Overall it’s tremendously entertaining, and a great example of how satisfying the Sisters of Battle can be when they’re written well.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/11/...
September 20, 2024
I loved every inch of this, and I am so glad this was my first Warhammer story. This had the prefect balance of action to non action. I really enjoyed the set up of why and how Sister Superior Augusta and her squad ended up having to go back to a location they had previously been too. I felt it was a great way to explore the way the Adepta Sororitas work as a faction without going overboard into heavy lore, it was clear and straight to the point but you felt the weight of the situation. I also think this was a great place to start because its very central to itself, it makes a few mentions of events out side of it, but its not distracting and actually creates an interest in wanting to explore more of the 40k world. Not once while reading this did I feel like I was missing information about the great world.
The battle scenes were easy to follow and entertaining, and the story doesn't shy away from violence and gore. The story also explores a few other characters in Augusta's squad which I greatly enjoyed, and through those characters it helped touch on some of the background (or lore) of the Adepta Sororitas, but again it wasn't overwhelming.
Augusta is a great character and I can't wait to read more about her.
The battle scenes were easy to follow and entertaining, and the story doesn't shy away from violence and gore. The story also explores a few other characters in Augusta's squad which I greatly enjoyed, and through those characters it helped touch on some of the background (or lore) of the Adepta Sororitas, but again it wasn't overwhelming.
Augusta is a great character and I can't wait to read more about her.
December 7, 2019
So this the first novella from the Black Library new novela series that started yesteryear.
In the Bloodied Rose we follow a group of Sororitas from the Order of the Bloody Rose. They are going back to Lautis to try to understand what happened to the world they deemed cleansed and as another group of Sororitas and a mechanicum team went missing.
We follow Sister Superior Augusta, Jatoya (2nd in command), Viola, Melia, Caia & Akemi (the newcomer) as they uncover what happened and their battle against . It was very interesting to learn about the Sororitas and their beliefs.
It was also interesting to read all those latin phrases :)
Very interesting all in all - I have now Wreck in Ruin to read. Probably not right away but in the near future. I believe that this could have been made like Dan Abnett Space Marine novel where we get an amalgamation of short stories/novellas focusing on a chapter.
In the Bloodied Rose we follow a group of Sororitas from the Order of the Bloody Rose. They are going back to Lautis to try to understand what happened to the world they deemed cleansed and as another group of Sororitas and a mechanicum team went missing.
We follow Sister Superior Augusta, Jatoya (2nd in command), Viola, Melia, Caia & Akemi (the newcomer) as they uncover what happened and their battle against . It was very interesting to learn about the Sororitas and their beliefs.
It was also interesting to read all those latin phrases :)
Very interesting all in all - I have now Wreck in Ruin to read. Probably not right away but in the near future. I believe that this could have been made like Dan Abnett Space Marine novel where we get an amalgamation of short stories/novellas focusing on a chapter.
September 24, 2024
A rock and roll road trip full of twists and turns.
Not usually a fantasy reader, since the heavy going Terry Pratchett sent me to sleep at the age of 14 I picked this up due to forgetting my books whilst on holiday and I wasn't disappointed. I finished it in the weekend, which is exceptionally unusual.
As a first outing into fantasy novels this has opened my eyes to the genre and I just hope the rest are as enthralling, I was gripped to the book.
I've given it 5 stars as I loved it and have immediately bought the second, but looking objectively there the character of Mattrick could have done with a little more depth and the ending left me wanting for a little more, but nicely tied up all the loose ends in case a second book hadn't been on the cards.
Overall - buy it, read it and read it again!!
Not usually a fantasy reader, since the heavy going Terry Pratchett sent me to sleep at the age of 14 I picked this up due to forgetting my books whilst on holiday and I wasn't disappointed. I finished it in the weekend, which is exceptionally unusual.
As a first outing into fantasy novels this has opened my eyes to the genre and I just hope the rest are as enthralling, I was gripped to the book.
I've given it 5 stars as I loved it and have immediately bought the second, but looking objectively there the character of Mattrick could have done with a little more depth and the ending left me wanting for a little more, but nicely tied up all the loose ends in case a second book hadn't been on the cards.
Overall - buy it, read it and read it again!!
March 16, 2019
Danie Ware returns with a story form the Sisters of Battle. Sister Augusta returns to the planet of Lautis which she previously declared safe. Now another group of Sisters has gone missing the Augusta and her sqaud of Adepta Sororitas must investigate the cause.
This is a great Warhammer 40k novella with everything a regular reader might expect. The novels of the Adepta Soroitas (alongside those of the Astra Militarum) are always interesting as they are essentially humans surviving and coping in the galaxy of the 41st Milenium.
Danie brings the sisters, and their foes to life (with prayer and bolter) with investigation of the planet, and searching for the culprits.
This is a great Warhammer 40k novella with everything a regular reader might expect. The novels of the Adepta Soroitas (alongside those of the Astra Militarum) are always interesting as they are essentially humans surviving and coping in the galaxy of the 41st Milenium.
Danie brings the sisters, and their foes to life (with prayer and bolter) with investigation of the planet, and searching for the culprits.
January 10, 2024
I've always been a 40k observer from a distance and The Bloodied Rose was my first REAL step into the universe outside of some of the video games. And that first step was extremely depressing, bleak and not my favorite way to escape reality.
The writing was really good, the story was pretty basic but a great first step into 40k and the Sisters of Battle but personally it was just all so bleak and depressing I found it a real struggle to retun to when I finished a chapter. Sadly it's going on the DNF shelf because I just didn't enjoy myself. Maybe at a later date I'll revisit this but for right now, no.
The writing was really good, the story was pretty basic but a great first step into 40k and the Sisters of Battle but personally it was just all so bleak and depressing I found it a real struggle to retun to when I finished a chapter. Sadly it's going on the DNF shelf because I just didn't enjoy myself. Maybe at a later date I'll revisit this but for right now, no.
November 10, 2018
Superb sci-fi action
Dannie’s storytelling is fantastic, with amazing action scenes and battles not detracting from really strong characters. The Sisters of Battle in Warhammer 40k are often just seen as last stand material (always wiped out to make the enemy look tough), but here we see strong confident warriors with a range of unique and interesting personalities. The only criticism I have is that it’s just a novella - I’d love to see Danie write a full novel for these characters so I can read more!
Dannie’s storytelling is fantastic, with amazing action scenes and battles not detracting from really strong characters. The Sisters of Battle in Warhammer 40k are often just seen as last stand material (always wiped out to make the enemy look tough), but here we see strong confident warriors with a range of unique and interesting personalities. The only criticism I have is that it’s just a novella - I’d love to see Danie write a full novel for these characters so I can read more!
December 9, 2018
For Sisters fans you'll really enjoy this. For fans of any other particular faction in the Warhammer 40k universe, it's still fun, as the main story deals with facing off with a bloodthirsty horde of Khornate daemons. Very entertaining with lots of action to keep the attention and pages moving. My only regret was that it was so short.
December 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this- I have not read many stories focused on the Sisters of Battle, unfortunately (despite them being my primary 40K army), so reading this was extremely enjoyable and interesting. Not quite a mystery, but definitely an adventure of exploration, with a few pieces of action interspersed. Definitely worth a read.
January 27, 2019
Interesting intro to the black library!
This is book 1 of the novella series that's supposed to be an intro to the Black Library. I like how the sisters of battle sing during fighting. It was well paced and pretty interesting. I bought the book Mercy which is supposed to include these characters because I enjoyed them so much.
This is book 1 of the novella series that's supposed to be an intro to the Black Library. I like how the sisters of battle sing during fighting. It was well paced and pretty interesting. I bought the book Mercy which is supposed to include these characters because I enjoyed them so much.
July 10, 2019
A Sister Superior and her squad return to a world they liberated to investigate the disappearance of colonists. The characters are interesting, the mystery and action are fine. There are even seeds of a greater mystery ahead that I would like to read about. The readership needs far FAR more Sisters of Battle literature.
November 2, 2019
“Augusta looked up at the ziggurat as though she made her promise to the Emperor Himself. ‘Whatever did this, we will find it. ‘And we will be its ending.’ “
“Bloodied Rose” is the novella-length follow-up to the short story “Mercy”, but “Mercy” is by no means necessary pre-reading. “Bloodied Rose” is far superior and stands fine on its own
I don’t believe it matters where you place the short story “Forsaken” in the sequence. It’s a background story about the protagonist of both “Mercy” and “Bloodied Rose”.
“Bloodied Rose” is the novella-length follow-up to the short story “Mercy”, but “Mercy” is by no means necessary pre-reading. “Bloodied Rose” is far superior and stands fine on its own
I don’t believe it matters where you place the short story “Forsaken” in the sequence. It’s a background story about the protagonist of both “Mercy” and “Bloodied Rose”.
April 9, 2024
Uncertainty and action
Some experienced battle sisters and some new, with some uncertainties and insecurities about their roles. A steady build up to an action packed finale, with some loss and building a coherent team with its new member and promoted member. A short story worth reading.
Some experienced battle sisters and some new, with some uncertainties and insecurities about their roles. A steady build up to an action packed finale, with some loss and building a coherent team with its new member and promoted member. A short story worth reading.
August 16, 2019
Look, we all know the villain is ALWAYS gonna be Chaos. But it’s very rare when you are a meta-reader are genuinely surprised that it is. That’s what this did. Surprised and kept you thinking this was a loosing battle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2022
This novella is a direct sequel to the short story Mercy, by the same author, and sees Sister Superior Augusta and her squad return to the ruined cathedral on the backwater world of Lautis to investigate the disappearance of the Battle Sisters who replaced them. This was an entertaining story that does a very good job of building on its predecessor by building on the characterisation of the existing characters while also introducing some nice new ones. The action in the series is generally quite good, but there are a few things that felt a little off, such as one character repeatedly being described as bracing a heavy bolter (a gun that should be almost as long as she is tall) against her shoulder. Other than this, however, the story was good and I will be looking forward to readding further stories staring these characters.
January 7, 2019
Page-turner!
February 20, 2019
A decent start to BL's novella series and a worthy sequel to Mercy. Nice to read more about Sister Augusta's, all-singing and all-killing, Adepta Sororitas squad.
April 22, 2019
Easy read, nothing spectacular but not horrible. If you like shooty shooty bad people then you can't go wrong with this one.
May 26, 2019
This was a fun read; I like the Sororitas as a faction and I thought they were handled well here. If she does a full novel with the faction I expect I'll read it.
June 7, 2019
Short and fun read, it’s nice to see the sister’s of battle getting a little love. And it being good quality at that.
December 19, 2020
Good read
Character development, detailed and exciting action sequences, and strong pacing. This is one of the better Sisters of Battle novels.
Character development, detailed and exciting action sequences, and strong pacing. This is one of the better Sisters of Battle novels.
September 25, 2021
This legit just reads like someone transcribed their warhammer campaign.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews