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The Black Library Novella Series 1 #9
The Bone Desert
The world that Gotrek Gurnisson knew is long dead, alongside every soul the legendary monster slayer once cared for. Adrift in this curious new age, the duardin scours the treacherous Bone Desert in search of the axe he inherited from the God Grimnir, which too has been lost to the annals of time. When a series of assassination attempts strike, Gotrek and his aelf companion Maleneth soon learn that it is not only the wasteland’s ravenous beasts and sinking sands that hunger for their flesh. The heroic duardin is certain these highly calculated and creative attacks are the work of his infamous nemesis – the skaven, Thanquol. But is all as it seems?
Read It Because
Gotrek's back in prose, in the first follow-up to the audio drama Realmslayer. New adventures with a new companion – but perhaps an old enemy – await the Slayer!
122 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2018
About the author
Robbie MacNiven
125 books122 followersRobbie MacNiven is a Scottish author and historian. His published fiction includes over twenty novels in genres ranging from sci-fi and fantasy to historical fiction, written for publishers such as Black Library, Titan, Rebellion and Aconyte Books. He has also written novellas, short stories, audio dramas, comic scripts and graphic novels, has worked on narrative and character dialogue for multiple digital games (SMITE: Blitz, Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground, Raid: Shadow Legends), and has written colour text and branching narratives for multiple RPG and game rulebooks, including the award-winning Undaunted series by Osprey Games. In 2022 his X-Men novel "First Team" won a Scribe Award for tie-in fiction.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focusing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines, he has written eight books on 18th century conflicts including the American Revolution and the Seven Years War, seven for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for over a dozen episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra History.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include historical re-enacting, gaming, and football.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focusing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines, he has written eight books on 18th century conflicts including the American Revolution and the Seven Years War, seven for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for over a dozen episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra History.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include historical re-enacting, gaming, and football.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 13, 2020
Took me a while to finish. A decent enough romp, but it didn't grab me that strongly. At its best with reflective dialogue and allusions to Gotrek's life in the Old World and the strangeness of this new one. In other words, when Gotrek talks, it shines. Maleneth is a good character as well, but I don't think she got the development they intended for her. An element of her backstory is alluded to multiple times, but when it becomes immediately relevant, we don't have quite enough context for it to be impactful. Or maybe I missed something assumed familiar about the Daughters of Khaine.
January 25, 2020
Long Live Gotrek
Awesome. I want me some more Gotrek. One of the few series I have truly enjoyed. With Gotrek you can always bet on heads flying & some serious ass kicking.
Awesome. I want me some more Gotrek. One of the few series I have truly enjoyed. With Gotrek you can always bet on heads flying & some serious ass kicking.
March 11, 2019
Gotrek emerges from the World that Was into the world of the Age of Sigmar... and with his confusion also comes a quest - to find his axe.
Gotrek is without his Old World companion, Felix Jaeger, who I hope will reappear in Age of Sigmar novels in the future, but MacNiven gets the character right with grumblings, harse words, tenacity and loyalty all at the forefront... as well as a wish to meet his doom.
The real joy of this novella is that Gotrek remembers the World that Was and so mentions in during the story in much the way many Warhammer Fantasy fans have in the past few years. A great little book, although it may be uninteresting to those who don't know the story of Gotrek (and Felix).
Gotrek is without his Old World companion, Felix Jaeger, who I hope will reappear in Age of Sigmar novels in the future, but MacNiven gets the character right with grumblings, harse words, tenacity and loyalty all at the forefront... as well as a wish to meet his doom.
The real joy of this novella is that Gotrek remembers the World that Was and so mentions in during the story in much the way many Warhammer Fantasy fans have in the past few years. A great little book, although it may be uninteresting to those who don't know the story of Gotrek (and Felix).
February 4, 2024
3.75 Stars
This story felt like the middle part of a longer novel. Filled with travelling and assassination attempts but not a conclusion per se.
Yes, it did end. Yes, there was a twist and a big reveal with even a villain monologue, but it still didn't feel like the story ended.
Very easily, this short story could have been fleshed out into a full-length novel. Detailing how the characters met and started their journey through the bone desert and continued to reach a more satisfying ending.
It was a good, fast-paced read that got me invested rather quickly, considering how short the story was. I'm definitely curious to read more about Gotrek Gurnisson.
"Never trust anyone who can't grow a beard."
This story felt like the middle part of a longer novel. Filled with travelling and assassination attempts but not a conclusion per se.
Yes, it did end. Yes, there was a twist and a big reveal with even a villain monologue, but it still didn't feel like the story ended.
Very easily, this short story could have been fleshed out into a full-length novel. Detailing how the characters met and started their journey through the bone desert and continued to reach a more satisfying ending.
It was a good, fast-paced read that got me invested rather quickly, considering how short the story was. I'm definitely curious to read more about Gotrek Gurnisson.
"Never trust anyone who can't grow a beard."
April 4, 2020
Dieses Buch ist Teil einer Reihe, die ich bisher nicht gelesen habe. Es werden Sachen abgesprochen, die in der Vergangenheit der Charaktere passiert sind, aber ich konnte die Handlung dennoch problemlos geniessen.
Gotrek ist zwar ein eher typischer Fantasy-Zwerg, aber er ist dennoch richtig cool. Und ein krasses Tram mit Maleneth - ihre Hass-Freundschaft macht sehr viel dieser Geschichte aus.
Zur Ruhe kommt bis zum Schluss keiner, weder die Figuren, noch der Leser. Davon also gerne mehr. Aber dies gilt bei mir eigentlich für jedes Buch ausbdem Warhammer - Universum.
Gotrek ist zwar ein eher typischer Fantasy-Zwerg, aber er ist dennoch richtig cool. Und ein krasses Tram mit Maleneth - ihre Hass-Freundschaft macht sehr viel dieser Geschichte aus.
Zur Ruhe kommt bis zum Schluss keiner, weder die Figuren, noch der Leser. Davon also gerne mehr. Aber dies gilt bei mir eigentlich für jedes Buch ausbdem Warhammer - Universum.
July 12, 2019
Yay, Gotrek is back! I’ll make sure to read the work before this one. This story details his quest through the desert, with his new Aelf companion, to find his special axe. Hilarity ensues. The only sore point for me is one combat Gotrek is not as formidable as I thought he would be. Meh, the plot needed to be moved along. It was a diverting commute read.
August 4, 2019
Wonderful novella on a classic WHFB character in the world of AoS. Only think I wasn't keen on was how easily his foes were defeated. I do like a bit of a challenge now and again. But a great story nonetheless. 8/10
February 4, 2019
A fine story that moves along nicely, and has a few surprises. Was nice to see an old Warhammer character in the new Age of Sigmar setting- I wish there were more! Overall, a good read.
September 26, 2019
The return of Gotrek.
It's good to have Gotrek back in all his surly glory. Solid new side kick, and unlimited enemies. I look forward to more.Check it out.
It's good to have Gotrek back in all his surly glory. Solid new side kick, and unlimited enemies. I look forward to more.Check it out.
December 27, 2019
Gotrek is back!
Gotrek is back and badder +and crankier+ than ever! A fun read with great Gillian's. Highly recommended for fans of Earhammer!
Gotrek is back and badder +and crankier+ than ever! A fun read with great Gillian's. Highly recommended for fans of Earhammer!
August 28, 2023
Quite boring.
December 27, 2023
Good Gotrek fun. Enjoyably longer than most of the other short stories.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews