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Warhammer Horror
The House of Night and Chain
Another fantastically horrifying tale from Warhammer Horror. The nightmarish house Malveil awaits the return of an old heir, but what awaits him inside?
In a bleak corner of the city of Valgaast, the House of Malveil awaits. A place of darkness, its halls throb with a sinister history. Its rooms are filled with malice. Its walls echo with pain. Now it stirs eagerly with the approach of an old heir. Colonel Maeson Strock of the Astra Militarum has returned home to his ancestral mansion. He is a man broken, both by the horrors of war and by personal loss, and has come home to take up the mantle of Planetary Governor. He hopes he can purge his home world of political corruption and reforge connections with his estranged children. He hopes he can rebuild his life.
Malveil will feast on these dreams. Strock believes he has seen the worst of the galaxy’s horrors.
Malveil will show him how wrong he is.
In a bleak corner of the city of Valgaast, the House of Malveil awaits. A place of darkness, its halls throb with a sinister history. Its rooms are filled with malice. Its walls echo with pain. Now it stirs eagerly with the approach of an old heir. Colonel Maeson Strock of the Astra Militarum has returned home to his ancestral mansion. He is a man broken, both by the horrors of war and by personal loss, and has come home to take up the mantle of Planetary Governor. He hopes he can purge his home world of political corruption and reforge connections with his estranged children. He hopes he can rebuild his life.
Malveil will feast on these dreams. Strock believes he has seen the worst of the galaxy’s horrors.
Malveil will show him how wrong he is.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
September 9, 2019
Despite the fantastic writing the author was able to showcase with this horror and supernatural read, there just something about this novel that was hard to indulge myself in thus my lack of connection to the story. There wasn't anything horrid about it and could easily see how some readers would flock to it but this just wasn't for me.
October 13, 2019
I received this from Netgalley for review, and WOW!!! I am a HUGE Warhammer 40k fan, and I am thrilled now for the Horror line. This book did not disappoint let me say from the get go. Extremely well written, with that amazing Warhammer feel and engulfing story line. The characters are excellently developed. The storyline is absolutely riveting and engrossing and very well paced.
This is a must have for all Warhammer 40k fans, and especially the Warhammer Horror fans! Am so glad I got to review the ARC of this, I can not wait to see more in this horror line.
This is a must have for all Warhammer 40k fans, and especially the Warhammer Horror fans! Am so glad I got to review the ARC of this, I can not wait to see more in this horror line.
September 6, 2025
Just like the crime spin-offs set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, this too was just what I needed. An established world with references that make you do the Leonardo DiCaprio meme. I loved this haunted house story. Give me more!
August 24, 2020
Horror literature is a remarkable thing. Perhaps it is only my limited insight but I feel as if this genre has suffered most of its movie counterpart and lesser extent video games. Horror has become synonymous with the visual, the grotesque, with raw shock to such an extent that it is difficult to picture it otherwise. Off course a book like this does use imagery and the grotesque but this book reminded me how a flavor of its own a horror novel can be.
What I loved most was the slow descent, like the main character, as a reader you get dragged downwards, you start to question what is real and what isn't. The ending was both a surprise and it wasn't at the same time. yes it was a twist but not one of those "no way! never saw that coming!" but rather a "yes I see now." it is a more subtle thing that smoothly eased in, like the final layer on a cake. What really did it for me is that I have a genuine unease to the idea of a house that seems to lock in its inhabitants. This is a very specific fear and it is nice to read something that indulges that feeling once and a while.
However I do have some remarks. The first is the death of minor character. It is portrayed as a shock to the main character but it feels really out of place. We barely had gotten to know this character and his death does not feel relevant at all. Now if it had been another minor character with whom the main character had spent quite a bit of time with, then I would have accepted it no problem and it would have fit perfectly.
Second remark, demons, Yes yes spoiler but for 2 pages classic warhammer demons are summoned and it felt off. They weren't needed to do what they did, the story would have been served better without them. Now it came across as if the author had to include some classic warhammer 40k warp stuff and that is a shame. The thing is that the warp is so vast and so incomprehensible, in fact the 4 gods of chaos give an illusion that there is order to some extent and that itself is an illusion (that being the raison d'être of the now uncanon god malal but I digress) having it connected to the 4 gods of chaos limits the possibilities of what can happen in this universe. It would be like everything lovecraft wrote was cutulluh in the end, a lot of it is, but a whole lot more of his stories don't feature it all. That is what makes lovecraft so interesting that he did not restrict himself to one thing, one evil entity. Even if there are four of them, I hope warhammer horror does not limit itself to the 4 chaos gods whose demons we have seen shot to pieces or rendered to immaterial bits by roaring space marines far to often to still feel as shaken by as we should be in a horror story.
But even having said that, it is a great horror story. The proof for me is that reading late one evening my door slammed shut because of a draft and it startled me, almost embarrassingly so. That is when you know you are reading a good horror book.
What I loved most was the slow descent, like the main character, as a reader you get dragged downwards, you start to question what is real and what isn't. The ending was both a surprise and it wasn't at the same time. yes it was a twist but not one of those "no way! never saw that coming!" but rather a "yes I see now." it is a more subtle thing that smoothly eased in, like the final layer on a cake. What really did it for me is that I have a genuine unease to the idea of a house that seems to lock in its inhabitants. This is a very specific fear and it is nice to read something that indulges that feeling once and a while.
However I do have some remarks. The first is the death of minor character. It is portrayed as a shock to the main character but it feels really out of place. We barely had gotten to know this character and his death does not feel relevant at all. Now if it had been another minor character with whom the main character had spent quite a bit of time with, then I would have accepted it no problem and it would have fit perfectly.
Second remark, demons, Yes yes spoiler but for 2 pages classic warhammer demons are summoned and it felt off. They weren't needed to do what they did, the story would have been served better without them. Now it came across as if the author had to include some classic warhammer 40k warp stuff and that is a shame. The thing is that the warp is so vast and so incomprehensible, in fact the 4 gods of chaos give an illusion that there is order to some extent and that itself is an illusion (that being the raison d'être of the now uncanon god malal but I digress) having it connected to the 4 gods of chaos limits the possibilities of what can happen in this universe. It would be like everything lovecraft wrote was cutulluh in the end, a lot of it is, but a whole lot more of his stories don't feature it all. That is what makes lovecraft so interesting that he did not restrict himself to one thing, one evil entity. Even if there are four of them, I hope warhammer horror does not limit itself to the 4 chaos gods whose demons we have seen shot to pieces or rendered to immaterial bits by roaring space marines far to often to still feel as shaken by as we should be in a horror story.
But even having said that, it is a great horror story. The proof for me is that reading late one evening my door slammed shut because of a draft and it startled me, almost embarrassingly so. That is when you know you are reading a good horror book.
November 4, 2019
Enter Malveil, You'll Only Be Here Forever
The House of Night and Chain excellent tale of madness, growing paranoia and occult powers unfolding. Annandale has crafted a wonderful first person narrative whose unreliable narrator spins his circles like a maelstrom drawing the reader deeper into the mysteries of the haunted mansion. What is real, what a fantasy? As dream and reality blur together, the book becomes ever harder to put aside.
Dugald Bruce-Lockhart does an exceptional job narrating the audiobook. His tone and pace perfectly encapsulate the protagonist's emotional and mental state - from strong confidence over growing unease up to stark fear - and further contribute to the horror.I
David Annnadale has long been one of my favorite authors of horror in Black Library's stable, and you'll certainly find familiar themes of faith and madness here. The Warhammer Horror imprint appears to finally let him spread his wings to their full potential. The House of Night and Chain proves his talents yet again, and I'll eagerly anticipate his next Horror outing.
A note on the print edition:
As has been the case for previous Warhammer Horror prints, The House of Night and Chain also offers a premium look with its page edges painted green, fitting the cover design. Even though it won't be visible sitting comfortably on the shelf once finished, it certainly makes for a looker, especially in public. As with previous WHH books (which had its edges painted black or red), The House of Night and Chain also drew attention from strangers on the bus. It's not a feature you'll see all that often outside of expensive limited edition releases, but it does uplift the experience passively for sure.
The House of Night and Chain excellent tale of madness, growing paranoia and occult powers unfolding. Annandale has crafted a wonderful first person narrative whose unreliable narrator spins his circles like a maelstrom drawing the reader deeper into the mysteries of the haunted mansion. What is real, what a fantasy? As dream and reality blur together, the book becomes ever harder to put aside.
Dugald Bruce-Lockhart does an exceptional job narrating the audiobook. His tone and pace perfectly encapsulate the protagonist's emotional and mental state - from strong confidence over growing unease up to stark fear - and further contribute to the horror.I
David Annnadale has long been one of my favorite authors of horror in Black Library's stable, and you'll certainly find familiar themes of faith and madness here. The Warhammer Horror imprint appears to finally let him spread his wings to their full potential. The House of Night and Chain proves his talents yet again, and I'll eagerly anticipate his next Horror outing.
A note on the print edition:
As has been the case for previous Warhammer Horror prints, The House of Night and Chain also offers a premium look with its page edges painted green, fitting the cover design. Even though it won't be visible sitting comfortably on the shelf once finished, it certainly makes for a looker, especially in public. As with previous WHH books (which had its edges painted black or red), The House of Night and Chain also drew attention from strangers on the bus. It's not a feature you'll see all that often outside of expensive limited edition releases, but it does uplift the experience passively for sure.
September 30, 2019
Wounded, traumatised, widowed and grieving, Colonel Maeson Strock returns to the agri-world of Solus to take up the governorship, and the city of Valgaast to take up residence in his family’s ancestral seat, Malveil. Duty-bound to stamp out the growing corruption in the ruling council and determined to rebuild his fragmented family upon Solus, Maeson soon finds himself drawn into a sinister mystery with Malveil at its heart.
It’s a story rooted in the Imperium and which couldn’t quite exist outside of 40k, but that quintessential 40k-ness works best when it’s providing the backdrop, not front and centre. For as long as Maeson questions what he’s seeing and Annandale focuses on what-ifs, this remains if not jump-scary then delightfully creepy and enjoyably ambiguous. The ghosts of Maeson’s past and the ensnaring presence of Malveil combine to great effect, and the personal, everyday nature of the characters gives proceedings an emotional weight that’s often lacking from Warhammer stories. It’s a breath of fresh air for 40k, an atmospheric story which plays to Annandale’s strengths and captures the essential darkness of the setting, leaving the reader suitably, satisfyingly unsettled.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/10/...
It’s a story rooted in the Imperium and which couldn’t quite exist outside of 40k, but that quintessential 40k-ness works best when it’s providing the backdrop, not front and centre. For as long as Maeson questions what he’s seeing and Annandale focuses on what-ifs, this remains if not jump-scary then delightfully creepy and enjoyably ambiguous. The ghosts of Maeson’s past and the ensnaring presence of Malveil combine to great effect, and the personal, everyday nature of the characters gives proceedings an emotional weight that’s often lacking from Warhammer stories. It’s a breath of fresh air for 40k, an atmospheric story which plays to Annandale’s strengths and captures the essential darkness of the setting, leaving the reader suitably, satisfyingly unsettled.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2019/10/...
July 28, 2020
Da gusto leer una novela ambientada en Warhammer que se salga de la media (y más aún en el pasado más reciente de 40K y su saturación de la Herejía de Horus).
La decisión de la Black Library de abrir un sello, Warhammer Horror, dedicado al terror no puede ser más acertada y si todas las novelas mantienen más o menos este nivel ya podrían cerrar los demás sellos.
En esta novela, ambientada en el mundo de WH40K, tenemos un retelling a lo 40K de una historia de casas encantadas gótica. Si todo en Warhammer 40K rezuma gótico la decisión de crear una historia de casas encantadas, intrigas palaciegas y amores truncados por el suicidio le viene que ni pintado y la mano de David Annandale crea una historia que brilla dentro de la Black Library al trabajar un estilo menos directo y seco y coquetear con las florituras propias del género.
La decisión de la Black Library de abrir un sello, Warhammer Horror, dedicado al terror no puede ser más acertada y si todas las novelas mantienen más o menos este nivel ya podrían cerrar los demás sellos.
En esta novela, ambientada en el mundo de WH40K, tenemos un retelling a lo 40K de una historia de casas encantadas gótica. Si todo en Warhammer 40K rezuma gótico la decisión de crear una historia de casas encantadas, intrigas palaciegas y amores truncados por el suicidio le viene que ni pintado y la mano de David Annandale crea una historia que brilla dentro de la Black Library al trabajar un estilo menos directo y seco y coquetear con las florituras propias del género.
July 27, 2020
Proper horror, set in the Warhammer 40 000 universe. You'll be caught by the athmosphere within having read only a few pages, and the book keeps you guessing for a long time.
This book would be ruined by the tiniest spoiler, so I shall give none. Suffice to say that it is very well written, and walks an enticing tightrope between scary and creepy.
The 40k universe is well represented here, without it getting in the way of the story. Having a passing knowledge of the setting would be helpful for the reader, but not entirely required.
Contrary to the universe tagline, there is NOT only war in the dark future of the 41st millennium... There are also things that are much, much worse... ...or are there?
This book would be ruined by the tiniest spoiler, so I shall give none. Suffice to say that it is very well written, and walks an enticing tightrope between scary and creepy.
The 40k universe is well represented here, without it getting in the way of the story. Having a passing knowledge of the setting would be helpful for the reader, but not entirely required.
Contrary to the universe tagline, there is NOT only war in the dark future of the 41st millennium... There are also things that are much, much worse... ...or are there?
October 22, 2020
Can I rate 6 stars?
When I write reviews, I try to give an impression of how the book affected me, or what notable perspectives the book provides. I don't know if I should be more harsh in future, even if I genuinely enjoy the book. This one plays the gradual build up of mystery and horror very well. I had the chill multiple times. It's written so well and the author does a brilliant job. I've given a good couple of 5 star reviews, so I don't know how I can make this work stand out even more. I'm very happy to have completed this as Halloween approaches.
When I write reviews, I try to give an impression of how the book affected me, or what notable perspectives the book provides. I don't know if I should be more harsh in future, even if I genuinely enjoy the book. This one plays the gradual build up of mystery and horror very well. I had the chill multiple times. It's written so well and the author does a brilliant job. I've given a good couple of 5 star reviews, so I don't know how I can make this work stand out even more. I'm very happy to have completed this as Halloween approaches.
September 10, 2019
This was very hard to get into and it could just be that the style of writing wasn’t for me although it is very beautiful. It reminds me of a very grandiose Castlevania. It’s fascinating but also confusing but I can see it doing very well with a certain crowd.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher.
August 13, 2022
Ich liebe Horror und ich liebe Warhammer - somit ist die Warhammer Horror-Reihe wie geschaffen für mich. In diesem Buch vereint Annandale typische Haus-Horror-Elemente mit der brutalen Welt von Warhammer 40K und es funktioniert einfach grossartig!
Was als typische Gespensterhaus-Geschichte beginnt, wird bald zu einem Tanz zwischen Traum und Realität. Wem kann Maeson wirklich trauen? Wer spielt hier welches Spielchen? Und sind diese Erwachsenen in den Zimmern nebenan wirklich seine Kinder?
Atmosphärisch dicht und spannungsgeladen erzählt der Autor seine Geschichte und muss sich nicht hinter "normalen" Horrorautoren verstecken, nur weil sein Werk im Warhammer-Universum spielt. Tatsächlich kann ich mir dieses Buch für Fans des Horrorgenres auch gut als Türöffner für die Welt von Warhammer vorstellen.
Ich habe mich gegruselt, war oft auch entsetzt und völlig in diesem Buch drin - was mehr kann ich mir wünschen? Eben.
Was als typische Gespensterhaus-Geschichte beginnt, wird bald zu einem Tanz zwischen Traum und Realität. Wem kann Maeson wirklich trauen? Wer spielt hier welches Spielchen? Und sind diese Erwachsenen in den Zimmern nebenan wirklich seine Kinder?
Atmosphärisch dicht und spannungsgeladen erzählt der Autor seine Geschichte und muss sich nicht hinter "normalen" Horrorautoren verstecken, nur weil sein Werk im Warhammer-Universum spielt. Tatsächlich kann ich mir dieses Buch für Fans des Horrorgenres auch gut als Türöffner für die Welt von Warhammer vorstellen.
Ich habe mich gegruselt, war oft auch entsetzt und völlig in diesem Buch drin - was mehr kann ich mir wünschen? Eben.
December 17, 2019
Это было здорово.
Как ни странно, но, при всей своей гримдарковости, в вахе совершенно нет места для мистики. Из литературы ужаса в рамки сороковника отлично вписывается технохоррор, триллер, сплэттер - но никак не мистика. И дело даже не в том, что странно пугаться призраков во вселенной, где на вашу планету вполне может явиться демон-принц. Нет. Проблема в том, что мы в принципе понимаем разницу между привидением и демон-принцем. Мы знаем, что "у демонхоста четыре вунды, а у демонетки - одна" (с). Варп стал механическим. Он мало чем отличается от любой другой фракции.
Это первый гвоздь в гроб мистики, которая строится на неопределенности, непонимании и невозможности.
Второй - герои. Вернее, в контексте вархаммера, практически всегда - супергерои. Им не положено бояться, им положено превозмогать. И читатель не боится вмести с ними.
Аннандейлу удалось оба этих гвоздя выдернуть. Никакой героики. Протагонист - самый обычный человек, знать ничего не знающий о варповстве и извечном враге. Священники - просто священники, без баллонов с благославенным прометием за спиной. Полиция - просто полиция. Ну и так далее. За всю книгу нет никаких сражений, болтерных очередей и силовых клинков. Разве что намеки на них в воспоминаниях героя.
Зато есть политические интриги, семейные проблемы, старые раны... И дом.
Очень старый дом.
Как ни странно, но, при всей своей гримдарковости, в вахе совершенно нет места для мистики. Из литературы ужаса в рамки сороковника отлично вписывается технохоррор, триллер, сплэттер - но никак не мистика. И дело даже не в том, что странно пугаться призраков во вселенной, где на вашу планету вполне может явиться демон-принц. Нет. Проблема в том, что мы в принципе понимаем разницу между привидением и демон-принцем. Мы знаем, что "у демонхоста четыре вунды, а у демонетки - одна" (с). Варп стал механическим. Он мало чем отличается от любой другой фракции.
Это первый гвоздь в гроб мистики, которая строится на неопределенности, непонимании и невозможности.
Второй - герои. Вернее, в контексте вархаммера, практически всегда - супергерои. Им не положено бояться, им положено превозмогать. И читатель не боится вмести с ними.
Аннандейлу удалось оба этих гвоздя выдернуть. Никакой героики. Протагонист - самый обычный человек, знать ничего не знающий о варповстве и извечном враге. Священники - просто священники, без баллонов с благославенным прометием за спиной. Полиция - просто полиция. Ну и так далее. За всю книгу нет никаких сражений, болтерных очередей и силовых клинков. Разве что намеки на них в воспоминаниях героя.
Зато есть политические интриги, семейные проблемы, старые раны... И дом.
Очень старый дом.
December 12, 2024
I always find that Warhammer is at it's best when it isn't very Warhammer at all! The setting makes for a perfect dark background to a psychological horror, baked into the known but reaching out into something new! I particularly enjoyed the unreliable narrator, not knowing what was real and what was... otherwise. If I had one wish it would be that we stayed away from some of the more prescribed evils, the story is so delightfully strange I feel it could have committed to the strangeness of it's own little dark corner!
February 21, 2020
I will be coppying my Wordpress review once I have written it up. I have limited internet covarage at the moment, bare with me. This book was great.
May 18, 2021
The best Black Library book I've read in a while, a very effective haunted-house story that is perhaps a little over-long.
January 1, 2020
This is the grimdark of 40k so you’re not going to be terribly surprised by anything but an excellent fusion of the classic haunted house with PTSD and the politics of a society at war.
October 2, 2022
An excellent tale of madness in the far future. Madness driven by what? Guilt? Chaos? Dark Age Technologies? Ghosts? Demons? Old Age? PTSD? Generational Change? Curses? Who knows. A really, really good dive into an unraveling man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
Solid enough Warhammer Horror entry that I rather think would have worked better as a novella. Solid start, VERY strong ending, but the middle section was a bit too flabby for its own good. Still, a 40K riff on a haunted house yarn that defo had its merits.
October 26, 2019
I received a copy of The House of Night and Chain through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The House of Night and Chain by David Annandale is the latest in the Warhammer Horror series, and it seriously nails that core concept. This is a tale that will give you chills and thrills. Perfect for this time of the year, no?
The House of Malveil must always have a master. And there is always a Strock to fill the position. Colonel Maeson Strock was of the Astra Militarum, until he was given orders to come back home and put his home planet, Valgaast back into order. Little did he know the chain of events his homecoming would begin.
The House of Night and Chain reads like a Lovecraftian horror set within the realm of Warhammer. It made for a uniquely enthralling tale, set in a universe full of lore and curiosity.
“There was no mercy to be had here, no concessions.”
The House of Night and Chain was a dark and delicious read. Set on a bleak planet, this tale unravels steadily, revealing the true horror of the House of Malveil, and all within it. Like any Warhammer tale, there is more than meets the eye.
The mystery of the House of Malveil was immediately hinted at within these pages, but it took much longer to get a full understanding of what was truly happening. And that sort of writing makes for the best of horror tales, I think we can all agree.
Colonel Maeson Strock was an interesting main perspective. He had a tortured history, even if he would never put it in those words. He survived something that many others didn't, and was clearly suffering from survivors guilt thanks to it. That coupled with his family history, the loss of his wife, and so much more...and it's no wonder he's got a complex relationship with his home and everything that stands as a reminder to his past life.
A good psychological horror leaves breadcrumbs for the readers – chances for us to see behind the curtain, so to speak. And The House of Night and Chain wasn't afraid to leave a glimpse or two, as needed. It was never too much...just enough to let us know that our protagonist was a less than reliable avenue of information.
On the whole, I really enjoyed reading the House of Night and Chain. I'm starting to think that the horror side of Warhammer is my favorite, but that might just be my bias thanks to what time of year it is (who doesn't love a horror novel around Halloween?).
I'm looking forward to seeing what the next novel in this collection will be. I think no matter what planet they choose to visit next, I'm going to end up enjoying it.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The House of Night and Chain by David Annandale is the latest in the Warhammer Horror series, and it seriously nails that core concept. This is a tale that will give you chills and thrills. Perfect for this time of the year, no?
The House of Malveil must always have a master. And there is always a Strock to fill the position. Colonel Maeson Strock was of the Astra Militarum, until he was given orders to come back home and put his home planet, Valgaast back into order. Little did he know the chain of events his homecoming would begin.
The House of Night and Chain reads like a Lovecraftian horror set within the realm of Warhammer. It made for a uniquely enthralling tale, set in a universe full of lore and curiosity.
“There was no mercy to be had here, no concessions.”
The House of Night and Chain was a dark and delicious read. Set on a bleak planet, this tale unravels steadily, revealing the true horror of the House of Malveil, and all within it. Like any Warhammer tale, there is more than meets the eye.
The mystery of the House of Malveil was immediately hinted at within these pages, but it took much longer to get a full understanding of what was truly happening. And that sort of writing makes for the best of horror tales, I think we can all agree.
Colonel Maeson Strock was an interesting main perspective. He had a tortured history, even if he would never put it in those words. He survived something that many others didn't, and was clearly suffering from survivors guilt thanks to it. That coupled with his family history, the loss of his wife, and so much more...and it's no wonder he's got a complex relationship with his home and everything that stands as a reminder to his past life.
A good psychological horror leaves breadcrumbs for the readers – chances for us to see behind the curtain, so to speak. And The House of Night and Chain wasn't afraid to leave a glimpse or two, as needed. It was never too much...just enough to let us know that our protagonist was a less than reliable avenue of information.
On the whole, I really enjoyed reading the House of Night and Chain. I'm starting to think that the horror side of Warhammer is my favorite, but that might just be my bias thanks to what time of year it is (who doesn't love a horror novel around Halloween?).
I'm looking forward to seeing what the next novel in this collection will be. I think no matter what planet they choose to visit next, I'm going to end up enjoying it.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
November 18, 2022
A well crafted haunted house story with an unreliable narrator in the Warhammer 40.000 universe. After Maeson Strock is severely wounded during a catastrophic battle against an alien force and looses an arm and a leg, he is discharged from his duties as an officer in the Imperial Guard. But his service doesn't end there. He is ordered to return to his homeworld and take up the mantel of the planetary governor, a position traditionally held by members of his family.
Deeply traumatized by his experiences on the battlefield, even more difficulties await him at home. Not only do the planetary councilors seem to be corrupt, he also has to return to the place where his beloved wife supposedly committed suicide in his absence. He has few friends and he is estranged from his two children, whom he didn't see grow up due to his military service and who are all grown up now.
And while he is desperately trying to fight the corruption within the planet's governement while at the same time trying to fix the relationship with his son and daughter, it seems that his family's ancient mansion is haunted. The problem is: according to the Imperial creed, there are no ghosts and so Maeson finds himself going ever deeper down the rabit hole, having more and more difficulties distinguishing what is real from what isn't.
It's definately an interesting approach to the Warhammer 40K universe and if you're into SciFi and haunted house stories, I guess this would work even if you're not familiar with the lore. With a few tweaks, The House of Night and Chain would probaly even work outside the 40K universe.
Anyway, David Annandale spins a creepy, slow burning tale of horror and madness that is only held back a bit by its somewhat chaotic final scenes which also happen to be overly Warhammer-y.
Deeply traumatized by his experiences on the battlefield, even more difficulties await him at home. Not only do the planetary councilors seem to be corrupt, he also has to return to the place where his beloved wife supposedly committed suicide in his absence. He has few friends and he is estranged from his two children, whom he didn't see grow up due to his military service and who are all grown up now.
And while he is desperately trying to fight the corruption within the planet's governement while at the same time trying to fix the relationship with his son and daughter, it seems that his family's ancient mansion is haunted. The problem is: according to the Imperial creed, there are no ghosts and so Maeson finds himself going ever deeper down the rabit hole, having more and more difficulties distinguishing what is real from what isn't.
It's definately an interesting approach to the Warhammer 40K universe and if you're into SciFi and haunted house stories, I guess this would work even if you're not familiar with the lore. With a few tweaks, The House of Night and Chain would probaly even work outside the 40K universe.
Anyway, David Annandale spins a creepy, slow burning tale of horror and madness that is only held back a bit by its somewhat chaotic final scenes which also happen to be overly Warhammer-y.
November 16, 2019
I am reading many reviews on this site that basically say it was well written and it was hard to connect to or follow what is happening.
I am not sure but I think this may be due to the fact many of the reviewers where given free copies of the book to review and are not familiar with the Warhammer universe.
The book in my opinion fit well in the setting but wasn't so wrapped up in it that an outsider couldn't get what was going on. Then again I am familair with the setting and know with out having the feel out the context what a Servitor or Inquisitor is. Another thing is even though its clear that the Emperor is God, how absolutely fanatical the setting is. For example if your telling some one you think you have seen a ghost you are not just risking sounding a little crazy, your risking sounding like a heretic who may need to be turned in so an agent of the empire known as an Inquisitor may come to investigate you and have you put down and maybe turned into a Servitor.
Besides all of that I do feel the book is well written and is excellent psychological horror. There is a bit of a secondary story dealing with rival families and the job he was sent to do. I enjoyed this because it helped ground the character. I also enjoyed the way things came together.
My verdict is that this a great horror story in the Warhammer setting and if you are a 40k Fan give this a try.
If your not a Warhammer fan but enjoy psychological horror and are comfortable with it being in a Science fiction setting that (while described well) is not always presented as if this is your first experience with it, then definitely check this out.
I am not sure but I think this may be due to the fact many of the reviewers where given free copies of the book to review and are not familiar with the Warhammer universe.
The book in my opinion fit well in the setting but wasn't so wrapped up in it that an outsider couldn't get what was going on. Then again I am familair with the setting and know with out having the feel out the context what a Servitor or Inquisitor is. Another thing is even though its clear that the Emperor is God, how absolutely fanatical the setting is. For example if your telling some one you think you have seen a ghost you are not just risking sounding a little crazy, your risking sounding like a heretic who may need to be turned in so an agent of the empire known as an Inquisitor may come to investigate you and have you put down and maybe turned into a Servitor.
Besides all of that I do feel the book is well written and is excellent psychological horror. There is a bit of a secondary story dealing with rival families and the job he was sent to do. I enjoyed this because it helped ground the character. I also enjoyed the way things came together.
My verdict is that this a great horror story in the Warhammer setting and if you are a 40k Fan give this a try.
If your not a Warhammer fan but enjoy psychological horror and are comfortable with it being in a Science fiction setting that (while described well) is not always presented as if this is your first experience with it, then definitely check this out.
November 25, 2019
Another Warhammer 40k book and another impressed India!
Thank you, Black Library and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I thought that I would need to know everything about this world to enjoy these books but that is not the case!
I liked the political storyline that weaves its way through this novel. While the story focuses more on our main characters experience with the house I felt that including the political storyline added some variance to the story and kept me engaged. I really enjoyed watching our main character trying to take down the corruption of his hometown as I feel corruption is so prevalent in today's society.
The writing was really good but I found that I enjoyed it the most when I read chapters that included our main character exploring and spending time in the titular house. Especially, the chapters when it was set at night. The atmoshpere created had me looking over my shoulder or leaving the light on ebfore I went to sleep as it was incredibly creepy and conjured up very scary images in my mind. Not something you want to be thinking of before you went to sleep.
I loved that we had this mystery surrounding the house and surrounding Eliana the main character's wife who passed away before the main events of the book. I love a good mystery so I was really invested in finding out the truth.
I also felt that the ending was incredibly satisfying. It happened exactly the way I wanted it too!
Thank you, Black Library and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I thought that I would need to know everything about this world to enjoy these books but that is not the case!
I liked the political storyline that weaves its way through this novel. While the story focuses more on our main characters experience with the house I felt that including the political storyline added some variance to the story and kept me engaged. I really enjoyed watching our main character trying to take down the corruption of his hometown as I feel corruption is so prevalent in today's society.
The writing was really good but I found that I enjoyed it the most when I read chapters that included our main character exploring and spending time in the titular house. Especially, the chapters when it was set at night. The atmoshpere created had me looking over my shoulder or leaving the light on ebfore I went to sleep as it was incredibly creepy and conjured up very scary images in my mind. Not something you want to be thinking of before you went to sleep.
I loved that we had this mystery surrounding the house and surrounding Eliana the main character's wife who passed away before the main events of the book. I love a good mystery so I was really invested in finding out the truth.
I also felt that the ending was incredibly satisfying. It happened exactly the way I wanted it too!
March 8, 2020
Apart from going in too quickly, and too obviously, with some of the horror elements, this was a pretty solid horror book!
It reminded me of Woman In Black or The Haunting of Hill House, but with a sci-fi twist and a fairly interesting exploration of how worlds in the 40k universe can be governed (or at least how the more prosperous ones can be). The setting was nice and familiarly gothic - in a way that reminded me of a Poirot, honestly. It wasn't overly technological, or preachy, and the 'religious' elements were actually very well handled.
All in all, it was a really nicely balanced books, with lots of different elements that weren't fighting for space.
It reminded me of Woman In Black or The Haunting of Hill House, but with a sci-fi twist and a fairly interesting exploration of how worlds in the 40k universe can be governed (or at least how the more prosperous ones can be). The setting was nice and familiarly gothic - in a way that reminded me of a Poirot, honestly. It wasn't overly technological, or preachy, and the 'religious' elements were actually very well handled.
All in all, it was a really nicely balanced books, with lots of different elements that weren't fighting for space.
September 24, 2019
Great book. Great read. Reminds me of gothic horror set in the Warhammer 40k universe. Starts out slow, but the end will get you. Would highly recommend this book. Reminds me of a song in which the last line is. God have mercy on man, who doubts what he is sure of.
December 18, 2019
HOOOOOOLY SHIT. That was
THE
darkest ending I have ever read and I am a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti, and the cosmic/Lovecraftian horror genre. I've read some serious shit but this takes the cake.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2019
I fell in love with the world of Warhammer 40,000 because of how rich it is. It’s a universe that’s a mishmash of so many cool things I love; science fiction, fantasy, horror, a noirish morality, and the visual aesthetic of heavy metal. Last year, Black Library, the imprint of Games Workshop that publishes 40K fiction, began a new line of books that featured all the things that make 40K what it is, but the horror aspects would be focused on and emphasized. I was excited to hear that news, but the initial books in the Warhammer Horror line didn’t really have a title that piqued my interest.
That all changed this year when I saw the announcement for The House of Night and Chain by David Annandale. I’ve loved Annandale’s previous 40K work, and the book appeared to be one of my favorite types of horror tales; a haunted house story. So, I was pretty excited to read the book. I just finished it, and I’m happy to report that it was everything I was hoping it would be and more.
Essentially, The House of Night and Chain feels like if you took all the fascinating trappings of 40K and used them to tell a story like The Haunting of Hill House or The Shining It’s that good! It’s clear that Annandale had a blast writing it.
The House of Night and Chain is about a wounded Imperial Guard officer called back to david_annandalehis ancestral home planet. While he’s there he must suss out some political intrigue for the good of the Imperium. He also must piece back together the familial bonds between him and his children that were shattered years ago after his wife took her own life. To do that, he has to venture back to and explore, Malveil, his family’s sprawling and ancient estate.
Maeson Strock, Annandale’s protagonist, is a pretty fascinating character. The grief he feels over not being there for his wife and family gives the book an extra sense of pathos and poignancy. Annandale expertly weaves together Strock’s grief with the madness and mystery of what’s going on in a way that’s reminiscent of the films of writer/director, Mike Flanagan. Plus he populates the tale with a number of fascinating characters like Strock’s political rival, his two children, and members of the Adeptus Arbites and Ecclesiarchy.
I can’t really say too much more about The House of Night and Chain without spoiling things. So, I’ll finish by saying it truly lives up the intention of the Warhammer Horror line. In it, Annandale tells a wonderfully creepy and disturbing haunted house tale that is made extra enjoyable by all the signature elements of Warhammer 40,000
That all changed this year when I saw the announcement for The House of Night and Chain by David Annandale. I’ve loved Annandale’s previous 40K work, and the book appeared to be one of my favorite types of horror tales; a haunted house story. So, I was pretty excited to read the book. I just finished it, and I’m happy to report that it was everything I was hoping it would be and more.
Essentially, The House of Night and Chain feels like if you took all the fascinating trappings of 40K and used them to tell a story like The Haunting of Hill House or The Shining It’s that good! It’s clear that Annandale had a blast writing it.
The House of Night and Chain is about a wounded Imperial Guard officer called back to david_annandalehis ancestral home planet. While he’s there he must suss out some political intrigue for the good of the Imperium. He also must piece back together the familial bonds between him and his children that were shattered years ago after his wife took her own life. To do that, he has to venture back to and explore, Malveil, his family’s sprawling and ancient estate.
Maeson Strock, Annandale’s protagonist, is a pretty fascinating character. The grief he feels over not being there for his wife and family gives the book an extra sense of pathos and poignancy. Annandale expertly weaves together Strock’s grief with the madness and mystery of what’s going on in a way that’s reminiscent of the films of writer/director, Mike Flanagan. Plus he populates the tale with a number of fascinating characters like Strock’s political rival, his two children, and members of the Adeptus Arbites and Ecclesiarchy.
I can’t really say too much more about The House of Night and Chain without spoiling things. So, I’ll finish by saying it truly lives up the intention of the Warhammer Horror line. In it, Annandale tells a wonderfully creepy and disturbing haunted house tale that is made extra enjoyable by all the signature elements of Warhammer 40,000
November 5, 2020
Another one from the Black Library 2020 Humble Bundle. https://www.humblebundle.com/books/vo...
What a weird idea to "enrich" a miniature painting and wargame with constant flow of mediocre literature. There are so many good military sagas. Is it really so expensive to use an existing excellent universe of Malazan Book of the Fallen for a fantasy setting and Old Man's War for scifi setting? I mean Games Workshop themselves even figured it out, it seems, because they're developing a Lord of the Rings miniature game on the side.
Anyway, this one is set in Warhammer's 40K scifi universe. Begins like a children's horror story about a colonel returning home after witnessing the horrors in the Galaxy and hoping for peace and quiet in late life. But of course it is not to be, because nobody paints Warhammer miniatures to play house and happy family. As it advances, the connection to Warhammer becomes less and less relevent as it devolves into yet another reiteration of a mansion of madness. If this is your interest, maybe read Poe and Lovecraft instead? Also the writing style copies that flowery Victorian era style. Not terrible, but not all that original as well.
Apparently it's more like an 18th century there in the late 41st century. There are noblemen as officers in the Imperial Guard and after 10-20 years of service they can return home to their mansions and "rule" as governors. So it's retro, but also futu. Read - we don't really care about worldbuilding. We're fine as long as it's nothing original and doesn't interfere with our painting and wargaming.
And a general thought to end with: I think these Warhammer novels are almost like fanfiction, only these fans receive some money for the trouble.
What a weird idea to "enrich" a miniature painting and wargame with constant flow of mediocre literature. There are so many good military sagas. Is it really so expensive to use an existing excellent universe of Malazan Book of the Fallen for a fantasy setting and Old Man's War for scifi setting? I mean Games Workshop themselves even figured it out, it seems, because they're developing a Lord of the Rings miniature game on the side.
Anyway, this one is set in Warhammer's 40K scifi universe. Begins like a children's horror story about a colonel returning home after witnessing the horrors in the Galaxy and hoping for peace and quiet in late life. But of course it is not to be, because nobody paints Warhammer miniatures to play house and happy family. As it advances, the connection to Warhammer becomes less and less relevent as it devolves into yet another reiteration of a mansion of madness. If this is your interest, maybe read Poe and Lovecraft instead? Also the writing style copies that flowery Victorian era style. Not terrible, but not all that original as well.
Apparently it's more like an 18th century there in the late 41st century. There are noblemen as officers in the Imperial Guard and after 10-20 years of service they can return home to their mansions and "rule" as governors. So it's retro, but also futu. Read - we don't really care about worldbuilding. We're fine as long as it's nothing original and doesn't interfere with our painting and wargaming.
And a general thought to end with: I think these Warhammer novels are almost like fanfiction, only these fans receive some money for the trouble.
May 27, 2022
I'm not really a horror fan. In fact, the only reason I listened to this book was it came in a Humble Bundle I purchased a couple years back and I finally got around to listening. I'm glad I did though and will probably check out other books in the series.
The author David Annandale wrote a good, but not great horror tale. House of Night and Chain features a retired military colonel. Due to several tragedies his service was ended and he returned home to become governor of his home planet. Upon returning home he slowly discovers that his family's ancestral home is extremely haunted.
The first half House of Night and Chain book was quite good. Most of the characters were likeable or played their roles well. David Annandale set up the world, the characters and their motivations rather nicely. His choice of the planet being a small argi-world was welcome. We don't see that too much in 40k. If nothing else it was nice being on a world where everyone seemed to be doing just fine. That actually helped the horror I think.
Then at the halfway point I started to get a bit bored with the book. The problem is 40k fans will immediately know what is going on in the house. In this universe, it can only be one thing. That took away some of the mystery and left me just waiting around for the characters to catch up. I will gave David Annandale credit though, he did throw in some twists, including one decent sized one at the end and a couple side missions to keep the reader guessing. So despite boredom occasionally creeping in, I never really felt like stopping.
All in all, House of Night and Chain was a well written and mostly enjoyable read.
The author David Annandale wrote a good, but not great horror tale. House of Night and Chain features a retired military colonel. Due to several tragedies his service was ended and he returned home to become governor of his home planet. Upon returning home he slowly discovers that his family's ancestral home is extremely haunted.
The first half House of Night and Chain book was quite good. Most of the characters were likeable or played their roles well. David Annandale set up the world, the characters and their motivations rather nicely. His choice of the planet being a small argi-world was welcome. We don't see that too much in 40k. If nothing else it was nice being on a world where everyone seemed to be doing just fine. That actually helped the horror I think.
Then at the halfway point I started to get a bit bored with the book. The problem is 40k fans will immediately know what is going on in the house. In this universe, it can only be one thing. That took away some of the mystery and left me just waiting around for the characters to catch up. I will gave David Annandale credit though, he did throw in some twists, including one decent sized one at the end and a couple side missions to keep the reader guessing. So despite boredom occasionally creeping in, I never really felt like stopping.
All in all, House of Night and Chain was a well written and mostly enjoyable read.
September 6, 2021
What begins as a quest for redemption by rooting out corruption, quickly descends into what feels more like a haunted castle tale. The story never really gets started properly exploring the corruption, opting to instead dive headlong into the mystery of the protagonists ancestral home and the oddities of his family lineage. One question opens a door to three more and the growing confusion that rises up leaves the reader wondering what is going on for most of the story.
With the help of a discovered journal, two perspectives of growing insanity are lined out. First from one further in speaking forward to the next in line, and second from page to page as a man spirals through paranoia into complete madness--perhaps(?). Can one be so sure of what is happening when every moment feels more and more questionable.
Annandale does a decent job of keeping a reader rolled into the general confusion held by the characters within the book. Constantly guessing what is going to happen and looking back trying to figure out what actually has transpired versus what you were led to believe happened. It isn't often one finds a story that has them wondering who the heroes and villains are.
Quite a bit of gore and horrifying descriptions of wounded and dismembered bodies. Fleshy things throughout in random gushes. This presents much like a ghost story leaning into the occult. It is set within the Warhammer 40k universe, but doesn't require much knowledge of that setting, if any, to enjoy it fully.
With the help of a discovered journal, two perspectives of growing insanity are lined out. First from one further in speaking forward to the next in line, and second from page to page as a man spirals through paranoia into complete madness--perhaps(?). Can one be so sure of what is happening when every moment feels more and more questionable.
Annandale does a decent job of keeping a reader rolled into the general confusion held by the characters within the book. Constantly guessing what is going to happen and looking back trying to figure out what actually has transpired versus what you were led to believe happened. It isn't often one finds a story that has them wondering who the heroes and villains are.
Quite a bit of gore and horrifying descriptions of wounded and dismembered bodies. Fleshy things throughout in random gushes. This presents much like a ghost story leaning into the occult. It is set within the Warhammer 40k universe, but doesn't require much knowledge of that setting, if any, to enjoy it fully.
June 7, 2026
Well, I got behind on writing reviews (which wasn't my fault, you drive 19 hours straight and find time to write a review), so I'm going to have to dig into my memory for the next few reviews here.
Ok, to start with, I've never read a Warhammer 40K book. I'm slightly interested in the deep grimdark lore of the setting, which is why I decided to pick up the "Warhammer Horror: Audiobook Collection" to keep my occupied as I drove through the Appalachians. So, this was my first dive into grimdark and Warhammer 40K, so I reserve the right to be entirely wrong in my review as I learn more later.
This was the first of the three books and was a "fun" delving into madness. The formalized structure of Warhammer 40K seemed to work really well with the very slow decent into madness, which at first I thought was going to be something like a 40K version of The Haunting of Hill House. I'm not sure it entirely ended that way, but it certainly wasn't crazy far off (pun now intended).
One of my favorite aspects of all three of these books, but this book in particular, was the subversive and non-corporeal nature of the horror which invades the protagonist's story. The story itself took a bit of time to get off the ground, laying a groundwork instead of jumping right into the deep end, but once it takes off it TAKES OFF. The reader (and, by virtue of seeing only through his eyes, the protagonist) has no idea what is real, what is illusion, or what is indeterminate. Did demons kill his friend in the basement? Did his wife kill herself? Numerous other questions regarding the evil, and you know what? The answer to every question is "maybe yes?" I could even see the answers of no and yes being both correct for several questions.
Which is to say the book can get frustrating. There's only so many times you can take a left turn only to find out you're going right until it gets monotonous. But, I feel like that too, is part of the story; by the time the end scene hits you just don't know what's true or false or indeterminate and you, like the protagonist, kinda just want it to end. So, the absolutely horrific end scene which in a vacuum would have anyone screaming "THIS IS STUPID THERE'S NO WAY HE'D DO THAT" you just sit there and, well, get it.
That said, both my wife (who was forced to listed to this with me) and I guessed the end of the story, and I felt that there was something just a bit off with it. Maybe off isn't even the right word, but missed? Either way I couldn't fully rate this a 5, so it ended with a 4 star.
4.3/5 stars
Recommend
Ok, to start with, I've never read a Warhammer 40K book. I'm slightly interested in the deep grimdark lore of the setting, which is why I decided to pick up the "Warhammer Horror: Audiobook Collection" to keep my occupied as I drove through the Appalachians. So, this was my first dive into grimdark and Warhammer 40K, so I reserve the right to be entirely wrong in my review as I learn more later.
This was the first of the three books and was a "fun" delving into madness. The formalized structure of Warhammer 40K seemed to work really well with the very slow decent into madness, which at first I thought was going to be something like a 40K version of The Haunting of Hill House. I'm not sure it entirely ended that way, but it certainly wasn't crazy far off (pun now intended).
One of my favorite aspects of all three of these books, but this book in particular, was the subversive and non-corporeal nature of the horror which invades the protagonist's story. The story itself took a bit of time to get off the ground, laying a groundwork instead of jumping right into the deep end, but once it takes off it TAKES OFF. The reader (and, by virtue of seeing only through his eyes, the protagonist) has no idea what is real, what is illusion, or what is indeterminate. Did demons kill his friend in the basement? Did his wife kill herself? Numerous other questions regarding the evil, and you know what? The answer to every question is "maybe yes?" I could even see the answers of no and yes being both correct for several questions.
Which is to say the book can get frustrating. There's only so many times you can take a left turn only to find out you're going right until it gets monotonous. But, I feel like that too, is part of the story; by the time the end scene hits you just don't know what's true or false or indeterminate and you, like the protagonist, kinda just want it to end. So, the absolutely horrific end scene which in a vacuum would have anyone screaming "THIS IS STUPID THERE'S NO WAY HE'D DO THAT" you just sit there and, well, get it.
That said, both my wife (who was forced to listed to this with me) and I guessed the end of the story, and I felt that there was something just a bit off with it. Maybe off isn't even the right word, but missed? Either way I couldn't fully rate this a 5, so it ended with a 4 star.
4.3/5 stars
Recommend
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