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Warhammer Horror
Sepulturum
A Warhammer Horror novel
Morgravia Sanctus is being hunted. Hiding in the low-hive of Blackgheist, she pieces together the fragments of her broken memory, trying to regain her past even as a hideous plague sweeps the hive, turning men into monsters…
READ IT BECAUSE
Take a nightmare journey into a plague-wracked city where monsters stalk the streets and nothing can be trusted… including the memories of the protagonist.
THE STORY
Morgravia Sanctus is being hunted; why or by whom she doesn’t know. Something terrible has happened to her, a profound trauma that has left behind ‘red dreams’ and a physical agony that can strike at any moment. Her life in danger and her memory fragmented, she arrives in the low-hive of Blackgheist to escape her pursuers and search for ‘the Broker’ – a trafficker in memories and psychic mind manipulation. Soon after, a plague sweeps the city, turning its citizens into blood-hungry monsters. Order collapses, death and slaughter are rampant. Caught up in the carnage, Morgravia must flee once more. But as the ravening spreads, is there any hope of stopping this contagion?
Morgravia Sanctus is being hunted. Hiding in the low-hive of Blackgheist, she pieces together the fragments of her broken memory, trying to regain her past even as a hideous plague sweeps the hive, turning men into monsters…
READ IT BECAUSE
Take a nightmare journey into a plague-wracked city where monsters stalk the streets and nothing can be trusted… including the memories of the protagonist.
THE STORY
Morgravia Sanctus is being hunted; why or by whom she doesn’t know. Something terrible has happened to her, a profound trauma that has left behind ‘red dreams’ and a physical agony that can strike at any moment. Her life in danger and her memory fragmented, she arrives in the low-hive of Blackgheist to escape her pursuers and search for ‘the Broker’ – a trafficker in memories and psychic mind manipulation. Soon after, a plague sweeps the city, turning its citizens into blood-hungry monsters. Order collapses, death and slaughter are rampant. Caught up in the carnage, Morgravia must flee once more. But as the ravening spreads, is there any hope of stopping this contagion?
234 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
18 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Nick Kyme
280 books161 followersNick Kyme (b. 1977) writes mostly for Black Library. His credits include the popular Salamanders series and several audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 1, 2020
Really, closer to 3.5/4.0. I enjoyed it, but didn’t necessarily follow everything that went on. I would have done better reading it than doing the audiobook.
March 6, 2023
This very easily could have been a short story.
November 19, 2020
Mr Kyme book is a mess I may say.
I don't know if this is fruit of our time, where everyone want to appease everyone out there, or this are just his personal beliefs but If I wanted to know his personal beliefs and opinions I would read his autobiographic stuff or wikipedia...
Although I am reading this novel because I enjoy 40K universe; I enjoy Horror & Zombies (and their variants).
Black Library has been releasing some novels where the authors feel that they can put nowadays politics in them - and Black Library is enable them after all. Games Workshop is another company with this. I don't mind you writing about colour characters or lgbt characters WHEN they are indeed characters and not footnotes so you can proudly boast in Twitter "Yeah my book as a LGBT POC character.. Don't cancel me".
Page 37 of Hardback book
"Sirens wailed throughout Meagre. Proctors marched the streets, a veritable army of bastards, bellowing through loudhailers and herding the scared populace like cattle. Curfew had been ordered. Citizens ran for their domiciles with the fervour of rats fleeing fire. Mothers clutched babes to their chests. Weak and fearful men looked to their own safety. Families huddle close, desperate to stay together. The churn of humanity ploughed ahead in a nervous mob, obeying the blaring of the horns, willingly ignorant of the false protection the proctors offered." - This is narrator opinion, not some of the characters...
There are other instances and I may be reading more than it is BUT alas, that's what felt to me - And in the end that's what matter.
Overall, the book is a mess, the characters moving around - a lot more characters than a 240 novel should have. At times I was confused who was who. He could have focused on Cristo and Morgravia but besides these there were other characters that focus on other characters. In the end I couldn't connect to any of the characters.
So, the all amnesia trope is here and in the end we get some information I needed but I really thought that there was more stuff that miss me - maybe Nick wrote a short story of some sorts connected to this? I don't know...
Overall I couldn't enjoy the novel.
It will not be my last Nick Kyme story but I am disappointed nevertheless. My reading time is limited as any of us - and I never once dropped a Black Library novel (and I've read 150+) and have all them - more than 600 books (in paper). But maybe I must rethink my focus and if I don't enjoy one drop it as I do in non-BLack Library novel.
I don't know if this is fruit of our time, where everyone want to appease everyone out there, or this are just his personal beliefs but If I wanted to know his personal beliefs and opinions I would read his autobiographic stuff or wikipedia...
Although I am reading this novel because I enjoy 40K universe; I enjoy Horror & Zombies (and their variants).
Black Library has been releasing some novels where the authors feel that they can put nowadays politics in them - and Black Library is enable them after all. Games Workshop is another company with this. I don't mind you writing about colour characters or lgbt characters WHEN they are indeed characters and not footnotes so you can proudly boast in Twitter "Yeah my book as a LGBT POC character.. Don't cancel me".
Page 37 of Hardback book
"Sirens wailed throughout Meagre. Proctors marched the streets, a veritable army of bastards, bellowing through loudhailers and herding the scared populace like cattle. Curfew had been ordered. Citizens ran for their domiciles with the fervour of rats fleeing fire. Mothers clutched babes to their chests. Weak and fearful men looked to their own safety. Families huddle close, desperate to stay together. The churn of humanity ploughed ahead in a nervous mob, obeying the blaring of the horns, willingly ignorant of the false protection the proctors offered." - This is narrator opinion, not some of the characters...
There are other instances and I may be reading more than it is BUT alas, that's what felt to me - And in the end that's what matter.
Overall, the book is a mess, the characters moving around - a lot more characters than a 240 novel should have. At times I was confused who was who. He could have focused on Cristo and Morgravia but besides these there were other characters that focus on other characters. In the end I couldn't connect to any of the characters.
So, the all amnesia trope is here and in the end we get some information I needed but I really thought that there was more stuff that miss me - maybe Nick wrote a short story of some sorts connected to this? I don't know...
Overall I couldn't enjoy the novel.
It will not be my last Nick Kyme story but I am disappointed nevertheless. My reading time is limited as any of us - and I never once dropped a Black Library novel (and I've read 150+) and have all them - more than 600 books (in paper). But maybe I must rethink my focus and if I don't enjoy one drop it as I do in non-BLack Library novel.
October 31, 2020
Let me start with a shower thought:
You know those new soda fountains that let you flavor your soda? It's the same soda but dressed up with raspberry or vanilla so it's different.
That's pretty much 40k books/audio dramas, they have amazing studio quality but the stories are typically so cookie cutter that once you've read a few you've likely got a good idea of what to expect from the rest but my god there's so many flavors to choose from.
I honestly kept zoning out with this one, even while waiting in line to vote I kept rewinding and asking myself "what happened a few minutes ago?" I actually DNF this one so it might get better but at the 75% mark I just didn't care.
You know those new soda fountains that let you flavor your soda? It's the same soda but dressed up with raspberry or vanilla so it's different.
That's pretty much 40k books/audio dramas, they have amazing studio quality but the stories are typically so cookie cutter that once you've read a few you've likely got a good idea of what to expect from the rest but my god there's so many flavors to choose from.
I honestly kept zoning out with this one, even while waiting in line to vote I kept rewinding and asking myself "what happened a few minutes ago?" I actually DNF this one so it might get better but at the 75% mark I just didn't care.
January 25, 2021
The first Warhammer novel I’ve read. As someone unfamiliar with the universe I felt it gave enough exposition to explain what was going on in the book, but not too much to be overwhelming. It’s left me wanting to know more about the universe as a whole. The story itself was extremely interesting and I felt connected to the characters, Morgravia and Barak in particular. I wish Hel, Morgravia’s assassin companion, had more appearances, but that’s a testament to how cool I thought her character was. Overall a good intro to the universe for me that left me wanting more
February 10, 2021
Another pretty surprising entry on the horror side of things. It is not often that I get to read about an Inquisitor suffering amnesia while having to deal with some form of zombie outbreak with a 40K twist in it.
April 16, 2020
Another winning title from the Warhammer Horror imprint.
What all I’ve read from WH has had in common is a commitment to nailing the tone and feel of life in the Imperium. This book really does this; life for the majority of it’s citizens, even away from the ONLY WAR frontlines, is shown as grim but Kyme also shows is why people are able to bear it. In amongst the horror and Horror, there are genuine inter-personal relationships shown and developed, and these feel pleasingly real.
Lots of 40k fiction steps back from viscera. This book doesn’t. We get disembowelments, horrific deaths and creepy body horror. There’s a central, gradually unraveling mystery and a pretty gripping narrative. Proper swears too.
What all I’ve read from WH has had in common is a commitment to nailing the tone and feel of life in the Imperium. This book really does this; life for the majority of it’s citizens, even away from the ONLY WAR frontlines, is shown as grim but Kyme also shows is why people are able to bear it. In amongst the horror and Horror, there are genuine inter-personal relationships shown and developed, and these feel pleasingly real.
Lots of 40k fiction steps back from viscera. This book doesn’t. We get disembowelments, horrific deaths and creepy body horror. There’s a central, gradually unraveling mystery and a pretty gripping narrative. Proper swears too.
February 17, 2022
Honestly most of the time I felt lost like I had picked up a book in the middle of a series. As my first book in the Warhammer universe, this definitely felt like I had bit off a lot. While the story might have been engaging for the fans of the Warhammer universe I found myself incredibly bored and hard to keep track of all the names and things going on.
March 14, 2020
Kyme at his best!
March 21, 2021
More 3.5 than a straight 3 stars. This book was my first introduction to the Warhammer world? Universe? System? I hadn't known anything about Warhammer other than what I had seen on the beautiful covers in the sci fi section of the bookstore. So when I picked this novel up in the dark fantasy section I was a bit intrigued by the cover and the back which didn't necessarily describe this book as sci fi or fantasy. When I started reading Sepulturum, I had no idea what to expect.
Kyme's writing style didn't make the transition any easier either. His writing style was a bit stilted at first with very short sentences that hardly felt like sentences at all. However, the more I read this book, the more I grew to like his style. While I wish the world had been described more than it had been, it was certainly described enough for me to realize that this book was grimdark and nothing good was going to come of the characters.
The tone of this book was so dark and depressing that I think I was a little shocked when I first started reading it. I didn't expect this book to be my first grimdark novel and here we are. I'm not at all disappointed that this was my first. I think this standalone novel held it's own with the gruesome descriptions of flesh being torn from bone and blood being absolutely anywhere and everywhere. The sense of hopelessness was ever present in this book.
Some of the characters were unlike any other that I had read. I don't know if these types of characters are common in Warhammer novels or if they are special to Kyme but I thoroughly enjoyed them. They were all no-nonsense and in this grimdark world that Kyme created, it really made perfect sense for them to be that way. They didn't need to have a whole lot of background for me to understand that their lives were shitty but they all still have something motivating them to stay alive.
One wish I had was that we were able to understand what had happened to Hel better. I think I know what happened to her but I couldn't say with confidence if I'm right or not. Her character design was so brutal yet dainty and I wish there had simply been more of her! I feel the same way about Celestia. I understand that Celestia may have been too bright a light in the dark blood red setting of the Low Sink, but she was just so inspiring? Maybe I am just interested in how religion seems to be such a large part of the Warhammer system and she was my first insight into the possibilities of what religion could mean to others in Blackgheist. I was also very interested in the God-Emperor (which of course I had to look up because he is very essential to the plot of this novel). I am looking forward to learning more about Him and what he means to the people of these worlds.
The timeline of me reading this book was way longer than it should have been. I think the initial shock of grimdark took me away from my reading surge but, when I got back into this book, I wasn't disappointed. It didn't rock my world per se but, it did leave me feeling glad I had finished it because it was not something I normally would have read. It has also given me enough hope to want to continue reading from the Black Library's Horror collection. I think first I may want to brush up on any Warhammer basics just so I know what I am getting into!
Kyme's writing style didn't make the transition any easier either. His writing style was a bit stilted at first with very short sentences that hardly felt like sentences at all. However, the more I read this book, the more I grew to like his style. While I wish the world had been described more than it had been, it was certainly described enough for me to realize that this book was grimdark and nothing good was going to come of the characters.
The tone of this book was so dark and depressing that I think I was a little shocked when I first started reading it. I didn't expect this book to be my first grimdark novel and here we are. I'm not at all disappointed that this was my first. I think this standalone novel held it's own with the gruesome descriptions of flesh being torn from bone and blood being absolutely anywhere and everywhere. The sense of hopelessness was ever present in this book.
Some of the characters were unlike any other that I had read. I don't know if these types of characters are common in Warhammer novels or if they are special to Kyme but I thoroughly enjoyed them. They were all no-nonsense and in this grimdark world that Kyme created, it really made perfect sense for them to be that way. They didn't need to have a whole lot of background for me to understand that their lives were shitty but they all still have something motivating them to stay alive.
One wish I had was that we were able to understand what had happened to Hel better. I think I know what happened to her but I couldn't say with confidence if I'm right or not. Her character design was so brutal yet dainty and I wish there had simply been more of her! I feel the same way about Celestia. I understand that Celestia may have been too bright a light in the dark blood red setting of the Low Sink, but she was just so inspiring? Maybe I am just interested in how religion seems to be such a large part of the Warhammer system and she was my first insight into the possibilities of what religion could mean to others in Blackgheist. I was also very interested in the God-Emperor (which of course I had to look up because he is very essential to the plot of this novel). I am looking forward to learning more about Him and what he means to the people of these worlds.
The timeline of me reading this book was way longer than it should have been. I think the initial shock of grimdark took me away from my reading surge but, when I got back into this book, I wasn't disappointed. It didn't rock my world per se but, it did leave me feeling glad I had finished it because it was not something I normally would have read. It has also given me enough hope to want to continue reading from the Black Library's Horror collection. I think first I may want to brush up on any Warhammer basics just so I know what I am getting into!
February 9, 2022
For the most part, this is a stereotypical zombie novel that just happens to be set in the Warhammer 40k universe. There is a zombie plague that decimates the population, leaving only a small group of survivors to fend for themselves. One by one, these survivors are picked off until only the core cast of characters remain. The bits outside of the zombie apocalypse concerning Morgravia almost seem to be added in as an afterthought.
May 30, 2020
This was the best Warhammer Horror offering I have read. The words are like fine wine. The human drama and tragedy are so cathartic. The characters are... so intensely human in the face of the grim darkness of the far future. THIS IS GRIMDARK. The premise of a zombie plague is refreshed with such superlative and heartfelt writing. The intensity of the sentiment reminded me of David Gemmell.
March 6, 2021
I like all things Warhammer/40K/Horus Heresy/Age of Sigmar, etc but these "Warhammer Horror" novels are mostly mediocre.
March 21, 2023
I wanted to love this I really did it’s a beautiful book but the problem was the story didn’t excite me and the characters I didn’t care about it was difficult to finish I almost DNF
April 9, 2020
I received a copy of Sepulturum through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sepulturum is the latest novel to the Warhammer Horror line, and that is automatically enough to get my attention right there. As does the fact that it's written by Nick Kyme, an author famous for his connection to Black Library.
Have you ever looked at Warhammer and wished that there was a zombie plot somewhere in the mix? Then you're in luck! Because that is exactly what Sepulturum sets out to do. Well, part of what it does.
Morgravia Sanctus is both hunted and haunted. She knew she came to this planet to investigate something. But that was before she was captured and tortured. Now, with her memories having been ripped out of her head, she can only piece together the scraps.
She can safely assume that the ones who removed her memory are also the ones she's here to investigate. If that were all she was dealing with, things likely would have gone very differently. However, the planet is about to be overrun by a dangerous new plague, one that is as unstoppable as it is terrifying.
“'I'm sorry...' she said, absorbing every scrap of fear and anger in Oshanti's jaundice-yellow eyes, and ran.”
Sepulturum is a dark and disturbing tale, picking up on all of the notes that make Warhammer Horror shine so brightly. Morgravia Sanctus' story is truly harrowing and with very good reason. This is exactly the zombie tale I have been hoping for.
This is a novel split into multiple perspectives, which may surprise you, considering the description merely mentions Morgravia Sanctus. But it's really her plot arc that drives the whole story forward. Arguably, it's her arrival on the planet that sets everything into motion.
The perspective shifts allow for an increase in tension, as we're provided a wider glimpse of the city at large. More importantly, we're given a chance to see what is happening in the city, and thus know more about how bad things are going to get.
It was also a clever obfuscation tool, one that Kyme used to his advantage. Best of all, it moved the plot forward at a steady pace. I for one highly enjoyed the whole story, including the variety of characters introduced over the course of this one novel.
I also enjoyed the subplot surrounding the politics, scheming, and investigation that Morgravia got wrapped up in. It added a whole new layer to the story. It was a mystery for the readers to try and solve, and that made the tale much more immersive.
In short, I highly enjoyed everything that Sepulturum had to offer. You can boil the description down to a simple phrase: zombie novel. But that honestly doesn't do it justice, not when there is so much more going on within the pages. It made for an enjoyable and chilling read. And I for one hope to see more like it.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Sepulturum is the latest novel to the Warhammer Horror line, and that is automatically enough to get my attention right there. As does the fact that it's written by Nick Kyme, an author famous for his connection to Black Library.
Have you ever looked at Warhammer and wished that there was a zombie plot somewhere in the mix? Then you're in luck! Because that is exactly what Sepulturum sets out to do. Well, part of what it does.
Morgravia Sanctus is both hunted and haunted. She knew she came to this planet to investigate something. But that was before she was captured and tortured. Now, with her memories having been ripped out of her head, she can only piece together the scraps.
She can safely assume that the ones who removed her memory are also the ones she's here to investigate. If that were all she was dealing with, things likely would have gone very differently. However, the planet is about to be overrun by a dangerous new plague, one that is as unstoppable as it is terrifying.
“'I'm sorry...' she said, absorbing every scrap of fear and anger in Oshanti's jaundice-yellow eyes, and ran.”
Sepulturum is a dark and disturbing tale, picking up on all of the notes that make Warhammer Horror shine so brightly. Morgravia Sanctus' story is truly harrowing and with very good reason. This is exactly the zombie tale I have been hoping for.
This is a novel split into multiple perspectives, which may surprise you, considering the description merely mentions Morgravia Sanctus. But it's really her plot arc that drives the whole story forward. Arguably, it's her arrival on the planet that sets everything into motion.
The perspective shifts allow for an increase in tension, as we're provided a wider glimpse of the city at large. More importantly, we're given a chance to see what is happening in the city, and thus know more about how bad things are going to get.
It was also a clever obfuscation tool, one that Kyme used to his advantage. Best of all, it moved the plot forward at a steady pace. I for one highly enjoyed the whole story, including the variety of characters introduced over the course of this one novel.
I also enjoyed the subplot surrounding the politics, scheming, and investigation that Morgravia got wrapped up in. It added a whole new layer to the story. It was a mystery for the readers to try and solve, and that made the tale much more immersive.
In short, I highly enjoyed everything that Sepulturum had to offer. You can boil the description down to a simple phrase: zombie novel. But that honestly doesn't do it justice, not when there is so much more going on within the pages. It made for an enjoyable and chilling read. And I for one hope to see more like it.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
March 27, 2020
First things first, I got this book from NetGalley, so thank you netgalley and Black Library for this opportunity.
This one is a zombie survival story in a Warhammer 40k setting and the author never really tries to do anything out of the ordinary to make the story anything else. While the prose was tight, there was plenty of suspense, it had a few interesting characters, the book never really seemed to surprise me with any twists or reveals, leaving me kind of unsatisfied at times as I kept hoping for something special to make the story unique.
Sepulturum takes place in the hive world of Blackgheist, as we get to experience the madness of a mysterious and sudden emergence of an undead plague through the eyes of various different characters. Morgravia is the main character who tries to both uncover the secrets of her past as well as that of the appearance of the strange plague while trying to stay one step ahead of the carnage and finding means to stop the contagion.
Despite the characters being quite generic at times, Nick Kyme did very well depicting their motives and their agendas specially with the viewpoint characters, and his skillfulness does make readers feel for their plight and hope for their survival despite all odds.
The main character, Morgravia while a bit too two dimensional does have her moments, specially towards the end. Cristo on the other hand never really shined despite his potential, which might be due to the lack of screen time given to him. I really loved both Broker, the ex-lawman bartender who is probably the only read good guy of the story and Drover, the mercenary with an attitude who seemed to have the funniest dialogues adding a bit of humor into this otherwise bleak tale.
I really would have liked some more action scenes as the author clearly shows his prowess in this department on the few glimpses we did get. May be the book could have done with a bit more length as it seemed to lack substance at times. I would have loved to read more viewpoint chapters from Broker and maybe a few chapters focusing on Drover.
While I did enjoy the book, mainly due to the suspense and tightly written characters, my main disappointment is that with a bit more polish and focus on different directions this could have been a gem of a tale. But, as it is, despite the thrills it just seems to end too soon, leaving a lot to be desired.
Rating – 7 out of 10.
Find other reviews and stuff for 'Black Library' fiction on my blog - https://theoctedpath.wordpress.com/
This one is a zombie survival story in a Warhammer 40k setting and the author never really tries to do anything out of the ordinary to make the story anything else. While the prose was tight, there was plenty of suspense, it had a few interesting characters, the book never really seemed to surprise me with any twists or reveals, leaving me kind of unsatisfied at times as I kept hoping for something special to make the story unique.
Sepulturum takes place in the hive world of Blackgheist, as we get to experience the madness of a mysterious and sudden emergence of an undead plague through the eyes of various different characters. Morgravia is the main character who tries to both uncover the secrets of her past as well as that of the appearance of the strange plague while trying to stay one step ahead of the carnage and finding means to stop the contagion.
Despite the characters being quite generic at times, Nick Kyme did very well depicting their motives and their agendas specially with the viewpoint characters, and his skillfulness does make readers feel for their plight and hope for their survival despite all odds.
The main character, Morgravia while a bit too two dimensional does have her moments, specially towards the end. Cristo on the other hand never really shined despite his potential, which might be due to the lack of screen time given to him. I really loved both Broker, the ex-lawman bartender who is probably the only read good guy of the story and Drover, the mercenary with an attitude who seemed to have the funniest dialogues adding a bit of humor into this otherwise bleak tale.
I really would have liked some more action scenes as the author clearly shows his prowess in this department on the few glimpses we did get. May be the book could have done with a bit more length as it seemed to lack substance at times. I would have loved to read more viewpoint chapters from Broker and maybe a few chapters focusing on Drover.
While I did enjoy the book, mainly due to the suspense and tightly written characters, my main disappointment is that with a bit more polish and focus on different directions this could have been a gem of a tale. But, as it is, despite the thrills it just seems to end too soon, leaving a lot to be desired.
Rating – 7 out of 10.
Find other reviews and stuff for 'Black Library' fiction on my blog - https://theoctedpath.wordpress.com/
January 29, 2023
Rating of 4.25.
My obsession with Warhammer continues as I check out the grisly Warhammer Horror book, Sepulturum by Nick Kyme.
Something dark and deadly, something which hungers for blood and flesh, is stirring in the low-hive of Blackgheist. The only person who can stop it is Inquisitor Morgravia Sanctus of the Ordo Sepulturum, whose investigation in Blackgheist revealed a terrible presence. However, before she could act, something happened that destroyed her memories and left her scarred, broken and hunted. Now with only one acolyte left, Morgravia attempts to find a psyker capable of restoring her mind to let her figure out what is chasing her and what their plans are.
Meeting with a broker from the criminal underworld, Morgravia believes that she has finally found the solution to her problems. However, before she can proceed, a terrible attack is launched across Blackgheist which no one is prepared for. The people of the hive have been turned into something violent, no-longer alive, and desperate to devour everything they come across. These creatures are soon swarming across Blackgheist, destroying all before them and leading to untold chaos and destruction.
Soon, only small bands of survivors are left who hope to escape from the horrors surrounding them. But as Morgravia leads one such group to safety, she soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. Other deadly monsters are hunting throughout Blackgheist, while deranged cultists take the opportunity to seize power for themselves. The truth behind the terrible events unfolding lies only within Morgravia’s mind, but is she truly prepared for the horrific secrets that are about to be unleashed?
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/01/29/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
My obsession with Warhammer continues as I check out the grisly Warhammer Horror book, Sepulturum by Nick Kyme.
Something dark and deadly, something which hungers for blood and flesh, is stirring in the low-hive of Blackgheist. The only person who can stop it is Inquisitor Morgravia Sanctus of the Ordo Sepulturum, whose investigation in Blackgheist revealed a terrible presence. However, before she could act, something happened that destroyed her memories and left her scarred, broken and hunted. Now with only one acolyte left, Morgravia attempts to find a psyker capable of restoring her mind to let her figure out what is chasing her and what their plans are.
Meeting with a broker from the criminal underworld, Morgravia believes that she has finally found the solution to her problems. However, before she can proceed, a terrible attack is launched across Blackgheist which no one is prepared for. The people of the hive have been turned into something violent, no-longer alive, and desperate to devour everything they come across. These creatures are soon swarming across Blackgheist, destroying all before them and leading to untold chaos and destruction.
Soon, only small bands of survivors are left who hope to escape from the horrors surrounding them. But as Morgravia leads one such group to safety, she soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. Other deadly monsters are hunting throughout Blackgheist, while deranged cultists take the opportunity to seize power for themselves. The truth behind the terrible events unfolding lies only within Morgravia’s mind, but is she truly prepared for the horrific secrets that are about to be unleashed?
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/01/29/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
July 9, 2023
Hard to Believe BL Published This in 2020
I really don't like being negative and always stress that all art and enjoyment are subjective, but I am restraining myself because I don't want to be mean.
I did not enjoy this at all. Kyme is a good author and I have enjoyed other works of theirs, but the nicest (and most damning) thing I can say is that the writing is competent, at times, but this novel is a bloated and boring mess that feels like a bad zombie movie adaptation of a video game with a mystery plot that never actually feels interesting or pays off that has some Warhammer 40k aesthetics draped over it. It also reads more like a later 90s/ early 00s Black Library novel with it's ham-fisted handling of women, hate fetishisation of fat people, and just general malaise.
I'm not having a great experience with the Warhammer Horror books so far. I don't understand how they are any more horror than any other Warhammer book. If you're advertising it as specifically horror then it's reasonable to expect more and better horror than an average story, which is ap lot because GrimDark.
The narration is fine to not good and kinda offensive, but honestly with the material they had to work with I don't think it reflects on them so much.
If I wasn't going through things I picked up, but never got to on Audible, didn't have the audio book and hadn't had Dark Souls 2 to allow this to just wash over me I would never have finished it and honestly wish that one of the many time I nearly bailed, I just had.
I'm sorry for being so negative, but, aside from the actually offensive and upsetting levels of misogyny and handling of sexual assault in some books, (Trollslayer and Fulgrim for example), this is the BL book I have least enjoyed in many years of reading them
I really don't like being negative and always stress that all art and enjoyment are subjective, but I am restraining myself because I don't want to be mean.
I did not enjoy this at all. Kyme is a good author and I have enjoyed other works of theirs, but the nicest (and most damning) thing I can say is that the writing is competent, at times, but this novel is a bloated and boring mess that feels like a bad zombie movie adaptation of a video game with a mystery plot that never actually feels interesting or pays off that has some Warhammer 40k aesthetics draped over it. It also reads more like a later 90s/ early 00s Black Library novel with it's ham-fisted handling of women, hate fetishisation of fat people, and just general malaise.
I'm not having a great experience with the Warhammer Horror books so far. I don't understand how they are any more horror than any other Warhammer book. If you're advertising it as specifically horror then it's reasonable to expect more and better horror than an average story, which is ap lot because GrimDark.
The narration is fine to not good and kinda offensive, but honestly with the material they had to work with I don't think it reflects on them so much.
If I wasn't going through things I picked up, but never got to on Audible, didn't have the audio book and hadn't had Dark Souls 2 to allow this to just wash over me I would never have finished it and honestly wish that one of the many time I nearly bailed, I just had.
I'm sorry for being so negative, but, aside from the actually offensive and upsetting levels of misogyny and handling of sexual assault in some books, (Trollslayer and Fulgrim for example), this is the BL book I have least enjoyed in many years of reading them
December 11, 2020
First Warhammer Horror book that failed my expectations. There was so much going on and too many tropes being juggled about that the horror was easily lost. Compared to other Warhammer Horror books, which focused on only some elements that were easy to follow, this one just tried to jam everything together, accomplishing nothing but complicate an already convoluted plotline even further.
Characters? Naah, never got to like them, much less under. Just a ton of fodder for the carnage. So expect the typical horror roles with paper-thin characterization and even thinner life spans. The three prominent leads - Cristo, his daughter, and Morgravia just seemed too contrived with enough awkward plot armor to ensure their survival through the last act. Cristo suddenly getting the upperhand in a room full of brainwashed acolytes, Morgravia suddenly turning into an unstoppable killing machine while still regaining self-control. There could have been better ways to handle the plot but no, the writing went bland by resorting to overused exits. Ahh, the daughter...who slept through pretty much most of the story. Will not even get into that. As I said, too convenient.
Also, I really did not like Nick Kyme's writing on this one. There really is no inspiration, and it seemed like he just plucked out several horror tropes, lazily tried to mash them all up into one short installment and forced the typical ending (with an OP Morgravia). There are parts where there's so much unnecessary cussing, too. For a WH novel, I think this breaks the record for the most swear words. Ultimately, worst book for the series for me.
Characters? Naah, never got to like them, much less under. Just a ton of fodder for the carnage. So expect the typical horror roles with paper-thin characterization and even thinner life spans. The three prominent leads - Cristo, his daughter, and Morgravia just seemed too contrived with enough awkward plot armor to ensure their survival through the last act. Cristo suddenly getting the upperhand in a room full of brainwashed acolytes, Morgravia suddenly turning into an unstoppable killing machine while still regaining self-control. There could have been better ways to handle the plot but no, the writing went bland by resorting to overused exits. Ahh, the daughter...who slept through pretty much most of the story. Will not even get into that. As I said, too convenient.
Also, I really did not like Nick Kyme's writing on this one. There really is no inspiration, and it seemed like he just plucked out several horror tropes, lazily tried to mash them all up into one short installment and forced the typical ending (with an OP Morgravia). There are parts where there's so much unnecessary cussing, too. For a WH novel, I think this breaks the record for the most swear words. Ultimately, worst book for the series for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2020
Nick Kyme makes his novel-length introduction to the Warhammer Horror imprint with Sepulturum, a (short) 40k novel pitting a lone inquisitor against shadowy, hidden enemies and the terror of an endless horde of zombies. Morgravia Sanctus is in the hive city of Blackgeist hunting for…something, but she can’t remember what. All she knows for sure is that she’s in pain, afflicted by terrible waking dreams, and no longer the hunter. Battered and bloody, she seeks out a way to reclaim her memories and complete her mission, only to be swept up in a tide of blood as Blackgeist’s population succumbs to some kind of zombie plague.
It's a fairly short book, but Kyme jumps straight into the plot and keeps up a brisk pace with short chapters rotating between characters helping to maintain momentum. It never really delves too deeply into the whys and wherefores of exactly what Morgravia is involved in, but while that leaves things feeling ever so slightly shallow, for the most part it works well. A little mystery can, of course, go a long way, and there’s lots to enjoy as it is. A slightly longer word count might have allowed a couple of minor characters to be fleshed out a little further, and their interactions land a bit better, but that’s nitpicking really. As a self-contained story which takes domestic 40k and ramps the gore and brutality up a few notches, it’s an engrossing and darkly entertaining read.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/06/...
It's a fairly short book, but Kyme jumps straight into the plot and keeps up a brisk pace with short chapters rotating between characters helping to maintain momentum. It never really delves too deeply into the whys and wherefores of exactly what Morgravia is involved in, but while that leaves things feeling ever so slightly shallow, for the most part it works well. A little mystery can, of course, go a long way, and there’s lots to enjoy as it is. A slightly longer word count might have allowed a couple of minor characters to be fleshed out a little further, and their interactions land a bit better, but that’s nitpicking really. As a self-contained story which takes domestic 40k and ramps the gore and brutality up a few notches, it’s an engrossing and darkly entertaining read.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/06/...
April 1, 2025
Is the joke that Warhammer Horror means a Black Library line of horrible writing?
This assemblage throws as many horror tropes as it can to see what sticks. The body horror reveal is actually compelling, but by and large the 28 ____ Later narrative is less horrifying than plenty of other grimdark prose the Black Library already publishes. Not to mention it's difficult to read something that in our times would be scary when it occurs in a Lovecraftian scifantasy future of neo-medieval totalitarianism that already tortures and slaughters within and between species & beings.
Also, the shifting perspectives chapter structure is a crutch I keep seeing Black Library authors fall for. The civilian side of this novel is entirely superfluous.
This assemblage throws as many horror tropes as it can to see what sticks. The body horror reveal is actually compelling, but by and large the 28 ____ Later narrative is less horrifying than plenty of other grimdark prose the Black Library already publishes. Not to mention it's difficult to read something that in our times would be scary when it occurs in a Lovecraftian scifantasy future of neo-medieval totalitarianism that already tortures and slaughters within and between species & beings.
Also, the shifting perspectives chapter structure is a crutch I keep seeing Black Library authors fall for. The civilian side of this novel is entirely superfluous.
August 6, 2025
Not a bad read at all. Nice and quick, how I like my zombie books. I liked the mystery, the sense of distrust so deeply embedded the characters have reason to mistrust themselves.
Not a fan of the red dream. Took me out of the story. Could have still built unease in the Inquisitor without something quite so overt.
Liked the different plot lines, how we saw different parts of the town (or hive). Absolutely brutal at some points.
I've seen complaints about disjointedness or that it was too long. Personally, I had no trouble with it, and I read the thing in a matter of hours.
Not a fan of the red dream. Took me out of the story. Could have still built unease in the Inquisitor without something quite so overt.
Liked the different plot lines, how we saw different parts of the town (or hive). Absolutely brutal at some points.
I've seen complaints about disjointedness or that it was too long. Personally, I had no trouble with it, and I read the thing in a matter of hours.
November 4, 2021
Maybe this is just because this isn't my usual genre, but I wasn't a huge fan of this. I found that the story jumped directly into the plot with little exposition and it left me feeling pretty confused. I thought for a while that I might've picked up a sequel and not a stand alone story. Is this common for Warhammer Horror? I'm also not the biggest fan of the "post apocalypse, everyone has weird names, scavenging to stay alive" trope. I couldn't get through the first half of the book.
May 25, 2022
Nick Kyme continues to show his utter mediocrity as a writer. His overuse of a thesaurus and scattershot style of drama, detail and characterization is in full form. This book is even more of a mess than most with a dual storyline that has nothing to do with each other at all. There's nothing new or original in either the 40k or zombie settings of this narrative. I can only assume it's nepotism or pity that gets his books past the other editors at Black Library.
June 23, 2023
This novel had a lot of potential but fell short. I really would’ve enjoyed to see more character development because I enjoyed each character. I felt like back stories would’ve developed this into a more complete novel. It seemed as though I had to piece and part this together sometimes in order to understand what’s going on. All in all I am not sure if I would read again but still love Warhammer novels regardless.
July 12, 2025
I’d give it like 2.5 stars honestly. Bought this book when I was like 15, not realizing that it was a warhammer book. I will say, I didn’t need to know much about the universe to understand the plot which was nice. As a stand alone, it was okay I suppose. I found the plot points a bit shallow. I didn’t care for fem lead, I found her a bit shallow and cookie cutter. The characters I did like got very little “screentime”. Would probably be best for someone already invested in warhammer
April 15, 2021
This is a solid addition to the horror line for Black Library. Melding zombie fiction into the far grimdark future worked well. In addition, the focus on the everyday people of the world was a great point of view to focus on. So often, in the Warhammer 40K universe we forget the trillions of people who survive and have to deal with different crises.
July 8, 2023
Great story up to a point and then it just seemed a rushed scramble to an unsatisfactory ending. The characters were good but could do with fleshing out. This could have easily been a longer book that fleshed out the story and took its time to get to the end, or a short story which missed out all the rushed and therefore pointless plot points.
October 30, 2025
Another interesting story that kept me engaged but didn’t exactly fit the “horror” bill. I liked the story and it, too, made me want to revisit the Rogue Trader game. Great world, as usual. Nothing groundbreaking and I fear it might be somewhat forgettable in the long run. Worth it for the one-day read/listen though!
March 3, 2020
This was . . . less good. While a good change from the usual bolter mania of Warhammer 40k, and the horror-like tone was there, the actual plot was opaque and confusing, and the text covered far too many points of view, making it, again, opaque. Pass.
I received a free review copy through Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a free review copy through Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
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