What do you think?
Rate this book
Warhammer Crime #Anthology
Broken City
A Warhammer Crime anthology
Take another stroll through the back alleys and seedy dens of Varangantua, an Imperial hive city riddled with lawless gangs and filled with the ever-present stench of death. Start with the novella Bleedout, and finish up with six short stories from a variety of Black Library authors, both old and new.
READ IT BECAUSE
See the Imperium of Mankind from a different perspective, as luckless and desperate citizens do what they must to survive, and those with power cling to their privilege by any means necessary.
DESCRIPTION
Varangantua is broken.
Vast, ancient, and crumbling, the city is a breeding ground for crime and corruption. Gangs and criminal cabals rule over massive, lawless territories, and many who claim to enforce the Law are complicit in allowing this rot to spread. The labyrinthine bureaucracy of the Imperium strangles those few idealists who seek to bring order. All the while, deadly, forgotten things lurk in the dark corners of Varangantua’s decaying districts, just waiting to be unearthed…
CONTENTS
Bleedout by Robert Rath
The Verdant Sun by Gary Kloster
Sanctioner by Chris Wraight
Old Instincts by Jonathan D Beer
Rites of Binding by Gareth Hanrahan
No Third Chance by Noah Nguyen
Extended Family by J C Stearns
Take another stroll through the back alleys and seedy dens of Varangantua, an Imperial hive city riddled with lawless gangs and filled with the ever-present stench of death. Start with the novella Bleedout, and finish up with six short stories from a variety of Black Library authors, both old and new.
READ IT BECAUSE
See the Imperium of Mankind from a different perspective, as luckless and desperate citizens do what they must to survive, and those with power cling to their privilege by any means necessary.
DESCRIPTION
Varangantua is broken.
Vast, ancient, and crumbling, the city is a breeding ground for crime and corruption. Gangs and criminal cabals rule over massive, lawless territories, and many who claim to enforce the Law are complicit in allowing this rot to spread. The labyrinthine bureaucracy of the Imperium strangles those few idealists who seek to bring order. All the while, deadly, forgotten things lurk in the dark corners of Varangantua’s decaying districts, just waiting to be unearthed…
CONTENTS
Bleedout by Robert Rath
The Verdant Sun by Gary Kloster
Sanctioner by Chris Wraight
Old Instincts by Jonathan D Beer
Rites of Binding by Gareth Hanrahan
No Third Chance by Noah Nguyen
Extended Family by J C Stearns
438 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2021
44 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wraight
217 books377 followersChris Wraight is a British author of fantasy and science fiction.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 21, 2021
A really very good anthology that, unlike the first wave of titles from the Warhammer Crime imprint, isn’t wholly focused on the actions of probators/detectives but instead gives us glimpses of several parts of Varangantua’s criminal (justice?) ecosystem land tells us a lot more about everyday life in the hive.
Robert Rath’s ‘Bleedout’ dominates the collection both in page count and quality; a trick he managed in last year’s Necromunda anthology too. It’s a frantic novella that wears it’s cinematic influences on its sleeve proudly and for all it’s occasional forays into genre cliche it still is one of the best shorts I’ve read set in the 40k universe.
The Verdant Sun by Gary Kloster could well be setting up a novel; this story of an ex-probator turned underworld fixer is a reminder of some of the hazards of life in the grim darkness of the far future, even if one is far removed from the frontlines of the Imperium’s eternally shifting conflicts.
Sanctioner is apparently a reprint of a WD short, but Chris Wraight’s first-person account of a raid by the titular sanctioner goes in unexpected directions and is of the same quality as his other stories for this imprint.
Old Instincts, from Jonathan D Beer features no official law enforcement involvement and is a really effective revenge thriller that takes an all-too-rare for BL look at family and really shows off the possibilities of this imprint. Any story that opens with a character discovering the plasma-burned corpse of her husband is going to be grim, but this has a real humanity to it.
Rites of Binding is the anthology’s other stand-out title for me, and Gareth Hanrahan’s unsettling effort could equally slot into a Warhammer Horror anthology. He’s another author with a perfect hit rate for this imprint, and I’d love to see what he can do with a full novel.
Speaking of which, Noah Nguyen is another BL newcomer who I want to read much more of. Once again he packs in so much character and plot into a small word count; No Third Chance takes the idea of enforcers as a criminal gang in their own right and Tal Norah is an engaging anti-hero who is crying out for his own novel.
The anthology is rounded out with JC Stern’s Extended Family, which shows their is very little difference in the degree of brutality of life in Varangantua no matter what social strata one occupies.
A satisfying anthology as a whole, with nods to worship of Sanguinius, and a recurring theme of removal of eyes and plasma burns, Broken City suggests that the Warhammer Crime imprint has a solid future despite the relative lack of titles of late.
Robert Rath’s ‘Bleedout’ dominates the collection both in page count and quality; a trick he managed in last year’s Necromunda anthology too. It’s a frantic novella that wears it’s cinematic influences on its sleeve proudly and for all it’s occasional forays into genre cliche it still is one of the best shorts I’ve read set in the 40k universe.
The Verdant Sun by Gary Kloster could well be setting up a novel; this story of an ex-probator turned underworld fixer is a reminder of some of the hazards of life in the grim darkness of the far future, even if one is far removed from the frontlines of the Imperium’s eternally shifting conflicts.
Sanctioner is apparently a reprint of a WD short, but Chris Wraight’s first-person account of a raid by the titular sanctioner goes in unexpected directions and is of the same quality as his other stories for this imprint.
Old Instincts, from Jonathan D Beer features no official law enforcement involvement and is a really effective revenge thriller that takes an all-too-rare for BL look at family and really shows off the possibilities of this imprint. Any story that opens with a character discovering the plasma-burned corpse of her husband is going to be grim, but this has a real humanity to it.
Rites of Binding is the anthology’s other stand-out title for me, and Gareth Hanrahan’s unsettling effort could equally slot into a Warhammer Horror anthology. He’s another author with a perfect hit rate for this imprint, and I’d love to see what he can do with a full novel.
Speaking of which, Noah Nguyen is another BL newcomer who I want to read much more of. Once again he packs in so much character and plot into a small word count; No Third Chance takes the idea of enforcers as a criminal gang in their own right and Tal Norah is an engaging anti-hero who is crying out for his own novel.
The anthology is rounded out with JC Stern’s Extended Family, which shows their is very little difference in the degree of brutality of life in Varangantua no matter what social strata one occupies.
A satisfying anthology as a whole, with nods to worship of Sanguinius, and a recurring theme of removal of eyes and plasma burns, Broken City suggests that the Warhammer Crime imprint has a solid future despite the relative lack of titles of late.
August 18, 2021
Come on down to the municipality of malfeasance for a walk on the ambiguous side of Varangantuan law enforcement!
This book kicks off with a novella - a fantastic 40k medical thriller which delivered on the intriguing premise and then some. It was a fast-paced page-turner with a very satisfying ending - which is about as much as I can say without dropping any spoilers!
The rest of the collection features a diverse mix of short stories, each offering a different new look at Varangantua and offering us the opportunity to spent time in the head of a different denizen of the ferrocrete sprawl.
They all give us a different sense of the city and the lives and experiences of those who make it their home. There is a really nice mix of new and established authors, all of whom bring something new to the table along with different styles and perspectives.
This book kicks off with a novella - a fantastic 40k medical thriller which delivered on the intriguing premise and then some. It was a fast-paced page-turner with a very satisfying ending - which is about as much as I can say without dropping any spoilers!
The rest of the collection features a diverse mix of short stories, each offering a different new look at Varangantua and offering us the opportunity to spent time in the head of a different denizen of the ferrocrete sprawl.
They all give us a different sense of the city and the lives and experiences of those who make it their home. There is a really nice mix of new and established authors, all of whom bring something new to the table along with different styles and perspectives.
December 28, 2021
Warhammer Crime is such a great addition to the 40k/Black Library universe. Take me away from distant fields and the laughter of thirsting gods, and show me the rotting underbelly of the decaying Inperium.
September 29, 2021
It's always the story that punches you in the gut that you enjoy most. You weren't looking for it, but there it is, rocking your world, sucking the air from your lungs.
That's how I feel about Robert Rath's Bleedout.* Gut-punch story with grab-you-by-the-throat writing. I read this bad girl in two long breaths. I couldn't put her down.
*(I could go on at length about each story in this collection. Except mine, probably. Bad form, yeah? Yet since Bleedout is the lead and also a novella amongst several shorts, I thought I'd focus on this.)
What first struck me is that Bleedout's level of verisimilitude is unreal. I've served in a combat zone, and while I've never campaigned against the T'au or extracted a Militarum general in a hot LZ, Rath gets all the details right. I kept asking myself, 'Has this guy been in combat?' He just gets it all right. And the medical scenes – frankly the tensest in this tightly plotted thriller – felt like listening to Navy Corpsmen when they tried to teach me anything more complex than treating sucking chest wounds or applying tourniquets. Yeah, verisimilitude.
Next up, the writing. The brevity of Robert's writing and chapters is just knockout. The story really chugs along. That works for 20,000 words – like I said, I couldn't put her down.
Finally, the big question. I always walk up to 40k/AoS stories asking myself, 'how does this fit into the greater setting?'
I think we're all still developing a feel for Varangantua. The setting's still a little inchoate and quite diversified. With each release, Black Library breathes a whole lotta life into the city, but I'm still sort of connecting the dots. Which, speaking as a fan, is quite the pastime.
Sometimes I forgot Bleedout was set in 40k. But that ain't a bad thing – no, quite the opposite. I love Robert's vision of Varangantua. The fact that it defied my expectations probably added to that gut-punch effect, the story I wasn't looking for. Bleedout has that same quality you'll see in the settings of, say, Eisenhorn stories. That freshness.
All in all, Bleedout's a great read, cathartic, the kind of story that cleans you out for a day. I look forward to digging into Robert's future Crime stories – maybe a novel? :)
Those are my notes on Bleedout. But you know what the best part is?
After Bleedout, there are still six more shorts – and they are all quite good.*
*(Yeah, maybe I like my story too! So what?)
That's how I feel about Robert Rath's Bleedout.* Gut-punch story with grab-you-by-the-throat writing. I read this bad girl in two long breaths. I couldn't put her down.
*(I could go on at length about each story in this collection. Except mine, probably. Bad form, yeah? Yet since Bleedout is the lead and also a novella amongst several shorts, I thought I'd focus on this.)
What first struck me is that Bleedout's level of verisimilitude is unreal. I've served in a combat zone, and while I've never campaigned against the T'au or extracted a Militarum general in a hot LZ, Rath gets all the details right. I kept asking myself, 'Has this guy been in combat?' He just gets it all right. And the medical scenes – frankly the tensest in this tightly plotted thriller – felt like listening to Navy Corpsmen when they tried to teach me anything more complex than treating sucking chest wounds or applying tourniquets. Yeah, verisimilitude.
Next up, the writing. The brevity of Robert's writing and chapters is just knockout. The story really chugs along. That works for 20,000 words – like I said, I couldn't put her down.
Finally, the big question. I always walk up to 40k/AoS stories asking myself, 'how does this fit into the greater setting?'
I think we're all still developing a feel for Varangantua. The setting's still a little inchoate and quite diversified. With each release, Black Library breathes a whole lotta life into the city, but I'm still sort of connecting the dots. Which, speaking as a fan, is quite the pastime.
Sometimes I forgot Bleedout was set in 40k. But that ain't a bad thing – no, quite the opposite. I love Robert's vision of Varangantua. The fact that it defied my expectations probably added to that gut-punch effect, the story I wasn't looking for. Bleedout has that same quality you'll see in the settings of, say, Eisenhorn stories. That freshness.
All in all, Bleedout's a great read, cathartic, the kind of story that cleans you out for a day. I look forward to digging into Robert's future Crime stories – maybe a novel? :)
Those are my notes on Bleedout. But you know what the best part is?
After Bleedout, there are still six more shorts – and they are all quite good.*
*(Yeah, maybe I like my story too! So what?)
November 15, 2021
This was my fist entry into the Warhammer Crime imprint and I was very impressed. Each story was unique and characterful and gave us an interesting glimpse into the setting of Varangantua. The standouts were the novella Bleedout which with its short quick chapters kept you eager to read more, No Third Chance which I hope is developed into future stories, and Rites of Binding with an ending that will stay with me for a long time. Really enjoyable.
May 5, 2022
Overall a below average entry in the never-ending assembly line of Black Library anthologies.
Most of these stories you have read before, they’re just set in the 41st millennium. Well, whoopee. No, it’s not enough.
The first and longest entry is the worst culprit. A trope stuffed bore.
Old Instincts felt a bit fresher but doesn’t quite manage to dodge all the cliches. At least it tries.
Rites of Binding was probably the best of the bunch but I did enjoy the style of No Third Chance and it was quite fun.
The final story is more Godfather than God-Emperor and it’s an admirable effort to portray a power vacuum in a *family* business. Doesn’t quite work for me.
However, it’s also become clear that Varangantua is SO large that it allows for almost endless variation, which does bring into question the point of setting all the stories in one “city”?
Most of these stories you have read before, they’re just set in the 41st millennium. Well, whoopee. No, it’s not enough.
The first and longest entry is the worst culprit. A trope stuffed bore.
Old Instincts felt a bit fresher but doesn’t quite manage to dodge all the cliches. At least it tries.
Rites of Binding was probably the best of the bunch but I did enjoy the style of No Third Chance and it was quite fun.
The final story is more Godfather than God-Emperor and it’s an admirable effort to portray a power vacuum in a *family* business. Doesn’t quite work for me.
However, it’s also become clear that Varangantua is SO large that it allows for almost endless variation, which does bring into question the point of setting all the stories in one “city”?
September 2, 2021
Dark and dirty
Just like you would expect the criminal elements to be on the grim dark future of 40k, my favorites are Sanctioned, Rites of Binding but the best is No Third Chance
Just like you would expect the criminal elements to be on the grim dark future of 40k, my favorites are Sanctioned, Rites of Binding but the best is No Third Chance
December 3, 2022
An entertaining collection of short stories crafted through the lens of Warhammer Crime. I'll share my thoughts on the stories that stuck out most.
The opening novella Bleedout by Robert Rath starts with a bang and never slows down. Highly recommended.
Rites of Binding by Gareth Hanrahan follows familiar courses but turns the familiar upsidedown and drops you on the head. I still find myself pondering Varo's psychological dilemma.
No Third chance by Noah Nguyen sticks out in my mind for its style of storytelling. The familiar tone of the narrator lends an additional layer of authenticity to the story. Makes the character feel more real.
And lastly, Extended Family by J.C. Stearns. This story also followed familiar paths but rendered well. The essence of mafia well encapsulated, the ending inevitable and tragic.
All in all a good collection. This was my first venture into Warhammer Crime and I think this was a good first showing. Would recommend.
The opening novella Bleedout by Robert Rath starts with a bang and never slows down. Highly recommended.
Rites of Binding by Gareth Hanrahan follows familiar courses but turns the familiar upsidedown and drops you on the head. I still find myself pondering Varo's psychological dilemma.
No Third chance by Noah Nguyen sticks out in my mind for its style of storytelling. The familiar tone of the narrator lends an additional layer of authenticity to the story. Makes the character feel more real.
And lastly, Extended Family by J.C. Stearns. This story also followed familiar paths but rendered well. The essence of mafia well encapsulated, the ending inevitable and tragic.
All in all a good collection. This was my first venture into Warhammer Crime and I think this was a good first showing. Would recommend.
April 23, 2024
Enjoyed this - very much like the fact that they seemed to lean more towards crime in this anthology. I think I've said in the past that sometimes the Warhammer Crime range felt a little like "WH40k, with a dash of crime"; but the stories in here were far more "crime, but it happens to be in WH40k". Excellent new direction. I'll be reading more.
March 26, 2025
Pretty Good
No characters from the main novels, but some great stories - first novella especially. Several protagonists I would not mind seeing again. Still loving this take on warhammer 40k, great color to this world.
No characters from the main novels, but some great stories - first novella especially. Several protagonists I would not mind seeing again. Still loving this take on warhammer 40k, great color to this world.
February 7, 2023
Very fun, very noir
January 19, 2024
A solid anthology of the streets of the imperium and the grime that lives in them. Bleedout and No Third Chance were my favourites of the bunch.
October 19, 2024
Bit of a mixed bag in quality. Some stand outs that should the 40K crime spin others that are really generic
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews