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Warboss
An Orks Novel
Witness a battle royale between feuding ork bosses in a fight for the position of Warboss – and access to a legendary gate that will help the orks conquer the galaxy.
READ IT BECAUSE
It’s a raucous and bloody boyz-eye-view of a war for succession between six clans, told with typically orky flair by Mike Brooks.
THE STORY
With only one bastion still standing on the once unconquerable fortress world of Aranua, Warboss Gazrot Goresnappa should be basking in the light of impending victory. Instead, he lies ‘proppa dead’ beneath a decapitated Gargant’s head.
The biggest and baddest bosses from each of the six (no-longer-united) clans step forward to duke it out to become the next warboss – but the ork gods have other plans. A prophecy foretells of a mysterious gate that lies beneath the human city. The one true warboss will be the first to find it, and will use it to turn the galaxy green. Da Genrul of the Blood Axes knows only he is worthy, but it seems Evil Sunz Speedboss Zagnob and Goff Big Boss Mag Dedfist didn’t get the memo. And to add insult to injury, nor did the leader of the grot uprising, the one true prophet of Gork and Mork (or so he claims), Snaggi Littletoof, who seeks to use this opportunity to turn the tide of grot oppression.
Who will the green gods deem worthy?
Witness a battle royale between feuding ork bosses in a fight for the position of Warboss – and access to a legendary gate that will help the orks conquer the galaxy.
READ IT BECAUSE
It’s a raucous and bloody boyz-eye-view of a war for succession between six clans, told with typically orky flair by Mike Brooks.
THE STORY
With only one bastion still standing on the once unconquerable fortress world of Aranua, Warboss Gazrot Goresnappa should be basking in the light of impending victory. Instead, he lies ‘proppa dead’ beneath a decapitated Gargant’s head.
The biggest and baddest bosses from each of the six (no-longer-united) clans step forward to duke it out to become the next warboss – but the ork gods have other plans. A prophecy foretells of a mysterious gate that lies beneath the human city. The one true warboss will be the first to find it, and will use it to turn the galaxy green. Da Genrul of the Blood Axes knows only he is worthy, but it seems Evil Sunz Speedboss Zagnob and Goff Big Boss Mag Dedfist didn’t get the memo. And to add insult to injury, nor did the leader of the grot uprising, the one true prophet of Gork and Mork (or so he claims), Snaggi Littletoof, who seeks to use this opportunity to turn the tide of grot oppression.
Who will the green gods deem worthy?
250 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2022
111 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
About the author
Mike Brooks
79 books548 followersMike Brooks was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and moved to Nottingham when he was 18 to go to university. He’s stayed there ever since, and now lives with his wife, two cats, two snakes and a collection of tropical fish. When not working for a homelessness charity he plays guitar and sings in a punk band, watches football (soccer), MMA and nature/science documentaries, goes walking in the Peak District or other areas of splendid scenery, and DJs wherever anyone will tolerate him.
And, y’know, writes.
And, y’know, writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 24, 2024
Possibly the best 40k book I’ve listened to! Orks are just so much fun and Harry Myers’ narration was phenomenal.
June 22, 2023
Zoggin good time with da ork boys! Hilarious book with an even better narration. Brutality and dark-humor at its best.
March 28, 2023
I cannot state how much I enjoyed this book without sounding like an orc sympathiser and will worry about the inquisition coming to get me or a fan boy if Mike Brooks, it’s funny, it’s full of action and ork politics (yes really) it’s got eldar and IG, what more do you need! Harry Myers narration was outstanding
October 7, 2024
Brooks has a certain panache for writing orks. Before I read Brutal Kunnin’ I wouldn’t have believed I could enjoy an ork centric narrative. Warboss is at least as good and has a better ensemble cast
The grot rebellion has to be my favourite. Though, all of the main ork characters are interesting
The encores from a few human characters add a little bit of variety
Like many books I read, the ending was my least enjoyable aspect. This likely says more about me than the books
The audiobook has excellent production and the narrator fully commits to superb voices for the orks and grots (even the chapter headings have tons of character)
The grot rebellion has to be my favourite. Though, all of the main ork characters are interesting
The encores from a few human characters add a little bit of variety
Like many books I read, the ending was my least enjoyable aspect. This likely says more about me than the books
The audiobook has excellent production and the narrator fully commits to superb voices for the orks and grots (even the chapter headings have tons of character)
September 22, 2023
A proper orky book for Goffs, Blood Axes, Speed Freeks, and any other ork who enjoys a good krumpin’.
Warboss is a fun book. It’s filled with ork “logic” — tactics are cowardly because they’re about making sure you don’t get killed, but plans are okay because they’re about killing the other gits. There’s a big difference between dodging and going too fast for the enemy to shoot you. The orkish concept of honour may not make sense to us cowardly humies, but it is a delight to hear.
Despite the silliness of the orks they are still portrayed as skilled combatants. Orks may struggle with arithmetic but they understand fighting; after all, it’s what they live for. 40K novels are at their best when everyone is competent and that’s the case here.
Brooks understands the satire of 40K better than any other. A guardsman compares the cowardly behaviour of orks, who push their grots towards the enemy as meat shields, to the heroic Imperial Guard who bravely charge towards the foe (even if a Commissar has to offer them a little encouragement).
I’ve never listened to an ork audiobook before so Harry Myers has set a high standard for ork voices. If you have any concerns about narration before buying this audiobook, do not hesitate: Myers kills it across the spectrum of ork, grot, and humie voices.
Warboss is a fun book. It’s filled with ork “logic” — tactics are cowardly because they’re about making sure you don’t get killed, but plans are okay because they’re about killing the other gits. There’s a big difference between dodging and going too fast for the enemy to shoot you. The orkish concept of honour may not make sense to us cowardly humies, but it is a delight to hear.
Despite the silliness of the orks they are still portrayed as skilled combatants. Orks may struggle with arithmetic but they understand fighting; after all, it’s what they live for. 40K novels are at their best when everyone is competent and that’s the case here.
Brooks understands the satire of 40K better than any other. A guardsman compares the cowardly behaviour of orks, who push their grots towards the enemy as meat shields, to the heroic Imperial Guard who bravely charge towards the foe (even if a Commissar has to offer them a little encouragement).
I’ve never listened to an ork audiobook before so Harry Myers has set a high standard for ork voices. If you have any concerns about narration before buying this audiobook, do not hesitate: Myers kills it across the spectrum of ork, grot, and humie voices.
March 27, 2023
Really can't ask for anything more from an ork novel. Dat was ded good.
February 1, 2025
Okay so i didn't actually finish this but I got nearly there. Was very fun but trying to read it while being ill the last few weeks really burnt me out, so while I was enjoying it I definitely need a change of book now.
Very fun though, Mike Brooks is a very exciting author to follow for Black Library stuff now I reckon. Will probably go back to it at some point and it'll almost certainly be better then.
Very fun though, Mike Brooks is a very exciting author to follow for Black Library stuff now I reckon. Will probably go back to it at some point and it'll almost certainly be better then.
May 7, 2024
Orks is da best
Read
January 9, 2025Absolutely grandioser Trash für Fans von Warhammer 40K! Habe das Hörbuch zusammen mit meinem Freund gehört, aber ich weiß nicht, ob ich das Buch alleine jemals angefangen hätte
December 10, 2025
orkz are best, 'kuz orkz are green!
August 3, 2024
Of humanity's many, many enemies in the 41st millennium perhaps the most iconic are the Space Orks. The reason for dropping the traditional 'c' in 'orc' is unclear - possibly a copyright caution but also possibly because the 'k' spelling feels a better fit for such a comedic take on greenskin society. To outsiders there is little funny about the slavering musclebound axe-weilding beasts charging murderously in your direction, but the Orks see themselves as fun-loving capitalists, each trying to get ahead by having the biggest fights, racing the fastest ramshackle contraptions (red wunz go fasta!), building the most ridiculous self-destructung artillery etc etc. There is a serious(ish) argument to be made that the Orks are therefore among the least evil factions in the galaxy, but that's a discussion for another day.
Mike Brooks leans expertly into the comedic Orks, presenting an action-packed, laugh-filled Succession-style story, with a bunch of greenskin lieutenants to the Warboss all jockeying for favour in a more violent and explosive version of the squabble of the Roy siblings. The satirical elements are surprisingly light given the opportunities available, although we are treated to a captured human commander despondent that he lacks the courage to kill himself as the Imperium would expect and wishing he were a true hero like Ciaphas Cain - creation of the setting's comedy king Sandy Mitchell. Brooks does nail Ork society though, and is point perfect in his delivery of sardonic lines and subversion of expectations. When characters are unexpectedly squashed at their moment of triumph or the smallest greenskins somehow achieve dramatic results Brooks expertly plays it for laughs, invariably following the Monty Python playbook when a lesser writer would go full Michael Bay.
The result, a slight sag around the middle aside, is not particular deep or insightful but nonetheless a ripping good yarn brim-full of laughs and starring a faction far too long neglected by Black Library authors. Mike Brooks has done the Space Orks of my youth proud.
Mike Brooks leans expertly into the comedic Orks, presenting an action-packed, laugh-filled Succession-style story, with a bunch of greenskin lieutenants to the Warboss all jockeying for favour in a more violent and explosive version of the squabble of the Roy siblings. The satirical elements are surprisingly light given the opportunities available, although we are treated to a captured human commander despondent that he lacks the courage to kill himself as the Imperium would expect and wishing he were a true hero like Ciaphas Cain - creation of the setting's comedy king Sandy Mitchell. Brooks does nail Ork society though, and is point perfect in his delivery of sardonic lines and subversion of expectations. When characters are unexpectedly squashed at their moment of triumph or the smallest greenskins somehow achieve dramatic results Brooks expertly plays it for laughs, invariably following the Monty Python playbook when a lesser writer would go full Michael Bay.
The result, a slight sag around the middle aside, is not particular deep or insightful but nonetheless a ripping good yarn brim-full of laughs and starring a faction far too long neglected by Black Library authors. Mike Brooks has done the Space Orks of my youth proud.
December 26, 2022
Its a mike brooks ork book, what more needs to be said
February 29, 2024
This review aims to be spoiler-free.
I have been reading from the infinite pool of Warhammer literature for 2 years and a half. In that time, it has been clear that virtually everything in the Black Library used to tackle exclusively the travails of the Imperium of Man. We have in-depth narrations of most (if not all) Space Marine chapters and many of their successors, and that's not counting the many arms of the Imperium Administratum. Nevertheless, xeno races were fleshed out exclusively as the villains of someone else's story (as they should be, Glory to Him). We lacked any kind of inner view of other societies, except from the codex for each race.
Recently, that started to change.
To my knowledge, Mike Brooks debuted in Ork kultur with a bang in Brutal Kunnin', giving us our first Ork hero directly from a novel, the Gargantsmasha 'imself, Ufthak krumpin' Blackhawk. Along with Nate Crowley's excellent Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh!, us orky fans can not only remain brutal, but now also be kunnin' as a Blood Axe by cultivating ourselves with lofty lit'rature.
It has been said that, in the grim darkness of the far future, orks are the only ones having fun. Warboss gives us exactly what any self-respecting nob craves - a bigger fight than the last. We have explosions, we have dakka, we have choppas and lots of blood - all in an expert, fluid narration that never interrupts the flow of the action.
It's the best kind of Mad Max in Space - three bosses and their boyz trying to grab the title of Warboss, through any means necessary. And, not one to rest on his laurels (like some sort of humie), the author uses the situation to show us the workings of the different klans - Goffs, Evil Sunz and Blood Axes, all utilizing their own methods and taktiks to tackle the problem, in a story that is, mainly and completely, fun. The change of PoVs, from one klan to the other, how they regard their own plans and their rivals', and how the humie defenders face the horde at their gates, keeps the story flowing in such an entertaining read that it's extremely hard to put down - like any ork worth his teef.
My one and only complaint (the reason for the 4/5 stars) is that, even though we get a satisfactory conclusion to the main event, there are a couple of plot points that seem to be forgotten in the final chapters of the novel. It may be possible that they are followed through in the next novel, Da Big Dakka (which I haven't read yet) - but, since Warboss was never advertised as part of a series (like the rest of Ufthak's novels), it was a weird change of pace to be left with some questions about events taking place by the end.
All in all, proper orky lit'rature; a blast from start to finish, and a great starting point for anyone wanting to turn the galaxy green.
I have been reading from the infinite pool of Warhammer literature for 2 years and a half. In that time, it has been clear that virtually everything in the Black Library used to tackle exclusively the travails of the Imperium of Man. We have in-depth narrations of most (if not all) Space Marine chapters and many of their successors, and that's not counting the many arms of the Imperium Administratum. Nevertheless, xeno races were fleshed out exclusively as the villains of someone else's story (as they should be, Glory to Him). We lacked any kind of inner view of other societies, except from the codex for each race.
Recently, that started to change.
To my knowledge, Mike Brooks debuted in Ork kultur with a bang in Brutal Kunnin', giving us our first Ork hero directly from a novel, the Gargantsmasha 'imself, Ufthak krumpin' Blackhawk. Along with Nate Crowley's excellent Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh!, us orky fans can not only remain brutal, but now also be kunnin' as a Blood Axe by cultivating ourselves with lofty lit'rature.
It has been said that, in the grim darkness of the far future, orks are the only ones having fun. Warboss gives us exactly what any self-respecting nob craves - a bigger fight than the last. We have explosions, we have dakka, we have choppas and lots of blood - all in an expert, fluid narration that never interrupts the flow of the action.
It's the best kind of Mad Max in Space - three bosses and their boyz trying to grab the title of Warboss, through any means necessary. And, not one to rest on his laurels (like some sort of humie), the author uses the situation to show us the workings of the different klans - Goffs, Evil Sunz and Blood Axes, all utilizing their own methods and taktiks to tackle the problem, in a story that is, mainly and completely, fun. The change of PoVs, from one klan to the other, how they regard their own plans and their rivals', and how the humie defenders face the horde at their gates, keeps the story flowing in such an entertaining read that it's extremely hard to put down - like any ork worth his teef.
My one and only complaint (the reason for the 4/5 stars) is that, even though we get a satisfactory conclusion to the main event, there are a couple of plot points that seem to be forgotten in the final chapters of the novel. It may be possible that they are followed through in the next novel, Da Big Dakka (which I haven't read yet) - but, since Warboss was never advertised as part of a series (like the rest of Ufthak's novels), it was a weird change of pace to be left with some questions about events taking place by the end.
All in all, proper orky lit'rature; a blast from start to finish, and a great starting point for anyone wanting to turn the galaxy green.
June 10, 2024
WAAAGH!!!
Wow I enjoyed this even more than I expected to. The audiobook made it even better -- Harry Myers has some real talent doing Orky voices, and a good variety of them too. The story is told from 5 different perspectives, and yet they were easy to tell apart.
In case someone reading my review doesn't know anything about Orks, Warhammer, or 40k: in the grim darkness of the far future there is only war. It's the 41st millennium and humanity is beset on all sides of the galaxy by alien enemies, including Orks. Orks in this setting are usually portrayed with silly angry gruff voices that have accents like British football hooligans. "Oi, 'ere we go lads, krump da humies, dakkadakkadakka!" And so they come off as slapstick, a silly bit of humor in an otherwise grimdark setting. But this author (greatly helped by the voice actor) somehow does it justice! (I'm also quite impressed at the skill of the voice actor at reading the lines written in the silly spelling [to get the accent across to those who just read the written book]. Doesn't skip a beat.)
Pitching an Ork novel is probably tough. At first guess, Orks aren't that interesting. They like to fight, and go find the biggest fight possible, and that's about it, right? But in this story, they are given a goal that isn't JUST a fight. Mike cleverly portrays the difference between the mindsets of different Ork clans, and how each like to go about their objectives differently. I really enjoyed for example an angry discussion about the difference between tactics and plans. Mag Dedfist explains: "Wot I'm doin' is called a plan! ... A plan is how we make sure we kill da uvver gits. Taktiks is tryin' to make sure da uvver gits don't kill us, an' dat sorta finkin' is for cowards, an' grots!"
I've had various friends over the years be Warhammer 40,000 fans, but I didn't get into it until the first Dawn of War game in ...yeesh, 2005? At the time Relic knocked it out of the park with lots of polish and good voice acting. The Orks have great lines when you click on them, like: "Pull out da pin, frow da uvver part!" Ever since then I've been somewhat a fan, played a bunch of the games, but never checked out the 40k books, especially as I saw them pile up over the years. I mean there's over zarking 350 by now, so where do you start? But recently, somehow I stumbled across a review of Warboss, specifically the audiobook, and so I tried the preview and got hooked immediately. Helped that I had a free trial of Audible, I can't imagine paying $29+ to buy it outright, yeesh.
It's hard to guess how someone unfamiliar with Warhammer would like this book, but I think it'd be worth a try. The author does do a good job of explaining, and there's less politics and technology than other books in the setting, so there isn't much need for familiarity with the setting. I found it easy to follow, quite funny, and it even made me think. It was refreshing to have perspectives outside of the normal human 'heroes'. The Orks aren't EVIL, but they're definitely an enemy of humanity as all they want to do is kill. Yet they have much happier lives than humans, because if their boss isn't leading them how they like, there's a really clear way to fix the problem: you fight! If he wins, well he clearly deserves to do what he's doing, and if you win, well now you get to have a go.
I'll definitely be looking for more books by Mike Brooks, especially if they're read by Harry Myers!
Wow I enjoyed this even more than I expected to. The audiobook made it even better -- Harry Myers has some real talent doing Orky voices, and a good variety of them too. The story is told from 5 different perspectives, and yet they were easy to tell apart.
In case someone reading my review doesn't know anything about Orks, Warhammer, or 40k: in the grim darkness of the far future there is only war. It's the 41st millennium and humanity is beset on all sides of the galaxy by alien enemies, including Orks. Orks in this setting are usually portrayed with silly angry gruff voices that have accents like British football hooligans. "Oi, 'ere we go lads, krump da humies, dakkadakkadakka!" And so they come off as slapstick, a silly bit of humor in an otherwise grimdark setting. But this author (greatly helped by the voice actor) somehow does it justice! (I'm also quite impressed at the skill of the voice actor at reading the lines written in the silly spelling [to get the accent across to those who just read the written book]. Doesn't skip a beat.)
Pitching an Ork novel is probably tough. At first guess, Orks aren't that interesting. They like to fight, and go find the biggest fight possible, and that's about it, right? But in this story, they are given a goal that isn't JUST a fight. Mike cleverly portrays the difference between the mindsets of different Ork clans, and how each like to go about their objectives differently. I really enjoyed for example an angry discussion about the difference between tactics and plans. Mag Dedfist explains: "Wot I'm doin' is called a plan! ... A plan is how we make sure we kill da uvver gits. Taktiks is tryin' to make sure da uvver gits don't kill us, an' dat sorta finkin' is for cowards, an' grots!"
I've had various friends over the years be Warhammer 40,000 fans, but I didn't get into it until the first Dawn of War game in ...yeesh, 2005? At the time Relic knocked it out of the park with lots of polish and good voice acting. The Orks have great lines when you click on them, like: "Pull out da pin, frow da uvver part!" Ever since then I've been somewhat a fan, played a bunch of the games, but never checked out the 40k books, especially as I saw them pile up over the years. I mean there's over zarking 350 by now, so where do you start? But recently, somehow I stumbled across a review of Warboss, specifically the audiobook, and so I tried the preview and got hooked immediately. Helped that I had a free trial of Audible, I can't imagine paying $29+ to buy it outright, yeesh.
It's hard to guess how someone unfamiliar with Warhammer would like this book, but I think it'd be worth a try. The author does do a good job of explaining, and there's less politics and technology than other books in the setting, so there isn't much need for familiarity with the setting. I found it easy to follow, quite funny, and it even made me think. It was refreshing to have perspectives outside of the normal human 'heroes'. The Orks aren't EVIL, but they're definitely an enemy of humanity as all they want to do is kill. Yet they have much happier lives than humans, because if their boss isn't leading them how they like, there's a really clear way to fix the problem: you fight! If he wins, well he clearly deserves to do what he's doing, and if you win, well now you get to have a go.
I'll definitely be looking for more books by Mike Brooks, especially if they're read by Harry Myers!
May 3, 2023
Rating of 4.5.
Prepare for the ultimate battle for control as several feuding ork bosses fight to become the new leader of the Waaagh! in this amazing and highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 novel, Warboss by Mike Brooks.
In the far future of the 41st millennium, there are few things are more destructive or unstoppable than an ork warband on a rampage. One of the most effective bands currently killing its way through the galaxy is that of Warboss Gazrot Goresnappa whose Waaagh! has conquered the once mighty human fortress world of Aranua. After several decisive and bloody victories, the Waaagh! celebrates in front of the planet’s remaining bastion, the massive Davidia Hive. All it will take is one final assault to totally defeat the humans on Aranua so Warboss Goresnappa can strip their resources and lead his boyz to bigger and better fights out in the stars.
However, before Goresnappa can achieve his great victory, an unfortunate accident sees him very, very dead under the giant decapitated head of a Gargant war machine. With their leader squashed, the Waaagh! now has an opening for Warboss, and several ambitious orks from across the no-longer united clans step forward to fight for the job. However, before the usual brawl for leadership can begin, a prophecy from the clan’s resident weirdboy, Old Morgrub, reveals that the ork gods have something very special in store for the Waaagh! and its next leader. A mysterious gate lies underneath the human city that could transport the Waaagh! to fights anywhere in the galaxy, and whichever boss finds it first will be the new Warboss.
Forced to obey the words of the gods, the bosses engage in their own elaborate plans to breach the Hive City and claim the gate. But which boss can triumph over the others? Will it be the brutal Goff Big Boss Mag Dedfist, the suicidally fast Speedboss of the Evil Sunz, Zagnob Thundaskuzz, the sneaky and cunning leader of the Blood Axes, Da Genrul, or could it even be the leader of the grot uprising, the self-proclaimed prophet of Gork and Mork, Snaggi Littetoof? All four believe that they are the only ones capable of leading the Waaagh! and they will fight tooth and nail to become Warboss. But to succeed they’ll need to not only overcome all their rivals but the human defenders of the Hive City and an Aeldari army waiting in the depths to defend their gate. May the best ork win!
Oh dear, oh dear, what a damn funny book. Honestly, any Warhammer 40,000 novel that focuses on the orks is bound to be comedy gold, but Warboss is one of the better ones I have had the pleasure of reading. Author Mike Brooks does a wonderful job of telling a tight and amazingly fun story that perfectly showcases the orks in all their green skinned glory. I had so much fun with this book and I managed to power through Warboss in very short order.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/05/03/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Prepare for the ultimate battle for control as several feuding ork bosses fight to become the new leader of the Waaagh! in this amazing and highly entertaining Warhammer 40,000 novel, Warboss by Mike Brooks.
In the far future of the 41st millennium, there are few things are more destructive or unstoppable than an ork warband on a rampage. One of the most effective bands currently killing its way through the galaxy is that of Warboss Gazrot Goresnappa whose Waaagh! has conquered the once mighty human fortress world of Aranua. After several decisive and bloody victories, the Waaagh! celebrates in front of the planet’s remaining bastion, the massive Davidia Hive. All it will take is one final assault to totally defeat the humans on Aranua so Warboss Goresnappa can strip their resources and lead his boyz to bigger and better fights out in the stars.
However, before Goresnappa can achieve his great victory, an unfortunate accident sees him very, very dead under the giant decapitated head of a Gargant war machine. With their leader squashed, the Waaagh! now has an opening for Warboss, and several ambitious orks from across the no-longer united clans step forward to fight for the job. However, before the usual brawl for leadership can begin, a prophecy from the clan’s resident weirdboy, Old Morgrub, reveals that the ork gods have something very special in store for the Waaagh! and its next leader. A mysterious gate lies underneath the human city that could transport the Waaagh! to fights anywhere in the galaxy, and whichever boss finds it first will be the new Warboss.
Forced to obey the words of the gods, the bosses engage in their own elaborate plans to breach the Hive City and claim the gate. But which boss can triumph over the others? Will it be the brutal Goff Big Boss Mag Dedfist, the suicidally fast Speedboss of the Evil Sunz, Zagnob Thundaskuzz, the sneaky and cunning leader of the Blood Axes, Da Genrul, or could it even be the leader of the grot uprising, the self-proclaimed prophet of Gork and Mork, Snaggi Littetoof? All four believe that they are the only ones capable of leading the Waaagh! and they will fight tooth and nail to become Warboss. But to succeed they’ll need to not only overcome all their rivals but the human defenders of the Hive City and an Aeldari army waiting in the depths to defend their gate. May the best ork win!
Oh dear, oh dear, what a damn funny book. Honestly, any Warhammer 40,000 novel that focuses on the orks is bound to be comedy gold, but Warboss is one of the better ones I have had the pleasure of reading. Author Mike Brooks does a wonderful job of telling a tight and amazingly fun story that perfectly showcases the orks in all their green skinned glory. I had so much fun with this book and I managed to power through Warboss in very short order.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/05/03/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
June 3, 2024
This is the 2nd Ork Novel in the 40K universe and he has written both of them. They are only connected by the Prologue and Epilogue AKA: DA BIT WOT COMES BEFORE THE THING and DA BIT WOT COMES AFTER DA FING.
They are both fantastic books and if you have any interest in orks then you should read them.
This book jump perspective between 3 Bosses, 3 Humans, 1 Grot and 1 Eldar. Which I really enjoyed because not only does it change the perspective of the scene and tell it from POV, but it also does so with their understanding and terms. For example the ork scenes refer to all weapons in ork terms such as Big Shootas and Choppas, when they are Heavy Bolters and Power Swords or whatever that races equivalent would be.
There is no such thing as Plot Armor and many of the POV characters die. Which is really nice especially compared to most every other sci-fi universe. The author really leans into the grim dark death happens and that is that mentality that some 40K authors have and it works really well in this book. There are some spectacular and really funny deaths. Sure some of them are heroic, but that isn't the norm.
Characters:
The 3 Bosses and the Grot are the main characters getting nearly all of the chapters and having very distinctive personalities and motivations. They manage to be wildly different and yet very ORKY.
General Uzbrag is a Blood Axe so he understands "Taktiks" and "Finkin" he is very Cunning and represents his Clan very well. He outsmarted me and pulled a trick that I didn't see coming.
Mag Dedfist is a Goff in Mega Armor. He is very much the Brutal boss and uses the tried and true ork strategy of CHARGE DAKKA KRUMP!!! and it works very well for him.
Zagnob Thundaskazz is an Evil Suns Speedboss and leads all mounted orks obsessed with driving fast and dakkaing anything in front of them. His chapters are probably my favorite chapters in the book, but that might be because I love all their awesome new vehicles that are in his WAAAGH! His outlook is just plain fun and he is more balanced when it comes to Brutally Cunning or Cunningly Brutal.
Snaggi Littletoof is a Grot that has visions from Gork and Mork and believes he is leading a Grot Revolushion. His view definitely makes you feel more for them as intelligent beings and not just jokes to be abused and murdered.
Writing Fun:
As stated above the Prologue and Epilogue are renamed. The first 5 chapters are numbered appropriately, but every chapter after that is labeled LOTZ. Which is a long running joke, that is how orks count.
One of the orks yells an iconic line from the Dawn of War games. Yay, Easter Eggs!!!
Mike's 3rd Ork book is available as an E-Book and will be a physical book 19 November 2024. I have already preordered it.
They are both fantastic books and if you have any interest in orks then you should read them.
This book jump perspective between 3 Bosses, 3 Humans, 1 Grot and 1 Eldar. Which I really enjoyed because not only does it change the perspective of the scene and tell it from POV, but it also does so with their understanding and terms. For example the ork scenes refer to all weapons in ork terms such as Big Shootas and Choppas, when they are Heavy Bolters and Power Swords or whatever that races equivalent would be.
There is no such thing as Plot Armor and many of the POV characters die. Which is really nice especially compared to most every other sci-fi universe. The author really leans into the grim dark death happens and that is that mentality that some 40K authors have and it works really well in this book. There are some spectacular and really funny deaths. Sure some of them are heroic, but that isn't the norm.
Characters:
The 3 Bosses and the Grot are the main characters getting nearly all of the chapters and having very distinctive personalities and motivations. They manage to be wildly different and yet very ORKY.
General Uzbrag is a Blood Axe so he understands "Taktiks" and "Finkin" he is very Cunning and represents his Clan very well. He outsmarted me and pulled a trick that I didn't see coming.
Mag Dedfist is a Goff in Mega Armor. He is very much the Brutal boss and uses the tried and true ork strategy of CHARGE DAKKA KRUMP!!! and it works very well for him.
Zagnob Thundaskazz is an Evil Suns Speedboss and leads all mounted orks obsessed with driving fast and dakkaing anything in front of them. His chapters are probably my favorite chapters in the book, but that might be because I love all their awesome new vehicles that are in his WAAAGH! His outlook is just plain fun and he is more balanced when it comes to Brutally Cunning or Cunningly Brutal.
Snaggi Littletoof is a Grot that has visions from Gork and Mork and believes he is leading a Grot Revolushion. His view definitely makes you feel more for them as intelligent beings and not just jokes to be abused and murdered.
Writing Fun:
As stated above the Prologue and Epilogue are renamed. The first 5 chapters are numbered appropriately, but every chapter after that is labeled LOTZ. Which is a long running joke, that is how orks count.
One of the orks yells an iconic line from the Dawn of War games. Yay, Easter Eggs!!!
Mike's 3rd Ork book is available as an E-Book and will be a physical book 19 November 2024. I have already preordered it.
October 1, 2025
Closer to 4.5 than 4.
I've read some of the other Ork centric novels Mike has put out, and while this one is not my favorite, Warboss highlights his ability to carve humor and horror into digestible pieces.
As a narrative, I love the premise and execution with little to complain about on the technical side. There is so much to love here. The changing perspectives lend to a jazzy flow in the writing that Brooks has perfected, jumping from ork to grot to human and beyond to a seamless lurch. There are moments where we get different perspectives to the same event that often add much to big moments not unlike a heist film akin to "Snatch," so much so that now that I've made the comparison I can't stop lining the two up in my head.
In the moment to moment action, Mike delivers splendid sequences that rarely left me without a smile on my face. There is a farcical element to Orks as there should be, but despite the madcap hijinks of the various orks at play, their threat is always put into perspective by the hapless victims caught up in the stampede.
What holds this one back from being at the top of my list for warhammer fiction is that I didn't enjoy this as much as Brooks' other works, and by the end found myself unattached to the characters that he clearly intends to do...something with. There is a general linkage between this and his Blackhawk book that didn't really work for me either, but its such a small ignorable element that does not take away from the standalone nature of this novel.
That is not to say the characterization was weak--not at all--but we simply spend so much time zooming to our destination that by the time all the major krumpin' concluded I wasn't exactly keen on wanting more. I got my Ork fill for now, but I will be back! In the meantime, I plan to take a look at Mike's other work, and you should too. Guy has got the knack.
Read, or listen! While I started reading it, I took a listen to the audiobook and immediately swapped over due to the stellar narration on hand. There are some light post production flourishes that really bring it to near audio-drama status at points, but in all I would say make this your next roadtrip listen; you won't regret it.
I've read some of the other Ork centric novels Mike has put out, and while this one is not my favorite, Warboss highlights his ability to carve humor and horror into digestible pieces.
As a narrative, I love the premise and execution with little to complain about on the technical side. There is so much to love here. The changing perspectives lend to a jazzy flow in the writing that Brooks has perfected, jumping from ork to grot to human and beyond to a seamless lurch. There are moments where we get different perspectives to the same event that often add much to big moments not unlike a heist film akin to "Snatch," so much so that now that I've made the comparison I can't stop lining the two up in my head.
In the moment to moment action, Mike delivers splendid sequences that rarely left me without a smile on my face. There is a farcical element to Orks as there should be, but despite the madcap hijinks of the various orks at play, their threat is always put into perspective by the hapless victims caught up in the stampede.
What holds this one back from being at the top of my list for warhammer fiction is that I didn't enjoy this as much as Brooks' other works, and by the end found myself unattached to the characters that he clearly intends to do...something with. There is a general linkage between this and his Blackhawk book that didn't really work for me either, but its such a small ignorable element that does not take away from the standalone nature of this novel.
That is not to say the characterization was weak--not at all--but we simply spend so much time zooming to our destination that by the time all the major krumpin' concluded I wasn't exactly keen on wanting more. I got my Ork fill for now, but I will be back! In the meantime, I plan to take a look at Mike's other work, and you should too. Guy has got the knack.
Read, or listen! While I started reading it, I took a listen to the audiobook and immediately swapped over due to the stellar narration on hand. There are some light post production flourishes that really bring it to near audio-drama status at points, but in all I would say make this your next roadtrip listen; you won't regret it.
February 1, 2024
"Warboss" is certainly written by an author who knows his orks and has a passion to share that love. Having read "Brutal Kunnin" (BK) by the same author it was exciting to see the main character appear in the preface of "Warboss", however we are quickly taken away from this elation, in to the story proper.
In stark contrast to BK, this story follows the path of 4 initial characters trying to achieve the same goal set by a supporting character. As we move further in, we get introduced to another 4 characters, and the chapters jump between each one, almost to a point of discomfort, as you try to stay on track with each plot path.
All of a sudden we're almost at the end of the book, everything having happened in what feels like a plot to Wacky Races, with lots of unwritten situations just happening for the sake of getting on with it. At which point characters start dying at a rate that George R. R. Martin would be proud of. Characters who you've just got up grasp with just die, violently (which is a bonus to us ork fans) but nonetheless mostly as plot devices and thus pointlessly. Then we get the "convenient magic is convenient" moments to finally get to the crescendo.
At which point we suddenly get even more characters who you're not sure you should give a monkeys about or not, who inevitably die almost immediately, just because. Finally, we return to the characters from the preface, which now feels like it was written before the main body of the text as an inspiration to write the other 300 pages.
All in all, light reading intellectually, but great fun for warhammer escapism albeit with a forced flavour of Ork ridiculous-ness.
In stark contrast to BK, this story follows the path of 4 initial characters trying to achieve the same goal set by a supporting character. As we move further in, we get introduced to another 4 characters, and the chapters jump between each one, almost to a point of discomfort, as you try to stay on track with each plot path.
All of a sudden we're almost at the end of the book, everything having happened in what feels like a plot to Wacky Races, with lots of unwritten situations just happening for the sake of getting on with it. At which point characters start dying at a rate that George R. R. Martin would be proud of. Characters who you've just got up grasp with just die, violently (which is a bonus to us ork fans) but nonetheless mostly as plot devices and thus pointlessly. Then we get the "convenient magic is convenient" moments to finally get to the crescendo.
At which point we suddenly get even more characters who you're not sure you should give a monkeys about or not, who inevitably die almost immediately, just because. Finally, we return to the characters from the preface, which now feels like it was written before the main body of the text as an inspiration to write the other 300 pages.
All in all, light reading intellectually, but great fun for warhammer escapism albeit with a forced flavour of Ork ridiculous-ness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
First ever warhammer book yay!!!!
I'd say as far as starts go the quality of this book varies. As a first ever 40k book in general? Not ideal, although I'm sure it wasn't even trying to be that so its probably not fair to judge it that way. Regardless, the characterization of the imperium and the aeldari in the book sort of felt to me to lean on a lot of presumed familiarity with both of those factions that a reader wouldn't have without being an avid 40k reader or lore gremlin (me being the latter).
However, as a first 40k book about ORKS???? I think this book is fucking GREAT!!!!!! The "fight for next warboss" thing is the perfect setup to introduce a wide variety of ork subgroups and play them off of each other in a really fun way. But outside of this introductory role the book plays for a particular faction within the setting, the actual plot, especially near the end, felt less strong. For all the great setup of characters it does, it feels like the book rushes to get to the payoff right after and doesn't really revel in the actual RACE between the protagonists to get to their final location. It's also revealed at the end that one of the protagonists exists basically just to be a tie in to other ork novels from brooks - we'll see if that pays off when I read that story later, but in this book itself I think all it did was draw focus away from the parts of the book that otherwise make it a really great read.
TL;DR - WELL IF DIS WERNT SOME PROPA ORKY READIN I DUNT KNOW WHAT IZ, BUT I'ZE STILL FINKIN DAT WEZ CAN FIND SOMEFING EVEN MOAR BRUTAL N' KUNNIN TA REALLLLLLLLLLYYYYYY GET DA LADZ GOIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd say as far as starts go the quality of this book varies. As a first ever 40k book in general? Not ideal, although I'm sure it wasn't even trying to be that so its probably not fair to judge it that way. Regardless, the characterization of the imperium and the aeldari in the book sort of felt to me to lean on a lot of presumed familiarity with both of those factions that a reader wouldn't have without being an avid 40k reader or lore gremlin (me being the latter).
However, as a first 40k book about ORKS???? I think this book is fucking GREAT!!!!!! The "fight for next warboss" thing is the perfect setup to introduce a wide variety of ork subgroups and play them off of each other in a really fun way. But outside of this introductory role the book plays for a particular faction within the setting, the actual plot, especially near the end, felt less strong. For all the great setup of characters it does, it feels like the book rushes to get to the payoff right after and doesn't really revel in the actual RACE between the protagonists to get to their final location. It's also revealed at the end that one of the protagonists exists basically just to be a tie in to other ork novels from brooks - we'll see if that pays off when I read that story later, but in this book itself I think all it did was draw focus away from the parts of the book that otherwise make it a really great read.
TL;DR - WELL IF DIS WERNT SOME PROPA ORKY READIN I DUNT KNOW WHAT IZ, BUT I'ZE STILL FINKIN DAT WEZ CAN FIND SOMEFING EVEN MOAR BRUTAL N' KUNNIN TA REALLLLLLLLLLYYYYYY GET DA LADZ GOIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2024
One of da best, most orkiest, ded killy books out dere.
The book centers on 3 orks (and a grot) who all race to the center of a humie city for the right to be the next warboss. It's a simple premise, but the book delivers in spades on it's promise of Orky fun and shenanigans. It's a fun romp without too much finkin' about it, but dats alrite wif me.
Once again, Mike brooks is better at portraying factions as his side-character antagonists than most black library authors are when writing them as MCs. The Eldar and lone Admec character in this book both feel respectable. The guard is less well presented, but thats what the guard is there for: to be a redshirt is to serve the Emperor.
I actually preferred this to Brutal Kunnin. I was initially surprised by the lack of Ufthak and the TekWaagh, but by the 1/3rd point this cast had won me over. In particular, Mag Dedfist is a rite proppa ork and Da Genrul has some great scenes with his humie prisoner.
On my scale, 4/5 is a book that does what it tries to do well, and this certainly qualifies.
The book centers on 3 orks (and a grot) who all race to the center of a humie city for the right to be the next warboss. It's a simple premise, but the book delivers in spades on it's promise of Orky fun and shenanigans. It's a fun romp without too much finkin' about it, but dats alrite wif me.
Once again, Mike brooks is better at portraying factions as his side-character antagonists than most black library authors are when writing them as MCs. The Eldar and lone Admec character in this book both feel respectable. The guard is less well presented, but thats what the guard is there for: to be a redshirt is to serve the Emperor.
I actually preferred this to Brutal Kunnin. I was initially surprised by the lack of Ufthak and the TekWaagh, but by the 1/3rd point this cast had won me over. In particular, Mag Dedfist is a rite proppa ork and Da Genrul has some great scenes with his humie prisoner.
On my scale, 4/5 is a book that does what it tries to do well, and this certainly qualifies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2023
After Brutal kunnin' by the same author, I had the thought that it was great but someone, either author or editor or marketing was unsure whether Orks could carry a book as sole POV, Warboss is not quite there yet but has definitively moved in that direction.
Three of the four main contenders for the title of warboss are all archetypical for their klan and not that surprising in itself, the fourth however is something more special and more then welcome. That the other three were more archetypical is not a bad thing per se, they are all fun characters but they do kinda lack that spark that would make them stand out.
A fun book that doubles down on the strength and characteristics of Orks in warhammer 40K, great introduction material to their faction. The the humans and craftworld eldar were a minor aspect in the story and good that they were, I loved a book that for once was over 80% or so about Orks rather then people talking about orks.
Three of the four main contenders for the title of warboss are all archetypical for their klan and not that surprising in itself, the fourth however is something more special and more then welcome. That the other three were more archetypical is not a bad thing per se, they are all fun characters but they do kinda lack that spark that would make them stand out.
A fun book that doubles down on the strength and characteristics of Orks in warhammer 40K, great introduction material to their faction. The the humans and craftworld eldar were a minor aspect in the story and good that they were, I loved a book that for once was over 80% or so about Orks rather then people talking about orks.
January 2, 2024
Really fun book that is at its best when it takes the point of view of the character it is focussing on in a chapter and pushes that to the extreme. Given the subject is Orks and actually Ork Politics (if you can call it that) this can be hilarious.
The human and other viewpoints on the events also offer a good break and intermezzo of what else would just be Orks acting like well.. orks. Actually one of the human viewpoints may be the most hilarious and over the top in stupidity. One even the Orks cannot match. Perhaps saying something about which race is smarter?
What I enjoyed is that even minor characters feel fleshed out and real. Real enough to care about what happens to them.
But overall its just .. a really lighthearted and funny book. Making me interested in reading more about the Warhammer 40.000 orks in other books. Perhaps it will get old quickly if you read to many book from their viewpoint. But my first experience with this concept was good.
The human and other viewpoints on the events also offer a good break and intermezzo of what else would just be Orks acting like well.. orks. Actually one of the human viewpoints may be the most hilarious and over the top in stupidity. One even the Orks cannot match. Perhaps saying something about which race is smarter?
What I enjoyed is that even minor characters feel fleshed out and real. Real enough to care about what happens to them.
But overall its just .. a really lighthearted and funny book. Making me interested in reading more about the Warhammer 40.000 orks in other books. Perhaps it will get old quickly if you read to many book from their viewpoint. But my first experience with this concept was good.
February 14, 2024
After Brutal Kunnin’, Mike Brooks treats us to Warboss, a hilarious (yet serious enough) take on Orks in the 41st millennium.
Combat is exceptionally written. Most Greenskin archetypes are represented with a somewhat fleshed-out character. Certain scenes are occasionally shown through the eyes of different characters which adds something to the novel.
The plot is simple and not the strongest the reader will encounter, even if only compared to other Black Library books. However, it does what it intends to; offers a framework for lots of different characters interacting with each other in lots of different and interesting ways. It’s not only Greenskin-Greenskin interactions but Greenskin-other races - the author understands Ork Kultur as good as anyone.
Mike Brooks continues to convince us that he quite rightly deserves to sit among the very best authors of the Black Library.
Combat is exceptionally written. Most Greenskin archetypes are represented with a somewhat fleshed-out character. Certain scenes are occasionally shown through the eyes of different characters which adds something to the novel.
The plot is simple and not the strongest the reader will encounter, even if only compared to other Black Library books. However, it does what it intends to; offers a framework for lots of different characters interacting with each other in lots of different and interesting ways. It’s not only Greenskin-Greenskin interactions but Greenskin-other races - the author understands Ork Kultur as good as anyone.
Mike Brooks continues to convince us that he quite rightly deserves to sit among the very best authors of the Black Library.
April 2, 2025
What an amazing experience this book is. I feel like it's really fun and I've read it unexpectedly fast for my metrics.
The coolest thing about this book are the different perspectives. Every faction thinks differently in broad terms, but most of the view points inside the factions think differently from the norm, too. That shows the personality of each of the boys and grots. And since everyone is looking at it from their point of view, there come points where there is a thing happening from one point of view and then it's shown it is totally different from a different point of view. Which was really cool to see.
Other than that the story is solid and well made - I actually expected a different ending. The characters are also well made. The book's writing is superb (everyone not only thinks differently but speaks totally differently - that's something I have not seen almost anywhere).
I really have no complaints - it's an amazing book.
The coolest thing about this book are the different perspectives. Every faction thinks differently in broad terms, but most of the view points inside the factions think differently from the norm, too. That shows the personality of each of the boys and grots. And since everyone is looking at it from their point of view, there come points where there is a thing happening from one point of view and then it's shown it is totally different from a different point of view. Which was really cool to see.
Other than that the story is solid and well made - I actually expected a different ending. The characters are also well made. The book's writing is superb (everyone not only thinks differently but speaks totally differently - that's something I have not seen almost anywhere).
I really have no complaints - it's an amazing book.
March 19, 2024
If you love Green, Mean, Funny-Fighting machines (funny at least if you're an ork, terrifying for anyone else), then Warboss is the novel for you. Improving on the solid but not great Brutal Kunnin', Warboss is everything one could be looking for a title featuring everyone's favorite greenskins, doing a nice job of showing the different clans and subcultures of orks (as well as Grots) but also again juxtapositioning it with various non-Ork POVs to both play it straight to enhance the orkish humour and also make it clear how utterly horrifying it would be to face such a foe. If you're a fan of Orks (as I am) or just of fun 40k novels that lean more into the wanky and fun side of the grimdarkest universe, this is a very easy recommend for you to check.
5/5 squigs, fantastic win for the WAAAGHHHH!
5/5 squigs, fantastic win for the WAAAGHHHH!
September 7, 2024
Was skeptical if I'd ever find a good orc book. Other recommendations I've seen on reddit or such, never seemed to have been very reliable. This however definitely was!
This was so much fun and was very small scope making it really easy to follow along.
It followed the well known trend of showing how dangerous the orcs are but their biggest downside is their lack of being able to properly organize and fighting amongst themselves. This did a really good job showing that aspect of orcs.
This was also really funny, lots of dark humor scattered in to break up the fairly straightforward plot. It initially feels like it was kind of lacking focus but I had to remember that it was intentional given that it was dealing with orcs.
I had a lot of fun with this and hope to stumble on more books with orcs, they need more attention then what they get in warhammer books.
This was so much fun and was very small scope making it really easy to follow along.
It followed the well known trend of showing how dangerous the orcs are but their biggest downside is their lack of being able to properly organize and fighting amongst themselves. This did a really good job showing that aspect of orcs.
This was also really funny, lots of dark humor scattered in to break up the fairly straightforward plot. It initially feels like it was kind of lacking focus but I had to remember that it was intentional given that it was dealing with orcs.
I had a lot of fun with this and hope to stumble on more books with orcs, they need more attention then what they get in warhammer books.
December 18, 2022
Mike Brooks has started to carve out an interesting corner of the 40k universe, as the chronicler of events in one particular WAAAGH!! Writing greenskins, both from the perspective of orks and gretchin, is something that he does very well and this book is no exception. While it might not reach the highs and inventiveness of his earlier Brutal Kunning, it is still a very entertaining read. The featured orks tread the fine line between amusing and horrifying very well and the focus on different aspects of ork Kultur, especially the traditional Klans was nice and refreshing.
April 6, 2025
Very good fun. The Orks are very funny in very orky ways and this book is full of really good lines.
That I don't really care about 40k books and haven't done since I was a teenager, I don't think the setting actually lends itself that well to novels so I'm not the target audience but that I read this one all the way through is a testament how much more fun it is than they normally are.
It's not long by any stretch but my main criticism is it probably could have been condensed a bit and been a punchier long novella or shorter novel.
That I don't really care about 40k books and haven't done since I was a teenager, I don't think the setting actually lends itself that well to novels so I'm not the target audience but that I read this one all the way through is a testament how much more fun it is than they normally are.
It's not long by any stretch but my main criticism is it probably could have been condensed a bit and been a punchier long novella or shorter novel.
August 22, 2025
I loved all of the characters, the humour, the ork politics and the random philosophical comments that caught me off guard every time. I do appreciate short books, and I guess the ending was fitting, but I was upset that this was over so soon. I was having too much fun, and now I only want stories that are from the perspective of the whacky, cartoonish, hilarious greenskins. They are so relatable because they are essentially your average UFC fans - they are dumb and all they want is a good fight.
February 8, 2024
Fun, orky times but can't really best Brutal Kunnin'. The baseline humans and Skrawniez here are less interesting foils for the orks than the AdMech and chaos forces of the previous book were. The whole thing also feels rushed. Events just kind of happen off screen and the thing really careens towards finale. I can only imagine the author was working on a deadline, but this thing could have benefitted from like 4 or 5 more chapters.
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