Luthor Huss' – Chris Wraight (Black Library)

Because sometimes, my sub-conscious does know what it's doing or, at the very least, decides to use its awesome powers for good instead of evil. You see, when I bought a copy of 'Luthor Huss' a few weeks ago, I just thought that I was replacing an older/lost copy. But no, my sub-conscious saw a time in the future when I'd need a bit of comfort reading and for some weird reason, that broad scope includes tales of a zealous warrior priest battering the undead and beastmen with his trusty warhammer. I can't argue with that though because this week, I needed some comfort reading and 'Luthor Huss' was sat there, waiting to be picked up. Thanks sub-conscious, I owe you one.

Witch hunter Lukas Eichmann investigates a series of bizarre murders, which ultimately lead him into the haunted depths of the Empire at the head of an army of fanatical warriors. In the Drakwald Forest, Luthor Huss, warrior priest of Sigmar, battles to free the denizens of the forest from a plague of the walking dead. As their fates entwine, the two warriors confront a threat that will decide their future, while Huss must face a secret from his past if he is to survive and embrace his destiny as the Hammer of Sigmar.

I've never been able to get my head around the rules long enough to play a game of Warhammer Fantasy or 40K but I love the settings and will pick pretty much anything the Black Library publishes. Except maybe the 'Age of Sigmar' stuff, I really miss the Old World and the 'Age of Sigmar' books just don't feel the same, not yet anyway (which is why 'Luthor Huss' was a good choice to pick up, it's set in the Old World). But I'm in danger of digressing and I haven't even really said anything about the book yet...

If I had to list my favourite Black Library authors, Chris Wraight would be in the top three easily. His books just come to life in your hands through the detailed settings and the almost casually wielded knowledge that if you are going to have a book that's at least 99% fighting then you had better make damn sure that your characters are incredibly well drawn and interesting. Wraight's characters are exactly this and Luthor Huss is no exception.

If you've read 'Luthor Huss' then that last sentence may sound a little odd as when you first spend time with Huss, he comes across as very one dimensional, he's 'all faith' and nothing else. As you move on though, you come to realise that's not true at all. Wraight shows us a character who is set apart from the rest of humanity (in more ways than one) and knows it, he is tormented by his inability to relate to the people that he ministers to. All he can do is examine his own faith against the faith of others, faith may be all he has but Huss is constantly testing it and using that knowledge to sustain himself. There's more to Huss than you think and that's the whole point of the story.

During lulls in the fighting, faith is a central theme to 'Luthor Huss' as all the suporting characters must place themselves in the path of some kind of obstacle and draw on some kind of inner strength to win through. The Witch hunter Lukas Eichmann is the best example of this (although Mila runs him pretty close as the symbolic 'every person' just trying to survive from day to day) as his personal quest ties into the mystery that drives the plot forward. It's a good mystery by the way, drawn out long enough to be truly intriguiing.

Eichmann though... The questions that he asks himself makes a seemingly sinister character quite relatable very early. After all, havent' we all asked ourselves what the point of our work is?

So an intriguing mystery pursued by characters who I would quite happily spend more time with in other books (and it's a real shame that there won't be any, bloody 'Age of Sigmar'...) You can't ask for a lot more than that but Chris Wraight also gives the reader stirring scenes of battle and at least one or two genuinely creepy moments as well (that baby...) You really can't ask for more than that.

A comfort read for me is a book that you can pick up and just lose yourself in an engrossing tale; when you put the book down, you feel like you've walked with those characters and swung a sword or two yourself. 'Luthor Huss' is one of those books and a good example of why I'll pick up anything with Chris Wraight's name on it.