‘Kinslayer' (Book 1 of The Doom of Gotrek Gurnisson) – David Guymer (Black Library)

This was meant to be my ‘Holiday Read’, last week, but the actual holiday got in the way, not a bad thing as it turned out. ‘Kinslayer’ ended up being a ‘Weekend Read’ then, well… A weekend and a chunk out of yesterday but who’s counting? ;o)

Before we get into ‘Kinslayer’ properly, it’s worth pointing out that this is the penultimate book in the ‘Gotrek & Felix’ series and there are a large number of preceding books that the wiser person will read first. Don’t be like me, who read ‘Kinslayer’ only to realise that I’m nowhere near as well read in this series as I thought I was. It’s not a deal breaker but the more you’ve put in beforehand, the more you’re going to get out of this book. (My excuse? I never read the ‘End Times’ series back in the day so will grab these books wherever I find them). Anyway… Enough of my rambling :o) Lets talk about the book…

The beginning of the end in the story of Warhammer’s most popular heroes.

Once companions on the greatest of adventures, Gotrek and Felix have long since gone their separate ways. Felix, married and settled, secretly craves the excitement of his youth. And when the opportunity arises, Felix embarks upon what might be his final journey. As the chaos of the End Times engulfs Kislev, Gotrek and Felix are reunited, battling the hordes of the Troll King alongside Ulrika, Snorri and Max. But when long-hidden secrets are revealed, these old friends will be torn apart, and not all of them will leave Kislev alive...

Having read that first paragraph, you’re probably thinking that I’m going to have a little rant about ‘Kinslayer’ but you know what? I actually really enjoyed it. I’m still not in the best place mentally so it took me a little longer, than it should have, to work out which of the opening scenes were the dream sequence. Once I’d got my head round that though, it didn’t take much to get back into what the ‘Gotrek and Felix’ books have been about for me, near constant ‘monster fighting’ and an ‘odd couple’ relationship that continues to lend a fresh slant to the fighting and keeps things interesting. I’m always up for that and was not let down here. You know that Gotrek will beat whatever is in front of him so the trick is to try and make the fights as interesting as possible in the meantime. There is an element of ‘monster of the day’ here but Guymer sidesteps the obvious pitfall and mixes things up to keep things ticking over. Gotrek is either fighting something that is huge or foes of lesser size but far greater in number. I never found myself thinking that Gotrek wasn’t being challenged and that’s really the key in these books. Well played Mr. Guymer, well played :o)

There’s a little bit more to the plot than just fighting monsters though. We are in the End Times and the book reacts accordingly, in terms of spectacle but also (more importantly), getting everyone in place for the finale and tidying up some loose ends along the way. I say ‘loose ends’… A couple of major players see their time with Gotrek and Felix come to an end; one a little too suddenly for my taste but the death of the other made for some absolutely superb reading (you know what I mean). I couldn’t take my eyes off the page until it was done. Long time readers have already read ‘Kinslayer’ (I’m late to the party, again…) and I’ve got no doubt that the ending blew their minds, it blew mine.

Being completely honest, the issues I had with ‘Kinslayer’ were issues that I bought to the book so really, not ‘Kinslayer’s’ fault at all. Once I got my head round the book, I had a lot of fun with it and am left deliberating over whether continue hunting for ‘Slayer’, in paperback, or fork out for the Kindle edition when I get paid. I think it will be the Kindle edition, I really want to see how it all ends now.