‘Riders of the Dead’ – Dan Abnett (Black Library)

I thought I’d already posted about this book but… apparently not. I couldn’t tell you exactly when but I have read ‘Riders of the Dead’ (since I bought my copy a couple of years ago), it just looks like once again, life got in the way and before I knew it, I’ve just come across my copy and thought ‘damn, I owe the blog a post’… So, I’ve taken the long way round (again) but here we are :o)

Regular visitors to the blog will know that I’ve got a real soft spot for the Old World setting and also, I firmly believe that Dan Abnett is incapable of writing a bad book. So, an Old World book written by Dan Abnett is pretty much the perfect storm. Well, it should be…

I’m messing with you ;o) ‘Riders of the Dead’ was a great read. It’s going to be a shorter post than normal (it has been a while since I read the book and there’s so much to catch up with at work…) but let me tell you about it.

In the Chaos-infested wastes, the strongest of friendships can easily be manipulated into the deadliest of rivalries. Far to the north of the Empire lies the dreaded Chaos Wastes, a dark landscape permeated by the corrupting magic of Chaos and home to the servants of the Dark Gods. Standing between this gateway to hell and the civilized world lies the frozen land of Kislev, bastion against the rising tide of evil. Two Empire soldiers get their first taste of battle as they join the campaign to repel the savage Northern Tribes. As the winter draws in, the last major battle sees their destinies thrown into turmoil as circumstances tear them apart and throw them onto opposite sides. Such is the mutating power in this dark and terrible land that the strongest of friends can soon become the bitterest of enemies. As they race towards a final cataclysmic showdown the fate of their souls will be sealed forever.

I’m really limited in what I can say about the plot as there’s a neat twist that I really don’t want to spoil. What I will say is that Abnett approaches the plot with his usual thoroughness and attention to detail. That goes for the backdrop as well and that can work against the plot, a little, as the Steppe is so large and empty that it literally dwarfs everything else. That is one of the perils of good world-building though, I personally wouldn’t have it otherwise. I ended up feeling like I was right in the middle of the Steppe and that was just perfect for me.

But back to the plot… I won’t say too much about Karl and Gerlach other than that their journeys are compelling and a little bit heartbreaking, for both of them, all at the same time. I honestly couldn’t tell you which one of the two I felt most sorry for (come the end) and that’s a real testament to how skilfully Abnett handles his cast. Add some stirring moments of combat and I had a book that I couldn’t put down, it just took me ages to actually post about it ;o)

Second-hand paperback copies of ‘Riders of the Dead’ are about but if Amazon is anything to go by, may be a little prohibitive cost-wise. If you see an affordable copy on your travels (or have an eReader) then give it a read, it’s well worth your time.