Meanwhile, in the Mortal Realms…
After reading Jim’s thoughts on the ‘Raiders of the Realms’ series of short stories, back in July last year, it didn’t take too much for me to go out and buy the eBooks for myself. Jim knows his stuff and if it features on his blog, I’m interested.
It took me a little while longer to get round to reading them but to be fair, the latter parts of last year were a little bit of a mess ;o) That was last year though, it’s 2026 now and as I’m staring down the barrel of a particularly intense week, I thought that now would be a good time to finally read at least a couple of them. I’ll see if I can get through the rest of them over the next few days but for now, lets take a quick look at ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ and ‘Vipers of the Marsh’…
‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ – Graham Thomas Wilcox (Black Library)
Page Count: 45 Pages
Paranoid that allegiances have shifted within his tribe, the Darkoath chieftain Crowhand hosts a bloody feast and demands his two best warriors, Nuatha and Syve, root out any defectors. Will his warriors keep their original oaths, or will they decide that Crowhand's madness and suspicions have overcome his ability to lead?
As a Graeme of some fifty year’s standing (the spelling’s a little different but, the spirit is still the same), I will always read a fantasy book if it has my name on the cover ;o) Not only that, I’ve always been intrigued by the Darkoath Marauders, as a faction, so ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ was an easy choice for ‘first read’.
If only it had been as easy to follow… Don’t get me wrong, ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ did its job very well, it was just a little too convoluted for its prohibitive page-count and the plot had to take a couple of leaps forward as a result. You can’t argue with the atmosphere though, of which this tale has loads, and Wilcox’s fascinating exploration of a proud warrior culture that is caught between the importance of its word and the fact that the world is leaving it behind. There’s also a strong Celtic vibe running through the plot (I’m always up for that) and Wilcox has a turn of phrase that really sets the tale apart from pretty much all the other ‘Age of Sigmar’ books that I’ve read.
It took a while to get my head round it but ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ was a thoroughly enjoyable read I wouldn’t mind reading more about Nuatha and Syve; the story appears to have been left deliberately open-ended…
‘Vipers of the Marsh’ – Bryce Mainville (Black Library)
Page Count: 36 Pages
Join a pair of cousins – Jakk and Matthias – as they join a storied squad of Wildercorps Hunters. They are thrown into a conflict with Orruks when an ambush doesn't go to plan. A desperate battle ensues – one that shakes the cousins to their cores in very different ways.
‘Vipers of the Marsh’ was a little more straightforward and after yesterday (no questions are being taken), I was very grateful for that ;o) This tale of Orruk hunting, in a particularly deadly swamp was engaging right from the off and did very well to keep the drawn out moments of tracking just as eye catching as when battle is finally joined. I couldn’t see it working over a full length novel but as a 36 page short story, ‘Vipers of the Marsh’ is timed just right.
In his review, Jim mentioned that he wasn’t so keen on some of the naming employed and while I’m not blaming Mainville for that (you write in a setting, you have to follow the rules), I can see where Jim is coming from. While humans would know what an Orruk is, would they necessarily know what Orruks call their own tribes? I’m not so sure, just a thought…
One of the things that I’m growing to love about the Mortal Realms is how pretty much anything goes in terms of the background. ‘Vipers of the Marsh’ doesn’t disappoint with the human cities being perched on top of two giant terrapins. I’ve got loads of questions about how that would actually work but as background scenery, Mainville really makes his setting stand out and I’m here for that :o)
It took me a little while longer to get round to reading them but to be fair, the latter parts of last year were a little bit of a mess ;o) That was last year though, it’s 2026 now and as I’m staring down the barrel of a particularly intense week, I thought that now would be a good time to finally read at least a couple of them. I’ll see if I can get through the rest of them over the next few days but for now, lets take a quick look at ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ and ‘Vipers of the Marsh’…
‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ – Graham Thomas Wilcox (Black Library)
Page Count: 45 Pages
Paranoid that allegiances have shifted within his tribe, the Darkoath chieftain Crowhand hosts a bloody feast and demands his two best warriors, Nuatha and Syve, root out any defectors. Will his warriors keep their original oaths, or will they decide that Crowhand's madness and suspicions have overcome his ability to lead?
As a Graeme of some fifty year’s standing (the spelling’s a little different but, the spirit is still the same), I will always read a fantasy book if it has my name on the cover ;o) Not only that, I’ve always been intrigued by the Darkoath Marauders, as a faction, so ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ was an easy choice for ‘first read’.
If only it had been as easy to follow… Don’t get me wrong, ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ did its job very well, it was just a little too convoluted for its prohibitive page-count and the plot had to take a couple of leaps forward as a result. You can’t argue with the atmosphere though, of which this tale has loads, and Wilcox’s fascinating exploration of a proud warrior culture that is caught between the importance of its word and the fact that the world is leaving it behind. There’s also a strong Celtic vibe running through the plot (I’m always up for that) and Wilcox has a turn of phrase that really sets the tale apart from pretty much all the other ‘Age of Sigmar’ books that I’ve read.
It took a while to get my head round it but ‘Conn Crowhand’s Last Oath’ was a thoroughly enjoyable read I wouldn’t mind reading more about Nuatha and Syve; the story appears to have been left deliberately open-ended…
‘Vipers of the Marsh’ – Bryce Mainville (Black Library)
Page Count: 36 Pages
Join a pair of cousins – Jakk and Matthias – as they join a storied squad of Wildercorps Hunters. They are thrown into a conflict with Orruks when an ambush doesn't go to plan. A desperate battle ensues – one that shakes the cousins to their cores in very different ways.
‘Vipers of the Marsh’ was a little more straightforward and after yesterday (no questions are being taken), I was very grateful for that ;o) This tale of Orruk hunting, in a particularly deadly swamp was engaging right from the off and did very well to keep the drawn out moments of tracking just as eye catching as when battle is finally joined. I couldn’t see it working over a full length novel but as a 36 page short story, ‘Vipers of the Marsh’ is timed just right.
In his review, Jim mentioned that he wasn’t so keen on some of the naming employed and while I’m not blaming Mainville for that (you write in a setting, you have to follow the rules), I can see where Jim is coming from. While humans would know what an Orruk is, would they necessarily know what Orruks call their own tribes? I’m not so sure, just a thought…
One of the things that I’m growing to love about the Mortal Realms is how pretty much anything goes in terms of the background. ‘Vipers of the Marsh’ doesn’t disappoint with the human cities being perched on top of two giant terrapins. I’ve got loads of questions about how that would actually work but as background scenery, Mainville really makes his setting stand out and I’m here for that :o)
Great reviews as always. Looking forward to your thoughts on the other stories!
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