Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward
I would like to thank Black Library for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher – Black Library
Published – Out Now
Price – £9.99 paperback £6.49 Kindle eBook
Catachans vs Tyranids – Who Are the Deadliest Predators in This New Astra Militarum Novel?
Lazulai is a world beyond the brink, its battle against the tyranids all but lost. Once-magnificent cities lie in ruin. The seas boil. The skies crack. Horrific alien bioforms devour. In mere days the planet will be consumed.
The 903rd Catachan ‘Night Shrikes’ defend one of the last fortresses still standing. Led by Major Wulf Khan, to die fighting is all that is expected of them… until she is given one last mission: to lead a squad through the apocalypse and recover a piece of archeotech that may doom or deliver the entire Lazulai System.
Facing insurmountable odds and zero hope for aid, the major must hold her squad together as they pick their way through an endless xenos jungle. The enemy is merciless, relentless, endlessly adaptable and formidably resourceful... but so too is Khan.
The joy of reading for me is variety. There are so many different types of stories I can’t see myself tying to one particular sub-genre anymore. I think I’d get bored for a start as you would start to just see how the books are structured and techniques. It is much better to mix things up and getting different perspectives on what a genre can offer. So, this time when you get a polite request its hard to resist my first entry into the world of Warhammer 40k and their Black Library series with the exhilarating Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward and a lot of fun was had.
The entire universe is at war for survival. The Imperium covers millions of worlds, billions of lives and is now under a threat of Xenos. Mysterious magical aliens that corrupt worlds. Many planets and lives are lost, and war is being raged by many armies. On the planet of Lazulai one such war feels on the cusp of being lost. Sieges and last ditch battles are still being raged in particular by the 903rd Catachan Jungle Fighters. Major Wulf Khan though is advised that she a new mission. Something that is to be secured whatever the wider cost to the army is. Something that may turn the war finally in the Imperium’s favour.
I enjoyed this a lot, and it was great timing as I have been reading some essays about how SF and the Historical novel share a lot of the same DNA. I knew very little about Warhammer coming in and what Hayward achieves, and I understand is also something this series is proud of is the rich backstory of previous adventures, the plethora of armies and figurines and weapons they use. The skill though is Hayward makes you understand just enough but you’re ever conscious this Imperium is lots of worlds, cultures and the war is BRUTAL. We the reader are following one small cast in a bigger story. The other link which reminds me of the many books you could find in the ancient school library is the concept of the war story. A long tradition of small group fighting what tot hem are key battles and we know that too is part of the relevant historical period. Be it a past or future tank, gun, chainsword or bombs the depth is key and Hayward makes me feel what that history is even if I do not have years of Warhammer lore within me. That’s quite impressive that I never felt lost even as a newbie to this universe.
What helps is Hayward ensures that you care. Firstly, this is a story where absolutely no one feels safe. At the start of the book as we meet characters. The smart, brave and pragmatic Major Khan is a highlight, and we see her first in a desperate attack from Tyrannids in a long running siege. The body count for that is high, people we meet soon die and often horribly. It’s the feel of alien deadly forces versus magical monsters and they’re evenly matched. There is also a brutal mine based fight underground where we meet Lieutenant Anditz loses nearly all his troops, and you realise how smart, big and dangerous these monsters are. They also seem to have psychic powers and can corrupt mentally and physically humans. Hayward makes you feel the danger is constant and no one is safe or may not decide to sacrifice themselves for others.
We then have a trip into enemy territory where troops gather. Khan and Anditz join a small group including the mouthy and cheeky Adair and pragmatic Haruto. Plus a mysterious techno-mage from mars who wields cybernetic science named Wrathe and a traitorous member of the regime they’re about to beat. There are classic archetypes here for war stories and Hayward makes you still see them as individuals. One aspect I enjoyed is each army in the Imperium appears to represent a world and so we see different cultures and how people judge them based on stereotypes. Khan is Catachan and so many simply see as fighters and not cunning warriors. A dangerous underestimation. The group formed for orders must work out how to work together.
The main story then is a mix of quest and disturbing cosmic horror. The Imperium’s foes are changing worlds to meet their own purposes and we have forests that can absorb bodies. Dangerous mines, a mysterious weird sunken Cathedral and more. The pace is constant, and Hayward mixes it up so you never feel here we go again and each one also helps to reveal a bit more about the gang until we reach a tense, big scale finale of fighting, sacrifice and last ditch hopes. The only think that for me is always interesting is what is the fighting about. Yes in reality for these groups it’s the desire to stay alive and also save their fellow troops but what is this war actually about and while it definitely has a sense that the Imperium isn’t all that great either – and to be fair this is a constant war driven series - for me its what are they going to do next that helps.
Saying that though this is a damn fine SF action tale of war and bravery. Great characters, inventive worlds and a smart sense of depth made this a read that keeps you involved and entertained. I am not yet ready to fully plunge into everything Warhammer but it is certainly an interesting experience to dip the toe into and highly recommended.
