The 14th part of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Battle Report Series.
In this episode, we get terrain for the first time, a Container of resources that a squad of Assault Intercessors and some Warriors are fighting over!
Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium of Mankind.
You can buy your own Task Lamp here
You can support what I do by doing any of the following:-
This past week hasn’t been the best, simply because it was my Nanas funeral, so not the greatest week.
However I did have a couple of nice meals with my parents, brother and nephew, and I helped a friend build his new PC.
So a few bright spots amongst a bunch of rubbish, and frankly that’s what you have have to do in life.
I started off by painting the Charnel Throne for my Flesh-Eater Courts!
And then I painted a couple of Ferratonic Furnaces for my Zone Mortalis board.
I am now working on some Blood Warriors for my Blades of Khorne, but so far they have just been primed!
So what’s the plan for thisweek?
I finished Witched Unleased, you can read a review here.
I have now started on School of X, edited by Gwendolyn Nix.
I have been playing The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening on my Switch, it a lot different than the last time I played the game on the original Game Boy.
I started playing Horizon Zero Dawn on the PC, and its a beautiful game, I am playing this on Stream so I expect it will take a while.
Got a session in on Saturday and another on Sunday.
I have also finished working my way through Doom 64 and been playing some Forza Horizon 5 and Halo: Infinite here and there.
So let’s update you on my next games I intend to play on Stream.
None Sadly
The Issue 13 Battle Report for Warhammer 40,000 Imperium went live on Saturday.
I needed some dopamine on Thursday so I bought a couple of paints from Travelling Man.
I also bought myself some video games, I got Dying Light Platinum Edition, and the remaining Star Trek games on my GOG wish list, those being Hidden Evil, Armada, Armada II and Starfleet Command III.
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Marvel Untold book Witches Unleashed by Carrie Harris published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let these things cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
Look at this point I would bore you with a bit of background to the game/universe, but lets not, you all know the Marvel Universe, if you don’t have you been living under a rock!
The Witches were a trio of magical users who were supporting characters in some fairly older titles. The team is Jennifer Kale, Topaz and Satana who were put together by Dr Strange to counter the Hellphyr and get it back into the Tome of Zhered-Na. They had a series back in 2004 I think.
They are joined by Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider and Jennifer’s cousin.
Johnny Blaze managed to get himself stuck in Hell, and in his escape he let Lucifer, the Prince of Lies out, but shattered into 666 pieces.
Now its the duty of the Ghost Rider to hunt down the fragments and send them right back to Hell.
Finding his way to Salem, Florida, Blaze detects something different about this fragment, and he decides to seek the help of a local coven of witches, who just happen to consist of his cousin Jennifer Hale, guardian of the Tome of Zhered-Na, Topaz, an empath, and Santana Hellstorm, a half demon of hell.
Realising that the fragment of Lucifer is in the body of a Kale family member, the sister Lefay and Johnny Blaze, turn to some extreme means to try and find the fragment and send it back to the underworld.
When I started this, I was a bit concerned that it would require quite a bit of background knowledge about the magical world of Marvel, but Harris does an amazing job of spoon feeding what we need at the exact time we need it.
There is lots of exposition, but it feels just right, its never too much or too little and I think the judgement was just right.
Now if I am honest the pacing isn’t something I am a fan of, the story takes a long time to get started, but then the finale does feel a little rushed.
I don’t know the confrontation with Lucifer just felt like it needed more build up, but the writing of that battle was absolutely incredible it felt very fluid and dynamic and with Lucifer using his powers to push the group of heroes to their limit.
It really was a very well written and descriptive climax with the most unexpected of endings.
The Witches get only the smallest time in the main Marvel comics and its great to see them getting the attention they deserve here, and this is the amazing thing about the Aconyte books, they take characters who only get bit parts and expand them out into amazing novels.
This book I am going to give a score of 4 out of 5.
The eBook is out now, and the paperback will be published on the 17th February.
Mood:- Frustrated
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 5
In My Ears:- That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain
Tabletop Game Last Played:– The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Horizon Zero Dawn
Book Last Read:– Witches Unleased – Carrie Harris
Movie/TV Show Last Viewed:- The Masked Singer
Current State of Projects:- Nowt on my desk!
The 13th part of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Battle Report Series.
In this episode, a Captain and some Assault Intercessors go head to head with some Skorpekh Destroyers and a swarm of Scarabs!
Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium of Mankind.
You can buy your own Task Lamp here
You can support what I do by doing any of the following:-
I have been trying to write this for a couple of weeks now and I haven’t been entirely sure how to get the right tone.
But I wanted to summarise my thoughts on the now competed Warhammer Adventures series, Warped Galaxies and Realm Quest.
I have purchased all of the volumes as ePubs and some for my nephews physically, as well as purchasing them as audio books from Audible.
To be honest I was sceptical, I thought they might be Warhammer adjacent, and perhaps a bit daft.
But to my surprise, they were very much within the universes with little compromise, for example in Attack of the Necrons, we see a character utterly disintegrated by a Necron Gauss weapon.
We see Nurglings tear apart a Forge World and spread disease and pestilence, the despair caused by an army of Nighthaunt, the warpstone crazed behaviour of Skaven.
All the things that make Warhammer, well Warhammer are right here, including the grimdark.
In fact the only area I would really criticise as being out of step with the franchises, so that in the AoS books, they refer to Sigmar as simply a King, rather than as the God-King, but I suppose this was done to appease American parents, who will ban books at the drop of a hat.
The characters are all interesting, the 40K ones are ok, although I found Zelia a little too naive for the universe, but her companions are much closer to their archetypes.
The AoS characters are also good, but it does feel like there are perhaps a few too many and some of them get lost and ignored quite a lot.
The audio books are excellently narrated, David Tennent fits the books so well and does a great Grot voice.
Billie Piper is also a great narrator for the AoS books and her Skaven voice is wonderful, her replacement Helen McAlpine is also good, but doesn’t seem as approachable I guess is the right word as Billie Piper.
In conclusion I really would recommend this book for your kids, and you know what, if you want to paint and have something on in the background, these are perfect and easy to follow along with.
I hope more will come in time.
I spent the bulk of the week working on the Chaos Space Marines that came with Imperium Premium Pack 1.
So that’s a squad of 10 Chaos Space Marines, 2 Greater Possessed and a Sorcerer to lead them.
I finished the Chaos Space Marine Squad first.
Followed by the Sorcerer.
And finally the Greater Possessed.
I then started work on the Noctolith Crown which is also going to be used in the Battle Report that these guys will see service in.
I also painted the Flayed Ones for my Necrons
After that I painted up a Technomancer for the Necrons.
I then finished up the Munitorium Armoured Container from Imperium.
I am now working on a Charnel Throne for my Flesh-Eater Courts.
So what’s on the plan for next week then?
I failed to pickup any books this week.
I played Horus Heresy tonight against Anthony, we just payed a very causal kill everything Mission and I won 6-5.
I finished playing Assassins Creed last night and the final video will go online tonight, in the meantime here is the penultimate video!
I have had a little play on Far Cry 2, a bit of Halo Infinite and I finished What Remains of Edith Finch, but not played that many games really.
I am also playing through a bit of Doom 64 now.
We published the first episode of the year of Edge of Empire.
The next two Imperium Battle Reports got published too.
I bought a couple of movies this week, specifically Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, Eddie the Eagle and Paprika.
I also finally purchased the Far Cry 6 Season Pass given that it was on sale, which came with Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.
And the Charnel Throne I ordered last month finally arrived, after being out of stock for a while.
I also bought a Nintendo Switch, although I genuinely cannot remember buying this!
I also bought Revenge of the Sith on 4K Blu Ray too.
The 12th part of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Battle Report Series.
In this episode, a Captain and Overlord go head to head with some accompanying warriors!
Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium of Mankind.
You can buy your own Task Lamp here
You can support what I do by doing any of the following:-
The 11th part of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Battle Report Series.
In this episode, we a Librarian in Phobos Armour attempt to destroy a swarm of Necron Scarabs and a Royal Warden!
Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium of Mankind.
You can buy your own Task Lamp here
You can support what I do by doing any of the following:-
So the first month has been slow, but we have made a start!
So far I have painted 118 models!
So far I have got painted the following
Which gives me a total of 495 points right now.
So I am looking to put together another 1500 points roughly.
In the pile of potential, I have currently got:-
So that’s a good start on expanding them.
Imperium will be at some ping be giving me another 10 Battle Sisters, 5 Seraphim, a Canoness, 3 Argo-Flagellants, a Repentia Superior, 4 Sister Repentia, and a Penitent Engine.
So mostly what I already have, whether that comes all this year, we have to see.
I intend to start in this in March.
I have painted up the armies general, a Megaboss, who will head up the Ironjawz element of the army.
I intend to write up a list in February.
I have painted the armies Warlord Uriel Ventris.
I am starting this army by painting a 500pt Combat Patrol which will be as follows.
+ HQ + Uriel Ventris + Troops + Intercessor Squad: Bolt rifle . 4x Intercessor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades . Intercessor Sergeant + Elites + Redemptor Dreadnought: 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers, Heavy flamer, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon + Fast Attack + Suppressor Squad . 2x Suppressor: 2x Accelerator autocannon, 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades . Suppressor Sergeant
I am currently working on some True Sons, a Chaos Space Marines Warband using the Premium Pack that was sent to me though Warhammer 40,000 Imperium.
So what’s coming up next?
The much delayed 10th part of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium Battle Report Series.
In this episode, we a trio of Assault Intercessors attempt to prevent two squads of Necron Warriors reaching their objective! Who will prevail in this battle between the sinister Necrons and the noble warriors of the Imperium of Mankind.
You can buy your own Task Lamp here!
You can support what I do by doing any of the following:-
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Arkham Horror book The Cult of the Spider Queen written by S.A. Sidor, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
Anyway that put to one side, let’s look at this book, by first looking at the game Arkham Horror which is a cooperative game, originally designed by Richard Launius, and is now in its third edition which was released in 2019.
It’s published by Fantasy Flight Games, a subsidiary of Asmodee, and is set in 1926 in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts. Each player takes on the role of an investigator, who are working to stop the Ancient Ones, eldritch horrors which lurk in the void beyond space and time.
It’s a 1-6 player game and you work together to gather clues and defeat the evil of the Ancient Ones and save the world.
As I said I haven’t actually played Arkham Horror but I do own its spin off Elder Sign the cooperative dice game.
Like the rest of the Arkham Horror novels, its set in the 1920s, and this novel sees a side character from Sidors previous Arkham Horror novel, The Last Ritual, head off an adventure to the Amazon after a silent movie star turned documentary director who has been missing for a year.
It starts off with the reporter receiving a mysterious film reel in the mail, with a simple note: “Maude Brion is very much alive!”, and sets him off on a journey of deception to fund an expedition to the Amazon in search of the missing starlet, gold, and the mysterious Spider Queen.
As the group he puts together makes their way up the Amazon river, nightmares start to become real and they begin to realise that this is a journey that they might never come back from.
Oh wow, where do I start, this book is thus far the best of Aconytes Arkham Horror offerings, despite mostly not being set in Arkham at all.
The setting is just dripping with little details that really blend the Lovecraftian Horror and the Jazz Age together in such a way that its almost impossible not to visualise it in your mind.
For example, Iris just excludes glamour and sophistication, even with her descent into madness, I imagine a Gal Gadot type of appearance for her, and Ursula is a kickarse gal who won’t be confined by the gender norms of the era.
The description of the monsters and horrors brought forth by the fools tampering with the passages between worlds, make your skin crawl and this novel see the introduction of more Cthulhu mythos aspects than any of the other novels thus far, with the Men of Leng playing an interesting role.
The writing style is wonderful, descriptive and flowing, and manages to blend the styles of Lovecraft, 1920s pulp novels and modern storytelling.
The atmosphere that’s built up plays off fantastically and whilst the conclusion feels deflated (because the characters are, not the story itself, but that connection to them is very real), it leaves open the door for other stories exploring some of the characters.
Aconyte have really hit the ground running and I have been reviewing their books since they started, I am a little behind, but their stuff now makes up the majority of my reading, and this takes the quality level up again.
5 out of 5 stars, no question
Also I won’t lie, I have looked at other reviews to see what others think, so there may be some influences from them in this book review. If I am going to quote them, I will attribute them. But if I forget to, or something is highly influenced by them, and you think I ought to attribute someone, let me know so that I can.
You can buy the eBook now and the paperback gets a release on the 17th March
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