March Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

"Welcome to my nightmare. I think you're gonna like it." ~Alice Cooper



As always,

AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday | February Book Video | Recommend Reading | AstraDaemon

"The charm of horror only tempts the strong." ~Jean Lorrain



As always,

AstraDaemon

All About You | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

For many long years through the Age of Chaos, the lands of Ghyran suffered under the yoke of the servants of Nurgle. Disease wracked the lands, and life became an unending cycle of horror and misery. Then came light, in the form of the Stormcast Eternals, Sigmar's celestial heroes. Yet light cannot destroy darkness, as Bered Davan has learned. A witch hunter, he is no stranger to the vile things that lurk in the Mortal Realms, but as he hunts the source of a contagion, he will be tested as never before...

THE HUNT by David Annadale is told through second-person, and this ruined the story for me. I didn't feel any connection to Bered, so I didn't care what happened to him.

Annadale's story THE VINTAGE is a far better Warhammer short.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Slow Death | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Life in the wild places of Shyish is not as life elsewhere in the Mortal Realms. How could it be, when Shyish is the Realm of Death itself? For one inhabitant of that benighted land, the dream of life within death becomes a nightmare when dark invaders come to Shyish and takes their skull for the pleasure of a dark god. Yet even death isn't always permanent in Nagash's domain, and the sole warrior has the chance to fight again and avenge themselves on their foes…

SKULL THRONE by Jake Ozga is a great mix of suspense and horror. The POV offers a thrilling twist towards the end.

I recommend both this short and Ozga's story, ABERATION.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Sci-Fi Drama | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

On the agri world of Ballard's Run, an invasive alien weed is killing the crops and blighting the farmers who have dedicated their lives to working the land. Kavel is one such labourer. A former member of the planet's militia, he lost his family fighting the orks a decade ago. Now the so-called 'warrior weed' threatens to take all that he has left. But fate has other plans for him… A chance encounter with a wounded woman sets him on a collision course with a group that plans to bring destruction to Ballard's Run – and nothing will stand in their way.

THE CHILD FORETOLD by Nicholas Kaufmann is a short sci-fi story with a couple of unexpected twists. Good balance of action and introspection.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Deception in the Deep | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Lost to the Black Rage, an Adeptus Astartes warrior of the Blood Drinkers Chapter runs rampant on a drifting spacecraft. An unlikely duo team up to try to subdue the soldier by attempting to help him tackle the visions that have driven him mad.

BLOOD DRINKER by James Brogden is a thrilling dark fantasy. The setting is amazing, and the interaction between characters is intriguing.

I had a little trouble following the changes in POV, even with the italics, but I'm glad I stuck with it...the ending is truly mind-blowing.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Red Thumb | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A traumatised Freeguild Soldier stationed in a lonely stronghold remembers how he suffered as a child under the tyranny of Anasta Malkorion, dreading the day she returns to claim the blood she was denied.

THE VINTAGE by David Annadale is far better than anything I imagined. I love the way the author cultivates the bond between the reader and the main character, but, most of all, I love the twist on the vampire encounter.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Stupid Girl | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A community of Tzeentch cultists binds a youth to a tree to be sacrificed to the 'Bird of Change', an annual practice that they believe has granted them the favour of their Dark God. As it turns out, the 'bird' isn’t what they think it is, and the youth is forced to confront the terror directly.

BIRD OF CHANGE by Richard Strachan centers on a young girl awaiting her coming of age. When she realizes another year has passed without her change, she decides to volunteer to be sacrificed to a deity she believes will help her.

More to the point, this is the story of a cult worshipping a cursed creature, with a stupid girl who chooses to continue believing the lies she's been fed all her life, even after she is faced with the truth.

Let me make this clear though: this is a captivating story, and the ending is perfect.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Revelation | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Set on a feudal planet in the Imperium, two men meet in secret at a ruined cathedral to discuss a plot to assassinate the world's Imperial Governor. The cathedral is rumoured to be the hunting grounds of a mythical beast – the so-called Isenbrach Horror. They soon discover the apocryphal stories just might bear a kernel of truth...

THE ISENBRACH HORROR by Darius Hinks nearly lost me with the slow setup, but the revelation towards the end is an absolute must-read. This is a great creature feature mixed with drama and dark fantasy, and a thrilling addition this series.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Poison Within | Warhammer Horror Review | AstraDaemon

A young woman finds herself the guest of a vampire from the Vyrkos Dynasty bloodline. Will her dark romance lead her to take the Blood Kiss? Or will she resist her host’s supernatural attraction?

ABERRATION by Jake Ozga comes across as a Warhammer version of Beauty and the Beast, only much more lurid and gruesome. A young girl is accused of being a witch after her family home burns down. With visions of a hanging in her mind, she makes her way to the only sanctuary she can hope for.

Needless to say, the situation is more complicated than she can imagine. While I did enjoy the battle of wills, I found the ending a little confusing. However, I'm still recommending this one to anyone who loves gothic horror, even if you've never read any Warhammer before.

As always,

AstraDaemon