It’s a good thing the Black Library is books and not movies, otherwise we might be having a conversation around “sequel fatigue” and how Games Workshop might be “running out of ideas.” Luckily, that sort of discourse has never really found purchase amongst book readers, where serial releases is very much the norm.
After all, just recently we’ve seen the sequel to Rob Young’s Longshot in Ghosts of Cadia (review), the follow-up to Robert Rath’s The Infinite and the Divine with The Wicked and the Warped (review), and this week we learned that Chris Wraight’s classic, Black Library Readers’ Hall of Fame inductee The Lords of Silence is getting a follow-up book as well!
The Lords of Silence, led by the savage Siegemaster Vorx, have established a new plague kingdom, dedicated to the glory of Nurgle. However, peace and stability rarely last for long in the grim darkness of the far future, and the Death Guard are not as united as they may have hoped. Soon, new enemies begin to circle, drawn by the enclave’s apparent vulnerability.
What, not enough sequels? What if I told you it looks like Rath’s Assassinorum: Kingmaker might be getting one soon as well?
You’ll never grow broke betting on fandom communities to detect even the smallest tremor in the force when it comes to the properties they love. When Games Workshop tried to bury the recently-announced Necromunda Roleplaying game by surreptitiously editing out all references to the game, the community noticed. Immediately.
And so it was that another eagle-eyed member of the Black Library subreddit, u/Responsible-Load1717, discovered a placeholder entry for a book entitled Assassinorum: Operation Vendetta written by Robert Rath on French retail site fnac.com.
It’s also highly suggestive that Rath’s first Assassinorum novel, 2022’s Assassinorum: Kingmaker, is one of the titles on sale on the Black Library app for November. It’s certainly tempting to scrutinize the on-sale books as “appetizers” for a heretofore-unknown main course. For instance, while not itself a sequel, Rich McCormick’s Renegades: Lord of Excess went on sale in June, with his Zardu Layak: The Crimson Apostle coming the next month in July.
Noah Van Nguyen’s Godeater’s Son went on sale in August, and the sequel Blood of the Godeater arrived at the end of that same month. And in a repeat of that same model, Blacktalon by Liane Merciel went on sale last month just before Gary Kloster’s series sequel Shadow of the Silver Wolf was released.
So if you enjoyed Assassinorum: Kingmaker, there may be some very exciting news in store for you soon.
Pretend to be surprised!
Missing in Action
For all you World Eaters out there, it was exciting news when we learned of the upcoming WarhammerTV animation Butcher’s Nails. First teased as part of June’s Big Summer Preview Show as a new Hammer & Bolter episode, it was originally slated for an August release but was later pushed back until October.
Well, October has come and gone and not a sign in sight.
Then, remember what I said earlier about fans being extraordinarily perceptive? u/Nervous_Ad_5698 in the Black Library subreddit noticed that when the next The Old World novel Blood of the Bastion was announced, it was mentioned that there would be a Special Edition:
However, when the book was announced as going up for preorder this past Saturday, there was not a trace to be found. While it’s certainly true that it may be available later on in a Special Edition, that’s a curiously irregular bit of scheduling. Unless it’s a reprint from a much earlier book (such as Ben Counter’s Grey Knights or Andy Clark’s Steel Tread), the deluxe editions typically release earlier than- or simultaneous to- the standard edition hardback.
Wordforge on Facebook
Before we jump into everything else, just a quick reminder that for those of you on Facebook, the Warhammer Wordforge now has its own page here. Stop by and say hello!
Arrivals & Departures
In this section I look at what’s coming up around the corner (Arrivals) and what’s landing on bookstore shelves (Departures).
Arrivals
After a great deal of wondering, the second book of The Scouring is finally touching down. Written by John French, Wrath of Terra picks right up where Ashes of the Imperium leaves off, and will be available this Saturday for preorder in standard hardcover.
There will also be a stunning Premium Edition available for Wrath of Terra. If you’re after this edition, make sure to note that it will be offered during the “Wednesday Window” at 3pm UK time on 11 November.
The UK had their Daylight Savings Time event just before we did here in the States. With the time differential now back to the usual five hours between UK time and EST, the window will open for me here in Kentucky at 10am. Plan accordingly, folks!
REMINDER
Speaking of Wednesday Windows, here’s your reminder that the Special Edition of James Swallow’s The Flight of the Eisenstein will be on preorder this coming Wednesday (10/28) at 3pm BST.
The Black Library has recently gotten into the habit of re-releasing older books in hardcover to accompany a sequel, and so alongside Realm of Silence will be a new, standard edition of The Lords of Silence. It wasn’t that long ago that the original hardcover was commanding around USD $200 on the secondary market1, so this is quite the reprint.
Departures
Gary Kloster’s new novel, Shadow of the Silver Wolf, the latest chapter in the story of the Blacktalons, is now on store shelves!
Cold Comforts (Three-dux)
The community love-in for author Peter Fehervari and his incredibly elaborate singature pages hasn’t slowed down. Over at the Black Library subreddit2, u/Le0ben shared some correspondence he’d had with Fehervari.
…it’s absolutely all done by hand. Anything else would undermine the whole endeavour and be dishonest to fans.
I warned [the Black Library] that I’d need a LOT of time for Cold Covenant, since there are almost twice as many sheets as the Dark Coil set, so they kindly sent the boxes over well in advance. I spread the signing across three months, but the first step was to create a spreadsheet of phrases, breaking them down into different categories of rarity.
Notably, I also trialled a few different blue inks before settling on a special one by Diamine called ‘Jack Frost’ that had a notable variance in intensity. Sometimes it comes out very dark, sometimes lighter, which was in keeping with the story’s aesthetics. In some lights it actually has a purple sheen.
So yes, it was a huge amount of work, but I felt it was part of the art and a way to say thank you to everyone who bought such an expensive book.
…I’m happy for you to share this, along with my thanks to everyone who bought the book. I’m glad people are enjoying the inscriptions. I doubled down on them after the positive response to the Dark Coil set. On the whole, these new ones are more elegant and elaborate.
While yes, every author is different and not everyone can quite dedicate the time this certainly demanded, it has been quite the clinic in how to generate additional buzz around a book. Fehervari’s dedication- and openness to engagement with his readers- has been a real love letter to the community- and the community continues reflecting that right back.
Outstanding.
Black Library App Sales for November
You know what else turning of the month means? A new slate of sales on the Black Library app! Since the introduction of the new app, each month appears to be bringing with it a much larger number of eBook and audiobook releases at a discounted price (typically 50% off the eBook, 66% off the audio).
For November, the following are on sale:
The Hollow King, by John French (audio, ebook)
The Lords of Silence, by Chris Wraight (audio, ebook)
Genefather, by Guy Haley (audio, ebook)
Caves of Ice, by Sandy Mitchell (audio, ebook)
Assassinorum: Kingmaker, by Robert Rath (audio, ebook)
Queen of the Rose Throne, by Gary Kloster (audio, ebook)
Lazarus: Emnity’s Edge, by Gary Kloster (audio, ebook)
First Marshal, by Evan Dicken (audio, ebook)
Red Tithe, by Robbie MacNiven (audio)
ICYMI
Here’s what’s been going on this week for Warhammer content!
Warhammer Wordforge
This week’s Wednesday Feature was a new installment of Black Library Bibliophiles, the series dedicated to the collection and display of our beloved books. This time I dove into the Adeptus Custodes Limited Edition Codex and it’s treasure trove of goodies!
In Warhammer RPG Weekly, we mourned the gone-too-soon loss of the Necromunda RPG.
Then in Trench Crusade Weekly, we took a close look at the game’s first-ever painting competition, the Crimson Chalice!
Tabletop Battles
For Lore Friday, I reviewed Ghosts of Cadia by Rob Young.
Warhammer Community
Not Black Library related, but these Warhammer Day posters are chef’s kiss. Hey Warhammer Art, let’s get these up for sale!
WarhammerTV (paywalled)
All three parts of the latest Age of Sigmar animation, Arkanaut, have now been released!
Around the Webway
The Fluffenhammer pod continues its issue-by-issue walkthrough of Warhammer Monthly, this time tackling issue #33, from August of 2000.
Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Day of Ascension gets a look by Arbitor Ian and Mira Manga as part of their Warhammer Book Club.
Sorry, what’s that? Not enough Ian and Mira for you? Whoa buddy did you pick the right week, because they’ve also posted reviews of the Warhammer Crime classic Bloodlines by Chris Wraight, Anna Stephens’ Gothgull Hollow3, and Graham McNeill’s A Thousand Sons! And if that’s not enough, I don’t know what to tell you.
Cold Open Stories
All month long Cold Open Stories has been releasing a weekly brand-new short story audiobook, and this week’s tale is False Harmony by A. D. Hamilton. “Tap into the noosphere, connect your cogitator to the God Machine, and dive into a song that has become something more.”
Quick Hits
I noted recently the upcoming Fair Realms event in Nottingham next March, and Victoria Hayward (Deathworlder, Nightsider Imperialis) shared an updated lineup. Guy Haley, John French, Jude Reid, Gav Thorpe, and Victoria herself? Run, don’t walk, folks. It’s not every day you get so much Black Library talent under one roof for a day.
Tim Waggoner (Skin Man) appeared on the Stark Reflections on Publishing pod to discuss writing tie-in fiction and novelizations.
Black Library Hall of Famer Sarah Cawkwell (Valkia the Bloody, Silver Skulls: Portents) shared her wonderful answer to a question she gets asked often: what’s the best thing about writing for Warhammer?
Meme of the Week
Not necessarily a regular feature, but sometimes I find one that’s just too good not to share…
Coming Attractions
Here’s a list of the known upcoming releases from the Black Library based on the available preorder information we have. As always, take all of this with a grain of salt unless it’s Games Workshop-confirmed.
This section will be updated weekly in this column, and anything in bold has been added (or updated) this week.
Upcoming but Undated
Throne Questoris, by Victoria Hayward
Cypher: Lord of the Fallen, by John French (Illustrated and Annotated Edition)
Realm of Silence, by Chris Wraight (hardcover and Special Edition)
The Lords of Silence, by Chris Wraight (hardcover)
Current PODs in Production
Hive, by Dan Abnett (Special Edition, estimated deliver-by date of 11/26)
Upcoming in 2026
Grey Knights, by Ben Counter (Special Edition, 11/7)
Raptors: War and Shadow, by William Crowe (hardcover, 11/7)
Crucible of Fire, by Tom R. Pike (hardcover, 11/7)
Death Rider, by Rhuairidh James (paperback, 11/7)
Ghost Legion, by Mike Brooks (paperback, 11/7)
Armageddon: Season of Fire, by Jude Reid (paperback, 11/7)
Treachery Unbound, by various (paperback, 11/7)
Blood of the Bastion, by Evan Dicken (hardcover, 11/14)
Whisperblade, by Hal Wilson (hardcover, 11/14)
The Flight of the Eisenstein, by James Swallow (Horus Heresy Saga edition and standard hardcover, 11/14)
Galaxy in Flames, by Ben Counter (Horus Heresy Saga edition paperback, 11/14)
Wrath of Terra, by John French (hardcover and Premium Edition, 11/21)
Chem Dog, by Callum Davis (paperback, 12/17)
Ghazghkull Thraka: Warlord of Warlords, by Denny Flowers (paperback, 12/17)
Ashes of the Imperium, by Chris Wraight (paperback, 12/17)
Thanks again for joining me for all the going’s on in the Black Library, and see you next week!
A happening place this week, apparently!
This was their Hallowe’en episode, and they looked amazing. Dressing up to talk about books is peak.