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Gotrek & Felix #Omnibus
Gotrek and Felix, the First Omnibus
A Gotrek & Felix Omnibus
Of all the heroes of the world-that-was, Gotrek and Felix may be the greatest – and this collection of novels and short stories showcases their earliest adventures.
READ IT BECAUSE
The saga of Gotrek and Felix starts here, with three novels that introduce a host of fan-favourite characters and feature some of the heroic duo's most memorable adventures.
DESCRIPTION
Gotrek and Felix: unsung heroes of the Empire, or nothing more than common thieves and murderers? The truth perhaps lies somewhere inbetween, and depends entirely on who you ask…
Relive the early adventures of the Slayer and his human companion. From the haunted forests of the Empire to the darkness beneath the Worlds Edge Mountains, Gotrek and Felix face demented cultists, sinister goblins and a monstrous troll. In the city of Nuln, they get involved in an invasion by the sewer-dwelling skaven. And in the frozen north, an expedition to the lost dwarf hold of Karag Dum brings Gotrek and Felix face-to-face with a dread Bloodthirster of Chaos…
CONTENTS
Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer & Death and Glory by William King
A Place of Quiet Assembly by John Brunner
Blood Sport by Josh Reynolds
Kineater by Jordan Ellinger
Mind-Stealer by C L Werner
Of all the heroes of the world-that-was, Gotrek and Felix may be the greatest – and this collection of novels and short stories showcases their earliest adventures.
READ IT BECAUSE
The saga of Gotrek and Felix starts here, with three novels that introduce a host of fan-favourite characters and feature some of the heroic duo's most memorable adventures.
DESCRIPTION
Gotrek and Felix: unsung heroes of the Empire, or nothing more than common thieves and murderers? The truth perhaps lies somewhere inbetween, and depends entirely on who you ask…
Relive the early adventures of the Slayer and his human companion. From the haunted forests of the Empire to the darkness beneath the Worlds Edge Mountains, Gotrek and Felix face demented cultists, sinister goblins and a monstrous troll. In the city of Nuln, they get involved in an invasion by the sewer-dwelling skaven. And in the frozen north, an expedition to the lost dwarf hold of Karag Dum brings Gotrek and Felix face-to-face with a dread Bloodthirster of Chaos…
CONTENTS
Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer & Death and Glory by William King
A Place of Quiet Assembly by John Brunner
Blood Sport by Josh Reynolds
Kineater by Jordan Ellinger
Mind-Stealer by C L Werner
893 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2006
693 people are currently reading
1419 people want to read
About the author
William King
355 books709 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
June 9, 2019
They didn’t have my paperback as an option on GR at this time so here’s mine! Because I’m weird that way.
I love these two characters and others in the book!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I love these two characters and others in the book!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 10, 2011
Trollslayer: Introducing Gotrek Gurnisson, a dwarven Slayer sworn to die a heroic death and Felix Jaeger, the poet who's sworn an oath to chronicle it. In the stories in the first book contained within this omnibus, Gotrek and Felix encounter cultists, wolf-riding goblins, a ruined dwarven stronghold, a mutant-creating sorceror, and werewolves, among other things.
For years, people have been telling me to read this, saying it's comparable to Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser series. After half a decade of putting it off, I finally picked it up. The big Warhammer logo on the front was off putting, so much so that I almost put the book back down. I mean, fiction based on a role playing game? And who is this William King person anyway?
So, I've read through the first story. Are they as good as Leiber's stuff? Of course not. Don't be ridiculous. But they are a rip-roaring good time. I enjoyed myself tremendously. Gotrek is a one-dimensional killing machine but he has funny lines. Felix, on the other hand, is a well developed character that continually examines his place in the world.
William King isn't a bad writer, either, despite me never having heard of him and this being a RPG tie in. Honestly, I'd say his writing is as good as David Gemmell's. The stories are well done, although there are some fantasy cliches present. One thing that pleased me is that the setting seems to be more Eastern European based than most fantasy.
All in all, I'm enjoying the heck out of these.
Skavenslayer: Felix and Gotrek settle in Nuln for a time and find work first as sewerjacks and then as bouncers, all the while encountering the machinations of the skaven in the city's sewers. Can Felix and Gotrek foil the sinister pllots of the skaven?
The second book in this omnibus is a collection of short stories, much like the first. The stories in this one, however, are much more closely tied together. While I liked Skavenslayer, I didn't enjoy it as much as Trollslayer. The stories were a little too Felix-heavy and I never thought the skaven were compitent foes for Gotrek and Felix. Still pretty enjoyable though, good action and a lot of laughs. On to the third book!
Daemonslayer: Felix and Gotrek join a Dwarven expedition into the Chaos Wastes aboard an airship, searching for the lost Dwarven citadel of Karag Dum. But what will they find when, or if, they get there?
Daemonslayer has the epic feel the other two books were lacking and is full of dwarfish goodness. More of Gotrek's pre-Slayer past is revealed, but there are still many questions. Snorri Nosebiter, another Slayer, is introduced. The airship is described well and actually seems plausible. I like that the Warhammer dwarves are good at technology. The journey to Karag Dum doesn't drag, as many epic journeys do, and the final battle is probably in my top ten fantasy final battles of all time.
Upon completing the First Omnibus, I will say that I liked it a lot. It was 700+ pages of pulpy fantasy goodness and I plan on getting the Second Omnibus soon. Gotrek & Felix won't make you forget about Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser but they're entertaining as hell. I'd recommend this book to pulp fantasy fans, as well as fans of David Gemmell.
For years, people have been telling me to read this, saying it's comparable to Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser series. After half a decade of putting it off, I finally picked it up. The big Warhammer logo on the front was off putting, so much so that I almost put the book back down. I mean, fiction based on a role playing game? And who is this William King person anyway?
So, I've read through the first story. Are they as good as Leiber's stuff? Of course not. Don't be ridiculous. But they are a rip-roaring good time. I enjoyed myself tremendously. Gotrek is a one-dimensional killing machine but he has funny lines. Felix, on the other hand, is a well developed character that continually examines his place in the world.
William King isn't a bad writer, either, despite me never having heard of him and this being a RPG tie in. Honestly, I'd say his writing is as good as David Gemmell's. The stories are well done, although there are some fantasy cliches present. One thing that pleased me is that the setting seems to be more Eastern European based than most fantasy.
All in all, I'm enjoying the heck out of these.
Skavenslayer: Felix and Gotrek settle in Nuln for a time and find work first as sewerjacks and then as bouncers, all the while encountering the machinations of the skaven in the city's sewers. Can Felix and Gotrek foil the sinister pllots of the skaven?
The second book in this omnibus is a collection of short stories, much like the first. The stories in this one, however, are much more closely tied together. While I liked Skavenslayer, I didn't enjoy it as much as Trollslayer. The stories were a little too Felix-heavy and I never thought the skaven were compitent foes for Gotrek and Felix. Still pretty enjoyable though, good action and a lot of laughs. On to the third book!
Daemonslayer: Felix and Gotrek join a Dwarven expedition into the Chaos Wastes aboard an airship, searching for the lost Dwarven citadel of Karag Dum. But what will they find when, or if, they get there?
Daemonslayer has the epic feel the other two books were lacking and is full of dwarfish goodness. More of Gotrek's pre-Slayer past is revealed, but there are still many questions. Snorri Nosebiter, another Slayer, is introduced. The airship is described well and actually seems plausible. I like that the Warhammer dwarves are good at technology. The journey to Karag Dum doesn't drag, as many epic journeys do, and the final battle is probably in my top ten fantasy final battles of all time.
Upon completing the First Omnibus, I will say that I liked it a lot. It was 700+ pages of pulpy fantasy goodness and I plan on getting the Second Omnibus soon. Gotrek & Felix won't make you forget about Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser but they're entertaining as hell. I'd recommend this book to pulp fantasy fans, as well as fans of David Gemmell.
April 8, 2022
This is the start of the saga of Gotrek Gurnisson and Felix Jaeger. Gotrek and Felix are a pair of adventurers that spread terror among the servants of the Ruinous Powers. Felix, a scion of a wealthy house, is a rouge like character and a bard. Gotrek is a Slayer. A Slayer is what happens to a Dwarf who has faced some grave dishonor. They will shave their hair into a red or orange dyed mohawk and tattoo their bodies with ancient Dwarven rune writing. A Slayer must face his doom, and his doom is to fight the greatest monsters till something kills him. Gotrek is not easy to kill.
This Omnibus is a collection of short stories and novellas about the Gotrek and Felix adventures. Comprising of the stories: Trollslayer; Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer (these three are novellas) and the short stories : A Place of Quiet Assembly, Blood Sport, Kineater, Mind-Stealer and Death and Glory.
During these tales Gotrek and Felix must contend with a variety of foes from Daemons to Skaven. While the stories are entertaining, the diffuse nature of the novellas and short stories make for a story that seems to jump around.
The stories are all good, though the lack of development makes them merely good. A fairly good addition to my Warhammer collection but not one to rave over.
This Omnibus is a collection of short stories and novellas about the Gotrek and Felix adventures. Comprising of the stories: Trollslayer; Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer (these three are novellas) and the short stories : A Place of Quiet Assembly, Blood Sport, Kineater, Mind-Stealer and Death and Glory.
During these tales Gotrek and Felix must contend with a variety of foes from Daemons to Skaven. While the stories are entertaining, the diffuse nature of the novellas and short stories make for a story that seems to jump around.
The stories are all good, though the lack of development makes them merely good. A fairly good addition to my Warhammer collection but not one to rave over.
December 31, 2024
Proste historie, świetni bohaterowie, walka z chaosem i skaveni. Z minusów, sporo powtórzeń, trochę jakby były to powieści wydawane w odcinkach, gdzie co rozdział czy dwa mamy przypomniane najważniejsze informacje o naszych bohaterach. Żeby uniknąć zmęczenia powtórzeniami wystarczy zrobić większe przerwy pomiędzy kolejnymi rozdziałami i nie będzie to aż tak kłuło w oczy.
Świetny powrót do serii, którą czytałam ponad 20 lat temu.
Świetny powrót do serii, którą czytałam ponad 20 lat temu.
February 18, 2019
A wonderful collection of stories which act as a good introduction to the world of warhammer fantasy. In these stories Gotrek and Felix travel across the old world, killing and drinking along the way.
July 30, 2019
"We should rest here for the night..."
"You manlings are all the same, weak"
"They'll have ale"
"On the other hand, you make an excellent point"
"You manlings are all the same, weak"
"They'll have ale"
"On the other hand, you make an excellent point"
February 4, 2014
This book (actually a collection of the first 3 books in this series) is incredible! William King is a phenomenal writer. I was sad when Nathan Long took over the series - nothing against Nathan Long, who is also a great writer. But King just fleshes out his characters in such a way that makes you feel like you know them. And that is impressive when writing about elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins, skaven (rat-people), and vampires. I haven't met any of those yet. I have yet to read a William King book that isn't a constant page turner. There is no lull in the story, even though there isn't constant action (there is a lot of action though). Even when Gotrek and Felix are drinking beers in a pub, you can't wait to see what happens next. And there is plenty of humor.
Even if you have never read a Warhammer book and never plan to again, check these out. It really isn't necessary to know anything about the Warhammer universe to get into the stories. In fact, you can learn a lot about it by reading these books (if that's what you want to do). This duo travels extensively, so you really get to read about most of the races and the world itself.
Even if you have never read a Warhammer book and never plan to again, check these out. It really isn't necessary to know anything about the Warhammer universe to get into the stories. In fact, you can learn a lot about it by reading these books (if that's what you want to do). This duo travels extensively, so you really get to read about most of the races and the world itself.
May 26, 2011
Awful. It seemed to be stories written by a junior high school writing class. There was a laughable but memorable part where the author simply described what was suppose to be a climactic scene almost along the line of "He killed the creature." I understand these stories to be unrelated reprints from magazines or other but gosh, the guy should write with an adult view of the world at least in one of the several plots.
August 17, 2010
Although William King might have invented the characters, he is a terrible writer, the characters are one dimensional and the descriptions bland.
The books do get better though, especially Deamonslayer had a very epic feel about it, so I still recommend reading the omnibus if planning to read the whole series.
The books do get better though, especially Deamonslayer had a very epic feel about it, so I still recommend reading the omnibus if planning to read the whole series.
April 15, 2018
the first three novels of the long history of two dissimilar heroes an unconventional pair of an adventurer, a dwarf slayer and his human companion and doom recorder. this first tome has two factions. to entertain with stories of high adventure, extreme gore, and blood-soaked battles but also to present places of the olde empire and people and monsters of the Warhammer fantasy setting. the writing is not the best you can find but the narrative is easy and fun to read the stories are one way but enjoyable. thousands of enemies die by the great axe of the unconquerable dwarf hero Gotrek but the heroes seek for more enemies and the tale continues...
July 3, 2021
I'm quite conflicted about this collection of the first three Gotrek and Felix novels. I wanted to like them a lot more than I did though I ultimately found them wanting. Gotrek and Felix themselves are great characters and the book are fun for a bit of hack and slash fantasy but at the same time the prose and plots weren't the best.
March 26, 2021
Didn't care much for the short stories at the end after you've just finished such an epic tale, but had lots of fun readint this omnibus!
February 2, 2025
Quería aprender más sobre el lore de Warhammer Fantasy, ya que siempre escuché que es rico y profundo y he de decir que me ha gustado la ambientación. Me ha ayudado a inspirarme para mis partidas de rol de Warhammer. Especialmente me quedo con el último libro “Matademonios”, que sin dudas me parece el mejor.
Se nota que estas novelas se escribieron rápido con el objetivo de vender y tener un producto decente en el mercado. Se abusan de siempre los mismos adjetivos y descripciones copiadas sin mucha originalidad. Los personajes son tan simples como me los esperaba. Cumple su objetivo sin brillantez.
Se nota que estas novelas se escribieron rápido con el objetivo de vender y tener un producto decente en el mercado. Se abusan de siempre los mismos adjetivos y descripciones copiadas sin mucha originalidad. Los personajes son tan simples como me los esperaba. Cumple su objetivo sin brillantez.
May 3, 2025
One of the best books i have ever read, i got emotional at the end, a great way to start the series, amazing cartoonish villains, as well as serious ones, a good world building that has not changed much even today, awesome book!
June 17, 2019
If you are already familiar with the world and lore of Warhammer, then you will find an really enjoyable read in the tales of Gotrek & Felix. This omnibus features a large number of small stories that are not very connected to each other in the beginning, do begin to arch into an overall larger story.
For people not yet introduced to Warhammer lore, I could imagine that the world might seem a bit daunting at first, primarily because I feel like that William King needed some time to familiarize himself with the characters, though the later stories become more and more ingrained into the world. The first short stories can be read entirely apart from each other, but from Skavenslayer and onward the stories begin to intertwine into each other and become much more enjoyable because of it.
I can say that while I had my doubts at the beginning, that I now look forward to read more about the adventures of Gotrek & Felix in the next installments.
For people not yet introduced to Warhammer lore, I could imagine that the world might seem a bit daunting at first, primarily because I feel like that William King needed some time to familiarize himself with the characters, though the later stories become more and more ingrained into the world. The first short stories can be read entirely apart from each other, but from Skavenslayer and onward the stories begin to intertwine into each other and become much more enjoyable because of it.
I can say that while I had my doubts at the beginning, that I now look forward to read more about the adventures of Gotrek & Felix in the next installments.
May 16, 2016
I'm only reading this book because it was given to me. But I don't think it's my first encounter with the Warhammer universe, I'm pretty sure my dad used to have it on the PS1. I can't be sure though. This book contains the first three volumes of the Gotrek and Felix series.
Trollslayer (2/5 stars) - I think the first thing that strikes you about this book is how very 'Lord of The Rings' it is. Gotrek & Felix remind me so much of Legolas and Gimli. Expect Gotrek really hates elves and trees. But then, Gimli didn't like elves either. Why don't dwarves like elves? Is this an unwritten fantasy law I don't know about?
Oh and Felix is not an elf, he's a manling, as Gotrek likes to put it. And he's also a poet and it's really hard to picture him at first as being poet like, due to the image on the front cover and that he seems pretty handy with a sword.
Felix made a drunken oath to Gotrek after he saved his life, to follow him on his journey for a glorious death and then write about it. This book is basically short stories of that journey, it's very formulaic. They are going somewhere, they get attacked by different kinds of chaos followers, they defeat them and then they move on.
It's not bad but it's not great either. The chemistry between the two is pretty good and Gotrek is always making me smile with his one liners but you could flick to any of the stories and not need to know any background information.
Skavenslayer (3/5 stars) - This was a massive improvement on the last book. Gotrek and Felix are in the same location the entire time and makes this feel more like a novel, rather than just short stories. We also get to see the Skaven's side of things, it's amazing they are as organized as they are, as none of them have any loyalty to each other. You get to see the attack building up, rather than it just be the causal slaying of monsters. If you can't make it through 'Trollslayer' then don't write this one off!
Daemonslayer (2/5 stars) - Again this is more a structured novel. Gotrek has been given a message to meet at the Blind Pig, where he finds he and some fellow slayers have been called to a mission. And Felix of course, goes with him.
They find that the Dwarves have been building an airship to take them over the Chaos Wastes(very bad) to find a lost Dwarf city. This seemed to take ages to get going, we meet the Skaven again and Gotrek & Felix face a mighty daemon at the end.
It ends on a clif hanger, they still need to get back home and they have no idea a sneaky Skaven is hidden on board, slowly going mad as he has been tainted by warpstone.
I would like to know what happens next but I wasn't so into the story that I would seek the next book out but if I happened to come across it, I would read it. This book is special because it's the first one I've managed to read outside in the garden. There is sunshine in the realm of the English! :D
Trollslayer (2/5 stars) - I think the first thing that strikes you about this book is how very 'Lord of The Rings' it is. Gotrek & Felix remind me so much of Legolas and Gimli. Expect Gotrek really hates elves and trees. But then, Gimli didn't like elves either. Why don't dwarves like elves? Is this an unwritten fantasy law I don't know about?
Oh and Felix is not an elf, he's a manling, as Gotrek likes to put it. And he's also a poet and it's really hard to picture him at first as being poet like, due to the image on the front cover and that he seems pretty handy with a sword.
Felix made a drunken oath to Gotrek after he saved his life, to follow him on his journey for a glorious death and then write about it. This book is basically short stories of that journey, it's very formulaic. They are going somewhere, they get attacked by different kinds of chaos followers, they defeat them and then they move on.
It's not bad but it's not great either. The chemistry between the two is pretty good and Gotrek is always making me smile with his one liners but you could flick to any of the stories and not need to know any background information.
Skavenslayer (3/5 stars) - This was a massive improvement on the last book. Gotrek and Felix are in the same location the entire time and makes this feel more like a novel, rather than just short stories. We also get to see the Skaven's side of things, it's amazing they are as organized as they are, as none of them have any loyalty to each other. You get to see the attack building up, rather than it just be the causal slaying of monsters. If you can't make it through 'Trollslayer' then don't write this one off!
Daemonslayer (2/5 stars) - Again this is more a structured novel. Gotrek has been given a message to meet at the Blind Pig, where he finds he and some fellow slayers have been called to a mission. And Felix of course, goes with him.
They find that the Dwarves have been building an airship to take them over the Chaos Wastes(very bad) to find a lost Dwarf city. This seemed to take ages to get going, we meet the Skaven again and Gotrek & Felix face a mighty daemon at the end.
It ends on a clif hanger, they still need to get back home and they have no idea a sneaky Skaven is hidden on board, slowly going mad as he has been tainted by warpstone.
I would like to know what happens next but I wasn't so into the story that I would seek the next book out but if I happened to come across it, I would read it. This book is special because it's the first one I've managed to read outside in the garden. There is sunshine in the realm of the English! :D
February 17, 2019
Reading again this book, I was surprised to discover how much of the adventures I created as a Dungeon Master I own to these novels.
Very enjoyable, for anyone who likes the world of Warhammer, or the mixture of Lovecraft and the fantasy in general.
Very enjoyable, for anyone who likes the world of Warhammer, or the mixture of Lovecraft and the fantasy in general.
January 23, 2010
I think Bill King's "Slayer" series is a great epic. Even if you know nothing about the Warhammer World, I think King paints a great picture of it for you, and you tend to learn as you go along, sometimes with the characters themselves.
The two main characters work excellently together, and across the series Felix (the young idealist) ages and hardens to the world as he is dragged along behind Gotrek (the dour dwarven warrior) who remains as craggy and hardened as he was on the first page, in increasingly epic parts of this saga. The two are linked by a blood oath taken on a drinking session after Gotrek saves Felix's life. Felix is then oath-bound to follow Gotrek on his fated quest for redemption and record his doom (the only way a dwarf can truely seek redemption, of course, is through honourable death!).
The story is mostly told through the eyes of Felix, never Gotrek (for the mind of a dwarf is a most alien thing), and the enemies they face and allies they gain. The stories are engrossing and at times humerous and moving, making it a great blend of serious fantasy and laugh-out-loud wit. The world may be grim, but some of the characters are just too odd, and in some cases too stupid, not to make you smile. It is simply a shame that Bill King left the saga after only seven books, as I had hoped he'd see Gotrek through to the doom he's been seeking and end it in the manner it had begun.
The full series by Bill King is Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Deamonslayer (Omnibus 1), Dragonslayer, Beastslayer, Vampyreslayer (Omnibus 2) and Giant Slayer (which can sometimes be found in an omnibus if you're lucky).
The two main characters work excellently together, and across the series Felix (the young idealist) ages and hardens to the world as he is dragged along behind Gotrek (the dour dwarven warrior) who remains as craggy and hardened as he was on the first page, in increasingly epic parts of this saga. The two are linked by a blood oath taken on a drinking session after Gotrek saves Felix's life. Felix is then oath-bound to follow Gotrek on his fated quest for redemption and record his doom (the only way a dwarf can truely seek redemption, of course, is through honourable death!).
The story is mostly told through the eyes of Felix, never Gotrek (for the mind of a dwarf is a most alien thing), and the enemies they face and allies they gain. The stories are engrossing and at times humerous and moving, making it a great blend of serious fantasy and laugh-out-loud wit. The world may be grim, but some of the characters are just too odd, and in some cases too stupid, not to make you smile. It is simply a shame that Bill King left the saga after only seven books, as I had hoped he'd see Gotrek through to the doom he's been seeking and end it in the manner it had begun.
The full series by Bill King is Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Deamonslayer (Omnibus 1), Dragonslayer, Beastslayer, Vampyreslayer (Omnibus 2) and Giant Slayer (which can sometimes be found in an omnibus if you're lucky).
March 27, 2020
A fun introduction to Gotrek and Felix. Lots of action, magic and creatures. Minimal character development, but I expect more over the next several volumes.
May 23, 2013
I was given this book as a gift and I feel I got the short end of the stick. Surely this must be some demon in the bottle scenario where the previous owners were forced to sell it off cheaper than what they had purchased it for and I, as the most unlucky of souls, ended up the final owner of this cursed monstrosity. Therefore I am forced to bear it forth 'til death do us part (I hope.)
I see a lot of people did like the book(s)... so great, I'm glad for the author because I always want to encourage more people to get out there and write. I might be a bit overly jaded on this particular book because I was told it was good by someone I trusted, so I kept reading it. I suffered through the whole thing before going back to the person who gave it to me and demanding an explanation to which I was told, "I never said it was good, I just said you should read it."
I then received a 2nd copy from this same person in the mail for Christmas about 3 years later. I haven't figured out how to get back at him yet, but it is coming.
I see a lot of people did like the book(s)... so great, I'm glad for the author because I always want to encourage more people to get out there and write. I might be a bit overly jaded on this particular book because I was told it was good by someone I trusted, so I kept reading it. I suffered through the whole thing before going back to the person who gave it to me and demanding an explanation to which I was told, "I never said it was good, I just said you should read it."
I then received a 2nd copy from this same person in the mail for Christmas about 3 years later. I haven't figured out how to get back at him yet, but it is coming.
December 23, 2018
The old line of Warhammer Fantasy novels had many notable entries that were among the best in the entire fantasy genre.
Mathias Thulmann, Thanquol and Bonripper, Ulrika the Vampire, Genevieve, Valkia the Bloody, Warrior Priest, the Time of Legends series...all of them excellent.
However one aeries stood head and shoulders above even those superb titles and or series in terms of sheer factor of joy.
The adventures of Gotrek Gurnisson, Dwarf Slayer seeking an epic doom to atone for his past sins, and Felix Jaeger, down on his luck poet from Altdorf sworn to chronicle the Dwarf's doom, are not only the most enjoyable titles published by Black Library, they are among the very best in all of fantasy.
While they lack the philosophical introspection, and moral lessons of the Mathias Thulmann series (for very personal reasons, my favorite BL series), the Gotrek and Felix series makes up for it with a joyous, yearning for adventure and a love of the Old World that seeps through the pages.
Very highly recommended.
Mathias Thulmann, Thanquol and Bonripper, Ulrika the Vampire, Genevieve, Valkia the Bloody, Warrior Priest, the Time of Legends series...all of them excellent.
However one aeries stood head and shoulders above even those superb titles and or series in terms of sheer factor of joy.
The adventures of Gotrek Gurnisson, Dwarf Slayer seeking an epic doom to atone for his past sins, and Felix Jaeger, down on his luck poet from Altdorf sworn to chronicle the Dwarf's doom, are not only the most enjoyable titles published by Black Library, they are among the very best in all of fantasy.
While they lack the philosophical introspection, and moral lessons of the Mathias Thulmann series (for very personal reasons, my favorite BL series), the Gotrek and Felix series makes up for it with a joyous, yearning for adventure and a love of the Old World that seeps through the pages.
Very highly recommended.
August 28, 2022
Finished books 1 and 2. Shallow, poorly written, dull. Book 2 at least has a narrative through-line, book 1 was a bunch of random episodic events. Got some of the way into both and skipped to the end on both, and felt like I missed nothing of consequence or interest.
Edit, Aug 28: Unsurprisingly, book 3 was only a negligible improvement. The general flow was improved by being one continuous narrative, but it doesn’t change King’s weak prose or shallow characterisations. Got about 60 or so pages in before I skipped to the end to see the book have a complete non-ending. I’m not shocked, but I definitely won’t be continuing this series. How this book got even more chunky omnibuses of its content is beyond me.
Edit, Aug 28: Unsurprisingly, book 3 was only a negligible improvement. The general flow was improved by being one continuous narrative, but it doesn’t change King’s weak prose or shallow characterisations. Got about 60 or so pages in before I skipped to the end to see the book have a complete non-ending. I’m not shocked, but I definitely won’t be continuing this series. How this book got even more chunky omnibuses of its content is beyond me.
March 19, 2021
10/10 Enthralling fantasy action and adventure from one of my favorite settings.
Gotrek Gurnisson was somewhere in his past shamed for a crime he refuses to speak of. To atone for this crime, he has taken on the life of a Slayer, dwarven warriors who seek a glorious death in battle. His human companion, Felix Jaeger, drunkenly agreed to journey with him and record the epic tale of his doom. And so the two travel cursed and Chaos-ridden lands, Gotrek in search of death, and Felix in search of a way out.
The Warhammer Setting
Warhammer, from Games Workshop, is a popular tabletop setting used in wargames, RPGs, and board games, and in recent years, a variety of video games. It’s characterized as “grimdark” which comes from the setting description in Warhammer material. It’s a very dense setting that’s grown over the decades, and the Gotrek & Felix stories were started to explore the setting while offering a jumping-on point. Originally, these were short stories published in various Warhammer books and magazines, then collected into a singular novel in 1999. The first three novels were eventually collected into an omnibus.
Story
The first story, Geheimnisnacht, introduces our “heroes,” the death-seeking dwarf Slayer, Gotrek, and the human poet and disowned merchant’s son, Felix. Though Gotrek is often seen as the hero of the story, the stories are told from Felix’s perspective. Like many stories of Gotrek and Felix, this story helps inform those new to Warhammer about aspects readers can expect from the setting. Here, we first learn of Chaos and the fear it instills in common folk. There’s also no shortage of action. The second story, Wolf Riders, introduces us to orcs and goblins (often called greenskins) as well as magic, which is dangerous and feared. There’s also some good character development for our dual-protagonists.
The third story, The Dark Beneath the World, offers a look into dungeon crawling as a narrative. This is easily one of my favorite stories in the series. It’s a classic dungeon crawl presented full of gory action and grim details. It drives home the true fear that the setting creates and how dangerous the world is, even for great heroes. It’s the highlight of the first book. Other stories introduce us to the cultists of Chaos, werewolves, and mutants—animal-human monstrosities twisted by Chaos powers.
The one other story I want to highlight is Blood and Darkness. It is, to me, the weakest of the book. It’s packed with too much backstory on a secondary character, full of tropes, and is too long and drawn out for what it is. It did not work well for me, and I will probably skip it in the future. While most stories are indeed grim and dark, full of gory action, and so on, there are some stories like The Mark of Slaanesh and The Mutant Master that also bring in some of the setting’s humor to lighten the mood (at least a little).
Characters
Gotrek and Felix have become iconic characters in the Warhammer setting, and for good reason. Gotrek embodies the grim reality of the setting, determined to die in battle to atone for a terrible crime he refuses to speak of. He is dour, full of bitter grudges, and almost without fear. Felix, on the other hand, is our eyes into the world. He’s a poet and scholar, likewise running from a past he hates to revisit, and always wary of the next adventure. At times, he can be pessimistic, but that’s the world he inhabits. Any misadventure could be your last, and he does not share in Gotrek’s need to die in battle.
As this first novel was a series of short stories, we don’t get other recurring characters, but the secondary cast is often given unique personalities and flavor. Blood and Darkness probably has the most character development for a secondary character, but it was plagued by too many tropes for me. Wolf Riders and The Dark Beneath the World are the two I think had the best secondary characters who felt fleshed out.
Writing
Some of these stories are a bit old, just over 30 years old. Certain writing conventions have changed in that time. There’s a fair amount of emotional telling and filtering, on top of liberal use of adverbs (I had never even encountered “sootily” before, and even now, it has red markings as if misspelled!). But otherwise, it’s a fun style dripping with atmosphere; it’s just a touch dated. There are, however, some downsides to these stories having been written sometimes years apart (10 years from the earliest to the last story in the collection) in that it can be repetitive. We learn some of the same things again and again because when these were first published, Games Workshop and King couldn’t assume that readers had read the previous story. There’s also a narrative trick that King uses multiple times where Felix sees their current plight as unbeatable, that even Gotrek is helpless to save them and they’re doomed—only for Gotrek to then win and save them. It happens at least a few times, but it would have been fresh when these were first written.
Conclusion
These books are an easy read with a style that draws you in. It shows its age in some places, and the Warhammer setting won’t be for everyone, but it’s among my most-read books. If you enjoy fantasy, regardless if you know anything about Warhammer, this series is a lot of fun, and it eases readers into the setting if they know nothing about it.
(No relation to the author that I know of)
This and other reviews can be found on my website: https://thomaspking.com/
Gotrek Gurnisson was somewhere in his past shamed for a crime he refuses to speak of. To atone for this crime, he has taken on the life of a Slayer, dwarven warriors who seek a glorious death in battle. His human companion, Felix Jaeger, drunkenly agreed to journey with him and record the epic tale of his doom. And so the two travel cursed and Chaos-ridden lands, Gotrek in search of death, and Felix in search of a way out.
The Warhammer Setting
Warhammer, from Games Workshop, is a popular tabletop setting used in wargames, RPGs, and board games, and in recent years, a variety of video games. It’s characterized as “grimdark” which comes from the setting description in Warhammer material. It’s a very dense setting that’s grown over the decades, and the Gotrek & Felix stories were started to explore the setting while offering a jumping-on point. Originally, these were short stories published in various Warhammer books and magazines, then collected into a singular novel in 1999. The first three novels were eventually collected into an omnibus.
Story
The first story, Geheimnisnacht, introduces our “heroes,” the death-seeking dwarf Slayer, Gotrek, and the human poet and disowned merchant’s son, Felix. Though Gotrek is often seen as the hero of the story, the stories are told from Felix’s perspective. Like many stories of Gotrek and Felix, this story helps inform those new to Warhammer about aspects readers can expect from the setting. Here, we first learn of Chaos and the fear it instills in common folk. There’s also no shortage of action. The second story, Wolf Riders, introduces us to orcs and goblins (often called greenskins) as well as magic, which is dangerous and feared. There’s also some good character development for our dual-protagonists.
The third story, The Dark Beneath the World, offers a look into dungeon crawling as a narrative. This is easily one of my favorite stories in the series. It’s a classic dungeon crawl presented full of gory action and grim details. It drives home the true fear that the setting creates and how dangerous the world is, even for great heroes. It’s the highlight of the first book. Other stories introduce us to the cultists of Chaos, werewolves, and mutants—animal-human monstrosities twisted by Chaos powers.
The one other story I want to highlight is Blood and Darkness. It is, to me, the weakest of the book. It’s packed with too much backstory on a secondary character, full of tropes, and is too long and drawn out for what it is. It did not work well for me, and I will probably skip it in the future. While most stories are indeed grim and dark, full of gory action, and so on, there are some stories like The Mark of Slaanesh and The Mutant Master that also bring in some of the setting’s humor to lighten the mood (at least a little).
Characters
Gotrek and Felix have become iconic characters in the Warhammer setting, and for good reason. Gotrek embodies the grim reality of the setting, determined to die in battle to atone for a terrible crime he refuses to speak of. He is dour, full of bitter grudges, and almost without fear. Felix, on the other hand, is our eyes into the world. He’s a poet and scholar, likewise running from a past he hates to revisit, and always wary of the next adventure. At times, he can be pessimistic, but that’s the world he inhabits. Any misadventure could be your last, and he does not share in Gotrek’s need to die in battle.
As this first novel was a series of short stories, we don’t get other recurring characters, but the secondary cast is often given unique personalities and flavor. Blood and Darkness probably has the most character development for a secondary character, but it was plagued by too many tropes for me. Wolf Riders and The Dark Beneath the World are the two I think had the best secondary characters who felt fleshed out.
Writing
Some of these stories are a bit old, just over 30 years old. Certain writing conventions have changed in that time. There’s a fair amount of emotional telling and filtering, on top of liberal use of adverbs (I had never even encountered “sootily” before, and even now, it has red markings as if misspelled!). But otherwise, it’s a fun style dripping with atmosphere; it’s just a touch dated. There are, however, some downsides to these stories having been written sometimes years apart (10 years from the earliest to the last story in the collection) in that it can be repetitive. We learn some of the same things again and again because when these were first published, Games Workshop and King couldn’t assume that readers had read the previous story. There’s also a narrative trick that King uses multiple times where Felix sees their current plight as unbeatable, that even Gotrek is helpless to save them and they’re doomed—only for Gotrek to then win and save them. It happens at least a few times, but it would have been fresh when these were first written.
Conclusion
These books are an easy read with a style that draws you in. It shows its age in some places, and the Warhammer setting won’t be for everyone, but it’s among my most-read books. If you enjoy fantasy, regardless if you know anything about Warhammer, this series is a lot of fun, and it eases readers into the setting if they know nothing about it.
(No relation to the author that I know of)
This and other reviews can be found on my website: https://thomaspking.com/
July 31, 2024
First of all, a small update. Call it housekeeping. I finally published Deathsworn Arc 7: Emergence after 7 years. It's been a tough 7 years, but I'm back in the saddle. If you're following the series and are eager to find out what happens, the latest installment is here:-
Emergence
Right! Onto the review! What did I think of this 'First Omnibus'. Well, before I start I should warn you I came at this book from a rather odd direction. I'd already read the 2nd and 3rd Omnibus years ago, then I saw this in a Warhammer Store and thought to myself, 'You know what I should really go back and read that.' and I did. The omnibus consists of three novels, Troll Slayer, Skaven Slayer and Daemon Slayer. Or at least that's how it's marketted. In truth the first book doesn't really read like a novel. If anything it reminds me of the first Andrzej Sapkowski book The Last Wish in that it's more of a collection of loosely connected short stories featuring the titular characters. Some of these were very good, some were just okay. The task set before this book was to introduce you to the world and characters and in that, it performs well doing exactly what it set out to do. What I don't think you get is the depth of the character or a comprehensive understanding of their intricate relationship. It's a good book, but of all the Gotrek and Felix Novels I probably enjoyed it the least.
The second book in the series 'Skaven Slayer' is a genuine novel with a full narrative. It starts off in the City of Nuln with our heroes working as 'Sewerjacks' - a thankless job with poor pay that involes patrolling the city sewers despatching any monsters they find. Nice job eh? Of course, as fate tends to in this series, it weaves Gotrek and Felix into a sinister plot to overthrow the city. Sounds simple enough right? Nuln is a great setting for the story, richly described and authentically medieval. The real magic of this book is the introduction of one of my favourite villains in all fiction - the Grey Seer 'Thanquol'. Now for the unfamiliar, Skaven are sentient Ratmen much like the Chadra-Fan of Star Wars, Ratmen of DnD, the Vermin of Warcraft or the Verkreath of the Deathsworn Arc. Thanquol is a Grey Seer, these are typically leaders and powerful wizards in Skaven Society. Thanquol is also a deranged, neurotic, drug-addict. Constantly nibbling at Warpstone - the essence of raw Chaos and showing signs of paranoia, delusions of grandeur and psychosis - sometimes all at the same time. He is a genuinely hilarious villain to follow. The true magic in Skaven Slayer is how the day gets saved, and it isn't mostly by the heroes Gotrek and Felix, it appears that the main reason the plot is foiled is the various factions of Skaven warring with each other and betraying each other. It is a seriously fun read because of this.
The third book 'Daemon Slayer' has the heroes entering the Chaos wastes in an air ship made by a mad Slayer inventor. It's en-route that Felix meets love interest - the Kislvite Princess Ulrika. After many adventures they find themselves in a lost dwarven city that's not been visited in 200 years. However, the ihabitants have only experienced 20 years of being cut off. As you can imagine from the title, the peril is definite and the stakes are high. However, it's all the more enjoyable a read for it.
Of the three books, I'd say 'Troll Slayer' is my least favourite, I still recommend reading it - as it gives you a lot more insight into the main characters and the world. Of the other two, it's a very hard call. It'd say Skaven Slayer has the edge, for Thanquol's hilarious interractions with his enemies and his contempories. However, Daemon Slayer was excellent too and a very close second. On another day, I'd maybe put that first.
Some people aren't aware of Black Library books and overlook them, but I honestly think that's a mistake. The Gotrek and Felix novels are probably my favourite fantasy series outside my own. The setting is interesting, the action is gritty and real. Even the emotional and intellectual conflicts between the characters, for example the love triangle between Felix, Max Schrieber and Ulrika are great. They are all complicated and reflective. I'm now re-reading the 2nd Omnius (I'm actually on the 3rd book 'Vampire Slayer') and I intend to re-read the third. I might even get the 4th! I'm also working on Deathsworn Arc 7 (possibly 'God Slayer') and 'The Book of Davoth 2: Ouroboros' but I might scrap that project I'm not confident it's 'right'.
Martyn Stanley
Emergence
Right! Onto the review! What did I think of this 'First Omnibus'. Well, before I start I should warn you I came at this book from a rather odd direction. I'd already read the 2nd and 3rd Omnibus years ago, then I saw this in a Warhammer Store and thought to myself, 'You know what I should really go back and read that.' and I did. The omnibus consists of three novels, Troll Slayer, Skaven Slayer and Daemon Slayer. Or at least that's how it's marketted. In truth the first book doesn't really read like a novel. If anything it reminds me of the first Andrzej Sapkowski book The Last Wish in that it's more of a collection of loosely connected short stories featuring the titular characters. Some of these were very good, some were just okay. The task set before this book was to introduce you to the world and characters and in that, it performs well doing exactly what it set out to do. What I don't think you get is the depth of the character or a comprehensive understanding of their intricate relationship. It's a good book, but of all the Gotrek and Felix Novels I probably enjoyed it the least.
The second book in the series 'Skaven Slayer' is a genuine novel with a full narrative. It starts off in the City of Nuln with our heroes working as 'Sewerjacks' - a thankless job with poor pay that involes patrolling the city sewers despatching any monsters they find. Nice job eh? Of course, as fate tends to in this series, it weaves Gotrek and Felix into a sinister plot to overthrow the city. Sounds simple enough right? Nuln is a great setting for the story, richly described and authentically medieval. The real magic of this book is the introduction of one of my favourite villains in all fiction - the Grey Seer 'Thanquol'. Now for the unfamiliar, Skaven are sentient Ratmen much like the Chadra-Fan of Star Wars, Ratmen of DnD, the Vermin of Warcraft or the Verkreath of the Deathsworn Arc. Thanquol is a Grey Seer, these are typically leaders and powerful wizards in Skaven Society. Thanquol is also a deranged, neurotic, drug-addict. Constantly nibbling at Warpstone - the essence of raw Chaos and showing signs of paranoia, delusions of grandeur and psychosis - sometimes all at the same time. He is a genuinely hilarious villain to follow. The true magic in Skaven Slayer is how the day gets saved, and it isn't mostly by the heroes Gotrek and Felix, it appears that the main reason the plot is foiled is the various factions of Skaven warring with each other and betraying each other. It is a seriously fun read because of this.
The third book 'Daemon Slayer' has the heroes entering the Chaos wastes in an air ship made by a mad Slayer inventor. It's en-route that Felix meets love interest - the Kislvite Princess Ulrika. After many adventures they find themselves in a lost dwarven city that's not been visited in 200 years. However, the ihabitants have only experienced 20 years of being cut off. As you can imagine from the title, the peril is definite and the stakes are high. However, it's all the more enjoyable a read for it.
Of the three books, I'd say 'Troll Slayer' is my least favourite, I still recommend reading it - as it gives you a lot more insight into the main characters and the world. Of the other two, it's a very hard call. It'd say Skaven Slayer has the edge, for Thanquol's hilarious interractions with his enemies and his contempories. However, Daemon Slayer was excellent too and a very close second. On another day, I'd maybe put that first.
Some people aren't aware of Black Library books and overlook them, but I honestly think that's a mistake. The Gotrek and Felix novels are probably my favourite fantasy series outside my own. The setting is interesting, the action is gritty and real. Even the emotional and intellectual conflicts between the characters, for example the love triangle between Felix, Max Schrieber and Ulrika are great. They are all complicated and reflective. I'm now re-reading the 2nd Omnius (I'm actually on the 3rd book 'Vampire Slayer') and I intend to re-read the third. I might even get the 4th! I'm also working on Deathsworn Arc 7 (possibly 'God Slayer') and 'The Book of Davoth 2: Ouroboros' but I might scrap that project I'm not confident it's 'right'.
Martyn Stanley
July 22, 2009
Quentin Tarintino meets JRR Tolkien!! Love the whole series, the down and dirty of the fantasy genre. Sure to be a classic... not for kids though.
January 21, 2024
Certified Banger.
Dwarf guy stabs the world.
(Profound book for intellectuals)
Trollslayer - 4
Skavenslayer - 5
Daemonslayer - 4.5
Dwarf guy stabs the world.
(Profound book for intellectuals)
Trollslayer - 4
Skavenslayer - 5
Daemonslayer - 4.5
May 1, 2022
I will rate the whole serie as a lot of details of the rating is about different books.
As an outsider of the genre i really didn´t quite know what to expect. The world in which the story takes is grim and depressing. Even Tolkien´s setting of Lord of the Rings is more cheerful. Horror and death lurk behind every corner. Everything seems hopeless and doomed when you think about it. With all this threats without and within it is totally unlikely that any civilisation still exists. The so called good people are just too few and too weak. Chaos, orks, goblins, undead, skaven and civil wars constantly threaten the people of this world. Widespread corruption, autocratic rulers and excessive witch hunts are common. The main victims are of course the common people who try to survive. For me this whole universe is very depressing.
Gotrek is a grumpy dwarf beserk who seeks a glorious death to eradicate his shame and runs head first into every fight half naked. Very much like Conan the barbarian. But even less believable as Gotrek actively seeks for the strongest and deadliest enemies around the world and despises tactical planning or retreat. His side kick and bard is the human Felix. He is the more sensible of the two. Bound by an oath given when he was dead drunk he follows and supports Gotrek and writes down their story. He is also the ladies man which is a good page filler but at least for me was very dull and also quite unbelievable. In the first omnibus i remember three ladies, a farmers daughter, a farmers daughter turned tavern wench and a pampered high aristocrat who i learned to hate and gets the award of being most annoying side character from me. Felix is absolutely nothing in common with the majority of his lovers therefor the relationships are doomed to fail. I really would have prefered if the ladies would have fallen for grumpy Gotrek instead. Then at least it would have been good for a laugh or two...
The stories are written by several authors of varying quality and were collected in Omnibus books. Therefor there are a lot of contradictions: Felix sword, Felix red cloak, Gotreks pal dies in the first omnibus, to be seen around the next ones until he dies again, the Mannfred revival story happens twice but differently....
Unfortunately, i found the majority of the stories rather sub par and kept putting the books away again and again. Gotrek is just too unkillable and i-took-some-fencing-lessons Felix is just too lucky while everybody around them dies like flies all the time.. My heart bleeded for all the mass murdered people, especially the dwarfs. The serie was just not for me.
As an outsider of the genre i really didn´t quite know what to expect. The world in which the story takes is grim and depressing. Even Tolkien´s setting of Lord of the Rings is more cheerful. Horror and death lurk behind every corner. Everything seems hopeless and doomed when you think about it. With all this threats without and within it is totally unlikely that any civilisation still exists. The so called good people are just too few and too weak. Chaos, orks, goblins, undead, skaven and civil wars constantly threaten the people of this world. Widespread corruption, autocratic rulers and excessive witch hunts are common. The main victims are of course the common people who try to survive. For me this whole universe is very depressing.
Gotrek is a grumpy dwarf beserk who seeks a glorious death to eradicate his shame and runs head first into every fight half naked. Very much like Conan the barbarian. But even less believable as Gotrek actively seeks for the strongest and deadliest enemies around the world and despises tactical planning or retreat. His side kick and bard is the human Felix. He is the more sensible of the two. Bound by an oath given when he was dead drunk he follows and supports Gotrek and writes down their story. He is also the ladies man which is a good page filler but at least for me was very dull and also quite unbelievable. In the first omnibus i remember three ladies, a farmers daughter, a farmers daughter turned tavern wench and a pampered high aristocrat who i learned to hate and gets the award of being most annoying side character from me. Felix is absolutely nothing in common with the majority of his lovers therefor the relationships are doomed to fail. I really would have prefered if the ladies would have fallen for grumpy Gotrek instead. Then at least it would have been good for a laugh or two...
The stories are written by several authors of varying quality and were collected in Omnibus books. Therefor there are a lot of contradictions: Felix sword, Felix red cloak, Gotreks pal dies in the first omnibus, to be seen around the next ones until he dies again, the Mannfred revival story happens twice but differently....
Unfortunately, i found the majority of the stories rather sub par and kept putting the books away again and again. Gotrek is just too unkillable and i-took-some-fencing-lessons Felix is just too lucky while everybody around them dies like flies all the time.. My heart bleeded for all the mass murdered people, especially the dwarfs. The serie was just not for me.
April 26, 2018
Too fun, too furious.
There is something to be said about expectations when going into books. I thought Gotrek and Felix would be nothing but a pulpy mess, but an easy read. I expected some silly extended universe schlock to sate my thirst for Warhammer lore after playing Vermintide. I am glad I was wrong.
Really three books (how I justify the huge read time), each with a foreboding name. The First Omnibus starts out closer to chained short stories in Trollslayer and Skavenslayer, cutting in and around the action. While this did take a tole on the character development, the action and adventure were front and center. Daemonslayer is the first fully formed story, and where William King really seems to let loose. We learn so much about our mysterious and gloriously bad-ass characters, but still left with a lust for more.
The Warhammer Fantasy universe is exactly what it sounds like. Highest of the high fantasy, with dwarves, beastmen, magic, adventure and the threat great evil. Its a hard balance to mix these things, equal parts taking it seriously and being self aware enough to know when to let it get goofy. While the universe stays full of blood and grit, both characters constantly make me chuckle. It shamelessly goes into stereotype territory, and is better for it.
Its simply bad writing to keep using buzzwords like 'fun', and its something I already have a bad habit of. But thats what this book was for me, so much fun. I constantly wanted to talk about it and was exited to bump into my dwarf obsessed friend. There are four omnibus collections, so I have a huge adventure with Gotrek and Felix ahead of me, and many more short stories and novels without William King after that - plus, any other Warhammer fantasy recommended to me. Now to try and find them!
There is something to be said about expectations when going into books. I thought Gotrek and Felix would be nothing but a pulpy mess, but an easy read. I expected some silly extended universe schlock to sate my thirst for Warhammer lore after playing Vermintide. I am glad I was wrong.
Really three books (how I justify the huge read time), each with a foreboding name. The First Omnibus starts out closer to chained short stories in Trollslayer and Skavenslayer, cutting in and around the action. While this did take a tole on the character development, the action and adventure were front and center. Daemonslayer is the first fully formed story, and where William King really seems to let loose. We learn so much about our mysterious and gloriously bad-ass characters, but still left with a lust for more.
The Warhammer Fantasy universe is exactly what it sounds like. Highest of the high fantasy, with dwarves, beastmen, magic, adventure and the threat great evil. Its a hard balance to mix these things, equal parts taking it seriously and being self aware enough to know when to let it get goofy. While the universe stays full of blood and grit, both characters constantly make me chuckle. It shamelessly goes into stereotype territory, and is better for it.
Its simply bad writing to keep using buzzwords like 'fun', and its something I already have a bad habit of. But thats what this book was for me, so much fun. I constantly wanted to talk about it and was exited to bump into my dwarf obsessed friend. There are four omnibus collections, so I have a huge adventure with Gotrek and Felix ahead of me, and many more short stories and novels without William King after that - plus, any other Warhammer fantasy recommended to me. Now to try and find them!
February 1, 2024
I'm having hard time reviewing this omnibus, as I find books collected here unequal. I remember reading the Troll Slayer years ago, and back then I loved it. Now, I have to admit it didn't age so well. Most of the stories are very similar, and it's difficult to find anything surprising about them. My huge sentiment for the Old World is the only motivation that kept me from dropping it.
Now, Skaven Slayer is already much better, as the stories are connected to each other, and we continue to build towards a bigger resolution. Unfortunately, this resolution wasn't something I enjoyed, as to me it almost felt like author wanted the protagonist to somehow stop every danger at the end of each story, but then also wanted a big battle at the end... which seems a bit forced, as we spent the last 200 pages reading how literally every skavens' plan fail one way or another.
The Demon Slayer is probably my favourite of the bunch. Instead of every chapter leading towards a boss fight, here we join a group of characters on a dangerous journey to a forgotten dwarven stronghold. Nice! Finally something new!
If there is a one thing that kept me from enjoying those books more than I could it must be this: the writing isn't very good. Seriously, if I get a coin for every time Felix has the exact same monologue about how he is about to die, I would be a very rich person. It got especially jarring during the last fight of the Demon Slayer where I think he fights 2 or 4 Chaos Warriors in a row, and during each he has the same thought process about his impending doom. It gets old and boring quickly.
Now, Skaven Slayer is already much better, as the stories are connected to each other, and we continue to build towards a bigger resolution. Unfortunately, this resolution wasn't something I enjoyed, as to me it almost felt like author wanted the protagonist to somehow stop every danger at the end of each story, but then also wanted a big battle at the end... which seems a bit forced, as we spent the last 200 pages reading how literally every skavens' plan fail one way or another.
The Demon Slayer is probably my favourite of the bunch. Instead of every chapter leading towards a boss fight, here we join a group of characters on a dangerous journey to a forgotten dwarven stronghold. Nice! Finally something new!
If there is a one thing that kept me from enjoying those books more than I could it must be this: the writing isn't very good. Seriously, if I get a coin for every time Felix has the exact same monologue about how he is about to die, I would be a very rich person. It got especially jarring during the last fight of the Demon Slayer where I think he fights 2 or 4 Chaos Warriors in a row, and during each he has the same thought process about his impending doom. It gets old and boring quickly.
March 15, 2023
Las aventuras de Gotrek y Félix es una saga de fantasía épica y oscura, en el inconfundible ambiente grimdark, germano y renacentista de Warhammer Fantasy, el juego de rol. Un mundo en decadencia y donde las fuerzas del caos irremediablemente acabarán con todo.
En esta historia seguimos a un huraño y poco amistoso (y también medio cliché) enano matatrolls, cuyo único objetivo en la vida es tener una muerte gloriosa en un combate imposible, como forma de purgar un pecado innombrable. A este difícil compañero lo acompaña Félix Jaeger, escritor, poeta y amante de la vida, perteneciente a una familia acaudalada y que, por diversas razones, se ve obligado a acompañar a Gotrek en su camino de violencia, y con él, a las situaciones más suicidas e inverosímiles para dar testimonio y escribir sobre la muerte del enano.
Este tomo en particular (son 4 tomos bieeeeeeeen extensos), contiene las primeras tres novelas de la saga: Matatrolls, Mataskavens y Matademonios, como así también algunos relatos cortos.
En mi opinión, el mundo de Warhammer está muy bien logrado tanto para el juego de rol como para los libros. Y estas historias en particular, si bien no son de mis favoritas, son geniales para recorrer este mundo decadente, muy bien narradas y con situaciones tan divertidas como salvajes. Aquellos que han jugado al juego de rol de mesa de Warhammer tendrán un cariño especial por esta experiencia.
En esta historia seguimos a un huraño y poco amistoso (y también medio cliché) enano matatrolls, cuyo único objetivo en la vida es tener una muerte gloriosa en un combate imposible, como forma de purgar un pecado innombrable. A este difícil compañero lo acompaña Félix Jaeger, escritor, poeta y amante de la vida, perteneciente a una familia acaudalada y que, por diversas razones, se ve obligado a acompañar a Gotrek en su camino de violencia, y con él, a las situaciones más suicidas e inverosímiles para dar testimonio y escribir sobre la muerte del enano.
Este tomo en particular (son 4 tomos bieeeeeeeen extensos), contiene las primeras tres novelas de la saga: Matatrolls, Mataskavens y Matademonios, como así también algunos relatos cortos.
En mi opinión, el mundo de Warhammer está muy bien logrado tanto para el juego de rol como para los libros. Y estas historias en particular, si bien no son de mis favoritas, son geniales para recorrer este mundo decadente, muy bien narradas y con situaciones tan divertidas como salvajes. Aquellos que han jugado al juego de rol de mesa de Warhammer tendrán un cariño especial por esta experiencia.
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