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Claws of the Genestealer

(Warped Galaxies #2)

Cavan Scott

3.96 · Rating details · 68 ratings · 15 reviews

The second book in the Warped Galaxies series. An exciting new series of sci-fi books for middle-grade reeaders from Black Library. Brave champions and the forces of the Imperium battle alien beasts and mechanical tyrants accross the gulf of space.

Having crash landed on a remote ice planet, Zelia Lor and her friends Talen, Mekki and the super-intelligent alien-ape Fleapit ...more

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Paperback, 220 pages

Published May 14th 2019 by Warhammer Adventures

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· 68 ratings · 15 reviews

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Oct 01, 2019 Michael Dodd rated it really liked it

Picking up shortly after the conclusion to Attack of the Necron, this is all about the situation for the gang getting worse before it can get better. Despite the threat of the necron having been dealt with, the sense of danger only increases as Talen stumbles upon cave-dwelling monsters and the children are (temporarily) forced to figure things out without the comforting presence of Fleapit the Jokaero. The rapid pace of events keeps the plot moving nicely while allowing for a satisfying develop ...more

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Feb 14, 2021 Chris Andrews rated it it was ok

Shelves: audio

Disapointing after how much I liked the first... however the damn ending has left me wanting to get the next in the series.

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May 16, 2019 Christian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The action ramps up and there is more defined characterization as the young adventurers contend with a genestealer Infestation at the same time as trying to survive a winter on an alien planet. I like the relationships forming and it is a good cliffhanger. I look forward to the next novel.

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Jul 08, 2019 Jamie Brackell rated it really liked it

No-one can accuse the Warped Galaxies series of Warhammer Adventures of being slow-paced as Cavan Scott continues to put his young heroes through their paces. After narrowly surviving a planet-wide genocide and barely outwitting a Necron hunter, “Claws of the Genestealer” pits them against the icy elements and the unrelenting danger of the Tyranid Genestealers. The Genestealers are an iconic part of Warhammer 40,000 lore, most recognisable from the standalone board game Space Hulk. Reminiscent o No-one can accuse the Warped Galaxies series of Warhammer Adventures of being slow-paced as Cavan Scott continues to put his young heroes through their paces. After narrowly surviving a planet-wide genocide and barely outwitting a Necron hunter, “Claws of the Genestealer” pits them against the icy elements and the unrelenting danger of the Tyranid Genestealers. The Genestealers are an iconic part of Warhammer 40,000 lore, most recognisable from the standalone board game Space Hulk. Reminiscent of H.R Giger's design of the Xenomorph from Alien, these clawed beasts are unstoppable killing machines and I was curious to see how they would fit into the diluted view of Warhammer 40,000 represented in this series, and whether they would be sanitised or “dumbed-down” to give the children a chance at survival.

I needn't have worried as Cavan Scott treats the Genestealers with respect and reverence they deserve and for the majority of the book, our heroes have the narrowest of escapes from their bloodthirsty foe. Scott maintains the suspense throughout the book, creating a sense of terror that feels reminiscent of the Jurassic Park series mixed with an age-appropriate rendition of Alien. The Genestealer is portrayed as the deadly threat it is, ensuring that every confrontation feels “life and death” and no-one feels untouchable. There is one extremely effective cliff-hanger that made me think that one of the supporting cast was done for, and I didn't expect the last-minute save at all. It was a great moment, and one that made me realise how much I cared for this cast of characters.

Scott's development of the three main cast is brilliant, and I love the way he has created compelling relationships between them all. The rivalry between Talen and Mekki is given more spotlight in this particular novel, and it takes some unexpected turns throughout the story. Their interactions seem very believable, and they are all likeable in their own way. Ultmately, I think I prefer Talen – the awkward loner who finds it difficult to trust and open up – but Mekki is also quite enjoyable as the emotionless Martian, who may or may not be influenced by a certain Vulcan. Even Fleapit, who runs the risk of being the Jar Jar Binks comedy relief, is an intriguing character and while he has less presence in this adventure, I am very interested in finding out more about his backstory and having him interact more with the others.

Much like “Attack of the Necron”, this story is action-packed and sees our heroes reacting to life-threatening situations. While there is the hint of a wider plot, these first two novels have focused more on introducing the characters through the near-death experiences they've undergone. It's an effective way to develop the characters as we get to see them at their most stressful, and they've forged a solid friendship in the midst of adversity. Hopefully, the next novel fleshes out some of the mythology of the series, such as why the Necron were after the Diadem that Zelia and her mother discovered on Targian. With the story moving away from the remote ice planet, it seems like we are moving into the next chapter of the storyline and I am intrigued to find out where Scott intends to take our heroes next.

Pulse-poundingly good, “Claws of the Genestealer” is a fantastic example of writing tense survival horror for a younger audience. A thrill ride from the moment the book opens, Cavan Scott writes an action adventure that will have children begging for “just one more chapter” at bed-time, and as an adult, you'll be happy to oblige. The Genestealers are a brilliant enemy, and this novel captures the ferocity of these apex predators, evoking memories of those classic 80s unstoppable force movies, such as Terminator, Predator and Alien. Less so, the more modern installments. Those final chapters of the novel are breath-takingly good, pulsing along with a frenetic pace that will have readers glued to the page. These novels really are a great way to get new fans into the hobby, and I wouldn't be surprised if Games Workshop released figures or scenarios that allowed younger players to replicate these adventures on the table-top. ...more

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Dec 08, 2020 Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews rated it really liked it

The last volume of the Warped Galaxies series saw our band of misfit heroes come together in the destruction of a Necron invasion, only to end up lost and alone on a distant, frozen world. It's here that the story continues, with the three children and their Jokaero companion trying desperately to survive in these frozen wastelands. With dwindling food reserves, power running out, and Flea-Pit slowly succumbing to the cold, things look more desperate than ever.

Talen has taken it upon himself to The last volume of the Warped Galaxies series saw our band of misfit heroes come together in the destruction of a Necron invasion, only to end up lost and alone on a distant, frozen world. It's here that the story continues, with the three children and their Jokaero companion trying desperately to survive in these frozen wastelands. With dwindling food reserves, power running out, and Flea-Pit slowly succumbing to the cold, things look more desperate than ever.

Talen has taken it upon himself to try and find more food for them, and has set out into the strange mushroom forest to hunt for anything he can. When his hunt goes wrong he ends up falling into a deep chasm, dislocating his shoulder in the process, and requiring rescuing. Whilst his friends are able to find him and get him out, they also come face to face with a deadly Ambull, a large, insect-like alien. However, when they notice that the Ambull is wounded, covered in vicious claw marks it raises the question of what could possibly hurt such a monstrous creature?

Unfortunately, the kids get an answer to their question when their camp falls under attack from a Genestealer, one of the deadliest xeno races in the galaxy. Running for their lives, the teens and Flea-Pit must find a way to escape the deadly alien before it catches them and rips them to pieces.

There was a palpable sense of danger from the Necrons in the first volume of Warped Galaxies, due in large part to the huge levels of destruction that readers got to see when they tore their way through a hive-world, their advanced technology reducing everything to burnt wreckage. But once on the frozen planet and left facing a lone Hunter I couldn't help but feel that things weren't as bad, even though this lone Necron was still a threat. Our heroes were able to use their ingenuity and tech to defeat the mechanised alien, but here things feel so much more desperate.

A single alien shouldn't be so scary, so much of a threat, but this single Genestealer, nicknamed Scarface, is genuinely frightening. It tears through the kids defences like they're nothing, ripping metal bulkheads apart like they're nothing, and is able to use tactics to get around traps and defences. It feels so much deadlier and unpredictable than the Necrons ever did, and that level of tension makes this book a lot more enjoyable than the first.

Our group is able to find an abandoned ship in order to hide in, trying to stay a few steps ahead of the alien monster, but this just makes things worse, as the book suddenly feels more like Alien, with the kids being stalked through darkened corridors and hallways by a vicious killer. These latter segments of the book were the best in the series yet, and were pretty scary for a book designed chiefly for kids.

The book isn't just about running and trying to stay alive, however, as we get some great moments of character development, and it really has started to feel like the three teens have started to come together to become a team. Zelia and Mekki have know each other for a while, but Talen has generally felt like an outside presence for much of the books, and butts heads with the others more than once, so it's nice to see him actually having some nice moments of interaction with the others. Yes, there's still disagreements and some sniping going on between them, but you can tell that the three of them have started to care for each other, and its the small moments of kindness that really stand out as some of the best characterisations, and are really worthwhile.

Despite being sidelined for much of the book thanks to suffering badly from the cold Flea-Pit still manages to come across as the most interesting character, and the moment he literally pulls Talen out of harms way, before getting to gun down dozens of aliens is definitely a big hero moment for him. I just hope that this isn't a pattern that is going to continue. Whilst I love him coming in and doing awesome stuff, I don't like him just not being around for the first half of the book, something that has happened twice now. Hopefully he will get to integrate into the main group more going forward, especially now that we've got to see some more of his backstory too.

Claws of the Genestealer shows that the first book in the series wasn't just a fluke, that this is a series that really, really works, and that Warhammer 40,000 for kids can be engaging and exciting for all ages. I'm eager to see what happens next in the series. ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Daniel Hojan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: word-choice-trait, modern-fantasy-science-fiction

Title: Claws of the Genestealer
Author: Cavan Scott

Reading Level: 3
Book Level: 4

Summary: It is the 41st Millenium and mankind has found itself teetering on the brink of destruction as a result of numerous threats from without and within. While millions of planets have been settled by humans, it has opened humanity to threats from beyond the stars and from even beyond the Universe. Zelia Lor and her friends Talen, Mekki, and an intelligent ape/alien Fleapit have found themselves marooned on an ice ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 James Green rated it really liked it

Zelia Lor, Talen, Mekki and Fleapit have survived the attacks of the Necron hunter on the unnamed ice planet their escape pod crashed onto. But with supplies running low and the power for their heating and distress beacon is nearly out. If they are not rescued soon then the cold will get them. Or maybe what's on the planet with them will...

Another fun kid friendly slice of 40K action. It's toned down and simplified a little but not too much, it doesn't pander. Though how long 3 kids and a jokaro ...more

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May 27, 2019 Veronica Anrathi rated it really liked it

Shelves: warhammer-adventures

A nice continuation of the first novel, I liked it a little less, but I can't really say it had any major issues. Guess the first one was just more impressive to me cause I did not know what to expect. Heroes go through character development in a proper pace. The author found a perfect balance of staying true to the lore, but not going overboard with the spooks. I love that each part has a little dictionary at the end, explaining the words and terms a young reader is most likely unfamiliar with. ...more

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Mar 01, 2021 Brit rated it liked it

This is the second book in the Warped Galaxies series. This was another fast paced, action packed, entertaining, easy to read book. However I didn't find this installment as engrossing and engaging as the first in the series. I didn't enjoy the ending especially given the cliff hanger which was my main issue with the ending. It felt a pit contrite and like it wasn't necessary, but forced to build desire to read the next book in the series. However I will be giving the next book in the series a r ...more

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Oct 02, 2019 Michael rated it really liked it

Read this with my son and he really enjoyed it ready for the next one!

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Aug 18, 2019 Macarena rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-books, audiobooks

4.5

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Jul 14, 2019 Sarah Evans rated it really liked it

Fun middle grade adventure in an intriguing sci-fi world.

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May 29, 2019 Henrik rated it liked it

A pretty entertaining book. It's the standard tale of young friends in a dire situation but set in the 40k universe. I can see this as a good introduction to the warhammer setting. ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Nathan rated it really liked it

A great science fiction adventure by Cavan Scott.

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May 18, 2019 nooker rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audible, warhammer-40k

This one was really cool. These are definitely for kids, but the story is still fun. I could see using it as a basis for an RPG. I look forward to the next one.

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