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The Twice-dead King #1
The Twice-dead King: Ruin
A Warhammer 40,000 novel
Pride is everything for the dynastic kings of the Necron race, who have awakened after millennia to see their empires occupied by foul beasts and simple minds. For the Necron Lord Oltyx, the Ithakas dynasty was his by right, but the machinations of the court see him stripped of his position and exiled to a forgotten world.
LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
See the struggles of the Necron court through their own eyes, and discover the lengths one Lord will go to for the status they desire.
THE STORY
Exiled to the miserable world of Sedh, the disgraced Necron Lord Oltyx is consumed with bitterness. Once heir to the throne of a dynasty, he now commands nothing but a dwindling garrison of warriors, in a never-ending struggle against Ork invaders. Oltyx can think of nothing but the prospect of vengeance against his betrayers, and the reclamation of his birthright. But the Orks are merely the harbingers of a truly unstoppable force. Unless Oltyx acts to save his dynasty, revenge will win him only ashes. And so he must return to the crownworld, and to the heart of the very court which cast him out. But what awaits there is a horror more profound than any invader, whose roots are tangled with the dark origins of the Necrons themselves.
Pride is everything for the dynastic kings of the Necron race, who have awakened after millennia to see their empires occupied by foul beasts and simple minds. For the Necron Lord Oltyx, the Ithakas dynasty was his by right, but the machinations of the court see him stripped of his position and exiled to a forgotten world.
LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
See the struggles of the Necron court through their own eyes, and discover the lengths one Lord will go to for the status they desire.
THE STORY
Exiled to the miserable world of Sedh, the disgraced Necron Lord Oltyx is consumed with bitterness. Once heir to the throne of a dynasty, he now commands nothing but a dwindling garrison of warriors, in a never-ending struggle against Ork invaders. Oltyx can think of nothing but the prospect of vengeance against his betrayers, and the reclamation of his birthright. But the Orks are merely the harbingers of a truly unstoppable force. Unless Oltyx acts to save his dynasty, revenge will win him only ashes. And so he must return to the crownworld, and to the heart of the very court which cast him out. But what awaits there is a horror more profound than any invader, whose roots are tangled with the dark origins of the Necrons themselves.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 9, 2021
303 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
Nate Crowley
29 books114 followersNate Crowley is an author, interactive fiction consultant, video games journalist, and public speaker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
October 12, 2021
A magnificent book, one that showcases the potential of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Twice Dead King: Ruin is an intelligent piece of science fiction that creates a complex alien society, a fantastic adventure and action blockbuster, a reflection on mortality and familial obligation as well as the first Black Library book that I can recall reading to feature the word ‘silly’. The publisher, for all it’s recent diminished output, is continuing to accompany it’s traditional (good!) fare with more unusual books, and this is another example of one of these.
One of the strengths of Crowley’s previous BL novel, Ghazghkull was the way in which it used orks as a mirror to look at the Imperium; it is every bit as much of a book about humanity as it is their fungoid nemesis. We get glimpses of both these cultures here through yet another set of eyes- Oltyx’ analysis of Astartes is beautifully insightful- but Ruin takes a different tack, fully immersing the reader in Necrontyr culture and society for chapters at a time. Functionally immortal, with individual memories that can be traced back tens of millions of years, yet capable of slowing down time to take advantage of individual nanoseconds, Necrons are potentially very hard to relate to. Yet as with his prior novella Severed, Crowley does achieve this. The novel emphasises their literally alien nature whilst exploring the effects that their translation to their current form has affected their society and individual relationships in all-to-human ways. Yes, as you read you’ll relate to the experiences of impossibly ancient Xenos murder-bots only to be reminded in the next sentence of ways in which they’re still incomprehensible. There are plenty of analogues in the ways in which they communicate- emojis for emphasis, body language conveying messages at odds with what is spoken, an individual with a fascination for cleaning rank upon rank of Necron warriors, but these things are used in ways far removed from humanity.
Necrontyr culture, both pre- and post-transference is explored in wonderful detail, and it is illuminating to see what aspects were retained once they’d been granted cursed immortality. Like the Imperium of Man, and indeed the various Eldar factions, the Necrons in 40K are a doomed society in decline, raging against the dying of the light and trying to keep hold of their rapidly fading grandeur, and this novels highlights how, like these ‘peers’, it’s largely their own hubris that puts them in this position. The Necrons in this book dub anything living as part of the ‘Unclean’, which stems from a revulsion of the physical form as much as anything else, though the contempt that they view the lesser races in is palpable. Hidebound by inevitable and necessary(?) hierarchies as much as the Imperium is, Necron society as depicted in this book is a rich playground for storytelling. Tonally different to Crowley’s previous Necron work, as well as Rath’s Necron novel, Ruin has a lightness running throughout it that belies the profound sadness it sometimes has; it’s easy reading but isn’t afraid to get heavy on the pseudo-science or actual emotional heft.
It’s not all cerebral storytelling, mind- there’s no way the author wrote, say, the combat scenes in chapter 17, without anything other than a big stupid grin on his face- they’re so deliciously OTT, taking full advantage of the ridiculous capabilities of high-ranking Necrons. Everything is set up really nicely for the story to be continued, but it works well as a stand-alone novel, one where some knowledge of the setting would be desirable but not essential.
Had GW not tarried with the delivery of my copy of the special edition (I’m still waiting…), I’d have missed out on the excellent job that Richard Reed does narrating this book- the audio is really very good, and my enjoyment is down in no small to his performance.
One of the strengths of Crowley’s previous BL novel, Ghazghkull was the way in which it used orks as a mirror to look at the Imperium; it is every bit as much of a book about humanity as it is their fungoid nemesis. We get glimpses of both these cultures here through yet another set of eyes- Oltyx’ analysis of Astartes is beautifully insightful- but Ruin takes a different tack, fully immersing the reader in Necrontyr culture and society for chapters at a time. Functionally immortal, with individual memories that can be traced back tens of millions of years, yet capable of slowing down time to take advantage of individual nanoseconds, Necrons are potentially very hard to relate to. Yet as with his prior novella Severed, Crowley does achieve this. The novel emphasises their literally alien nature whilst exploring the effects that their translation to their current form has affected their society and individual relationships in all-to-human ways. Yes, as you read you’ll relate to the experiences of impossibly ancient Xenos murder-bots only to be reminded in the next sentence of ways in which they’re still incomprehensible. There are plenty of analogues in the ways in which they communicate- emojis for emphasis, body language conveying messages at odds with what is spoken, an individual with a fascination for cleaning rank upon rank of Necron warriors, but these things are used in ways far removed from humanity.
Necrontyr culture, both pre- and post-transference is explored in wonderful detail, and it is illuminating to see what aspects were retained once they’d been granted cursed immortality. Like the Imperium of Man, and indeed the various Eldar factions, the Necrons in 40K are a doomed society in decline, raging against the dying of the light and trying to keep hold of their rapidly fading grandeur, and this novels highlights how, like these ‘peers’, it’s largely their own hubris that puts them in this position. The Necrons in this book dub anything living as part of the ‘Unclean’, which stems from a revulsion of the physical form as much as anything else, though the contempt that they view the lesser races in is palpable. Hidebound by inevitable and necessary(?) hierarchies as much as the Imperium is, Necron society as depicted in this book is a rich playground for storytelling. Tonally different to Crowley’s previous Necron work, as well as Rath’s Necron novel, Ruin has a lightness running throughout it that belies the profound sadness it sometimes has; it’s easy reading but isn’t afraid to get heavy on the pseudo-science or actual emotional heft.
It’s not all cerebral storytelling, mind- there’s no way the author wrote, say, the combat scenes in chapter 17, without anything other than a big stupid grin on his face- they’re so deliciously OTT, taking full advantage of the ridiculous capabilities of high-ranking Necrons. Everything is set up really nicely for the story to be continued, but it works well as a stand-alone novel, one where some knowledge of the setting would be desirable but not essential.
Had GW not tarried with the delivery of my copy of the special edition (I’m still waiting…), I’d have missed out on the excellent job that Richard Reed does narrating this book- the audio is really very good, and my enjoyment is down in no small to his performance.
July 24, 2023
"Ruin" was a very enjoyable read. While, as a fan of 40K lore, I am relatively familiar with the Necrons. But, I can not claim a deep knowledge (as I have for the Imperium) and this book was a superb look into the thoughts and methods of the Necrons.
Sedh is a backwater Necron Tomb World. Ruled over by the disgraced Oltyx, its resources are stretched thin trying to battle an Ork invasion. But worse, much worse, is to come as those Orks have managed to irritate the Imperium of Man, which has sent a Crusade Fleet to massacre them. Sedh and the entire Ithakan Dynasty are directly in the path of this massive force.
Oltyx must travel to Ithakas and face his King, Unnas, and a hostile court far too self-absorbed to understand the true scope of the danger. What follows is a great look at the dynastic politics within a Necron court, as well as a great insight into how their minds work in regard to their "subminds", each designated for a particular thought process (Combat, Diplomacy, Xenology, etc).
There is also a good explanation of how they conduct war. Yet, for all their power- the 60 million year sleep has not been kind to the fortunes of the Necrons. Corrupted code, madness, insularity, infighting, and degraded technology have turned them into a shadow of their true strength during the time of the War in Heaven.
For all that, the Necrons are on another level when it comes to technology, especially compared to the Imperials. The outcome of the conflict actually surprised me and it also impressed me due to the sheer martial ability of the Necrons. I also enjoyed the political maneuvering of the various courtiers- it puts the Necrons in a different light than just your average soulless killer cyborgs.
If you enjoy learning about the Necrons then you will appreciate this book.
Sedh is a backwater Necron Tomb World. Ruled over by the disgraced Oltyx, its resources are stretched thin trying to battle an Ork invasion. But worse, much worse, is to come as those Orks have managed to irritate the Imperium of Man, which has sent a Crusade Fleet to massacre them. Sedh and the entire Ithakan Dynasty are directly in the path of this massive force.
Oltyx must travel to Ithakas and face his King, Unnas, and a hostile court far too self-absorbed to understand the true scope of the danger. What follows is a great look at the dynastic politics within a Necron court, as well as a great insight into how their minds work in regard to their "subminds", each designated for a particular thought process (Combat, Diplomacy, Xenology, etc).
There is also a good explanation of how they conduct war. Yet, for all their power- the 60 million year sleep has not been kind to the fortunes of the Necrons. Corrupted code, madness, insularity, infighting, and degraded technology have turned them into a shadow of their true strength during the time of the War in Heaven.
For all that, the Necrons are on another level when it comes to technology, especially compared to the Imperials. The outcome of the conflict actually surprised me and it also impressed me due to the sheer martial ability of the Necrons. I also enjoyed the political maneuvering of the various courtiers- it puts the Necrons in a different light than just your average soulless killer cyborgs.
If you enjoy learning about the Necrons then you will appreciate this book.
June 17, 2023
Amazing fiction that got it all: A catching adventure of the most sophisticated undead, spiced up with occasional horror, sudden humor and unexpected moments of all too humane emotion.
"Unexpected" might be the one word that best sums up my experience of the story. Had I payed more attention to the name printed under the title, I should have realized that this came from the same hand which penned the amazing and absolutely hilarious tale of "Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh!" And after the first quarter of the book I more and more often felt reminded of the amazing silliness of Mogworld (an entertaining snipe at MMO games telling the story of an undead wizard apprentice seriously missing his nose).
But "The Twice-Dead King: Ruin" is neither a comedy nor a parody. It's a very serious story with real emotion and convincing character development. The Necrons, one of the two most exotic races in the 40k universe, have always been hard to grasp as a species so obsessed with death, even before their ascendance into immortal machines. (At least in my opinion, they and the Tyranids are the only factions that truly deserve to be called alien.)
But Crowley puts us in the crowded head of one of their scions, who knew life at court and in war, and who was amongst the first to see, understand and confront the decay which even the most elaborate system build of the most sturdy material will be condemned to eventually. In eternity, the Necron empire faces certain doom, unless they change their way of thinking - which, however, is as much an immortal part of them as any programming would be.
Through these alien oculars, we accompany Oltyx through an amazing arch of events that will see the end of all he ever knew and concludes with what is inconceivable to any and every Necron: A new beginning.
"Unexpected" might be the one word that best sums up my experience of the story. Had I payed more attention to the name printed under the title, I should have realized that this came from the same hand which penned the amazing and absolutely hilarious tale of "Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh!" And after the first quarter of the book I more and more often felt reminded of the amazing silliness of Mogworld (an entertaining snipe at MMO games telling the story of an undead wizard apprentice seriously missing his nose).
But "The Twice-Dead King: Ruin" is neither a comedy nor a parody. It's a very serious story with real emotion and convincing character development. The Necrons, one of the two most exotic races in the 40k universe, have always been hard to grasp as a species so obsessed with death, even before their ascendance into immortal machines. (At least in my opinion, they and the Tyranids are the only factions that truly deserve to be called alien.)
But Crowley puts us in the crowded head of one of their scions, who knew life at court and in war, and who was amongst the first to see, understand and confront the decay which even the most elaborate system build of the most sturdy material will be condemned to eventually. In eternity, the Necron empire faces certain doom, unless they change their way of thinking - which, however, is as much an immortal part of them as any programming would be.
Through these alien oculars, we accompany Oltyx through an amazing arch of events that will see the end of all he ever knew and concludes with what is inconceivable to any and every Necron: A new beginning.
June 11, 2024
What an absolute banger. 6/5 Oltyx is so real
December 9, 2021
I was surprised by this. I was expecting your standard tie-in novel full of explosions, paper thin plot and more explosions.
Instead, it turned out to be a nice exploration of body horror, the effects of deep time on memory, and of course explosions.
Instead, it turned out to be a nice exploration of body horror, the effects of deep time on memory, and of course explosions.
August 27, 2022
After three hundred years of exile to a dismal outpost of a once-great dynasty, necron lord Oltyx is mired in bitterness at his reduced circumstances. When a vast ork invasion turns out to be the sign of an even greater doom to come however, Oltyx realises that his only hope – for himself, and for the dynasty itself – is to return home and break his exile. Determined to at least make the attempt, he sets out to rouse his brother and father on the dynasty’s homeworld, regardless of the personal costs he knows he will incur.
The juxtaposition of absurd humour and tragic melancholy that Crowley finds here lends this a tone and feel that simply couldn’t have come from any other author. On the surface there’s plenty to enjoy in the depiction of necron dynastic life, the contrast between the necrons and the orks, and Oltyx’s general viewpoint on the ‘upstart species’, but dig deeper and this is really a sad story about the loss of memory and identity, about legacy and what’s worth fighting for, and about the dangers of relying too much on tradition and getting caught up in the past. These necrons may be virtually indestructible and in many ways very alien, but they’re incredibly relatable too. The human (and transhuman) denizens of the Imperium may be the main focus of the overall 40k setting, but this just goes to show that the non-human viewpoints in 40k have just as much to say too.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/08/...
The juxtaposition of absurd humour and tragic melancholy that Crowley finds here lends this a tone and feel that simply couldn’t have come from any other author. On the surface there’s plenty to enjoy in the depiction of necron dynastic life, the contrast between the necrons and the orks, and Oltyx’s general viewpoint on the ‘upstart species’, but dig deeper and this is really a sad story about the loss of memory and identity, about legacy and what’s worth fighting for, and about the dangers of relying too much on tradition and getting caught up in the past. These necrons may be virtually indestructible and in many ways very alien, but they’re incredibly relatable too. The human (and transhuman) denizens of the Imperium may be the main focus of the overall 40k setting, but this just goes to show that the non-human viewpoints in 40k have just as much to say too.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/08/...
February 17, 2022
I don't know if I'm going to finish this. Author Nate Crowley has somehow found a way to make a story involving cannibal robots boring. The few interesting character moments cannot save just how dull the narrative and action is. My eyes glazed over at every action scene.
A character with multiple personalities that are all copies of themselves should be fun. It was. For 10 pages. It then continues for another 360.
He walks toward a ziggurat for an entire chapter. Can you spell p-a-d-d-i-n-g with me?
A character with multiple personalities that are all copies of themselves should be fun. It was. For 10 pages. It then continues for another 360.
He walks toward a ziggurat for an entire chapter. Can you spell p-a-d-d-i-n-g with me?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2022
I was genuinely surprised with how good it was. don't get me wrong, it is not that I expected it to be bad, but Nate Crowley elevated the setting, characters to that illustrious four star level of quality. As I have mentioned before when commenting on the necrons as characters, it is easy to write them badly. As either malfunctioning AI or as individuals who just happened to inhabit metallic bodies controlled
by eon old minds. Nate Crowley stays clear from either extreme fault and adds a new dimension to the necron experience; vulnerability. I found this a quite refreshing and novel take that at first did worry me as it would make them too human but if the main character occasionally strays a bit too far into this field, Nate Crowley steers him away quick enough before it become a bother.
Something else I can wholeheartedly applause was the reference made to the genuine Egyptian Pharaoh Unas who is most well known for the be the first pharaoh with fully developed pyramid texts but even more so because of their content; the cannibal hymn. In this hymn, Pharaoh Unas is described as butchering the people and the gods, devouring their body parts to gain their strength and powers. It is an at times chilling text to read, not helped that every translation of it tends to go for this sinister tone and rhythm. Nate Crowley, inspired by the historical Unas, gives us Unass, the lord of the dynasty who himself has been touch by the dark words. Some might consider it to be to on the nose; but I say nay to you naysayers!
I bought the sequel even before finishing this book, must read for Necron fans.
by eon old minds. Nate Crowley stays clear from either extreme fault and adds a new dimension to the necron experience; vulnerability. I found this a quite refreshing and novel take that at first did worry me as it would make them too human but if the main character occasionally strays a bit too far into this field, Nate Crowley steers him away quick enough before it become a bother.
Something else I can wholeheartedly applause was the reference made to the genuine Egyptian Pharaoh Unas who is most well known for the be the first pharaoh with fully developed pyramid texts but even more so because of their content; the cannibal hymn. In this hymn, Pharaoh Unas is described as butchering the people and the gods, devouring their body parts to gain their strength and powers. It is an at times chilling text to read, not helped that every translation of it tends to go for this sinister tone and rhythm. Nate Crowley, inspired by the historical Unas, gives us Unass, the lord of the dynasty who himself has been touch by the dark words. Some might consider it to be to on the nose; but I say nay to you naysayers!
I bought the sequel even before finishing this book, must read for Necron fans.
November 12, 2021
Rating of 4.75.
Intriguing new author Nate Crowley presents one of the most complex and fascinating Warhammer 40,000 novels I had the pleasure of reading, The Twice-Dead King: Ruin, an epic and thrilling novel that explores one of the most intriguing races in the canon, the Necrons.
In the chaotic and war-striven future of the 41st millennium, many powerful and dangerous races fight for domination and destruction. However, no race is more mysterious or feared than the immortal beings known as the Necrons. The Necrons are an ancient and ruthless race who, thousands of years ago, sacrificed their mortality and humanity to defeat a powerful enemy as well as death itself. Forced into thousands of years of hibernation after their great victory, the Necrons are now slowly awakening to reclaim their empire by destroying all life in the galaxy.
However, despite their intense belief in themselves, the Necrons are a dying race, gradually being whittled down by time, madness, and the unceasing tide of organic life they are forced to constantly fight against. None know this better that Oltyx, a bitter and resentful Necron Lord who has been banished to the wretched border world of Sedh. Once heir to the throne of a mighty and glorious dynasty, he now only has control of a small garrison of degraded warriors who are slowly dwindling under constant attacks from Ork raiders attempting to invade the Necron empire.
As Oltyx dreams about vengeance and reclaiming his birthright, he finds himself facing an immense threat that could spell the doom of his dynasty and the entire Necron race. The invading Orks are only the precursor of a larger and much more powerful enemy, one his small force has no chance of defeating. With no other option, Oltyx is forced to return to his dynasty’s crownworld and beg for reinforcements from the court who cast him out. However, his return uncovers something far more disturbing than he could have ever imagined. A twisted horror now lies within the heart of Oltyx’s dynasty, bringing only madness and bloodshed with it. To ensure his people’s survival, Oltyx must face the curse of the Necrons and the pure horror of a twice-dead king.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2021/11/12/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Intriguing new author Nate Crowley presents one of the most complex and fascinating Warhammer 40,000 novels I had the pleasure of reading, The Twice-Dead King: Ruin, an epic and thrilling novel that explores one of the most intriguing races in the canon, the Necrons.
In the chaotic and war-striven future of the 41st millennium, many powerful and dangerous races fight for domination and destruction. However, no race is more mysterious or feared than the immortal beings known as the Necrons. The Necrons are an ancient and ruthless race who, thousands of years ago, sacrificed their mortality and humanity to defeat a powerful enemy as well as death itself. Forced into thousands of years of hibernation after their great victory, the Necrons are now slowly awakening to reclaim their empire by destroying all life in the galaxy.
However, despite their intense belief in themselves, the Necrons are a dying race, gradually being whittled down by time, madness, and the unceasing tide of organic life they are forced to constantly fight against. None know this better that Oltyx, a bitter and resentful Necron Lord who has been banished to the wretched border world of Sedh. Once heir to the throne of a mighty and glorious dynasty, he now only has control of a small garrison of degraded warriors who are slowly dwindling under constant attacks from Ork raiders attempting to invade the Necron empire.
As Oltyx dreams about vengeance and reclaiming his birthright, he finds himself facing an immense threat that could spell the doom of his dynasty and the entire Necron race. The invading Orks are only the precursor of a larger and much more powerful enemy, one his small force has no chance of defeating. With no other option, Oltyx is forced to return to his dynasty’s crownworld and beg for reinforcements from the court who cast him out. However, his return uncovers something far more disturbing than he could have ever imagined. A twisted horror now lies within the heart of Oltyx’s dynasty, bringing only madness and bloodshed with it. To ensure his people’s survival, Oltyx must face the curse of the Necrons and the pure horror of a twice-dead king.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2021/11/12/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
August 3, 2025
A fun read but it's not going to blow your mind
August 10, 2024
Setting:
This story takes place within the realm of Warhammer 40k, the science fiction or science fantasy setting under the Warhammer name not to be confused with Warhammer fantasy (I think this is also sometimes called Age of Sigmar) which is related but different. Warhammer is a sprawling and storied franchise with novels, books, screen adaptations, as well as tabletop and video games.
Do you need to know what any of that means to read this? The short answer is no. I have very limited knowledge of Warhammer myself and I was able to read and understand this. I have not experienced anything in the warhammer 40k setting. I have played a couple of video games set in the warhammer fantasy setting, pretty much entirely ignoring the lore in both of them, and years ago I read maybe 15-20 percent of a warhammer horror novel (also in the fantasy setting) before putting it down and never getting back to it.
The one important thing that readers will interface with in this novel is the race of the Necrons. Necrons are a race of robots that long ago were flesh and blood beings but managed to create robotic bodies for themselves as a way to achieve immortality. This change is most certainly not without downsides but I’m not gonna say too much about that as learning about this is an important part of the novel that I don’t want to spoil that.
Character:
Oltyx: Our main character is the disgraced member of the Necron royalty, Oltyx. Oltyx used to be in line for the throne but was exiled and tasked with manning the fortifications on a small largely forgotten planet named Sedh at the edge of the Necron empire. He remains furious at what he sees as unjust punishment for his actions.
Plot:
Oltyx has a problem more serious than his endless resentment when Sedh is attacked by a massive wave of Orks (yes spelled with a K, no I’m not sure why) and that is only the beginning of the problem.
My Thoughts:
This story is largely about two things. First is Otlyx as an individual… kind of. Oltyx does possess five subminds; doctrinal, strategic, statistical, combat, and xenology if I recall correctly. The subminds are facets of Oltyx’s personality and knowledge which have been copied from his main self and then separated into pseudo different intelligences all under Oltyx’s control. Oltyx will frequently talk to his subminds in relation to their area of expertise. This sounds like it could be messy or confusing but Crowley does a very good job handling this in a way that it’s always clear if Oltyx is thinking, talking to one of his subminds, or if one of his subminds is talking to him.
The other main facet of this story is the Necrons as a people; how they have existed for centuries, how they continue to exist, and some of the drawbacks they deal with both culturally and as a result of their mechanical forms. Most notably amongst these is the combination of hatred, fear, and disgust when dealing with any organic matter or the dangerous knowledge that they themselves used to be organic matter.
There is a plot here, but the plot is really just an excuse to look into Oltyx and his people.
The one major downside I could see readers having is the sheer amount of stuff that isn’t spelled out directly. Oltxy talks and thinks like someone who really has lived in his society. He’ll offhandedly mention something like the curse or the great sleep in the same way that a modern person might talk about cancer or the Clinton presidency. These are things which any Necron would certainly know so Oltyx doesn’t have to and isn’t going to take time to explain them. A reader will eventually come to have an at least workable understanding of what these things are but it’s not because Oltyx (or Crowley for that matter) throws some huge infodump at you. Related is the fact that there are quite a lot of made up words and terminology in this book. Words like ocular and coreflux and submind are just thrown in. Credit to Crowley that he does this in such a fashion that despite the fact such words frequently lack explanation, they are never confusing.
Ultimately I think this book could be either a huge hit or a huge miss depending on what it is you’re looking for in a book. If you’re interested in reading a slightly dense novel about the history and culture of a race of alien robots that will not hold your hand but also won’t leave you utterly confused this is definitely worth considering. If you’re looking for an easy to read plot-focused novel, you should look elsewhere.
This story takes place within the realm of Warhammer 40k, the science fiction or science fantasy setting under the Warhammer name not to be confused with Warhammer fantasy (I think this is also sometimes called Age of Sigmar) which is related but different. Warhammer is a sprawling and storied franchise with novels, books, screen adaptations, as well as tabletop and video games.
Do you need to know what any of that means to read this? The short answer is no. I have very limited knowledge of Warhammer myself and I was able to read and understand this. I have not experienced anything in the warhammer 40k setting. I have played a couple of video games set in the warhammer fantasy setting, pretty much entirely ignoring the lore in both of them, and years ago I read maybe 15-20 percent of a warhammer horror novel (also in the fantasy setting) before putting it down and never getting back to it.
The one important thing that readers will interface with in this novel is the race of the Necrons. Necrons are a race of robots that long ago were flesh and blood beings but managed to create robotic bodies for themselves as a way to achieve immortality. This change is most certainly not without downsides but I’m not gonna say too much about that as learning about this is an important part of the novel that I don’t want to spoil that.
Character:
Oltyx: Our main character is the disgraced member of the Necron royalty, Oltyx. Oltyx used to be in line for the throne but was exiled and tasked with manning the fortifications on a small largely forgotten planet named Sedh at the edge of the Necron empire. He remains furious at what he sees as unjust punishment for his actions.
Plot:
Oltyx has a problem more serious than his endless resentment when Sedh is attacked by a massive wave of Orks (yes spelled with a K, no I’m not sure why) and that is only the beginning of the problem.
My Thoughts:
This story is largely about two things. First is Otlyx as an individual… kind of. Oltyx does possess five subminds; doctrinal, strategic, statistical, combat, and xenology if I recall correctly. The subminds are facets of Oltyx’s personality and knowledge which have been copied from his main self and then separated into pseudo different intelligences all under Oltyx’s control. Oltyx will frequently talk to his subminds in relation to their area of expertise. This sounds like it could be messy or confusing but Crowley does a very good job handling this in a way that it’s always clear if Oltyx is thinking, talking to one of his subminds, or if one of his subminds is talking to him.
The other main facet of this story is the Necrons as a people; how they have existed for centuries, how they continue to exist, and some of the drawbacks they deal with both culturally and as a result of their mechanical forms. Most notably amongst these is the combination of hatred, fear, and disgust when dealing with any organic matter or the dangerous knowledge that they themselves used to be organic matter.
There is a plot here, but the plot is really just an excuse to look into Oltyx and his people.
The one major downside I could see readers having is the sheer amount of stuff that isn’t spelled out directly. Oltxy talks and thinks like someone who really has lived in his society. He’ll offhandedly mention something like the curse or the great sleep in the same way that a modern person might talk about cancer or the Clinton presidency. These are things which any Necron would certainly know so Oltyx doesn’t have to and isn’t going to take time to explain them. A reader will eventually come to have an at least workable understanding of what these things are but it’s not because Oltyx (or Crowley for that matter) throws some huge infodump at you. Related is the fact that there are quite a lot of made up words and terminology in this book. Words like ocular and coreflux and submind are just thrown in. Credit to Crowley that he does this in such a fashion that despite the fact such words frequently lack explanation, they are never confusing.
Ultimately I think this book could be either a huge hit or a huge miss depending on what it is you’re looking for in a book. If you’re interested in reading a slightly dense novel about the history and culture of a race of alien robots that will not hold your hand but also won’t leave you utterly confused this is definitely worth considering. If you’re looking for an easy to read plot-focused novel, you should look elsewhere.
May 30, 2023
"Not even a god can outrun trauma."
Nate Crowley impresses in his debut Black Library novel with a book that is as much a Shakespeare-ian horror novel about the struggles of a dynasty of 65 million year old, presumably soulless robots as it is a nuanced metaphor for the ways we cope with trauma and mental illness.
The book's main character is Oltyx, second heir to the throne of Ithakas, a necron dynasty that is way past its prime. Oltyx ekes out a bitter existence as an exile after a falling out with the king and the elder prince of Ithakas, but when a mortal danger to his dynasty appears on the horizon, he decides to do what he can to save his heritage - even if it means facing up to his estranged relatives, the mistakes of his past and the curse that plagues his lineage.
If I'd have to boil down what Crowley's writing excels at - in this and his other works - I'd point to three aspects that particularly stand out to me.
First of all, he is really funny. The necrons are a weird bunch, and Crowley is really good at finding curious observations, strange contrasts to human characters and absurd situations in the ultimately tragic material he writes about. Barely a chapter went by without a quotable line or a laugh-out-loud paragraph.
Contrasted with this is his penchant for Horror. Despite the levity of its humor and the apparent enthusiasm for the more absurd sides of necrons society, this is a grim, dark book. The necrons are not just a horror to the puny humans that rose up in their wake, but their existence itself is a horror *to them*. Oltyx in particular struggles with the memories of his time as a biological being and the trauma of his whole civilization being lured into the furnaces of the C'tan to be transformed into unchanging, unfeeling beings of metal and energy. Many chapters are pure body- and existential horror which really got under my skin.
It's here that Crowley's third major asset shines through: the psychological nuance and the empathy he brings to the tormented beings be writes about. The horror aspects of the novel work so well to me because Crowley manages to make me care so much about the characters and gives me the opportunity to really *get* what makes them tick so that I really empathize and squirm along when the horror happens to them.
I don't exaggerate when I write that this is a nuanced metaphor for our own coping strategies with mental illness. Despite the fantastical setting and the exaggerated nature of its characters, the struggles of Oltyx and his peers with biased and lost memories, repressed trauma, depression, loneliness and isolation as well as the many healthy and unhealthy ways they cope with their situation and how that affects their relationships with each other don't feel fantastical or exaggerated at all. To stick with Oltyx as the sole point-of-view of the novel supports this aspect of the story, as it immerses us in the biased and flawed, yet developing and learning subjectivity of a single individual rather than a seemingly objective and unbiased authorial take on things.
'The Twice-Dead King' was originally conceived as a single novel, but grew in the telling and was eventually split into a duology of two books, 'Ruin' and the follow-up 'Reign'. Both books do feel distinct and have satisfying endings all by themselves, but are one story split in half, so don't worry if a number of interesting secondary characters are seemingly abandoned halfway through Ruin - they'll all get their due in the sequel.
The Twice-Dead King comes hot on the heels of another inspired take on the 'tomb kings in space' that we've been gifted with lately, Robert Rath's fan-favorite 'The Infinite and the Divine'. I'd be hard pressed to decide upon a favorite between the two, and I do feel that despite contrasting in their respective focus on comedy and tragedy, both authors approach the necrons from the same root and are in touch with all of their epic, entertaining, absurd, tragic and horrifying aspects.
All being said, in my opinion The Twice-Dead King is one of the best stories to come out of Black Library in the last decade, and I'm very much looking forward to anything that Nate Crowley will write in the future.
Hail to the king!
Nate Crowley impresses in his debut Black Library novel with a book that is as much a Shakespeare-ian horror novel about the struggles of a dynasty of 65 million year old, presumably soulless robots as it is a nuanced metaphor for the ways we cope with trauma and mental illness.
The book's main character is Oltyx, second heir to the throne of Ithakas, a necron dynasty that is way past its prime. Oltyx ekes out a bitter existence as an exile after a falling out with the king and the elder prince of Ithakas, but when a mortal danger to his dynasty appears on the horizon, he decides to do what he can to save his heritage - even if it means facing up to his estranged relatives, the mistakes of his past and the curse that plagues his lineage.
If I'd have to boil down what Crowley's writing excels at - in this and his other works - I'd point to three aspects that particularly stand out to me.
First of all, he is really funny. The necrons are a weird bunch, and Crowley is really good at finding curious observations, strange contrasts to human characters and absurd situations in the ultimately tragic material he writes about. Barely a chapter went by without a quotable line or a laugh-out-loud paragraph.
Contrasted with this is his penchant for Horror. Despite the levity of its humor and the apparent enthusiasm for the more absurd sides of necrons society, this is a grim, dark book. The necrons are not just a horror to the puny humans that rose up in their wake, but their existence itself is a horror *to them*. Oltyx in particular struggles with the memories of his time as a biological being and the trauma of his whole civilization being lured into the furnaces of the C'tan to be transformed into unchanging, unfeeling beings of metal and energy. Many chapters are pure body- and existential horror which really got under my skin.
It's here that Crowley's third major asset shines through: the psychological nuance and the empathy he brings to the tormented beings be writes about. The horror aspects of the novel work so well to me because Crowley manages to make me care so much about the characters and gives me the opportunity to really *get* what makes them tick so that I really empathize and squirm along when the horror happens to them.
I don't exaggerate when I write that this is a nuanced metaphor for our own coping strategies with mental illness. Despite the fantastical setting and the exaggerated nature of its characters, the struggles of Oltyx and his peers with biased and lost memories, repressed trauma, depression, loneliness and isolation as well as the many healthy and unhealthy ways they cope with their situation and how that affects their relationships with each other don't feel fantastical or exaggerated at all. To stick with Oltyx as the sole point-of-view of the novel supports this aspect of the story, as it immerses us in the biased and flawed, yet developing and learning subjectivity of a single individual rather than a seemingly objective and unbiased authorial take on things.
'The Twice-Dead King' was originally conceived as a single novel, but grew in the telling and was eventually split into a duology of two books, 'Ruin' and the follow-up 'Reign'. Both books do feel distinct and have satisfying endings all by themselves, but are one story split in half, so don't worry if a number of interesting secondary characters are seemingly abandoned halfway through Ruin - they'll all get their due in the sequel.
The Twice-Dead King comes hot on the heels of another inspired take on the 'tomb kings in space' that we've been gifted with lately, Robert Rath's fan-favorite 'The Infinite and the Divine'. I'd be hard pressed to decide upon a favorite between the two, and I do feel that despite contrasting in their respective focus on comedy and tragedy, both authors approach the necrons from the same root and are in touch with all of their epic, entertaining, absurd, tragic and horrifying aspects.
All being said, in my opinion The Twice-Dead King is one of the best stories to come out of Black Library in the last decade, and I'm very much looking forward to anything that Nate Crowley will write in the future.
Hail to the king!
November 18, 2023
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading
; skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Lord Oltyx would’ve likely fallen in this remote backwater of a planet, fighting hordes of orcs. Plenty of them, and always more to come. While his ranks would only ever dwindle, as is the curse of Necron race who abandoned their flesh bodies oh so long ago. His salvation became a threat greater than orcs, salvation in a very horrible disguise: a warhammer shaped ship, entire armada or these… these upstarts, led by their half-dead god emperor to believe that Universe is theirs for the taking. And so, Oltyx, navigating stubborn courts of other lords and warlords, rushes home to crown planet, to warn, to ask for help, to beg for it… Just to find an unimaginable nightmare having taken root at the heart of their dynasty.
My Opinion: Insanely good history, lore, great perspective that makes empathy work overtime. On one hand, we’re reading from a perspective of this necron race, how time and decay has affected this once powerful empire. On the other hand… It’s humans in those warships above. Characters, while mediocre as personalities, provided very interesting insight. And while novel is written pretty good from the technical side, at times it either lacked definition on where the plot jumped: is it a vision, a dream, a memory, or the here and now? Or it lacked in substance, leaving my brain to wander off, just to return and reread paragraphs, until it finally stuck. Overall good tho.
About the Book: Lord Oltyx would’ve likely fallen in this remote backwater of a planet, fighting hordes of orcs. Plenty of them, and always more to come. While his ranks would only ever dwindle, as is the curse of Necron race who abandoned their flesh bodies oh so long ago. His salvation became a threat greater than orcs, salvation in a very horrible disguise: a warhammer shaped ship, entire armada or these… these upstarts, led by their half-dead god emperor to believe that Universe is theirs for the taking. And so, Oltyx, navigating stubborn courts of other lords and warlords, rushes home to crown planet, to warn, to ask for help, to beg for it… Just to find an unimaginable nightmare having taken root at the heart of their dynasty.
My Opinion: Insanely good history, lore, great perspective that makes empathy work overtime. On one hand, we’re reading from a perspective of this necron race, how time and decay has affected this once powerful empire. On the other hand… It’s humans in those warships above. Characters, while mediocre as personalities, provided very interesting insight. And while novel is written pretty good from the technical side, at times it either lacked definition on where the plot jumped: is it a vision, a dream, a memory, or the here and now? Or it lacked in substance, leaving my brain to wander off, just to return and reread paragraphs, until it finally stuck. Overall good tho.
April 27, 2022
The Necrons are the Warhammers Undead race like in traditional fantasy but because its Warhammer they mixed them with terminators and threw in Egyptian mythology and out came a wholly original alien species. The mythos is well crafted and a ton of fun and the protagonist in this book is well written and you care for him and want him to succeed. That's right you care for an undead terminator with multiple personalities if that is not enough to make you realize this was well written I'm not sure what is.
Highly Recommended. This book is told solely from the Necrons POV which makes this even more fun than usual. This is WH40K at its best.
Highly Recommended. This book is told solely from the Necrons POV which makes this even more fun than usual. This is WH40K at its best.
August 24, 2025
This was definitely a ride. I had a hard time getting into it at the beginning, nothing was really happening and it was very slow because of all the setup it needed. But after getting to the middle of the book it started getting interesting. And then, oh boy, it went so smooth. It really helps to have Oltyx’s character well established by then because it helps make sense of his actions and the relationships he had with other Necrons when they were still humans. And the defence of Ithaka is so full of action. I loved how it progressed and I’m excited for the second part.
October 26, 2025
I had no idea a book about necrons could be this good. Maybe the ending was a bit _too human_ and too sentimental, taking away some of necrons impenetrable alien-ness, but it made them relatable and every good story needs relatable heroes.
March 8, 2022
Es la primera novela con protagonistas necrones que leo y creo sinceramente que tiene un enfoque acertadísimo, 100% recomendada.
June 16, 2023
Interesting xenos/alien perspective. Going to read the next book for sure
November 24, 2023
CAWPILE rating: 5.8/10
STAR rating: ★★★
STAR rating: ★★★
January 4, 2023
I’ll be honest, I don’t care much for robots. Especially humanoid ones as antagonists. Sometimes it’s done well (e.g. Terminator 1 & 2), but most of the time it feels like it’s nothing more than a bloodless, family-friendly enemy replacement. We can’t have our heroes killing actual people, after all, and even monsters and aliens are too icky, so let’s just have them chop their way through a thousand glorified can-openers (if you are a robot reading this, please excuse the slur – I for one welcome you as our future overlords). I’d rather just have no fighting at all than something so weightless.
Necrons, then. They aren’t just in this book, they are the book. The very POV is a disgraced necron prince exiled to a backwater tomb world ridden with a very unique kind of plague. Oh, and hordes of orks keep charging at him.
But for those unfamiliar...
WHAT ARE NECRONS?
They’re these dudes (the ones who appear to be winning):
The line to get your attention is ‘Ancient Egyptian-styled alien androids’. But if you want just a little more to go on, here’s a simplified primer.
Millions of years before humanity ever learned how to stick its collective hand in a fire and say ‘ow’, an alien race called the necrontyr, who perpetually suffered from cancers thanks to radiation sickness from evolving under an awful sun (yet this didn’t stop them from becoming highly advanced far beyond humanity’s imagining, and spreading across the galaxy), took up the offer of star-gods called the C’tan to become immortal.
This immortality involved ‘biotransference’ – giving the necrontyr (all of them) advanced self-repairing metal bodies and in the process incinerating their mortal organic forms . . . and, as it happened, also their souls. They would no longer have hearts to beat, lungs to breath with. All of this proved much to the necrontyr’s eternal regret – but they were now no longer the necrontyr: they were the necrons. From now on they would forever wake up in a hollow metal shell and see the world through oculars instead of eyes. The extent to which they ‘miss’ – to put it in the mildest possible way – their organic selves is part of the body horror themes of this novel.
After biotransference there was this whole thing called the War in Heaven, fought by the necrons and C’tan against their archnemeses, the Old Ones (powerful beings responsible for seeding new life in the galaxy, including eldar, orks and yes humans too). The Old Ones were defeated, the necrons overthrew their string-pullers the C’tan as well, and then – because the loss of life from this unimaginably cosmic war was incalculable, the necrons decided to . . . well, go to sleep for a while in their tomb worlds, to recover and let other conflicts of the galaxy go on without them. And by a while I mean sixty million years.
Then the necrons, on hidden tomb worlds scattered through the galaxy, could awake (earlier than intended, if disturbed . . .), ready to restore their ancient dynasties – and rid the galaxy of all that hated upstart life that had flourished in their absence.
If you want something more in-depth to the origins of the necrons, you could do far worse than watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuEka...
CHANGE IN OPINION
Anyway, before I knew any of this, when I was first aware of the necrons a very long time ago, I had little interest in them. They didn’t seem much better than generic robots. A few things changed my opinion of them, mostly over the last two years.
- I decided to do a replay of Dawn of War: Dark Crusade where I played as the necrons. Turns out there’s something quite enjoyable about playing a race of slow-moving yet immortal warriors the bulk of which look like Skynet terminators, who when they are destroyed emotionlessly put themselves back together and continue the inexorable march to war; all the while I am gradually bringing systems back online, awakening the might of the necrons, ready to raise the monoliths . . . Ahem.
- The later necron Games Workshop miniatures looked a lot more interesting, stylised and varied than their first range.
- I learned more of the interesting lore and backstory to them, and better appreciated the Ancient Egyptian motifs and iconography (pairing such a theme with alien androids was inspired).
- I read a great Ciaphas Cain book with them revealed as antagonists (I won't spoil which one).
- And this book.
I picked this up instead of the more well-known necron one, The Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath, because of the far superior cover. I’m superficial like that. But I didn’t regret it. As I understand it, The Infinite and the Divine is more light-hearted, centred around millennia of bickering and one-upmanship between rival necron lords. This book however is darker and more serious (though not oppressively so).
AESTHETICS, POV AND CHARACTER
In case you’re thinking it’s just going to be a shooting fest like many 40k books, there’s actually not a lot of combat in the book – to the story’s credit. In its place are some very cool (someone else might say “fucked up”) horror elements that come into play. These were some of my favourite parts. I love it when you already kinda predict what’s gone wrong, but you don’t yet know the extent of it – it’s a horror that grows with every step, in line with that experienced by the MC.
I loved the aesthetics of the book, promoted by its cover. Burnished silver, green and black. Silver metal bodies with glowing emerald cores and burning “eyes”. Actinic green flashes of firing pylons and voidcraft in the night sky. A sacred tomb invaded by orks as scarab constructs and far worse things scuttle and crawl out from the shadows. An obsidian-black desert necropolis thick with obelisks and alight with gauss lamps.
It’s rare you are presented with what is essentially a robotic race who have their own immensely venerable culture, history, hierarchy and nobility. These are no automata created by humans and then gone rogue. The POV of this book was especially fascinating, so distinct from the countless human POVs we are used to in other SFF books. It was a somewhat unique reading experience to follow such an individual as Oltyx, yet still with enough elements to be able to root for him. He – like other necrons – might be utterly disgusted and appalled by anything biological (so much so that the word fl*sh is censored), and he would certainly destroy you or I if he came across us, yet despite the inhuman, soulless alienness, his overall motivations and character development is clear and familiar, and the grounding emotional and empathetic touches (that seem to increase as the story continues, a gradual “humanising”, so by the end you might be wondering if these creatures haven’t lost their souls at all) are welcomely placed.
COMMUNICATION
The necrons have no facial expressions or inflections of voice, so instead they found more technological ways to express emotional nuance in their new bodies: through the intensity of their core-fluxes, their ocular flaring, discharge node patterns, vocal buzz-tones, actuator signals, and the glyph-signifiers (e.g. a glyph for earnestness or hostility - essentially emojis!) and interstitial codes appended to their communication relays.
Yet the majority of social interaction in this book isn’t even external, but internal. Oltyx has five subordinate minds – or subminds: elements of his personality partitioned and given a kind of slaved semi-independence. These subminds – named Doctrinal, Analytical, Strategic, Combat and Xenology – all speak in different fonts. Doctrinal is the most pompous and stuffy, obstinately set on doing things the “right way”, Strategic is straightforward and martial, while Xenology is as obsessed with biological races as it is repulsed. And Analytical simply loves statistics and has zero awareness of how they might be received. Combat, in contrast, can only communicate in barks and grunts.
TERMINOLOGY
If you think this book might be a slightly greater challenge to read than the average SFF book, I’d agree. Expect to see many mentions of things like memetic and executive buffers, interstitial appendices, evocatory mediums, khets and decans, heka and pattern ataxia, crypteks and canopteks, core-fluxes, dysphorakh (I love the meaning of this one when it’s explored in-text), engrammancers, kynazhs and phaerons and nemesors and nomarchs (all high-ranking positions) . . . I think the book could perhaps have benefitted from a glossary. There were a bunch of words I had to look up – and most of these weren’t specifically 40k words at all, but just words and terms I wasn’t familiar with, often combined with words inspired by Ancient Egyptian language and culture.
That said, there is also enjoyment in not being spoon-fed or constantly flicking back and forth to a glossary, but simply being thrown in the deep end of such a singular culture, learning the meaning of these terms through context (although, if I’m honest, helped by periodic googling). For example, ‘phaeron’ is obviously taken from ‘pharaoh’, ‘nomarch’ is the actual term for an Ancient Egyptian governor, and ‘khet’ is an Ancient Egyptian unit of measurement.
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
This review is already getting too long so I’ll end it here. Suffice to say if you want a sci-fi story that is something different – yet within a familiar SFF literary structure; if you are eager to explore a non-human POV that isn’t simply a human POV in a funny nose and green skin; if you are attracted to the idea of Ancient Egyptian-themed, reanimating yet steadily degrading (physically and psychologically) advanced robotic constructs that used to be alien people, who are horrified by fl*sh and want to reclaim and defend their antediluvian dynasties and sacred tombs – and the legions of sarcophagi deep underground with inhabitants just waiting to awaken . . . if all this takes your interest, and especially if you want all that with splashes of body horror, you should definitely give this book a shot.
Really looking forward to reading the sequel to this duology, and then going on to read the author’s take on the ork warboss of warbosses, Ghazghkull Thraka.
Necrons, then. They aren’t just in this book, they are the book. The very POV is a disgraced necron prince exiled to a backwater tomb world ridden with a very unique kind of plague. Oh, and hordes of orks keep charging at him.
But for those unfamiliar...
WHAT ARE NECRONS?
They’re these dudes (the ones who appear to be winning):
The line to get your attention is ‘Ancient Egyptian-styled alien androids’. But if you want just a little more to go on, here’s a simplified primer.
Millions of years before humanity ever learned how to stick its collective hand in a fire and say ‘ow’, an alien race called the necrontyr, who perpetually suffered from cancers thanks to radiation sickness from evolving under an awful sun (yet this didn’t stop them from becoming highly advanced far beyond humanity’s imagining, and spreading across the galaxy), took up the offer of star-gods called the C’tan to become immortal.
This immortality involved ‘biotransference’ – giving the necrontyr (all of them) advanced self-repairing metal bodies and in the process incinerating their mortal organic forms . . . and, as it happened, also their souls. They would no longer have hearts to beat, lungs to breath with. All of this proved much to the necrontyr’s eternal regret – but they were now no longer the necrontyr: they were the necrons. From now on they would forever wake up in a hollow metal shell and see the world through oculars instead of eyes. The extent to which they ‘miss’ – to put it in the mildest possible way – their organic selves is part of the body horror themes of this novel.
After biotransference there was this whole thing called the War in Heaven, fought by the necrons and C’tan against their archnemeses, the Old Ones (powerful beings responsible for seeding new life in the galaxy, including eldar, orks and yes humans too). The Old Ones were defeated, the necrons overthrew their string-pullers the C’tan as well, and then – because the loss of life from this unimaginably cosmic war was incalculable, the necrons decided to . . . well, go to sleep for a while in their tomb worlds, to recover and let other conflicts of the galaxy go on without them. And by a while I mean sixty million years.
Then the necrons, on hidden tomb worlds scattered through the galaxy, could awake (earlier than intended, if disturbed . . .), ready to restore their ancient dynasties – and rid the galaxy of all that hated upstart life that had flourished in their absence.
If you want something more in-depth to the origins of the necrons, you could do far worse than watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuEka...
CHANGE IN OPINION
Anyway, before I knew any of this, when I was first aware of the necrons a very long time ago, I had little interest in them. They didn’t seem much better than generic robots. A few things changed my opinion of them, mostly over the last two years.
- I decided to do a replay of Dawn of War: Dark Crusade where I played as the necrons. Turns out there’s something quite enjoyable about playing a race of slow-moving yet immortal warriors the bulk of which look like Skynet terminators, who when they are destroyed emotionlessly put themselves back together and continue the inexorable march to war; all the while I am gradually bringing systems back online, awakening the might of the necrons, ready to raise the monoliths . . . Ahem.
- The later necron Games Workshop miniatures looked a lot more interesting, stylised and varied than their first range.
- I learned more of the interesting lore and backstory to them, and better appreciated the Ancient Egyptian motifs and iconography (pairing such a theme with alien androids was inspired).
- I read a great Ciaphas Cain book with them revealed as antagonists (I won't spoil which one).
- And this book.
I picked this up instead of the more well-known necron one, The Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath, because of the far superior cover. I’m superficial like that. But I didn’t regret it. As I understand it, The Infinite and the Divine is more light-hearted, centred around millennia of bickering and one-upmanship between rival necron lords. This book however is darker and more serious (though not oppressively so).
AESTHETICS, POV AND CHARACTER
In case you’re thinking it’s just going to be a shooting fest like many 40k books, there’s actually not a lot of combat in the book – to the story’s credit. In its place are some very cool (someone else might say “fucked up”) horror elements that come into play. These were some of my favourite parts. I love it when you already kinda predict what’s gone wrong, but you don’t yet know the extent of it – it’s a horror that grows with every step, in line with that experienced by the MC.
I loved the aesthetics of the book, promoted by its cover. Burnished silver, green and black. Silver metal bodies with glowing emerald cores and burning “eyes”. Actinic green flashes of firing pylons and voidcraft in the night sky. A sacred tomb invaded by orks as scarab constructs and far worse things scuttle and crawl out from the shadows. An obsidian-black desert necropolis thick with obelisks and alight with gauss lamps.
It’s rare you are presented with what is essentially a robotic race who have their own immensely venerable culture, history, hierarchy and nobility. These are no automata created by humans and then gone rogue. The POV of this book was especially fascinating, so distinct from the countless human POVs we are used to in other SFF books. It was a somewhat unique reading experience to follow such an individual as Oltyx, yet still with enough elements to be able to root for him. He – like other necrons – might be utterly disgusted and appalled by anything biological (so much so that the word fl*sh is censored), and he would certainly destroy you or I if he came across us, yet despite the inhuman, soulless alienness, his overall motivations and character development is clear and familiar, and the grounding emotional and empathetic touches (that seem to increase as the story continues, a gradual “humanising”, so by the end you might be wondering if these creatures haven’t lost their souls at all) are welcomely placed.
COMMUNICATION
The necrons have no facial expressions or inflections of voice, so instead they found more technological ways to express emotional nuance in their new bodies: through the intensity of their core-fluxes, their ocular flaring, discharge node patterns, vocal buzz-tones, actuator signals, and the glyph-signifiers (e.g. a glyph for earnestness or hostility - essentially emojis!) and interstitial codes appended to their communication relays.
Yet the majority of social interaction in this book isn’t even external, but internal. Oltyx has five subordinate minds – or subminds: elements of his personality partitioned and given a kind of slaved semi-independence. These subminds – named Doctrinal, Analytical, Strategic, Combat and Xenology – all speak in different fonts. Doctrinal is the most pompous and stuffy, obstinately set on doing things the “right way”, Strategic is straightforward and martial, while Xenology is as obsessed with biological races as it is repulsed. And Analytical simply loves statistics and has zero awareness of how they might be received. Combat, in contrast, can only communicate in barks and grunts.
TERMINOLOGY
If you think this book might be a slightly greater challenge to read than the average SFF book, I’d agree. Expect to see many mentions of things like memetic and executive buffers, interstitial appendices, evocatory mediums, khets and decans, heka and pattern ataxia, crypteks and canopteks, core-fluxes, dysphorakh (I love the meaning of this one when it’s explored in-text), engrammancers, kynazhs and phaerons and nemesors and nomarchs (all high-ranking positions) . . . I think the book could perhaps have benefitted from a glossary. There were a bunch of words I had to look up – and most of these weren’t specifically 40k words at all, but just words and terms I wasn’t familiar with, often combined with words inspired by Ancient Egyptian language and culture.
That said, there is also enjoyment in not being spoon-fed or constantly flicking back and forth to a glossary, but simply being thrown in the deep end of such a singular culture, learning the meaning of these terms through context (although, if I’m honest, helped by periodic googling). For example, ‘phaeron’ is obviously taken from ‘pharaoh’, ‘nomarch’ is the actual term for an Ancient Egyptian governor, and ‘khet’ is an Ancient Egyptian unit of measurement.
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
This review is already getting too long so I’ll end it here. Suffice to say if you want a sci-fi story that is something different – yet within a familiar SFF literary structure; if you are eager to explore a non-human POV that isn’t simply a human POV in a funny nose and green skin; if you are attracted to the idea of Ancient Egyptian-themed, reanimating yet steadily degrading (physically and psychologically) advanced robotic constructs that used to be alien people, who are horrified by fl*sh and want to reclaim and defend their antediluvian dynasties and sacred tombs – and the legions of sarcophagi deep underground with inhabitants just waiting to awaken . . . if all this takes your interest, and especially if you want all that with splashes of body horror, you should definitely give this book a shot.
Really looking forward to reading the sequel to this duology, and then going on to read the author’s take on the ork warboss of warbosses, Ghazghkull Thraka.
June 22, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed that. Surprising depth of character and story for an alien race of robots who’s whole philosophy is usually “get off my lawn”.
December 4, 2022
Boring
Not much to say. It wasn't entertaining, nor fun to read. It was pretty boring actually. Which is pretty difficult considering the 40k universe and necrons. Several spelling errors and typos as well. There was simply no immersion.
Not much to say. It wasn't entertaining, nor fun to read. It was pretty boring actually. Which is pretty difficult considering the 40k universe and necrons. Several spelling errors and typos as well. There was simply no immersion.
January 10, 2022
Good characterization on immortal autocratic space mummies
May 20, 2024
Pretty lame and boring take on the Necrons.
February 7, 2023
Djoseras had remembered their deeds for them. Oltyx knew he would never understand why. But if he had to guess, he would have said this was his elder’s way of paying silent penance for those legionaries who had died, in that training yard all those years ago, to teach his younger brother that life held no value.
It's a big big galaxy out there so, thankfully, Black Library has given some of the space to one of the "minor" races - the glowing green guys who'll wear your flesh for thrills - the Necrons.
Human after all
Flesh had long been spent, to buy an eternity of war.
The Necrons are the robotic form of an alien race called the Necrontyr. The Necrontyr were suckered into giving up up their bodies and souls by being that fed on the energy of said bodies and souls. After some significant events that will probably fill tomes of lore one day, the Necrons went into stasis for millions of years, because being a robot allows you to do that.
Having re-entered the scene, the Necrons are blessed with spectacular powers of techno-wizardy and can manipulate time, partition their minds into specialised roles, and can avoid permadeath by transmitting their minds (programming) into new bodies.
They are also human.
Putting aside the quandary over whether humans can truly write about the mind of an alien or robot, the Crowley (similar to Rath) writes the Necrons as particularly human. Their range of feelings are the same, their interactions contain recognisable social cues, and they suffer versions of dementia and (extreme) dysphoria.
What does make the Necrons interesting is as an example of how humans (might) perceive themselves if they were turned into a bunch of super powerful robots. Again, similar to Rath, Croweley portrays the Necrons as inconvenienced by the petty squabbles of other (still fleshy) races, caused to be eternally distracted from... ...their own petty squabbles. There's a relative lightness of tone over planetary ending events that would be desperate last stands. Even the familial elements are about relationships rather than the otherwise shocking events.
So while the Necrons are human, it is an exploration of human interactions under different circumstances that's kind of cool. The revulsion in the lesson of executing every second soldier. Moments of redemption of subordinates who are permanently compromised. Sacrifices for your version of the greater good. And yes, petty revenge fantasies on social climbers.
Lore Nerd
‘It is not so bad, Oltyx. Go now, and don’t be afraid. I will be with you when you reach the other side.’ Oltyx gives a tiny nod, swallows hard despite his cracked throat, and steps towards the end of his life.
Ruin is a straightforward story about a decaying dynasty no longer capable of responding to the existential threat that is the Imperium of Man. The protagonist's plot is also very simple one about a reconciliation of brothers.
While the plot of Ruin is really a vehicle for adding to the Necron's lore in a more readable way than tabletop-friendly Codex, I enjoyed it alot for the diversions and the relationships. Freed a little from the drudgery of service that a human character tends to be subject to in Warhammer 40K, Oltyx (the single POV for the story) has a wry humour and reflectiveness that is memorable. It's believable that he can play the bad hands he gets dealt well. Theres both a sense of reolstuon and harbinger for a story where he doesn't even win!
The lore exploration of the Flayer virus is another highlight. It hobbles the Necrons in interesting ways and the story creates a rational explanation for the affliction, rather than bad batches of gene seed certain Space Marine chapters suffer from. The horror element to the flayer virus also gets some play.
Once a minor lord from one of Ithakas’ most powerful subsidiary houses, he had woken from the Great Sleep suddenly free of the burden of social understanding, and had immediately decided to assassinate every other noble on his coreworld as they slept.
Ruin is a lightweight tale, though surprisingly heartfelt, and a little blase about the consequences of its own story, but I will forgive it that for an expansion on a very interesting race of robots with, if not a heart of gold, a heart ribbed from the nearest humanoid and affixed to their breastplate.
It's a big big galaxy out there so, thankfully, Black Library has given some of the space to one of the "minor" races - the glowing green guys who'll wear your flesh for thrills - the Necrons.
Human after all
Flesh had long been spent, to buy an eternity of war.
The Necrons are the robotic form of an alien race called the Necrontyr. The Necrontyr were suckered into giving up up their bodies and souls by being that fed on the energy of said bodies and souls. After some significant events that will probably fill tomes of lore one day, the Necrons went into stasis for millions of years, because being a robot allows you to do that.
Having re-entered the scene, the Necrons are blessed with spectacular powers of techno-wizardy and can manipulate time, partition their minds into specialised roles, and can avoid permadeath by transmitting their minds (programming) into new bodies.
They are also human.
Putting aside the quandary over whether humans can truly write about the mind of an alien or robot, the Crowley (similar to Rath) writes the Necrons as particularly human. Their range of feelings are the same, their interactions contain recognisable social cues, and they suffer versions of dementia and (extreme) dysphoria.
What does make the Necrons interesting is as an example of how humans (might) perceive themselves if they were turned into a bunch of super powerful robots. Again, similar to Rath, Croweley portrays the Necrons as inconvenienced by the petty squabbles of other (still fleshy) races, caused to be eternally distracted from... ...their own petty squabbles. There's a relative lightness of tone over planetary ending events that would be desperate last stands. Even the familial elements are about relationships rather than the otherwise shocking events.
So while the Necrons are human, it is an exploration of human interactions under different circumstances that's kind of cool. The revulsion in the lesson of executing every second soldier. Moments of redemption of subordinates who are permanently compromised. Sacrifices for your version of the greater good. And yes, petty revenge fantasies on social climbers.
Lore Nerd
‘It is not so bad, Oltyx. Go now, and don’t be afraid. I will be with you when you reach the other side.’ Oltyx gives a tiny nod, swallows hard despite his cracked throat, and steps towards the end of his life.
Ruin is a straightforward story about a decaying dynasty no longer capable of responding to the existential threat that is the Imperium of Man. The protagonist's plot is also very simple one about a reconciliation of brothers.
While the plot of Ruin is really a vehicle for adding to the Necron's lore in a more readable way than tabletop-friendly Codex, I enjoyed it alot for the diversions and the relationships. Freed a little from the drudgery of service that a human character tends to be subject to in Warhammer 40K, Oltyx (the single POV for the story) has a wry humour and reflectiveness that is memorable. It's believable that he can play the bad hands he gets dealt well. Theres both a sense of reolstuon and harbinger for a story where he doesn't even win!
The lore exploration of the Flayer virus is another highlight. It hobbles the Necrons in interesting ways and the story creates a rational explanation for the affliction, rather than bad batches of gene seed certain Space Marine chapters suffer from. The horror element to the flayer virus also gets some play.
Once a minor lord from one of Ithakas’ most powerful subsidiary houses, he had woken from the Great Sleep suddenly free of the burden of social understanding, and had immediately decided to assassinate every other noble on his coreworld as they slept.
Ruin is a lightweight tale, though surprisingly heartfelt, and a little blase about the consequences of its own story, but I will forgive it that for an expansion on a very interesting race of robots with, if not a heart of gold, a heart ribbed from the nearest humanoid and affixed to their breastplate.
January 25, 2022
Nate Crowley is a fantastic writer, so I'm very happy to have read his perspective on murderous skeleton robots with existential angst. Warhammer 40k is fundamentally a pulpy setting, but Crowley does an exceptional job wringing pathos from what seem to be a fairly flat caricature in the form of the Necrons. While I'm not a stranger to the setting, I'm unfamiliar to the Necrons, but that's ok! I admit doing a little wiki-investigation to assuage some of my curiosity, but really Crowley does a good job establishing everything a reader needs to know without ever dipping into "deep lore" or a gratuitous use of in-universe jargon.
There are a few highlights here: one is the existential body horror of the Necron condition. Crowley presents all Necrons as being on the verge of mental collapse because at any moment they may become aware that they lack the lungs to breathe and hearts to beat and their body starts gasping for air that their robotic selves no longer need. This intense dysmorphia is coupled with the knowledge that, having given up their mortal bodies, they also no longer have any way to replenish the species. The total number of Necrons will only decline as time passes with no hope for future rejuvenation. What is there to find hope in such a situation? This is especially true for our protagonist Oltyx, once second in line for the throne, who is biding his time exiled from the heart of his kingdom set to watch over tombs of sleeping soldiers, increasingly infested with accursed Necrons who have lost their sanity and crave to eat flesh that their mechanical bodies can never process.
That all paints a bleak and introspective tone, which certainly exists, but there's also lots of explosions and good old-fashioned Warhammer battling going on. But even in these, Crowley shows great skill, making sure that each engagement is an opportunity for us to learn more about Oltyx or for Oltyx to grow in some way. Whether he has to retreat to the sacred tombs for tactical advantage (a lesson in his willingness to bend rules to better serve his kingdom's long term future) or having to hold back his strength to show weakness in order to bide time, there's rarely a simple case of "two sides fight each other and a lot of action happens resulting in the protagonist beating up the other guys until they are more dead" which can happen in science fiction in lesser hands.
There's also some good humor throughout - Crowley always has an eye for the absurd and plays with it well. Oltyx has "subminds" for particular types of intellect (analtytical, strategic, doctrinal, etc), and their bickering is a constant delight. Doctrinal, being very rigid, is often at odds with the other subminds who fault him basically for being a stick-in-the-mud. The grimdark future doesn't have to be serious all the time, and Crowley does a good job leaning into the self-seriousness of the Necrons in order to poke fun of their excesses.
The approach to killer robot skeletons as empathetic creatures with feelings is not a standard warhammer approach, but I liked it. Even as sympathetic characters, the reader still gets the sense of their thirst for perpetual greatness, their arrogance, their desire for dominance over "lesser" lifeforms, their rigidity in the sacred and profane. But all these things are also qualities of the Imperium of Mankind, which is a very nice touch to bring the alien back close to home. I kind of wish there had been some more investigations into scale and timeline: the deterioration due to those time scales is evident, but it didn't particularly effect anyone's patience or outlook or perspective in an explicit manner. They resemble humans with long memories more than the fundamentally changed beings they would be from having such a long "life". But that's a minor quibble for a book that otherwise goes from strength to strength.
I'm excited to read the sequel; I'm sure it'll be just as strong, filled with both excitement and intellect. A very fun read with an exciting plot and excellent characterization.
There are a few highlights here: one is the existential body horror of the Necron condition. Crowley presents all Necrons as being on the verge of mental collapse because at any moment they may become aware that they lack the lungs to breathe and hearts to beat and their body starts gasping for air that their robotic selves no longer need. This intense dysmorphia is coupled with the knowledge that, having given up their mortal bodies, they also no longer have any way to replenish the species. The total number of Necrons will only decline as time passes with no hope for future rejuvenation. What is there to find hope in such a situation? This is especially true for our protagonist Oltyx, once second in line for the throne, who is biding his time exiled from the heart of his kingdom set to watch over tombs of sleeping soldiers, increasingly infested with accursed Necrons who have lost their sanity and crave to eat flesh that their mechanical bodies can never process.
That all paints a bleak and introspective tone, which certainly exists, but there's also lots of explosions and good old-fashioned Warhammer battling going on. But even in these, Crowley shows great skill, making sure that each engagement is an opportunity for us to learn more about Oltyx or for Oltyx to grow in some way. Whether he has to retreat to the sacred tombs for tactical advantage (a lesson in his willingness to bend rules to better serve his kingdom's long term future) or having to hold back his strength to show weakness in order to bide time, there's rarely a simple case of "two sides fight each other and a lot of action happens resulting in the protagonist beating up the other guys until they are more dead" which can happen in science fiction in lesser hands.
There's also some good humor throughout - Crowley always has an eye for the absurd and plays with it well. Oltyx has "subminds" for particular types of intellect (analtytical, strategic, doctrinal, etc), and their bickering is a constant delight. Doctrinal, being very rigid, is often at odds with the other subminds who fault him basically for being a stick-in-the-mud. The grimdark future doesn't have to be serious all the time, and Crowley does a good job leaning into the self-seriousness of the Necrons in order to poke fun of their excesses.
The approach to killer robot skeletons as empathetic creatures with feelings is not a standard warhammer approach, but I liked it. Even as sympathetic characters, the reader still gets the sense of their thirst for perpetual greatness, their arrogance, their desire for dominance over "lesser" lifeforms, their rigidity in the sacred and profane. But all these things are also qualities of the Imperium of Mankind, which is a very nice touch to bring the alien back close to home. I kind of wish there had been some more investigations into scale and timeline: the deterioration due to those time scales is evident, but it didn't particularly effect anyone's patience or outlook or perspective in an explicit manner. They resemble humans with long memories more than the fundamentally changed beings they would be from having such a long "life". But that's a minor quibble for a book that otherwise goes from strength to strength.
I'm excited to read the sequel; I'm sure it'll be just as strong, filled with both excitement and intellect. A very fun read with an exciting plot and excellent characterization.
February 3, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Llenó y sobrepasó mis expectativas. Incluso en algunos aspectos me sentí identificado con algunos elementos de la historia.
Opinión completa con resumen y comentarios de historia, narrativa, temas, entre otros:
https://muchomas.live/2022/02/03/the-...
Opinión sin spoiler:
¿Eres el tipo de persona que busca que todo tenga sentido y se pueda explicar? Yo era así cuando comencé a leer hasta que me di por vencido. Algo característico de los necron es que algunas cosas pasan porque sí. Y es que la tecnología de esta gente está tan fuera de liga que literalmente cualquier cosa puede pasar y la explicación es tan sencilla como “es que ellos pueden hacer eso”.
A pesar de sentirme perdido en algunas partes, principalmente por no saber tanto de los necron, el libro me pareció una obra maestra. No solo es emocionante sino que tiene un trasfondo bastante profundo del que se puede sacar bastante contenido e incluso reflexión.
❤️Justamente lo que me gusta de Warhammer es lo impredecible de la trama, y en ese particular esta entrega no decepciona. La historia tiene unos giros impresionantes. Pero me sorprendió también encontrar ciertos mensajes ocultos en la lectura relativos al resentimiento, el ostracismo, y la soledad. Así que será una buena lectura para el que sólo quiere acción o para el que le gusta encontrar un poco de reflexión en lo que lee.
📚Probablemente lo único malo de esta entrega de Black Library es que… alguien que va comenzando a leer warhammer podría sentirse mareado entre tantos términos y elementos extraños. Creo que también le pasaría a alguien que ya tiene tiempo conociendo el lore, porque introduce conceptos y elementos que no se han visto antes y tuve que ponerme a investigar entre la escasa información al respecto que hay en línea.
🍿Podría recomendar si vas a leerlo que vayas poco a poco al principio y buscando todos los términos que desconoces. Lo leerás más lento, pero sólo serán los primeros capítulos y luego ya todas las piezas irán encajando. Para entender términos, busca en los foros de reddit. Tienen comentarios buenísimos.
Llenó y sobrepasó mis expectativas. Incluso en algunos aspectos me sentí identificado con algunos elementos de la historia.
Opinión completa con resumen y comentarios de historia, narrativa, temas, entre otros:
https://muchomas.live/2022/02/03/the-...
Opinión sin spoiler:
¿Eres el tipo de persona que busca que todo tenga sentido y se pueda explicar? Yo era así cuando comencé a leer hasta que me di por vencido. Algo característico de los necron es que algunas cosas pasan porque sí. Y es que la tecnología de esta gente está tan fuera de liga que literalmente cualquier cosa puede pasar y la explicación es tan sencilla como “es que ellos pueden hacer eso”.
A pesar de sentirme perdido en algunas partes, principalmente por no saber tanto de los necron, el libro me pareció una obra maestra. No solo es emocionante sino que tiene un trasfondo bastante profundo del que se puede sacar bastante contenido e incluso reflexión.
❤️Justamente lo que me gusta de Warhammer es lo impredecible de la trama, y en ese particular esta entrega no decepciona. La historia tiene unos giros impresionantes. Pero me sorprendió también encontrar ciertos mensajes ocultos en la lectura relativos al resentimiento, el ostracismo, y la soledad. Así que será una buena lectura para el que sólo quiere acción o para el que le gusta encontrar un poco de reflexión en lo que lee.
📚Probablemente lo único malo de esta entrega de Black Library es que… alguien que va comenzando a leer warhammer podría sentirse mareado entre tantos términos y elementos extraños. Creo que también le pasaría a alguien que ya tiene tiempo conociendo el lore, porque introduce conceptos y elementos que no se han visto antes y tuve que ponerme a investigar entre la escasa información al respecto que hay en línea.
🍿Podría recomendar si vas a leerlo que vayas poco a poco al principio y buscando todos los términos que desconoces. Lo leerás más lento, pero sólo serán los primeros capítulos y luego ya todas las piezas irán encajando. Para entender términos, busca en los foros de reddit. Tienen comentarios buenísimos.
September 13, 2024
A true monument to all the ages of Warhammer books, nay, a MONOLITH, and one of the finest additions to Black Library's panoply arsenal of, and hear it from me now if you haven't already, GARBAGE.
Yes, garbage. Because most of the books are garbage. Fight me.
Not this one though. NEVER this one.
This book sundered my expectations and cleaved the prows of my Imperium ships so damned well that I've become a Necrontyr at heart, if not a Necron in mind. Nate Crowley has fleshed out metal-men with so many slices of humanity, the composition itself makes you reflect on aspects like the spirit, conconsciouss, and how a Necron still possess breath and body even when Star-Flux is raging within the miniature stars - yes, literal bloody stars - each one has for a heart.
Further still, the horse power - STAR POWER? - cannot be argued with, for all the many issues surrounding their metal prisons.
I had absolutely no issue with this book in all areas of development - character, story, pacing, plotting was all done with such refinement it really left no room for any refrenation error. And the book is a sheer masterclass for all Black Library novels/as well as Necron books moving forward on how to do their racial formula justice. I was expecting a B-Tier Terminator rip-off and was pleasantly surprised to find something that could be turned into one of the more widely-watched SCI-FI stories out there if adapted onto the small screens of our phones, laptops, PCs, etc.
For now, though, this novel serves an excellent meal for those looking to indulge in the Necrons and their similarities to human vanity, prideful indulgences, and tests of DYSPHORAKH. (Think I spelled that last word wrong; but oh well, you'll get what I mean once you read the book.)
5/5
Yes, garbage. Because most of the books are garbage. Fight me.
Not this one though. NEVER this one.
This book sundered my expectations and cleaved the prows of my Imperium ships so damned well that I've become a Necrontyr at heart, if not a Necron in mind. Nate Crowley has fleshed out metal-men with so many slices of humanity, the composition itself makes you reflect on aspects like the spirit, conconsciouss, and how a Necron still possess breath and body even when Star-Flux is raging within the miniature stars - yes, literal bloody stars - each one has for a heart.
Further still, the horse power - STAR POWER? - cannot be argued with, for all the many issues surrounding their metal prisons.
I had absolutely no issue with this book in all areas of development - character, story, pacing, plotting was all done with such refinement it really left no room for any refrenation error. And the book is a sheer masterclass for all Black Library novels/as well as Necron books moving forward on how to do their racial formula justice. I was expecting a B-Tier Terminator rip-off and was pleasantly surprised to find something that could be turned into one of the more widely-watched SCI-FI stories out there if adapted onto the small screens of our phones, laptops, PCs, etc.
For now, though, this novel serves an excellent meal for those looking to indulge in the Necrons and their similarities to human vanity, prideful indulgences, and tests of DYSPHORAKH. (Think I spelled that last word wrong; but oh well, you'll get what I mean once you read the book.)
5/5
December 31, 2022
3.5/5 stars
I got this as an audiobook, which, to me, is a significantly different experience to reading a physical book, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The narrator delivered an outstanding performance and really brought life to the characters, of which there were many. Almost too many. There are so many named characters given such vivid and interesting details just to be there for one chapter and then never mentioned again. It was pretty disappointing.
I picked this up wanting to experience the viewpoint of a necron in the world of Warhammer, and that is exactly what I got. I loved seeing the viewpoint of the necrons and how they viewed others in the world.
This book was primarily focused on the main character and his views, his past, and his personal development, with little focus on the overarching plot. It felt as though the world around the mc was engineered to illustrate his personal journey, which was apparent given the timeline of the book. It took forever to get through the initial opening battle defending against the orcs and when I finally got to the big reveal of the coming storm that threatened the mc and his whole dynasty, it was relegated to the background until the last few chapters. A tonne happened in terms of the mc and his journey, but I was left feeling unfulfilled by the end, even though I couldn't have asked for a better end to the mc's personal journey.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this one. I genuinely feel as though, had I read this as a physical book, I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. I'll probably read the sequel, though I do hope the perspective is greater than this one was. On to bigger things as they say.
I got this as an audiobook, which, to me, is a significantly different experience to reading a physical book, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The narrator delivered an outstanding performance and really brought life to the characters, of which there were many. Almost too many. There are so many named characters given such vivid and interesting details just to be there for one chapter and then never mentioned again. It was pretty disappointing.
I picked this up wanting to experience the viewpoint of a necron in the world of Warhammer, and that is exactly what I got. I loved seeing the viewpoint of the necrons and how they viewed others in the world.
This book was primarily focused on the main character and his views, his past, and his personal development, with little focus on the overarching plot. It felt as though the world around the mc was engineered to illustrate his personal journey, which was apparent given the timeline of the book. It took forever to get through the initial opening battle defending against the orcs and when I finally got to the big reveal of the coming storm that threatened the mc and his whole dynasty, it was relegated to the background until the last few chapters. A tonne happened in terms of the mc and his journey, but I was left feeling unfulfilled by the end, even though I couldn't have asked for a better end to the mc's personal journey.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this one. I genuinely feel as though, had I read this as a physical book, I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. I'll probably read the sequel, though I do hope the perspective is greater than this one was. On to bigger things as they say.
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