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Tales of Mhurghast #3
Black-Eyed Saint
Book Three in the Tales of Mhurghast Series
A young girl begs the aid of the faithful to rescue a city beleaguered by a sinister malaise.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a fascinating glimpse into the bizarre and deadly situations that plague the citizens of the Mortal Realms, as dark magic and twisted schemes lurk around every corner.
THE STORY
A girl stumbles across the moors, death hard on her heels. To her saviours, she speaks of Calignius – a smog-shrouded mining town deep in the mountains that has been gripped by a strange epidemic.
Now, Runar Skoldolfr and Tiberius Grim must lead a small expedition into the haunted vales of the Blood-Rock Peaks to answer the girl’s pleas for aid. There, the hunter and the veteran priest of Sigmar will uncover the enigma of a forlorn-looking statue and its curious sway over the town – a place ruled by ancient fear and phobia, zealotry and madness.
Separated and isolated, Runar and Tiberius will learn there are far worse fates than death, for in Calignius friendships turn sour, faith boils into anguish, and long-buried nightmares rise up from the shadows. If they are to survive, they will need to find a way to unite against the daemons that divide them.
A young girl begs the aid of the faithful to rescue a city beleaguered by a sinister malaise.
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a fascinating glimpse into the bizarre and deadly situations that plague the citizens of the Mortal Realms, as dark magic and twisted schemes lurk around every corner.
THE STORY
A girl stumbles across the moors, death hard on her heels. To her saviours, she speaks of Calignius – a smog-shrouded mining town deep in the mountains that has been gripped by a strange epidemic.
Now, Runar Skoldolfr and Tiberius Grim must lead a small expedition into the haunted vales of the Blood-Rock Peaks to answer the girl’s pleas for aid. There, the hunter and the veteran priest of Sigmar will uncover the enigma of a forlorn-looking statue and its curious sway over the town – a place ruled by ancient fear and phobia, zealotry and madness.
Separated and isolated, Runar and Tiberius will learn there are far worse fates than death, for in Calignius friendships turn sour, faith boils into anguish, and long-buried nightmares rise up from the shadows. If they are to survive, they will need to find a way to unite against the daemons that divide them.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2023
11 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 1, 2024
These are the kind of Warhammer stories I like. A persistent sense of mystery, flawed characters and the pyrrhic triumph of the human spirit.
Too many good things to list. I enjoyed the little interactions with Genevieve at the beginning, it added a sense of context I feel like Briardark lacked. The side characters were likeable. I liked Katerine's determination and Oskar's dependability. The latter's death really struck me.
Tiberius struggles with guilt. At the end he reflects if he could have avoided being manipulated if he somehow worked out his guilt at an earlier time. His ultimate realization is that no, the enemy was simply too powerful, that there are things we cannot control. And he still cannot forgive himself. Such a relatable moment, you can't help but reflect on your own shortcomings.
Too many good things to list. I enjoyed the little interactions with Genevieve at the beginning, it added a sense of context I feel like Briardark lacked. The side characters were likeable. I liked Katerine's determination and Oskar's dependability. The latter's death really struck me.
Tiberius struggles with guilt. At the end he reflects if he could have avoided being manipulated if he somehow worked out his guilt at an earlier time. His ultimate realization is that no, the enemy was simply too powerful, that there are things we cannot control. And he still cannot forgive himself. Such a relatable moment, you can't help but reflect on your own shortcomings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2023
Lucas' talents are wasted on horror - his writing is overwrought when it needs to be subtle and undercooked when it needs to be descriptive, at least when it comes to scares. He's overall too bombastic to impart any dread in this tale - he's much better utilized with books like Godsbane.
The story is alright as a more typical fantasy tale, but it's a fairly direct follow-up to Gothghul Hollow so it's hard to avoid feeling tonal whiplash (and the climax is basically pure cheese.) Worse is that it focusses on Runar and Tiberius, and while the latter gets some good moments, these were probably the two characters I was LEAST eager to learn more about after the first book.
The story is alright as a more typical fantasy tale, but it's a fairly direct follow-up to Gothghul Hollow so it's hard to avoid feeling tonal whiplash (and the climax is basically pure cheese.) Worse is that it focusses on Runar and Tiberius, and while the latter gets some good moments, these were probably the two characters I was LEAST eager to learn more about after the first book.
November 4, 2023
The third book in the Mhurghast series, and one that continues to be the best in the Age of Sigmar. While it's not as strong as the previous book, it continues to provide gothic goodness that is hard to find elsewhere. This time around the story most focuses on Tiberius and Runar as they go to a mist covered city with some weird going ons. The surviving inhabitants are all suspect, and that's not to mention the weird statues and nighthaunts in the area.
Runar's character is given more depth from the previous books, and he manages to probably become the strongest written character in the series so far. Meanwhile Tiberius is grumpy and struggling with guilt from past events that come back to haunt him. I probably would have liked his character arc better if he wasn't lashing out senselessly at people for half the book. I thought for sure he was possessed, until I realized he's just a jerk.
As for the events, I think it's a solid story, though it feels like a bit more could've been added in the middle. The beginning is slow, but is well developed. The ending is great with a lead up and climax that I appreciate. It's just the middle that kind of staggers for a bit before finding its way.
The biggest concern I have is that the series will be cancelled before the story wraps up. Indeed, the overarching plot hasn't advanced much. We have three weird occurrences so far that relate to Mhurghast, with a cast of characters coming together and being strengthened for, presumably, the events that will come. But that's it. It very much feels like we are still in the prologue to a longer story, and unfortunately Games Workshop has a history of cutting series a book or two in.
Runar's character is given more depth from the previous books, and he manages to probably become the strongest written character in the series so far. Meanwhile Tiberius is grumpy and struggling with guilt from past events that come back to haunt him. I probably would have liked his character arc better if he wasn't lashing out senselessly at people for half the book. I thought for sure he was possessed, until I realized he's just a jerk.
As for the events, I think it's a solid story, though it feels like a bit more could've been added in the middle. The beginning is slow, but is well developed. The ending is great with a lead up and climax that I appreciate. It's just the middle that kind of staggers for a bit before finding its way.
The biggest concern I have is that the series will be cancelled before the story wraps up. Indeed, the overarching plot hasn't advanced much. We have three weird occurrences so far that relate to Mhurghast, with a cast of characters coming together and being strengthened for, presumably, the events that will come. But that's it. It very much feels like we are still in the prologue to a longer story, and unfortunately Games Workshop has a history of cutting series a book or two in.
July 19, 2024
I could t finish this one. I'm an audiobook reader and the narrator on this one didn't sit well. His pacing was off and it totally throws the flow of the story.
January 18, 2025
This series needs to continue. Let’s go!
December 6, 2025
I enjoyed all the times so far, hoping for another tome some time in the future.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews