What do you think?
Rate this book
Von Carstein #3
Retribution
With Vlad and Konrad defeated, now is the time for the most dangerous vampire count of them all to take centre stage. Strong, cunning and resourceful, Mannfred von Carstein assembles his undead army and prepares to strike at the heart of the Empire. The men of the Empire and their allies the dwarfs have one last chance to stop their undead foe - Hel Fenn.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 27, 2007
About the author
Steven Savile
250 books249 followersSteven Savile (born October 12, 1969, in Newcastle, England) is a British fantasy, horror and thriller writer, and editor living in Sala, Sweden.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 6, 2017
-La más “franquiciada” de las novelas de la trilogía.-
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Venganza (publicación original: Retribución, 2007), Manfred von Carstein regresa a Sylvania para que el imperio de los muertos vuelva a surgir mientras el Imperio afronta varias amenazas y otra estirpe de vampiros distinta está oculta entre sus habitantes. Tercer y último volumen de la Trilogía de von Carstein: La guerra de los vampiros.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Venganza (publicación original: Retribución, 2007), Manfred von Carstein regresa a Sylvania para que el imperio de los muertos vuelva a surgir mientras el Imperio afronta varias amenazas y otra estirpe de vampiros distinta está oculta entre sus habitantes. Tercer y último volumen de la Trilogía de von Carstein: La guerra de los vampiros.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
September 27, 2016
Oh man, I don't really know where to start!
I think this was quite possibly the best and worst novel of the series. The best in that Mr. Savile felt the most familiar with the Old World in this novel. I think he captured it perfectly, from the vicious "civil war" battlefields between Stirland and Averland to the slums of Nuln and our favourite fallen Witch Hunter, the world just felt like it had the 'right' amount of grittyness that made the Old World a fan favourite for so long. The portions of the novel focusing on the "civil war" in the Empire were great fun. I definitely felt most attached to cast of characters in that story line, and it was a great way to showcase the folly of the man. Unfortunately, our human cast of characters felt rather bland as a whole, despite having a really damn good lead character and some downright riveting to read chunks of story. They had the smart career soldier with the really shitty commanders constantly fucking things up and making life difficult for the rank and file. I really enjoyed it, but it felt like the armies lacked some of the character that could have made them perfect.
The Vampires were pretty stellar in this novel, despite some inconsistencies with similar situations in the earlier novels(such as how much they bleed). Mannfred was really fun to read, however I really wish Mr. Savile had taken more to really SHOW us why Mannfred was the best(outside of the fact that he actually knew that patience was a word). I kept feeling like I was told he was the strongest and the best Vampire Count, and he definitely did pretty decent for himself, but I didn't feel that he was necessarily any stronger or smarter than Vlad. He gave the humans a better fight, but that was more a consequence of not having his ring stolen off his finger and throwing his life away than any kind of tactical acumen or undead wisdom. I just felt like we got TOLD too much about our Vampire Counts, and not really SHOWN enough. Maybe it was because of the constraints on the story, or the author's personal choice, but it just felt like we didn't get enough focus on the Vampires compared to our mortal warriors.
On the undead side of things, I think Jon Skellan really stole the show though. His character and personality really grew from his humble beginnings in the first novel and even though they definitely grew in some dark and cruel ways, he really grew on me. Seeing his and Jerek's rivalry blossom was a sad affair, and I was definitely most sad to see him go.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, the tone was pretty damn spot on, and the world the novel took place in was definitely a great one. However, there were some definite flaws that detracted from the story, and some pretty decent chunks of the story felt wasted(either not being shown enough, or showing way too much), and other parts felt totally ham-fisted in for no greater reason that he had to get dudes from point A to B. I think it might have been the author having some trouble with the constraints that inevitably come from working in someone else's world, but it was still a damn fun read.
I think this was quite possibly the best and worst novel of the series. The best in that Mr. Savile felt the most familiar with the Old World in this novel. I think he captured it perfectly, from the vicious "civil war" battlefields between Stirland and Averland to the slums of Nuln and our favourite fallen Witch Hunter, the world just felt like it had the 'right' amount of grittyness that made the Old World a fan favourite for so long. The portions of the novel focusing on the "civil war" in the Empire were great fun. I definitely felt most attached to cast of characters in that story line, and it was a great way to showcase the folly of the man. Unfortunately, our human cast of characters felt rather bland as a whole, despite having a really damn good lead character and some downright riveting to read chunks of story. They had the smart career soldier with the really shitty commanders constantly fucking things up and making life difficult for the rank and file. I really enjoyed it, but it felt like the armies lacked some of the character that could have made them perfect.
The Vampires were pretty stellar in this novel, despite some inconsistencies with similar situations in the earlier novels(such as how much they bleed). Mannfred was really fun to read, however I really wish Mr. Savile had taken more to really SHOW us why Mannfred was the best(outside of the fact that he actually knew that patience was a word). I kept feeling like I was told he was the strongest and the best Vampire Count, and he definitely did pretty decent for himself, but I didn't feel that he was necessarily any stronger or smarter than Vlad. He gave the humans a better fight, but that was more a consequence of not having his ring stolen off his finger and throwing his life away than any kind of tactical acumen or undead wisdom. I just felt like we got TOLD too much about our Vampire Counts, and not really SHOWN enough. Maybe it was because of the constraints on the story, or the author's personal choice, but it just felt like we didn't get enough focus on the Vampires compared to our mortal warriors.
On the undead side of things, I think Jon Skellan really stole the show though. His character and personality really grew from his humble beginnings in the first novel and even though they definitely grew in some dark and cruel ways, he really grew on me. Seeing his and Jerek's rivalry blossom was a sad affair, and I was definitely most sad to see him go.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novel, the tone was pretty damn spot on, and the world the novel took place in was definitely a great one. However, there were some definite flaws that detracted from the story, and some pretty decent chunks of the story felt wasted(either not being shown enough, or showing way too much), and other parts felt totally ham-fisted in for no greater reason that he had to get dudes from point A to B. I think it might have been the author having some trouble with the constraints that inevitably come from working in someone else's world, but it was still a damn fun read.
July 19, 2018
A quite satisfying end to the series. Mannfred von Carstein, most powerful of Vlad's siring, wages his own war on the Empire while the living, men, dwarves, and some elves, do their utmost to defeat him. As should be obvious by now, this ain't a story of sparkly, androgynous 'vampires', but rather a throwback to the mythology of vampires as intended.
They are evil, malevolent, powerful, brilliant entities bent upon destruction, conquest and feeding off the living. That said, had this book focused more on the conquest, and a little less on the interplay of the varieties of vampires (and their own conflicts between the bloodlines), this would have been a more engaging story.
While still good, the main flaw was the author tried to showcase the variety of Vampire society by showcasing the Lahmians, female vampires who use sexual lust, and subtle manipulations to rule powerful men for their own ambitions.
While interesting on their own, they seemed a bit of a distraction, especially when this book is about Mannfred, the greatest of all the Vampire Counts and his war to conquer the Empire. A war that only sees light in the final hundred pages.
Despite that, it was a very good story with a very satisfying ending.
An easy four stars.
They are evil, malevolent, powerful, brilliant entities bent upon destruction, conquest and feeding off the living. That said, had this book focused more on the conquest, and a little less on the interplay of the varieties of vampires (and their own conflicts between the bloodlines), this would have been a more engaging story.
While still good, the main flaw was the author tried to showcase the variety of Vampire society by showcasing the Lahmians, female vampires who use sexual lust, and subtle manipulations to rule powerful men for their own ambitions.
While interesting on their own, they seemed a bit of a distraction, especially when this book is about Mannfred, the greatest of all the Vampire Counts and his war to conquer the Empire. A war that only sees light in the final hundred pages.
Despite that, it was a very good story with a very satisfying ending.
An easy four stars.
May 6, 2019
A solid novel, but a somewhat disappointing conclusion to the Von Carstein trilogy.
I agree with others that this book had many things to love. There were some compelling scenes between our human protagonists, and we had a cameo by our favourite dwarf from Book 2. The vampires themselves remained decently interesting, and it was fun to see them interact with the Lahmians.
Ultimately, the book was just not that memorable. Maybe because what it did well had already been done in the earlier books, and I read them back to back so I was a little jaded by the end. I liked Jarek, and ultimately I enjoyed how things ended.
Though that was probably my biggest complaint. I didn't mind how things ended up, but it all felt a little rushed... like, a slow and steady pace leading up into the final battle, where earth-shaking characters will be introduced for one scene to wrap up major plot elements, and only a few pages were dedicated to some pretty hefty events.
Overall a fun read, and I enjoyed it for what it was. Not the best Warhammer trilogy I've read, but it definitely earns points for taking things a little differently, and giving us something new without the typical "Chaos Threatens All" storyline we tend to get from Black Library.
I agree with others that this book had many things to love. There were some compelling scenes between our human protagonists, and we had a cameo by our favourite dwarf from Book 2. The vampires themselves remained decently interesting, and it was fun to see them interact with the Lahmians.
Ultimately, the book was just not that memorable. Maybe because what it did well had already been done in the earlier books, and I read them back to back so I was a little jaded by the end. I liked Jarek, and ultimately I enjoyed how things ended.
Though that was probably my biggest complaint. I didn't mind how things ended up, but it all felt a little rushed... like, a slow and steady pace leading up into the final battle, where earth-shaking characters will be introduced for one scene to wrap up major plot elements, and only a few pages were dedicated to some pretty hefty events.
Overall a fun read, and I enjoyed it for what it was. Not the best Warhammer trilogy I've read, but it definitely earns points for taking things a little differently, and giving us something new without the typical "Chaos Threatens All" storyline we tend to get from Black Library.
February 4, 2018
So this ends the saga of the the Von Carstein Vampire Counts. I think Mannfred was probably the most dangerous of the lot and if it hadn't been for the experiences that the Empire had already had with both Vlad and Konrad he might have been able to overwhelm and destroy the Empire because he really was much more strategic minded than either Vlad or Konrad
The stories of characters that had started in the first and second book were wrapped up very well here I thought and I did like the darkly tragic fate of certain characters. It was well written and well plotted with excellent gothic themes and the almost blink and you'll miss it fate in this book of a prominent side character from book two was so unexpected I didn't figure it out until after the fact and went to show early on that as powerful and cunning as Mannfred was he was not as all knowing as he would have liked everyone to believe.
A solid end to this century spanning tale and a enjoyably dark look into the history of the Old World.
The stories of characters that had started in the first and second book were wrapped up very well here I thought and I did like the darkly tragic fate of certain characters. It was well written and well plotted with excellent gothic themes and the almost blink and you'll miss it fate in this book of a prominent side character from book two was so unexpected I didn't figure it out until after the fact and went to show early on that as powerful and cunning as Mannfred was he was not as all knowing as he would have liked everyone to believe.
A solid end to this century spanning tale and a enjoyably dark look into the history of the Old World.
March 23, 2018
La peor de la trilogía para terminar. Tiene unas cuantas subtramas que no sirven para nada, pasamos demasiado tiempo con Skellan y Mannfred, personajes con mucho potencial que no pasan de ser brutalmente poco desarrollados y que no paran de regodearse en actos malvado hasta que se vuelve incomodo. El tratamiento de las mujeres en este libro deja mucho que desear, rompiendo con el simple tratamiento semi machista que la ambientación requiere para transformarse en una especie de fijación abrasiva hacia las mismas que acaba por desvirtuar hasta a las Hijas de Neferata. Un par de Deus Ex Machinas bastante gordos terminan de joder el conjunto. Le puedo admitir que toda la parte de la batalla entre los dos bandos del Imperio es, de lejos, la más interesante y que toda la gran batalla final mola mucho. El final en si mismo me gusta. También me faltó más presencia de los elfos igual que en el segundo se añadió a los enanos. En general, un mal final para una buena trilogía.
December 28, 2019
Un libro de lo más mediocre, una saga de lo más mediocre, y aún así el final es muy divertido. Falla en casi todo, la narración, la descripción del mundo y sobre todo los personajes. No es capaz de crear situaciones interesantes ni unas personalidades que se diferencien de unos a otros. Los personajes secundarios tienen todos la misma personalidad, dependiendo de la facción claro.
A pesar de lo aburrido que llega a ser, hay momentos marcados, como la batalla Hel Fenn, la corta aparición de los elfos, casi todo de Jerek y Kalad. Podría ser muchísimo mejor. Pero no lo es.
Mannfred es un pringado.
A pesar de lo aburrido que llega a ser, hay momentos marcados, como la batalla Hel Fenn, la corta aparición de los elfos, casi todo de Jerek y Kalad. Podría ser muchísimo mejor. Pero no lo es.
Mannfred es un pringado.
May 7, 2019
The third and final book of the trilogy. Mannfred was underwhelming, i expected so much more from him, but some of the other characters were great like Jon Skellan and the most badass vampire: Jerek Kruger/Von Carstein. I rate this 3.5/5.
July 24, 2023
Perfect ending to the trilogy! From the gruesome displays of battles, to the tears inducing endings of the series characters journeys, this book solidifies the trilogy as one of the best Warhammer stories out there.
August 6, 2023
Good end to the trilogy of the vampire counts, ties off all the story lines nicely
September 26, 2025
słabe zakończenie, bardzo słabej trylogii
October 8, 2011
Well, I am reviewing this book despite that alread 3 years have passed. I still remember most of the plot and I add some things written here about these two books...
They are the second and the third of a trilogy about a family of vampires. It was a good trilogy and it's very unfortunate that Steven Savile is no longer a writer for Black Library. He could do so much... Oh well, life doesn't not always turns out as we wanted...
The review of the first book Inheritance can be found HERE.
In this book we are introduced to a new hero that will have a great impact in this book and the last. It's a Dwarf called Kallad with his has called Ruinthorn. He lives with a promise that he shall bring death (again) to all vile creatures specially undead. He was a prince and he was fighting at the walls of some keep that fell to the undead. His father and many of his followers sacrifice themselves to give kallad time to save some women and children.
The other two main character is Mannfred and Konrad von Carstein. Since the demise of Vlad fell in Altdorf those he sired battle themselves for domion. Mannfred wanders alone and forgotten. Mannfred only goal at that time was knowledge. He still has Vlad signet ring (with it's restorative magic), and within his goal there is a book with incantions crafted by Nagash.
Konrad meanwhile rules the court and prides himself with cruel savagery. He is to paranoid to trust any one even if picked every member of elite guard. (He reminds me of Ivan IV, The terrible a Russian tzar). Strangely enough Mannfred reminds me of Peter I the Great another russian tzar).
Then the second battle against the humans...
Meanwhile there are other characters who make this book so great.. Jon Skellon andf Jared from White Wolf changes...
Well this book is a build up for the last book... It is a good book with a good plot and great characterization. This book needs the third to be fully appreciated.
The third book does not disapoint anyone. It starts the same way the others had began and the end... well it's was not expected. Again great character building.
Obviously the story the book tell us were already known cause it's the Vampire Army Book but it was great seeing these way. I only thing that the vampires could dominate the humans if not by their own superiority = stupidity. It's a shame. In the end my vampire vampire was Vlad. No doubt and again the two SS I told before are there...
There is only another book by Steven Saville before he left called Curse of Necrach... It's a shame... he could really write about Vampires and could creat good characters... I really hope he is doing great out there...
They are the second and the third of a trilogy about a family of vampires. It was a good trilogy and it's very unfortunate that Steven Savile is no longer a writer for Black Library. He could do so much... Oh well, life doesn't not always turns out as we wanted...
The review of the first book Inheritance can be found HERE.
In this book we are introduced to a new hero that will have a great impact in this book and the last. It's a Dwarf called Kallad with his has called Ruinthorn. He lives with a promise that he shall bring death (again) to all vile creatures specially undead. He was a prince and he was fighting at the walls of some keep that fell to the undead. His father and many of his followers sacrifice themselves to give kallad time to save some women and children.
The other two main character is Mannfred and Konrad von Carstein. Since the demise of Vlad fell in Altdorf those he sired battle themselves for domion. Mannfred wanders alone and forgotten. Mannfred only goal at that time was knowledge. He still has Vlad signet ring (with it's restorative magic), and within his goal there is a book with incantions crafted by Nagash.
Konrad meanwhile rules the court and prides himself with cruel savagery. He is to paranoid to trust any one even if picked every member of elite guard. (He reminds me of Ivan IV, The terrible a Russian tzar). Strangely enough Mannfred reminds me of Peter I the Great another russian tzar).
Then the second battle against the humans...
Meanwhile there are other characters who make this book so great.. Jon Skellon andf Jared from White Wolf changes...
Well this book is a build up for the last book... It is a good book with a good plot and great characterization. This book needs the third to be fully appreciated.
The third book does not disapoint anyone. It starts the same way the others had began and the end... well it's was not expected. Again great character building.
Obviously the story the book tell us were already known cause it's the Vampire Army Book but it was great seeing these way. I only thing that the vampires could dominate the humans if not by their own superiority = stupidity. It's a shame. In the end my vampire vampire was Vlad. No doubt and again the two SS I told before are there...
There is only another book by Steven Saville before he left called Curse of Necrach... It's a shame... he could really write about Vampires and could creat good characters... I really hope he is doing great out there...
February 12, 2017
Sin entrar en demasiados detalles, me ha parecido un tanto redundante en el vocabulario, ilógica con algunos sucesos del argumento (y con algunos personajes) y previsible en ciertas partes de la trama. Tras haberme leído los dos primeros volúmenes de la trilogía no sabría decir si el autor ha decaído en esta última entrega o si las otras dos eran iguales y no lo recuerdo. A pesar de todo, generalizando globalmente, el argumento no es malo y le daría el 5 raspado en honor a Warhammer por los años que llevo ya en el mundillo.
April 6, 2016
Yikes. I read about a third of this, all excited because finally I'd reached the book focusing on Mannfred von Carstein, who not only made it to the End Times, but is kickin' it in the Age of Sigmar now, too. What's his deal?
Well, who knows. This book was so brutally dull I felt like Savile might have been angry toward his readers by this point. It seems like most Warhammer writers change over their first few books - whether for better or worse depends on how well they take working in the world, but you can tell nearly everyone has difficulty at first with, I assume, working inside a licensed world. Some (Graham MacNeill, Aaron Dembski-Bowden) work with the difficulty and eventually become great. Others (Savile, William King) apparently get so frustrated working within the confines of the space that they just spiral out of control and drag every plot through the mud.
Oh, well.
Well, who knows. This book was so brutally dull I felt like Savile might have been angry toward his readers by this point. It seems like most Warhammer writers change over their first few books - whether for better or worse depends on how well they take working in the world, but you can tell nearly everyone has difficulty at first with, I assume, working inside a licensed world. Some (Graham MacNeill, Aaron Dembski-Bowden) work with the difficulty and eventually become great. Others (Savile, William King) apparently get so frustrated working within the confines of the space that they just spiral out of control and drag every plot through the mud.
Oh, well.
December 28, 2016
This was an interesting story, but like all Warhammer novels, it lacked substance. It was entertaining and it kept me reading to find out what happened next so it was high in entertainment value, and I liked the characters well enough, of course I'm also writing this review almost 6 months after having finished the book so my recollection may be a bit fuzzy.
Overall, I did like the book and I think it's a worthwhile read if you want to explore a bit more of the world that was, but nothing that I think is earth shattering. Also, I felt that the dwarf's storyline was a bit rushed and unimportant in this book, which is sad because he had a lot of potential that I don't think was properly utilized.
Overall, I did like the book and I think it's a worthwhile read if you want to explore a bit more of the world that was, but nothing that I think is earth shattering. Also, I felt that the dwarf's storyline was a bit rushed and unimportant in this book, which is sad because he had a lot of potential that I don't think was properly utilized.
September 12, 2010
Yeah so i finished the trilogy. Pretty cool at first, i thought the author did an amazing job setting up the final chapter of this story. However, It seemed like he was doing an amazing job setting up and building up to a plot that was poorly executed. It all just started falling apart and concluding very quickly. Important characters start dissapearing without too much explanation or detail. I love the way this trilogy was written and enjoyed the book and finding what the conclusion to the tale was, but i still feel like it could have been better.
September 23, 2021
Kind of hated it. The "sexy vampire lady" trope gets way overdone and the grammar and writing is just...bad. I spent several times reading and re-reading a paragraph trying to figure out which horse one of the characters killed, because it wasn't clear if he'd killed the one he was riding or not.
December 27, 2013
Very good conclusion to the series
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews