Publisher: Black Library (Audiobook – 20 January 2024)
Series: The Old World – Book One
Length: 12 hours and 5 minutes
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of Warhammer’s very best authors brings fans back to the Old World in the gripping and action-packed fantasy adventure, Lords of the Lance by Graham McNeill.
As a long-time Warhammer fan, I love many of the different areas of the Warhammer fandom, including the grim dark science fiction Warhammer 40,000 universe. However, my heart will always belong to Warhammer Fantasy, mainly because it was the game I played as a kid and where I first learned to love the franchise. I deeply enjoyed all the fiction associated with the overarching fantasy setting, especially those set in the Old World, the main continent where most of the battles and wars took place. Series like the Gotrek and Felix books (Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer, Dragonslayer, Beastslayer, Vampireslayer and Giantslayer), as well as standalone books including Grudge Bearer, Van Horstmann, Runefang and Broken Honour, have all proven to be pretty damn awesome, and this is probably one of my absolute favourite fantasy settings.
Unfortunately, Games Worshop ceased the Warhammer Fantasy game several years ago, by having the in-game big bad win the final war against the forces of good and literally blow up the entirety of the setting. This explosive conclusion ended all the ongoing novels, comics and characters from this universe, and Games Workshop subsequently ignored Warhammer Fantasy, prioritising Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar models and fiction. However, Games Workshop are returning to their original fantasy world with The Old World. Set hundreds of years before the end of the Warhammer Fantasy world, The Old World brings back the classic armies, figures, and history of this realm, while also introducing a whole new range of models. As part of that, they are once again setting fiction in their fantasy realm and the first book back is Lords of the Lance by acclaimed Warhammer author Graham McNeill, who has really impressed me in the past with books like Storm of Iron.
Even centuries before the final war with the forces of Chaos, the Old World is still a dangerous place, where monsters, dark creatures and the forces of Chaos seek to destroy everything. There are many dangerous places throughout the Old World, but few are more sinister than the Land of the Dead, an abandoned wasteland where the ancient and powerful nation of Khemri once stood. Haunted by the evil actions of the dread necromancer Nagash, the former realm of Khemri is now ruled by the unliving Tomb Kings. In this realm of sand, skeletons and death, only the greatest of warriors can hope to enter and survive, especially if they are on a noble quest.
Baron Lothar Aquilena is a great knight who has carved out territory in the lawless realm of the Border Princes. However, despite his prowess, skilled warriors, and clever advisers, he is powerless when his son goes missing in the Land of the Dead, taken captive by the risen Amaranthine Queen, who seeks revenge against those who previously defeated her. Desperate, Baron Lothar has no choice but to call in a debt of honour owed to him by his Bretonnian cousin, Duke Carrad of Quenelles, years after they suffered a falling out. Despite the enmity between them, Duke Carrad leads his knights to Lothar’s realm, determined to repay the debt owed.
United in their mission, despite a mostly unwelcome reception by Baron Lothar, the knights of Bretonnia and the men of the Border Princes begin their quest to the Lands of the Dead. However, crossing the deserts of Khemri is no easy task, and the loosely combined force soon experience the treacherous sand, blazing heat, unnatural creatures, and the forces of the dead. Despite these obstacles, the host approach the giant tombs of Khemri, ready to save the Baron’s son. However, nothing is as it seems, and soon the assembled knights and their retainers encounter a deadly enemy that none of them are prepared for.
Graham McNeill made me fall in love with the Old World once again as he provides a powerful and intense character-driven adventure across an iconic setting. Lords of the Lance was a pretty damn awesome novel and I had such an epic time getting through it.
Due to this book being the first entry in The Old World canon, McNeill had a lot of pressure on his plate as he had to simultaneously bring back an established setting, tie-it into a recent model release, while also telling a powerful story that stood on its own. I think that he succeeded on all fronts as Lords of the Lance proved to be quite an addictive read that contained some amazing features of the setting while also dragging the reader in with his elaborate storytelling.
The narrative of Lords of the Lance had a very classic fantasy quest feel to it, which honestly was a joy to see, and which fit this setting extremely well. Starting off with an effective introduction, the story quickly proceeds with the two antagonistic lords leading their combined force towards the desert. The narrative is effectively told from a few compelling and complex point-of-view characters, with several additional supporting characters standing in the wings. The first half of the book is all about introducing and building up the protagonists, and there was a little less action than I was expecting, with McNeill content to firmly establish his story. I think this build-up was very necessary as it ensured the second half was particularly epic, and there was still some good battles and compelling developments scattered throughout to keep readers interested. This initial foray across the desert didn’t last as long as I thought it would, and McNeill brings the adventurers to their goal very quickly. This allows him to enact an intriguing twist, which while telegraphed, was written brilliantly and changed the entire tone of the book.
This results in a frenetic, powerful, and impressive second half that sees the protagonists forced to abandon their quest and flee for their lives. Constantly pursued, the knights and their retainers quickly traverse several of the most dangerous locations in the Old World while facing all manner of grave threats. There are some brilliant and powerful scenes featured here as McNeill hits the protagonists hard, including with one particularly heartbreaking equine sacrifice. I also loved the extended mini-siege sequence, as the Bretonnians face off against an awesome new foe in some of the best action scenes in the book. McNeill also really enhances several character arcs during this half and the resulting development and emotional revelations empower the overall story, especially as the reader has become quite attached to the protagonists at this point. Everything leads up to the final confrontation as the battered protagonists finally face their foes in one final charge. The intensity and emotional power that leads up to this big confrontation cannot be understated, and I found myself very invested in seeing how everything came together. The author keeps you on the edge of your feet right until the end and I really enjoyed how everything came together, although I was expecting some more tragedy. Still, I came away from Lords of the Lance very satisfied, and McNeill leaves the story open for a sequel, while also providing one last tie to the latest release of models.
I liked how McNeill styled his narrative in Lords of the Lance, as you can tell he was trying to give it a more classic fantasy feel. There is a lot of bold stating of titles, repetition of points, and depictions of knights, honour and magic, which gave the book an elaborate tone that I rather enjoyed, especially as it really fits the Arthurian-inspired Bretonnian faction who were the main focus of the story. The resulting story is rich in both character work, action sequences, and intriguing Warhammer inclusions, with McNeill hitting an excellent balance of the features that had me quite hooked. I really need to highlight some of the amazing action sequences, especially as McNeill provides such a fantastic variety of fight scenes to get the blood pumping. The various knightly charges are a true highlight, and you can feel the thunder of the horse and power of the rushing knights, especially as McNeill endeavours to capture all the powerful details about them. Other intense scenes also do an amazing job of enflaming the imagination, and I really loved how intricate and desperate some of the battles turned out to be. I also really need to highlight the outstanding locations that much of this story was set in, especially as McNeill goes out of his way to make them come alive. The deserts of Khemri are particularly vivid, and their use as a lethal and wearying backdrop is great, turning it into another foe the protagonists need to overcome. The Marshes of Madness were also very awesome, offering another dangerous trudging location and I loved the alternate threats that they posed. McNeill did such a great job of bringing this story together, and this great blend of story elements helped to produce an exquisite read.
I personally loved the intriguing version of the Bretonnians and the Tomb Kings that were featured within Lords of the Lance. McNeill expertly captured the intensity, desire for honour, and compelling nature of the Bretonnian characters, as well as their prowess in combat (the scenes where they charge as cavalry are really well done). The Tomb Kings are also shown to be an excellent antagonistic force, and while you don’t see anything from their perspective, the relentless pursuit they give and the anger contained within them is palpable at times. A couple of other factions are also featured to a degree, mostly as additional threats for the Bretonnian characters, and I really enjoyed how well McNeill used some of them, especially during one horror-filled siege. However, I understand that some readers had some issues with how McNeill portrayed these factions, mainly revolving around lore inconsistencies, which has led to a bit of review bombing. While I’m no lore expert, I honestly barely noticed anything too problematic myself. From what I could see, the most common complaints about the Bretonnian seem to be around the inclusion of female knights (gasp, oh my stars, clutch my pearls!), and one knight using a bow (seems like a pretty sensible weapon for someone riding a pegasus to me). I will admit that some elements about the Tomb Kings, from their slightly more antagonist portrayal (they are usually a lot more neutral/good orientated), and the fact they raised some knights from the dead, was a little off lore, but I think that was mostly McNeill trying to make them even more threatening. Honestly, most readers won’t even notice or care about these issues, and I personally didn’t let it get in my way of enjoying a great story.
For me, one of the best things about Lords of the Lance were the powerful, complex and memorable band of characters that the story was set around. McNeill did an amazing job coming up with a cast of new and fantastic protagonists, each of whom had their own unique journey and background, which effortlessly flowed into the book’s main narrative. You really become attached to many of these characters as Lords of the Lance progresses, and I loved how character-driven this book turned out to be.
One of the main characters of the book is Corentin Varo, equerry to Duke Carrard and known as The Knight of Quills due to his use as a clerk rather than a warrior. Determined to prove himself, and to get over a tragic romance, Varo eagerly embarks on this quest, but chafes as his lord holds him back. Varo proves to be an intriguing and compelling main protagonist, especially as you get invested in his tale of attempted heroism and valour. McNeill does a good slow-burn story around Varo, as he slowly proves to others and himself that he is a worthy knight and leader, and he proves to be a good calm, central figure for most of the plot. There are also some intriguing, if obvious, hints about his personal history, that while interesting, doesn’t have a major payoff in this book but could get explored in the future. Varo is well matched by Karolina Lothar, who serves as the female lead of Lords of the Lance. The daughter of Baron Lothar and a skilled knight, Karolina serves as the voice of reason for her father’s host and tries to bridge the gap between the two forces. She forms a friendship with Varo as the book progresses and the two become a pretty impressive team. I liked how naturally McNeill included Karolina as a strong female character and he paints an interesting picture of her family concerns, her grief as the book continues, and her martial prowess. These two form a great centre for much of the plot and I liked the chemistry that grew between them, especially after their rough journey encourages them to let go of the past and look to the future.
Aside from Varo and Karolina, several other characters really stood out to me in Lords of the Lance, and I really enjoyed they fantastic storylines. The most prominent of these is probably Sigurd of Yvaire, the deaf son of a nobleman who was left unknighted due to his affliction and who accompanies the Bretonnians on their quest leading the peasant host. Sigurd ends up being the heart and soul of the book, and you get invested in his story as he finds both romance and self-worth on his journey. I also had a lot of love for Bastien, the young and brash Knight Errant. Bastien starts the book as an annoying cad who antagonises the other characters like Varo. However, as the book continues, you eventually see that much of his brashness is an illusion, and he is a surprisingly thoughtful figure. It is a testament to how good a writer McNeill is that you end up caring for Bastien after his annoying start. Thanks to certain moments of bravery, and some notable setbacks, you really see just how noble Bastien is, and he ended up being one of my favourite characters. Finally, I must highlight Sir Leodegar of the Golden Hart, a legendary Grail Knight who accompanies the army for duty, destiny, and to protect the Handmaidens of the Lady. The epitome of the Bretonnian knightly code, Sir Leodegar is an imposing, memorable and incredibly noble figure who serves as a mentor to Varo, stealing every scene he’s in. I loved how well McNeill captured the supernatural nature of the Grail Knights, and the depiction of this ethereal figure is quite fascinating, especially as the author also looks at the dark side of their duty. These characters, and more, really enhanced Lords of the Lance’s great narrative, and I love the unique storylines that McNeill wove around them.
My love for Warhammer audiobooks is well known, so naturally I listened to Lords of the Lance. Coming in at just over 12 hours, this is a decently long Warhammer audiobook that I was able to power through in short order. I felt that the audiobook format did an outstanding job bringing this elaborate and intense story to life, and you really get a sense of the intense action, powerful characters, and the amazing scenery when you have it read out to you. I particularly enjoyed the narration by Peter Kenny, who has a well-established pedigree when it comes to narrating fantasy audiobooks. Kenny utilises a series of great voices that perfectly fit many of the characters featured within Lords of the Lance. All the main cast come across extremely well here, and I loved the determination you get through some of the main characters like Karolina and Varo, the brashness of Bastien, and other intriguing figures. I personally also thought he did a good job accurately voicing the deaf character, Sigurd, although I understand if some people found that a little controversial. Still, this was an outstanding way to enjoy this remarkable book and I would strongly recommend the audiobook version to anyone interested in checking out Lords of the Lance, although it no longer seems to be available in this format.
Graham McNeill continues to show why he is one of the best authors of Warhammer fiction as he takes readers back to the Old World in Lords of the Lance. Featuring a complex story, powerful characters, and a ton of adventure, Lords of the Lance was extremely fun to read, and I loved seeing a story set back in the iconic setting. This book is best enjoyed by established fans of the franchise, especially those who remember the Warhammer Fantasy days, although new readers will have a great time here as McNeill provides an intense and fun standalone read. Highly recommended, I hope we get more Old World books soon.
The Unseen Library 