Questions and reviews about new 40k books

[Bob the Gunslinger]

First of all, has anyone read Star of Damocles? Is it any good at all? I want some more decent space battles, but not if they wreck SOD.

Anyway, I've read some negative reviews of Inquisition, but mostly having to deal with the content. What I want to know is: how is the art? Does it have a lot of artwork? Is it high-quality or original?

How is the Adeptus Munitorum manual?

What does everyone think of Rebel Winter? I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The writer has some skill and with a bit more experience I think he could make into the top 5 of BL authors. That's not to say that the book is brilliant, but there are a lot of little flourishes, like the sniper and Sebastev's memories of previous campaigns, and some brief atmospherics, that remind me of Abnett's early work. Also, the very ending has a nice hook for a sequel. (I don't mean the Lol Rare Inquisitors moment, but rather the captive's last scene.)
Also, I kind of want to see a pic captioned "On Old Vostroya, Ork Outwits You!"


Anyway, I also have a few Warhammer fantasy questions. Having just purchased some plastic figurines...imagine that... I now am curious about Empire Wizards, and if there are any decent books about them. Or really if any really good WHFB books have come out recently at all.

Also, what do you think of the Life of Sigmar?

[Imperial Overlord]

Let me field the Imperial Wizards question, since I can.

Their are a couple of novels that treat wizards decently, with the Felix and Gotrek series and Magestorm being the ones that come to mind.

The best source material on them is the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay supplement Realms of Sorcery, which fluff wise is centered on the practice of magic in the Empire (and there is a lot of fluff in the book).

The quick rundown of them is that the Imperial Colleges of Magic were formed during the reign of Magnus the Pious and the Great Invasion of Chaos. He asked the High Elves for aid, but they had a war going on so they sent three High Mages, lead by the legendary Teclis. They gathered human magic users (at this time, the practice was illegal in the Empire) from the Empire and beyond under an amnesty and tested them. The destroyed the corrupt and kept the worthy.

Unlike elves, humans can only develop a strong sensitivity to one of the eight colours of magic. So the elves gave them simplified training in the colour each one had aptitude for and lead them into battle against Chaos. Afterwards, their status was confirmed by an Imperial Charter and the Colleges of Magic have served the Empire ever since.

As each wind is associated with different physical and emotional phenomena, Imperial Wizards are easily stereotyped as having certain traits based on the colour they wield. Light are philosophical, Bright Wizards are passionate, Amethyst are cold and restrained and so on and so forth.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

So magestorm was good?

I'd really rather buy novels than more supplements. I've already bough enough codices that I don't want to start buying WHFRP all willy-nilly. Keeping that in mind, I might howver be inyerested in Life of Sigmar or Witch Hunters Handbk.

[Imperial Overlord]

So magestorm was good?

Magestorm was merely average, but it's central character is a Bright Wizard so it gives you a good feel for Imperial Wizards and magic.