Brothers Of The Snake, Worth It? (WH40K)

[Aaron]

I have some extra money kicking around from my birthday and I'm eyeing up Brothers of the Snake, can anyone tell me if it's worth it? Seeing as I can get Sons of Fenris and Wolfblade together for the same price, I want to make sure that this won't turn out to be an abortion.

Oh and Chapters/Coles told me that the new Primer isn't in stock due to none being available from the publisher. Anyone know what's going on there, it hasn't been discontinued already I hope.

[UCBooties]

Brothers of the Snake is awesome. I read it in just about a single sitting, while on vacation. That's how wrapped up in it I got. Classic awesomeness from Dan Abnett.

[white_rabbit]

Wolfblade is good as well, but Son's of Fenris isn't that good, the Chaos champion character that is Ragnar's nemesis goes from sarcastic, smooth villain to moustache twirling idiot, and it generally doesn't feel like part of the series.

Brothers of the Snake is absolutely worth it though, and you can pick wolfblade up later ?

[Aaron]

I can pick up either Brothers of the Snake and another book or get three if I don't get BotS.

[white_rabbit]

I can pick up either Brothers of the Snake and another book or get three if I don't get BotS.

Brothers of the Snake and Wolfblade then, Wolfblade is chronologically before Sons of Fenris, its a better book as well.

[Aaron]

Sounds good, if anyone wants to add in anymore input than please do so before 0815 EST. That's when I'll be heading into town to order them.

[Tyrian2000]

Seriously, Brothers of the Snake is awesome. If not, read it just for the first story. It´s hilarious.

[Dartzap]

I quite liked it, certainly Ravenor Rogue, possibly? That's out in paperback now as well.

[Aaron]

I don't suppose there is a Ravenor Omnibus? I don't see anything on Black Library's site.

I was also looking at Faith and Fire but the sample wasn't to encouraging.

[Aaron]

FFS, I just noticed I was looking at BotS in hardcover, which explains the price. The paperback won't be out until April. So I'll be happy to hear any suggestions on other options.

I can get all three Ravenor books within my budget and pick up Wolfblade and BotS later on seeing as I pick up one a month. Now that I know BotS isn't actually twice the price, I can get it any time.

[Kuja]

Brothers of the Snake is one of the few books I didn't bother waiting for to come out in paperback, and I do not regret the decision. The book is fucking fantastic. If for nothing else, it's worth the cover price just to see a dreadnought deliver a good old-fashioned verbal smackdown to a chapter master.

[Aaron]

It has been done. The Ravenor series has been ordered and should be at the store in five days. Final decision was my son's, who thought the skulls on the covers were cool.

[white_rabbit]

It has been done. The Ravenor series has been ordered and should be at the store in five days. Final decision was my son's, who thought the skulls on the covers were cool.

As good a reason as any to decide between BoS and Ravenor!

[Annatar Giftbringer]

If for nothing else, it's worth the cover price just to see a dreadnought deliver a good old-fashioned verbal smackdown to a chapter master.

What? Sounds great, could you elaborate please?

[Kuja]

If for nothing else, it's worth the cover price just to see a dreadnought deliver a good old-fashioned verbal smackdown to a chapter master.

What? Sounds great, could you elaborate please?

I'll put it in spoilertext:

The higher-ups of the Iron Snakes are arguing over what course of action to take after a disastrous outing against a massive ork army. Chapter Master Seydon is arguing with his Chief Librarian, Petrok when Autocholus the dreadnought intervenes.

SEYDON: *to Petrok* The devil is in you, boy.
AUTOCHOLUS: *from the back* Then let's hear what the devil has to say for himself.
*whispers around the room in surprise, nobody knew the dreadnought was listening*
SEYDON: Venerable Autocholus, you are awake?
AUTOCHOLUS: Of course I'm awake. The noise you idiots make, it's hard to sleep.

[Annatar Giftbringer]

If for nothing else, it's worth the cover price just to see a dreadnought deliver a good old-fashioned verbal smackdown to a chapter master.

What? Sounds great, could you elaborate please?

I'll put it in spoilertext:

The higher-ups of the Iron Snakes are arguing over what course of action to take after a disastrous outing against a massive ork army. Chapter Master Seydon is arguing with his Chief Librarian, Petrok when Autocholus the dreadnought intervenes.

SEYDON: *to Petrok* The devil is in you, boy.
AUTOCHOLUS: *from the back* Then let's hear what the devil has to say for himself.
*whispers around the room in surprise, nobody knew the dreadnought was listening*
SEYDON: Venerable Autocholus, you are awake?
AUTOCHOLUS: Of course I'm awake. The noise you idiots make, it's hard to sleep.

hahaha, that's a good one!

[Bob the Gunslinger]

I'm waiting for the paperback, too, although I've already read the hardcover. It's definitely better than any other book about Space Marines, except possibly for Space Wolf or Wolfblade. I recommend that you get Wolfblade eventually if you are a fan of Ragnar or the Space Wolves.

Ravenor is more of a "meh" for me, although I enjoyed the last one in the series. It's really a shame that the Black Library hasn't reprinted Execution Hour because that was one of my all-time favorites.

Not to hijack this thread too much, but I wonder if anyone has read or can review any of the newer BL books to come out, like Scourge of the Heretic, Hammer of Daemons or Desert Raiders? How about any of the WHF books?

[Kuja]

I just finished Hammer of Daemons and I thought it was a fun, diverting head trip. But I like Justicar Alaric, so I might be prejudiced.

Desert Raiders isn't a terribly bad book, if you don't mind the whole "MUSLIMS - IN SPAAAAAAACE!" theme that pervades it. I enjoyed the roughousing between the 'nids and the guard.

As for WHF, I just picked up Oathbreaker but haven't started it yet.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

Desert Raiders isn't a terribly bad book, if you don't mind the whole "MUSLIMS - IN SPAAAAAAACE!" theme that pervades it. I enjoyed the roughousing between the 'nids and the guard.

Well, I did quite enjoy Rebel Winter, and that was "RUSSIANS - IN SPAAAAAAAACE!" Plus I'm a big 'Nid fanwhore, so I'll get it.

Please let me know about Oathbreaker, as I'm eyeing that one rather steadily.

The most recent WHF book I read was Guardians of Ulthuan, which I had a little trouble getting into as I am not a fan of elves. The book is very interesting in that it is essentially a long advertisement for the new High Elves line of models thinly plastered into an epic battle style story, but I have to give some respect to Graham MacNeil for making it work. Heck, I'm actually looking forward to the next one, damned cliffhanger. Also, this book is slightly more mature than most WH novels, what with a few sex scenes and blatant eroticism infusing some of the Slaaneshi cultist and Dark Elf scenes. It may not have been spelled out in so many words, but I like to believe that Morathi promised the Slaaneshi champion some ass-to-mouth action as reward for a victory...

[RazorOutlaw]

Well, I did quite enjoy Rebel Winter, and that was "RUSSIANS - IN SPAAAAAAAACE!" Plus I'm a big 'Nid fanwhore, so I'll get it.

I just ordered that book. Although the cover featured Russian-esque Guardsmen fighting Orks, I had no idea the book would basically be dripping the same flavor. As someone who has interest in Russian military history (and by extension the culture too) this is a perk in my eyes.

[Aaron]

I'm waiting for the paperback, too, although I've already read the hardcover. It's definitely better than any other book about Space Marines, except possibly for Space Wolf or Wolfblade. I recommend that you get Wolfblade eventually if you are a fan of Ragnar or the Space Wolves.

Ravenor is more of a "meh" for me, although I enjoyed the last one in the series. It's really a shame that the Black Library hasn't reprinted Execution Hour because that was one of my all-time favorites.

Not to hijack this thread too much, but I wonder if anyone has read or can review any of the newer BL books to come out, like Scourge of the Heretic, Hammer of Daemons or Desert Raiders? How about any of the WHF books?

Wolfblade is my next purchase for sure. I ordered Scourge of the Heretic on the 20th but it's not released till the 26th, so I'm not sure when it will get here but if anyones interested in a review than let me know and I'll try and write one.

I haven't read much of Abnett. I liked Horus Rising and Eisenhorn but I can't get into the Ghosts series.

Inquisition War looked really good but of course it was out of stock.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

I found the first Gaunt's Ghosts book to be difficult to read and it put me off the series for quite a while. The second, Ghostmaker, was a better introduction to the characters and to their situation, but it is the third book, Necropolis where things get really interesting. In fact, I think Necropolis might be my favorite of the ghosts books, although Sabbat Martyr makes a good case, too.

Another good Abnett one, although not as good as Brothers of the Snake, is Double Eagle. If you can get past the Battle-of-Britain style aircraft, the story is quite engaging and the ending satisfying.

I found the Inquisition War trilogy to be unreadable, and aside from some nice short stories and some bizarre older fluff (hello squats!) you haven't really missed much.


You have read the Ciaphas Cain novels, right? Because if you haven't, then I'm going to negate all of my previous recommendations and tell you to read Ciaphas Cain instead! I can't wait for the next one, Cain's Last Stand.

[Lost Soal]

Scourge is a fun read which focuses on an Inquisitorial retinue rather than the Inquisitors. First in a series with quite a lot of hints, suggestions and mysteries about events to come.
The retinue includes a Redemptionist teen turned trained Imperial Assassin, a former Arbites officer, a psyker and former lover of the inquisitor and a Tech Priest with an actual character.
I'll definitely be continuing the series when he gets round to it.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

Oh and Chapters/Coles told me that the new Primer isn't in stock due to none being available from the publisher. Anyone know what's going on there, it hasn't been discontinued already I hope.

Get it on Amazon. I've ordered such "accessory" books before and have had a lot of trouble getting them from Borders or Barnes and Noble, at least in a timely manner. I can only assume that Chapters and Coles use the same distribution method which will make it difficult and time consuming for you.
If you know someone who works at one of those stores, you might convince them to order it to store stock, but it will still take a while, and I doubt they would take the risk for a relatively obscure property. By the time the order gets to the right people, the book might be out of print--Black Library is notorious for this, especially in the US.

As for the BL paperback novels, you can often get them at major book retailers in the US a week or two before they are actually released, even before they show up at the local GW, because they are not actually considered "laydowns". For example, Scourge of the Heretic and Hammer of Daemons are both available at my local Borders right now.

[Lost Soal]

Oh and Chapters/Coles told me that the new Primer isn't in stock due to none being available from the publisher. Anyone know what's going on there, it hasn't been discontinued already I hope.

On the contrary, its being reprinted. The BL site says it'll be available at the end of Feb. Don't know if that includes the US but it should be getting further prints as well.