Good start but it really fell away in the second half. Too many tedious action sequences and the writing wasn't sharp like Abnett usually is. ( )

Set in the Warhammer shared universe setting, this is the first in a trilogy about Malus Darkblade, a dark elf pirate/raider sort of noble birth who is sort of a Elric-type of fellow (from Michael Moorcock's Elric novels). The setting is wonderfully grim and grotesque and the world-building feels fairly effortless, but after the initial excitement the charm starts to wear off a little as the plot progresses in an episodic encounter fashion. Thankfully its not a very long book so it doesn't outstay its welcome by much. Overall there are some fabulous set-pieces but the storyline is fairly predictable. ( )