Book Review // Angels of Caliban by Gav Thorpe
Night Lords, Dark Angels and Gav Thorpe. What more could I possibly want from a Horus Heresy novel?
In my latest Adventures with Peps book review, I'm diving into Angels of Caliban. A story packed with Primarchs, political intrigue, ancient grudges and some major revelations about the Fallen. From Luther's continued development to Konrad Curze stealing the show, there's plenty to get excited about!
Plus, all that backstabbing and power-grabbing has got me thinking... could a would-be king trying to protect his people inspire a new Sector 102 adventure?
Come and find out!
The Lurker at the Threshold – H. P. Lovecraft & August Derleth
Horror season is upon Ottawa, which means Pumpkin Spice Lattes and a healthy dose of eldritch horror! I'm diving into my thrift-store haul of H.P. Lovecraft, starting with The Lurker at the Threshold by Lovecraft and August Derleth. An ancient house, occult secrets, and Elder Gods… sounds promising, right? Well, let's just say this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. DROKK!
Horror Review // The Pear-Shaped Man by George R.R. Martin
Ever met a Pear-Shaped Man?
George R.R. Martin’s horror has left me thoroughly creeped out and feeling a little gross in my soul! Forget dragons and epic fantasy, this is horror that gets under your skin, builds a horrible sense of dread, and makes you want the main character to RUN!
Horror Review // The Juniper Tree by Peter Straub
My journey into modern horror continues with Peter Straub’s The Juniper Tree, and, DROKK, I was not prepared for this one. I went looking for ghosts and movie-style monsters, but found something far more disturbing: the dark side of humanity.
As a parent, this story hit me hard. A powerful read, but one that came with a serious emotional cost. My latest horror review is up on Adventures with Peps. Read with caution.
Book Review // The Greater Festival of Masks by Thomas Ligotti
A strange city, a festival of masks, and a world where nothing is quite what it seems! I'm continuing my dive into modern horror with Thomas Ligotti's The Greater Festival of Masks. The atmosphere was wonderfully creepy, but I'll admit, I got a little lost in the plot!
Book Review // Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament by Clive Barker
After Dancing Chickens left me cold, I turned to Clive Barker for another dose of horror! Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament delivers some wonderfully gruesome body horror, but did the story hit the mark? My latest book review is up on Adventures with Peps!
Book Review // Dancing Chickens by Edward Bryant
I've taken a little break from my Halloween reading and wandered into Modern Horror with Edward Bryant's Dancing Chickens.
Sadly… this one didn't really do it for me.
Aliens, abuse, a very disturbing chicken puppet and an interesting idea about humanity becoming someone else's plaything, but unfortunately, the execution left me cold.
Book Review // Halloween Kills: The Official Movie Novelization by Tim Waggoner
Michael Myers is back… and apparently he's still the fastest slow-walker in horror.
I'm continuing my October Halloween reading with Halloween Kills: The Official Movie Novelization by Tim Waggoner.
More character depth, more blood, more Michael, and a whole lot of people making terrible decisions.
Book Review // Halloween: The Official Movie Novelization by John Passarella
Halloween is here!
I'm revisiting Michael Myers, but this time in book form with Halloween: The Official Movie Novelization by John Passarella.
It's tense, creepy and surprisingly detailed, giving us a deeper look into the characters, and even a little more insight into Michael himself.
Book Review // Star Wars: The High Republic – Escape from Valo
A ruined zoo. Three young Jedi. One mechanic who's suddenly found himself in charge. And a teenage pirate who probably isn't going to make things any easier!
I'm heading back to the High Republic with Escape from Valo by Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong.
Book Review // The Fall of Deadworld Omnibus by Matthew Smith
Time for some Dredd! I've stepped away from Warhammer and into the wonderfully messed-up world of the Dark Judges with The Fall of Deadworld.
Three stories charting the early stages of Deadworld's collapse, with Mortis, Phobia, Nausea and plenty of dark 2000 AD weirdness. Plus, naturally, I've found something to steal for Sector 102...
Book Review // Berserker: Shadow of the Wolf
I picked up Berserker: Shadow of the Wolf expecting a bloody Viking swords-and-sorcery adventure.
And bloody hell, I got one.
But underneath the violence is something much stranger — ancient gods, forgotten magic and the idea that perhaps the myths of the Viking age were a lot closer to the truth than we realise.
I got lost a few times, but I bloody enjoyed the ride.
My latest book review is up on Adventures with Peps.
Book Review // Judges Volume Two edited by Michael Carroll
It felt like it was time to get back into Judge Dredd.
I've got a few Dredd books sitting on the shelf waiting for me, and Judges Volume Two had been waiting the longest. So, eventually, I had to stop ignoring it and pick it up!
And I'm bloody glad I did.
And, naturally, I'm already wondering what bits I can nick for Sector 102...
Book Review // Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
A creepy clown, a dying town and a whole lot of dead teenagers.
I went looking for a fun, bloody slasher and Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare delivered exactly that. Fast-paced, nasty and with just enough social commentary to make the carnage interesting.
But naturally, my brain couldn't leave it alone.
Because what happens when you take the idea of a harmless corporate mascot and drop it into Sector 102?
Let's just say Kidney Hut might have a problem with its marketing department...
My latest book review is up on Adventures with Peps.
Book Review // Judges: When the Light Lay Still
I’ve really enjoyed the first two books in the 2033 Judges series, Avalanche and Lone Wolf, so I was looking forward to finishing Volume 1 with When the Light Lay Still.
So what went wrong?
Book Review // The Path of Heaven by Chris Wraight
The Path of Heaven surprised me. I'm still not a huge fan of the White Scars, but Chris Wraight delivers a fast-paced, action-packed novel that finally makes the wider Horus Heresy story feel like it's moving again. Great characters, plenty of mystery, and some fantastic traitor forces make this a very enjoyable read — even if the White Scars still haven't won me over!
Book Review // Fires of Scorpio by Alan Burt Akers
Stepping outside your reading comfort zone can be a rewarding experience, and Fires of Scorpio certainly did that for me. With pirates, swashbuckling adventure, and Kenneth Bulmer's classic pulp writing style, this Dray Prescot novel reminded me why it's worth exploring older science fantasy. It wasn't an instant favourite, but it was a fascinating read that broadened my appreciation for the genre.
Audio Book // Iron Corpses by David Annandale
What happens after the battle ends? Iron Corpses answers that question by placing us in the boots of an Iron Warriors Warsmith struggling to survive the toxic aftermath of Tallarn. With a fascinating traitor perspective, plenty of tension, and one particularly haunting encounter, this short audio drama proves that some of the Horus Heresy's best stories happen long after the guns fall silent.
Audio Review // The Eagle's Talon by John French
What happens when the Imperial Fists are forced to fight in the shadows instead of standing proudly behind their walls? The Eagle's Talon is a tense, cleverly presented audio drama told through recovered vox transmissions, creating one of the most immersive Horus Heresy stories I've listened to so far. Add in some unexpected moral conflict within the Imperial Fists, and this short tale becomes a real hidden gem.
Audio Review // The Herald of Sanguinius by Andy Smillie
Could I actually be turning into a Blood Angels fan? The Herald of Sanguinius is another fantastic short story from Andy Smillie, proving that you don't need explosive battles to tell a compelling Warhammer tale. Set during the uneasy days of Imperium Secundus, it's packed with tension, character development, and fascinating lore that left me wanting a full novel. Here's why this twenty-minute audio drama made such an impression.