Spear of Shadows (novel)
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| Author(s) | Josh Reynolds |
| Cover Artist | Johan Grenier |
| Released | 2017 |
| ISBN | 978-1-78572-728-3 |
| Preceded by | Auction of Blood |
| Followed by | The Tainted Axe Eight Lamentations: War-Claw |
Spear of Shadows is a novel by Josh Reynolds. It is the first in a trilogy of books centered around the search for the Eight Lamentations. It was originally published in the UK in 2017 by Black Library.
Cover Description
In the beginning, there was fire. And from fire came eight weapons of terrible power, honed to a killing edge by the chosen weaponsmiths of Khorne. Now, as the Mortal Realms echo with the thunder of war, the great powers hunt the eight wherever they might be found – whatever the cost. In a city of prophecy and secrets, Grungni, smith-god of the duardin, gathers together a group of mortal warriors from across the realms in order to seek the first of the eight. But they are not alone in their quest; agents of the Ruinous Powers want the weapon for themselves. Now the race is on, as man, duardin and daemon alike seek to claim the Spear of Shadows...[1]
Synopsis
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This page contains spoilers for: | Spear of Shadows (novel) |
The story begins in the forge of the smith god Grungni who is attacked by a daemon sent by his former student Volundr of Hesphut, he defeats it with ease and hammers it into a new form and hence sees visions of the Eight Lamentations, powerful weapons forged by Chaos. He institutes a search for these artefacts, aware that other powers in the world are doing the same.
The search for the first weapon, Gung, the weapon named in the title of the novel, takes the varied protagonists through the Realms and to various exotic locations such as Shu'gohl, the Crawling City and the Forest of Gorch. They encounter a wide variety of allies and enemies from various greenskins, skaven and vampires through to the Great King, a gigantic megalofin that once fought Gorkamorka himself.
The climax of the story takes place as the various parties clash around and within the massive Warp-wheel of the renegade Warlock Engineer Quell as all parties attempt to take possession of the weapon within his weapon.
Characters
The books has a large cast of well drawn and interesting characters, the main players are listed below:
- Lady Adhema of Nulahmia and the court of the Queen of Mysteries, a vampire warrior.
- Ahazian Kel, Champion of Khorne, last hero of the Ekran.
- Njord Brondt, Captain of the Zank (Cleaver), a Kharadron Overlords Makaisson-class hauler.
- Grungni, Lord of all Forges and Master-Smith.
- Lugash, son of no runefather, scion of no lodge; A fyreslayer Doomseeker.
- Neferata, Queen of Mysteries, Chatelaine of the Last High House, and Mortarch of Blood.
- Nyoka Su'al'gohl, war-priestess of Sahg'mahr, a member of the Vurmite Order - The Order of the Worm.
- Warlock Engineer Quell, formerly of the Clan Skryre.
- Roggen, of the Ghyrwood March, a knight of the Order of the Furrow and Devoted of the Lady of Leaves, his demigryph Harrow.
- Skewerax, the Frenzy that Walked. The War-Shadow. A Verminlord Warbringer.
- Vali Ancient duardin servant of Grungni.
- Owain Volker, Gunmaster of the Ironweld Arsenal
- The Ninety-Nine Feathers, Skinchangers and sorcerers. One of the war-cabals of the Sideways City and servants of the King of All Ravens - Tzeentch.
- Volundr of Hesphut: A Skullgrinder of the Soulmaw.
- Kretch Warpfang, Grand High Clawmaster of Clan Rictus.
- Yuhdak of the Ninefold Path, last prince of the City of Tiers.
- Zana Mathos, A Sell-sword agent of Grungni. She was a freeguild captain in the city of Vindicarum.
Sources
- 1: Black Library - Eight Lamentations: Spear of Shadows (last accessed 27 November 2023)