Teaser

In the Imperium of Man, there is no higher calling than to die for the Emperor. Lazarus has done exactly this, yet death is not always the end. Resurrected to fight once more, Lazarus must face horrors undreamed of in the minds of mortals . . .

Review

People read blogs like this one because they want to read reviews of books. They want to know if those books are worth buying, if the reward is worth the investment. As such, it’s no surprise that newer, more expensive, books are the ones people want to read about. I don’t actually do a whole lot of that sort of review. Aside from generally being a fan of older works, there aren’t a whole lot of new books that I’ll risk good money on without knowing something about what I’m going to get. That’s why the newer books I buy and review tend to be from familiar authors. Or familiar franchises.

Lazarus: Enmity’s Edge is the first 2024 release I’ve read this year, and it’s worth noting that , aside from short fiction, I haven’t read Kloster’s work before. This isn’t his first book, nor even his first Black Library outing, but it is his Warhammer 40,000 novel debut. It’s a story of the dark Angels, those cowled and edgy defenders of the Imperium, in particular the character of Lazarus, who surely graces many a gaming table. Beyond all that, it’s also a really good book.

What make Enmity’s Edge work for me is not the space marines. They’re fine, and the action is as thick and fast as you’d expect from the grimdark future. Lazarus and his squad all fit the standard roles, but all are memorable in their own way. The enemies are even more interesting. There’s some nice feuding between a Knight household and the Mechanicus group they awkwardly share their world with, which provides plenty of drama before, during, and after, the main threat becomes apparent. Kloster delivers the gore with a truly monstrous take on the old space zombies trope. It’s something a little different from the poxwalkers you might expect, and the book gets good mileage out of the foe.

All of this is good, but what really makes the book can be found in the character of Ysentrud. She is effectively a living encyclopaedia, which is in itself a fascinating idea. There’s a little of Dune‘s mentat school about her, but the emphasis is very much on historical knowledge. I love seeing this evolution of the oral storytelling tradition. Not only does it make sense as a concept, but it also enriches the universe. Furthermore, it couples nicely with Lazarus’ own investigations of Dark Angel history. Here there is no oral memory, but ancient scrolls which must be painstakingly translated. It’s a small thing, but one that adds an extra level to both character and novel.

Action, intrigue, and innovation make for a novel that’s sure to entertain. I may not leave with a full understanding of the title character, but I’ve certainly enjoyed the time spent with him.

Book Stats

• A Standalone Novel
• Focuses on the Dark Angels
• Published in 2024 by Black Library
• 310 Pages