Teaser

Ufthak Blackhawk is back, and he’s bigger and angrier than ever. Always on the hunt and spoiling for a new war, Ufthak may finally have met his match when he crosses paths with the drukhari . . .

Review

First off, a little bit of background reading. Because where would tie-in fiction be without one novel connecting to another and another? Brutal Kunnin felt like a standalone, but as any Black Library reader knows, standalones usually have series potential. Brooks’ next orks novel was another standalone, Warboss, though Ufthak Blackhawk did make a very brief appearance towards the end. It’s only natural then, that Ufthak’s first proper sequel should pick up on plots and character (and characters who are plotting) from both novels. Snaggi the gobbo plays a major role here, and the events of Warboss are mentioned on multiple occasions. You could still make sense of Da Big Dakka without having read either prior novel, but you’ll definitely get more out of it if you have read what comes before.

As some of you are aware, I’ve had a rough month both personally and professionally. The first half of March has seen me running on five hours’ sleep a night and all the hassle and stresses of lambing. This unique combination really does a number on the brain’s ability to understand the printed word. What I needed was a book that wouldn’t tax my brainpower too much. You don’t come less mentally taxing than the brainless destruction of the orks.

There is, however, a stumbling block in terms of reading comprehension. Mike Brooks is brilliant at getting into the mindset of the orks. Orks, as it turns out, are ragebound simpletons. The book, therefore, is written accordingly. Words are spelled phonetically, new words are invented, and investing words are applied incorrectly. It is completely in character for the orks, and Brooks pulls it off brilliantly. But – and it’s a big but – it doesn’t make for the easiest piece of reading when you’re deprived of sleep.

Sidestepping that issue leads us to the core appeal of the book. It’s very entertaining. Of course, there’s a perfectly compelling action narrative as orks and drukhari clash in a number of new and violent ways. Murder and mayhem are the order of the day here, and Brooks always delivers the goods. The drukhari sections – not written on ork vernacular – offer hints of a culture of byzantine scheming and internal strife, and offer a unique perspective on how it feels to be faced with an orkish onslaught. We’ve seen the Imperium of Man beset by the green fiends many times, so getting a xenos perspective on the matter helps keep things fresh.

Then there’s the hour. Orks are uniquely positioned to bring a bit of levity to the grim darkness of the far future, and Brooks is a natural fit for the madcap tone. Ufthak’s unending enthusiasm for violence is on point, but the antics of Snaggi and his ilk are comedy gold. The constant inept scheming of the lowest of the low in orkish culture is the perfect counterpoint to the brooding drukhari, and a welcome return to themes displayed in recent ‘Red Gobbo’ novellas.

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that this is the greatest book ever written, but it was definitely the right novel at the right time. Something to get those grimdark synapses flaring again. It made me chuckle, it made me smile, and it made me keep turning the pages. What more can you ask from a book like this?

Book Stats

• Ufthak Blackhawk #2
• Published 2024 by Black Library
• 317 Pages