Curse of the Necrarch - Steven Savile

When I was at school I had a couple of mates who played bloodbowl and lent me X-Men comics and Warhammer books. I loved them, but A Levels happened and then we all left and I haven't read any Warhammer since, nor did I ever find out how the whole Psylocke and Revanche (sp?) story line ended.
Anyway, my husband recently hurt his back and I was trying to think of things we could do together that were challenging enough to be interesting but light and fun too. I came home with Warhammer 40,000 and the first Black Library book I have read in over 13 years.

Curse of the Nerarch sees the men of Grimminhagen take on the vile Necrarch and his army of the dead. There are vampires in this book, vile rotting things, controlling mindless zombies and marching across the lands of man in search of a hidden treasure. The Thralls have their own agendas and aging warrior Reinhardt Metzger has decided that beating them back from the town is not enough, he must ensure they never return.

I really enjoyed it. It took me right back to curling up on my bed devouring borrowed books when I was at school. Saville is an excellent writer and the story was gripping. It's a grim and hopeless tale and somehow, knowing that it is not going to end at all well, for anyone, I still couldn't wait to know what happened. The characters are just deep and complex enough for a book essentially about a load of soldiers trying to kill a load of zombies. There were people it was possible to care about and creatures is was easy to despise and a whole bunch of nameless cannon fodder. Saville also supplied a satisfying ending which I will say no more about. Even if you have never hung out, or wanted to hang out, in Games Workshop working on your strategy then you can still enjoy this book. Now if you'll excuse me, I have orcs to build.