Ragnar Blackmane Limited Edition - Review

[Vash113]

So my edition of the Ragnar Blackmane Limited Edition novel arrived yesterday and I just managed to finish reading it a few minutes ago. All things considered it's easily my favorite work from ADB, a very enjoyable read. Much like the original Ragnar series the book interposes the subject of the novel with intro and outro segments featuring modern-day Ragnar and his company's exploits. The main body of the novel details Ragnar's history with the previous Skjald of the Thunderfist Great Company, Nalfir Razortongue and their joint mission to return a Flesh Tearers frigate to the chapter and bring an end to the conflict between the two chapters.

 

Though the novel primarily follows Ragnar the novel does give some interesting details of the Flesh Tearers and their homeworld, Cretacia and as such is easily a good read even for Flesh Tearers fans who enjoyed any of the previous Black Library works about the chapter.

 

Despite the good things there were a few hitches that I noticed. Firstly after the intro when the story set in 959.M41 begins, Ulrik the Slayer is described as being a member of Ragnar's strike force fighting alongside the Dark Angels but just pages later when the strike force regroups with the rest of the Thunderfist Great Company Ulrik is described as having never been there but rather as serving alongside the Great Company of Gunnar Red Moon deployed relatively nearby and the Thunderfist Company must wait days for Ulrik to arrive. This strikes me as the result of a change in story direction that ADB forgot to go back and retroactively adjust the first chapter to align with. A small mistake but one that had me scratching my chin for a bit wondering if I'd misread.

 

Second, and fairly inconsequential, ADB describes Wolf Scouts as still being part of the Great Wolf's Company, assigned to the others as needed, rather than the newer material which has Wolf Scouts as actively part of each Great Company. To be fair this is a fairly recent change and one many aren't aware of and IMO can be easily overlooked.

 

Other than that the current day material does add some interesting details to the 40k lore including more information on the battle for cadia and the forces fighting there, as well as revealing that the supposedly extinct Shadow Wolves, described in Helsreach, still exist, or at least a strike force of them present on Cadia at least still exist. The book also gives some more information on Inquisitor Annika Jarlsdottir from Battle of the Fang, last seen fighting alongside the Flesh Tearers never to be seen again.

 

As for the limited edition, it's nice, a magnet clasped case with ribbon for easy removal of the book, leather book cover with stamped Fenrisian runes along the edges and a depiction of Ragnar's Great Company Banner on the cover and a ribbon bookmark. It's nice, worth the cost IMO but only for those who like the collectors look. For everyone else its a nice book but waiting for a paperback and/or non-LE edition to come out, probably in one to two years, is a more practical approach. Which is unfortunate IMO as this book is the first major expansion of Ragnar's lore we've seen in ages, even more than Sanctus Reach.

 

So that concludes my thoughts on the book without giving too many spoilers on the plot and content. Lemme know what you guys think, if anyone else has bought the book and/or read it chime in with your thoughts!

[Valerian]

 

Second, and fairly inconsequential, ADB describes Wolf Scouts as still being part of the Great Wolf's Company, assigned to the others as needed, rather than the newer material which has Wolf Scouts as actively part of each Great Company. To be fair this is a fairly recent change and one many aren't aware of and IMO can be easily overlooked.

 

 

That change was made over 15 years ago, so it's not that new. 

[Frater Cornelius]

So.. you think it is worth the purchase? I am eyeing it, but I can not give myself the final push, when I check that price tag.

[godking]

Finished it today good book.

 

ADB is the best writer currently working for the balck library.

 

The wolves are my second favorite chapter  its easy to see why they can be both the best friends to have at your side and the biggest jackasses you ever have to deal with at the same time.

 

Scarath's get the :cuss over yourself speech to Ragnar was completly valid and long in coming.