Viewing the worlds of Warhammer through the eyes of those who exist within it offers a completely different view of what life is really like when compared to the lore of the setting. That’s where Black Library comes in. Back in May, we began looking at some of the best Black Library books with which to immerse yourself in the Mortal Realms if you’re new to the setting. We kicked things off with some excellent choices from the perspective of the forces of Order. This time around, we’re checking out some fantastic reading options from the other three Grand Alliances – Death, Destruction, and Chaos.Let’s start with Death, as Nagash is a vengeful god and may take things personally if we don’t…
Grand Alliance Death
The thing with being undead is that it can have an adverse effect on your personality – especially if you happen to be a Zombie or Skeleton. Luckily, the most powerful lords of the dead retain all the cruel, malicious intellect that saw them become Nagash’s foremost lieutenants in the first place. Our suggested novels are therefore, perhaps unsurprisingly, centered around the Mortarchs of Death.
First up is Lady of Sorrows, by C L Werner, which sees the Twinned Towns of Westreach and Eastdale in Shyish beset by Lady Olynder and her spectral Nighthaunt minions. How can the courage of mortals hold when faced by such dread and seemingly unkillable foes?
Heading over to Nulahmia, the city ruled over by the first of the Vampires, Neferata: The Dominion of Bone sees the Mortarch of Blood threatened from seemingly every angle. David Annandale’s novel reveals the true nature of Neferata – and shows the lengths to which she’ll go to retain her lofty position.
Meanwhile, if you wish to read more about Nagash’s newest undead creations, the Ossiarch Bonereapers, then David Guymer’s aptly named Bonereapers, from Black Library’s Novella Series 3, has you covered.
Grand Alliance Destruction
Orruks, ogors, gargants, and more fall beneath the banner of Destruction, and since the return of Kragnos, The End of Empires, tribes beyond count of these savage and brutish warriors have been on the warpath.
If it’s greenskins that float your boat in Warhammer Age of Sigmar, look no further than Andy Clark’s Gloomspite. Grots are every bit the stars of the show as Skragrott the Loonking sets his glistening red eyes upon the city of Draconium in Aqshy. Can the city’s defenders undermine Skragrott’s plans, or will the ingenious Loonking finally get his night under the Bad Moon?
Grand Alliance Chaos
Those born with a megalomaniacal streak often turn to the worship of the Dark Gods in a bid to increase their power. Yet such infernal glory is reserved for only the mightiest, most determined champions of Chaos – the vast majority are known as Slaves to Darkness with good reason…
If you’ve pledged your allegiance to Archaon Everchosen, then there’s no better place to start reading about his dread domain, the Eightpoints, and the denizens who dwell there than with Warcry: The Anthology. Featuring six tales, each focusing on one of the original tribes of Warcry from the perspective of a different Black Library author, the book offers a fascinating insight into the culture of the Slaves to Darkness. Warcry: The Anthology will leave you wanting more, which you can totally have with Richard Strachan’s novel, Warcry: Blood of the Everchosen!
Our final recommendation is Scourge of Fate by Robbie MacNiven, which weaves a thrilling tale of the Varanguard, who serve as Archaon’s dread champions and elite inner circle. To rise so high in the esteem of the Three-Eyed King is hard enough, but to remain there is another challenge entirely…
You can get the ebooks of all these stories – and many more – on BlackLibrary.com now, and if audiobooks are your jam, there are loads just waiting for you to download on the Black Library Audio app and Audible. If you prefer physical copies, head on over to the games-workshop.com to find hardback and paperback books of stories from across the worlds of Warhammer. Whatever books you choose, let us know which ones you’re reading on our Black Library Facebook page.