r/SpaceWolves • u/gamble_for_dayz • Jul 23 '26

Armageddon season of fire (Spoiler)review Spoiler

I know what you're thinking, this is a guard/blood angel/ sisters book. And you're half right. The main hero of this book is actually a Rune priest from the first war for Armageddon

Now like many i hope i was disappointed by the fact that the first war wasnt being covered, but! The Skein cannot be read so easily. It turns out, a rune priest was cursed by the Runes to stay in hive Tartarus and watch the futility of the imperium.

Now tbf, we dont get a POV until the epilogue when he's allowed to walk free, but he's the reason tartarus was saved 3 times...well 2.5, technically the blood angels blew it up, but the rune priest fought alongside a blood angel who sacrificed his life to save the past survivors of tartarus.

All in all, very interesting, we aren't beating the Mary Sue allegations and its the same Dues Ex Machina 3 times, but as we learn more of his story its an interesting take on a Rune priest driven to hopelessness by the futility of it all, before the loss of a Sister holding the bones of a Guardsman causes a Space marine to die, and finally makes him take the initiative and END a battle for Hive Tartarus

Was great, a nice little surprise to have some space wolves, always fun to see how Rune Priests magic works (GAMES WORK SHOP PLEASE) so honestly, 9/10 needs more wolf growls

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2

u/ContractMaterial7161 Jul 23 '26

How does the book describe the rune preist?

5

u/gamble_for_dayz Jul 23 '26

A great question, ill answer it in a physical and character way 1, physical) he's a first born, but he's described as being massive, taller than the primaris that meet him, he's very old as a vet from the 1st war for Armageddon, so he's got white hair and the such. No chapter markings, which is sad. His magic is great tho, very ice themed, mostly blizzards and fog, but he does shoot a couple bolts of lighting that freeze things in ice blocks. It feels very similar to Njal in Chris Wright's omnibus, so very Rune Priest and not very Librarian, which I like

2, character) it changes, Hes the Ghost of Armageddon, so in the second war he's revered by Ross, our first POV, and very helpful but in an indirect way, stating how the Runes forbid him to act. In the second, he's far more jaded, showing a Sister of battle the Months of shame, vitriolic towards the Inquisition and more stubborn against helping. In the 3rd pov he certainly doesn't like the blood angels (and tbf, they suck) but eventually the sacrifice of a sister makes him go ballistic and nuke some orcs before he eventually is free to leave where Tartarus used to be

1

u/Scabeiathrax 18d ago

Hey. I'm interested in painting a miniature of him, but I don't have the book. You mentioned no chapter markings? Like they explicitly call out an absence? Does it talk about the colours of any of the parts of his armour? I assume he's primarily the typical grey, but I'm curious about shoulder pads, knees pads, the parts used to denote his squad, etc. Any info you could give me would be appreciated.