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nassuada's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I admit the politics of the world are intriguing, and I loved the concept of the main character's arc - it's often mentioned in other novels and throughout codexes but not often we see it first-hand. But this book took so long to get somewhere, and the ending felt really rushed, and it feels like it ends halfway through the story.
I think if the author had the space of a full novel to flesh out the plot and characters more, this could've been fantastic. It's a shame that the pacing is so off, really, it's one of those books I wish I liked more because it has everything I usually love in a Black Library story.
I think if the author had the space of a full novel to flesh out the plot and characters more, this could've been fantastic. It's a shame that the pacing is so off, really, it's one of those books I wish I liked more because it has everything I usually love in a Black Library story.
ncf160's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A very good read which would have been greatly improved by having a few more chapters to deal with the ending twist
thomnorman's review
2.0
Imagine House of Cards (the good British version) but all the characters were written by a third-rate Jane Austin who lost her sense of humour. That's kinda what The Oubliette is like.
If that sounds like an unpromising premise for a horror novel, that's because this is not in the least bit horrifying. Honestly, I think I've watched scarier episodes of Garth Marenguie's Dark Place. There is a bit of gore, which is probably a touch more graphic than your average Black Library novel, but there is absolutely no tension and the plot lacks any kind of mystery of suspense.
What if we put aside the whole horror thing and just treat this book like any other Black Library novel?
There are certainly some promising elements here. We've had plenty of novels about ordinary Guard troopers and even bog-standard law enforcement in the, far more successful, Warhammer Crime series. But I can't think of a book that focuses exclusively on the high politics of planetary governors before. Ashielle, the book's main character, takes on the throne after her farther and older siblings are assassinated by a rival aristocratic family who seem to be super into BDSM for some reason. She has to assert her authority while avoiding meeting a similar fate and stabilise the political tensions now threatening to boil over on her home world. It's a promising start.
Unfortunately, I think that without the usual set-piece action scenes which characterise Black Library, nor any kind of proper mystery or plot twists, the book just didn't really have much to sustain my interest for a full novel. I cared a little bit about Ashielle, but she is neither particularly deeply, nor sympathetically, sketched out. The book is further slowed down by a largely pointless side plot involving a lower-ranking politician in which he spends most of the time being pretty bored and frustrated, leading to much the same emotions in me.
If you want palace intrigue in the 41st millennium, I'd recommend perhaps the Warhammer Crime novels Bloodlines or Flesh and Steel which play in somewhat similar territory and are far more compelling reads.
If that sounds like an unpromising premise for a horror novel, that's because this is not in the least bit horrifying. Honestly, I think I've watched scarier episodes of Garth Marenguie's Dark Place. There is a bit of gore, which is probably a touch more graphic than your average Black Library novel, but there is absolutely no tension and the plot lacks any kind of mystery of suspense.
What if we put aside the whole horror thing and just treat this book like any other Black Library novel?
There are certainly some promising elements here. We've had plenty of novels about ordinary Guard troopers and even bog-standard law enforcement in the, far more successful, Warhammer Crime series. But I can't think of a book that focuses exclusively on the high politics of planetary governors before. Ashielle, the book's main character, takes on the throne after her farther and older siblings are assassinated by a rival aristocratic family who seem to be super into BDSM for some reason. She has to assert her authority while avoiding meeting a similar fate and stabilise the political tensions now threatening to boil over on her home world. It's a promising start.
Unfortunately, I think that without the usual set-piece action scenes which characterise Black Library, nor any kind of proper mystery or plot twists, the book just didn't really have much to sustain my interest for a full novel. I cared a little bit about Ashielle, but she is neither particularly deeply, nor sympathetically, sketched out. The book is further slowed down by a largely pointless side plot involving a lower-ranking politician in which he spends most of the time being pretty bored and frustrated, leading to much the same emotions in me.
If you want palace intrigue in the 41st millennium, I'd recommend perhaps the Warhammer Crime novels Bloodlines or Flesh and Steel which play in somewhat similar territory and are far more compelling reads.
midrel's review
3.0
Though reading more like a thriller with supernatural elements than horror as such (an atmosphere much better captured by Dark Harvest) I must say this book was just as excellently written. Its main hallmark in fact was a prose that excelled at being both beautiful and darkly evocative without bogging down the story as such.
The characters themselves, while being very distinct and interesting in themselves, something even longer books sometimes utterly fail at, were also the point at which the book struggled for me. Specifically, near the end, our mc's development feels jarringly rushed. Not so much in where she ends but in how fast. This makes the denouement feel more disconcerting than... Tragic?
I really believe a somewhat slower exploration could have benefited both her and Hanrik extremely, which in turn would have likely alleviated other shaky plot points that seemed to hang on uncertainly or maybe just a little too conveniently.
Ultimately, however, the book was extremely enjoyable despite my somewhat picky perception of its flaws and its definitely recommend it to people looking for something beyond the usual War-filled fare of Warhammer books.
The characters themselves, while being very distinct and interesting in themselves, something even longer books sometimes utterly fail at, were also the point at which the book struggled for me. Specifically, near the end, our mc's development feels jarringly rushed. Not so much in where she ends but in how fast. This makes the denouement feel more disconcerting than... Tragic?
I really believe a somewhat slower exploration could have benefited both her and Hanrik extremely, which in turn would have likely alleviated other shaky plot points that seemed to hang on uncertainly or maybe just a little too conveniently.
Ultimately, however, the book was extremely enjoyable despite my somewhat picky perception of its flaws and its definitely recommend it to people looking for something beyond the usual War-filled fare of Warhammer books.
arthurbdd's review
4.0
Stearns offers a solid Warhammer 40,000 horror story, albeit with some plot developments which seem to come a little out of nowhere. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/a-house-of-hidden-depths/
trackofwords's review
4.0
Part of the growing Warhammer Horror range, The Oubliette is JC Stearns’ debut Black Library novel, a grim tale of bitter political rivalry on an isolated Imperial world. With her father and older brother dead in suspicious circumstances, Ashielle Matkosen takes up the mantle of Governor of Ceocan, trying to process her grief even as she fights to establish her reign with political enemies all around. When those enemies threaten her life, as well as her position, in desperation Ashielle turns to an ancient presence she encounters in the darkness under the palace; a creature with the power to protect her, but whose assistance comes with a high cost.
It’s essentially a morality tale – demonstrating how easily determination can turn to desperation, how one bad decision, though made with the best of intentions, can lead to damnation. Of course this is 40k and Black Library, so damnation comes in the guise of a very real, tangible evil. It’s not outright scary, certainly not in terms of jump scares or excessively graphic gore, the horror elements more about the slow descent into darkness and the underlying ghastliness of 40k. The overarching plot is excellent, it just all feels a little rushed, and could really have benefited from a longer word count to give characters more space to develop in order for arcs, relationships and individual moments to have greater impact. It’s all good…there’s just always a sense that it could have been even better in a longer format.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/03/08/the-oubliette-jc-stearns/
It’s essentially a morality tale – demonstrating how easily determination can turn to desperation, how one bad decision, though made with the best of intentions, can lead to damnation. Of course this is 40k and Black Library, so damnation comes in the guise of a very real, tangible evil. It’s not outright scary, certainly not in terms of jump scares or excessively graphic gore, the horror elements more about the slow descent into darkness and the underlying ghastliness of 40k. The overarching plot is excellent, it just all feels a little rushed, and could really have benefited from a longer word count to give characters more space to develop in order for arcs, relationships and individual moments to have greater impact. It’s all good…there’s just always a sense that it could have been even better in a longer format.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2020/03/08/the-oubliette-jc-stearns/
bidufta's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
4.0
I received a copy of The Oubliette through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Oubliette is the latest novel to hit the Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Horror series. Written by J.C. Sterns, this is a graphic tale of what can go wrong, when a planet is left to its own devices for too long. Or perhaps it’s a tale of politics and temptation. You be the judge.
Ceocan has long run smoothly and efficiently. They meet their quota, and as such are essentially left to their own devices. But with the death of the Lord Governor, that is all at risk. But as with any tale of politics, will it be noticed before it is too late?
Ashielle just lost her father and eldest brother. She hadn’t expected to take on the role of Lord Governor, but thanks to that unfortunate series of events (which she has great suspicions about), she must do exactly that.
Ashielle will have to play the politics game in order to keep her planet afloat. But when danger strikes too close to her heart, a new darkness seeps in. And with it, the temptation to use it.
“Make your offering of flesh and blood. Of life. And the darkness shall descend where you command, leaving only whom you wish.”
Warnings: The Oubliette is a horror novel through and through. As such, it does contain some more graphic details. Most of them involve graphic details of death or gore.
The Oubliette was a mesmerizing read. This is a book that I simply couldn’t put down, or get out of my head. Even when I wasn’t reading it, I found myself wondering what was going to happen next. What turn of fate was in store for Ashielle. Or what drastic action she would take next.
I’m quickly learning that the horror novels coming out of Warhammer are my favorites. The chilling tones add an extra layer to this world, making them all the more thrilling and captivating. The Oubliette is no exception. As a happy side note, The Oubliette also features my favorite cover thus far.
This was honestly a chilling read, from start to finish. It had so many twists and turns. Some of them were predictable, but many were not. I actually suspect that the predictable elements were thrown in with intent – to trick us into a false sense of security. Or perhaps this story made me as paranoid as some of the characters within.
It was thrilling trying to figure out what was going to happen, and what the intent of the ‘other’ was in this novel. I love novels such as this, where much of the truth is intentionally obfuscated. The addition of the politics and scheming really enhanced the sense of dread, something I hadn’t anticipated, by very much appreciated.
I really enjoyed reading The Oubliette, and find myself eagerly looking forward to seeing what the next novel will be from Warhammer Horror. I’m also going to be adding J.C. Sterns to my list of authors to keep an eye on.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Oubliette is the latest novel to hit the Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Horror series. Written by J.C. Sterns, this is a graphic tale of what can go wrong, when a planet is left to its own devices for too long. Or perhaps it’s a tale of politics and temptation. You be the judge.
Ceocan has long run smoothly and efficiently. They meet their quota, and as such are essentially left to their own devices. But with the death of the Lord Governor, that is all at risk. But as with any tale of politics, will it be noticed before it is too late?
Ashielle just lost her father and eldest brother. She hadn’t expected to take on the role of Lord Governor, but thanks to that unfortunate series of events (which she has great suspicions about), she must do exactly that.
Ashielle will have to play the politics game in order to keep her planet afloat. But when danger strikes too close to her heart, a new darkness seeps in. And with it, the temptation to use it.
“Make your offering of flesh and blood. Of life. And the darkness shall descend where you command, leaving only whom you wish.”
Warnings: The Oubliette is a horror novel through and through. As such, it does contain some more graphic details. Most of them involve graphic details of death or gore.
The Oubliette was a mesmerizing read. This is a book that I simply couldn’t put down, or get out of my head. Even when I wasn’t reading it, I found myself wondering what was going to happen next. What turn of fate was in store for Ashielle. Or what drastic action she would take next.
I’m quickly learning that the horror novels coming out of Warhammer are my favorites. The chilling tones add an extra layer to this world, making them all the more thrilling and captivating. The Oubliette is no exception. As a happy side note, The Oubliette also features my favorite cover thus far.
This was honestly a chilling read, from start to finish. It had so many twists and turns. Some of them were predictable, but many were not. I actually suspect that the predictable elements were thrown in with intent – to trick us into a false sense of security. Or perhaps this story made me as paranoid as some of the characters within.
It was thrilling trying to figure out what was going to happen, and what the intent of the ‘other’ was in this novel. I love novels such as this, where much of the truth is intentionally obfuscated. The addition of the politics and scheming really enhanced the sense of dread, something I hadn’t anticipated, by very much appreciated.
I really enjoyed reading The Oubliette, and find myself eagerly looking forward to seeing what the next novel will be from Warhammer Horror. I’m also going to be adding J.C. Sterns to my list of authors to keep an eye on.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
nikolas_fox's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0