Xathrodox86 reviews: "Sword of Justice" by Chris Wraight

Chris Wraight is one of my all-time favorite Black Library writers. I've enjoyed all of his books so far, and I consider his "Swords of the Emperor" duology to be one of the best stories, set in the grim world of Warhammer Fantasy.

Of these, the "Sword of Justice" is the first part. Being a part of the "Warhammer Heroes" line, and centering around the dour and uncompromising Ludwig Schwarzhelm, the Emperor's Champion, it presents a tale of corruption, ambition and misguided pride - all of which can lead to the downfall of even the mightiest of heroes.

Even Ludwig Schwarzhelm...

Of all Karl Franz's servants, none is more staunchly loyal and steadfast in his duty as Ludwig Schwarzhelm. Born a common man, through the might of his arm, and the strength of his will he became one of the most powerful people in Sigmar's Holy Empire. Supposedly never having smiled once in his life, Schwarzhelm is a perfect representation of the Emperor's will - his Sword of Justice. Of course I must mention his eternal rivalry with Kurt Helborg, Reiksmarshall of the Empire and wielder of the Solland Runefang, also known as the Sword of Vengeance. Together they are the Swords of the Emperor, defenders of the Empire and warriors supreme.

The book starts with a battle sequence, something that Wright is very good at writing (and trust me, this title is chock-full of them). A garrison of Empire soldiers is being attacked by a huge force of beastmen, and things look really grim for the humans. Fortunately reinforcements arrive, led by none other than Ludwig Schwarzhelm himself. I don't like to spoil anything to my readers, but I gotta say one thing - the fight between the Emperor's Champion and a Doombull is fucking amazing. The sheer force of will and skill of arms versus the primal strength and fury. For this fight alone the "Sword of Justice" is worth picking up.

Anyway, after saving the hapless soldiers, Schwarzhelm returns to Altdorf to speak with the Emperor and his old rival, Kurt Helborg, who's also unimaginably smug. Like seriously, this guy's a jerk, but one that you can't help but admire a lot. There are clear differences between the two heroes, and while they're pleasant and cordial enough to each other, it's clear that their rivalry is strong, and will probably lead to eventual confrontation in the future. Schwarzhelm is sent by Karl Franz to Averland, to oversee the election of new count, after Marius Leitdorf was killed by the orcs. There are also reports of greenskins amassing to the east, and while Ludwig would much more prefer to join the fight against the monsters, his duty is clear - he must travel to Averheim and dive deep into Imperial politics.

Recruiting Bloch, a veteran captain from the previous battle with beastmen, and seeking advice from his mentor, Heinrich Lassus, Schwarzhelm travels to Averland. All is not as it seems, though, as the streets are full of violence. The two pretenders to the throne are hiring thugs who make a horrible mess of the province's capital, while a huge drug epidemic is plunging Averheim into chaos. Schwarzhelm himself is having trouble sleeping, and his mood, and patience, begin to deteriorate. Shadow players with dark agendas work their corruption in subtle ways, and soon the entire province's fate hangs in the balance...

Chris Wraight writes strong, well developed characters in his books, and "Sword of Justice" is no exception. His portrayal of Schwarzhelm is excellent, a feat in itself, given that the Emperor's Champion can be, at a first glance, a very one dimensional hero. Nothing is further from the truth, however, and Ludwig is written as a very likeable, and troubled character. He has a lot on his shoulders, and the threat of failure weighs heavily on him. The support cast is excellent as well. Bloch is your typical gruff soldier archetype. He gets stuff done, and he's not afraid to get dirty. Verstohlen, Schwarzhelm's "Spymaster" is probably the second most interesting character in the entire book. He's brains to Bloch's brawn, and I love the fact that he's not afraid to use some very questionable methods to achieve his goals. The man's passion for his duty, and his hatred for the otherworldly corruption that is Chaos are without limit, and truly define him. I must say that I've enjoyed reading about him most of all, and would like to see this unsung hero get some stories of his own. I know that it probably won't happen, but a man can dream.

Finally there are all the other characters, like two pretenders to the provincial throne. They are both weak, scheming men, who would stop at nothing to see their ambitions realized. The big bad of the book is both sinister and composed, presenting a very realistic threat to Averland, and the Empire as a whole. Wraight has a penchant for writing Chaos in a way that is truly horrifying, especially when it comes to the youngest and most depraved of its powers. "Sword of Justice" is no exception. Schwarzhelm's main rival, Kurt "Magnificent Moustache" Helborg has very little "screen time", except a large fight, later in the book. Makes sense, since the second book, "Sword of Vengeance", is all about the Reiksmarshall and his own struggle to free Averland from the yoke of corruption. All in all, the characters in "Sword of Justice" are all excellently written. Thank you Mr. Wraight.

This book is a perfect example of how a tie-in media can be done right. It's thrilling, fascinating to read, and an utter joy to experience. It has a right blend of action and suspense, and more than a few twists along the way. Chris Wraight is one of the best that the Black Library has to offer, and this book is a great example of why it is so, at least for me. I can't wait to read "Sword of Vengeance" and share with you my opinions on the second part of this grim and fascinating tale. Hopefully it'll be sooner than later.

This cover oozes manliness and awesome

Until next time!

Xathrodox86