Elfslayer

by Nathan Long

Book Overview

Dwarf Trollslayer Gotrek and his human companion Felix Jaeger, Warhammer&'s most famous pair of heroes, head off to a new adventure facing the terrifying dark elves in the latest novel of this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1844165752
• ISBN13: 9781844165759
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Games Workshop(uk)
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.5" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Seething Seesaw

"Elfslayer" opens in Felix Jaeger's father's Altdorf mansion. After twenty years, Felix and Gotrek have returned to their starting point chronicled in William King's short story, "Geheimnisnacht." Jaeger's father has a mission for his errant son. The old man is being blackmailed by a Marienburg pirate named Hans Euler and he wants his son to retrieve the incriminating papers. Felix balks at the assignment but he finally agrees to help his father. Meanwhile, Gotrek is down in the dumps, literally, drinking himself into a torpor. As we know from the previous novel "Manslayer," Gotrek missed the evil invasion of Archaon and his chance to face a daemon. Long quickly alerts us that this novel will be a return to old haunts and a reunion with missing friends, allies, and enemies. It is also a novel replete with Longian themes--drowning, shipwrecks, imprisonment, feckless women, jealousy, bravery, and deception. Before Felix and Gotrek leave Altdorf, they are attacked by unknown assailants. We soon learn that an old enemy has decided to seek revenge. With the assault, Gotrek begins to awaken from his stupor and the action begins. The two travel to Marienburg pursued by assassins to meet Euler. Feliz discovers another enemy in Euler and the plot, as they say, thickens. Before Felix can resolve the problem with Euler, old allies arrive. The wizard Max Schreiber, accompanied by a sorceress and an Elf, offer Gotrek the opportunity to face his glorious end. Felix is torn between serving his father or honoring his oath to Gotrek to be present at his death. He, of course, chooses to stand with Gotrek and they set set off on a quest to save the Empire with Schreiber. The relic they seek is also being sought by Dark Elves. The action then turns to the sea. From this point, Long engages in what I can only call a melange of Jules Verne steampunk and Sabatini swordplay. He brilliantly describes an underwater city, the Black Ark of the Dark Elves, and the horrors of Dark Elf magic and ritual. Long has concocted a nightmarish stew of villains and seamlessly presented them to us in a Sabatini-like thriller. He is one of the best writers at the Black Library and I challenge you to find a clunky sentence in the 412 pages of the novel. He ties up all of the plot threads nicely by the end but, of course, he leaves enough plot hanging that we anticipate and yearn for the next chapter of the novel. Without giving too much away, Long convincingly presents dwarves, skaven, and dark elves. Additionally, never before have we seen a black ark described in such sinister detail. As you might guess I highly recommend the novel. Not only is it an exciting book but I would postulate that it takes the Gotrek franchise in a new direction. Although Long is a student of William King he is refining King's themes and characters. This observation brings me to the explanation of my title for this review. The figure in the carpet, as Henry James would say, in this novel is the seesaw

Never-Ending Roller Coaster

I read the book about two weeks ago and it is still fresh in my mind. As Gotrek continues on his reckless, balls-to-the-wall, and full head-on rush to his great death (which he consistently confronts and yet can't find fully so far). I really love how the back story of Felix comes out with his reintroduction to Max the mage. The complexities of the magics that have made him age slower over the past 20 years since he began the bargain with Gotrek. One of their old nemesis comes out as well, Thanquol which always gives me a giggle or two, with his superiority over all others even in the face of defeat. If their was a book that could ever compare with hack and slash video games, then this and all the Gotrek/Felix books are them. If you have enjoyed books that are consistently filled with some sort of action or tension builder around each turn page, then you will not be let down by this thrilling book.

Great book!!

This book is great fun. It is part of a series though. If you haven't read any of the books in this series, I would suggest you start at the beginning. If you've read the rest of the books, it's a must.

on the rise!!

I would have to say one of the better Gotrek and Felix book i have read. I was very scared when Nathan Long took over the series, and after reading orcslayer i wanted to cry, but i think this book has changed that around, this book leads the duo on a brand new adventure that is action packed with a complex story and interesting supporting characters, you may even recognize a few. over all, worth a read!!!

Gortrek and Felix # 10

Felix Jaeger has been the companion of Slayer Gotrek Gurnisson for most of his adult life. During that time Felix has battled alongside the dwarf to defeat trolls, dragons, skaven, daemons, orcs, and so much more. Gotrek was never more happy than while in battle, hoping for the glorious death in which Felix has promised to write up and publish for all to know. The pair had traveled a great distance to battle evil, only to learn that they were too late. Since then, Gotrek seems to have done what Felix thought was not possible. Gotrek has given up. All the dwarf did now was drink horrid-flavored, weak beer and mope. The pair travels to Marienburg to fulfill the death wish of Felix's father. Felix is to retrieve a letter from Hans Euler, a blackmailer. While doing so, the pair runs into their old companion, the wizard Max Schreiber. Max and a beautiful seeress, Claudia Pallenberger, have been sent to investigate evil portents off the north coast of the Empire. Gotrek agrees to join them even though it meant sharing a ship with a high born elf and his men. This begins the duo's most dangerous adventure to date. In the Sea of Claws they must battle dark elves, skaven, and an ancient weapon that the druchii will use to cause earthquakes, tidal waves, raise valleys and lower mountains into the sea bed, utterly destroying their elvish cousins in Ulthuan and all humans. ***** Author Nathan Long has done a terrific job since he took over the series a few books back. The only difference I have really noticed is that Felix has become way too nice. Here is a book you CAN judge by its cover. The story is as wild and adventurous as the book's cover suggests. Dark elves, sea dragons, black magic...the works! Highly recommended reading! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.