Book Review: Ragnar's Claw

To speak on it generally and without any spoilers, Ragnar's Claw was not as good as Space Wolf, but still fun enough to be worth reading. What is written below will have specifics and spoilers.

The character I'd been anticipating in Space Wolf arrived at last in its sequel with Inquisitor Karah Isaan, who was both a strong, independent woman and a girl who was the key to everything. The latter of these was especially on the nose, as she wore a literal key-MacGuffin around her neck that only she could find or operate.

In fact, every other character in the book, Ragnar, the other space wolves, imperial guard, even Karah's commanding officer, were technically only there to clear the way or serve as distractions so that she could save the day. Ragnar acknowledged many times he had no idea what was going on, and was just happy to follow orders.

And so I found myself transported, not to another world, but the manufactorum of the modern subconscious, where the shape of a woman is a mold into which creatives and their handlers pour their cloying obeisance, and out come marching the facsimile of women, each stronger and more independent than the last, indistinguishable from men by nature, interests, and martial prowess, paving the way to victory over long-dead ghosts.

I did mention it was still a fun read, though, and it is. There are orks, and Warhammer's orks have not suffered under the meddling of the mentally ill like D&D orcs, so they just get to be FUN. I would love to write them one day, but the way they speak is an art form that will require much study.

And then of course I loved Botchulaz. If I were to find myself in the WH40K universe, it would be a very hard choice on who to follow between Nurgle and Tzeentch. You know Nurgle would be so fun!