As a fan of the Warhammer world of old, I've always being a bit wary of the Age of Sigmar, with its flashy, 40K-lite approach. However, that was all about to change as I dived into Cursed City by CL Werner, a fantasy novel set in the blighted, vampire-run city of Ulfenkarn, a nightmarish place in the Mortal Realms smothered in dark magics.
The city is the by far the main protagonist of the novel, with its menageries of cruelties and wicknesses, and monsters and sanguinary rituals. Werner captures the intricate details of a city at the mercy of vampiric overloards beautifully and overlays it with a mystery that sets a group of vampire hunters on a collision course with the mighty vampire Radukar.
A band of unlikely heroes is formed, comprising a Sigmarite witch hunter, a swordswoman from a long thought lost noble lineage, and a wizard of ambiguous intent. What follows is a game of cat and mouse around the streets of Ulfenkarn, as the vampire hunters race against Radukar to unmask a serial killer who could bring about the end of the vampire's macabre reign.
I now intend to continue my education in the Age of Sigmar by exploring more novels first, but, who knows, I may also be tempted into trying out the tabletop wargame.
I highly recommend this book for Warhammer and fantasy fans alike.
I would rate this novel a strong 4/5.