The plot delivers a few twists, so I won't say too much about it. It features a fat wizard and his apprentice travelling North in search of another wizard who has become corrupted by Chaos, as well as a band of Witch hunters in hot pursuit as well. I don't know if I ruin it for anybody by saying that this all turns pretty ugly along the way, the further North they get.
As earlier reviews have suggested, I like my chaos more as a cancer than as a punch to the face. The corruption of denizens of the Warhammer World is a bit more interesting to read about than just somewhat pitiful attempts at describing big battles, be they legendary or not. This book offers plenty of that, and it is fairly nifty attempt to knot together different strands, characters entangled in the same sordid matter. I like how Earl treats Chaos, at least in this book, as something infectious, a stain that won't come out, no matter how hard you rub it.
What's good? It offers some interesting characters, some unlikely. How many obese grey wizards have YOU come across in Warhammer books? it may not be worth the read for that reason alone, but still. It also offers some more insight into wizards in general, though they may seem a bit too ridiculous, comical or silly for some people who like their magic a bit more cool. I think what I like best is the frailty and somewhat pathetic nature of all the characters in the book, though some teeter on the brink of silliness at times.
What's bad? It's too short. Granted, the plot might not have been able to stretch across another 100 or so pages, but I think I would have like to see an honest attempt. At least another 50 could have done the book good, and there was no indication that Earl could not have pulled this off, having a wealth of decent characters and a rich setting to draw upon.
Rating: 3 out 5. A Twix, not an actual meal, tasty but not filling.
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