Customer Reviews

The Ambassador (Warhammer)

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In a harsh and cold part of the Empire trouble is brewing. The city of Kislev has been mismanaged by the Empire's Ambassador and unfortunately for retired Imperial General Kaspar von Velton it's become his duty to rectify the problems.

Kaspar finds he is quite unwelcome by the peoples of this land reminiscent of the Russian steppes, yet he needs their help to rebuild trust and fortify the city against the hordes of chaos which will soon descend to begin an invasion of utter domination. Among the problems is discovering who is pilfering supplies leaving the militia hungry, cold and rather miffed at such blatant abandonment from the Empire.

Kaspar's woes don't end there however; it seems the Butcherman, the cities resident serial killer, has taken a personal interest in the newest Ambassador. Taunting Kaspar with trophies from his kills the Butcherman leads Kaspar on a not quite so merry chase in which he discovers it's not the prominent and apparent evil you need to watch out for, but the insidious evil which lies behind it all. The Ambassador is the beginning of what is sure to be a riveting tale in the Warhammer Realm.

This is the first novel I've read in the Warhammer world, although I'm very familar with the world of Warhammer Fantasy already. What I truely enjoyed about this story was how McNeill wrote the city of Kielev. It's a beautiful, haunting city of Chaos and cold.

The story itself of a war hero become Ambassador fighting for his place in the city is decent. There's much I wish had been touched on that was left out. More story including the Tsarina would've been welcome. Although, I did enjoy the overlayed plot of the Butcherman, Kieslev's serial killer haunted by his past.

I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up in The Ambassador Chronicles, Ursun's Teeth.

WOW! What a pleasant surprise of a read. The title sounded dull, but the cover's artwork and synopsis drew me in.

Graham McNeill is an awesome writer, who fills this fantasy novel full of action, adventure, and horror. Complete with rich characterizations of both good and evil, The Ambassador storyline drives relentlessly forward with verve and wit. The mixing of genres works beautifully here, and with the choicest words, McNeill takes me on a journey I hated to stop reading.

I have already purchased another of this author's work, and can't wait for the continuation sequel to this one. Ursun's Teeth promises to be an awesome thrill ride. And I for one will be there.

The Ambassador is a very satisfying Warhammer novel. The protagonist--Kaspar von Velten, a fifty something ex-general of the Empire-- arrives in Kislev to replace the current corrupt and inept ambassador on the eve of an imminent Kurgan invasion. Thousands of refugees flood into Kislev, where a serial killer, called the Butcherman, preys upon the rich and poor alike. Corrupt bureaucrats siphon off the supplies sent by the Empire and Kaspar's old friends may now be foes. The Ice Queen, Tzarina of Kisev, seems to hate him, and everyone, except for a beautiful widow, blames him for their misfortune. Through sheer will power and determination, Kaspar begins to bring order to the chaos that surrounds him.

The novel, like most Warhammer productions, creates a multitude of narrative threads, only resolving a few by the end of the novel and leaving the rest for the inevitable second and third book. Nevertheless, the novel is well-plotted and well-paced. McNeill only violates the unity of point of view to describe the Butcherman's crimes. Perhaps, the novel's greatest strength is the vivid creation of Kislev and its inhabitants.