Dreadfleet

by Phil Kelly

Captain Jaego Roth, master of the Heldenhammer, is out for revenge! This grizzled old pirate has sailed the seas of the Old World for decades, and has finally tracked his sworn foe to the mythical Galleon's Graveyard. But this enemy is no mere rival privateer - it is none other than the self-styled admiral of the Dreadfleet and lord of the Maelstrom, the legendary Vampire Count Noctilus himself! Roth must unite his fellow pirate lords and lead his own rag-tag fleet into Noctilus's domain, if they are to stand against the Count's legion of the Undead and avoid a watery grave of their own.

Genres: Fantasy, Pirates

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Phil Kelly (born 1977) is the Creative Lead for 'Warhammer: Age of Sigmar' in the Games Workshop design studio.

He has written over 60 gaming books in the last twenty years.

He has also written several Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror books and audio dramas for Black Library.



Librarian Note: there is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Flyn O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

As fun as it was, this book had its fair share of flaws, for starters, there’s a lot about the story that is left unsaid be it backgrounds for connections between characters that never interact or entire battles that happen completely off screen. This book could have easily been much much longer and taken time to really flesh the story and characters out but it just didn’t do that. Granted, for what it was, it is still an enjoyable read for Warhammer fans but I wouldn’t go into this book expecting anything more than “yarg me hearties we be fantasy pirates yarg”… still fun tho

[Matthew Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-moving story clearly written at pace to match a Games Workshop game release date, this short but exciting tale of dark fantasy nautical adventure is both constrained and enhanced by its need to match itself to the internal story - and models - of the game it is promoting. Nonetheless, this is a fun adventure, with interesting and exciting - if, ironically, shallow - characters that makes me yearn for yet more Warhammer Fantasy-on-Sea.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! The imagery is so rich and complex that you won’t want to escape it. You can’t be anything but impressed with this complete world that Phil Kelly has created and I HIGHLY recommend reading it even if you’ve never heard of Games Workshop. This is the perfect read for Workshop fans and non fans alike.

[Jaq · Rating 2 out of 5]

My child loved this book, and as we’re our own Warhammer book club, I had to read it. I found it brief to the point of frustration the characters felt like ciphers, and I had to explain the ending...the potential was there for a rollicking good tale, but i felt it was abandoned quickly.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

***1/2: one of the better Black Library fantasy novels I've read.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreadfleet is the first novel (to my knowledge) by Phil Kelly. He also have some rulebooks in the Warhammer/40k.

This is a novella not a full lenghted book but I think it was the right side. Here we follow the adventures of Captain Roth and his ship alongside other pirate lords so they can defeat the scourge of the sea Count Noctilus.

Of course reading this novel one must compare to Fell Cargo because is the other novel set in warhammer world with a naval theme. I must say I enjoy this one better. First the pirate lords are a interesting bunch then the battle scenes are also better. Even te image the writer gives us of the pirate lords cities feel like we are there.

I would advice to anyone who is interesting in playing the tabletop game or anyone who likes warhammer.

[Anniken Haga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book.
It was fun and easy to read, but you had to know a bit of Warhammer lore to really get into it.

Not much to say, other than that

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pirates of the Caribbean in the grim world of Warhammer. Great ending and this pirate tale is far better than Abnett's Fell Cargo. Good reading.

[Jay Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic battles and great characters, what more do you want from a warhammer book?

[Patt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book nothing to Fell Cargo though

[Lee Singleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough, quick read