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Fabius Bile #3
Fabius Bile: Manflayer
Fabius Bile Book 3
As his Homo Novus project comes to fruition, Fabius Bile faces a new threat – the dreaded haemonculi of the Thirteen Scars. Can he marshal his forces to protect his creations, or are the New Men doomed to death?
READ IT BECAUSE
Josh Reynolds returns to the sinister former Emperor's Children Apothecary and his plan to create a new breed of human in a novel packed full of drama, twists and extremely dark humour.
THE STORY
In the centuries since his return from Commorragh, Fabius Bile has distanced himself from the affairs of friend and foe, content only to oversee the cruel evolution of his New Men. But when his creations are threatened by the monstrous haemonculi of the Thirteen Scars, the Manflayer is forced to seek out new allies and old enemies alike in an effort to preserve all that he has built. Homo Novus must survive… even if Fabius Bile must die to ensure it.
As his Homo Novus project comes to fruition, Fabius Bile faces a new threat – the dreaded haemonculi of the Thirteen Scars. Can he marshal his forces to protect his creations, or are the New Men doomed to death?
READ IT BECAUSE
Josh Reynolds returns to the sinister former Emperor's Children Apothecary and his plan to create a new breed of human in a novel packed full of drama, twists and extremely dark humour.
THE STORY
In the centuries since his return from Commorragh, Fabius Bile has distanced himself from the affairs of friend and foe, content only to oversee the cruel evolution of his New Men. But when his creations are threatened by the monstrous haemonculi of the Thirteen Scars, the Manflayer is forced to seek out new allies and old enemies alike in an effort to preserve all that he has built. Homo Novus must survive… even if Fabius Bile must die to ensure it.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2020
56 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Reynolds
313 books346 followersJosh Reynolds’ work has previously appeared in such anthologies as Historical Lovecraft from Innsmouth Free Press and Horror for the Holidays from Miskatonic River Press, and his novel, Knight of the Blazing Sun, is currently available from Black Library. He can be found at: http://joshuamreynolds.wordpress.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 30, 2020
To put this short,
this whole Fabius Bile "trilogy" series was of a quality that'd be easy to read several more books of. Can't say there was even a single boring/uninteresting character in any of the three books. While there are many very exciting 40K novels, this kind of "peak" 'ish quality doesn't happen so often.
The ending in this last book (no spoilers here!) was something I'd been wondering about ever since began reading the first one, Primogenitor.
I recommend reading all of the three books. These books might as well work nicely for 40K newcomers but 40K veterans might enjoy them even more... (hard to say since even 40K veterans have a weird pride of remembering very nitpicky things).
Now, excuse me, for I need to figure out what 40K book to read next.
this whole Fabius Bile "trilogy" series was of a quality that'd be easy to read several more books of. Can't say there was even a single boring/uninteresting character in any of the three books. While there are many very exciting 40K novels, this kind of "peak" 'ish quality doesn't happen so often.
The ending in this last book (no spoilers here!) was something I'd been wondering about ever since began reading the first one, Primogenitor.
I recommend reading all of the three books. These books might as well work nicely for 40K newcomers but 40K veterans might enjoy them even more... (hard to say since even 40K veterans have a weird pride of remembering very nitpicky things).
Now, excuse me, for I need to figure out what 40K book to read next.
July 1, 2020
Primogenitor, Clonelord, Manflayer.
Now the story is complete and I finally managed to write a bit about it.
I was in love with the series from the first book. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t Fabius himself, as fascinating as he was, who made me feel that way about Primogenitor. While I relished other aspects of the book as well, it was Oleander’s fate that made this book unique for me. In a fashion of the classic tragedy, he was unable to see that the object of his desperate search, his true goal he sacrificed so much and betrayed so many for was with him all along, and even after losing it he still didn’t notice. It was poetic level of irony, befitting any play or drama, I’m sure even harlequins were impressed.
To me it was absolute highlight of the book and to be completely honest I didn’t expect that the story gets better than that.
I was so wrong.
Manflayer was everything I ever wanted from conclusion of the trilogy. And general composition of the Bile’s’ story plays significant part in it. Primogenitor introduces Bile to us in all his brilliance and twisted glory. He is a genius, has his grand vision and is so cool, fabulous and charming in his own unique way that you could easily forget that he is actually hideous monster and a madman. Than we had Clonelord, where subversion and deconstruction of his previously established character begins. We see his doubts, explore his flaws, and clever perspective shift allow us to enjoy the contrast between how Fabius perceive himself and who he really is with all irony that comes with it. And finally, in Manflayer all Fabius’ faults and mistakes, all his hypocrisy and delusions caught up to him leading to a crisis. Reynolds utilizes this structure very skillfully providing the ground for comprehensive character study that other WH40k characters can only dream of – at least I never encounter something on that scale among BL novels.
In addition, all this build up made me very invested into story’s resolution.
However, to the book itself (Warning – possible spoilers).
Once again, I was captivated from the start – so many interesting details and developments appears right from the very beginning.
For example, I was very glad to see Oleander again. Clonelord implied that his fate was grim, but I didn’t expect it to be that bad. His betrayal of his brothers from Consortium was a very beautiful twist of a knife in his overall theme, subtle and refined, befitting sadistic but artistic nature of haemonculi. Another example would be a joke about Fabius’ Chirurgeon – not only set up was great, this moment was properly foreshadowed in the previous books (while being surprising nevertheless) and even became a plot point during the epilogue! To utilize story elements to such extend require both talent and professionalism, and when it applies even to such minor details, it should give you an idea about quality of the writing. And there are much more well written and enjoyable moments deeper into the book.
But it is not just writing skill that made Reynolds unique in my opinion. What distinguishes him from many BL writers is that he dares to write about fundamental things in his wh40k books. Manflayer is not an exception. At least to me, the essence of this book is not in the events themselves, not in the intrigues of Dark Gods, harlequins and haemonculi (which are great on their own right). But in the web of relationships between the characters (Bile and his “creations” in a very broad sense: his daughters, disciples, New Man and so on), in topics the book explores (Fathers and Children, parents’ love and responsibilities, loyalty, including loyalty to yourself, roles that people play in stories, and role of the stories in people’s life) – there lies the substance of the book. Let’s take a conversation between Fabius and Fulgrim for example. Yes, they talk about things like killing your battle brothers to find a cure for a legion of super soldiers or beginning of Horus Heresy and other ridiculous things, but if you rip off all wh40k gimcrack and look underneath you will find a conversation between father and grown-up son whose relationship went wrong. Or a conflict between Fabius and his daughters, where each side thinks that they know what would be better for the other but drift farther apart as a result. It was so… human. Every time wh40k books extend beyond bolter fire and simple heroism, it pleases me immeasurably and Manflayer was a perfect example of such thing.
Another strong point of Reynolds writing is his characters. They are aplenty, they are colorful and nuanced, even the minor one. Watching how the resolution of their stories unfold was incredibly satisfying. But at the very center we have, of course, the Fabius Bile, full of genius and arrogance in equal measure, with all his contradictions and hypocrisy, dreams and doubts, broken pieces of virtues and monstrous flaws. We are able to witness his treacherous nature and rare moments of genuine affection and many other things. Conclusion of his story was great, I was especially impressed with how Reynolds managed not only connect to, but also integrate other stories about Fabius into his own narrative. As for other characters – there are too many to write something substantial about them, if I do justice to everyone, I will never complete this review. So I just mention that dialogues complement characters rather nicely, reading their banter was always entertaining.
Another aspect I should commend is depictive power of Reynolds writing. Imageries he create are rich and impactful, be it portraying of dark eldar society, daily life of some exotic places like Eye of Terror or haemonculi’s coven, or mysterious harlequins. The latter ones are the gem on their own, their scenes have the equal chance of inspiring you to start collecting them as an army or giving you coulrophobia. Personally, I find their portrayal fascinating, especially when they are utilizing “narrativium” or demonstrating their horrifying combat abilities. They are not in the spotlight in Manflayer, preferring to forge their story from behind the scene, but their image is strong and consistent through the trilogy nevertheless.
Well, but what about the flaws? Nothing is really perfect – it is hard truth Emperor Children struggle so hard to accept. After all, even when I re-read Primoginitor I found a couple of things that rub me the wrong way, shattering illusion of perfection. But the another truth is – I don’t have any desire to search for them in this book, or even notice them. And when you feel that way it is a clear indication that writer did his job well.
All in all, I’m really glad that I was able to read Fabius’ trilogy. Personally, for me Reynolds leaving the BL is a tragedy rivaling the fate of the Count Sunflame. It’s not like there are many people who could provide really thoughtful stories set in WH40k universe - every single one counts. But well, life is life, I guess I just need to keep an eye on his future works regardless.
Now the story is complete and I finally managed to write a bit about it.
I was in love with the series from the first book. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t Fabius himself, as fascinating as he was, who made me feel that way about Primogenitor. While I relished other aspects of the book as well, it was Oleander’s fate that made this book unique for me. In a fashion of the classic tragedy, he was unable to see that the object of his desperate search, his true goal he sacrificed so much and betrayed so many for was with him all along, and even after losing it he still didn’t notice. It was poetic level of irony, befitting any play or drama, I’m sure even harlequins were impressed.
To me it was absolute highlight of the book and to be completely honest I didn’t expect that the story gets better than that.
I was so wrong.
Manflayer was everything I ever wanted from conclusion of the trilogy. And general composition of the Bile’s’ story plays significant part in it. Primogenitor introduces Bile to us in all his brilliance and twisted glory. He is a genius, has his grand vision and is so cool, fabulous and charming in his own unique way that you could easily forget that he is actually hideous monster and a madman. Than we had Clonelord, where subversion and deconstruction of his previously established character begins. We see his doubts, explore his flaws, and clever perspective shift allow us to enjoy the contrast between how Fabius perceive himself and who he really is with all irony that comes with it. And finally, in Manflayer all Fabius’ faults and mistakes, all his hypocrisy and delusions caught up to him leading to a crisis. Reynolds utilizes this structure very skillfully providing the ground for comprehensive character study that other WH40k characters can only dream of – at least I never encounter something on that scale among BL novels.
In addition, all this build up made me very invested into story’s resolution.
However, to the book itself (Warning – possible spoilers).
Once again, I was captivated from the start – so many interesting details and developments appears right from the very beginning.
For example, I was very glad to see Oleander again. Clonelord implied that his fate was grim, but I didn’t expect it to be that bad. His betrayal of his brothers from Consortium was a very beautiful twist of a knife in his overall theme, subtle and refined, befitting sadistic but artistic nature of haemonculi. Another example would be a joke about Fabius’ Chirurgeon – not only set up was great, this moment was properly foreshadowed in the previous books (while being surprising nevertheless) and even became a plot point during the epilogue! To utilize story elements to such extend require both talent and professionalism, and when it applies even to such minor details, it should give you an idea about quality of the writing. And there are much more well written and enjoyable moments deeper into the book.
But it is not just writing skill that made Reynolds unique in my opinion. What distinguishes him from many BL writers is that he dares to write about fundamental things in his wh40k books. Manflayer is not an exception. At least to me, the essence of this book is not in the events themselves, not in the intrigues of Dark Gods, harlequins and haemonculi (which are great on their own right). But in the web of relationships between the characters (Bile and his “creations” in a very broad sense: his daughters, disciples, New Man and so on), in topics the book explores (Fathers and Children, parents’ love and responsibilities, loyalty, including loyalty to yourself, roles that people play in stories, and role of the stories in people’s life) – there lies the substance of the book. Let’s take a conversation between Fabius and Fulgrim for example. Yes, they talk about things like killing your battle brothers to find a cure for a legion of super soldiers or beginning of Horus Heresy and other ridiculous things, but if you rip off all wh40k gimcrack and look underneath you will find a conversation between father and grown-up son whose relationship went wrong. Or a conflict between Fabius and his daughters, where each side thinks that they know what would be better for the other but drift farther apart as a result. It was so… human. Every time wh40k books extend beyond bolter fire and simple heroism, it pleases me immeasurably and Manflayer was a perfect example of such thing.
Another strong point of Reynolds writing is his characters. They are aplenty, they are colorful and nuanced, even the minor one. Watching how the resolution of their stories unfold was incredibly satisfying. But at the very center we have, of course, the Fabius Bile, full of genius and arrogance in equal measure, with all his contradictions and hypocrisy, dreams and doubts, broken pieces of virtues and monstrous flaws. We are able to witness his treacherous nature and rare moments of genuine affection and many other things. Conclusion of his story was great, I was especially impressed with how Reynolds managed not only connect to, but also integrate other stories about Fabius into his own narrative. As for other characters – there are too many to write something substantial about them, if I do justice to everyone, I will never complete this review. So I just mention that dialogues complement characters rather nicely, reading their banter was always entertaining.
Another aspect I should commend is depictive power of Reynolds writing. Imageries he create are rich and impactful, be it portraying of dark eldar society, daily life of some exotic places like Eye of Terror or haemonculi’s coven, or mysterious harlequins. The latter ones are the gem on their own, their scenes have the equal chance of inspiring you to start collecting them as an army or giving you coulrophobia. Personally, I find their portrayal fascinating, especially when they are utilizing “narrativium” or demonstrating their horrifying combat abilities. They are not in the spotlight in Manflayer, preferring to forge their story from behind the scene, but their image is strong and consistent through the trilogy nevertheless.
Well, but what about the flaws? Nothing is really perfect – it is hard truth Emperor Children struggle so hard to accept. After all, even when I re-read Primoginitor I found a couple of things that rub me the wrong way, shattering illusion of perfection. But the another truth is – I don’t have any desire to search for them in this book, or even notice them. And when you feel that way it is a clear indication that writer did his job well.
All in all, I’m really glad that I was able to read Fabius’ trilogy. Personally, for me Reynolds leaving the BL is a tragedy rivaling the fate of the Count Sunflame. It’s not like there are many people who could provide really thoughtful stories set in WH40k universe - every single one counts. But well, life is life, I guess I just need to keep an eye on his future works regardless.
May 2, 2021
Reynold's does a fantastic job with Fabius in this book and the series as a whole. Too often Bile is portrayed as the generic Dr. Frankenstein / Mad Scientist trope but here we get to see some real character development. This book, and series as a whole gets away from the "bolter porn" realm that is terribly common in the 40k universe, that isn't to say there isn't some violence and combat; the battles scenes that are there do a good job of keeping the action going but it is hardly the focus on it.
He does well describing the various quirks to those that live within The Eye, but without having to fallback on the overused sexual aspect of Slaanesh; it is still present, as is drug use but he does well to use it in complementary fashion.
For being a book about monsters and horror the humanity he manages to show reflected in his characters are impressive.
The book is a must read for any fans of Fabius, by far the best representation in the lore. Fans of Emperor's Children in general will be pleased as will anyone with an interest in some of the background of Chaos.
Easily my second favorite series after Gaunt's Ghosts, and that just barely loses out due to nostalgia and other reasons.
He does well describing the various quirks to those that live within The Eye, but without having to fallback on the overused sexual aspect of Slaanesh; it is still present, as is drug use but he does well to use it in complementary fashion.
For being a book about monsters and horror the humanity he manages to show reflected in his characters are impressive.
The book is a must read for any fans of Fabius, by far the best representation in the lore. Fans of Emperor's Children in general will be pleased as will anyone with an interest in some of the background of Chaos.
Easily my second favorite series after Gaunt's Ghosts, and that just barely loses out due to nostalgia and other reasons.
May 17, 2021
When I started reading this book, I came to the startling realization that I remembered nothing of the previous book. To an extent that I wondered if I had ever read it, but I have because I gave it a rating and everything yet in those days I did not systematically wrote review for fiction books so I am grasping in the dark here. What I do remember is the first book, I loved the first fabius bile book because Fabius Bile as a character surprised me, in his first appearance in the horus Heresy books, Fabius Bile is a sadistic madman more akin to a dr mengle then a doctor Frankenstein which he more resembles in this triology.
The final chapter in the triology left me a bit perplex, it builts on plots points of both book 1 and 2 but even having forgotten most of book 2 I was still able to get up to speed. He crossed the wrong people and now they want payback, got it. This is the first plot of the book and we spent quite a bit of time with the antagonist of the book, Hexachires who is... I ok but not that much more. Given what he is and his background, I was expecting something a bit more, exotic and less mundane in motivations. The second plot of the book is all about the first book; Fabius is still dying and is torn between ensuring his creation, the homo novus, survives him and keeping an arm's length from the clutches of Slaanesh, two goals that increasingly become incompatible due to plot 1 pressing in on him.
Here's the thing, sometimes when one cooks and has good ingredients, the flavors don't really mix. Maybe the seasoning is off, or maybe it had to cook and stew a bit longer or you tried to gulp it down and did not really give it time to grow on you. That's what i had with this book. There is nothing, no aspect I disliked but taken as a whole it did not quite sit right with me with perhaps the dessert that left a bit of a weird taste in my mouth.
The Fabius in the end is seemingly back to the dr mengle of the past and I can't really accept that. The epilogue was all about hitching him to the primaris marines arrival, sort of a foreshadowing of what to come. That is fine in itself, but the book and whole trilogy was all about him readying for his death and his defiance as the in essence last atheist in the galaxy. The ending did not match that builtup, yes there is a twist of some sort but honestly? It felt forced and to some extent made it feel as if Fabius was back to square one as a character.
Do I recommand the triology? Yes and no. The first book is amazing, the second book was good but not as memorable and the third is somewhere in between but with an ending I do not agree with. The highlight of the show has to be Fabius and his student fellow apothecaries, his homo novus children and a few more. Shout out to Arrian, Saqqara, Khorag, Igori and Savona but honestly all the characters except for the main antagonist and the at first pleasant but later disappointing return of 'count sunflame' were amusing, even very minor ones felt to have depth to them. Maybe I just like apothecaries in the space marine lore? it must be...
The final chapter in the triology left me a bit perplex, it builts on plots points of both book 1 and 2 but even having forgotten most of book 2 I was still able to get up to speed. He crossed the wrong people and now they want payback, got it. This is the first plot of the book and we spent quite a bit of time with the antagonist of the book, Hexachires who is... I ok but not that much more. Given what he is and his background, I was expecting something a bit more, exotic and less mundane in motivations. The second plot of the book is all about the first book; Fabius is still dying and is torn between ensuring his creation, the homo novus, survives him and keeping an arm's length from the clutches of Slaanesh, two goals that increasingly become incompatible due to plot 1 pressing in on him.
Here's the thing, sometimes when one cooks and has good ingredients, the flavors don't really mix. Maybe the seasoning is off, or maybe it had to cook and stew a bit longer or you tried to gulp it down and did not really give it time to grow on you. That's what i had with this book. There is nothing, no aspect I disliked but taken as a whole it did not quite sit right with me with perhaps the dessert that left a bit of a weird taste in my mouth.
The Fabius in the end is seemingly back to the dr mengle of the past and I can't really accept that. The epilogue was all about hitching him to the primaris marines arrival, sort of a foreshadowing of what to come. That is fine in itself, but the book and whole trilogy was all about him readying for his death and his defiance as the in essence last atheist in the galaxy. The ending did not match that builtup, yes there is a twist of some sort but honestly? It felt forced and to some extent made it feel as if Fabius was back to square one as a character.
Do I recommand the triology? Yes and no. The first book is amazing, the second book was good but not as memorable and the third is somewhere in between but with an ending I do not agree with. The highlight of the show has to be Fabius and his student fellow apothecaries, his homo novus children and a few more. Shout out to Arrian, Saqqara, Khorag, Igori and Savona but honestly all the characters except for the main antagonist and the at first pleasant but later disappointing return of 'count sunflame' were amusing, even very minor ones felt to have depth to them. Maybe I just like apothecaries in the space marine lore? it must be...
March 29, 2026
5 Stars A Masterpiece of Grimdark Tragedy
If Primogenitor introduced Fabius Bile’s cynical philosophy and Clonelord tested his resolve against ancient cosmic horrors, Manflayer is the grand, tragic crescendo of the trilogy. Josh Reynolds doesn’t just stick the landing here; he sticks it with a poisoned, masterfully crafted chirurgeon's blade.
We finally see the terrifying cost of Fabius's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the Chaos gods. Watching Fabius navigate the role of a twisted "father" to his Homo Novus adds a surprising layer of genuine emotion to his cold exterior. Reynolds perfectly captures the tragedy of a monster who wants to save humanity by replacing it.
Reynolds populates the novel with a fantastic supporting cast, but Fabius remains the undisputed sun that this dark system orbits around. By the final pages, you aren't just reading a sci fi action book; you are witnessing a brilliant philosophical tragedy. It is grotesque, thought provoking, and deeply satisfying.
This book cements Fabius Bile as one of the most compelling, layered figures in the entire Warhammer 40K universe.
If Primogenitor introduced Fabius Bile’s cynical philosophy and Clonelord tested his resolve against ancient cosmic horrors, Manflayer is the grand, tragic crescendo of the trilogy. Josh Reynolds doesn’t just stick the landing here; he sticks it with a poisoned, masterfully crafted chirurgeon's blade.
We finally see the terrifying cost of Fabius's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the Chaos gods. Watching Fabius navigate the role of a twisted "father" to his Homo Novus adds a surprising layer of genuine emotion to his cold exterior. Reynolds perfectly captures the tragedy of a monster who wants to save humanity by replacing it.
Reynolds populates the novel with a fantastic supporting cast, but Fabius remains the undisputed sun that this dark system orbits around. By the final pages, you aren't just reading a sci fi action book; you are witnessing a brilliant philosophical tragedy. It is grotesque, thought provoking, and deeply satisfying.
This book cements Fabius Bile as one of the most compelling, layered figures in the entire Warhammer 40K universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
This was SO CLOSE to being 5⭐. SO CLOSE.
For 99% of this book, it has EASILY the best writing in the series. The pacing is tight, the character work is incredible, especially for supporting characters like Saqqara and Oleander, but dude the last page and a half is genuinely bad.
I still highly recommend the Fabius Bile trilogy, but I do think I would have appreciated some tempered expectations of the finale here.
For 99% of this book, it has EASILY the best writing in the series. The pacing is tight, the character work is incredible, especially for supporting characters like Saqqara and Oleander, but dude the last page and a half is genuinely bad.
I still highly recommend the Fabius Bile trilogy, but I do think I would have appreciated some tempered expectations of the finale here.
May 16, 2021
The book i enjoyed the least so far in the series, yet it is still 4 stars. This trilogy is some of the best Warhammer 40K stuff i have read in my near 30 years of enjoying Warhammer.
This book is a bit slower to start than the others, takes 200 pages before it gets into a proper flow, and a few things feel rushed in the end, but it is still a good read. If you have read the two previous books, do not let this review stop you, because you will regret it if so.
Read and enjoy.
This book is a bit slower to start than the others, takes 200 pages before it gets into a proper flow, and a few things feel rushed in the end, but it is still a good read. If you have read the two previous books, do not let this review stop you, because you will regret it if so.
Read and enjoy.
June 19, 2023
A somewhat convoluted but still satisfying end to the trilogy. It feels like Reynolds wanted to do more with this, but nonetheless Fabius - much like the other scientist figures in the 40k world - has a fun and thematic story and some excellent character development.
September 18, 2020
A short (spoiler free) summary of the book
Fabius (sneering, of course): "Well, well, well....if it isn't the consequences of my own actions."
Fabius (sneering, of course): "Well, well, well....if it isn't the consequences of my own actions."
December 3, 2021
Review forthcoming.
February 2, 2023
A terrifying and chaotic end to a master of his craft and that chapter of his existence. What comes next may horrify, but the moment has been prepared for.
December 19, 2024
It's not a bad read over all, I definitely enjoyed the second book more. Nothing game-changing a fun read.
December 25, 2021
Good read
A good read that brings Bile into the Era of the great rift. I guess the galaxy will never be free of his taint. The ending didn't make sense, however and was a cop out. I liked the series, but the ending just killed me. I don't think I need to explain why I feel this way. It gets 4 stars for a good series and good read.
A good read that brings Bile into the Era of the great rift. I guess the galaxy will never be free of his taint. The ending didn't make sense, however and was a cop out. I liked the series, but the ending just killed me. I don't think I need to explain why I feel this way. It gets 4 stars for a good series and good read.
January 28, 2024
Much is spoken about what it takes to condem a man but rarely about what it takes to atone and achieve retribution. We are all stories to be told and remembered through the tales of those who knew us best.
October 11, 2023
The bad guys are so much more enjoyable to read
January 28, 2023
Ol' fabulous Bill is at it again, making his new man's, but then the space elf cenobites are pissed, and what ya gonna do then? Maybe go see Papa Fulgrim? Ol' Billy finally gets to play his dream as Grandpa Emps and sit on his golden throne. Ok these books get more and more ridiculous but their fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2021
A great novel, with a slightly medicore final act.
Fabius really has a "Oh god, What have I done" when he reaps everything he's sown over his long life of fiddling and farting around with genetics.
The last, final act in M42 is profoundly disappointing end to the mad scientist I grew to love. Just another pawn to Chaos, regardless of his previous plans. But that is the price you pay when falling to Chaos.
Fabius really has a "Oh god, What have I done" when he reaps everything he's sown over his long life of fiddling and farting around with genetics.
The last, final act in M42 is profoundly disappointing end to the mad scientist I grew to love. Just another pawn to Chaos, regardless of his previous plans. But that is the price you pay when falling to Chaos.
July 16, 2020
How to end the story of an immortal character? This question must surely have been on Josh Reynolds' mind when he sat down to write Manflayer, the third and final book in his Fabius Bile trilogy.
We know that the eponymous mad scientist is still around in the 41st Millenium - he just got a new tabletop model, after all - so how to find a suitably dramatic conclusion to a series of stories about a protagonist so steeped in blood and delusion, one that sits so comfortably besides a Dr Frankenstein or a Macbeth, one that is primed and well deserving of a tragedy to entertain the gods, but is chained to the longevity of a Batman or James Bond?
Primogenitor and Clonelord are among my favorite novels to come out of the Black Library since, well, ever - scratch that: some of my favorite novels, period - so I was at once enthusiastic and worried at the announcement that there would actually be a third instalment of the series after the author earlier seemed to have moved on from the character. In a time of disappointing conclusions to formerly awesome series in cinema and on TV, I wondered whether Fabius Bile would get his graceful Endgame or a disappointing Episode IX. I'm happy to say that, in my book, Josh Reynolds managed to provide Fabius with the former.
Manflayer builds not only on the two preceding novels, but also weaves in threads from Reynolds' other stories about Fabius and the web of characters around him like the short-stories 'Prodigal' & 'Light Of A Crystal Sun' as well as 'Fulgrim - The Palatine Phoenix' (none of which are required reading to make sense of the plot, but enhance the experience and are well worth a read). It's clear that Reynolds took great care to tie the various branches, characters and themes of his 'Fabiusverse' to a coherent, satisfying conclusion.
All ends define what the story that they conclude was about. Manflayer is a novel that bears this conflict on its chest and at times even makes it literal. It's the final act of a story about an idealistic but deeply flawed protagonist, the funeral bell to a monstrous character, a story about consequences, parenthood, death, immortality and the stories that we tell others and ourselves. It's a story where the menagerie of secondary characters can be read as fractals, echoes and mirrors to the hero, monster, father, god at it's centre. It's a novel where the ending sat with me well after I turned the last page. As I tweeted shortly after finishing the novel: "It's cool when a novel simply leaves you delighted after it's last page, but it's much more interesting when you feel the story slowly sinking in and gradually fermenting...It's like watching meaning blossom like a flower instead of consuming it ready-made."
I take a bow and say goodbye to this weird, wonderful, twisted world of monsters and madmen. Thanks for the journey, Mr. Reynolds.
We know that the eponymous mad scientist is still around in the 41st Millenium - he just got a new tabletop model, after all - so how to find a suitably dramatic conclusion to a series of stories about a protagonist so steeped in blood and delusion, one that sits so comfortably besides a Dr Frankenstein or a Macbeth, one that is primed and well deserving of a tragedy to entertain the gods, but is chained to the longevity of a Batman or James Bond?
Primogenitor and Clonelord are among my favorite novels to come out of the Black Library since, well, ever - scratch that: some of my favorite novels, period - so I was at once enthusiastic and worried at the announcement that there would actually be a third instalment of the series after the author earlier seemed to have moved on from the character. In a time of disappointing conclusions to formerly awesome series in cinema and on TV, I wondered whether Fabius Bile would get his graceful Endgame or a disappointing Episode IX. I'm happy to say that, in my book, Josh Reynolds managed to provide Fabius with the former.
Manflayer builds not only on the two preceding novels, but also weaves in threads from Reynolds' other stories about Fabius and the web of characters around him like the short-stories 'Prodigal' & 'Light Of A Crystal Sun' as well as 'Fulgrim - The Palatine Phoenix' (none of which are required reading to make sense of the plot, but enhance the experience and are well worth a read). It's clear that Reynolds took great care to tie the various branches, characters and themes of his 'Fabiusverse' to a coherent, satisfying conclusion.
All ends define what the story that they conclude was about. Manflayer is a novel that bears this conflict on its chest and at times even makes it literal. It's the final act of a story about an idealistic but deeply flawed protagonist, the funeral bell to a monstrous character, a story about consequences, parenthood, death, immortality and the stories that we tell others and ourselves. It's a story where the menagerie of secondary characters can be read as fractals, echoes and mirrors to the hero, monster, father, god at it's centre. It's a novel where the ending sat with me well after I turned the last page. As I tweeted shortly after finishing the novel: "It's cool when a novel simply leaves you delighted after it's last page, but it's much more interesting when you feel the story slowly sinking in and gradually fermenting...It's like watching meaning blossom like a flower instead of consuming it ready-made."
I take a bow and say goodbye to this weird, wonderful, twisted world of monsters and madmen. Thanks for the journey, Mr. Reynolds.
August 13, 2020
This book surpasses its amazing predecessors somehow. It is one of the greatest books I have ever read. It feels like a fitting end for The Manflayer but also a new beginning.
It had me on the edge of my seat at all times and the ending broke my heart.
This feels like a fitting conclusion for Fabius Bile and I'm not sure how he will be further developed. His entire arc through this trilogy has been a fantastic thing to observe.
This trilogy is perfect in my opinion and has made me love so many characters. You could take any character in these books and center a novel around them and I would read it. Joshua Reynolds has made perfection and I'm not sure how he will continue this.
Let's hope Fabius Bile lives up to this standard of quality and doesn't get ruined in the future.
It had me on the edge of my seat at all times and the ending broke my heart.
This feels like a fitting conclusion for Fabius Bile and I'm not sure how he will be further developed. His entire arc through this trilogy has been a fantastic thing to observe.
This trilogy is perfect in my opinion and has made me love so many characters. You could take any character in these books and center a novel around them and I would read it. Joshua Reynolds has made perfection and I'm not sure how he will continue this.
Let's hope Fabius Bile lives up to this standard of quality and doesn't get ruined in the future.
January 19, 2022
A decent conclusion to the series that suffers mainly from the fact that, like most of the Warhammer 40K books, being beholden to established lore and timelines means that any sort of "ending" is never going to feel truly satisfying, and this one is no exception. Still a fun read and a great character, if goodreads allowed for a 3.5 I'd probably bump it up to that but overall still worth a read.
March 27, 2021
One of the better Black Library novels. Unlike many, it actually advances the plot. It also humanizes this character who is considered the worst of the worst. And he is. But like the best mad scientists his motivations are hard to argue with.
April 1, 2024
while i LOVED the previous 2 books this one is barely a book.
It constantly repeats the same cryptic dialogues without moving the plot forward. The ending is pointless. This book feels very forced by the publisher and it feels like it was supposed to be very different
It constantly repeats the same cryptic dialogues without moving the plot forward. The ending is pointless. This book feels very forced by the publisher and it feels like it was supposed to be very different
May 17, 2024
One of the best Warhammer 40k books. The best series and the authors.
Read
May 20, 2025It's been a long time coming finishing this one. I started this trilogy of novels originally October of 2024 and read the first two around that time, and then got waylaid by other stuff-- not because I don't like Bile or these books but just because there is a lot of Warhammer and my mind wandered a bit. That being said, I'm glad I finally got around to finishing the trilogy. This book is quite good and as always I have Opinions.
I talked at length about this when I reviewed Clonelord but it's kind of crazy how much of Bile's story more personally is about the physical reality of him being a parent. The themes of parenthood and intergenerational trauma are far, FAR from uncommon in 40k, especially with regards to Space Marines, but with Bile in particular a big part of what makes him unique is how... involved he was with the actual creation and carrying to term of his children. There's a certain degree to which I am willing to accept that any given 40k author just is kind of oblivious to the fact that they're writing a story about homosexuality and mpreg but Reynolds talks about Fabius' womb and him gestating too much for me to really buy into it being coincidental.
It's really a story about what duties a parent has towards their children above else. Again, parenthood is not uncommon, but what makes Bile interesting is that despite his numerous character flaws, he does in some ways manage to break the cycle. Both he and Fulgrim spurned their fathers at least in part because they resented those fathers having control over them, deciding what was best for them, and not giving them their freedom and autonomy as adults with their own needs and wants. Bile's children also leave him for the same reason, and it takes a long time and the realization that he would rather not have his children hate him for Bile to concede that perhaps it's better that he let them make their own choices, terrible as he might think they are. He's bitter and begrudging and somewhat hypocritical when he concedes this but frankly, being at least able to in theory makes him a better parent than most other parental figures in this setting.
Bile is so much. He's the most pregnant man ever. He's also the most divorced man of all time. The custody drama in this one is insane. The fact that he somehow WINS the custody battle despite everything is also insane. His daughter and ex-husband spend 400+ pages and gods-know how many years in-universe conspiring to manipulate Bile into being part of the family again. I adore how every 40k novel has a cover that's like, a cool imposing dude in armor striking a tough pose and then the actual substance of the book is equal parts familial melodrama and impotently struggling against the force of fate and the greater powers that be in the universe.
Every novel or series of novels in the 4st millennium seems doomed to end in something like misery for the featured characters. Bile's fate is... not as bad as some of his contemporaries, and at the same time also exponentially worse. He spends years and years railing against his fate, first fighting death and then accepting it for the purpose of no longer being the gods' plaything, and then at the end he's still denied that. What's left of him after all that's said and done is both good-- he lives, his work continues, his children are safe, he gets to be with his daughters, he's no longer being hunted-- and bad-- all of this is at the cost of becoming something he never wanted to be, and having essentially no autonomy.
Going back to what I mentioned about so much of Bile's story being about his propensity for bearing children, it feels... it's hard to say it in words other than "it feels like the very end is him consigned to being a broodmare forever", and I am FULLY aware that saying this makes me sound fucking crazy but the text is there, he loses his freedom in exchange for safety that comes from producing soldiers and heirs for the reigning warlords and thugs of the cosmos. His other life's purposes are rendered moot or meaningless or he's forced to abandoned them because all anyone wants him for is his womb(s). He doesn't take on students or leave his house anymore because he has to breed.
There's a lot to talk about here, I've gone all this way without even mentioning except in brief the side characters (of whom there are plenty and of whom I adore) or the style or how I feel about this book in the greater context of the world. I'm probably going to yap more at some point but I just feel. Is this a safe space to talk about Fabius Bile as a Woman's Anxieties character. I don't know, but I certainly am about to.
I talked at length about this when I reviewed Clonelord but it's kind of crazy how much of Bile's story more personally is about the physical reality of him being a parent. The themes of parenthood and intergenerational trauma are far, FAR from uncommon in 40k, especially with regards to Space Marines, but with Bile in particular a big part of what makes him unique is how... involved he was with the actual creation and carrying to term of his children. There's a certain degree to which I am willing to accept that any given 40k author just is kind of oblivious to the fact that they're writing a story about homosexuality and mpreg but Reynolds talks about Fabius' womb and him gestating too much for me to really buy into it being coincidental.
It's really a story about what duties a parent has towards their children above else. Again, parenthood is not uncommon, but what makes Bile interesting is that despite his numerous character flaws, he does in some ways manage to break the cycle. Both he and Fulgrim spurned their fathers at least in part because they resented those fathers having control over them, deciding what was best for them, and not giving them their freedom and autonomy as adults with their own needs and wants. Bile's children also leave him for the same reason, and it takes a long time and the realization that he would rather not have his children hate him for Bile to concede that perhaps it's better that he let them make their own choices, terrible as he might think they are. He's bitter and begrudging and somewhat hypocritical when he concedes this but frankly, being at least able to in theory makes him a better parent than most other parental figures in this setting.
Bile is so much. He's the most pregnant man ever. He's also the most divorced man of all time. The custody drama in this one is insane. The fact that he somehow WINS the custody battle despite everything is also insane. His daughter and ex-husband spend 400+ pages and gods-know how many years in-universe conspiring to manipulate Bile into being part of the family again. I adore how every 40k novel has a cover that's like, a cool imposing dude in armor striking a tough pose and then the actual substance of the book is equal parts familial melodrama and impotently struggling against the force of fate and the greater powers that be in the universe.
Every novel or series of novels in the 4st millennium seems doomed to end in something like misery for the featured characters. Bile's fate is... not as bad as some of his contemporaries, and at the same time also exponentially worse. He spends years and years railing against his fate, first fighting death and then accepting it for the purpose of no longer being the gods' plaything, and then at the end he's still denied that. What's left of him after all that's said and done is both good-- he lives, his work continues, his children are safe, he gets to be with his daughters, he's no longer being hunted-- and bad-- all of this is at the cost of becoming something he never wanted to be, and having essentially no autonomy.
Going back to what I mentioned about so much of Bile's story being about his propensity for bearing children, it feels... it's hard to say it in words other than "it feels like the very end is him consigned to being a broodmare forever", and I am FULLY aware that saying this makes me sound fucking crazy but the text is there, he loses his freedom in exchange for safety that comes from producing soldiers and heirs for the reigning warlords and thugs of the cosmos. His other life's purposes are rendered moot or meaningless or he's forced to abandoned them because all anyone wants him for is his womb(s). He doesn't take on students or leave his house anymore because he has to breed.
There's a lot to talk about here, I've gone all this way without even mentioning except in brief the side characters (of whom there are plenty and of whom I adore) or the style or how I feel about this book in the greater context of the world. I'm probably going to yap more at some point but I just feel. Is this a safe space to talk about Fabius Bile as a Woman's Anxieties character. I don't know, but I certainly am about to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2026
3.5* rounded up.
and with the fabius trilogy coming to a close, i’m feeling.. off.
the first book was super good. an absolutely excellent read. the story wasn’t 10/10 but the characters and how they were developed made up for that, and then some.
the second book, especially after finishing it literally a few days ago, is quite forgettable. as i’m typing this out, i don’t think i can name a single thing that happened in it.. (minus the ending)
luckily for our third and final installment, it will be absolutely be more memorable then the second. but i’m really torn on how i feel about it.
like most 40k books, we are making our way through 2 plots throughout the length of the book. in manflayer, it’s fabius vs his inevitable end, and fabius & the gang vs the enemy.
fabius’ arc has been on going since the first novel, but i think they way everything was set up.. manflayer should have absolutely ended a different way (i’ll leave it at that to avoid heavy spoilers). it should have ended with the OBVIOUS ending. however, it’s not that i hated his journey. just because we didn’t get our obvious ending, fabius’ concluding arc wasn’t bad
however, our second subplot (fabius vs the enemies) - i couldn’t care less about. it just fell a little flat for me.
i would describe this novel like mixing oil and water. we have some good stuff in there! (everyone loves ‘water’). but the oil just didn’t sit right with it (ha. get it?)
my last comment about this, in regards to how the novel starts and a reoccurring topic throughout was fabius’ very defining journey to commoragh… that happens ‘off screen’. what happened there REALLY defines fabius’ character though out this book. other characters even comment how much it’s changed him… and we just get some little tidbits about it here and there. now in mr.reynolds defense, when i went searching for more information about the infamous missing piece of this story, i read an interview he did. and he said he had it included but had to take it out for length reasons and pacing reasons. in the end, i have to respect that BUT if the ‘directors cut’ is ever released, i will be reading that immediately.
overall, the series as a whole was pretty good! i think my expectations got a little to high, and some subplots were down right wasteful but overall, i did have fun. and i can help but enjoy fabius, even more then i already did.
and with the fabius trilogy coming to a close, i’m feeling.. off.
the first book was super good. an absolutely excellent read. the story wasn’t 10/10 but the characters and how they were developed made up for that, and then some.
the second book, especially after finishing it literally a few days ago, is quite forgettable. as i’m typing this out, i don’t think i can name a single thing that happened in it.. (minus the ending)
luckily for our third and final installment, it will be absolutely be more memorable then the second. but i’m really torn on how i feel about it.
like most 40k books, we are making our way through 2 plots throughout the length of the book. in manflayer, it’s fabius vs his inevitable end, and fabius & the gang vs the enemy.
fabius’ arc has been on going since the first novel, but i think they way everything was set up.. manflayer should have absolutely ended a different way (i’ll leave it at that to avoid heavy spoilers). it should have ended with the OBVIOUS ending. however, it’s not that i hated his journey. just because we didn’t get our obvious ending, fabius’ concluding arc wasn’t bad
however, our second subplot (fabius vs the enemies) - i couldn’t care less about. it just fell a little flat for me.
i would describe this novel like mixing oil and water. we have some good stuff in there! (everyone loves ‘water’). but the oil just didn’t sit right with it (ha. get it?)
my last comment about this, in regards to how the novel starts and a reoccurring topic throughout was fabius’ very defining journey to commoragh… that happens ‘off screen’. what happened there REALLY defines fabius’ character though out this book. other characters even comment how much it’s changed him… and we just get some little tidbits about it here and there. now in mr.reynolds defense, when i went searching for more information about the infamous missing piece of this story, i read an interview he did. and he said he had it included but had to take it out for length reasons and pacing reasons. in the end, i have to respect that BUT if the ‘directors cut’ is ever released, i will be reading that immediately.
overall, the series as a whole was pretty good! i think my expectations got a little to high, and some subplots were down right wasteful but overall, i did have fun. and i can help but enjoy fabius, even more then i already did.
June 26, 2024
I read this because my son in law, who is into the whole Warhammer 40K Universe – novels, gaming, miniatures, lore, etc – bought me an Omnibus edition because he believed I'd like the character of the titular Manflayer – Fabius Bile. We (the family having Cal, not the Universe having Fabius!) are genuinely so lucky to have him!
This is really good. My goodness me, it's a dark Universe and if anyone is vaguely likeable it's probably by accident. There is a huge (and I mean HUGE) body of lore (with literally hundreds of books as part of the Black Library) that means it can be difficult to keep up or enter into the Universe. Also the language is all a bit overwrought – however that is absolutely earned by the subject matter and genre.
This, the last, so far(?) in the Fabius Bile series is definitely the best and a step up from the other (good) entries, although I have to accept that's because I am becoming more aware of the characters involved and the background to them within the shared Universe. Fabius' indiscretions are coming home to roost as his various enemies are gathering to end his activities and his life. A parade of greatest hits appear either with or against him as we head towards the 'final' stand and Fabius gathers with his allies and creations. Threads that have been gathering since the first novel and throughout the short stories are finally coming together to form a climax of sorts.
The characters, whilst not likeable, are surprisingly well drawn, and Fabius himself – whilst clearly a monster by any standards – has proper motivation and is the best sort of anti-hero who thinks and believes fervently that he is the good guy doing what's needed to be done.
There are a lot of good authors who produce books in this Universe and on this evidence they don't short change the reader. There is nothing wrong with being a solid professional and working in a shared Universe, and Mr Reynold's does a fine job.
Honestly the only downside is the fact that there is inevitably a massive amount of background that the new reader has to guess or absorb in order to truly understand what's going on. In that sense Wikipedia is your friend.
This is really good. My goodness me, it's a dark Universe and if anyone is vaguely likeable it's probably by accident. There is a huge (and I mean HUGE) body of lore (with literally hundreds of books as part of the Black Library) that means it can be difficult to keep up or enter into the Universe. Also the language is all a bit overwrought – however that is absolutely earned by the subject matter and genre.
This, the last, so far(?) in the Fabius Bile series is definitely the best and a step up from the other (good) entries, although I have to accept that's because I am becoming more aware of the characters involved and the background to them within the shared Universe. Fabius' indiscretions are coming home to roost as his various enemies are gathering to end his activities and his life. A parade of greatest hits appear either with or against him as we head towards the 'final' stand and Fabius gathers with his allies and creations. Threads that have been gathering since the first novel and throughout the short stories are finally coming together to form a climax of sorts.
The characters, whilst not likeable, are surprisingly well drawn, and Fabius himself – whilst clearly a monster by any standards – has proper motivation and is the best sort of anti-hero who thinks and believes fervently that he is the good guy doing what's needed to be done.
There are a lot of good authors who produce books in this Universe and on this evidence they don't short change the reader. There is nothing wrong with being a solid professional and working in a shared Universe, and Mr Reynold's does a fine job.
Honestly the only downside is the fact that there is inevitably a massive amount of background that the new reader has to guess or absorb in order to truly understand what's going on. In that sense Wikipedia is your friend.
September 16, 2021
Most 40k stories feature some form of heroism, at least the chance for redemption, and indeed, the want for it.
Not this one, characters that are gleefully evil and have neither issue nor pause in that evil, on the one hand, it's interesting to take a walk on the other side of things, but I've always enjoyed the complexities of evil. Something (and I do stress the thing part of that word) that has no compunction about what it does or why it does it, something that has almost scientific curiosity as to what it's doing, without any of the remorse for what it does to those that it experiments on, this is a difficult thing to get inside the head of, but this book does it.
If you're looking for a regular story of war and conquest amongst the stars, with bold soldiers willing to give everything for what they've been told is what the universe needs, this is not it. If you're willing to take a look over the edge of loyalty and honour and see what lies on the other side....
You may find something of interest in this.
Not this one, characters that are gleefully evil and have neither issue nor pause in that evil, on the one hand, it's interesting to take a walk on the other side of things, but I've always enjoyed the complexities of evil. Something (and I do stress the thing part of that word) that has no compunction about what it does or why it does it, something that has almost scientific curiosity as to what it's doing, without any of the remorse for what it does to those that it experiments on, this is a difficult thing to get inside the head of, but this book does it.
If you're looking for a regular story of war and conquest amongst the stars, with bold soldiers willing to give everything for what they've been told is what the universe needs, this is not it. If you're willing to take a look over the edge of loyalty and honour and see what lies on the other side....
You may find something of interest in this.
January 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book quite a bit as someone trying to learn more about the Emperor’s Children. There’s a lot of body horror, grim detail, and it’s almost dripping with vengeance. The whole themes of the book seem to be continued vengeance vs acceptance that in the grand scheme, does it truly matter. When powers beyond clutch the strings, what are you if you do not join them? There’s a bit too much “plans within plans” and I’m sure Fabius is the boy to be overloaded with such a trope, but still. The constant turns did overstay their welcomes just a bit. In all, a really solid story and one I am glad I read. It is good the Tower of Flesh can move no more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2021
The weakest of the three. Not 'bad', but not up to the quality of the other two. Fabius is reduced to pure desperation and is forced by the narrative to drop many of his qualities developed in the other books just to survive. A weak ending with many unresolved plot threads and a 'villian' that just 'runs away' who we never hear from again, and lest we forget, important characters who we've come to know and love over the last two books dying offscreen.
Many-many good qualities overall, and a solid 4 out of 5. But the other books were better.
Many-many good qualities overall, and a solid 4 out of 5. But the other books were better.
January 26, 2023
Some fun, lots of meh
I like the character of Fabius Bile, I think he’s the fun 40K equivalent of House MD and Reynolds has created a decent array of supporting characters. The sum is not greater than it’s parts though, and I have found myself regularly wondering what is going on in this series: why exactly is the plot unfolding as it is, other than it probably sounded cool when outlining it. There just never seems to be a good, character driven link between the set up and the choices Bile makes.
Still, it’s not true trash tier 40K nonsense so it’s enjoyable enough. I just wouldn’t choose it over anything Wraight, Abnett or ADB are doing.
I like the character of Fabius Bile, I think he’s the fun 40K equivalent of House MD and Reynolds has created a decent array of supporting characters. The sum is not greater than it’s parts though, and I have found myself regularly wondering what is going on in this series: why exactly is the plot unfolding as it is, other than it probably sounded cool when outlining it. There just never seems to be a good, character driven link between the set up and the choices Bile makes.
Still, it’s not true trash tier 40K nonsense so it’s enjoyable enough. I just wouldn’t choose it over anything Wraight, Abnett or ADB are doing.
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