GOTHGHUL HOLLOW by Anna Stephens | Warhammer Book Club with Mira!

Get ready for a SPOOKY time as we read our first Warhammer Horror novel AND our first Age of Sigmar novel - it's GOTHGHUL HOLLOW by Anna Stephens!
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Intro Art by @KCP FARGO
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Copyright: Unless noted in the video, all images © Games Workshop 1987-2022. Title music is 'Black Rainbows' by Karl Casey @White Bat Audio
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[@ConquistadoraDeLaEstrella]

Mira's singing is amazing, and kudos to Ian for not corpsing at it

[@stevepirie8130]

Kate Bush has a competitor in Mira 😎

[@miramanga]

Ian’s had to listen to my singing for decades 😂🎉❤

[@marceloantunes998]

She went full Angra

[@happyharibo1330]

Reform the Duloks for a one off kate Bush cover.....With Ian as a guest bassist!

[@SachikaRomanova]

Geneviève Dieudonné is Kim Newman / Jack Yeovil's pet character (and an absolute favourite of mine) to the point where she appeared in Kim's sensational ANNO DRACULA alternate history novels where Vampires now openly rule the British Empire in Victorian England. You should definitely go through the whole Geneviève Omnibus, neither you nor we viewers will regret it.

[@Sweaty_Ken]

seconded

[@hooliganblack832]

Thirded

[@colinmiddleton8127]

It is only 4 books, none very long.

[@Kristian.B.Kristiansen]

I also agree with this.

[@mostly_harmless3789]

The Necroquake is a big spell that Nagash did that made death magic go everywhere and caused the Nighthaunt to exist. Love the videos!

[@Makiyura]

Mira has the perfect outfit for this, well done! 💜 Ian I love your suit too!

[@stewartthorpe2533]

Mira is a treasure

[@mennorach]

Necroquake is the inciting incident of AoS 2nd edition. First one started when the SCE first appeared and started reclaiming the land for Sigmar. Necroquake is Nagash trying to make a big spell to awaken all the dead things in all the realms, but it did not work properly (remind you of anything the guy did previously?). End of second edition was Teclis defeating Nagash and Alarielle making a big Life spell to counter the big Death spell. It worked a bit too well and now everything is filled with life and extra energy, which woke up a monstrously powerful centaur like creature in the Realm of Beast (Kragnos). The 3rd edition has been about the Realm of Beast and monsters in general going crazy and wrecking places. The current big storyline is about the Cities trying to tame the land and Kragnos having a (likely) fatal meeting with two brothers who hate him and happen to be big powerful dragons. The next editions inciting incident is likely something that counters the big Life spell but creates an entirely new problems for gods and mortals alike. I like the setting, it's weird and funny. I don't have any new book recommendations but the main rulebooks have good summaries of the story beats you ought to know about.

[@geoffwalker9210]

I spent the entire video hearing "Gothgirl Hollow". A good thing about AoS is when they created it, they didn't make it another 2 minutes to midnight setting like WFB and 40k were/are. They're not bound by anything and they can really go nuts. I also like that magic is just part of the setting and also chaos is just an enemy out there, not some insidious creeping corruption. That's there but its a more just another faction to fight. The Stormcast aren't just great warrior heroes, but also those that died rather than giving into chaos. Sigmar wasn't too picky about who you were in your previous life, just as long as you denied chaos. Also some are the souls of those from the Old World, the Anvils of Heldenhammer, one of their leaders is Literally Bathlasar Gelt. They're also made up of warriors that have died a lot so they're way more goth than anyone else. Hence why they're the Shyish Stormcast and my boys and girls. Also Lethis is the main City of Sigmar there, and again, my chosen city. No other place in the Mortal Realms has more Cure coverbands.

[@lordtriky15]

Drachenfels, the first Guenivive book is one of my all time favorites, so I would certainly recommend that.

[@BobmansCave]

Yes 100% I fell Mira would be really into it

[@samhoward8573]

Whenever I think Mira can't get any more amazing, we get a video like this. She is the best!!!

[@threeohm]

Just dreaming here, but a Mira Manga 40K themed Christmas album would be amazing. Okay how about just a single 40K themed Christmas song?

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

There’s a quadrilogy of Genevieve books you can get in an omnibus - written by Kim Newman under the pen name Jack Yeovil :) I’ve not read them yet but do have the omnibus ready and waiting!

[@Vasily_Kotickovitch]

The most unusual thing about Genevieve’s series is that the author himself is surprised and embarrassed that someone liked these books, which he honestly says in the preface. Just in fact: the young company Games Workshop then hired a well-known author to write something under their brand, the author did not even delve into the intricacies of the Warhammer world and wrote according to his imagination.

[@stevepirie8130]

Great effort in the outfit, nails and hair Mira! The Kate Bush-ish song topped it off.

[@miramanga]

[@Insolvency]

love the airfix cup! :) love their 1:72 ww2 airplane models.

[@Insolvency]

or was it 1 :78

[@mischiefwargaming]

Wait, it's got Genevieve?? Okay I need to read this ASAP, I adored the Genevieve stories growing up!

[@euansmith3699]

It is the most wonderful time of the year... Thanks to Mira and Ian for another fun video. The amount of enthusiasm from our Book Club Curators is wonderful.

[@mrushdfw]

Was distracted at the beginning and it sounded like Ian said Goth Girl Hallow. I mean, I would read that too!

[@Rosgakori]

Amethyst wind of Shyish is the source of Death Magic, it is different from the one that Necromancer do which is (or was at one point) called just Lore of Nagash, because Nagash co-opted it from the Dark Magic of Dark Elves. Simple and fun.

[@RobAnybody79]

Just when I thought this couldn't get any better, you guys go and mention Eva Green (ca. 2005 Eva Green, no less)... ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SirWilliamKidney]

Similar to how Ian recommended either Xenos or Caiphas Kain novels for newcomers to 40k, if I wanted to get into Age of Sigmar is there a good "first book" in the setting to read? Not including this one, obviously, because I know what happens in it now :P

[@normalin1stofhisname]

Sricking with the Warhammer Horror label, i definitely recommend Dark Harvest. Lots of folk horror with wood elves and the darker aspects of the realm of Ghur. Can also heartily recommend the Genevieve books as have several others. I'd also throw in the Vampire Wars from the old world, purely because i love the depiction of Vlad Von Carstein throughout. And Malus Dark blade's 2 omnibuses are always worth a gander for some truly over the top edgy dark elf nonsense. ^^ Alternatively, Blood of Asaheim stands out as my favourite space wolf novel to date.

[@Thornbeard]

The Gates of Azyr by Chris Wraight is a fantastic introduction to what AoS is. Wraight does a amazing job as always with giving two factions that at first glance can be one dimensional and fleshing them out to a grand scale. Stormcast or Khorne both shine and horrify with Wraight's prose.

[@obsidianrazor]

If you and Mira like Age of Sigmar and DnD you need to check Soulbound, the AoS RPG. It's really damn good and often feels like playing in a power metal album cover :D

[@TheNecromancer6666]

You two should really make this as a Podcast. I woul love to listen to your Book Club!

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

It is a podcast too now!

[@huwtindall7096]

I'm enjoying this bookclub way more than I thought I would! THe 1980s Warhammer short story book episode was a hoot!

[@tcrabbe1583]

I'd check out the follow up novels, Briardark and Black Eyed Saint. They contain Genevieve but you don't need to have read Genevieve for continuity. But I'd recommend Kim Newman's novels nonetheless, they are brilliant!

[@beardhammerwargaming]

Haven't watched it yet, but I love this book (the first of four in the series) and I'm really excited for your interview with Anna Stephens :D

[@facelessman265]

Need to read 1) Overlords of the Iron Dragon (Age of Sigmar) 2) Vampire Wars: The Von Carstein Trilogy (Old World) 3) Thanquol and Boneripper (Old World)

[@davydatwood3158]

As a man who is quite fond of fancy waistcoats, I found Ian's outfit in this video quite satisfying. Mira's off-the-shoulder look was eye-catching to be sure, but I'm a sucker for a paisley waistcoat.

[@metalloverben]

There's actually a pseudo-prequel to the Tales of Mhurgast series, CL Werner's Castle of Blood. Castle of Blood actually takes place in Castle Murghast, and is all about the actual summoning of the big scary demon thing, though I'm not sure if it's actually the Beast from this book. It's actually pretty good as well, I'd highly recommend it. If you want a general look at a more prosperous city in Shyish called Lethsis (which I've actually built an entire Cities of Sigmar army around, which was a really cool aesthetic to work with), as well as a good entry-point for the lore in general starting around the 2nd edition stuff and dealing with the actual advent of the Necroquake, the novel Soul Wars by Josh Reynolds is great. It has a lot of interaction between the Stormcast and the Cities of Sigmar factions, as well as a POV look at the Death armies and their motivations. These book club videos are also great, I love them and really look forward to more. 🙂

[@zombielizard218]

The AoS Gotrek Books are a great introduction into the setting, though I don't know how well they work without having read the Gotrek and Felix Books (Or at least like Gotrek and Felix Books 2-5 + the 2 End Times ones)

[@Hemrahban]

i think age of sigmar is starting to become more interesting to the old warhammer fantasy folks, now that the "normal" humans were introduced into the model range. an issue a lot of people had in the beginning was that the setting was not grounded in something relateable. the endtimes doing a full "game of thrones season 8" with the setting wasn't particularily helpful to ease people into unwanted change either. warhammer fantasy is still very popular but even the older players were aware that it was very hard to get into the hobby because of the amount of models you had to buy, thiccc rulebook to read and painting work you had to invest. i'm really interested in how humans live in the other realms too, there is a lot on potential for very interesting and unique lore. awesome book review, as always :)

[@chrispalumbo5556]

Soul Wars by Josh Reynolds gives some more insight into the Necroquake and Nagash, from an interesting Stormcast perspective.

[@Kolyarut]

This has been on my list for a while, it sounds like an absolute blast, I need to check it out - your enthusiasm is infectious! Can I suggest Gloomspite for your follow up AoS experience? It's another one I've not read yet, but I've heard great things about, and I feel like the spooky Grot stuff might really appeal to your sensibilities...

[@N0-1_H3r3]

Gloomspite is a lot of fun, and it's also creepy body horror in a lot of places.

[@Mysaladdays-go6cc]

Best Kate/Mira mash up ever!

[@BlizzardofKnives]

I remember enjoying this one 🙂. P.S. Nice work on your outfits.

[@bobbler42]

32:00 “I do hates it when the damn grackles hog all the land for their ossaries…”

[@kevinoliver3083]

I'm really surprised '60s Hammer Films, weren't mentioned. I can really see Christopher Lee as the father and Peter Cushing as the avuncular.

[@tyranno-soros8521]

Had this on in the background while i worked. As soon as i heard "obviously played by eva green" i started paying way more attention!

[@user-jq1mg2mz7o]

undead do have non-space necrons in AoS in the form of the Ossiarch Bonereapers, though in some way it's interesting to think of the Bonereapers as Fantasy Undead Space Marines Legions and Stormcast as Fantasy Human Necrons (what with the progressively hollowing process and revivification)

[@AliceBowie]

Funny, because the Necrons were originally WHFB Tomb Kings in space.

[@user-jq1mg2mz7o]

@@AliceBowie it's the circle of life, err, death. you can even split the difference for necrons: newcrons are ironically similar to old warhammer fantasy tomb kings, while oldcrons are similar to new AoS Ossiarchs

[@Vasily_Kotickovitch]

And the Tomb Kings in the new Old World are now hordes of evil who want to conquer, enslave and kill everything on the orders of the megamaniac Settra.

[@davidpacker7602]

So whats the plan for a christmas episode then. Ian as Santa Cuu!?

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thank you for another great video with Mira!

[@stewartriley4690]

I'd highly recommend gloomspite for another Age of Sigmar book, there's a touch of horror to it. Also if you want to understand the lore and events of AoS I'd highly recommend the podcast Lorecast Eternals

[@Jam-og2sz]

A great book I'd recommend re the Necroquake as well as being a great intro to the setting is Soul Wars by Josh Reynolds! Realmslayer is also a great intro (also got a recent novelisation, used to only be an audio drama) as its basically Gotrek being isekai-ed into the Mortal Realms and so the pov is someone being completely new to the setting~ I have other recommendations, but those two are like my fairly certain intro/beginner friendly options.

[@Jinballify]

Just sayin' Now that Age of Sigmar virginity hath been done n' dusted, there could be a video where Mira sees all the AoS miniatures in Citadel paintjobs as they are presented in the GW store pages. With the helpful custodian of all knowledge that is Ian on her side. Seeing her reaction on things like Idraneth Deepkin or Sylvanethi will be, pure heartwarming gold. Say what you will about AoS, and many have, but the model range is GORGEOUS!

[@Jinballify]

Ps. Personal favorite? Kharadron Overlords. Who wouldn't love steampunk airship Dawi?

[@mus_cetiner]

You both look fantastic and great episode. That paisley design looking top, Ian wears I love, I would like to know where did he got that.

[@CaptainFancyCat]

I’m going to wait before listening because I have yet to read it, but Ian’s vest is legit cool af.

[@Rosgakori]

Also recommending SOUL WARS (it's a guys fighting book, but Josh Reynolds makes it interesting), GODEATER'S SON (chaos worshipper who isn't cartoon supervillain but a freedom fighter fighting against Sigmar's colonialism) and GLOOMSPITE (gobbos!)

[@Ovetupp]

Mira went goth girl for Gothgul

[@ropable]

NEVER BE SORRY FOR THE SINGING

[@SvenBolz]

I am usually not that into Age of Sigmar, but that certainly sounds intriguing. I'll read it myself and come back to this once I've finished it :) As I can't say anything about the content now, I'll just stick to superficial things: Lovely outfits on both of you! Vests seem to suit you really well, Ian. I also really liked Mira's dress and makeup, especially in that lighting.

[@keepcalmandre-roll5480]

Love the costumes :) what an epic movie intro song. Love the singing 😊

[@TheCompleteDM]

If you're looking for something spooky in AoS, Dark Harvest is a pretty cool novel, albeit with a disappointing ending, imo. Absolutely drips with character and it's a good look at how regular people see the mortal realms.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Mira, so nice of you to help Ian get started with this internet thing. Please be patient with him, I’m sure he’ll catch on eventually.

[@Azurios]

I rly like your halloween skins =) I have read a number of AoS books. There are some really good works like Soul Wars, Hamilcar, Dark Harvest or anything with Gotrek. But my absolute favorite is probably A Dynasty of Monsters by David Annendale. It's about the really monstrous looking vampires, their relationship with really toxic humans and the life in Ghur (the living beast realm). I can only recommend it.

[@TheGCRust]

Highly recommend Gloomspite for another AoS "horror" outing

[@Gothamite40k]

I really struggle with AoS, because it just feels like another version of the typical fantasy universe. 40k is so unique, which is probably why it's as popular as it is.

[@Vasily_Kotickovitch]

Whoa! A typical fantasy is a planet similar to Earth, even copying the maps, nations, states and cultures. + Adding Tolkien invented races and plot moves.

[@MrlWrkr]

Now that youve opened the AoS world, have you considered sharing the video game Total War Warhammer with Mira? Not really to play, but for visuals and story? Side note one of my all time favorite books is Brunner The Bounty Hunter

[@g-wb]

As always love watching along with the book club. Would recommend Soul Wars by Josh Reynolds and also The Lady of Sorrows by CL Werner. (but I maybe biased as I cosplay Lady Olynder)

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

I think Genevieve **was** the beast right? Like, the beast was a sending of her in a reduced way to allow her to feed and gain power while trying to communicate as well?

[@miramanga]

ahhhhhhhhh

[@liamfishwick2943]

I have been on a bit of a AOS audio dinged. I really liked the new Gotrick books, great introduction. But my favorite was The Hollow King. But I am a realm of death fan.

[@sylviaze]

I love that we german sneak into every story 😂

[@nickharling3902]

Instant like for “Wuthering Wights”

[@thecommuterzombie]

11:40 exsanguinated was the word you were looking for.

[@happyharibo1330]

I loved the Blackadder quotes

[@CorbinatorLoL]

This has been great!

[@cheech381]

~Oh oh please read Malus Darkblade - by Dan Abnett. Would love to see/hear your thoughts on the first book

[@josephkrausz9557]

As a WFRP player, I always wonder how much exposure Ian has had to any of the Warhammer-associated TTRPGs. (There's a nice Humble Bundle up with the current AoS, WF, and 40K TTRPGs for real cheap.) I'm curious how much interaction there is between the wargame players and ttrpg players.

[@Mark.Matthews]

Serious Iron Maiden vibes on the opening movie plot description song 😂😂

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

Not Kate Bush…?

[@markhowlett8498]

Hello guys, thanks for that wonderful review. It turns out I accidently read the second book “Briardark” (blue outside instead of purple) first a couple of months ago. It is completely different from the tone you describe about the first book and contains a more psychological (but at the same time very real), dark and tragic kind of horror. The book tells the unusual adventure of a young lady, her brother and her family, living in a wooden area village. At some point in the story she gets to meet one of the most interesting & evil characters in the realms of Sigmar, and maybe even beyond, that I ever read of. This wonderful guy reminded me of the Man in Black from King’s Dark Tower, but the story also has some classical horror and lovecraftian vibes (the lower toned ones - not surfing the universe in search of nutrition-farms). I absolutely did not expect this story to be set in Age of Sigmar, it feels much more like a story written for Warhammer Fantasy that got a re-skin treatment. Maybe we are not the only ones who see and feel the identity crisis that naturally comes when there is so much white to cover and all you did was making sure not much of the old stuff survived. Briardark was an amazing read and I will read more of the author in the future. It also has some flaws but I guess that comes from the complexity that was shoved into a rather short novel. The lines that hit do so much harder though and it contains a wonderful sinister tone. The second half of the book is the better one, so if you feel like like putting it down, don’t. Later in the book the Templars of Nagash are introduced, that I never heard of before. I really like the idea of those guys, they are some sort of police in Shyish. So if you wanna read of them, the Briardark and a terrifying beast that haunts the place you live in is welcoming you.

[@raymondartrip7992]

I need more holiday Warhammer in my life.

[@PoolNoodleGundam]

Gotta be the best thumbnail yet

[@robbie__uk]

Great outfits guys 😊 live that dress Mira ❤ I really enjoyed this book 😊 no spoilers , but I was really disappointed in the second book. I wanted more of the same, unfortunately that was not the case, keep up the great work 😊

[@origulator]

Dressed like you're trying to put together a hot weather outfit in Red Dead Redemption 2

[@k92ful]

Oh my god Mira you're so pretty 😍😍 That dress! Absolutely beautiful!

[@miramanga]

I just checked out you singing My Way magnificently and now I am embarrassed that you listened to mine!!

[@k92ful]

​@@miramanga OMG Thank you so much And no you were great

[@hooliganblack832]

It sounds like that book captured a lot of what I liked about the Warhammer World before AoS. Mystery, horror, despair and nobody really knowing what was going on. I disagree with you about the appeal of low fantasy. AoS may be bonkers but the Old World made the weird seem weirder because it wasn't everywhere.

[@happyharibo1330]

Never touched any of the warhammer fantasy/age of sigmar stuff with a barge pole to be honest. You guys are actually succeding the impossible and selling the idea of exploring this more. Going beyond my 40k comfort zone. Though I did try to start a Bretonian army back in the early 90s. Six Knights on horsies. Painted one. Got told I was doing it wrong by a friend. Got too pissed off to do it "properly"....

[@terraneaux]

It's funny to me because Nagash is a given name in the parts of the world that used to make up Abyssinia... it's a bit like calling someone Bill.

[@WhiteRose0011]

Love the costumes! Happy Halloween!

[@kirbyrawstorne]

Writing this before I watch the video (because I know it's going to be great). You both look fantastic, but Ian I'm going to need the name of your tailor. Where did you get that amazing waistcoat??

[@satinthrone]

Fantastic episode and great outfits! Bless y'all ♥

[@asphyxianone]

Fantastic outfits. Love that vest and all the purple. Even if Age of Sigmar itself isn't that interesting, the book club is always a delightful listen.

[@Vaellas]

In connection to this book the next in the series, Briardark, I just finished yesterday and really enjoyed. For other AoS reads: Castle of Blood: I really enjoyed this one, it is a horror novel with people trapped in a castle with... something evil. I picked it up because the castle in question is Mhurgast and set, I believe, a couple of centuries before these books closer to the time of the Necroquake. I am still wondering what the connection between the stories could be as they are very different but Castle of blood would make a great movie with an interesting cast of characters. Another example of mortals facing great evil rather than super soldiers to show how horrifying the world really is. Godeaters son: Phenomenal book. It is more on the side of Chaos (to a degree as Heldannar wants nothing to do with Gods in general) and the resistance of temptation from it but it comes from a "hero" and why would someone fall to Chaos instead of joining Order? It actually paints very good reasons why he is on the side he is on and how just because we have the factions in Order does not mean everyone in Order is actually good and how they colonise in their freeing of the realms so what happens to those that were already in the realms before the Age of Sigmar that did not fall to Chaos when forces of order show up to "liberate" them? How are they mistreated? How desperate do they become? Excellent main character.

[@ShadowDragon1848]

Mira´s look was amazing! But I also live Ian´vest. Super cool style :D

[@Pensivelyexpensive]

Gotta read this one

[@phantasmrain]

Warhammer horror, excellent!

[@nanokindled8435]

These are always so excellent

[@Mysaladdays-go6cc]

which Opera though ? There are plenty of contenders!

[@MarauderPixie]

Only came back here to comment because I saw that some (also great) newer lore video has way more views than this one. Heresy! Travesty! These bits are the ture heart and soul of the channel - the rest are just (still absolutely brilliant) technicalities.

[@gorbalsboy]

Why oh why do we never have scene's were the characters are contemplating their next steps/fate/meal. whilst sitting on the pan having a post adventure shite?????

[@randomacademypilot]

Thank you.

[@chrispalumbo5556]

I remember know part of why this book didn't work for me. The ending. I don't believe it was advertised as a start to a new series when it came out, or at least it wasn't clear, so I found the ending really disappointing and leaving way too .uch unanswered. Hopefully it's better with the other books to supplement it now, but I just wish it had been clearer what this was intended to be.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

My doctor has advised me to avoid cardiac stress, so Mira’s going to have to issue warnings if she wears that dress again.

[@codassong]

airfix mug!

[@adapax77]

I'm sure I'm not the first but... IAN, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT WAISTCOAT?! 😅

[@happyharibo1330]

A Blackadder quote is never unwelcome...

[@tomhatton2512]

Can you please do a 10hr loop mix of your end of video music. Thaaaaaaannnnkkks

[@WitchKnightMusic]

purple lippy!!!

[@1701Emperor]

Hmm having heard the initial setup you could have fooled me saying this is just Brotherhood of the Wolf.

[@TVs_Brent]

How do i get banished to goth girl hollow

[@johnlander2219]

Oh, I say. Mira. ❤

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Perfect dress for a date with a vampire.