ALTAR OF MAWS: Review
Ladies and gentlemen, young and old, Tau enthusiasts, fans of 40k humanity and lovers of all things Chaos DRUMROLL PLEASE!
(light spoilers ahead)
Altar of Maws comes roaring out of the sump that is the Phaedra warfront like a rage infected zombie. This is the kind of lore we've all been waiting for through the desert and I've never been happier for this slime tainted glass of water.
To many Tau fans this will be a wonderful new chapter in Mr Fehervari's menagerie of grim-dark Tau as much as it is a welcome new round of terrifying imagery of the hidden threat of Chaos (or is it?) that is just under the surface between the Tau Commonwealth and the Imperium.
Not sure why Black Library says that this is a "humorous" look at unintended consequences, but then this reviewer is convinced that BL and GW alike barely understand what's going on on the Tau side of 40k. Thankfully, Mr Fehervari has no such problems.
Set during a prisoner transfer from a defeated fortress and Tau positions along a cursed river. Jhi'kaara (lit: broken mirror) returns as protagonist for us complete with a host of human and Tau characters all of which are clearly under the influence of Phaedra's (or Fi'draas) strange and twisting influence. She now has a burst cannon toting Ogryn (O'grinn) a true believer in the Tau'va.
Without getting into too many specifics it's really all about the tone. There are careful and mindful nods to other authors (grapple mags from the Cain stories) as well as managing the seemingly natural resistance that Tau have to the Warp. Unlike the ham fisted attempts to tackle the faith concept that has been the ruination of more recent Tau lore, Altar of Maws perfectly grasps the way Warhammer 40,000 is supposed to work and no better line captures the Tau defense against the malign influences than: Rage against the dying of the light.
There are excellent new words for the lexicon (coming later this year):
Lhaat Elesh: lit: to slice with sight - It's a quality that all the Ethereal's possess and what some, including a Gue'la prisoner, has. It means to "be fully present".
O'grynn: The Tau word for Ogryn, also a wonderful nod to the Taros campaign book which showcases enslaved Ogryn joining their Tau saviors.
M'yen'kesh: The unforseen blade
There's even a wink and a nod to the Reddit forums filled with Imperial fans who yell that the Tau castrate human prisoners.
There's even an incredible conclusion that shows how the Tau have all the spiritual fortitude to fight Chaos but it might be at odds with the more temperate and responsible teachings of the Ethereals.
Remember this: Rage makes monsters of us all as you get to the more gruesome firefight toward the end.
It's glorious. When is someone going to give this guy a book series?
Get it here: https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/altar-of-maws-eshort-eng-2023.html
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