Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

The Real Monsters in The Oubliette

The horrors of Warhammer 40,000 continue in The Oubliette, a novel by J.C. Sterns. This is one of many horror novels available within the larger universe, once again proving that the world is suited to these darker themes.

Ashielle was third in line for becoming the Lord Governor of Ceocan. Until one day, she suddenly found herself in charge. Following a few horrible disasters within her family, that is. It’s not exactly an ideal way to come into command.

To make matters worse, the people who murdered her father are now trying to kill her. Perhaps that is why a monster under her house woke up. A dark hunter, a monster who feeds on blood and misery. One that never should have been woken up.

Writing

The Oubliette was a twisted and mesmerizing read from start to finish. I blended politics and horror in a strangely fascinating way. Yet even the politics couldn’t diminish (or stop) the horror that tore through these pages.

The setting will feel familiar to fans of 40k, with a small planet tasked to meet quotas and unwilling to interfere until there’s a problem (frequently too late to truly fix anything). That is where Ashielle and the politics of her planet come into play while also showing how this hands-off approach can lead to disaster.

The darker elements quickly overpowered the scheming that was on the surface. It revealed something darker and…twisted. Yet even that felt almost at home in this story, as J.C. Sterns wove it all together into one complete narrative.

The writing was rich and detailed. That was a double-bladed edge, as it fleshed out the world and refused to shy away from the more graphic elements that followed this monster through the night.

Development

At first, it felt like The Oubliette was a slow-building novel. The intrigue and the politics were offset by family drama. However, once the murders changed focus from Ashielle’s family to her, the pace picked up fairly significantly.

From there, it was a whirlwind that seemed to seep deeper with every chapter. The corruption of the world and the characters grew exponentially. I mean that in both the literal and metaphorical senses.

What I appreciated about The Oubliette was how it managed to worm its way into my mind. It’s a chilling comparison, come to think of it. Even when I wasn’t actively reading it, I thought about it and wondered where it would lead.

That should say something about how captivating this story grew, even over time. I wish more horror novels were written with this style in mind.

Conclusion

The Oubliette was a thrilling and terrifying read that wasn’t afraid to get too graphic at times. The infusion of politics and family drama made the tale all the more compelling, as well as the natural inclusion of horror elements from 40k.

All things considered, this is a read worth checking out, especially for fans who enjoy this universe and the darker side of events that it can portray. It’ll make for an ideal read, particularly around Halloween.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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