Requiem Infernal by Peter Fehervari. Originally published by The Black Library, April 2019. Approx. 300 pages.
HachiSnax Note: I believe I need to start this review off with an apology. I had so wanted to be one of the first to get a review of Requiem Infernal up; and here we are, two months later. The positive to this is that, in the meantime, I have seen a deluge of well-composed, thoughtful, intricate reviews posted for this masterwork. It shows, I believe, that Peter Fehervari might finally be getting the acclaim and recognition that those of us who have been drifting through the Dark Coil for years know he so definitely deserves. I see people being made into true believers;dashing to pick up his earlier works. In a pleasant way, it makes one think of his first book, Fire Caste, with all of its bizarre, psychological twists and turns, as a work akin to The Thing; shockingly brilliant, but perhaps so shocking that it was overlooked upon first release. However, time has proven to solidify, and validate, the mettle of the masterwork.
Moving the rant along (so as to keep a bit of my personal views out of the review proper), there are some observations I need to make about The Black Library. As long-time readers will have surely noted, there has been a precipitous drop in the volume of BL works reviewed (well, reviews in general, but BL in particular). A lot of the recent BL offerings (aside from the omnibus reprints of back titles) don't really grab my interest; and AoS fiction will likely never find a place in my heart. Also, I've always been pretty vocal regarding the odd ways in which BL seems to treat Fehervari's works; be it in changing the titles of his works to generic/misleading ones (Fire Caste, Vanguard, Genestealer Cults), or giving a book of his the same cover (and name!) as a recently released Codex (GSC).
With Requiem Infernal, the quibbles are not as intense, but they are present. While we get the author's preferred title, as well as a kick-ass cover that is relevant to the content, there is absolutely no reason why RI should not have been released under BL's new Warhammer Horror imprint. The cover screams 'horror'. The book itself should have been held up as a benchmark for all aspiring BL horror scribes to aim for. Requiem Infernal is, without a doubt, a horror novel through and through (as was his short story, The Thirteenth Psalm, which appeared in Inferno! Vol. 2). Also, it doesn't help that the only physical copy of this book (the Hardback), until the paperback comes out this fall, is available only on the BL website. The book is worth the hardback price ($27 USD), and I think this cover looks great in hardback, but for those of us in the States, if we aren't ordering $50 or more, we get murdered on shipping. If BL can sell their e-books through Amazon, why not the hardbacks as well?
I really don't want to dwell on these things; but I think they need to be mentioned. This is such a fantastic novel, and it deserves a proper amount of marketing and promotion. Well, in the absence of such actions on the part of the publisher, it falls to the us, the readers, to tell the world just how great this book is.
Thanks for sticking with this rant. Now, onto the review...
Strap yourselves in. The Grand Weaver of the Dark and Esoteric, Peter Fehervari, has released his third full-length novel, Requiem Infernal. I will post the publisher synopsis in a second; however, it goes without saying that this, being a Fehervari novel, does not adhere to any semblance of a linear narrative. Not in the least. In fact, Requiem Infernal benefits immensely from two factors: firstly, the sheer amount of intersecting storylines and character arcs ported over from previous Dark Coil entries. Second, and most importantly, it benefits immensely (and I mean that in no uncertain terms) from Fehervari's evolution as an author. His prose, usage of literary techniques, intelligence, well-hidden Easter Eggs, and even humor help make this into a magnum opus of psychological horror sci-fi.
Here's the synopsis:
An Adepta Sororitas novel
On a distant world, an obscure order of the Adepta Sororitas study their founder's visions. They live in solitude… which is about to be broken as danger approaches.
READ IT BECAUSE
Peter Fehervari brings a tale of an unusual order of the Sisters of Battle, a sister breaking her self-imposed exile and an Astra Militarum unit seeking respite from their woes… and it's every bit as weird and wonderful as you'd hope.
THE STORY
The Adepta Sororitas of the Last Candle have stood vigil over their sanctuary world for centuries, striving to decipher their founder's tormented visions. Outsiders are unwelcome… yet still they come.
Decimated by an encounter with a lethal xenos entity, the survivors of an elite Astra Militarum company have journeyed to the Candleworld in search of healing, escorted by a woman who is no stranger there – Sister Hospitaller Asenath Hyades, who turned her back on the order decades ago.
As the seekers near the sect's bastion, malign forces begin to stir among the planet's storm-wracked spires, but the most insidious shadows lie in their own souls.
That, in and of itself, would serve as the groundwork for a solid novel. In the case of Requiem Infernal, it merely scratches the surface of what's going on.
A healthy chunk of the story does focus on the Sister in question, Asenath Hyades, aka Sister Darkstar. Each chapter begins epistolary style, with a journal entry penned by her (and, as we progress from chapter to chapter, we bear witness to the erosion of her already tenuous mental state, but more on that later). After a lifetime of service, including service she turned her back on, Hyades has returned 'home' to Vytarn. Her entries are addressed to her canoness, as it appears she has been sent to Vytarn on a mission to root out any presence of taint within the Last Candle, the reclusive Order which rules the Koronatus Ring.
For my fellow Coil Pilgrims for whom that name rang a bell; you are correct. Vytarn is indeed the planet which will come to be known as Redemption-219, that bleak, desolate world which served as the backdrop in Genestealer Cults.
As we all know, the Koronatus Ring is a landmass all its own. Meaning, one must journey to get there. It might be good to mention now that Requiem Infernal can be broken down into sections; and the journey to the Ring is the first portion.
On Vytarn, entry to the Ring is only allowable via travel by ship across the treacherous, storm-wracked Exodus Gulf. Traversing this deadly body of water is the magnificently-named barque The Blood of Demeter; upon which travels Hyades, as well as the other key players in the dramatis personae.
As mentioned, Requiem Infernal is not solely about Hyades journey (descent? ascent? ascending descent?) into madness. Like in all Fehervari works, we have a robust cast of players; all of whom could carry an entire novel on their own.
First and foremost among these is Jonah Tythe, a cryptic Imperial Preacher. We bear witness to his "awakening" in the book's mind-blowing prologue, which shows his roots on the harsh, dark world of Sarastus (yes, we are returning to where it all began!). The bearer of a mysterious tome; he travels under the guise of research, and has arrived on Vytarn to answer the hail of the Theologus Exegessor there.
Rounding out the players on the Blood of Demeter are the remains of the Darkstar Company of the Exordio Void Breachers (remember them? From the frightening as hell opening of The Greater Evil?). Darkstar Company find themselves diminished and dying; suffering from a massacre doled out by an anomalous xenos entity which they were commanded to explore. Their paths crossing with Hyades on their egress, they are being brought to the Order of the Last Candle to seek succor from the Hospitallers there. Watching over them is Commissar Ichukwu Lemarche; a stern, stalwart man trying to hold his dying unit together. The commanding lieutenant is a tad feckless, and the sergeant who holds the troops' hearts and minds is dying a slow and terrible death.
For me, this first segment, the journey aboard the Blood of Demeter, is the best portion of the book. As mentioned, this is a horror novel through and through. And Fehervari knows how to cultivate horror. Horror is not solely jump scares and blood soaked sequences. It is the pervading, ever-present anticipation of dread, lack of safety or escape, claustrophobia, inherent wrongness, etc. Fehervari pens these scenes masterfully. Insulated on the mysterious ship, bizarre and ominous events begin to unravel. A spate of brutal murders, the introduction of an invasive type of fly (the introduction of which was one of the most uncomfortable - in a good way - scenes I've read in recent memory), the loss of sanity, never-ending stairways to....nowhere. Fehervari even plays merry havoc with notions of time and spatial distortion. Beware! Never look at anything that transpires directly...that's what makes it real.
After a storm-tossed trip across Hell, the cast find themselves within the Koronatus Ring, which redefines the notion of nothing being as it seems. The parties go their separate ways; the Breachers being tendered to the Hospitallers of the Bronze Candle, Jonah continuing his quest, and ending up entangled with the Sisters Dialogus of the Silver Candle along the way, and Asenath doing some investigative research outside the watchful eye of a dark phantom of her past, the sadistic Palatine Chirurgeon Bhatori.
It is in this segment that the storylines grow legs (and tendrils). Character arcs and overarching events take turns for the bizarre, turns for the worse. I cannot safely go into too many details without teetering into spoilers, but suffice to say that things are indeed even worse than they seem. Throughout, Fehervari maintains a constant, oppressive level of palpable dread and discomfort. There are some truly outlandish events which transpire here.
The third, and final, portion of the book brings us to our climax. This is truly the juncture at which all points converge (collide). Perhaps, we can term this sequence the 'storm', as it does unfold against the backdrop of a most unique storm.
It is in this segment of Requiem that all the voices heretofore relegated to the shadows come strutting out into the light. Whatever shall pass for answers in this insane universe is unveiled; and perhaps never has wisdom brought so little profit to the man who is made wise.
The most greatest shock in reaching the third segment lies in the utterly drastic shift in tone from the previous portions. While the first segment focused on claustrophobia and dread, and the second on the waiting wrongness around every bend, the climactic third act is lit with dazzling, blinding, obscene colors and images as our players step into the very heart of Chaos. It is here that the groundwork is laid out by Fehervari's inner Escher; and the answers which are revealed are the answers that had to be....not necessary the answers that were sought or hoped for, since we all know that one cannot make order of Chaos, although, as we also know, "Nothing exists without order."
Again, to indulge in too much detail would reveal too much, and we will avoid spoilers. I will say that the sheer volume of detail that Fehervari packs into every moment of this portion (the relentless descriptions of the appearances and colors of everything) almost triggers a sort of sensory overload. The visuals flashing so vividly before your eyes threaten to overwork the retina of one's inner mind's eye.
Now, let's take a look at the individual elements of the book.
Characters:
As mentioned, masterful. Fehervari has imbued his core protagonists, Asenath and Jonah, with a full, rich palette of emotions. They are complete characters; as is his forte. They have their fears, failings, and foibles, which temper their strengths. For all of her regrets, all her missteps, Asenath remains, at her core, a strongly honorable force. For all of his strength, Jonah is equally haggard; for his brilliance, he is as mentally weary. This pair has traveled too far, seen too much, been burdened with individual loads too great to bear.
Rich backgrounds, revealed through evocative flashbacks, are provided for them as well. We learn of Asenath's previous 'lives'; of how she was chosen to be a Paladin for a legendary Confessor named Father Deliverance, of her time spent as a Repentia, of how she learned to keep the voices inside of her on a short leash.
The same holds true for Jonah, whom me meet as a resourceful criminal on Sarastus. It is there, after a fateful delivery of a stolen book, that Tythe becomes tethered to a tome of unparalleled importance; both to the story, and to the reader as well.
I mentioned earlier about Commissar Lemarche's personality. Fehervari always has a good touch when it comes to penning Commissars, and Lemarche is no different. He is a pragmatic man, who knows that the motley crew under his charge are a wild group, yet extremely potent killers. With a weak head, and a dying hero to contend with, he handles the situation in the best manner possible. Also, he is gifted one of the best completions of a character story arc in the book.
All of the Breachers are enjoyable to read about. Fehervari has given each of them a core character trait; without simply relegating them to the status of one-trick ponies. Of course, the most significant of these is the misshapen giant, Sergeant Toland Feizt; the one who all the men look to. The one who is simply too stubborn to die.
Most of the other characters we meet are various Sororitas, and care is given to each of them. Even the examples where it is made clear that the Sister in question wouldn't pass muster on most other worlds, we are eventually shown their redeeming qualities. Other Sisters stay with you, especially the feisty Hagalaz (whose demeanor perfectly matches the rune for which she is named).
Also, in Requiem Infernal, we are treated to a few precious scenes of the Angels Resplendent. Yes, as they were. They are truly a sight to behold, and Fehervari captures this in their manner of speech, as well as the dazzling, fluctuating colors of their artisan-crafted armor.
Finally, it should be mentioned that a special character makes a poignant guest appearance - Athanazius; here a boy, but whom we all know will grow to be the Chief Librarian of the Angels Resplendent (Crown of Thorns). His scenes with Asenath are intimate and beautifully written.
Writing:
I've always been an immense fan of Fehervari's style of writing. He blew my mind with Fire Caste, and his skill has only evolved, and improved, since then. Coupling this with all of the accumulated incidents revolving around the Dark Coil, you have a brilliant final product.
Fehervari's prose remains tight, dark, and foreboding. He never wavers towards the purple, or excessive. While his writing has always been intelligent, the level of vocabulary utilize here was impressive; keeping my eyes darting to my phone to look up definitions. I also particularly enjoyed his usage of literary devices. Rhyme and alliteration are used to great effect throughout the work; reinforcing the passages which feature them.
Moreover, it is his ability to match the correct tone to the right scenario that lets Requiem Infernal succeed as a sci-fi novel, as a Sororitas novel (of which we have precious few), and as a true, terrifying horror novel.
World detailing and action scenes are, as always, superb. The level of detail put into even the most (seemingly) mundane of objects is intricate. Then again, in a Fehervari work, there are absolutely no wasted/unintentional words, ergo, nothing is mundane. Some examples to look for: the descriptions of the armor of the Angels Resplendent, the ornamentation of the Blood of Demeter, and, my personal favorite, even though it was a minor moment: the sheer beauty of Asenath's bolter gun, Tristesse (name ring a bell, anyone?)
The action scenes in Requiem Infernal are also commendable. Fehervari has stated in other places that the action is not his primary focus; and that's understandable, especially when crafting such deep, dark stories. The thing is; I've never read an action scene of his which was a disappointment. This is also the case here. The action scenes retain the pulpy, balletic majesty for which he is known.
Another thing; and I mentioned this in Genestealer Cults; for all his original takes and interpretations, Fehervari also details units as they appear on the table (in GSC, for all the intensive lore he poured into it, I was amazed to see basically the entire model lineup perfectly described in the climactic battle...pretty impressive). This is also the case in Requiem Infernal. I won't mention unit types by name, but Fehervari made the models come to life along with delivering a rich story. I suppose you can have your cake and eat it too.
Name Games, Easter Eggs, and Word Play:
Requiem Infernal is saturated with references to all of Fehervari's other works. A good reason for this can be that the Koronatus Ring, and to a greater extent the Shadow Orrery, serve as a tangential transportation hub for the events playing along the Dark Coil. I've found a fantastic map of sorts which diagrams some of the connections between Fehervari works; I will put it at the very end of the review so as to avoid spoilers.
Readers will rejoice at many of the connections to previous works. We expect it, to a degree, but it doesn't make it any less poignant when a character steps on a world we have not seen in so long. Not only that; scenes in this book seem to hint at some of the origins of the events associated with those places. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Through the obfuscation we may glimpse hints, or hopes, but clear answers are in short supply.
As for wordplay, there are lots of playful references peppered throughout Requiem Infernal. You'll see words like "puissant" dropped casually, which will instantly bring you back to Fire Caste. There are also references to other horror works. Within the first few pages I caught some nods to Aickman and Bradbury, and there are more to be found for the industrious prospector.
These references will range from the fairly obvious to the frustratingly obscure. There's one I was pondering as I read; I wonder if I'm on to something. We've known since Fire Caste that the number 7 figures prominently along the Dark Coil. Also, the number 8 holds significance throughout this book as well (hmmm, seven spires plus the Perihelion....). Finally, at a critical point towards the end of the book, there is a scene where a choice out of 9 is to be made (sorry, no spoilers). Going back to Genestealer Cults, we recall that Vytarn is reborn as Redemption-219. (9-2=7, 9-1=8, 9=9). Is it coincidence? Perhaps, perhaps not.
One of the great gulty pleasures in reading Fehervari's works is unraveling the mysteries behind the names he gives. Sometimes they contain a clue as to a character's importance, sometimes they are an homage to a friend, and sometimes they reference a movie/book character; which of course usually circles back to a clue as to importance.
I've already speculated as to implications behind Asenath's name. What of the others? Well, for one thing, there is a huge vampire motif running rampant through the names here.
Let's start with Jonah Tythe. The first connection is, of course, to Jonah of Biblical reknown. We know that there is validity here because our Jonah also has a run-in with a giant fish (of sorts; in a scene which is told incrementally over a series of flashbacks). On the other hand, and this is a stretch, we might say that Jonah is close to Jonathan Harker, of Dracula fame; which makes sense when we remember his frail sister Mina.
Jonah finds himself on the Blood of Demeter; and in the mix is one of the Breachers named Rynfeld, who sees the significance in the ever-present flies dancing about his dying comrades.
Other vampire nods can be seen in Sororitas Genevieve, Camille, and Marcilla.
Further naming devices included (but are in no way limited to): Slavic folklore (mythological creatures), and Japanese geography - Akaishi and Aokihara, which is one character removed from Aokigahara.
In Closing:
I figured I would insert some closing thoughts here; taking a cue from Peter's very personal 'Afterwyrd' which closes Requiem Infernal.
This is a fantastic book. It has all of Fehervari's hallmarks- it is dark, cerebral, murky, prophetic, and condemning. It teases answers, while feeding us more questions. By engaging in this author's work, we've damned ourselves to an eternal voyage along the tangled strands of the Dark Coil. It provides fantastic visions, tempered by frustrating periods between glimpses.
Also, this book is more than a story. It is both a memoir and a dedication. Jonah Tythe becomes a living metaphor; the book he carries so close to his heart, written in his own blood (wasn't that something the author admitted to, so very long ago?)
Some online have speculated that the closing of the afterwyd is a farewell of sorts. Perhaps it is; although we all hope such is not the case.
However, if it is, what a way to close the tale. At the very least, we have fragments of a map scratched out, written in blood and at the sacrifice of what we would call comfortable, convenient norms. It is a map which charts a bizarre, arrhythmic, circuitous, looping path. Paths that cross themselves, pierce themselves, even choke themselves. We cannot chart a beginning or an end; we are in the Coil, and must simply continue our upwards descent.
Thanks for reading this. Get the e-book. Get the hardcover; it'll look magnificent on your shelf. Get the paperback when it comes out. And thanks again, Peter Fehervari, for the journey.
Here's the chart I mentioned earlier.
Cover:
Yes! Fehervari finally gets a cover which is representative of the content! And what a beauty it is. Really. Going by the description in the book; I'd say that that is a pretty darn good rendering of Asenath. It's also a nice touch to have the spire and Orrery rising below her; a nice play on 'what lies beneath', or 'what lies in shadow'. The smoky tendrils dancing around the image punch up the background. A savvy font choice is used for the title; I guess my only complaint would be that I think it would've looked better to introduce some texturing into the letters, rather than just leaving it with a simple inner shadow. However, if that's the only complaint, then it isn't a detraction at all.
Great cover.