BL3351 Cold Covenant (Hardback) is a dark and atmospheric Warhammer 40,000 novel by acclaimed Black Library author Peter Fehervari. Exploring the psychological and physical toll of Imperial military service, this unsettling story follows a group of exhausted Astra Militarum soldiers whose desperate attempt to escape their fate unleashes consequences far more terrifying than the war they hoped to leave behind.

Set upon the frozen Imperial world of Oblazt, Cold Covenant combines military science fiction, psychological horror, and supernatural dread to explore the darker realities of life in the Imperium of Man. Far removed from the glorious victories of legendary commanders and celebrated regiments, this novel focuses on ordinary soldiers struggling beneath the crushing weight of duty, exhaustion, corruption, and fear.

The Forgotten Soldiers of the Imperium

Across the countless worlds of the Imperium, the Astra Militarum wages an endless war against humanity's enemies. Billions of soldiers are conscripted, trained, and dispatched to distant battlefields, where their lives are spent in service to the God-Emperor. Some regiments achieve lasting fame through extraordinary acts of courage and sacrifice, while countless others disappear into the vast machinery of Imperial warfare without recognition or remembrance.

Among these uncelebrated formations are the 27th Halgarth Brine Dogs, a regiment whose reputation falls far short of the heroic ideals promoted by Imperial propaganda. They are not renowned for exceptional bravery, unwavering faith, or glorious victories. Instead, they are ordinary soldiers who endure the demands of military service because they have little choice.

For the Brine Dogs, fighting in the Emperor's name is less a sacred calling than an unavoidable burden. Their morale is low, their enthusiasm has long since faded, and the constant demands of war have eroded whatever idealism they may once have possessed.

Yet the Imperium has little sympathy for exhausted soldiers. Service to the Emperor is an obligation from which there is rarely any escape, regardless of the suffering endured or the sacrifices already made.

The Frozen World of Oblazt

The 27th Halgarth Brine Dogs have spent months stationed on Oblazt, a remote and inhospitable Imperial planet ruled by a corrupt aristocracy. Its frozen landscapes and oppressive conditions have worn down the regiment, leaving its soldiers physically exhausted and spiritually depleted.

Oblazt is a world where hardship is an accepted part of existence and those in power appear more concerned with preserving their own privileges than alleviating the suffering of the people beneath them.

For the soldiers stationed there, the planet has become a place of resentment, frustration, and hopelessness. Their prolonged deployment has drained their enthusiasm, and the prospect of finally departing offers little comfort when their next destination promises only further suffering.

When orders arrive assigning the regiment to a new war zone, the Brine Dogs discover that they are being sent to a death world, one of the Imperium's most dangerous classifications of inhabited planets.

Such worlds are notorious for environmental hazards, deadly wildlife, hostile conditions, and other threats capable of killing even experienced soldiers. For a regiment already approaching the limits of its endurance, the reassignment represents another potentially fatal chapter in an endless cycle of Imperial service.

While most of the regiment prepares to obey its orders, a small group decides that enough is enough.

A Desperate Plan to Escape

At the centre of Cold Covenant are three veterans and an enigmatic enginseer who conspire to abandon their regiment rather than face the horrors awaiting them on their next deployment.

Their decision is born from exhaustion, fear, and the desire to reclaim some measure of control over their own lives. Having already endured months of hardship, they are unwilling to accept another assignment that may lead only to suffering and death.

Within the rigid military hierarchy of the Imperium, however, desertion is among the gravest offences a soldier can commit. To abandon one's duty is not simply to disobey orders, but to betray the sacred obligations imposed by the God-Emperor and the institutions that claim authority in His name.

For the conspirators, their planned escape appears to offer a way out of an impossible situation. Yet their actions will set in motion a chain of events far beyond anything they could have anticipated.

What begins as an attempt to avoid military service becomes the catalyst for a spiralling tragedy, drawing the deserters into a darkness that has long remained concealed beneath Oblazt's frozen surface.

A World Where Darkness Never Dies

Although Oblazt appears to be little more than a bleak Imperial world dominated by cold, corruption, and political indifference, its true nature is far more disturbing.

Hidden within its history and beneath its seemingly lifeless exterior is a primal darkness, something ancient and terrible that responds to human weakness, wrongdoing, and moral corruption.

As the deserters attempt to escape their circumstances, their choices awaken forces that cannot be understood through ordinary military experience. Their actions begin to cast a shadow over the world, unleashing a sequence of tragedy and terror that threatens to consume far more than the individuals responsible.

On Oblazt, the past does not remain buried. Acts of cruelty and betrayal leave enduring consequences, and the dead are not always content to remain silent.

The novel's haunting premise transforms an apparently straightforward story of military desertion into an exploration of guilt, consequence, and supernatural horror. The frozen environment becomes more than a backdrop, reflecting the emotional isolation and growing dread experienced by those caught within its darkness.

The Human Cost of Imperial Warfare

One of the defining themes of Cold Covenant is its examination of the ordinary soldiers who sustain the Imperium's endless wars.

Warhammer 40,000 frequently depicts extraordinary heroes confronting impossible odds, but the vast majority of Imperial soldiers are neither legendary commanders nor celebrated champions. They are men and women expected to endure terrible conditions, obey unquestionable orders, and sacrifice their lives for an empire that may never acknowledge their existence.

Through the experiences of the Halgarth Brine Dogs, the novel explores the psychological pressure created by this relentless system. Exhaustion, disillusionment, resentment, and fear become powerful influences upon individuals who have been pushed beyond their limits.

The decision to desert raises uncomfortable questions about loyalty and survival. What happens when the demands of duty become unbearable? How much suffering can soldiers endure before their commitment to the Imperium begins to fracture? And what consequences await those who turn away from the God-Emperor?

Rather than presenting a regiment defined by exceptional courage or unquestioning faith, Cold Covenant examines characters whose weaknesses and desperation make them vulnerable to forces they do not understand.

Psychological Horror in the Grim Darkness of the Far Future

Peter Fehervari is particularly well known among Black Library readers for his distinctive approach to Warhammer 40,000 fiction, combining psychological complexity, unsettling imagery, and supernatural horror with the established background of the setting.

His stories frequently explore the relationship between perception, belief, corruption, and the hidden forces that influence the lives of those caught within the Imperium's vast and often incomprehensible machinery.

In Cold Covenant, these elements are brought together through the experiences of a regiment that has already been weakened by prolonged hardship. The bleak landscape of Oblazt, the oppressive influence of its ruling aristocracy, and the sinister presence concealed within the world create an atmosphere of mounting unease.

The novel explores how seemingly small decisions can produce catastrophic consequences, particularly in a universe where human emotions and moral failings may attract the attention of powers beyond mortal comprehension.

For readers who enjoy the darker aspects of Warhammer 40,000, this approach offers a compelling alternative to conventional battlefield narratives. The danger is not limited to enemy weapons or hostile armies, but extends into the minds, memories, and choices of the characters themselves.

A Distinctive Astra Militarum Novel

While Cold Covenant is firmly rooted in the Astra Militarum setting, its focus differs from traditional stories of Imperial military heroism.

The 27th Halgarth Brine Dogs are not an elite formation entrusted with a glorious mission. They are a weary regiment whose soldiers have become disillusioned with the demands of service and the apparent indifference of the institutions they serve.

This perspective provides an opportunity to examine the Imperium from the viewpoint of individuals who occupy the lower levels of its immense military structure. Their experiences reveal the human cost of maintaining an empire that exists in a state of perpetual war.

The novel's combination of military hardship, moral uncertainty, and supernatural terror makes it particularly appealing to readers interested in the psychological dimensions of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

An Excellent Addition to Your Black Library Collection

Cold Covenant is an appealing choice for readers who enjoy atmospheric science-fiction horror, morally complex characters, and stories exploring the darker realities of the Imperium.

Its focus on an obscure Astra Militarum regiment provides a refreshing perspective on Imperial military life, while its haunting setting and disturbing supernatural elements create a story filled with tension and uncertainty.

Fans of Peter Fehervari's previous Black Library fiction will find familiar themes of psychological unease, hidden corruption, and the lasting consequences of human choices. Readers interested in the Astra Militarum will also appreciate the novel's examination of the pressures placed upon ordinary soldiers serving an unforgiving empire.

Presented in hardback format, this edition is a welcome addition to any Warhammer 40,000 book collection, particularly for enthusiasts of the darker and more unsettling stories within the setting.

Features

• Title: Cold Covenant.
• Author: Peter Fehervari.
• Publisher: Black Library / Games Workshop.
• Product Code: BL3351.
• Format: Hardback novel.
• Setting: Warhammer 40,000.
• Follows the 27th Halgarth Brine Dogs, an exhausted and disillusioned Astra Militarum regiment.
• Set on Oblazt, a remote frozen Imperial world ruled by a corrupt aristocracy.
• Centres on three veteran soldiers and an enigmatic enginseer who conspire to desert their regiment.
• Explores the psychological toll of Imperial military service and the pressures faced by ordinary soldiers.
• Combines military science fiction with atmospheric supernatural and psychological horror.
• Features themes of desperation, betrayal, guilt, corruption, and the consequences of abandoning one's duty.
• Written by acclaimed Black Library author Peter Fehervari.
• Ideal for fans of the Astra Militarum, Warhammer 40,000 horror fiction, and character-driven military science fiction.

Cold Covenant is a haunting tale of soldiers who have endured too much and the terrible consequences of their attempt to escape. On a frozen world where wickedness leaves an enduring mark and the past refuses to remain silent, the decision to abandon the Emperor's service may prove far more dangerous than any battlefield. Peter Fehervari delivers an unsettling exploration of fear, duty, and the darkness waiting beneath the surface of the Imperium.

SKU	60040181476
Barcode #	9781836094654
Brand	Games Workshop
Shipping Weight	1.0500kg
Shipping Width	0.170m
Shipping Height	0.050m
Shipping Length	0.250m
Shipping Cubic	0.002125000m3

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