Goonhammer Reviews: Voidscarred, by Mike Brooks

I've sat on this review for a long time. I've written it three times and each time I've deleted it and set it aside. It can be difficult to put into words how much I enjoy a truly incredible book and still do justice to the author, and to my compatriots here at Goonhammer that are so versed at articulating a work's excellence (or in some cases its lack thereof). Voidscarred is one of those incredible books. I really really enjoyed this tale of power, patriotism, and piracy and I'm honestly blown away it wasn't the Black Library book of the year for 2025. While it may not feel as earth-shattering as something from the Horus Heresy, it is quite beautiful in how subtly it weaves a tale filled with Warhammer tropes to make it more than the sum of its parts.

As a long-time lover of the Black Library I have had the opportunity to introduce a whole swathe of Warhammer-curious folk to the troves of works we've been blessed with over the decades. Generally, when asked what authors new hobbyists should gravitate to I have tried to tailor my picks to the armies they've attached themselves to. Aaron Dembski Bowden's Night Lords trilogy if they've fallen to Chaos, Chris Wraight's Watchers' series if they love Custodes, or Dan Abnett's just about anything if the person looks like they can read. And these days, if any of my Xenos-loving friends ask for recommendations the first name that comes to mind is Mike Brooks (or Robert Rath but that is only if they are a particularly silly person). This is because I'm unsure anyone truly writes a book from the point of view of an Aeldari, a Drukhari, or an Ork (especially an Ork) like he does and Voidscarred is no exception.

The Corsairs have never been given such a glow up on paper. Credit: Corrode

A Pirate's Life

Outside of Valedor's exploration of Prince Yriel and a handful of short stories, the Eldar Corsairs have had very little time devoted to them in novel form. In fact, the majority of their lore comes from old Rogue Trader rules and Imperial Armour compendiums, which makes Voidscarred a truly intriguing tale to settle into and one that I was particularly curious about reading. The novel follows the actions of Baron Myrin Stormdawn and his rag tag crew of pirates and Aeldari ex-pats as they barrel headlong into confrontations with Freebootaz, old friends, and fellow corsairs. As the main protagonist, Myrin shines. Brooks' character work is always incredible and Stormdawn is no exception. He is an ex-admiral and aspect warrior of Craftworld Ilmaren, who long ago left his home over its choice to continually hide in the shadows rather than attempt to fight in the defense of the Aeldari and its protectorate worlds. A compelling character to be sure, the Baron is an embodiment of the bourgeois bohemian, at times foppish and indignant, but always emphasizing (rarely subtly) the ways in which the lifestyle of a Corsair is superior to those of his old Craftworld kin as in his mind, and the minds of his fellows, a Corsairs' life is as close as any can be to how the Aeldari were in the 'old days'. It's telling of Brooks' incredibly layered character work that Myrin is able to portray so many facets over such a brief period without ever feeling disjointed or confused. The Aeldari are long-lived, extraordinarily complex, and are known for their deep hubris and Stormdawn has all of these traits in spades but without the stoicism that normally marks his kind.

The Baron is far from the only highlight of this book. Voidscarred is a sharp, character-driven novel that really leans into the swagger, danger, and dark humor of a Corsair's life across the board. Brooks delivers a fast-moving story that stands out not just for its action, but for how clearly it defines the personalities and rivalries within Myrin's ruthless pirate crew and how he balances them against the strictures of the Aeldari creeds. We are taught early and often that a corsair's loyalty is always conditional and their ambitions often clash with near-disastrous results. Each character feels distinct, from cunning leaders to volatile warriors, while keeping their motivations firmly rooted in survival (both species and individual) and self-interest. There are a few overt tropes in here among the crew, like the sassy ex-Drukhari wych Xela and the hyper-violent exarch of the Striking Scorpions but they are perfectly used to help set the tone and also just whip when combat begins to flow. Xela, in particular, helps shine a light on what makes the Corsair lifestyle so unique. Take this brief excerpt from a conversation with the Craftworlder Taenar on what drove her to join Stormdawn's crew.

'Freedom.'

'Freedom?' Taenar echoed. 'Forgive me, but it is the understanding of the Asuryani that Commorraghans indulge whatever impulses they please, no matter how vile or debased. What freedoms did you lack?' Xela laughed mirthlessly. 'Your own frustrations give you away, Asuryani. Your first thought when someone says "freedom" is being able to do whatever you wish without care or consequence. What desires are locked away in your mind, I wonder, that you felt unable to act upon in your craftworld home?' Taenar gritted his teeth. 'If you do not wish to answer the question-'

'Commoragh is a dark place of muted colour,' Xela interrupted him. 'Everything is... How can I best describe it to someone who has never seen it? Everything is sharp. Edges, weapons, screams - everything. It shelters its inhabitants, yet it kills them at the same time. Everything there is done with thought only given to how it benefits one's own survival. Nothing can be done simply for the sake of it. Do you understand?' she asked, and Taenar realised the question was a genuine one, her pale eyes searching his face.

Taenar himself is the final piece of the puzzle amongst the protagonists. A Craftworlder that has newly disengaged from his fleet, he is at once another way to highlight what makes the Corsairs such a unique part of Warhammer fiction while also acting as our own eyes and ears. He is a character so new to this environment that things need to be explained to him in the most babying of fashions (as befits Aeldari nature), the perfect excuse to further immerse us into this world. But this is no innocent child, like all the rest, Taenar is a superbly written character with his own history and pride to be weaved throughout every dance of a conversation he is party to.

Voidscarred shines through how it handles perspective. Rather than focusing on grand galactic events, the story zooms in on these smaller, personal power struggles and it is all the better for it. This gives the Corsair culture room to breathe, at once showing their hubris, pride, and twisted sense of honor in a way that feels natural rather than exaggerated. Each interaction amongst these bands of warriors is a choreographed dance, virtual mirrors of their battles. And that is what they are too. Whenever the Aeldari take center stage, we are treated to a tense duel of wits, always dangerous and sex-charged (and queer as fuck, which is perfect). Mike Brooks masterfully balances everything on a knife edge, just like the Aeldari and Drukhari's very existences. All words and observations bear a weight to them in this book and the sparring that takes place is the kind of stuff I used to love in old LeCarre spy novels. It is punchy and often witty, adding a not so surprising amount of levity, should you be familiar with Brooks' works, to an otherwise brutal setting without undercutting the stakes. The action scenes are well paced and easy to follow, and they repeatedly emphasize the idea that every combat, much like their conversations, is as much about reputation and dominance as it is about victory.

Mekboy genius is on full display in Voidscarred. Credit: Kevin Genson

It Ain't Just Aeldari

But the buck doesn't stop there. This is not just a book about knife-eared nobles playing at piracy. It wouldn't be a proper Mike Brooks novel without a healthy dose of Ork these days and once again Voidscarred delivers in spades. While the majority of the book follows Stormdawn and Taenar as they fight and manipulate their way through kith and kin, we get more than ample time spent with the Freebootas they're desperately trying to defeat. These segues into the life of a Mekboy trying to rein in a megalomaniacal Kaptin, an Ork hellbent on creating a Gun-Cano (that is a volcano that is also a gun) and who collects soulstones to eat because he saw a demon do it once despite acknowledging they don't actually taste good, are hilarious, while also perfectly highlighting the genius that hides beneath the surface idiocy that marks the species. It is rare for me to openly laugh while reading these days, but the scenes with Gazruk Hakspanner and Uzgul da Magnificent are brilliant. Gazruk's POV scenes are such a record scratch after page after page of elvish politicking and are pitch perfect. The orks' kunning and brutality is fully on display here and when they and the Aeldari meet, the chaos that ensues highlights each of the Xenos powers' strengths in a way that gives both factions their flowers. I dare anyone not to fall in love with Gazruk's matter-of-fact analysis of everyday life and survival and if by chance you choose to listen via audiobook, the opinions of his spanner and snotling coworkers.

The End Is the Beginning Is the End

Voidscarred is a truly stellar work and the epitome of a good time. It is just the right balance of everything you want in a book set in the 41st millennium without a piece of power armour in sight. While longtime Warhammer fans will appreciate the lore and the masterful way Mike Brooks tells the tale of these disparate characters, the book is also accessible to newcomers thanks to its tight focus and the way it treats its spectators. It is a confident, entertaining entry in the 40K universe—stylish, brutal, and full of personality—and a great showcase of Mike Brooks’ ability to balance the rigid and the absurd. I cannot recommend it enough for any fan of the setting.

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Tags: black library | book review | mike brooks | voidscarred