Audio Review // Ahriman: The First Prince by John French

Having completed the three tales of the omnibus, I soon discovered there were some short stories, so I took a risk and got them on Audible. Ahriman by John French is a series of hits and misses, great for world-building but lacking character depth. So prepare the summoning circle and crack open the tomes of knowledge as we dive back into the story arc.

Title: Ahriman: The First Prince

Author: John French

Narrator: Gareth Armstrong & Robin Bowerman

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Blurb:

When his servant Ctesias meets his end, the Thousand Sons arch-sorcerer Ahriman is thrust into a deadly conflict with a creature of darkness, a being from the beginning of time whose cunning and thirst for power are the equal of his own – the first daemon prince of Chaos, the dreaded Be’lakor. As the daemon taunts Ahriman with the very secrets of creation, the sorcerer tries to bargain with the beast for Ctesias’s life… but can a deal with a daemon ever be honoured?

As if the appearance of Ahriman wasn't incentive enough, this is also the first-ever appearance of the Daemon Prince Be'lakor in a Warhammer 40,000 Black Library story.

Running time: 45 minutes

Produced by: Black Library

Review

What a surprise! Just like most of the Ahriman series, this tale is told from the viewpoint of someone who is not Ahriman! This one is told from Ctesias' viewpoint. He awakes from his second death and finds himself within the warp, talking to a god! But no ordinary god, this is Be'lakor, the First Daemon Prince of Chaos, and the most devious. Soon a game is underway for the soul of Ctesias on one side Ahriman and on the other Be'lakor, how much is Ahirman willing to sacrifice to save Ctesias? And what exactly does Be'lakor want with the Thousand Sons?

At this point, I must stop, as there are too many spoilers. All I can say is listen to it yourself; it will not disappoint. It may be the best tale in the series so far. But be sure to understand Ahriman before diving in; otherwise, you will be confused. As always, the sound and the actors are all on point, and John French delivers another a solid Ahriman adventure.

A great time investment for the fans out there.