Trollslayer by William King is where Gotrek and Felix properly become Gotrek and Felix.
It is not the smoothest Warhammer Fantasy book, and it is not really a novel. Instead, it is a linked collection of short adventures. However, that rougher shape is part of its charm. As someone who has read plenty of Black Library, I can see why the wider series earned its reputation.
Trollslayer’s Plot
The book follows Felix Jaeger, a disgraced young poet, after a drunken oath binds him to Gotrek Gurnisson. Gotrek is a Slayer, therefore he seeks a heroic death against the worst monsters available. Felix, unfortunately, must survive long enough to record it. Consequently, the plot becomes a wandering tour through the Old World’s nastier corners. The pair face trolls, mutants, beastmen, undead horrors, cultists, and darker temptations. Meanwhile, each story adds another layer to their grim partnership. Some episodes are straightforward monster hunts, while others lean into corruption and moral danger. However, the collection format means the momentum resets often. There is no grand campaign arc yet, and some endings arrive suddenly. Still, the stories build a strong foundation. By the end, Gotrek and Felix feel less like a gimmick and more like a doomed roadshow.
Characters
Gotrek works because King never overexplains him. He is violent, blunt, funny, and clearly wounded by something he will not name. Therefore, his death wish has more weight than simple dwarf bravado. Felix is even more important. He is not yet the seasoned adventurer later books will shape. Instead, he is frightened, clever, vain, and usually aware that he is outmatched. That contrast makes the duo click. Gotrek charges toward doom, while Felix tries to understand why he keeps following. Additionally, their banter gives the book much of its energy. Felix’s dry panic stops the grimness from becoming one-note. Meanwhile, Gotrek’s impossible confidence keeps every danger entertaining.
Narrative Feel
The prose feels older, pulpier, and looser than modern Warhammer fiction. However, it moves quickly and rarely wastes time. King writes the Old World as muddy, violent, superstitious, and darkly funny. Consequently, the setting feels dangerous without becoming joyless. The best stories have tavern-story momentum, like Felix is recounting disasters over bad ale. Nevertheless, the anthology structure shows its age. Some entries feel thinner than others, and the villains can be simple. Still, the tone is exactly right for early Warhammer Fantasy. It is grim, scrappy, weird, and full of sharp edges.
Series Hype and Legacy
The wider Gotrek and Felix series has a big reputation, and Trollslayer mostly justifies it. However, it does so as a beginning, not as the finished form. Later books offer stronger plots and better escalation. Still, the essential chemistry is already here. You can see why readers stayed with these two for so long. The book captures the core appeal immediately: one doomed Slayer, one reluctant human witness, and a world eager to kill them both.
Trollslayer Summary and Verdict
Trollslayer is uneven, but it is also lively, memorable, and surprisingly durable. Its short-story roots make it choppy, and some adventures land harder than others. However, King nails the central pairing so well that the weaknesses rarely sink it. For newer readers, it may feel simpler than the series’ reputation suggests. Nevertheless, it remains a strong starting point and a genuine Warhammer Fantasy classic. The hype around Gotrek and Felix does not come from polish alone. It comes from character, pace, attitude, and that perfect doomed friendship.
