The Scarab Occult Protectors are a powerful and elite brotherhood within the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marine Legion. They are an ancient and highly skilled group of sorcerers and warriors who serve as the personal bodyguard of the Thousand Sons' sorcerous overlords, the Rubricae. The Scarab Occult Protectors are known for their distinctive and meticulously crafted armor, which is adorned with symbols and icons of Tzeentch, the Chaos God of change and sorcery. This armor provides them with enhanced protection and psychic resistance, making them formidable opponents on the battlefield. The Scarab Occult Protectors are masters of both war and magic, combining the might of a Space Marine with the mastery of psychic powers. They are skilled in both close combat and ranged warfare, wielding a variety of weapons such as inferno bolt pistols, power swords, and soulreaper cannons.
They are skilled in both close combat and ranged warfare, wielding a variety of weapons such as inferno bolt pistols, power swords, and soulreaper cannons. One of the most potent abilities possessed by the Scarab Occult Protectors is their mastery over the psychic arts. They can unleash devastating psychic energies, creating deadly storms of fire or summoning daemonic entities to aid them in battle.
Belladonna Book Review
What's a Dark Academia theme without a gothic manor, a poison-filled mystery, and literal brushes with Death? This week, we're reviewing Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, the much-anticipated book about a girl who's been surrounded by death and spirits her whole life—and who might be falling for Death himself. Ah, yes, we did say we. Because this is Jordan and Kori's first buddy read and joint review! And away we go 😉
Genre: YA Dark Romantasy
Category: Cozy Read
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RATING: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5 stars
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.
PLOTSigna Farrow is no stranger to the world of spirits, having been able to see them her entire life. She views them as a nuisance, but it's Death she really has a bone to pick with. In her mind, he's a threat to her stability, wreaking havoc on her life by taking every relative so she's bounced from one home to another.
Signa cannot die and any wound or illness does not linger for long. So she's only able to contact Death by "killing" herself temporarily—and her favorite method is ingesting belladonna berries, which allow her to hover in the space between life and death.
The plot kicks off with Signa doing this so she can demand to know why Death torments her. The mysterious, shadowy entity claims he has done nothing but his job and only comes to Signa when called—meaning when she dies.
To put her mind at ease, Death assures Signa she'll be well cared for after Signa accidentally kills her vindictive Aunt Marigold by touching her. Yep, it would appear Signa has the death-touch when she's. well, dead.
So Signa is shipped off to yet another relative at Thorn Grove estate. She's escorted by a handsome and grouchy stable boy, Sylas, whose connection to the family is hazy at best. Only when Signa arrives at her new home, she finds Death already hovering over it—literally and figuratively.
The lady of the manor, Lillian Hawthorne, died of a wasting illness shortly before, and now her daughter Blythe is sick with the same symptoms. After Signa meets Lillian's vengeful spirit who hints that her death was no accident, she ropes Sylas into a secret mission: find the murderer and save Blythe before it's too late.
J: Sounds like an awesome concept, right? It was! It is! But no! The book yanks the reader from one red herring to the next: Sylas's whole situation is suspicious, but no one really cares. Elijah Hawthorne doesn't want his family business yet refuses to hand it over to his brother Byron or his son Percy, and they're all pissed about it. But no one will talk to each other? No one directly asks why. It's infuriating.
The governess, Marjorie, is in cahoots with Byron and has a thing for Elijah. Love triangle between Marjorie, Lillian, and Elijah? It would appear so, but that's too obvious. Signa's old friend Charlotte, whose life was ruined when her mother had an affair with Signa's uncle and they all lost social standing, knows her way around a garden and poisons. But no one thinks twice about her.
It makes me wonder why any of the herrings were there if the characters never considered them?K: Then there's the fact that pretty much every clue leading to the big reveal is either handed to Signa, or she falls bass-ackwards into discovery. When she did find evidence that gave her cause to suspect one of the characters, she RAN with it, instantly accusing and not analyzing the clues further.
Sure, this could have been an honest mistake, but her sleuthing skills are lacking at best. And her constant use of the puzzle analogy was grating.
J: Yes. Practically every page after the mystery began was "must solve the puzzle" and "she could not make the puzzle fit." Of course you can't, Signa, you aren't doing any puzzling *shakes book*.
What's a Dark Academia theme without a gothic manor, a poison-filled mystery, and literal brushes with Death? This week, we're reviewing Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, the much-anticipated book about a girl who's been surrounded by death and spirits her whole life—and who might be falling for Death himself. Ah, yes, we did say we. Because this is Jordan and Kori's first buddy read and joint review! And away we go 😉
Their psychic abilities also grant them enhanced perception and foresight, allowing them to anticipate and counter enemy movements and attacks. In addition to their combat prowess, the Scarab Occult Protectors also serve as the custodians of the Thousand Sons' hidden lore and knowledge. They are the keepers of ancient and forbidden secrets, guarding them from both outside threats and internal chaos within their legion. The Scarab Occult Protectors are a symbol of the power and majesty of the Thousand Sons Legion. They are a force to be reckoned with, feared and respected by both enemies and allies alike. Their loyalty to their sorcerous masters is unwavering, and they will stop at nothing to ensure the triumph of Tzeentch and the Thousand Sons. In conclusion, the Scarab Occult Protectors are an elite brotherhood of sorcerers and warriors within the Thousand Sons Legion. They combine the might of a Space Marine with the mastery of psychic powers, making them formidable adversaries on the battlefield. Their role as the personal bodyguard of the Rubricae and custodians of hidden knowledge further adds to their importance and power within the Legion..
Reviews for "The Journey of a Scarab Occult Protector: From Novice to Master"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to try out the Scarab Occult Protectors, but I was ultimately disappointed with my purchase. The models were difficult to assemble, with tiny pieces that were frustrating to attach. Additionally, once assembled, the models were very fragile and parts easily broke off during gameplay. I found myself constantly having to fix them in between turns, which really slowed down the overall game. Overall, I would not recommend the Scarab Occult Protectors due to the poor quality and frustrating assembly process.
2. Sarah - 3/5 - While the Scarab Occult Protectors look really impressive on the tabletop, I found them to be quite underwhelming in terms of gameplay. Despite their imposing appearance, they didn't perform as well as I had expected on the battlefield. Their attacks were average at best, and their durability didn't live up to their renowned protectors title. Additionally, for the price, I felt like there were better options available from other factions. Overall, I think there are better units to invest in rather than the Scarab Occult Protectors unless you're solely interested in their visual appeal.
3. Mike - 2/5 - I found the Scarab Occult Protectors to be a disappointment in terms of their rules and abilities. They were marketed as elite warriors, but they didn't feel particularly powerful on the tabletop. Their psychic abilities were lackluster, and I often found myself wishing I had chosen a different unit instead. Additionally, their cost in points made it difficult to fit them into a well-rounded army list without sacrificing other, more effective options. Overall, I was left unimpressed with the Scarab Occult Protectors and would not recommend them to other players looking for a competitive edge.