Robbie MacNiven

ROBBIE MacNIVEN hails from the highlands of Scotland. A lifelong fan of sci-fi and fantasy, he has had over a dozen novels published in settings ranging from Marvel’s X-Men, to Descent: Legends of the Dark, to Warhammer 40,000. Having completed a doctorate in Military History from the University of Edinburgh in 2020, he also possesses a keen interest in the past. His hobbies include historical re-enacting and making eight-hour round trips every second weekend to watch Rangers FC.

Interviews and Articles

“But a fun romp with an unlikely band of adventurers through dangerous depths is the aim of the game, so hopefully that’s what readers enjoy.”

– Robbie MacNiven

 

“Anole is the sort of character you see mentioned a lot when people talk about minor heroes they’d like to see more of. It was clear early on that, as a charming, witty and fun kid, he’d be an enjoyable character to write about.”
ComicSXF, Interview with Robbie MacNiven, author of First Team

“Family is a core theme of so many of the stories that feature Marvel’s X-Men. In a word of tension and prejudice, acceptance is hard to come by, and the very abilities that might seem to make someone exceptional also make them at best outcasts, and at worst, targets.”
Track of Words, Article by Robbie MacNiven, author of First Team

“It’s akin to a high fantasy dungeon crawl crossed with a Victorian Gothic novel. Three has-been adventurers team up for a final quest, only to find themselves drawn into a dark web of intrigue and death.”
Track of Words Interview with Robbie MacNiven, author of The Doom of Fallowhearth

 

“The world of KeyForge is painted with big, vibrant (possibly neon) brushstrokes.”
The Epic Quest, Robbie MacNiven on writing for Tales from the Crucible

Author News
Anything is Possible on an Impossible World: KeyForge – Tales of the Crucible edited by Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells December 17, 2019 An impossible world filled with myriad peoples battling for mystical Æmber (and everyone else who’s just trying to get along) – it can only be KeyForge! Introducing Tales From the Crucible: A KeyForge Anthology, edited by Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells, which flies screaming onto your bookshelf in June 2020. KeyForge is chock-full… Read more.
Incoming – Here Are Our First Titles! November 26, 2019 It’s time to yank the tarps off this intriguing pile that we’ve kept under wraps all this year, and tell you about our first publications. When we launch the Aconyte range of novels based on your favourite Asmodee games in May 2020, all these books are heading your way in… Read more.
Reviews

“If you love dense space operas with political scheming and negotiations, you will love this from the first page… it’s an enjoyable saga, even if you have no experience with Twilight Imperium.”
Boss Rush

“The story reads as if you are balanced on a knife edge and the balance could tip at any point with the intensity building towards a dramatic crescendo.”
Dave Chats Games

“if you enjoy a good space opera. A definite five stars from me.”
What You Tolkien About

“Cold Reboot is an exciting, intriguing read.”
Kara Dennison

“If you are looking for a fast-paced, pulse-pounding thriller this one is for you.”
What You Tolkien About

“Waiqar is dark and bloody, it has an underlying sense of excitement that begs you to suspend disbelief and join a fabulous fantasy world for a while.”
Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

“Another riveting fantasy novel in the ‘Decent: Legends of the Dark’ series”
Midwest Book Review

“Waiqar has everything that I love about fantasy stories, it has complex double dealings and betrayals, court politics, the outbreak of war and huge battles, dangerous monsters, deep history, and complex characters.”
Trans-Scribe

“Another great entry in the Watch Dogs Legion series, it had what I enjoyed about the game and did it well.”
Kathryn’s Book Review

“I loved how easily Robbie MacNiven wove the lore and history of this world into the plot and wrote everything in a realistic and three-dimensional way.”
A Mac

“Drama intrigue and action intermingle to create a pulse pounding fantasy that is hard to put down.”
What You Tolkien About

“I honestly cannot recommend this enough. A fantastic standalone fantasy, a wonderful stepping stone into the world of Descent or a way to get more lore and depth to characters of the game. A definite must read if you like the game or fantasy in general.”
What You Tolkien About

“MacNiven does not disappoint: the story starts off fast and has actiona nd humor and at no point does it drag on unnecessarily.”
A Library Thing

“It’s clear that MacNiven knows his stuff, and the fights feel like they leap off the page and are wonderfully clear and easy to follow. He gives plenty of detail, enough that you can clearly picture everything that’s happening, and you’ll soon find yourself getting swept up by the grandeur of it.”
Trans-Scribe

“I would very strongly recommend this book to any fantasy fan because it hits all the right notes, and is a great standalone book with little dependency on any previous knowledge of the franchise.”
Big Geordie Geek

“From the start I was hooked, as is nearly always the case with these books. The characterization was brilliant. Anyone who enjoys Descent, Tabletop RPGs or Fantasy would, I believe, instantly be intrigued and hooked.”

– What You Tolkien About

“You pick it up and start it thinking it’s gonna be just a pulpy fantasy adventure. But it’s not, it’s deeply emotional and shows that a good writer can make a familiar and well trod genre, fresh and invigorating. Solid ★★★★★.”
Big Geordie Geek

The Doom of Fallowhearth is a good, dark, Fantasy story… Even if you have no other reason to do so, The Doom of Fallowhearth is worth reading, just for the opportunity to find yourself rooting for the Necromancer!”
Fistful of Meeples

“Page-turningly addictive… It’s quite dark and surprisingly powerful, and a far more emotional story than you might expect. Very much worth checking out.”
Track of Words

“Expertly-written and populated with some of the most memorable characters in a fantasy novel that I’ve read in quite some time, and imbued with a bold, thought-provoking and often surprising narrative, with an emotionally powerful ending that’s akin to a fist in the gut.”
SciFi and Fantasy Reviewer

“It all comes together in an action-packed and delightfully unexpected ending that had me laughing out loud, ensuring that this was one of my favourite stories in the anthology.”
SciFi and Fantasy Reviewer on Extermination Examination by Robbie MacNiven

Join our
mailing list

Find out everything first!

Form inexplicably not working? Try this one instead.