warhammer 40,000 is a large and expansive environment that can be daunting for those looking for a starting point in the story. Black Library releases dozens of new Warhammer 40k books every year, ranging from short stories to multi-novel series. With this, there is a lot to choose from and finding an opportunity can be tricky. Thankfully, some of The Black Library’s best work also lines up nicely for newcomers to the franchise.
best warhammer 40k books
- eisenhorn: dan abnett omnibus: “my patience is not limitless…unlike my authority.”
- space wolf: william king’s first omnibus: “war within. foreign war. war without end. that’s how we live, little brother. that’s what we are.”
- lords of the night: aaron dembski-bowden’s omnibus: “may the warp be with you.”
- ciaphas cain: hero of the imperium by sandy mitchell: “when you are in danger of death, when doubts assail you, run in small circles, wave your arms and shout!”
- gaunt’s ghosts (series) by dan abnett: “the tanith first. the first and only. that’s what makes us ‘ghosts,’ you see.”
- traitor by aaron dembski-bowden: ” blood for the god of blood.”
It is worth noting that a large part of the Black Library literature focuses on the Imperial Guard, Space Marines, and the Inquisition, as these are the most accessible factions within the Warhammer 40,000 franchise. often human factions see popularity through association, leading to deeper lore and additional resources to continue this trend. It might seem daunting to see your favorite xenos race not getting the recognition it deserves, but the literature exists, just in smaller doses.
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Also, you don’t need to have experience of the game to appreciate the source material, as these are independently good sci-fi novels. However, if you play or collect the miniatures, these warhammer books will help you get a clearer picture of the characters and events that occur within the universe.
1. eisenhorn: dan abnett’s omnibus
“my patience is not limitless…unlike my authority.”
Eisenhorn follows the successful career of Gregor Eisenhorn, Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos. Eisenhorn tackles corruption in every corner of the galaxy, from mutants and daemons to heretics. Throughout the series, Eisenhorn manages to convince you that he has everything under control while slowly losing his grip due to the influence of Chaos. As a result, the events temper Eisenhorn’s moral compass that presents a fine line between loyalty and betrayal. Within this omnibus edition, there are three full-length novels – Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus – which all share the same name as the Ordos (or commonly known as Orders) within the Inquisition.
Eisenhorn is ideal for beginning Warhammer 40,000 enthusiasts, offering a blend of action, character development, and morality in an easy-to-follow writing style. To that end, think of Eisenhorn as the 41st millennium’s own Sherlock Holmes with Jack Bauer thrown in for good measure. If you like science fiction, especially with technology combined with a religious undertone, then this is the Warhammer book for you.
buy eisenhorn: omnibus on amazon us or amazon uk.
2. space wolf: william king’s first omnibus
“war inside. war outside. war without end. that’s how we live, little brother. that’s who we are.”
Every hero begins somewhere, and Space Wolf: The First Omnibus follows the story of Ragnar Blackmane. The series is unique from the other Space Marine material as Ragnar isn’t an all-powerful hero from the get-go. The First Omnibus features a trilogy of stories – Space Wolf, Ragnar’s Claw and Grey Hunter – which offers a glimpse into one of Warhammer’s most beloved characters.
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With this, you get a sneak peek into the history of the Space Marines and the legendary induction process. Author William King does an excellent job of slowly exposing you to Space Marine lore, making it an ideal starting point for Space Marine enthusiasts. there are a lot of details that Codex: Space Wolves doesn’t provide, such as why the chapter avoids wearing helmets and how they behave differently compared to other factions. Space Wolf: The First Omnibus is packed with action, character growth, and offers a glimpse into one of the most beloved chapters of the Space Marines. Plus, who doesn’t love Vikings in space?
buy space wolf: the first omnibus on amazon us or amazon uk.
3. lords of the night: aaron dembski-bowden’s omnibus
“may the warp be with you.”
Throughout Night Lords: The Omnibus, Aaron Dembski-Bowden has the members of Night Lord First Squad interact with and battle a diverse cast of allies and adversaries. Leading the charge is Talos Valcoran, a genetically modified super-soldier with a quest to seek vengeance upon the human empire he helped create. Night Lord: Omnibus is a compilation of three novels: Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver and Void Stalker.
even if you are a legion of traitors, you will end up sympathizing with the lords of the night due to dembski-bowden’s ability to bring emotion to these characters. in some cases, you’ll cheer them on as they face various challenges, despite their horrific deeds against humanity and xenos alike. Outside of the conflict, the Nightlords grapple with memories of their lost Primarch, the Imperium, and themselves. Night Lords: Omnibus is one of the best series of books that you can read within the Warhammer 40,000 environment. it’s dark, tragic, and offers insight into a deeply misunderstood faction. even then, you need read no further, as the trilogy stands alone from any other material in the black library.
buy night lords: the omnibus on amazon us or amazon uk.
4. ciaphas cain: hero of the imperium by sandy mitchell
“when you are in mortal danger, when doubts come over you, run in small circles, wave your arms and shout!”
If Blackadder translated to Warhammer 40,000, it would be Ciaphas Cain. The series follows the struggles of Commissar Ciaphias Cain, a happy-go-lucky leader with the infamous task of holding discipline amongst an army of unruly people. Cain is clever at covering his shenanigans while keeping the image as a hero of the Imperium. The series is positively charming as it offers comedic relief in an atmosphere that is often severe and brutal. Thanks to Cain’s honest and sarcastic approach, it breaks the disparity that you typically see in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, resulting in an enjoyable read.
hero of the imperium collects the first three novels -by the emperor, ice caves and the hand of the traitor- plus three exclusive stories. if you want more stories, there are seven more novels that follow the adventures of this likeable protagonist. Due to its light tone and easy understanding of the factions within Warhammer 40,000, Hero of the Imperium presents a decent entry into the lore for newcomers to the franchise. If he is looking for a lighter read to break away from the somber motif with humor and dry wit, then Ciaphas Cain has it for him.
buy ciaphas cain: hero of the imperium on amazon us or amazon uk.
5. gaunt’s ghosts (series) by dan abnett
“the tanith first. the first and only. that’s what makes us ‘ghosts,’ you know?”
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Inspired by Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series, Gaunt’s Ghosts follows the adventures of Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and his regiment of Tanith First and Only – or better known as Gaunt’s Ghosts. Their battleground is the Sabbat Worlds Crusade: an Imperial effort to reconquer a sector of space overwhelmed by the armies of Chaos.
written by dan abnett, gaunt’s ghosts is one of the most successful series within the library black catalog, as it offers a human tone. you can easily sympathize with the characters as they are individuals in a harsh and uncaring galaxy. as a result, it makes these characters more relatable compared to the quasi-godlike Space Marines. With 15 books in the series, you’ll want to start with the first and only, as it sets the tone and provides a strong foundation for the Imperial Guard (now known as the Astra Militarum). If you enjoy action, camaraderie, and end-to-end sacrifice like those in Band of Brothers, then Gaunt’s Ghosts is for you.
buy the foundation: a gaunt ghost bus on amazon us or amazon uk.
6. traitor by aaron dembski-bowden
“blood for the god of blood”.
Continuing the story of the Word Bearers and jumping into the origins of Angron and the World Eaters, Betrayer takes place shortly after the events of Dan Abnett’s Know No Fear. Betrayer is the 24th entry in the Horus Heresy series that describes a story of loss, anger and – you guessed it – betrayal.
the novel expands on the backstory of the chaos world eaters legion and their primarch, angron. Before this, it was easy to think of World Eaters as one-dimensional, with the usual “blood for the blood god” anger and angron bitterness as their defining characteristics. However, Aaron Demski-Bowden does a remarkable job of harnessing these traits to add flavor and depth, which is a common theme throughout the Horus Heresy series. Admittedly, it’s not for the faint-hearted, as Traitor is incredibly detailed on the violence and packed with action. The novel is also best appreciated if you already have prior knowledge of the Heresy Legions or Chaos Space Marines; If you want to learn more, then you’ll want to start with The Rise of Horus, the first entry in the Horus Heresy series written by Abnett.
buy traitor on amazon us or amazon uk.
If you prefer to digest your content on the go or prefer a more robust narration for your storytelling, Black Library publications are available in audiobook form. Even if you’re not playing or collecting the miniatures, the black library offers some of the best sci-fi content and will only go on.
While it’s challenging to keep up with each release of the black library, it’s best to stick to your favorite characters or factions and then expand from there. even then, you can always dive into something else if you fancy a change of pace or scenery. Black Library publications also extend outside of Warhammer 40,000, so you might want to read up on Age of Sigmar or Necromunda if you’re curious about the franchise before investing in the games. it’s a surefire way to see if something is right for you before you make any financial commitments. You’ll often find that Black Library content can spark creativity on your next competitive roster or inspire your next kit-bash conversion. With dozens of Warhammer books and tales published each year, there’s something for everyone and there’s never a bad time to immerse yourself in the lore.
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