Warhammer 40k: 14 Best Black Library Books

Initially just a tabletop wargame, Warhammer 40k has expanded into various mediums, from video games to animations and even books. The Black Library is their publishing wing for novels based in the Warhammer universe. This publishing brand has grown to include a large catalog of novels numbering in the hundreds, with more books released every year to a growing fan base.

For many passionate wargamers, Black Library novels were the entry point where they became interested in 40k. These novels expand on the lore, fleshing out the many factions and giving more depth to the tabletop experience. Many of these books are pure escapism, appealing to fans of sci-fi and Warhammer alike. While every novel may not be a hit, many have become classics in the setting.

Updated September 9, 2024, by Andy Chapman: Warhammer 40k continues to expand and grow, reaching new fans yearly. With several high-profile video games released to widespread acclaim, Warhammer’s fanbase has grown even more. Titles such as Boltgun, Rogue Trader, and the recently released Space Marine 2 have set a new standard for Warhammer video games. Meanwhile, hype continues to grow surrounding the upcoming Warhammer TV adaptation from Amazon. Every year, Black Library produces more and more novels, expanding on the lore of the setting and giving readers new and exciting stories to get lost in. This article has been updated to include more novels from the Black Library catalog that have become fan favorites.

14 Dark Imperium

Goodreads Score: 3.86

• Faction: Imperium Of Man
• Published: June 23, 2017
• Author: Guy Haley

Dark Imperium follows on after the reawakening of Primarch Roboute Guilliman into the Warhammer 40k setting. The novel is an epic story that follows both Guilliman’s perspective, as he must contend with a very different galaxy from the one he left behind, and that of Chaos, as they attempt to bring down the Primarch for good.

Dark Imperium is the first in a trilogy of novels that tells a pivotal story within the lore and has far-reaching ramifications for the ongoing story of 40k. For fans of the setting, this is a must-read book that gives great insight into the mind of one of the setting’s central figures.

13 The Flight of the Eisenstein

Goodreads Score: 4.08

• Faction: Imperium of Man
• Published: 2007
• Author: James Swallow

The fourth book in the colossal Horus Heresy series is a major turning point in the narrative and an engaging, action-filled story of survival. The book primarily follows Nathanial Garro, a loyalist Space Marine of the Death Guard legion, as he attempts to escape the Isstvan III massacre and warn Terra of Horus’s betrayal.

The Flight of the Eisenstein is a pivotal story in the Horus Heresy. It depicts the true splitting of the legions, as brothers murder their own and announce themselves openly as traitors. The Horus Heresy series is a vast narrative, with many ups and downs. However, The Flight of the Eisenstein is a must-read highlight in the early stages of the series.

12 Brutal Kunnin: An Epic Waaagh! Novel

Goodreads Score: 4.09

• Faction: Orks
• Published: September 15, 2020
• Author: Mike Brooks

Brutal Kunnin shows why the Orks are one of the most beloved factions in the Warhammer 40k setting. Often the comic relief of the lore, the Orks are simple creatures that love nothing more than having a good scrap.

The book follows warboss Ufthak Blackhawk, as he invades an Adeptus Mechanicus forge world, only to find it already invaded by another Ork warband. The novel is a lot of fun, showing the Orks as both goofy and dangerous, with the perspectives changing between Orks and Humans. With most Black Library novels depicting the ongoing struggles of the Imperium, Brutal Kunnin is a refreshing release from the Warhammer publisher.

11 The Devastation of Baal

Goodreads Score: 4.12

• Faction: Blood Angels
• Published: 2017
• Author: Guy Haley

The Devastation of Baal depicts the destructive battle between the many Sons of Sanguinius against the overwhelming Tyranids from the Hive Fleet Leviathan. The novel follows the Blood Angels Chapter Master, Commander Dante, who, after summoning many successor chapters to the planet Baal, must lead the fight for survival or see it fall to ruin.

The novel is truly epic and features large-scale battles as the Space Marines fight desperately on as more and more Tyranids invade. While the book is largely a self-contained story, its narrative sits in the middle of major events in the setting. The fall of Cadia and the resurrection of Roboute Guilliman both have significant effects on the story, making The Devastation of Baal a must-read for fans of recent lore.

10 Space Wolf Omnibus

Goodreads Score: 4.20

• Faction: Space Wolves
• Published: February 27, 2007
• Author: William King

This collection of three novels is told from the perspective of Ragnar Blackmane, a legend within the Space Wolf Chapter of Adeptus Astartes. The novels follow the young Blackmane first becoming a Space Marine, discovering the vast galaxy, and joining the fight against humanity’s enemies.

The Space Wolf Omnibus is a perfect entry point into Warhammer 40k, as the character joins one of the most iconic factions within the setting. Ragnar must not only deal with dangerous foes hellbent on ending his life but also the ever-present rage that follows him everywhere, his inner wolf.

9 Fire Caste

Goodreads Score: 4.23

• Faction: Astra Militarum
• Published: March 1, 2013
• Author: Peter Fehervari

Fire Caste is a rare 40k novel that attempts to delve more into the psychological effect of the setting. Highly influenced by Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness, the story revolves around a depleted Astra Militarum regiment, led by a broken Commissar, which is sent to a tropical death world named Phaedra.

Tasked with taking out a united group of human deserters and Tau, the novel follows these broken and flawed characters as they journey deeper into the forests of the alien world. Fire Caste is a somewhat more mature novel from Black Library and is one of the most original in its catalog.

8 The Lords Of Silence

Goodreads Score: 4.23

• Faction: Death Guard
• Published: February 5, 2019
• Author: Chris Wraight

The perfect novel for fans of the Chaos God Nurgle, the book is told from the perspective of a Death Guard Warband, known as The Lords Of Silence. The book follows all the infighting and political turmoil that goes on within the warband as they look for worthy opponents to face.

The Death Guard spread their diseases and turned populations into rotting undead for their dark god, all the while contending with a fast-changing galaxy. The Lords Of Silence is a unique perspective that tells a rarely-told story from one of the most disgusting factions within the setting.

7 Horus Rising

Goodreads Score: 4.23

• Faction: Imperium of Man
• Published: 2006
• Author: Dan Abnett

Dan Abnett once again delivers a fantastic novel set ten thousand years before the current Warhammer 40k setting. Horus Rising kick-starts the truly epic Horus Heresy series and is a window into the early Imperium before civil war destroyed the Emperor’s dream. The book starts at the end of the Great Crusade when the Imperium is at its peak. The Emperor has handed over the reins of power to his son Horus and named him Warmaster.

The novel follows Horus as he must contend with the role of command and shows the Primarch before the corrupting influence of chaos has tainted him. It introduces many of the main characters that become central figures in the novels that follow. Horus Rising does a great job setting up the colossal narrative that follows this novel and is a must-read for fans of the Warhammer 40k setting.

6 Helsreach

Goodreads Score: 4.24

• Faction: Imperium of Man
• Published: 2010
• Author: Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Helsreach is set during one of the most famous conflicts in the Warhammer 40k setting, The Third War for Armageddon. The book follows Reclusiarch Grimaldus, Chaplain of the Black Templars chapter, as he commands the defenses of Hive Helsreach from an overwhelming Ork attack. Completely outnumbered and out-gunned, the book is the classic tale of an organized few holding out against many.

As the human numbers dwindle, and there seems no end to the greenskin numbers, the defenders of Helsreach prepare for a last stand. Helsreach is a gripping tale that holds the reader’s attention from start to finish. The War for Armageddon is a significant conflict in the setting, showing the sheer brutality of the Ork menace, as well as the determination of the defending humans.

5 Soul Hunter

Goodreads Score: 4.35

• Faction: Night Lords
• Published: January 1, 2010
• Author: Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Soul Hunter is the first novel in the Night Lords series of books, following the traitor legion as they work to bleed the Imperium Of Man. The Night Lords are one of the most feared factions in the setting, being known for their horrific deeds and ruthless savagery.

The novel follows a Night Lord’s company as they are sent on a mission by Warmaster Abaddon the Despoiler to invade the planet Crythe during one of his Black Crusades. The book is a fan favorite and an ideal read for anyone interested in the Chaos faction.

4 Eisenhorn Omnibus

Goodreads Score: 4.43

• Faction: Imperial Inquisition
• Published: December 16, 2004
• Author: Dan Abnett

One of the most popular characters in the Warhammer 40k setting, the book follows the controversial Imperial Inquisitor Eisenhorn as he fights heretical and xenos threats to the Imperium Of Man. This omnibus edition includes the first three novels in the series as well as two short stories.

Eisenhorn is a perfect entry into the larger Warhammer 40k setting and is the starting point in a long-running series that includes the Ravenor series and Bequin series of books. Eisenhorn is unlike many Black Library books, where huge battles take center stage. The characters work more from the shadows, taking down threats that most people will never see.

3 The Lion: Son Of The Forest

Goodreads Score: 4.44

• Faction: Dark Angels
• Published: April 22, 2023
• Author: Mike Brooks.

The Lion: Son of the Forest follows the return of Lion El’Jonson, Primarch of the Dark Angels, as he reenters the Warhammer 40k setting. The return of the Emperor’s son is a big narrative event in 40k and will have far-reaching consequences for many characters.

This novel tells the story of his first moments after reawakening, finding 10,000 years have passed, and discovering a galaxy torn apart. The novel is a must-read for fans of the setting and, like Dark Imperium, is an insight into a Primarch’s mind as he fights to find his place in the grimdark future.

2 Gaunt’s Ghosts: The Founding

Goodreads Score: 4.45

• Faction: Astra Militarum
• Published: January 1, 2007
• Author: Dan Abnett

The long-running Gaunt’s Ghosts series follows Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt as he joins the newly formed imperial regiment from the doomed planet Tanith. Highly inspired by the famous Sharpe series, the novels follow the regiment as it travels the galaxy from warzone to warzone.

This omnibus edition features the first three novels and is the perfect starting point for the 16-strong book series. Dan Abnett has created some of the best-loved characters in the Warhammer 40k setting in Gaunt’s Ghosts, becoming one of the best Black Library writers working today.

1 The Infinite and The Divine

Goodreads Score. 4.47

• Faction: Necrons
• Published: Oct 10, 2020
• Author: Robert Rath

One of the most beloved recent novels released by the Black Library, The Infinite and The Divine, is an epic Necron story told over thousands of years. The book follows fan favorites Trazyn the Infinite and Orikan the Diviner as they argue and try to one-up each other over the long centuries. The book is a joy to read. The two immortals fight and scheme, the galaxy around them changes, and empires rise and fall around their feud.

The Infinite and The Divine is one of the more original stories within the Black Library catalog. With few books released from the Necron point of view, the story is a refreshing perspective that gives the faction a boost in personality and lore.