A Warhammer 40K superfan has crafted the ultimate reading guide to navigate the sprawling, complex universe of the franchise’s most popular books, making it easier than ever for newcomers and veterans alike to dive into the grim darkness of the 41st millennium. With over 60 titles spanning decades of lore, this curated roadmap promises to transform the daunting task of choosing where to start into an exciting journey through epic battles, legendary heroes, and cosmic intrigue.
Being a Warhammer 40,000 fan is tough. Not only are there all of the tabletop materials to read through, like army codexes and campaign books, there’s also the vast expanded universe in comics, video games, and books. Games Workshop commissions authors to write under the Black Library publishing arm, and there are hundreds of books delving into the grimdark future of the sci-fi setting. This includes the massively popular Horus Heresy novels, a prequel series including more than 60 books, along with assorted novellas, audio dramas, and anthologies.
While you could technically look up a list of all these stories and read them in order of release, that’s practically impossible. Several books are out of print, so you’d have to hunt down used editions. And many books in the Horus Heresy series simply aren’t worth your time. Reddit user cd8d has shared a guide to the Horus Heresy that explains the main stories, cleanly separates the arcs into their own sections, and provides a list of books that are worth skipping. There’s even supplementary reading set in the 41st millennium, which continues some dangling plot threads and explores some consequences of the Heresy.
The Horus Heresy books culminate in the Siege of Terra, an eight-novel series. Cd8d has shared two lists – one that provides a comprehensive overview of the entire series, and a minimalist version that cuts the reading down to about 25 books total.
It took a great deal of research for cd8d to be able to compile the list; he began reading the Horus Heresy books in 2008. “I had been walking through the warhammer section of a Barnes and Noble in 2007 when I picked up my first Warhammer 40k novel and enjoyed them,” he told AELGAMES via Reddit DM. “After devouring a few of the 40k series, I discovered the Horus Heresy series and it took off from there.”
The list began as notes in a notebook, as cd8d navigated the series and cross-checked it with various other fans on social media platforms and forums. After trial and error, cd8d eventually organized the list in such a way that it reads like a TV series, with different seasons dedicated to different Space Marine legions and their stories.
Some readers will likely never tackle the Horus Heresy series – even with the abbreviated list, it’s still a lot of reading. But with the success of Space Marine 2 and the upcoming Amazon series helmed by Henry Cavill, some fans are eager to bone up on their fictional history. In that case, there’s no better place to start than this impeccably organized list. Here’s cd8d’s Horus Heresy reading guide, in full. Numbered titles are part of the Heresy, and the number signifies their release order. Part 0 requires you to pick one of four factions: the Inquisition, or one of three Space Marine legions.
The full guide
For those eager to dive into the vast and complex universe of Warhammer 40,000, this full guide curated by a dedicated superfan offers a perfect roadmap through the most popular books. It carefully selects key series and standalone novels that introduce the rich lore, iconic factions, and epic battles of the 41st millennium, making it accessible for both newcomers and longtime fans. From the gripping tales of the Horus Heresy to the thrilling exploits of the Ultramarines and Imperial Guard, this guide ensures readers can follow a coherent path that builds understanding and appreciation of the Warhammer 40K saga without feeling overwhelmed by its sheer scale.
- Part 0: 40K – Pick one row in the Part 0 section that talks to you the most
- Inquisition: Eisenhorn, Malleus, Hereticus
- Night Lords: Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, Void Stalker
- Dark Angels: Angels of Darkness, Ravenwing, Master of Sanctity, The Unforgiven
- If you read these first, add Decent of Angels to the beginning of Part 4.
- Ultramarines: Nightbringer, Storm of Iron, Warriors of Ultramar
- Part 1: The Fall of Horus
- The Wolf of Ash and Fire – Eye of Terra (35) by Graham McNeill
- Horus Rising (1) by Dan Abnett
- False Gods (2) by Graham McNeill
- Galaxy of Flames (3) by Ben Counter
- Flight of the Eisenstein (4) by James Swallow
- Optional: Fulgrim (5) by Graham McNeil
- Part 2: The First Heretic
- The Last Church – Tales of Heresy (10) (Audio Drama) by Graham McNeill
- The First Heretic (14) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- The Aurelian – Eye of Terra (35) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Know No Fear (19) by Dan Abnett
- Part 3: Betrayer
- After Deshea – Tales of Heresy (10) by Matt Farrer
- Lord of the Red Sands – War Without End (33) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Butcher’s Nails – Legacies of Betrayal (Audio Drama) (31) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Betrayer (24) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Part 4: The Lion and The Prince
- Shadows of Treachery (22) – The Dark King (Audio Drama) by Graham McNeill
- Massacre – Eye of Terra (35) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Fallen Angels (11) by Mike Lee
- Savage Weapons – Age of Darkness (16) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- The Lion – The Primarchs (20) by Gav Thorpe
- Prince of Crows – Shadows of Treachery (22) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Master of the First – Eye of Terra (35) by Gav Thorpe
- The Long Night – Eye of Terra (35) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Bonus 40K: Lord of the Night by Simon Spurrier
- Bonus 40K: Night Lords Omnibus by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Part 5: Imperium Secondus
- The Unremembered Empire (27) by Dan Abnett
- A Safe and Shadowed Place – War Without End (33) by Guy Haley
- Heart of Pharos – Burden of Loyalty (48) (Audio Drama) by L.J. Goulding
- Pharos (26) by Guy Haley
- Angels of Caliban (38) by Gav Thorpe
- Ruinstorm (46) by David Annandale
- Bonus 40K: Scythes of the Emperor Anthology by L.J. Goulding
- Part 6: Legion of One
- The Last Remembrancer – Age of Darkness (16) by John French
- Oath of Moment – Garro (42) (Audio Drama) by James Swallow
- Sword of Truth – Garro (42) (Audio Drama) by James Swallow
- Legion of One – Garro (42) (Audio Drama) by James Swallow
- Grey Angel – The Silent War (37) by James Swallow
- Luna Mendax – The Silent War (37) by Graham McNeill
- The Devine Adoratrice – War Without End (33) by Graham McNeill
- Vengeful Spirit (29) by Graham Mcneill
- Part 7 – Mars & Magnus
- The Kaban Project – Shadows of Treachery (22) by Graham McNeill
- Mechanicum (9) by Graham McNeill
- Into Exile – The Burden of Loyalty (48) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- A Thousand Sons (12) by Graham McNeil
- Thief of Revelations – Legacies of Betrayal (31) (Audio Drama) by Graham McNeill
- The Master of Mankind (41) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Optional: The Crimson King (44) by Graham McNeill
- Bonus 40K: Ahriman Omnibus by John French
- Bonus 40K: Forges of Mars Omnibus by Graham McNeil
- Part 8 – Wolves
- Prospero Burns (15) by Dan Abnett
- Wolf’s Claw – Legacies of Betrayal (Audio Drama) (31) by Chris Wraight
- Wolf King – Burden of Loyalty (Audio Drama) (48) by Chris Wraight
- Wolfsbane (49) by Guy Haley
- Two Metaphysical Blades (Unprinted Short Story) by Chris Wraight
- Bonus 40K: The Hunt for Magnus by Chris Wraight
- Bonus 40K: Battle of the Fang by Chris Wraight
- Part 9 – Scars
- Scars (28) by Chris Wraight
- Brotherhood of the Moon – Eye of Terra (35) by Chris Wraight
- Allegiance – War Without End (33) by Chris Wraight
- Path of Heaven (36) by Chris Wraight
- The Last Son of Prospero – Heralds of the Siege (52) by Chris Wraight
- Part 10 – Iron
- The Emperor’s Architect – Scions of the Emperor by Guy Haley
- Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia by Guy Haley
- The Iron Within – Age of Darkness (10) by Rob Sanders
- Ironfire – Eye of Terra (35) by Rob Sanders
- Angel Exterminatus (23) by Graham McNeill
- Slaves to Darkness (51) by John French
- Part 11 – The Imperial Fists
- The Lightning Tower – Shadows of Treachery (Audio Drama) (22) by Dan Abnett
- The Crimson Fist – Shadows of Treachery (22) by John French
- Templar – The Silent War (37) (Audio Drama) by John French
- Praetorian of Dorn (39) by John French
- The Chamber at the End of Memory – Primarchs – Scions of the Emperor by James Swallow
- Now Peals Midnight – Herald’s of the Siege (52) by John French
- Part 12 – The Siege of Terra Series
- The Solar War
- The Lost and the Damned
- The First Wall
- Sons of the Selenar (novella)
- Saturnine
- Fury of Magnus (novella)
- Mortis
- Warhawk
- Echoes of Eternity
- Garro: Knight of the Grey (novella)
- The End and the Death Volume 1
- The End and the Death Volume 2
- The End and the Death Volume 3
The expanded optional reads
The expanded optional reads offer Warhammer 40K fans a chance to dive deeper into the lore beyond the core narrative. These include specialized story arcs and audio dramas focusing on specific factions like the Raven Guard and Flesh Tearers, with titles such as Fear to Tread by James Swallow and Herald of Sanguinius from the Eye of Terra series. This section enriches the reading experience by exploring lesser-known characters and events that add depth and nuance to the Warhammer 40K universe, providing a more comprehensive understanding for dedicated readers.
- Optional 1: Raven Guard
- Raven’s Flight – Shadows of Treachery (Audio Drama) (22) by Gav Thorpe
- The Face of Treachery – Age of Darkness (16) by Gav Thorpe
- Deliverance Lost (18) by Gav Thorpe
- Soulforge – Corax (40) by Gav Thorpe
- Ravenlord – Corax (40) by Gav Thorpe
- The Value of Fear – Corax (40) by Gav Thorpe
- Raptor – Corax (Audio Drama) (40) by Gav Thorpe
- Weregeld – Corax (40) by Gav Thorpe
- The Grey Raven – Heralds of the Siege (52) by Gav Thorpe
- Valerius (Audio Drama) by Gav Thorpe
- Optional 2: Flesh Tearers
- Fear to Tread (21) by James Swallow
- Herald of Sanguinius– Eye of Terra (Audio Drama) (35) by Andy Smillie
- Sins of the Father– Eye of Terra (Audio Drama) (35) by Andy Smillie
- Virtues of the Sons – War Without End (Audio Drama) (33) by Andy Smillie
- Bonus 40K: Flesh Tearers Anthology by Andy Smillie
- Bonus 40K: Wrath of the Lost by Chris Forrester
- Optional 3: Oll Persson
- Unmarked – Mark of Calth (25) by Dan Abnett
- Perpetual – Burden of Loyalty (48) (Audio Drama) by Dan Abnett
- Optional 4: Tallarn
- Black Oculus – War Without End (33) by John French
- Tallarn: Siren – Tallarn Anthology (45) by John French
- Tallarn: Executioner – Tallarn Anthology (45) by John French
- Tallarn: Ironclad – Tallarn Anthology (45) by John French
- The Eagle’s Talon – Eye of Terra (Audio Drama) (35) by John French
- Iron Corpses – Eye of Terra (Audio Drama) (35) by David Annandale
- Tallarn: Witness – Tallarn Anthology (45) by John French
- Optional 5: Pandorax
- Veritas Ferrum – Legacies of Betrayal (31) by David Annandale
- Sermon of Exodus – War Without End (33) by David Annandale
- Damnation of Pythos (30) by David Annandale
- Bonus 40K: Pandorax by C.Z. Dunn
The minimalist version
The minimalist version of the Warhammer 40K reading guide offers a streamlined approach to the sprawling Horus Heresy series, focusing on 17-18 essential books that cover the core narrative before the Siege of Terra. It begins with the critical first five books that set the stage for the fall of Horus and the initial betrayals, then moves through key arcs involving major characters like Lorgar, Angron, Magnus, Russ, and Khan. This curated list balances depth and accessibility, making it ideal for new readers who want to grasp the main storyline without getting overwhelmed by the full extensive series.
- The End and the Death Volume 3
- Part 1: The Fall of Horus
- Horus Rising (1) by Dan Abnett
- False Gods (2) by Graham McNeill
- Galaxy of Flames (3) by Ben Counter
- Flight of the Eisenstein (4) by James Swallow
- Optional: Fulgrim (5) by Graham McNeil
- Part 2: Lorgar & Angron
- The First Heretic (14) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Know No Fear (19) by Dan Abnett
- Betrayer (24) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Part 3: Imperium Secondus
- The Unremembered Empire (27) by Dan Abnett
- Angels of Caliban (38) by Gav Thorpe
- Ruinstorm (46) by David Annandale
- Part 4: Magnus, Russ, and Khan
- A Thousand Sons (12) by Graham McNeil
- Scars (28) by Chris Wraight
- Path of Heaven (36) by Chris Wraight
- Part 5: The Emperor & Horus
- The Master of Mankind (41) by Aaron Dembski-Bowden
- Angel Exterminatus (23) by Graham McNeill
- Slaves to Darkness (51) by John French
- Praetorian of Dorn (39) by John French
- Part 6: The Siege of Terra Series
- The Solar War
- The Lost and the Damned
- The First Wall
- Saturnine
- Mortis
- Warhawk
- Echoes of Eternity
- The End and the Death Volume 1
- The End and the Death Volume 2
- The End and the Death Volume 3
What makes this curated guide the ultimate roadmap for Warhammer 40K fans
The curated guide is considered the ultimate roadmap for Warhammer 40K fans because it offers a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the vast and complex universe, combining richly detailed lore with stunning visuals of miniatures from every faction. Co-written by renowned Black Library authors Guy Haley and Gav Thorpe, the guide delivers expertly crafted descriptions and insights that illuminate the evolution of key characters and factions, making it invaluable for both newcomers overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material and seasoned players seeking updated context on modern lore. Its structure balances detailed faction histories, notable characters, and iconic units with beautiful photography, providing a visual and narrative journey that captures the essence of the grimdark setting while helping readers understand the current state of the galaxy. This makes it not just a collection of lore but a practical, engaging reference that enhances fans’ appreciation and understanding of Warhammer 40K’s ongoing story and miniature artistry.
What exclusive insights does this guide offer that others lack
The guide offers exclusive insights by combining expert commentary from acclaimed Black Library authors with a visually rich presentation of miniatures and faction histories, providing a unique blend of narrative depth and artistic appreciation not found in typical lore compilations. It delves into the evolution of key characters and factions with up-to-date context on the current state of the Warhammer 40K universe, bridging decades of lore in a way that helps fans understand both the past and present developments. This curated approach, balancing storytelling with stunning imagery and insider perspectives, makes it stand out as a definitive resource that goes beyond mere summaries to offer a deeper, more immersive understanding of the franchise’s complex and evolving narrative.
