25 Best Warhammer 40,000 Books for Beginners and Veteran Players

Welcome to the guide that explores the best Warhammer 40,000 books to read for novices and veterans alike. Over the years, Games Workshop®’s Warhammer has gone from a simple tabletop wargame to an internationally loved franchise with multiple successful video games, its own streaming service, and not to mention a massive fan base.

As successful as Warhammer is today, would it have reached the heights it has without the literature that has built a universe filled with rich lore and exciting stories? Maybe, maybe not, but we thought it was time to take a closer look at some of the best Warhammer 40K books. But before we dive into the top picks for the best Warhammer 40,000 books, here’s a quick summary of what Warhammer 40,000 is.

What is Warhammer?

Starting its life as a tabletop wargame back in 1983, Warhammer has grown to become one of the world’s most popular gaming franchises now sporting several different tabletop games, hundreds of books, multiple video games, numerous animated series, and much more.

Warhammer itself is split into 3 different universes - Warhammer Age of Sigmar, which is set in a classic high fantasy setting rife with magic, great beasts, and heroic warriors; Lord of the Rings™, which is based on Peter Jackson's film adaptations of J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings™ and The Hobbit™ books, and Warhammer 40,000, which is science fiction set in a dark war-torn future. There are a few other divisions and sub-versions of Warhammer, but for this blog, we will be sticking with Warhammer 40,000.

What is Warhammer 40,000?

Warhammer 40,000 otherwise known as Warhammer 40K, is a sci-fi tabletop game based in a galaxy 40,000 years into the future. It's set in a galaxy where technology has advanced to the point that mankind has been able to reach beyond the confines of Earth and build an empire among the stars. It’s not all sunshine and extra-terrestrial rainbows in the Warhammer 40K universe however, humanity is beset on all sides by hosts of hostile alien races, each vying for supremacy over the galaxy. There also exists 4 Chaos Gods, scheming in the Warp (a parallel dimension outside of real space that has its own flow of time), forever spreading their corruption by tainting the hearts of men, women, and children across the galaxy; or straight-up turning them into daemonic abominations whose only goal is to reap chaos and destruction.

It's fair to say that the Warhammer 40K universe is a pretty dark place, but it’s one filled with rich lore and iconic characters, and the best way to experience it is through the books of the Black Library. As nefarious as the 'Black Library' sounds, it's just a division of Games Workshop® focussed on publishing literary works set in the Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40K, and the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universes.

For now, we are just going to be focussing on Warhammer 40K books, but if you want to see a blog about the best books set in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar or Warhammer Fantasy universes, let us know on our Instagram page.

To make sure we give you a good selection of Warhammer 40K books, we have tried to include a selection of stand-alone books and books from a variety of different series set in both the Warhammer 40K timeline and the Warhammer 30K\Horus Heresy timeline.

So, whether you have just completed a playthrough of Space Marine 2 and want to get stuck into the lore a bit more or you are a veteran tabletop gamer looking to enhance your Warhammer 40K knowledge, this is the perfect place to start looking.

Horus Rising

Series: Horus Heresy

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: The Horus Heresy series follows the galaxy-wide civil war that erupts when a number of the Emperor’s Primarch sons fall to the temptations of the Chaos Gods. Horus Rising is the first book in the Horus Heresy series and begins as The Emperor’s great crusade to reunite mankind’s fragmented empire comes to an end. As the Great Crusade ends, The Emperor has decided to return to his throne world of Terra and hand the reins of power over to the greatest of his sons Horus Lupercal. However, as threads of deceit begin to shift, will Horus Lupercal’s loyalty to his father remain true?

For the Emperor

Series: Ciaphas Cain

Author: Sandy Mitchell

Synopsis: For the Emperor takes place on the outer reaches of Imperium, on a planet situated on the fringes of an alien dynasty known as the Tau Empire. While offering an insight into Imperial life on the fringes of the Empire, For the Emperor focuses on a renowned commissar of the Imperial Guard – Ciaphas Cain. Sent to bring order to this troubled imperial world, the heroic commissar and his regiment of Valhallans find themselves on the frontlines when an all-out war breaks out after an emissary from the Tau Empire is murdered on Imperial soil.

Fulgrim

Series: Horus Heresy

Author: Graham McNeill

Synopsis: Fulgrim takes place during the early stages of the Horus Heresy and follows the Emporer’s Children Space Marine Legion and their primarch – Fulgrim (otherwise known as The Phoenician). The book follows the Emperor’s Children during their conquest of yet another planet to bring it back under Imperial control but just as Fulgrim's legion is wrapping up its conquest, a discovery is made that has the potential to put the legion onto a much darker path.

First and Only

Series: Gaunt’s Ghosts

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: In a system that was lost to the Chaos Gods long ago, the forces of the Imperium have decided to reclaim what was once theirs. First and Only follows the story of Imperial Commissar Ibram Gaunt and his loyal regiment known as the Tanith First and Only (known as Gaunt's Ghosts) as they play out their pivotal role in this Imperial crusade. While locked in a bitter conflict, Commissar Gaunt and his 'Ghosts' uncover a conspiracy to assassinate the leader of the crusade, Warmaster Macaroth, and realise that it is up to them to put a stop to it and save any hope of victory.

Ravenor: The Omnibus

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: Cramming three novels into one book, Ravenor: The Omnibus explores the exploits of Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor and his retinue of experienced loyalists as they branch out across the galaxy from the Scarus Sector, near the Eye of Terror. Facing an unending threat from Xenos, Heretics, and daemons alike, Inquisitor Ravenor and his retinue must pull out all the stop to achieve their goal, even if that means travelling through time itself.

The Traitor’s Hand

Series: Ciaphas Cain

Author: Sandy Mitchell

Synopsis: The Traitor’s Hand joins the heroic Imperial Commissar Ciaphas Cain and his hardy unit of Valhallans as they face down the encroaching threat of a Chaos invasion on the world of Adumbria. Filled with action, intrigue, and a depth of lore to keep even the most well-versed Warhammer 40K hobbyist enthralled, The Traitor’s Hand is another fantastic addition to the Ciaphas Cain series.

Titanicus

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: Titanicus by Dan Abnett offers an insight into the sheer scale of war in the 41st millennium. When the imperial forge world of Orestes comes under siege by the forces of chaos, it is the Titans of Legio Victus that respond. Faced with a dire situation, the battle-hardened imperial titans of Legio Victus must not only destroy the Chaos invasion but must also minimise any damage to the Forgeworld itself. Titanicus offers a glimpse into 40k warfare from the perspectives of the lowliest foot soldier to some of the largest and greatest war machines in the galaxy.

The Emperor’s Gift

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Aaron Demnski-Bowden

Synopsis: The Grey Knights are a chapter of Space Marines shrouded in mystery, completely unknown to all but the highest-ranking officials in the Imperium. Blessed with supernatural psychic powers, they serve as a bulwark against the ravages Chaos and the daemons that spill from the warp. The Emperor’s Gift by Aaron Demnski-Bowden tells the story of two aspiring grey knights as they go through the tests and trials to become fully-fledged knights.

Pariah

Series: Bequin

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: Dan Abnett’s 2012 book, Pariah, follows Inquisitorial Agent Alizebeth Bequin when she is caught in the middle of a dark rivalry between the infamous Inquisitors Gregor Eisenhorn and Gideon Ravenor. Pariah is versed in intrigues, deceit, and tension as it offers a new perspective on some of the most famous characters in the Warhammer 40K universe.

Deus Encarmine

Series: Blood Angels

Author: James Swallow

Synopsis: Dues Encarmine is a Blood Angels story, one that follows the 1st Founding Chapter as they take the fight to the Forces of Chaos. In the midst of the fighting, one of their numbers begins to take on the visage of their lost leader, their Primarch, Sanguinius. Could this new revelation be the miraculous rebirth of their founding father or some form of dark trickery concocted by the Chaos Gods?

Let the Galaxy Burn

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Marc Gascoigne & Christian Z. Dunn

Synopsis: Let the Galaxy Burn is a collection of some of the best short stories to have ever come out of the Black Library. For a long time, many of the stories in this book were unreachable or simply lost, but thanks to Marc Gascoigne and Christian Z. Dunn, they have now been given a fresh lease of life. Let the Galaxy Burn also features some new short stories to give the book a splash of up-to-date lore.

I Am Slaughter

Series: The Beast Arises

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: I Am Slaughter by Dan Abnett takes place in a relatively peaceful era in the Warhammer 40,000 universe - thousands of years have passed since Horus’s uprising and the plethora of Xenos races that have plagued humanity have all been kept in check by the numerous Space Marine Chapters. Not all is as peaceful as it seems however, a green threat is rising on the world of Ardamantua, a tide of Orks that could grow to threaten Terra itself.

Enforcer: The Shira Calpurnia Omnibus

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Matthew Farrer

Synopsis: Adeptus Arbites are the law enforcers of the Imperium of Man, a dedicated branch of the Imperium whose role is to enforce the Emperor's will within its population. Highly trained and devoted, the Adeptus Arbites are a force to be reckoned with. Enforcer: The Shira Calpurnia Omnibus follows the story of newly promoted Adeptus Arbites officer Shira Calpurnia when she finds herself thrown into the deep end, quickly becoming embroiled in all manner of crimes including but not limited to corruption, rogue psychic activity, and even murder.

Execution Hour

Series: The Gothic War

Author: Gordon Rennie

Synopsis: In Execution Hour, Gordon Rennie takes you on the journey of a freshly promoted Imperial Navy Captain as he attempts to stem the tide of Chaos that has spilled from the Eye of Terror. With Arch-Traitor Abaddon the Despoiler at the head of the Chaos fleets, the captains, crewmen, and surfs of the Imperial Fleets must do everything in their power to push back the Chaos incursion, even if it means sacrificing millions of lives in the process.

Gunheads

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Steve Parker

Synopsis: If you are a fan of the Imperial Guard/Astra Militarum then this is the book for you. In Gunheads, Steve Parker tells of the Imperial mission to find and retrieve the legendary Banelade of Commissar Yarrick, the Fortress of Arrogance. After Yarrick was captured by the Orks on the planet of Golgoltha his iconic Baneblade was lost, and now it is up to Sergeant Wulfe and his Armoured Tank Company to bring it back.

Path of the Warrior

Series: Path of the Eldar

Author: Gav Thorpe

Synopsis: Turning to one of the many Xenos races in the Warhammer 40K universe now, we come to the race known as the Eldar. Path of the Warrior delves into the lives of the Eldar population, exploring the choices they must make and paths they must take. Throughout life, each Eldari must choose a path to devote themselves to, whether that be the Path of the Artisan, the Path of the Seer, or one of the other 12 known paths. As the title suggests, Path of the Warrior tells the story of an Eldari artist called Korlandril who decides to uproot his life and start a new journey down the Path of the Warrior. After living a life of peace, Korlandril soon discovers that following the Path of the Warrior could lead him astray and cause him to lose his sense of self.

Angels of Darkness

Series: Stand Alone

Author: Gav Thorpe

Synopsis: The Dark Angels are one of the most devoted Space Marine Chapters in the Imperium, but their shadowy past holds a dark cloud over them. Angels of Darkness touches on the heretical history of the Dark Angels and follows Interrogator-Chaplain Boreas as he gets caught up in a murderous plot that threatens to bring the horrors of their past back.

Double Eagle

Series: Sabbat Worlds

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis:Double Eagle takes place on the surface of the war-torn world of Enothis where Imperial forces are facing a decisive defeat at the hand of the enemy’s persistent attacks. Only the heroic pilots of the Phantine Fighter Corps can hold the hostile forces at bay long enough for the ground forces to regroup for the final battle that will decide the outcome of the conflict.

The Infinite and the Divine

Series: Warhammer 40,000

Author: Robert Rath

Synopsis: The Necrons are one of, if not, the oldest race in the 40K universe. They are an alien race, who, a millennia ago, made a deal to trade their flesh for a living metal, forever transforming them into haunting metallic skeletal-like figures. Now filled with hatred, the Necron race has laid dormant in city-sized tombs spread across the galaxy for thousands of years, ready to be awoken at just the right time. The Infinite and the Divine focuses on two Necron characters specifically, Trazyn the Infinite and Orikan the Diviner, whose eternal conflict has raged since long before the Necron transformation and continues to rage now.

Soul Hunters

Series: Night Lords

Author: Aaron Dembski-Bowden

Synopsis: Once a honed and efficient legion of Space Marines, loyal to the Emperor, the Night Lords have since fallen into more savage ways. After their betrayal during the Horus Heresy, the Night Lords have become masters of death, set on ripping the Imperium apart one savage murder at a time. Soul Hunters picks up with the Night Lords when a summons from the Traitor Warmaster Abaddon reaches them. These new orders will inexorably lead the Night Lords into a confrontation with the ever-loyal Space Marine Chapter, the Blood Angels.

Priests of Mars

Series: Forges of Mars

Author: Graham McNeill

Synopsis: Hailing from the Forgeworld of Mars, the Adeptus Mechanicus is the industrial backbone of the Imperium, churning out machines and weaponry to support humanity in its eternal war. In a time lost to the annals of history, a radically devout Majos (a high-ranking member of the Adeptus Mechanicus), Telok, set out on a futile mission to find the ‘Breath of the Gods’ - a legendary device that is rumoured to be able to unmake and remodel the stars themselves. Priests of Mars takes place several thousand years after Telok's expedition disappears and now, the ambitious Lexell Kotov, who, with the aid of the Adeptus Militarum and some Adeptus Astartes, aims to muster a fleet and pick up the trail of Majos Telok and complete his age-old quest to find the ‘Breath of the Gods’.

Brothers of the Snake

Series: Warhammer 40,000

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: From Dan Abnett comes the gripping novel Brothers of the Snake - a nail-biting narrative that explores the exploits of the loyalist Space Marine Chapter the Iron Snakes as they do battle in defence of mankind. Well-known and much-loved in the Warhammer community, the Iron Snakes Space Marines are a force to be reckoned with as they wage war on aliens, heretics, and traitors alike.

Eisenhorn

Series: Eisenhorn

Author: Dan Abnett

Synopsis: In a future of ceaseless suffering and constant war, the Chaos Gods are forever seeking to gain a foothold within the Imperium of Man. To combat the tireless threat of Chaos and corruption, the Inquisition keeps a watchful eye over the Imperium of Man and few hold more responsibility in this undertaking than Inquisitor Eisenhorn. Inquisitor Eisenhorn, together with his following of imperial loyalists, travels the galaxy hunting down all signs of Chaos. However, when signs of heresy begin to appear within the highest echelons of the Imperial command structure, he must go it alone to irradicate the threat.

The Lost and the Damned

Series: The Siege of Terra

Author: Guy Haley

Synopsis: As the Horus Heresy draws to a close, the siege of mankind’s Throneworld, Terra, begins. With the orbital defences destroyed on the first day of the fighting, the real battle for Terra rages on the planet's surface. The Lost and the Damned plays out the climax of the galaxywide war, bringing some of the galaxy's most powerful beings and their immense armies together for one of the most pivotal battles in the history of Warhammer 40K.

Cadia Stands

Series: Warhammer 40,000

Author: Justin D Hill

Synopsis: Cadia - the fortress world situated close to the Eye of Terror, is a world designed for one thing, to hold back the Forces of Chaos. Fortified with enough weaponry and armour to make an Ork blush, and garrisoned with enough soldiers to populate multiple worlds, Cadia stands ready. But will it all be enough when a Chaos fleet of immense proportions emerges from the Eye of Terror? Cadia Stands by Justin D Hill follows the gripping conflict that consumes the entire world. From intense starship battles to brutal fighting on the planet’s surface, Cadia Stands explores every facet of warfare in the grim darkness of the far future.

So that concludes our list of the best Warhammer 40K books to read. Whatever you like about the hobby, whether it’s painting the miniatures, playing Space Marine 2, or rolling some dice in the tabletop game, you can enhance your love of Warhammer with these books.

If you can’t find a book on this list that takes your fancy but want to try something else, there are hundreds of other Warhammer 40K titles in the Black Library just waiting to be read.

Being Warhammer collectors ourselves, we know that Warhammer isn’t the cheapest hobby in the world, so why not use the WeBuyBooks app to sell some of your old Warhammer books and earn some extra cash towards your next pilgrimage to Games Workshop®?