Best Warhammer 40k Books

Last Updated on February 17, 2022 by OoS

Warhammer 40K is known for three major aspects: the story, the character and the games. The novels are also amazing that’s why we took the time to research 20 different stories to find the top 3 best Warhammer 40K books. For this list, we chose Horus Rising as our top choice. For more, read the rest of the content below.

Best Warhammer 40k Book: Horus Rising

Horus is a character many hardcore WH40K fans know of. He is the son of the Emperor who must carry out his predecessor’s grand plan to prove himself worthy. As the Warmaster, he must do all he can to succeed in this mission or be considered as a Heretic among his comrades. It is one of the greatest civil war stories of 40K, one of the many foundations that made 40K books memorable. It is also the first volume in the Horus Heresy Series – a series that many regard as the primordial soup of Space Marine stories in the 40K universe.

Pro:

• Iconic characters
• Great pacing
• Introduction to Horus Heresy Series

Con

• Several loopholes
• Some inconsistent narrations
• Certain scenes are unnecessary

Best Warhammer 40k Book Trilogy: Eisenhorn

Eisenhorn is a 3-part series that follows the stories of Gregor Eisenhorn and Gideon Ravenor in a quest to vanquish all known Heretics and demons. The story may be simple but the twists and turns that go along the way is what makes Eisenhorn iconic. From the great character building to the heated battles, all 3 books – Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus – are nothing short of artistic literature. This is what Dan Abnett became popular from and one of the most successful pieces of literature in gaming history. It is a must-buy for every 40K fan or for those who want great action and amazing characters.

Pro

• Considered as Dan Abnett’s best work
• Great narration
• Hereticus’ storyline is amazing

Con

• Only limited supply
• Paperback edition is hard to find
• Actually, there are minimal flaws

Best D&D Campaign for NPC Knowledge: Monster Manual

This is the story of Ragnar Blackmane in his journey to become a legendary Space Wolf. The Space Wolf Omnibus takes place in Fenris: a planet full of dangerous monsters, fierce tribes and home of the Space Wolves Chapter of the Space Marines. After being resurrected from a gruesome battle, Ragnar offers himself to serve with the Space Wolves to show his appreciation. The greatest part about this book is that it focuses more on the build-up of Raven as a warrior rather than focusing on a fullscale war. It does feel more minimalist compared to other books, but that is why it is unique compared to many other novels.

Pro

• An introduction to the Space Wolf story
• Considered as a good introduction to Warhammer 40K
• Great character-building

Con

• Certain characters need more love
• Some lazy writing on certain parts
• Slightly inconsistent

Alternative D&D Campaigns

What Would I Buy?

For real though, all these books are good to buy and there are barely any flaws. But if you want a personal pick, we choose Dungeon Master’s Guide for all DMs out there and the potential to expand the lore. But that doesn’t mean Xanathar’s Guide to Everything and Monster Manual are any less better.

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