The Warhammer 40,000 universe is a vast, dark place filled with chaos, both literally and figuratively. AsWarhammer 40,000: Darktidecontinues to build its loose story, some players may be left wanting to know more about this grimdark world and the characters that inhabit it.
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Sure, shooting zombie hordes and tossingwhole boxes of grenadesis fun, but when the dust settles, there’s nothing like curling up with a book about the horrors of a chaotic universe far in the future. Warhammer 40k infamously has dozens and dozens of books, particularly for their Horus Heresy series, but jumping into the lore can be the start of a whole new adventure. Here are some of the best Warhammer 40k books for players who just can’t get enough of Darktide.
1. Xenos
As part of the plot of Warhammer 40k: Darktide, players are conscripted into theInquisition,the secret police of the Warhammer universe.Xenosis the first book in one of the most popular trilogies in the entire Warhammer 40k “Black Library”. Written by the fan-favorite author Dan Abnett, the book follows a veteran inquisitor named Gregor Eisenhorn as he tries to recover the Necroteuch, an extremely evil and incredibly powerful book. There’s fighting, shooting, subterfuge; everything readers need to stay on the edge of their seat from page to page. This action-packed story is brilliantly written and overall a perfect introduction to the expansive Warhammer 40k lore.
Buy the wholeEisenhorntrilogy in a single omnibus onBookshop.org, or get started withXenosonAmazon!
2. Soul Hunter
Players who have been enjoying prisoner life, crawling through derelict ships to clear out hordes of enemies, will find a lot to love inSoul Hunter. This book is the first in theNight Lordsseries and follows the titular traitorous space marines. These ex-space marines are seriously violent and always out for blood. Another book that focuses heavily on action, there is some character building that gives a unique perspective on the night lords, providing insight to their somewhat barbaric existence.
Warhammer 40k fans who are already somewhat familiar with the lore surrounding the Horus Heresy will especially appreciate this fresh look at this much-discussed group of super soldiers.
Buy the wholeNight Lordstrilogy in a single omnibus onBookshop.org, or get started withSoul HunteronAmazon!
3. The Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume One
Most of the Warhammer 40k books are so gigantic that they could be used as a deadly weapon, making it tough for new fans to just pick up a story and get invested in the world-building.The Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume Onesolves this problem by combining three books and three short stories in less than 1,000 pages.
Each story takes readers to the frontlines against the various enemies of the ultramarines, from the tyranids to dark Eldar to human politics! The storyDead Sky, Black Sunoffers a glimpse into a hellscape of chaos, so players can seamlessly transition fromDarktide’s Tertium to another horrific place called Medrengard, which is literally a demon planet. Have fun envisioning the horrors of future space between rounds with this convenient compendium book!
BuyThe Uriel Ventris Chronicles: Volume OneonAmazon!
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4. First and Only
Another Dan Abnett book,First and Onlyis an excellent sci-fi action book even for readers who have never heard of Warhammer. The story follows Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and his 2,000-strong regiment trying to stop an assassination plot.
Along with this promising premise, Dan Abnett’s writing once again delivers.Fist and Onlyis just the first book in a trilogy calledGaunt’s Ghosts, a series often lauded as the very best within the Warhammer 40k Black Library. This book does a good job of showcasing how segmented the Imperial military is, with each regiment acting fairly independently, similar to how Roman soldiers operated. Players trying to glean more information about the Imperials definitely need to pick this up!
Buy the wholeGaunt’s Ghoststrilogy in a single omnibus onBookshop.org, or get started withFirst and OnlyonAmazon!
5. For the Emperor
Darktideplayers who have already read theGaunt’s Ghostsseries can move on to this more tongue-in-cheek series about another leader in the Imperial army. Framed as a posthumous biography, the story covers the legacy of Ciaphas Cain, a secret coward who just so happens to be the guy in charge when battles are won and soldiers are saved. A reluctant hero, he’s tasked with solving a murder to prevent a civil war, all while dealing with a new, antagonistic regiment.
While there are certainly more humorous elements to this story than other Warhammer 40k books, it isn’t lacking in Warhammer’s signature violent action. There are plenty of battle scenes pitting humans against aliens, plus the skillful writing elevates the story beyond the basic sci-fi action fans may be used to reading.
BuyFor the EmperoronBookshop.orgor onAmazon!
6. Horus Rising
The ultimate deep-dive into Warhammer 40,000 lore is the long-running seriesThe Horus Heresy. The first book in the series,Horus Risingbegins the tale of how the warmaster Horus betrayed the emperor and let chaos engulf the empire. Essentially a backdrop for the entire Warhammer 40k universe, this tome pairs gun-blazing action with deep, heavy lore that honestly might not be for everyone. However, the author is again Dan Abnett, so it’s not difficult for sci-fi action fans to thoroughly enjoy this book.
This book is best for players who have really enjoyed the grimdark setting ofWarhammer 40,000: Darktideand want to experience more of this hellish universe. While it did come to a close in 2019, be warned: there are over 50 books in this series!
BuyHorus RisingonBookshop.orgor onAmazon!
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