Warhammer 40K’s best novels on Audible: Guide to the Black Library

Warhammer 40K is filled with tales of love, war, loss, tragedy and humanity. It’s an intimidating canon to approach, especially because so much of it is written by unreliable narrators. It can be more beneficial to hear the characters speak and to get an idea of their personality and style, rather than reading through tomes. Here’s where audiobooks come in, and there’s a surprisingly deep library of Warhammer hits on Audible, which is offering a Trial period of three months freeFor new members only until February 20. After that, it’ll cost $14.95 per month to enjoy the content below.

Audible Premium PLUS (monthly subscription).

These prices were correct at the time of publication.

Until Feb. 20, new members can get a three-month free trial of Audible’s Premium Plus service, which usually costs $14.95 a month. Audible lets you listen to thousands upon thousands of podcasts and audiobooks, as well as keep one release per month during your trial period.

These titles offer the greatest selections from many perspectives.

Gaunt’s Ghosts

Games Workshop

The First and OnlyMulti-volume launch Gaunt’s Ghosts seriesThis is the Tanith First and Only story. A group of highly skilled Imperial Guard soldiers hailing from a peaceful, rural world are the Tanith First. This group of common people is thrust Hobbit-like on one the most treacherous frontlines in the world: The Sabbat Worlds Crusade. If you’re looking for blood-and-guts close-quarters fighting with lots of bayonet charges, look no further.

Written by Dan Abnett (Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Isolation from AlienThese books were inspired by the Sharpe novels. Bernard Cornwell and a 1993 TV series adaptation featuring Sean Bean. Ibram Gaunt is the central character, an Imperial commissar who also serves as a military leader in the tradition of Russian commissars. These are some of the most notable titles: Necropolis, Honour GuardPlease see the following: Straight Silver. Toby Longworth, who is, in all truths, the current voice for the Warhammer 40,000 universe, performs the Audible version with impressive performances, just like the Inquisition series. —Charlie Hall

Inquisitor series: Eisenhorn (Ravenor), and Bequin

Image from Black Library/Games Workshop

The Series of InquisitorsDan Abnett’s brilliant trilogy of three trilogies tells the story about the tight-knit undercover teams that pursue heresy throughout the empire. These books feature gritty noir mystery that juxtaposes sci-fi themes with Dickensian period drama.

The Eisenhorn TrilogyIncludes the books Xenos, MalleusPlease see the following: HereticusThis story tells about Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn who is an unorthodox agent of The Imperium of Mankind. A pulpy storyline that echoes the works of Blade Runner The Young Pope.

Warhammer 40K: Eisenhorn trilogy

The Ravenor trilogy follows Eisenhorn’s protege, Gideon Ravenor, a powerful psyker who is grievously wounded and forced to eke out his existence inside a glorified coffin. They are called Ravenor, Ravenor is ReturnedPlease see the following: Ravenor Rogue. What to Expect Cyberpunk 2077This transhumanism is a mix of old-fashioned and Sherlock Holmes elements.

Warhammer 40K Ravenor Trilogy

Finally, Bequin Trilogy (Pariah, Penitent, and a soon-to-be-published third novel) tells the story of a member of Eisenhorn’s original warband, Alizabeth Bequin, whose unusual ability to negate and disrupt psychic energy makes her a sought-after agent by both the Imperium and the forces of Chaos. The trilogy combines the Eisenhorn series and the Ravenor series to create a nine-book cohesive whole.

Warhammer 40K: Bequin Trilogy

It’s also the rare example of a female lead in the Black Library, and is artfully performed on Audible by the incredible Helen Keeley. —CH

The Horus Heresy

Image from Black Library/Games Workshop

Horus Rising This is the debut book of the 60+ volume series, known as The Horus Heresy, and as far as I’m concerned, the most important novel in the entire series. It was also written by Dan Abnett and tells the story about the internal conflict that would lead to the endless war of the 41st century.

The secret to success Horus Rising so special is that much of the narrative is delivered through the eyes of remembrancers — human analogs to modern-day writers, artists, and journalists — who are tasked with following along on a deployment of the Luna Wolves Space Marine chapter. This book is also a introduction to Horus Lupercal — an erudite tactician who will strike the final blow against his father, The Emperor of Mankind. It’s best followed by False GodsGraham McNeill Galaxy in FlamesBen Counter. Together, the novels form an impressive little trilogy within the wider series.

In the third novel, there is also the pivotal battle of Betrayal at Istvaan IIII. This set-piece fight underpins the entire trilogy. Warhammer: The Horus Heresy And Adeptus Titanicus, The Horus HeresyTabletop gaming. —CH

Warhammer 40K – The Horus Heresy. Book 1-3

Image from Black Library/Games Workshop

Know No FearThe series is part the larger Horus Heresy series. This was established 10,000 years ago before Warhammer 40K. Ultramarines (a loyalist Chapter of the Space Marines) have fallen prey to a trap. The Word Bearers Chapter, their brothers in the Space Marines, has turned against them and is now subject to the destructive powers of Chaos. Know No FearIt includes historical documents of the battle and personal notes from primarch Roboute Guyilman.

Dan Abnett is most credited for the creation of the Ultramarines’ current tone. They are the heroes of the Space Marines. Captain Titus is an Ultramarine from Space Marine Games. Roboute Guilliman, the Ultramarine primarch is one of today’s most significant characters in 40K. This book makes a great listen for lovers of battles, bolters and historical documentation. —Cass Marshall

Warhammer 40K: Know No Fear

Image from Black Library/Games Workshop

Descent of Angels This is an interesting departure from the Horus Heresy mainline series by Mitchel Scanlon. It takes place on Caliban, a distant planet that will eventually be home to the Dark Angels Space Marines chapter.

While it’s an outlier, both stylistically and temporally, including it here in our list serves two purposes. It will provide background information on the founding of Space Marines and a framework to help readers understand how distant the Emperor of Mankind once was from his primarch kids. Second, Descent of Angels helps to set the stage for the betrayal of the Dark Angels primarch Lion El’Jonson, once the Emperor’s favored son and perhaps — perhaps! — a soon-to-be-resurrected force to be reckoned with in the 41st millennium.

The story of the Dark Angels is dotted all throughout the Horus Heresy series from here, with several novels — including Angels of Caliban — that also move the chapter’s storyline forward in meaningful ways. —CH

Warhammer 40K: Dark Angels

Siege on Terra

The Solar WarThe Siege of Terra sequence is the final conclusion of the Horus Heresy and was initiated by John French. It kicks off with the spaceborn assault on the outer planets of the Sol system, including titanic fleet battles around the outer planets, before zooming into the conflict right around the Emperor’s Himalayan superfortress. There’s even an incredibly metal bit, midway through the book, where a prominent primarch rides his kilometers-long warship into battle while standing on its nose.

The Solar WarMultiple passages are told through the eyes of Chaos Space Marine grunts on the frontline, giving the battles more clarity than previous novels. The story of Mersadie Oliveron is also included. This was one of the most significant remembrancers. Horus RisingHe also works hard to make the story’s more mysterious parts fun and exciting.

Series Siege of Terra includes The Solar War, The Lost and the Damned, The First Wall, Saturnine, Mortis, Warhawk, Echoes for EternityThis month, the discussion will end with Volume I: Death and the EndThis book will detail the dramatic battle between Horus (the Emperor) and his troops. —CH

Warhammer 40K Siege of Terra books 1-3

Terra Vaults

The Vaults series of TerraChris Wraight has a more recent collection of novels than others, which were published nearly 20 years ago. It contains Carrion Throne, The Hollow MountainPlease see the following: The Dark City. Carrion Throne in particular stands out specifically because it revisits the Golden Throne — the mechanical contraption that keeps the God-Emperor of Mankind alive — during 40K’s current timeline.

This novel, more than any other novel I’ve read, brings the reader closest to the “modern day” Imperium of Man in the 41st millennium. The Arks of Omen steam through space as they are in today’s storyline of Kill Team Warhammer 40,000, this is a book about what’s happening on the homefront. Over a dozen hours, it does more to dispel some of the urban legends lurking in the corners of the Black Library than any other book I’ve read. I’m looking forward to spending time with the series as a whole before the end of the year. —CH

Warhammer 40K – Vaults of Terra

The Night Lords Trilogy

The Night Lords trilogyis comprised of Soul Hunter, Blood ReaverPlease see the following: Void Stalker. Aaron Dembski-Bowden has written these books. They are about the tenth Night Lords. They aimlessly search the Imperium’s edges for Chaos Space Marines, fighting terror as well as among their fellow rebel warbands. One point they meet an alien Eldar and are forced to flee.

Their eyes show us what Chaos Space Marine life looks like. Chaos can blend with everything because it is such a powerful antagonist. The Chaos Space Marines, however, are fascinating in their own way. They are the remnants from a civil war that failed and who often fight loyalists. Particularly the Night Lords are plagued by nightmares of the Night Haunter, their dead primarch. These doomed soldiers are followed as they wander from objective to objective in search of an inexorable fate. —CM

Warhammer 40K: Night Lords Trilogy

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