Thankfully, it is not necessary to read allthe books in the main series to fully grasp the plot, tone, and intention of the Horus Heresy. These are the stories of the first trickles of Chaos infiltrating Horus and the darkness which descended. The books, novellas, and short stories we’re about to dive into detail the conflict that took place between the Imperium’s founder and leader, the Emperor of Man, and the Warmaster Horus. The majority of the Horus Heresy stories take place in the 31st millennium. The sheer number of stories available can be overwhelming, especially when you take into consideration that the Horus Heresy is the precursor to Warhammer 40k. There has been a significant increase in the popularity of Warhammer in recent years, which means there are many new fans entering the fray for the first time. And that’s not to mention more than 100 other books, short stories, novellas, and audio dramas. That’s because there are 54 books set within the original main series, an additional 18 set within the Siege of Terra era, and 17 full-length novels all about the Primarchs. It is a dark, futuristic military space opera that falls within the genre of dystopian science fiction, but fans of grimdark fantasy will be sure to enjoy this world as well. The Horus Heresy serves as the foundation for much of the Warhammer 40,000 universe canon.

2 by Dan Abnett (Expected: November 7, 2023) Garro: Knight of Grey by James Swallow (January 31, 2023) Then, if you’re interested in learning more about what comes after this era, you can check out our list of the Best Warhammer 40k Books. Our lists will also be a great resource if you’re preparing for a re-read. We’ll explain where you should begin, the books that are considered critical readings, and then explain how the plethora of extras slot into the extensive timeline.

This guide will walk you through just that. So, with such a vast world there is no wrong Horus Heresy reading order, but there are strong recommendations on where to begin. Some of the most popular Warhammer authors include Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, and Chris Wraight, but there are dozens more. The Horus Heresy covers an era within the Warhammer universe that has an abundance of novels, short stories, audio dramas, and more written by various authors.

Warhammer: chaos and conquest?