The Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy book series is huge, with more than 40 books so far. It's a lot. If you're like me, you probably want to read the series, but you don't have time to read 40 books in it at once. The Horus Heresy is a long series. There will be parts that aren't as good as the rest, but you can skip them. To help you find the best books about the Horus Heresy, I have put together a list of them.

I didn't include Dan Abnett's Horus Rising because it is the first book in the series and everyone likes it. That seems like a good place to start. The list below is for you. Why only eight? While there are a lot of books that could be the best Horus Heresy books, these ones quickly rose to the top. The very best.

The Best Horus Heresy Books

Fulgrim by Graham McNeill – Horus Heresy #5

The sad story of Fulgrim's fall from grace. The Emperor's Children Space Marine Legion is the subject of the story. They fight against the Eldar. The Emperor's children are obsessed with being perfect, and Fulgrim fights against the temptation of Chaos, who wants to get them. When Fulgrim fights, the Emperor's Children end up in a big fight on Isstvan V.

There are a lot of morally gray issues in the book, which is why it's so big in scope. Powerful writing and vivid descriptions will make your head hurt. A lot is packed into this book. There is a lot of action and horror and tragedy in Fulgrim's book.

Legion by Dan Abnett – Horus Heresy #7

A big war is coming, and people's loyalty is put to the test in this story. It's called Legion, and it's written by Dan Abnett. It's about space marines called "Space Marines" and an alien group called the Cabal. The novels are written from the point of view of people who aren't in the Alpha Legion. They show how and why they are seen as traitors. There are some answers that don't seem to be the same as they appear to be.

You'll find a lot of hidden things, lies, twists, and turns... This movie is about a military sci-fi thriller. He makes a web of spies and lies. If you want something a little more serious, you've come to the right place. Some people think this is the best Horus Heresy book that has ever been written. This one is not to be missed!

A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill – Horus Heresy #12

The story of how the Thousand Sons went from being loyal warriors to being called "traitors," and how they changed. In the end, Magnus the Red and the Thousand Sons are forced to return home because they used sorcery. They tell the Emperor that Horus is a traitor. He doesn't like that they used powers that are against the law, so he sends the Space Wolves to attack Prospero.

A Thousand Sons is gut-wrenching and powerful, but it also has a lot of depth and thought. It's a sad and philosophical story, but the characters are very smart. By the time the Space Wolves lay down a brutal siege on Prospero, you might be able to understand the Thousand Sons' point of view. Those who say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions are right, right?

The First Heretic by Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Horus Heresy #14

They believe the Emperor is a god, so Lorgar and the Word Bearers do, too. Because they did this, they get in trouble. They question their faith and look for the true gods. But if the Emperor isn't the real god, who else is there? Heretics and Chaos come into the 40k world.

There are many stories about people who fall from grace in the Horus Heresy series, but The First Heretic is one of the more interesting ones. It is a fight for faith, broken beliefs, and betrayal. There are more and more things that could have been done to stop some of these tragedies if the Emperor had been a better father to his kids. A heartbreaking book about Lorgar and his army.

Know No Fear by Dan Abnett – Horus Heresy #19

Roboute Guilliman, who doesn't know about the Heresy, makes his Ultramarines ready to fight the orks. The Word Bearers came into Calth without warning. The Word Bearers want to kill Guilliman and the Ultramarines. The Battle of Calth is near.

Know No Fear is a war journal that shows how long it will be until the Ultramarines are ready to fight back against the Dark Lord. This book is full of action, especially in the last two-thirds. You will feel the Ultramarines' sense of loss and betrayal because the story is well-paced and has a lot of interesting characters. Another one of Dan Abnett's best.

Betrayer by Aaron Dembski-Bowden – Horus Heresy #24

During their fight, Lorgar and the Word Bearers keep going deeper into Ultramar. They are joined by Angron and the World Eaters, and their savagery has no limits. As of right now, the Shadow Crusade has begun.

As a follow-up to The First Heretic and Know No Fear, Betrayer is a lot like it. The book is about the relationship between Lorgar and Angron. Dembski-Bowden does a great job of giving these characters and their followers a lot of depth. Ultramarines are the main bad guys, but they don't get much attention. Instead, the movie focuses on the primarchs. Betrayer is a great addition to the Horus Heresy series because it has great character development and amazing battle scenes.

Unremembered Empire by Dan Abnett – Horus Heresy #27

Roboute Guilliman thinks Terra is gone, so he starts a new empire called Imperium Secundus. As refugees and unlikely allies come together, there are still enemies everywhere. Because Terra hasn't risen. Is Guilliman making a new move for power, if it hasn't already? As the Heresy moves forward, the line between friend and foe blurs.

Roboute Guilliman is the main character in this book that ties together a lot of different stories. As always, there is a good mix of action and suspense in this book. Unremembered Empire wraps up a lot of storylines from the Horus Heresy and moves the story forward. It was a great point in the series.

Scars by Chris Wraight – Horus Heresy #28

What does Jaghatai Khan do when he finds out about the Horus Heresy? A group of warriors who are very different from each other are at odds. After that, a decision must be made: stand with the Emperor or Horus.

Up until now, the White Scars legion hasn't been given much attention. But Scars more than makes up for it! Wraight spends a lot of time looking into their culture and mythology to make a good story. To say this book is easy to read would be an understatement. It's a good way to keep your attention. There are a lot of people who want to know more about the White Scars legion, and this book is for them.

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