Which Warhammer 40,000 novel should I read first?
If you cannot decide, start with Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium. It collects the first three Cain novels, with jokes and a hero who avoids the fighting. Otherwise pick by taste. For a long infantry war, Gaunt's Ghosts. For a fast, funny Necron adventure, The Infinite and the Divine. For Armageddon's famous commissar, Yarrick. None of them needs the tabletop game.
Pick by what you like
| You like | Start with | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| Jokes, and a hero who avoids the fighting | Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium. The first Cain omnibus: For the Emperor, Caves of Ice and The Traitor's Hand. | £10.26, in stock |
| A long war told through ordinary soldiers | Gaunt's Ghosts: The Founding. The first three Ghosts novels in one book: First and Only, Ghostmaker and Necropolis. | £11.85, in stock |
| A fast, funny adventure that suits new readers | The Infinite and the Divine. Necron rivals Trazyn and Orikan battle over an artefact. | £7.10, in stock |
| Armageddon and its famous commissar | Yarrick: The Omnibus. Commissar Yarrick returned for the war on Armageddon in 2026. | £11.85, in stock |
| The story behind the whole setting | The Horus Heresy Saga. Where to start with the Horus Heresy picks the first books. | See that page |
| Your own army | A book about the army you collect. For example, Night Lords: The Omnibus if you collect Night Lords. | £11.85, in stock |
Why these picks
Warhammer Community, Games Workshop's news site, named Gaunt's Ghosts, Ciaphas Cain and Commissar Yarrick as the famous names in Astra Militarum fiction. That was in its 2021 guide to starting with Black Library. Ciaphas Cain is a dashing commissar who always has a trick up his sleeve. His first novel, For the Emperor, came out in 2003. He is the default pick because the first omnibus holds three novels, so one purchase shows whether you like the humour. The Infinite and the Divine is the other good start if you want a fast-paced read.
The Infinite and the Divine was a staff pick for newcomers in 2023. A Black Library sales coordinator called it hilarious and fast-paced, a good fit for long-time fans and people new to the hobby alike.
If you own the Armageddon box, the Yarrick omnibus is the matching read.
Start at the beginning of a series
By September 2023 Cain had starred in 11 novels, the latest then being Vainglorious. Do not start there. Begin with the omnibus that collects the first books.
Matching a book to a model you want
If a novel makes you want to paint the people in it, read the book first and buy the army afterwards. If you like Cain or Gaunt, our Astra Militarum collection is the matching army. A Night Lords reader can go on to the Night Lords Combat Patrol at £82.95.
Common questions
Do I need to know the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game to enjoy the novels?
The novels do not need the tabletop game. In Black Library's 2023 staff picks, one novel is described as readable with little knowledge of the wider Warhammer universe. Another, The Infinite and the Divine, is called a perfect book for people new to the hobby. You can read first and collect later.
Do Warhammer 40,000 novels have to be read in order?
Within a series, start at book one. Between series, there is no required order. Warhammer Community's own 'Getting Started' guides group books by faction and theme, not by date.
Is Ciaphas Cain a good first Warhammer 40,000 book?
If you want humour, yes. Start with the first omnibus, Hero of the Imperium, at £10.26.
Astra Militarum characters: Warhammer Community, 'Getting Started With Black Library: Astra Militarum', 31 March 2021. Ciaphas Cain: Warhammer Community, 20 September 2023. The Infinite and the Divine staff pick and the remark that a novel needs little knowledge of the wider universe: Warhammer Community, 11 October 2023. Yarrick and Armageddon: Warhammer Community, 13 April 2026. Omnibus contents: the publisher's product listings for Hero of the Imperium and The Founding. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.