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I've read a lot of novels but can't seem to find another one that I've enjoyed so much as back when I'd read Fulgrim & Thousand sons.
Closest I've come to it is battle of the fang which was great, but certain things put me off it.
Any other books out there that any of you have passionately enjoyed?

+I'm currently reading Deliverance lost+

Anything by ADB.

Horus Heresy starting with Horus Rising. You will not be disappointed.

snake wrote:Horus Heresy starting with Horus Rising. You will not be disappointed.

I've read almost all of it and they're great. Still yet to read descent of angels, fallen angels, mechanicum and nemisis though.

You might want to read Prospero Burns. Like Thousand Sons, but from the SW side. Really good show.

First Heretic is epic and really informative. Just as a side note, my copy was signed by ADB, the author!

Again anything from Aaron Dembski Bowdan or Damn Abnet. Graham McNeill is good as well.

It really, really depends what exactly you are looking for. In my personal experience, Black Library novels are very much hit and miss, chiefly because the authors are given a wide range of leeway, which led to numerous different interpretations on how something in the setting is supposed to work. Many authors thus develop their own little vision of Wh40k, in addition to their preferred writing styles (which in this franchise can range from grimdark and gritty to epic/heroic to even funny and satirical, as well as anything in-between).

So, in my opinion, the most important thing would be to find an author that writes in a style you like and that shares an interpretation of the setting that is compatible with your own. What I recommend would thus be taking a look at various short story anthologies ("Dark Imperium", "Tales from the Dark Millennium", etc) to get a glimpse at different writers' works, then select one you like and see what other things he wrote.

Very much depends on the author. My top three would be ADB, Dan Abnett and Graham McNeill. Some of my favorite books are The First Heretic, Horus Rising and Brothers of the Snake. Though there is a group that dislikes Brothers for the way it portrays space marines.

Vowed not to read any more by Gav Thorpe after struggling through 13th Legion and not even being able to finish Grudge Bearer (Fantasy novel). But I will admit, I am tempted by his Eldar novels. Even though I know better.

Have never read anything by Sandy Mitchell, but his Cain books are supposed to be quite good.

Also never read anything by CS Goto, but I hear he is the most rage-inspiring BL author, due to rampant misinterpretation of the fluff.

"Misinterpretation" is perhaps too strong a word* - it's not exactly wrong, it's just ... different. But personally, I would say the same about Sandy Mitchell and Dan Abnett, as I hold studio material above anything else and thus dislike interpretations that conflict with it.

It's a matter of personal preference and very much depends what kind of stuff one has grown up with. Meaning what we are used to and take as our subjective standard.

[edit]
*: That said, I am very often using it myself for certain licensed products, so ... meh, be my guest.

Gaunt Guant Guant Guant.

Eisenhorn series is also good.

Not a huge fan of the horus heresy series or space wolf series.

I think Sandy Mitchell's Cain novel are pretty much as good as 40k books get.

The Horus Heresy novels start out pretty good, but they become more and more silly and ridiculous as you keep reading them and I pretty much lost interest in the saga by now - the villains especially, become more and more cartoony and 2 dimensional. It's also so horribly slow paced... there's what, over 12 novels now and still no indication of the siege of terra being told...

40 Novels are trashy-scifi really. The Caiphias Cain novels kinda acknowledge that and are funny about it while still showing what it's like to live in the Imperium and be a 'normal' human much better than the many space marine books. I personally really like how Cain manages to remain a faithful and religious member of the Imperium, while adding a lot of 'modern' common sense to the way he does thing. It makes him infinitely more relatable than the vast majority of 40k protagonist.

Any of the Ciaphas Cain novels. There is plenty of action and alot of humor through the book.

Brothers of the Snake.

15 Hours.

Xenology (A MUST for any true 40k fan).

Imperial Guardsman's Uplifting Primer.

Eisenhorn trilogy.

Ravenor trilogy.

Eye of Terror.

Gaunt's Ghosts books.

Anything Ciaphas Cain is great

And The Fall of Damnos is also pretty good

15 hours

Gaunts ghosts

I liked the Ultramarines Omnibus, but for the love of all that's good in the world avoid the Soul Drinkers books. Utter tripe.

I hear the Salamander's series is dead on.

but for the love of all that's good in the world avoid the Soul Drinkers books

Truer words have never been spoken.

That series was the worst thing I've ever tried to read. Well, except "The Great Gatsby".

I couldn't make it through the first book. I got maybe 178 pages in and I was all like "Um... What?"

The book was then confined to my bottom shelf, where is would rest until my downstairs neighbor asked if I had any books I'd like to donate.

Muahahahahaha! Now some child in some other place will have their eyes tortured by the worst 40k novels in existance!

Titanicus is a good book, especially if you like Titans.

The Eisinhorn and Ravenor omnibuses are practically required reading.

Then you need to read the Gaunt's Ghosts omnibuses.

The Space Wolf omnibuses are good too.

The Ultramarine omnibus and the sequel books are all excellent stories, although the main thing you will get from the whole series is that the Ultramarines really are full of stuck up pr!cks with only 3-4 exceptions(including the main characters)

I'd only suggest reading the "battle novel" books; Rynn's world, Helsreach, Battle of the Fang and the like. I think they're really cool, but then again the only other 40k books I have read are the short story collections.

Sadly, have to agree about the Soul Drinkers books. Or, at least the first one, which is as far as I got, despite owning the omnibus.

Plodding pacing combined with loads of wtf moments add up to a rating of "meh".

Examples of wtf:

Titanicus is a good book, especially if you like Titans.

The Eisinhorn and Ravenor omnibuses are practically required reading.

Then you need to read the Gaunt's Ghosts omnibuses.

The Space Wolf omnibuses are good too.

The Ultramarine omnibus and the sequel books are all excellent stories, although the main thing you will get from the whole series is that the Ultramarines really are full of stuck up pr!cks with only 3-4 exceptions(including the main characters)

I forgot about Titanicus! Great read. But it takes place in the middle of the GG series.

The Space Wolf books were written by William King. Personally I think hes very boring.

The Ultramarines books... Don't get me wrong, I'm a Ultrasmurf fanboy but I thought the Omnibus was also boring. I took more interest in the Iron Warrior characters (Which reminds me.. Storm of Iron)

DeffDred wrote:

Titanicus is a good book, especially if you like Titans.

The Eisinhorn and Ravenor omnibuses are practically required reading.

Then you need to read the Gaunt's Ghosts omnibuses.

The Space Wolf omnibuses are good too.

The Ultramarine omnibus and the sequel books are all excellent stories, although the main thing you will get from the whole series is that the Ultramarines really are full of stuck up pr!cks with only 3-4 exceptions(including the main characters)

I forgot about Titanicus! Great read. But it takes place in the middle of the GG series.

The Space Wolf books were written by William King. Personally I think hes very boring.

The Ultramarines books... Don't get me wrong, I'm a Ultrasmurf fanboy but I thought the Omnibus was also boring. I took more interest in the Iron Warrior characters (Which reminds me.. Storm of Iron)

King might be considered boring, but only in comparason to other Sci-fi writers. He has excellent character development and can do suspense that keeps you rivited. I compare him more to Tolkien and C.S Lewis for style.

The Ultramarine books were a little slow i'll admit, but they are an excellent introduction into the Black Library(1st books I read)

snake wrote:Horus Heresy starting with Horus Rising. You will not be disappointed.

I just bought this about 2 days ago, cannot wait to start!

Oh yeah, the Soul Hunter and Blood Reaver books are good too. I just started BR.

But... there is a ton of "smiling/smirking/grinning" in the books.

Almost as much "thumb cutting" in the Felix and Gotrek novels.

Dawn of War 2 by Chris Robinson was a decent read. Nothing complicated, you just need to get past the 4th ed references.

Coolyo294 wrote:Anything by ADB.

This this this. I have an unashamed man-crush on Aaron Dembski-Bowden.
- Cadian Blood is awesome
- Helsreach is pretty cool, and one of the better Space Marine-centric books I've read
- The two Night Lords novels are head and shoulders better than any Black Library novels I've ever read, and I think they're actually good novels, not just "good for a 40k book" like with a lot of the other 40k books I enjoy.

Aaron Dembski-Bowden owns.

Aside from his amazing novels, from the 5 minute conversation I had with him, he is a really great guy.

All things Tanith

All things Caiphas Cain

Eisenhorn/Ravenor are a must

All things dark angel

Courage and Honour

the Abnett HH books

all things ADB

soulhunter was pretty good

Tarkand wrote:40k Novels are trashy-scifi really.

*GASP!*

HOW DAAARE YOU SIR?! While I agree that 40k novels are very much a hit and miss venture, calling them 'trashy' is a tad harsh. I've read around 80 - 90 of them (40k and Fantasy but mostly 40k) and they have some of the most gripping story lines of any books I have read in the past ten years, and I've read a lot of books.

Mr OP, if you like the HH series then I heartily recommend the following titles, they're AWESOME, AWESOME TO THE HEAD!

Right, here goes: Eisenhorn, Soulhunter, Daemonworld, Storm of Iron, Blood Gorgon's, Cadian Blood, Soul Drinkers series (apart from Hellforged, that's a bit poo), Grey Knights series, The Word Bearer's series and even if you're not into Fantasy I strongly recommend that you read the Malus Darkblade books, Mark of Chaos and Sigvald.

I'm not at home and have probably forgotten a few of the others but the one's Iv'e mentioned are really, really BRILL AND FAB so you should really enjoy them and if anyone disagrees with my selection then they're wrong, simple as that!

I've read two, Hammer of Daemons, and Hellforged. Both I found to be decent.