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Not sure if there is a thread like this anywhere. I did a few searches and did not really find anything. I started this thread in hopes that those that read the Warhammer 40k novels could come together to give their thoughts and opinions on books. By this I mean which books others should read or which should potentially be avoided. I am not recommending spoilers as that would be stupid just recommendations of books that have been read. Anywho...

Hellsreach - Thought this book was an excellent read. Story was well thought out and laid out in a reasonable mix of action and the less exciting plot building. The Black Templars were portrayed well in line for what we know them to be as zealous crusaders who will stop at nothing to kill everything in front of them with a chainsword. I highly recommend this book if you have not read it.

Hunt for Voldorius - This one was a tough one for me to get through. It could be perhaps that I do not know much about the White Scars or the Raven Guard but I do not feel that the characters were built very well in this book and it was sort of all over the place in my mind. The book did seem to get better towards the end but I wish I would of picked up a different book before it. I say if you can get this book from a friend read it but I would not buy it if I could do it again.

Anyways these are just my opinions on two of the books I have recently read. Let us know what you think about your most recent reads or maybe your favorite 40k novel.

Thanks! Hopefully we can get some good posts going with some info on different novels!

I am not sure if you have read "titanicus" or not, but its an awesome book all about Titans!!! I like all the Titan fluff, and I own a Warhound, so it fits me well. The Helsreach book has some titan fluff in there too, thats a great book too!!

I really thought the titans in Hellsreach made the story awesome. I had never really read anything about titans before and it was just amazing how they went about describing them and whatnot.

Helsreach was pretty good, I struggled with the massive ork "titan" but liked the Imperator Princeps and Grimaldus scenes. I didn't get on with the Voldorius book I liked the White Scars scout serg and most of the chapter descriptions but I thought the story was hamstrung by the fact it was based on the Space Marine Codex piece and seemed to invent random stuff around that story to flesh it out somewhat.

I much preferred Rynn's World I thought it was really well done and quite smart for a GW book. I really liked the bits where it talked about why Kantor not Cortez became chapter master and the interactions between the chapter and the planet's leaders and citizens but still kept the tension and goodly amount of violence.

Yes... another GREAT book, Rynn's World was a good book. It was sad to read about a chapter almost being completely destroyed tho... Its hard to believe something like that could even happen!

In helsreach, it was hard to understand that there was an Ork Titan so massive that it took down an Imperator class titan.... No doubt it could be possible, but i did like how the tech marine took "oberon" ( i think thats what it was called, the nova cannon on a tracked vehicle) and blew a hole right threw it!

I enjoy Steve Parker's writing. He did Rebel Winter (Vostroyans - too much Space russian and not enough AdMech flunkies, but still fun) , Gunheads (Cadian tankers), and Rynn's World (one of the better Space Marines Battles novels because it addresse the whole 'Space Marines as defenders of humanity' option when they're put in a difficult position.

Thousand Nuns wrote:Helsreach was pretty good, I struggled with the massive ork "titan" but liked the Imperator Princeps and Grimaldus scenes. I didn't get on with the Voldorius book I liked the White Scars scout serg and most of the chapter descriptions but I thought the story was hamstrung by the fact it was based on the Space Marine Codex piece and seemed to invent random stuff around that story to flesh it out somewhat.

I much preferred Rynn's World I thought it was really well done and quite smart for a GW book. I really liked the bits where it talked about why Kantor not Cortez became chapter master and the interactions between the chapter and the planet's leaders and citizens but still kept the tension and goodly amount of violence.

J99Pwrangler wrote:Yes... another GREAT book, Rynn's World was a good book. It was sad to read about a chapter almost being completely destroyed tho... Its hard to believe something like that could even happen!

In helsreach, it was hard to understand that there was an Ork Titan so massive that it took down an Imperator class titan.... No doubt it could be possible, but i did like how the tech marine took "oberon" ( i think thats what it was called, the nova cannon on a tracked vehicle) and blew a hole right threw it!

I think it takes an ork player to really get your head around an ork titan. After reading helsreach, I was quite satisfied with the portrayal of the orky machine.

The Night Lords Trilogy (Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, Void Stalker) are probably the best BL has put out. They not only take place in the 40k setting, but actually have real novel-level characterization/plot/drama. They feel like real sci-fi novels as opposed to bolter porn with a 40k label, a problem most 40k books suffer from.

I have also just finished Void Stalker and i must admit i think the night lord trilogy is the best series Ive read so far, much better then the HH ( Ive only got to Legion) but there are several good books in the HH so far, i really enjoyed false gods, and Galaxy in flames, fulgrim and decent of angels but the night lords books are just way better, i dont get it lol. I have also just finished reading the salamander trilogy and it wasn't as good as the NL one but it was cool, it wasn't bad by any means. I also just read Rynns world and i loved it, a great novel!

so far in the battle books ive read 5 of them and it rate them as follows

1. The best so far - Rynns world this book had a certain fluidity to it, this book doesnt struggle to explain scenes in detail like a nick kyme or gav thorpe or andy hoare, steve parker is a good writter that seemed to write the whole book with ease, it was an easy read, action packed and characters actually had a personality... it was as good as a night lord book, maybe maybe not lol but i recommend this book to anyone reading the battle books.
2. The gildar rift, I LOVE THE CORPSEMASTER AND HURON BLACKHEART two of the coolest marines in 40k ..sad ending, cool insight to the chapter that we've never really heard much about.
3.Hunt for Voldorius, the white scars are pretty cool and khan is a badass mongolian in space with his sword and bike, i have never read anything about the white scars or raven guard and i loved shrike he was batman in space teamed up with Mongolians in space fun read,
4. Fall of Damnos picks up here and there, but i absolutely hate the Ultramarines and i never new why, this book makes it very clear why i hate them, it took me an entire year to read this book and almost threw me off 40k novels entirely.
5. Purging of Kadillus, Gav thorpe is a bad writer.... there was only two cool scenes in the entire book.

The next two battle books ill be reading is the battle of the fang, and the legion of the damned, ill let you guys know how they are!

If you liked Helsreach - which is an awesome story in all aspects, Titancus has a lot of similar elements - good range of well crafted characters, lots of Titans and a good story. legion again is similar without the titans - just Asartes, Imeperial Army and Xenos plotters

Wrath of Iron is good - bleak but good and again a good range of characters in a large scale conflict

I love the Night Lords books - comes again back to intriguing and well drawn characters in a proper story.

The Cain novels are some of my favourites as although they have a lighter side they still (for me) maintain the darker elements of the 40K universe- sure Cain is nice guy by Imperial standards but he finds comfort in routines like execution of criminals in live fire exercises............ and of course he gets the girls .

J99Pwrangler wrote:but i did like how the tech marine took "oberon" ( i think thats what it was called, the nova cannon on a tracked vehicle) and blew a hole right threw it!

"Engine Kill" was a brilliantly understated line - Helsreach ticked an awful lot of boxes for me - Great description, really good and a wide range of characters, taking a small fluff bit in the BT Codex and giving it real life, a dash of romance. The portrayal of Black Templers Faith and power of their Hate was impressive.

Harriticus wrote:The Night Lords Trilogy (Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, Void Stalker) are probably the best BL has put out. They not only take place in the 40k setting, but actually have real novel-level characterization/plot/drama. They feel like real sci-fi novels as opposed to bolter porn with a 40k label, a problem most 40k books suffer from.

I just finished the first (Soul Hunter) but I tend to agree (with the caveat that I cannot say anything about the later two).

Great Characters there. ADB really has a knack for building engaging characters even IF they are maniacal murderers in power-armour.

Frecklesonfire wrote:4. Fall of Damnos picks up here and there, but i absolutely hate the Ultramarines and i never new why, this book makes it very clear why i hate them, it took me an entire year to read this book

Despite being an Ultramarines fan, I have to agree with you about this book. It's the biggest piece of gak I've ever read from Black Library.

The Gaunts ghosts series. The characterization, the struggle, the grimdark, the evolution. It's well written, engaging, and always keeps you remembering why you root for the Imperial Guard. Underdogs who manage to pull it out in the end.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Coolyo294 wrote:

Frecklesonfire wrote:4. Fall of Damnos picks up here and there, but i absolutely hate the Ultramarines and i never new why, this book makes it very clear why i hate them, it took me an entire year to read this book

Despite being an Ultramarines fan, I have to agree with you about this book. It's the biggest piece of gak I've ever read from Black Library.

Holy feth, Ultramarines fans exist? I always thought that was just a joke....

I mostly read Guard novels, and I would reccommend Gaunt's Ghosts for the grimdarkness and Caiphas Cain for those who desire a less dark, more comedic read.

RAVEEEEENOR

RAVEEEEENOR

Honestly, Ravenor is one of the only 40k books where I've remembered the characters after reading it.

Gaunts Ghosts Good Characters, Good develepoment of characters, in general an overall good series
Space Wolves series Actions good, if a little dry and unbelievable, the second half of the series has some downright hilarious moments,
Angels of Darkness An interesting fairly cerebral novel about the Dark Angels Fallen
Ultramarines novels Shows that the Ultramarines arent a bunch of perfect little , but rather human, with flaws,bias, and ambitions
Ciaphas Cain Covered several times already
Horus Heresy Novels severely hit and miss for me, goes between being really dry, to really good reads
Dan Abnetts Eisenhorn, and Ravenor Both series are good reads, both show the descent into darkness of good men.

I'm in the middle of reading the 1st UM omnibus and I'm not often critical but its not that great. I feels obliged to finish what I'm reading just because it'd would feel like a giant waste of time if i gave up now. I love a book that sucks you in and give you charactures with emotion, history and background with a vested interest in what happens to them in the future. With this one its just all a bit dull....... It could though be so much better because Mcneill does attempt to give you those things but its more like 'so what'.

On the flip side though out of the SM chapter novels to date I've enjoyed the Salamander books, throughout I couldnt wait to get my next fix.

DILL3NGER wrote:I'm in the middle of reading the 1st UM omnibus and I'm not often critical but its not that great. I feels obliged to finish what I'm reading just because it'd would feel like a giant waste of time if i gave up now. I love a book that sucks you in and give you charactures with emotion, history and background with a vested interest in what happens to them in the future. With this one its just all a bit dull....... It could though be so much better because Mcneill does attempt to give you those things but its more like 'so what'.

They are not in the top ten of the 40k books, but I have read far worse. And it gives a much needed view and flaws to the ultramarines, honestly the last two books in the second omnibus are the best out of the series.

Wardragoon wrote:

DILL3NGER wrote:I'm in the middle of reading the 1st UM omnibus and I'm not often critical but its not that great. I feels obliged to finish what I'm reading just because it'd would feel like a giant waste of time if i gave up now. I love a book that sucks you in and give you charactures with emotion, history and background with a vested interest in what happens to them in the future. With this one its just all a bit dull....... It could though be so much better because Mcneill does attempt to give you those things but its more like 'so what'.

They are not in the top ten of the 40k books, but I have read far worse. And it gives a much needed view and flaws to the ultramarines, honestly the last two books in the second omnibus are the best out of the series.

Thats a lot of books I need to get through though to get to those ...

Any good books with Necrons playing a large part? As one of the main antagonists or anything?

I love to read, and some times a lot of books at once

right now I am reading, and mostly loving

Iron Warriors Omnibus:
Marine battles but from Honsou's point of view. I liked it a lot, almost finished

Eisenhorn Omnibus:
It's like perfection on paper

Caiphias Cain Omnibus:
IG standpoint, so way different from Marines, so a welcome change. It is also funny as hell in parts.

Aurelian:
Just started this yesterday, I'm up to chapter 5 and it is good so far, A D-B is always a good read.

The Emperor's Gift:
GK from A D-B, how can you go wrong?

Harriticus wrote:The Night Lords Trilogy (Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, Void Stalker) are probably the best BL has put out. They not only take place in the 40k setting, but actually have real novel-level characterization/plot/drama. They feel like real sci-fi novels as opposed to bolter porn with a 40k label, a problem most 40k books suffer from.

Agreed. I've been reading most of the Space Wolf-centered books to get ideas for my great company's fluff, and a lot of it is bolter-porn (albiet, top-notch and vastly entertaining at that). I'll put up some reviews soon.

imark789 wrote:Any good books with Necrons playing a large part? As one of the main antagonists or anything?

Dead Men Walking by Steve Lyons, features DKoK and Necrons.
One of the Ciaphas Cain novels feature necrons.

Andilus Greatsword wrote:

Harriticus wrote:The Night Lords Trilogy (Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, Void Stalker) are probably the best BL has put out. They not only take place in the 40k setting, but actually have real novel-level characterization/plot/drama. They feel like real sci-fi novels as opposed to bolter porn with a 40k label, a problem most 40k books suffer from.

Agreed. I've been reading most of the Space Wolf-centered books to get ideas for my great company's fluff, and a lot of it is bolter-porn (albiet, top-notch and vastly entertaining at that). I'll put up some reviews soon.

You should read The Emperor's Gift if you haven't already. Lots of good Space Wolf characterization in there for Grimnar and Bjorn (the Bjorn scenes are incredibly awesome). If I don't make my own SM chapter for 6th edition, I'll probably roll wolves because of it.

I know the word grimdark gets tossed around a lot, but Wrath of Iron epitomizes that term more than any other novel or short story I've read from BL. Everything and everyone goes into the meat grinder to barely eek out a victory in the end. That being said, I've never
read a space marine novel that was 100% of a flop, but Rynn's World and Helsreach definitely have very memorable characters (Kantor, Cortez, and Grimaldus).

As mentioned above, Titanicus was a great novel. So much cool fluff about titan legions and their operation/maintenance/chain of command/etc.

The Ciaphas Cain series is awesome. Jurgen and his meltagun always crack me up, as well as Cain's interior monologues about trying to survive at all costs so he can continue to enjoy amasec and the ladies.

Lots of new novels coming out soon too...I'm wondering if that best of collection for Hammer and Bolter will be worth it, or if I've already 90% of those stories.

Wonderful feedback thusfar! Thanks.

Steve Lyons is pretty good, but I'm basing this off of his one audio book-thing.

ADB is good, but I didn't like The First Heretic. It felt like Lorgar, the star of the show, was a whiny prick.

Cryonicleech wrote:Steve Lyons is pretty good, but I'm basing this off of his one audio book-thing.

ADB is good, but I didn't like The First Heretic. It felt like Lorgar, the star of the show, was a whiny prick.

Steve Lyons Dead Men Walking is a very good book, one of the few that shows full scale warfare against necrons

Wardragoon wrote:

Cryonicleech wrote:Steve Lyons is pretty good, but I'm basing this off of his one audio book-thing.

ADB is good, but I didn't like The First Heretic. It felt like Lorgar, the star of the show, was a whiny prick.

Steve Lyons Dead Men Walking is a very good book, one of the few that shows full scale warfare against necrons

I agree, the book is rather awesom at times. And I like the persons in it

For I dare say the following books

- Redemtion Corps
- Horus Heresy
. Helsreach
- Gaunts Ghosts
- Space Wolf onmibusses
- Commisar Cain

I just recently began reading 40k books. I've started with the Horus Heresy and have read the first four books: Horus Rising, False Gods, Galaxy in Flames, and Flight of the Eisenstein. I've really enjoyed them so far and have been drawn into the storyline. I really enjoyed the first three immensely. The character development flows very well and really draws you in. The fourth book was good but in my opinion wasn't as good as the others. I'm now just starting Fulgrim and will post my thoughts on that when I'm done.

DILL3NGER wrote:I'm in the middle of reading the 1st UM omnibus and I'm not often critical but its not that great. I feels obliged to finish what I'm reading just because it'd would feel like a giant waste of time if i gave up now. I love a book that sucks you in and give you charactures with emotion, history and background with a vested interest in what happens to them in the future. With this one its just all a bit dull....... It could though be so much better because Mcneill does attempt to give you those things but its more like 'so what'.

On the flip side though out of the SM chapter novels to date I've enjoyed the Salamander books, throughout I couldnt wait to get my next fix.

Ok, I'm willing to give this omnibus of the ultramarines a little more time. I've just finished the third book and it wasn't that bad. There were a few moments where I thought 'really'? But overall it's got me feeling a little emotionally involved with what happens to the main players so onto the forth book.