The Black Legion series is Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s planned trilogy about Ezekyle Abaddon right after the Horus Heresy, as he forges the remnants of the Sons of Horus into the Black Legion. It’s one of Black Library’s key post-Heresy series, and it matters because it shows how Chaos Space Marines became the Long War’s main players.
What the series is
It’s a planned trilogy by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, following Ezekyle Abaddon, former First Captain of the Sons of Horus, in the immediate aftermath of the Horus Heresy. The focus is on how he builds the Black Legion from the shattered Legions and warbands that survived the Siege of Terra.
The series runs alongside other Black Library books that give prominent Chaos Space Marines the spotlight, like John French’s Ahriman novels and Anthony Reynolds’ Khârn: Eater of Worlds.
The books and short stories
The first novel, The Talon of Horus, came out in 2014. The second, Black Legion, followed in 2017. Black Legion is 336 pages in special edition and 288 in hardback, with an audiobook narrated by Jonathan Keeble that runs 10 hours and 32 minutes.
Three short stories, The Wonderworker, Extinction, and Chosen of Chaos, were included in the limited edition of The Talon of Horus. They haven’t been collected elsewhere as far as we know.
| Title | Type | Released |
|---|---|---|
| The Talon of Horus | Novel | 2014 |
| Black Legion | Novel | 2017 |
| The Wonderworker | Short story | in The Talon of Horus Limited Edition |
| Extinction | Short story | in The Talon of Horus Limited Edition |
| Chosen of Chaos | Short story | in The Talon of Horus Limited Edition |
Why it matters
Abaddon is the big bad of the 41st millennium, and this series is his origin story. It fills in the gap between the Heresy and the Black Crusades, showing how the Legion was founded and what it cost.
It’s also part of Black Library’s push to give Chaos Space Marines their own perspective. These aren’t just villains here; they’re the protagonists, with their own politics, rivalries, and goals.
Key characters
Abaddon is the central figure, but the series also follows Iskandar Khayon, a Thousand Sons sorcerer and Abaddon’s most-trusted assassin. Other Ezekarion members include Falkus Kibre, Sargon Eregesh, and Lheorvine Ukris.
- Ezekyle Abaddon: Master of the Black Legion, born of Cthonia.
- Iskandar Khayon: Lord of the Ashen Dead, Blade of Abaddon, born of Prospero.
- Falkus Kibre: Commander of the Aphotic Blade, First of the Ezekarion.
- Sargon Eregesh: Prelate of the Long War, Second of the Ezekarion.
- Lheorvine Ukris: Commander of the War God’s Maw, Fifth of the Ezekarion.
- Telemachon Lyras: ‘the masqued prince’, born of Chemos.
Key facts
- The Black Legion series is a planned trilogy by Aaron Dembski-Bowden.
- It follows Ezekyle Abaddon after the Horus Heresy as he founds the Black Legion.
- The Talon of Horus (2014) and Black Legion (2017) are the two novels released so far.
- Three short stories appeared in The Talon of Horus Limited Edition.
- The audiobook of Black Legion runs 10 hours and 32 minutes, narrated by Jonathan Keeble.
FAQ
Is the Black Legion series finished?
No. It’s planned as a trilogy but only two novels, The Talon of Horus and Black Legion, have been released so far.
Do I need to read the Horus Heresy first?
It helps, but you don’t have to. The series starts right after the Heresy and explains what you need to know.
Who wrote the Black Legion series?
Aaron Dembski-Bowden. The audiobooks are narrated by Jonathan Keeble.