Chris Wraight is a British author who writes Warhammer 40,000 fiction for Black Library. He’s best known for his Horus Heresy novels about the White Scars, and for his Inquisition series set in the 41st millennium.
Who is Chris Wraight?
Wraight is a freelance writer and teacher based in Oxford, UK. His first novel came out in 2008, and he’s been writing for Black Library ever since.
He’s written in several universes, including Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate: Atlantis, but he’s most prolific in Warhammer 40,000. His work spans the Horus Heresy, the Siege of Terra, and the modern-era Dawn of Fire series.
What is Chris Wraight known for in Warhammer 40k?
If you know Wraight for one thing, it’s probably his White Scars novels. Scars and The Path of Heaven turned a Legion that many readers overlooked into a fan favourite, and they’re often recommended as standout Horus Heresy entries.
He’s also built two linked Inquisition series set after the Great Rift: Vaults of Terra and Watchers of the Throne. Both focus on Terra and the politics of the Imperium rather than frontline warfare.
- Scars (2013) and The Path of Heaven (2016): White Scars in the Horus Heresy
- Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne, The Hollow Mountain, The Dark City
- Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor’s Legion, The Regent’s Shadow
- Space Marine Battles: Blood of Asaheim (2013), Stormcaller (2014), The Helwinter Gate (2020)
Key Warhammer 40k works
Wraight’s 40k bibliography is large, so here’s a quick rundown of the main series and standalone novels. Release dates come from Lexicanum and may differ slightly from Black Library’s own listings.
| Series | Notable titles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Horus Heresy | Scars, The Path of Heaven, Brotherhood of the Storm, Wolf King | White Scars and Space Wolves focus |
| Siege of Terra | The Lost and the Damned, Warhawk | Part of the climactic series |
| Vaults of Terra | The Carrion Throne, The Hollow Mountain, The Dark City | Inquisition on Terra |
| Watchers of the Throne | The Emperor’s Legion, The Regent’s Shadow | Custodes and Sisters of Silence |
| Space Marine Battles | Blood of Asaheim, Stormcaller, The Helwinter Gate | Space Wolves |
| Dawn of Fire | Sea of Souls | Indomitus era |
Beyond Warhammer 40k
Wraight has written plenty for Warhammer Fantasy too, including novels like Luthor Huss, The Fall of Altdorf, and the Sword of Justice and Sword of Vengeance duology.
He’s also written short stories and audio dramas for Black Library, and his non-40k work includes a Stargate: Atlantis novel. He keeps a blog where he talks about his writing.
Key facts
- Chris Wraight is a freelance writer and teacher based in Oxford, UK.
- His first novel was published in 2008.
- He writes mainly for Black Library, covering Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy.
- He’s known for the White Scars Horus Heresy novels Scars and The Path of Heaven.
- He wrote the Vaults of Terra and Watchers of the Throne Inquisition series.
FAQ
What is Chris Wraight’s best-known Warhammer 40k book?
Scars is usually the one people name first. It’s a Horus Heresy novel about the White Scars, and it helped make that Legion a favourite for a lot of readers.
What order should I read Chris Wraight’s Inquisition books in?
Start with Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne, then The Hollow Mountain and The Dark City. Watchers of the Throne runs alongside it, and The Emperor’s Legion is the best entry point there.
Has Chris Wraight written for other franchises?
Yes. He’s written Warhammer Fantasy novels and a Stargate: Atlantis book, though Warhammer 40,000 is where most of his work is.