The Horus Heresy Primarchs series is a collection of novels and anthologies from Black Library that explores the lives of the Emperor’s sons before the galaxy burned. Each book focuses on a single primarch, giving fans a deeper look at the heroes and villains of the Horus Heresy.
What is the Horus Heresy Primarchs series?
It’s a spin-off from the main Horus Heresy novel line, published by Black Library. The series began in 2016 and each entry covers a different primarch before the coming of the Horus Heresy.
The books are written by various authors, including David Annandale, Chris Wraight, Graham McNeill, and Guy Haley. They’re stand-alone stories, so you don’t need to read the main series first, though it helps.
The primarch novels
There are seventeen novels in the series so far, each named after its subject. They range from Roboute Guilliman to Sanguinius, covering loyalists and traitors alike.
- Roboute Guilliman: Lord of Ultramar by David Annandale
- Leman Russ: The Great Wolf by Chris Wraight
- Magnus the Red: Master of Prospero by Graham McNeill
- Perturabo: The Hammer of Olympia by Guy Haley
- Lorgar: Bearer of the Word by Gav Thorpe
- Fulgrim: The Palatine Phoenix by Josh Reynolds
- Ferrus Manus: The Gorgon of Medusa by David Guymer
- Jaghatai Khan: Warhawk of Chogoris by Chris Wraight
- Vulkan: Lord of Drakes by David Annandale
- Corax: Lord of Shadows by Guy Haley
- Angron: Slave of Nuceria by Ian St. Martin
- Konrad Curze: The Night Haunter by Guy Haley
- Lion El’Jonson: Lord of the First by David Guymer
- Alpharius: Head of the Hydra by Mike Brooks
- Mortarion: The Pale King by David Annandale
- Rogal Dorn: The Emperor’s Crusader by Gav Thorpe
- Sanguinius: The Great Angel by Chris Wraight
Anthologies and short stories
Beyond the novels, there are several anthologies that collect shorter tales about the primarchs. These include Sons of the Emperor, Scions of the Emperor, Blood of the Emperor, Heirs of the Emperor, and Traitorous Scions.
There are also individual short stories and audio dramas. Some notable ones are Grandfather’s Gift by Guy Haley, The Abyssal Edge by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, and the audio drama Konrad Curze: A Lesson in Darkness by Ian St. Martin.
How it connects to the wider lore
The series fills in gaps from the main Horus Heresy novels, showing what shaped each primarch before they took their sides. It’s part of the larger Horus Heresy saga, which also includes the Siege of Terra and The Scouring series.
For newcomers, it’s a great way to get to know a specific primarch without committing to the entire 54-book main series. For veterans, it adds depth and context to characters they already know.
Key facts
- The Horus Heresy Primarchs series is a spin-off from the main Horus Heresy novels.
- Each novel focuses on a single primarch before the Heresy.
- There are seventeen novels and five anthologies in the series.
- The series is published by Black Library and written by multiple authors.
- It connects to the larger Horus Heresy saga, including Siege of Terra and The Scouring.
FAQ
Do I need to read the main Horus Heresy series first?
No, each Primarchs novel is stand-alone. You can start with any primarch you like, though reading the main series adds context.
Which primarchs have their own novels?
So far, seventeen primarchs have novels, including Guilliman, Russ, Magnus, Perturabo, Lorgar, Fulgrim, Ferrus Manus, Jaghatai Khan, Vulkan, Corax, Angron, Curze, Lion El’Jonson, Alpharius, Mortarion, Dorn, and Sanguinius.
Are there audio dramas in the series?
Yes, there are several audio dramas, such as Perturabo: Stone and Iron, Malcador: First Lord of the Imperium, and Konrad Curze: A Lesson in Darkness.