The Watchers of the Throne series is a two-novel Warhammer 40,000 saga by Chris Wraight, set on Terra during the chaotic early years of the Dark Imperium. It follows the Custodian Guard and the Sisters of Silence as they defend the Emperor’s palace from threats within and without, and it’s one of the best looks at what’s happening on humanity’s homeworld after the Great Rift opens.
What the series is
The Watchers of the Throne series is a pair of novels by Chris Wraight, published by Black Library. It focuses on Terra during the early Age of the Dark Imperium, the period right after the Great Rift tears the galaxy in half.
The story is told through multiple viewpoints, including a Custodian, a Sister of Silence, and a member of the Adeptus Terra. That mix gives you a ground-level view of a planet in crisis, from the golden throne room to the streets of the Imperial Palace.
The books
There are two novels in the series. The first, The Emperor’s Legion, came out in September 2017. The sequel, The Regent’s Shadow, followed in 2020.
Both are available as paperbacks, ebooks, and audiobooks. The Emperor’s Legion runs about 288 pages and roughly 10 and a half hours in audio, narrated by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, and Emma Gregory.
| Book | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Emperor’s Legion | September 2017 | First in the series; 288 pages |
| The Regent’s Shadow | 2020 | Sequel; continues the Terra storyline |
Why it matters
Most 40k fiction follows Space Marines on distant battlefields. This series stays on Terra and shows you the political and spiritual heart of the Imperium, which makes it feel different and, for many readers, more tense.
It’s also one of the main places to see the Custodes and the Sisters of Silence in action as central characters, more than background lore. If you want to understand what the Dark Imperium actually means for the Emperor’s own world, this is the series to read.
How it connects to other lore
The series sits alongside Chris Wraight’s Vaults of Terra novels, which also deal with intrigue and danger on Terra around the same era. Fans often read them together.
It ties into the wider Dark Imperium storyline, including the return of Roboute Guilliman and the aftermath of the Great Rift. You don’t need to read every 40k book first, but knowing a little about the current setting helps.
Key facts
- The Watchers of the Throne series is written by Chris Wraight.
- It’s a two-book series: The Emperor’s Legion (2017) and The Regent’s Shadow (2020).
- The setting is Terra during the early Age of the Dark Imperium.
- It focuses on the Custodian Guard and the Sisters of Silence.
- The first novel is 288 pages and about 10.5 hours in audio.
- It’s a companion to Wraight’s Vaults of Terra series.
FAQ
How many books are in the Watchers of the Throne series?
Two: The Emperor’s Legion (2017) and The Regent’s Shadow (2020).
Do I need to read other Warhammer 40k books first?
Not strictly, but a basic idea of the Dark Imperium era and the Great Rift will make the politics and stakes clearer.
Who are the main characters?
The story is told through several viewpoints, including a Custodian, a Sister of Silence, and a member of the Adeptus Terra.