Best Black Library book of 2017? Vote here.

[Taliesin]

So, we did this last year I believe, doing a bit of a round up of 2016's best releases and as I recall, it was a two-way tie between Master of Mankind and Path of Heaven for the win, with Praetorian of Dorn not that far behind. Heresy ruled, in other words.

 

That may be different this year though, with some top notch 40k releases as well as the Primarchs series gathering steam. I am interested to see what folks' favorite releases of the year were. Please create a top 5, if you have read 5, if not, a top 3.

 

As a reminder, here are most of the main releases as I recall, them, per author:

 

Dan Abnett: Warmaster

David Annandale: Warlord: Fury of the God Titans; Ruinstorm ( HH book 46), Legacy of the Wulfen ( with Rob McNiven)

Aaron Dembski-Bowden: The Black Legion

Guy Haley: Dante, Devastation of Baal, Dark Imperium, Perturabo

Nick Kyme: Old Earth

Chris Wraight: Carrion Throne, Emperor's Legion ( Watchers of the Throne), Leman Russ: The Great Wolf

Graham McNeill: The Crimson King; Magnus Master of Prospero 

James Swallow: Garro

Gav Thorpe: Lorgar, Rise of the Ynnari, Jain Zar

Josh Reynolds: Fulgrim

John French: Horusian Wars: Resurrection

 

Now, this is all based on when the first release was, usually a hardcover. I realize that some people only wish to pick up the paperback release, in which case for instance Master of Mankind ( hardcover release December '16. MMPB release June '17) would be a 2017 release for them, or Reynolds' Fabius Bile. Buti ncluding these 2016 releases muddies the water too much so I haven't included those.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Taliesin

[Kelborn]

What about The last hunt by Rob?

 

Haven't read all of them.

 

Personal highlight: Perturabo

 

But Lorgar is on a good way to First rank as well.

Dark Imperium is good thus far but it doesn't catch me like others.

 

Last Hunt was great as well.

[hopkins]

Chris Wraight: Emperor's Legion ( Watchers of the Throne)

[Izlude]

It is a tough one with so many great books this past year: For me it would be Dark Imperium (obviously UM biased) but it represents a huge paradigm shifts with Primarchs up and around in the 41k universe, something I read about when I first got in the hobby like over 20 years ago. I remember reading about RG in the shrine and this whole thing with his wounds slowly healing...I honestly never thought I would actually see his happen so for that reason alone. Also Haley is a damn good writer so that helps the book.

 

Second place actually for me goes for Old Earth. As I mentioned in the Old Earth thread I love the book (80% done). Kyme writing this was unexpected, the prose was good, I felt engrossed the entire time. I also love the way he handled the IH arc with Meduson...very fitting despite me wanting the blue shirts to win. 

 

Obviously the Inquisition stuff (Wraight/French) and Black Legion are awesome.

Edited December 30, 2017 by Izlude

[cheywood]

I haven't read nearly everything released this year, but my top five would be:

 

1/2: Warmaster and Black Legion. Both brilliant novels. I couldn't really pick a favorite between them.

3/4: Carrion Throne/The Emperor's Legion. They combine to paint a really beautiful picture of the Throne world.

5: Horusian Wars: Resurrection. I haven't seen much praise for this one, but its twists and turns made it perhaps the most surprising book of the year for me in terms of plot.

 

Honorable mention: Dark Imperium. Not my favorite novel, especially in the later chapters, but it introduces the new setting rather seamlessly.

[Xin Ceithan]

Black Legion gets my vote.

It is well written, full of neat ideas and chock full of character(s)

Also, I haven't read Warmaster yet.

 

Carrion Throne is my second for being so wonderfully grimdark ( Again haven't read the sequel, yet)

 

Both the Chacharadon novel and short deserve a praise for giving a view away from the usual suspects of "Codex" Chapters and getting the mood and theme right.

 

My special price goes to Sons of the Hydra which was unexpected, clever and fun while avoiding the obvious pitfalls regarding with Alpha Legion and thus way better than I thought.

[b1soul]

Emperor's Legion

[E_50_Panzer]

I dont think Ive read five, so heres my top three.

 

Number One: Dante - I really loved this one all around. A definite must read for all Blood Angels, and just a great book overall.

 

Number Two: The Emperors Legion, this one takes place during the fall of cadia and the spawning of the rift, and I enjoyed the sense of impending doom it purveyed to me. It makes me now envision the events in a more positive light than I did when gathering storm first came out.

 

Number Three: Jain Zar - In my opinion, a lot more interesting than Asurmen's book, and Vect and pre phoenix lord Maugun Ra even make appearances.

[RobMac]

What about The last hunt by RobMac

Red Tithe came out in 2017 as well ;)

Edited December 30, 2017 by RobMac

[Kelborn]

Rly?

 

Crap, sorry. Thought that it came out last year.

 

Well....then it's Perturabo and Red Tithe with Lorgar being closeby.

 

I still have to catch up with all that magnificent books like Black Legion and Chris' work, though. ^^

[Ogun]

Not read all, but top 2 for me are:

Carrion Throne

Emperor's Legion

[bluntblade]

Wow I'm behind. Only read Black Legion.

[Roomsky]

Gotta preface with what I haven't read, else the list is rather meaningless:

 

Warmaster

Warlord: Fury of the God Machine, Legacy of the Wulfen 

Devastation of Baal, Dark Imperium

Rise of the Ynnari, Jain Zar

Fulgrim, The Palatine Phoenix

 

Of the rest, I'd say:

 

1. Vaults of Terra: The Carrion Throne

One of Wraight's best works, and I love the atmosphere. Far from perfect, but one of the rare books that really "gets" 40k.

 

2. Watchers of the Throne: The Emperor's Legion

Very close to number one, only loses out on being so contingent on exterior works. Character work is great and it's an excellent companion piece to Carrion Throne

 

3. Black Legion

While not as good as Talon of Horus, its a solid character piece that succeeds by virtue of Aaron's quality of writing

 

4. Resurrection: The Horusian Wars

Another very atmospheric piece, not necessarily as interesting or even as Carrion Throne, but a good showcase of some of the nooks and crannies of unexplored 40k

 

5. Lorgar: Bearer of the Word

A huge surprise for me, its an exploration of how chaos works and how its followers rationalize its 'justice.' Nice lack of unecessary action as well.

 

Over all a pretty strong year for 40k, HH got me into the setting but the slightly farther far future definitely takes the cake here.

[Marshal Rohr]

Gotta be Black Legion by a long mile

[Kizzdougs]

1. Black Legion.

2. Lorgar.

3. Perturabo.

4. Leman Russ.

5. Magnus.

 

I thought The Carrion Throne was excellent too, but there were a couple of details that I didn't like. The first thing that comes to mind was Spinoza wielding a Crozius Arcanum... why would a Space Marine Chaplain give one of his Chapter's holy relics away? If she had been armed with a regular shock/power-maul, nothing would have been lost from the story.

[caladancid]

Carrion Throne

Red Tithe

Emperor’s Legion

[Sete]

Carrion throne

Emperors legion

Black legion

[mr.crusader]

Emperor's Legion

[plastic_slug]

It's certainly been a tougher year for me to find stuff to vote for. 2016 had a couple of personal standouts for me that were obvious, Primogenitor and Shadowsword. Clonelord was a 2017 hardcover release missing from your Reynolds list; I think it was a decent, but nowhere near as impressive book as Primogenitor. I guess I'll do a top 3. And I've missed some releases. I have ADB's Black Legion here, but have not gotten to reading it. I'm sorry, but I'm not a fanboy of his. I'll get to it, but it's not a personal priority. Similar for Warmaster; I got burned out on this series long ago.

 

1.Dante - gave a lot of insight and added to Blood Angels lore; when you think about it, not a lot had been written about what is reputed to be the oldest non dreadnought Marine out there. 

2. Red Tithe - Felt it was a little weak on the character/story side of things, but positively oozed with great atmosphere. 

3. Carrion Throne - I agree with others it had some hard to swallow bits, but was still a good look at a different part of the 40K universe. 

 

Special award for most important, if not the best to Dark Imperium. It was a decent novel, and like it or not, it will be important going forward as a jumping off point for future of 40K post Great Rift/8th edition. 

[Chiwie]

Aaron Dembski-Bowden: The Black Legion

 

Dan Abnett: Warmaster

 

John French: Horusian Wars: Resurrection

 

Chris Wraight: Carrion Throne

 

Guy Haley: Dark Imperium

 

David Annandale: Warlord: Ruinstorm ( HH book 46)

[Newtoncain]

Dan Abnett: Warmaster, been a long, long , long time for Gaunt fluff!

[Knockagh]

My top 5 as follows

 

1. Jain Zar

2. Lorgar

3. Dante

4. Warmaster

5. Carrion Throne

 

The order was difficult to choose not much in it at all.

 

I have to say it’s been a stonking year for me. I’ve loved so many of the books I’ve read. Having a new Ghosts novel to finish it off was just perfect.

 

I could easily have added Perturabo, watchers of the Throne and Ghost Warrior.

 

Great year. I hope we see some more guard novels coming through next year and more expanding on the wider Imperium as we have seen from Wraight and French. A new Phoenix Lords novel would be lovely too!

 

Big thanks to all the authors for their hard work in 2017 if your reading. Keep it up.

 

Interesting there are no Horus Heresy books mentioned here so far.

Edited January 1, 2018 by Punishing Pete

[deathspectersgt7]

Red Tithe

Last Hunt 

[JH79]

There was so much win last year from BL... difficult to nail it down but my top 5 would have to be:

 

1: Dante

2: Black Legion

3: Warmaster

4: Old Earth

5: Ruinstorm

[Bulwyf]

I can't believe I am not putting any ADB novel at the top of a list but Fulgrim was the best 2017 novel by BL.