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Eisenhorn: The Omnibus

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A Warhammer 40,000 OmnibusInquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn is one of Warhammer 40,000's most beloved anti-heroes. Operating on the very edge of Imperial doctrine, he investigates conspiracies that pit him against aliens, heretics, daemons, and even fellow Inquisitors.READ IT BECAUSEThis is every single one of Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn stories collected together for the first time in one mammoth tome. This chronicles the epic saga of Eisenhorn as he clashes time and time again with the daemon Cherubael and dabbles with darker powers to mete out the brutal judgements he believes necessary.DESCRIPTIONFrom investigating strange murders to facing off against a vast interstellar organisation, Gregor Eisenhorn is an Inquisitor who is willing to pursue dubious means to guarantee success. Follow his journey as he becomes entangled in the fate of the alien text known as the Necroteuch, and draws the ire of the Imperium to him as he becomes embroiled in cat and mouse games and double-crossing with powerful friends and foes.CONTENTSRegia Occulta - a short story by Dan AbnettXenos - a novel by Dan AbnettMissing in Action - a short story by Dan AbnettMalleus - a novel by Dan AbnettBackcloth for a Crown Additional - a short story by Dan AbnettHereticus - a novel by Dan AbnettThe Keeler Image - a short story by Dan AbnettThe Magos - a novel by Dan Abnett

940 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2022

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Dan Abnett

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Profile Image for MacKenzie Tafil.
53 reviews
December 13, 2022
This is the first Warhammer 40,000 book that I have read, and I didn't have high expectations. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book(s) and the world building that continued to develop based on where the inqisitor went.
Profile Image for HW cuthalion12.
13 reviews
November 24, 2023
"Nie płacz ,że się skończyło. Ciesz się ,że sie wydarzyło". Tymi słowami bym określił tą serie książek o detektywie eisenhornie w uniwersum warhammera 40,000 .Sama podróż ,samo czytanie była długie (nie pamiętam kiedy to zacząłem) ale to głównie z powodu mojego lenistwa , wielkości serii i samego faktu ,że nie chciałem aby się skończyła. Oczywiście sama seria nie jest idealna ,posiada swoje wady (które są lekkim czepialstwem) jak nie częste pojawianie się głównych antagonistów w Malleus i Hereticus i okazjonalna trudność w wyobrażeniu sobie niektórych scen nie wspominając o samym fakcie ,że 2 książka (Malleus) ciągneła się bez końca . A plusy? Ciekawie napisane postaci , świetne relacje między nimi , mroczne uniwersum sci-fi ,które zadziwia jak i zachwyca swoją absurdalnością. Gdybym miał je uporządkować w kolejności od najlepszej do najgorszej to Hereticus , Xenos i Malleus (co nie znaczy ,że żadna z nich jest w jakiś sposób bardzo zła). Jeżeli ktokolwiek chciałby się zagłębić do świata warhammera 40,000 ,lubicie takie klimaty kryminału w mrocznym sci-fi oraz poszukujecie jakiejś długiej serii do przeczytania to nie znam lepszych książek. " 'In the name of the Holy God-Emperor of Terra,' i said quitely, 'i call thee diabolus and here deliver thy sentence.' ' the Emperor protects' ".
Profile Image for Max.
75 reviews5 followers
December 14, 2024
Dan Abnett’s Eisenhorn offers a compelling journey into the dark and intricate universe of Warhammer 40,000, blending action with deeply philosophical themes. While Abnett is not the original creator of this grim future, his storytelling makes the complex world accessible and richly immersive, especially for readers intrigued by the intersections of politics, war, and religion.

Set within the ruthless Imperium of Man, Eisenhorn follows the Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn as he grapples with threats both external and internal to humanity. Abnett's writing shines in his ability to paint a picture of the brutal reality of this far-future setting—one where war is constant, and survival requires a cold balance of morality and pragmatism. The novel doesn’t shy away from exploring how belief systems shape individuals and institutions, offering a nuanced commentary on the nature of power and justice. These themes resonate strongly with anyone who has an interest in how ideals are weaponized, how dogma drives politics, and how one navigates personal conviction in the face of necessity.

Though the world itself was established before Abnett took the helm, his contributions in terms of character development and narrative structure give Eisenhorn a lasting appeal. The protagonist, Gregor Eisenhorn, serves as a guide through the Imperium’s labyrinth of intrigue, but it is Abnett’s deft handling of Eisenhorn’s internal conflict—his slow shift from rigid puritanism to radicalism—that keeps the story gripping. It’s this human element, set against a backdrop of planetary war and religious zeal, that allows the novel to transcend the trappings of military science fiction and delve into deeper, more philosophical territory.

From a military standpoint, the novel offers a fascinating look at the logistics and psychology of warfare in an extreme, dystopian future. Abnett’s battles are chaotic and brutal, yet his focus on the political manoeuvring behind the scenes reveals the true power struggles at play. In Eisenhorn’s world, war is not merely a physical confrontation but a layered game of alliances, manipulation, and sacrifice. Abnett’s experience in writing such conflict is evident, as he crafts these moments with both tactical precision and narrative weight.

The novel also touches on questions of law and order, exploring the moral compromises made by those tasked with enforcing the Imperium’s will. Eisenhorn’s role as an Inquisitor raises complex legal issues—how far can one go to protect humanity? What are the limits of law when confronted with existential threats? These are timeless questions, and Abnett gives them their due, making the reader pause to consider the parallels with our own struggles in maintaining justice in a world of conflicting interests.

Overall, Eisenhorn stands as a testament to Dan Abnett’s skill as a writer. While he works within an already-established universe, his ability to weave together elements of philosophy, politics, and military strategy elevates the novel beyond its genre roots. It may not be the origin point for Warhammer’s dark, baroque world, but Abnett’s work ensures it remains one of the most engaging ways to experience it. At least to me.
Profile Image for Anthony.
295 reviews7 followers
February 2, 2023
Just shy of a 1000 pages for this trilogy and it flew past. Recommended for anyone liking their stories on the darker side.
Profile Image for Ryan Korte.
59 reviews
December 11, 2023
Another great warhammer series by Abnett. Started out as the most light hearted goofy adventure that could be expected of a warhammer series. Ended with Magos, where half the book I wasn’t sure if the characters I’d grown to love were on the right side anymore. Incredible.
Profile Image for Justin Partridge.
516 reviews4 followers
October 17, 2025
“I thought you hated me for pulling you out of that cage,” said Drusher.

“I’ve had time to reflect,” said Eisenhorn. “If you hadn’t, it would have ended badly.”

“That’s what ending WELL looks like?” Asked Drusher.

“Often.”

And with The Magos (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) my time in the company of the legendary Gregor Eisenhorn comes to a bittersweet end. At least…FOR THE TIME BEING! Or at least until I can get my hot little hands on the Ravenor and Bequin books, but just to cut to it, yeah, these fucking rip.

And I think beyond what amazing introductions and explorations they are of 40k, they really just sing because of their characters and plots. By now you probably know the game of these being essentially detective novels set throughout this vastly insane expansive universe, but even that doesn’t really even capture what all these end up being.

They are mysteries, sure, but also just incredible action pieces and sterling examples of how tie in stuff can far outshine the make up of its parts. And ALSO show you how the scope and range of time these things can cover can be handled really compellingly and not as just papering over the stuff an author doesn’t want to cover.

It’s almost amazing besides, these kinda work as single novels too! I think maybe The Magos would be the most inscrutable of the four but every novel really stood up well as its own thing and then handily delivered something different than the one before it. It was very impressive to get to experience them all in one chunk (though the ending of Hereticus likely would have made me mad had I had to wait that long for the follow up)

But yeah, killer stuff here. Something I’m really happy to have finally come around on as I’ve always heard they were great as their own things and also great 40k things so it’s nice to be proven right in both those regards.

Profile Image for Marc Kelly.
32 reviews
June 22, 2024
what a ride

There is a few inconsistencies I noticed throughout the book. And the change from first to third person tense for the last book was jarring. Also it never explains how he goes from delta class psyker to alpha by the last book but still enjoyable
86 reviews
May 7, 2025
An enjoyable read that worked well for helping me learn about Warhammer and its universe. I got genuinely emotionally involved with the book and its characters and I think it was generally well written. Eisenhorn is one impressive dude.
Profile Image for Kyle.
Author 15 books48 followers
October 13, 2024
1. Regia Occulta
A decent introduction, but there was a definite feeling to it that it was written after a few other entries were already complete. Eisenhorn was fully formed beyond this story, and it somewhat expected you to know more about him before reading, making it a little awkward to read before Xenos. I did find the story interesting, though, and there were some amusing lines - hopefully it's prepared me for the first novel.

2. Xenos
Entertaining and enlightening. Eisenhorn isn't exactly a hero, in the classic sense, but he stands firm as an enjoyable protagonist for whom it's easy to root. He feels human, despite the seriousness of his task.
Plotwise, I appreciated the twists and turns as the conspiracy was unravelled; visiting various planets provided strong world building, showing the differences between worlds in the Imperium. Action was well-written - it was a shame some moments were somewhat glossed over because Eisenhorn wasn't there and could only relay information secondhand, but this did allow the plot to remain focused and well-paced. Most characters, even those with small parts, were engaging and felt real - it was fun to see how Eisenhorn compared to them, and how, in many ways, he's more laid back than others in his business. I understand why this is considered a good intro to Warhammer lore.

3. Missing in Action
A solid crime story, well-written and engaging. The first line is a good hook, and the intrigue leaves you wanting to know the outcome. I appreciated the exploration of how nations fail to care for their soldiers once the war is done. A better short story than Regia Occulta - it likely helped that I'd now spent the duration of a novel with Eisenhorn.

4. Malleus
My first thought having finished is that the ending felt rushed. Everything was resolved rather quickly and neatly. Good stuff, but I would have liked a little more there.
Beyond that, this was full of twists and turns, with a healthy heaping of tension. Whilst it was rather obvious that Eisenhorn would make it out alive, the story still achieved that sense of "what if he doesn't?"
I enjoyed how the story had several other stories within in, that kept the action going when the overarching plot needed to slow down, yet without feeling like an unnecessary tangent.
What was also great was the further insight into the workings (and disfunction) of the Inquisition, and how it treats those of its own who are believed to have turned traitor.
Thoroughly enjoyed.

5. Backcloth for a Crown Additional
This was an interesting story, again taking a somewhat alternate view of the 40K universe than the scope of the novels. This time, it showed both the aristocracy and the commoners, and how they both differed and we're alike. The mystery of the story was simple but interesting, and well presented, with a somewhat unexpected outcome that shows that not all "heresy" is intentional.

6. Hereticus
I really enjoyed the cat and mouse feel of this story, with loyalties questioned and the clarity of the fact that no one is safe. After the journey through the first two novels, the emotional resonance is strong when bad things happen to characters we've connected to. To an extent, the resolution felt rushed, but overall the plot, and the twists along the way, was engaging. Mild spoilers, but it was also pleasant to see other xenos included, though chaos remained the main threat. As a side note, I am mildly confused that Eisenhorn is Ordo Xenos but mostly seems to deal with Chaos, but oh well. Good stuff, and I'm interested to see where it goes from here to round out the omnibus.

7. The Keeler Image
An entertaining insight into where Eisenhorn has been since the events of Hereticus. Decent twist, well set up, and well laid out. A minor continuity error, perhaps, regarding one character, but otherwise good. Looking forward to seeing where things go even more so, now.

8. The Magos
The different perspective brought a freshness to these stories. I felt like the pacing was improved, somewhat; The Magos passed by quicker in some ways. Somehow, being outside of Eisenhorn's head made the stakes feel greater, like he was lined up to be a victim of the narrative. Moreover, it gave that sense of what it would be like to get dragged into such affairs as a somewhat ignorant member of the Imperium's wider populace. Eisenhorn always presented a nonchalance; the Magos is out of his depth. The third person perspective also allowed action to be explored without being secondhand from Eisenhorn, which meant less was glossed over. Perhaps I missed some of the wit and insight from Eisenhorn, but it felt like a tidy send-off for the Omnibus...with threads established for more in future.

Overall Thoughts:
I enjoyed these stories. The presentation was overall consistent and well-written, and the characters well developed and interesting. At times, scenes would be dragged out too much, and other times events - especially conclusions - felt somewhat rushed, but I appreciate the positive sentiment for this series. It did strike me as an effective means of entering the universe without being drawn into massive battles. I would recommend it.
Profile Image for Emily Chavel.
32 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2025
I’ll read ✨A N Y T H I N G✨ Dan Abnett writes for the rest of my life. What a fun time.
1 review
August 23, 2025
Xenos. Malleus. Hereticus. Magos.

A series of adventure tales wrought with espionage, political intrigue, action, and eternal servitude to the Emperor. Eisenhorn is the perfect entry-point into the otherwise daunting, overwhelming IP that is Warhammer 40k.

Eisenhorn offers the reader fantastic character work, vile villains, nail-biting action, and not least of all moral dilemmas abound. Throughout my read, I was constantly asking myself the question: "do the ends justify the means?". Eisenhorn's work for the Inquisition is morally grey on a regular basis and it makes the reader consider the implications of how far he's willing to go for his cause. How far must an Inquisitor go before crossing the line between Amalathian and radical? Radical and heretic?

Dan Abnett provides a robust character study of Gregor Eisenhorn through the lens of his "friends" and comrades, with early every encounter or exchange offering insight into the dynamic of their complex and nuanced relationships. Characters like Uber Aemos, Godwyn Fischig, Alizabeth Bequin, Valentin Drusher, Harlon Nayl, Midas and Medea Betancore, and Tobias Maxilla provide a peek behind the curtain of the world that is Warhammer 40k, that is at it's core, human.

Personally, I found the conclusions to some of the primary conflicts/encounters to be rather abrupt, and even the endings to one or two of the books.. however, The Magos' ending floored me and left me with an immense sense of sentimentality, and appreciation, neither of which I anticipated to get from a book of Eisenhorn's kind.

Whether you are a Warhammer fan that started your Black Library elsewhere, or just a fan of Fantasy/Sci-Fi, I cannot recommend the stories of Eisenhorn enough.

5/5.
Profile Image for Zain Abdullah.
25 reviews
November 5, 2023
This book fucked me up.

It was my intro to the 40k universe. It explores the descent to darkness of this space detective as he travels around the galaxy hunting demons. It's oddly emotionally compelling and the plot threads it weaves are so intricate and complex. While it can be a lot to keep up with it absolutely rewards you for for sticking with it by the end. I finished it a few weeks ago and I'm still thinking about it today.
2 reviews
March 3, 2023
I really like everything but the magos, I've read that some extra short stories included in the standalone magos publication are needed to get the most out of the novel, so I'll pick it up at some point and read it then.
Profile Image for Chels S.
399 reviews38 followers
May 16, 2024
STOP. SKIPPING. AROUND. ABNETT
Profile Image for Filip Darida.
179 reviews3 followers
December 28, 2024
Eisenhorn je jedna z najviac odporucanych knih pre novacikov do 40k. Ja uplne novy nie som, ale musim priznat, ze som precital len par knih a aj to v cestine a naozaj roky dozadu. Preto som sa rozhodol, ze sa do tohto celeho pustim nanovo a teda zacnem s niecim, co je odporucane pre novacikov.

A musim uznat, ze ako zaciatok je to super. Nenasiel som asi nic, comu by som nerozumel. Zaroven je tu velmi pekne zobrazene vseobecne fungovanie Imperia, najma teda zo strany Inkvizicie, ale aj inych zloziek. Aby bolo jasno, toto nie je seria plna obrovskych bitiek (Gauntovi duchovia), space marinov a podobne. Je to v podstate detektivka v univerze W40k. S tym, ze dany detektiv ma autorizaciu na znicenie planety.

Tento omnibus obsahuje celu povodnu trilogiu plus dve poviedky, takze som ho cital prerusovane, prekladany inymi knihami. Rovno mozem povedat, ze prva poviedka (Missing in Action) je to najlepsie, co kniha obsahuje a naopak druha poviedka (Backcloth For A Crown Additional) to najhorsie.

Co sa tyka romanov, bavili ma vsetky. Kazdy ma svoje problemy a svoje silne stranky. Prvy sa podla mna rozbieha pomerne pomaly, ale zhruba od polovice sa zenie ku koncu skvelym tempom. Druhy obsahuje jedno z mojich najmenej oblubenych klise opakujucich sa v detektivkach (interne oddelenie podozrieva hrdinu z porusovania zakona), ale zaroven obsahuje aj najlepsiu pasaz v celej serii (nechcem spoilerovat, tak poviem len ze suvisi s armadnou prehliadkou na pocest vitazstva). Povedal by som ale, ze tento diel je najslabsi zo serie, pretoze obsahuje aj pomerne zdlhave nudne pasaze, bez ktorych by som sa zaobisiel.

No a tretia kniha ma urcite najvyrovnanejsie tempo a asi je aj najlepsia. Nic moc o nej hovorit nebudem, kedze by sa jednalo o spoilery, len poviem ze su tu pekne zobrazene nasledky rozhodnuti urobenych pocas predoslych knih. A inkvizitor lahke rozhodnutia nerobi nikdy.

Vseobecne sa mi seria naozaj pacila a pre novacikov ju mozem smelo odporucit. Urcite takisto pojdem do dalsich, nepriamych, pokracovani (trilogia Ravenor a dalej), ale najprv sa zastavim pri niecom viac military, pri prvej trilogii Gaunts Ghosts od rovnakeho autora.
Profile Image for Alejandro Loza.
42 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2025
El ómnibus de Eisenhorn ha sido mi primera toma de contacto con el mundo de Warhammer 40K y entiendo bastante bien porque se recomienda que este libro sea la introducción.

Como novela negra es decente dentro de su género aunque lo que la hace realmente especial es como combina este género con lo especial del mundo en el que existe.
La galaxia del Milenio 41 es un setting complejo, oscuro, difícil de entender y quizás un poco lioso. Pero eso no quita que mientras lees quieras conocer más y más sobre esta sociedad y sus habitantes.

En lo referente a las tramas y sus protagonistas, el Inquisidor Eisenhorn ve bastante evolución a lo largo de los tres libros y a lo largo de las 17 décadas durante las cuales le seguimos (gracioso eso eh, 17 décadas). Opino que justamente esa evolución de personaje es la clave y lo revelante dentro del libro porque Eisenhorn vive envuelto en una batalla constante contra lo malévolo, contra sus creencias y contra su forma de hacer justicia, entremezclándose esas tres cosas para crear unos conflictos de difícil resolución y que acompañan al inquisidor durante todos sus trayectos e investigaciones.

En lo relacionado a los defectos del ómnibus Eisenhorn, quizás en los libros "Malleus" y "Hereticus" la conclusión de la historia se ve un poco apresurada y las condiciones/acciones por las que acaban los clímax sean un poco irreales o no llegan a la altura que yo esperaba. Acabar en dos páginas con un conflicto que amenaza a un sector entero de la galaxia no creo que sea lo adecuado.
Aún así seguiré leyendo sobre Warhammer 40k aunque creo que mi siguiente será volviendo al Milenio 31.

"No importa, lo extravagante de la idea, lo remoto del mito, ni a qué distancia tenga el origen la historia, algo de indeleble verdad siempre se encuentra al comienzo de la historia."
-Gregor Eisenhorn
Profile Image for Sebastien.
359 reviews8 followers
December 9, 2024
I'm giving this book five stars—for what it is, not for its general literary value!

If you enjoy the Warhammer 40,000 universe, this is everything you could ask for. If you don’t, well, don’t touch it with a ten-foot pole!

This is unapologetically pulpy science fiction, crafted solely to give those iconic plastic models some thrilling backstory.

The omnibus collects the main Eisenhorn trilogy, where we follow Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn as he hunts for heresy in the Helican subsector of Imperial space, the Magos novel, which takes place later in Eisenhorn’s distinguished career, and a couple of short stories. Suffice it to say, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.

The narrative takes us to a variety of exotic locales, from the tranquil hills of Gudrun to the bustling ecumenopolis of Thracian Prime, and beyond to alien worlds. Along the way, we meet a plethora of colorful characters, all seemingly plucked from the expansive range of Games Workshop’s miniature collection!

Since Eisenhorn is an Inquisitor, there’s a touch more mystery here than in your average Warhammer novel. Plots and counterplots unfold, and the author keeps things engaging, even though we all know that, in the end, the heretics will inevitably meet their demise in the name of the God-Emperor.

And of course, there’s battle—glorious battle! Eisenhorn faces off against mutants, aliens, and heretics of every variety. Guns blaze, swords clash, and spacecraft roar through the void. The action is fast-paced, vividly described, and undeniably heart-pounding.

All in all, anyone interested in the Warhammer 40,000 universe should give this omnibus a shot. It’s a must-read for fans looking to immerse themselves in the grim darkness of the far future.
Profile Image for Gigadildross.
6 reviews
July 1, 2025
Where to start?

The Eisenhorn series has truly enhanced my perspective of what the daily lives of the imperium of mankind experiences.

A gritty, grounded, and exciting investigative action thriller unfolds onto the page in front of your eyes. We are swiftly carried away on the shoulders of the protagonist in a thrilling adventure in which we experience excitement, turmoil, heartfelt moments, and gut-wrenching endings.

This book truly has it all - Dan Abnett truly had me tantalised with the depth of his writing and setting the not only the scene, but the characters with the scenes. This allowed each set piece to feel alive, grounded in reality, and allowed me to somewhat rationalise how close some of these grim dark futuristic settings are to home.

I was gripped reading the inner monologues and justifications Eisenhorn would make to sanction his actions in the defence of the imperium. A man torn between duty, and vengeance while finding the lines blurring at what is simply radical, or just a means to an end for the protection of mankind.

The companions on the way were exciting and nuanced - I found that I developed deep emotions about how they were and how they impacted our protagonist.

These feelings were enriched further when I felt that no one was safe in Dan Abnett’s world. Eisenhorn’s companions were a vital part of the story but at no point did they ever feel whimsically protected by plot armour or that they were not a major component in the success of Eisenhorn’s adventure.

Highly recommended as a great primer into the life of the inquisition and the general life within the 40k universe. A great book for beginners or intermediate fans of the 40K grim dark settings.
Profile Image for Edoardo Albert.
Author 54 books157 followers
July 7, 2024
The Eisenhorn novels were the very first Warhammer 40k novels I read about twenty years ago now. Since then, I’ve read many more and, rather improbably, even written some. So I decided to go back to my original door to the 40k galaxy to see how they would read coming at them with the eyes of a writer of these stories as well as a reader.

The answer, of course, is very well. Dan Abnett is a very, very, very good writer, with an unmatched ability to coin words that not just fit into the 40k universe but with a single word engage the reader more fully into that universe.

But now, working from a 40k writer perspective, I’m pretty sure I know how Dan pitched the idea of these novels originally: this was James Bond in 40k. But James Bond with a 40k twist – which means that there’s no sex but even bigger guns. What the Eisenhorn novels and the Bond films share is a breakneck pace with a huge range of exotic locations: unusually for 40k, the stories escape the usual round of polluted hive cities to take in a far wider range of planets, some of which seem like they actually might be quite pleasant to live on (so long as you have money).

In another Bond trope, there’s an unusual emphasis on fine food and drink, with many meals described in loving detail. As an Inquisitor, Eisenhorn unfortunately couldn’t really have an interest in gambling, which is a shame as I’d have loved to have read Abnett’s take on a 40k casino.

As the stories progress, the tie to Bond lessens as the story and characters grow into themselves, but, yes, I still think that’s how they began, when Dan emailed the editors at Black Library and said, “Let’s do Bond in space!”
Profile Image for Scott.
69 reviews4 followers
November 11, 2025
Time to start Gregging your Eisenhorn

This is a tremendous gateway drug. Chances are you have ended up here looking to get into 40K. What is on offer here is a wonderful series of books that subsequently leads into the Ravenor trilogy that eases you into this grim dark world.

Eisenhorn is a spectacular character and Abnett has done an incredible job stringing all the narrative threads together over an insanely large portfolio of stories that are centered around our main man Greg, super duper inquisitor extraordinaire.

The reviews for each of the contained stories are linked below. I had an incredible time with this and it is well worthy of your attention. An incredible batch of stories.

💀 Short Story: Regia Occulta - 4/5
💀 Book 1: Xenos - 5/5
💀 Short Story: Missing in Action - 4/5
💀 Book 2: Malleus - 5/5
💀 Short Story: Backcloth for a Crown Additional - 3/5
💀 Book 3: Hereticus - 4/5
💀Short Story:The Keeler Image - 4/5
💀Book 4:The Magos - 5/5
Profile Image for Andrei.
10 reviews
December 1, 2024
A great collections of stories showing the adventures of Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn and his crew across the WH40K universe as they hunt heretics, occultists and recidivists in the name of the God Emperor!
The book contains 4 novels and 4 short stories. They are organized in chronological order:
1. Regia Occulta (short story)
2. Xenos (novel)
3. Missing in action (short story)
4. Malleus (novel)
5. Blackcloth for a crown additional (short story)
6. Hereticus (novel)
7. The Keeler image (short story)
8. The Magos (novel)
Gregor Eisenhorn, despite the title of Inquisitor is pretty much a jack of all trades. He is a powerful psyker, an incredible detective and a gifted fighter, but Dan Abnett manages to write a very believable character that, despite being a power house, faces several challenges across his adventures. Every story and novel imprints Eisenhorn with a new set of scars and traumas that carry over into the next story.
I also enjoyed a lot following his crew across the different challenges they face. Betancore, Harlan Nayl, Alizabeth and several other characters enrich the story with their individualities. The roster of characters that interact Gregor is very rich and it's one of the strongest points of these stories in my opinion.
If you enjoy WH40K, detective stories and action packed adventures, I strongly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Evyn Meredeth.
13 reviews
December 18, 2023
Wow, that was one hell of an experience. As someone still early into 40K, this is an incredible read. Although it is a massive tome with Bible-size font, not once did it feel like a drag or a slog to get through. There was always something happening, always some twist or turn to keep your attention. Xenos started out by setting up a 40K Noir type setting, and Malleus and Hereticus kept it going with a different, bigger bad every time. And the Magos starts slow but my god does it pick up. The short stories as well work so well in the 40K world and help show who Eisenhorn and his chosen entourage are. From Midas and Medea, to Bequin and Aemos, the short stories give great characterization into who the legendary Inquisitor surrounds himself with. Not to mention, the events of the short stories come back into play in the main books, with references to Regia Occulta appearing in The Magos. All in all, this was a fantastic read, and Dan Abnett did an incredible job creating the man who has quickly rose to being one of my favorite characters in 40K. And remember, The Emperor Protects!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
January 2, 2025
The book that reignited my passion for the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000. Part detective story, part adventure and fuelled by the bizarre and macabre tone of the 41st Millennium the omnibus collects together three books in Dan Abnett's masterful trilogy about the shadowy, twisted world of the Imperial Inquisition.

Far from the bolter porn the genre is so known for Abnett creates altogether very human characters caught up in the skullduggery, savage politics and hellish universe 40,000 years in humanities future. He weaves together a cinematic tale of one man's determination to defeat the dark forces arrayed against the Imperium of Mankind, only to face his own potential corruption.

The villains of the omnibus are charming, seductive and utterly corrupt. However Abnett's writing is that where you may find yourself finding some sympathy with the all too human elements of even the darkest souls.

If you've never read a Warhammer 40,000 novel before try this. Just be warned, it may spoil the rest for you as not many will live up to his reputation.
Profile Image for Yaroslav Zemtsov.
15 reviews3 followers
November 27, 2024
I honestly do not understand why this is considered a good introduction to 40k. It's not. You get a very vague glimpse of the imperium and not even of the most interesting parts. In book one there are 4dimensional spider creatures that never appear in any lore again, in book 2 it's incredible stupidity of inquisition for absolutely no reason at all and in book 3 it's even worse.
Most of the lore has nothing to do with actual established 40k universe and main character is just so damn weak, stupid and useless it's incredible he managed to do well, anything (except for being a godlike pilot for some reason).
Short stories included are pretty decent and explains some lore behind the character but for love of gods just skip Magus. It's bad, really bad.

There really are better series out there to start your journey with. I did not expect the writing to be above average and still I stand disappointed.
6 reviews
May 7, 2025
Dan Abnett compares favorably to some of the other Black Library writers but ultimately has a hard row to hoe in telling an in-universe story that requires a fairly deep familiarity with the 40k universe in order to really feel immersed. Eisenhorn himself is a very flat character, and while Abnett attempts to execute on his compelling arc from hero to enemy of the imperium, the only time this really works out is in the final book when the perspective is shifted from first-person to third-person and in so-doing, portraying Eisenhorn as the isolated, fanatical character that he is.

Another funny problem with this book - the reading comprehension level is probably a little high for the right target audience, which in my opinion would be about a 12 year old boy.

It's never great when you buy a book because you want to learn more about the spooky, grimdark universe of its setting (Warhammer 40k), and come away feeling like... maybe it's not that spooky or grimdark.
Profile Image for Jullmua.
27 reviews3 followers
August 3, 2025
Damn! It was supposed to be a book based on a stupid game my husband and his friends are playing. I expected Mary Sue fanfiction about manly manliness, and for the first small story the author is luring you. “It is not that deep, the hero is lucky, strong, and everything will be fine”. WRONG!! First of all, the characters grow, make decisions, and then suffer consequences. The small details in the plot matter; the fates of the characters are dreadful. And I wasn’t expecting serious topics at all - the end justifies the means, ignorance of institutions, etc. The hardest hit was the third book - actually, I was devastated by the outcome, the aftermath in general, and the losses. The pacing is mostly good; only in the last book it is kinda slow. This is my first time of touching Warhammer 40000, and I wasn’t googling a lot - so that is a huge plus. As a reader, I am kinda sad; as an artist, I think it is a very cool book.
Profile Image for Ezekiel.
120 reviews2 followers
February 12, 2024
Most Warhammer 40K devotees recommend Abnett's Eisenhorn series as the ideal introduction to its lore - and they'd be right to.

Went in knowing next to nothing about the universe and finished this omnibus as...well, maybe not as a devotee per se (who has that kind of money?) but definitely as someone quite invested in reading more Warhammer!

It helps that Inquisitor Eisenhorn (at least in the beginning) is a relatively ground-level character, which serves to immerse the reader into the universe from the get-go. Mix that with detective narratives and well-written sci-fi action extravaganzas, and this over 900-page tome becomes a breeze. The Magos, the concluding novel in the omnibus, might be the best one, with a glorious (and dark) climax.

Peter Fehervari, like Abnett, is touted as one of Warhammer's best authors, so on to his stuff next!
Profile Image for Rochatra.
70 reviews5 followers
February 25, 2025
This was a reread. I read these books a long time ago, before I've been active on Goodreads, and since I have not read the Bequin books, I wanted to go through the whole journey again, before continuing with the latest books.

Eisenhorn is perfect for people who have any interest in getting into Warhammer 40k. Not only is it one of the most beginner friendly books in Warhammer (seriously, you don't have to know anything before picking this book up, though some knowledge does help), it is also just a great science fiction story, and Dan Abnett keeps it interesting without putting much filler into these books (the Omnibus consists of four novels and some short stories). If you enjoy some detective action, lots of battles, fast pacing, and books that grow in scope, you'll probably love this, provided the universe interests you.

One of my favorites!
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