One great starting point could be 'Fulgrim' by Graham McNeill. It delves deep into the character of Fulgrim, one of the Primarchs. It shows his journey, his fall from grace in a really engaging way.
Probably 'Horus Rising' by Dan Abnett. It's a very popular one as it sets the stage for the Horus Heresy, which is a huge part of the Warhammer 40,000 lore. It gives a great introduction to Horus as a Primarch before his fall.
There are several notable ones. 'Tyranid Ascendancy' is quite interesting as it shows the rise and evolution of the Tyranid species. It has detailed descriptions of their bio - forms and how they adapt. 'The Swarm Approaches' is another good one. It builds up the tension as the Tyranid swarm gets closer and closer to its target. 'Tyranid Menace' also offers a great look at the Tyranids from different angles, like their strategies and how they interact with other species in the galaxy.
One popular Black Library Tech - Priest novel is 'Mechanicum' which delves deep into the world of the Adeptus Mechanicus and their Tech - Priests. It shows their complex society, their relationship with technology, and their role in the wider Warhammer 40,000 universe.
One of the great ones is 'Horus Rising' by Dan Abnett. It sets the stage for the Horus Heresy series really well, with complex characters and an engaging plot that delves into the politics and power struggles within the Imperium of Man. Another good one is 'Soul Hunter' by Aaron Dembski - Bowden. It has a really cool protagonist and a dark, gritty atmosphere that is typical of Black Library novels.
One popular Black Library novel is 'Horus Rising'. It's a great start to the Horus Heresy series, which delves deep into the events that led to the fall of the Imperium. Another is 'Gaunt's Ghosts' series. It follows the Tanith First and Only regiment through their many battles in the 40K universe. And 'The First Heretic' is also quite well - known, as it shows the origins of the Word Bearers' fall from grace.
Well, 'Ahriman: Exile' is quite good. It gives an in - depth look at the Thousand Sons and their sorcerer Ahriman. His struggles and the complex lore surrounding him are fascinating. 'Fulgrim' is another notable one. It details the fall of the Primarch Fulgrim and how he was corrupted. 'Luther: First of the Fallen' is also great as it shows the story behind the fall of the Dark Angels from a different perspective.
If you want to start reading Black Library novels, I'd suggest beginning with the 'Horus Heresy' series. It's a large and well - known part of the Black Library collection. Start with 'Horus Rising' as it sets the stage for the whole series. You can also look for anthologies that have short stories from different series. They can give you a taste of various Black Library works.
Well, 'Da Red Gobbo' is a great Black Library ork novel. It shows the ork society from the perspective of a grot, which is really interesting. And then there's 'Brutal Kunnin' that explores the orks' unique brand of warfare and cunning in a really engaging way.
'Black Templars: Honor of the Chapter' is also a good choice. It delves into the internal politics and honor code within the chapter. You'll get to see how the Black Templars uphold their values in different situations, which is really interesting as it shows their unique place in the Warhammer 40k lore.
First, decide if you're more interested in a particular faction, like the Orks or the Eldar. Then look for novels that focus on that faction. For instance, if you like the Space Marines, start with a novel like 'Ragnar Blackmane'. It follows the story of a young Space Marine. Also, consider borrowing some novels from the library first to see if you really like the writing style and the overall atmosphere of the Warhammer 40K novels before buying them.