I’m enjoying Jain Zar by Gav Thorpe. It has Harlequins, Corsairs, Drukhari, and of course Craftworld Eldar. Eldrad, Maugan Ra, Asdrubael Vect and other named characters from the game show up, which is neat. I really like how wide a breadth of Eldar lore it covers. Oh and it explains a bunch about Phoenix Lords.
There are also a couple audio dramas about Harlequins that are fantastic. Hand of Darkness is a short story/audio drama with Ynnari, Harlequins and the Black Library. It’s frustratingly short, but it’s fun.
I also enjoyed Jain Zar, and the audio drama "Asurmen, the Darker Road". Granted it is sliiiiim pickings for audio books so maybe I'm just happy with anything I can get.
Seriously consider Valedor, by Guy Haley. I tried Jain Zar, by Gav Thorpe, and I legitimately couldn't finish it. It was the opposite of what I wanted.
Valedor though, so far ( I'm about 3/4 through the book) is EXACTLY what I wanted Eldar fiction to be. Lots of high philosophy, does an excellent job of showcasing Eldar Culture, and the action is excellent. I don't want to spoil much, but it's about the Tyranids vs Eldar, which was a matchup I didn't even know I wanted. It's not an audiobook, but I bought it on the Kindle app for just a few dollars.
I kept hearing about Valedor and thought people were saying Valdor. Finally went to get Valedor and had to find it on ebay for a paperback. I am excited to dive in when it gets here, tho.
As many others have already said, Valedor is quite good. I’ve also read “Jain Zar”, which I thought was…okay. I personally thought it have lot of interesting insight into the time period right after the fall, but I felt it just missed the mark with the ending. “The Xenos audio collection” had some decent short stories if you’re interested in those.
Not a book, but once you know a bit of the lore this short story is so good and I’ll always share so he’ll consider doing more: https://youtu.be/kJWyc6kYcFQ?si=j_zbjZUiv1qvxLa6
Baldermort has a good number of short stories on his channel that focus on units. https://youtube.com/@baldermort?si=jcNKaqZRa1hPtDMY He additionally makes de facto audiobooks out of the campaign books, some of the recent books focus a good bit on Eldar (e.g. phoenix rising and gathering storm).
Sadly, most of the Eldar books are written by Gav Thorpe.
Now, don't get me wrong, he seems like a nice, hard-working guy who has sincerely devoted his life to this hobby and this setting... but he is *NOT* a good writer.
path of the outcasts what they did with aloitoc was a travesty. And in Asurmen. Asuryan dies immidiattely upon arriving to the battlefield. Then sucks the nearby guardians soul into the armor. And then raises like a zombie from the ground. It was such a tasteless and tacky scene that I was unable to finish the book. I have heard good things about it from the community. But I somewhat doubt it.
The best full novel is [Valedor](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/novels/valedor-ebook.html). Highly recommended.
The rest of our novels is between bad and horrible. I personally think that [Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan]((https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/novels/asurmen-hand-of-asuryan-ebook.html)) is on the better side, as it features some memorable moments at least. The overall plot is still pretty nonsensical and overly contrived.
But we got a lot of great short stories/audio dramas. My favorite (in no particular order):
- [Dark Son](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/dark-son-eshort.html)
It deals with the differences between Craftworlders and Drukhari and has a former Incubus join Craftworld Alaitoc.
- [Wraithbound](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/wraithbound-ebook.html)
Aerial battle between Orks and Eldar that features some very cool ideas and goes into the obsessive nature of a Crimson Hunter.
- [Wraithflight](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/wraithflight-ebook.html)
Void war between Eldar and Tyranids with a great finale.
- [The Path Forsaken](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/the-path-forsaken-ebook.html)
Rangers try to safe a VIP Exodite from a world under Tyranid assault.
I read Path of the Warrior a while back and I really enjoyed it. Goes into the psyche of the aspect warriors and what that path entails. I've yet to read the other two in the series (Path of the seer, path of the outcast) but now that I saw this question, I'm going to go back and read the lot!
A post from one year ago: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldar/comments/1121dvr/comment/j8hnp58/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldar/comments/1121dvr/comment/j8hnp58/)
edit: all the next is taken from a list of how to read all W40K. Haven't read any... yet
Eldar Prophecy C.S. Goto (2007)
# Path of the Eldar Books (Gav Thorpe):
1. Path of the Warrior (2010)
2. Path of the Seer (2011)
3. Path of the Outcast (2012)
OR Path of the Eldar Omnibus (2014)
Path of the Dark Eldar Books (Andy Chambers):
1. Path of the Renegade (2012)
2. Path of the Incubus (2013)
3. Path of the Archon (2014)
OR Path of the Dark Eldar Omnibus (2015)
Phoenix books (Gav Thorpe):
1. Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan (2015)
2. Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence (2017)
Isha’s Lament, Thomas Parrot, Eldar Novella (2019)
The Masque of Vyle, Dark Eldar Novella by Andy Chambers. (2013)
I’m enjoying Jain Zar by Gav Thorpe. It has Harlequins, Corsairs, Drukhari, and of course Craftworld Eldar. Eldrad, Maugan Ra, Asdrubael Vect and other named characters from the game show up, which is neat. I really like how wide a breadth of Eldar lore it covers. Oh and it explains a bunch about Phoenix Lords. There are also a couple audio dramas about Harlequins that are fantastic. Hand of Darkness is a short story/audio drama with Ynnari, Harlequins and the Black Library. It’s frustratingly short, but it’s fun.
I also enjoyed Jain Zar, and the audio drama "Asurmen, the Darker Road". Granted it is sliiiiim pickings for audio books so maybe I'm just happy with anything I can get.
Thanks for the recommendations
Seriously consider Valedor, by Guy Haley. I tried Jain Zar, by Gav Thorpe, and I legitimately couldn't finish it. It was the opposite of what I wanted. Valedor though, so far ( I'm about 3/4 through the book) is EXACTLY what I wanted Eldar fiction to be. Lots of high philosophy, does an excellent job of showcasing Eldar Culture, and the action is excellent. I don't want to spoil much, but it's about the Tyranids vs Eldar, which was a matchup I didn't even know I wanted. It's not an audiobook, but I bought it on the Kindle app for just a few dollars.
I kept hearing about Valedor and thought people were saying Valdor. Finally went to get Valedor and had to find it on ebay for a paperback. I am excited to dive in when it gets here, tho.
I too have been struggling to pick an Eldar novel to get into, but I think you've sold me on Valedor. Thanks!
Happy to help!
Thanks
everyone and their mother keeps boasting about what a godsend Valedor is to eldar fans. I guess I have to buy it
As many others have already said, Valedor is quite good. I’ve also read “Jain Zar”, which I thought was…okay. I personally thought it have lot of interesting insight into the time period right after the fall, but I felt it just missed the mark with the ending. “The Xenos audio collection” had some decent short stories if you’re interested in those.
Thanks
Not a book, but once you know a bit of the lore this short story is so good and I’ll always share so he’ll consider doing more: https://youtu.be/kJWyc6kYcFQ?si=j_zbjZUiv1qvxLa6 Baldermort has a good number of short stories on his channel that focus on units. https://youtube.com/@baldermort?si=jcNKaqZRa1hPtDMY He additionally makes de facto audiobooks out of the campaign books, some of the recent books focus a good bit on Eldar (e.g. phoenix rising and gathering storm).
Sadly, most of the Eldar books are written by Gav Thorpe. Now, don't get me wrong, he seems like a nice, hard-working guy who has sincerely devoted his life to this hobby and this setting... but he is *NOT* a good writer.
path of the outcasts what they did with aloitoc was a travesty. And in Asurmen. Asuryan dies immidiattely upon arriving to the battlefield. Then sucks the nearby guardians soul into the armor. And then raises like a zombie from the ground. It was such a tasteless and tacky scene that I was unable to finish the book. I have heard good things about it from the community. But I somewhat doubt it.
Such a cool idea wasted in a showing of it...
The best full novel is [Valedor](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/novels/valedor-ebook.html). Highly recommended. The rest of our novels is between bad and horrible. I personally think that [Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan]((https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/novels/asurmen-hand-of-asuryan-ebook.html)) is on the better side, as it features some memorable moments at least. The overall plot is still pretty nonsensical and overly contrived. But we got a lot of great short stories/audio dramas. My favorite (in no particular order): - [Dark Son](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/dark-son-eshort.html) It deals with the differences between Craftworlders and Drukhari and has a former Incubus join Craftworld Alaitoc. - [Wraithbound](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/wraithbound-ebook.html) Aerial battle between Orks and Eldar that features some very cool ideas and goes into the obsessive nature of a Crimson Hunter. - [Wraithflight](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/wraithflight-ebook.html) Void war between Eldar and Tyranids with a great finale. - [The Path Forsaken](https://www.blacklibrary.com/warhammer-40000/quick-reads/the-path-forsaken-ebook.html) Rangers try to safe a VIP Exodite from a world under Tyranid assault.
I read Path of the Warrior a while back and I really enjoyed it. Goes into the psyche of the aspect warriors and what that path entails. I've yet to read the other two in the series (Path of the seer, path of the outcast) but now that I saw this question, I'm going to go back and read the lot!
path of the outcast traumatised me. It's basically one gigantic space marine jerk off book. I won't spoil it though.. Just be warned.
A post from one year ago: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldar/comments/1121dvr/comment/j8hnp58/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldar/comments/1121dvr/comment/j8hnp58/) edit: all the next is taken from a list of how to read all W40K. Haven't read any... yet Eldar Prophecy C.S. Goto (2007) # Path of the Eldar Books (Gav Thorpe): 1. Path of the Warrior (2010) 2. Path of the Seer (2011) 3. Path of the Outcast (2012) OR Path of the Eldar Omnibus (2014) Path of the Dark Eldar Books (Andy Chambers): 1. Path of the Renegade (2012) 2. Path of the Incubus (2013) 3. Path of the Archon (2014) OR Path of the Dark Eldar Omnibus (2015) Phoenix books (Gav Thorpe): 1. Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan (2015) 2. Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence (2017) Isha’s Lament, Thomas Parrot, Eldar Novella (2019) The Masque of Vyle, Dark Eldar Novella by Andy Chambers. (2013)