Part of our Aeldari hub: every Aeldari guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place.
Start with Gav Thorpe’s Path of the Warrior, the first book of the Path of the Eldar trilogy, which explains how Craftworld Aeldari live and fight. Then read the rest of that trilogy, a Phoenix Lord novel, and Andy Chambers’ Path of the Renegade for the Drukhari of Commorragh. That covers the Craftworlds, the Aspect Warriors and the Dark City, which is most of what you need to enjoy every other Aeldari book.
After that, branch into the Harlequins, the Ynnari and the Corsairs, in the order below.
Quick list
| Order | Book | Author | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Path of the Warrior | Gav Thorpe | Your first Aeldari book |
| 2 | Path of the Seer and Path of the Outcast | Gav Thorpe | Finishing the Path trilogy |
| 3 | Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan | Gav Thorpe | The Fall and the first Phoenix Lord |
| 4 | Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence | Gav Thorpe | Howling Banshees and Eldrad |
| 5 | Valedor | Guy Haley | Craftworlds and Drukhari vs Tyranids |
| 6 | Path of the Renegade | Andy Chambers | Your first Drukhari book |
| 7 | Path of the Incubus and Path of the Archon | Andy Chambers | Finishing the Drukhari trilogy |
| 8 | The Masque of Vyle | Andy Chambers | Harlequins |
| 9 | Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives | Mike Brooks | Wyches and Vect’s schemes |
| 10 | Ghost Warrior | Gav Thorpe | The Ynnari after the Great Rift |
| 11 | Wild Rider | Gav Thorpe | Saim-Hann, Ynnari and Necrons |
| 12 | Voidscarred | Mike Brooks | Aeldari Corsairs (2025) |
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How this order works
Books 1–5 are about the Craftworld Aeldari. Books 6–9 cover the Drukhari and Harlequins, the darker and stranger sides of the race. Books 10–12 are set after the Great Rift and lean into the newer parts of the lore: the Ynnari and the Corsairs. If you only collect one army, read books 1 and 6 and then jump to your faction’s section.
Start here: the Craftworlds
1. Path of the Warrior — Gav Thorpe
Price details
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Korlandril gives up a life of peace for the Path of the Warrior and becomes a Striking Scorpion. The further he goes, the closer he comes to losing himself in his war-mask for good.
- Series: Path of the Eldar, book 1
- Era: 41st Millennium, Craftworld Alaitoc
- Why first: It explains the Path system, Aspect Warriors and the Craftworlds’ constant fear of Slaanesh from the inside. Our Path of the Warrior review and Aspect Warriors guide go deeper.
2. Path of the Seer and Path of the Outcast — Gav Thorpe
The trilogy follows three friends, Korlandril, Thirianna and Aradryan, down three paths: Warrior, Seer and Outcast. When Aradryan’s choices bring the Imperium down on Alaitoc, the other two have to defend their home without getting stuck on their own paths.
- Series: Path of the Eldar, books 2 and 3 (all three are in the Path of the Eldar omnibus)
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: It finishes the story Path of the Warrior starts. The omnibus is the simplest way to buy the set.
3. Asurmen: Hand of Asuryan — Gav Thorpe
The first and greatest Phoenix Lord, founder of the Dire Avengers, in two eras: during the Fall of the Aeldari, and ten thousand years later, still guarding what’s left of his people.
- Series: The first of Gav Thorpe’s Phoenix Lord novels
- Era: The Fall and the 41st Millennium
- Why here: It’s the clearest way to see the Fall itself, the catastrophe that shaped everything about the Aeldari.
4. Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence — Gav Thorpe
The first Howling Banshee travels to Craftworld Ulthwé to warn of a rising Ork empire, only to find the farseer Eldrad set against her plan.
- Series: Phoenix Lord novel, following Asurmen
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: It’s a rare story about Aeldari disagreeing over which future to choose, and a great one for Banshee players.
5. Valedor — Guy Haley
As Hive Fleet Leviathan closes in, Prince Yriel of Iyanden finds that a splinter of Hive Fleet Kraken has returned. To stop the two fleets combining, he has to fight alongside Biel-Tan and even the Drukhari.
- Series: Standalone
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: It’s a big-battle book that brings several Craftworlds and the Drukhari together, so it’s a natural bridge to the next section.
The essentials: Drukhari and Harlequins
6. Path of the Renegade — Andy Chambers
In Commorragh, an ambitious Archon and a twisted Haemonculus team up to challenge the city’s rulers, and the Dark City will burn for it.
- Series: Path of the Dark Eldar, book 1 (all three are in the Path of the Dark Eldar omnibus)
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: It’s the definitive Drukhari novel, full of backstabbing, Kabals and Vect looming over everything. See our Path of the Renegade review and Commorragh explainer.
7. Path of the Incubus and Path of the Archon — Andy Chambers
Commorragh is thrown into chaos by the Dysjunction, then Supreme Overlord Asdrubael Vect moves to crush anyone who tried to take advantage of it.
- Series: Path of the Dark Eldar, books 2 and 3
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: These finish the trilogy. Buy the omnibus if you enjoyed book 1.
8. The Masque of Vyle — Andy Chambers
A Harlequin troupe finds a dead Craftworld in the webway and tracks the culprit to the Drukhari of the Sable Marches. To expose the killer, they stage a deadly performance for the Archons.
- Series: Novella, linked to the Path of the Dark Eldar books
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: It’s the best-known Harlequin story and plays best once you know the Drukhari.
9. Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives — Mike Brooks
Commorragh’s greatest gladiator left the Dark City to walk with the Ynnari. Pretenders have since moved in on her crown, and her return pulls her back into Vect’s plots.
- Series: Warhammer 40,000 Characters
- Era: After the Great Rift
- Why here: It’s the modern Drukhari book, and great for Wych Cult players.
Deeper cuts: Ynnari and Corsairs
10. Ghost Warrior — Gav Thorpe
A long-lost Craftworld, Ziasuthra, reappears from the warp. Spiritseer Iyanna and Yvraine, the Emissary of Ynnead, lead a small force there with a hidden purpose of their own.
- Series: Rise of the Ynnari, book 1
- Era: After the Great Rift
- Why here: It’s the first Aeldari novel set after the Gathering Storm and introduces the Ynnari properly. Our Ynnari explainer covers the background.
11. Wild Rider — Gav Thorpe
The Wild Lord Nuadhu Fireheart of Saim-Hann wakes a slumbering Necron tomb world, and his clan has to ally with the Ynnari to destroy it.
- Series: Rise of the Ynnari, book 2
- Era: After the Great Rift
- Why here: It’s the direct sequel to Ghost Warrior, with plenty of jetbike action.
12. Voidscarred — Mike Brooks
Baron Myrin Stormdawn of the Starsplinters Corsairs teams up with a Craftworld Aeldari to deal with a rival band of Ork Freebooterz fighting over plunder and territory.
- Series: Standalone (released 2025)
- Era: 41st Millennium
- Why here: It shows the Corsairs, who live somewhere between the Craftworlds and the Drukhari. For more Aeldari-meets-Ork fun, Da Big Dakka on our Orks books reading order sends Orks into Commorragh.
Common mistakes
- Starting with the Ynnari. Ghost Warrior assumes you know what Craftworlds, Drukhari and Ynnead are. Read the Path books first.
- Mixing up the two Path trilogies. Path of the Eldar (Gav Thorpe) is about the Craftworlds, and Path of the Dark Eldar (Andy Chambers) is about the Drukhari. Both are worth reading, and they’re separate stories.
- Expecting Valedor to be by Gav Thorpe. It’s by Guy Haley, which matters if you’re searching for it.
- Skipping the Drukhari books if you play Craftworlds. The two cultures are bound together, and books like Valedor and Lelith Hesperax mix them.
- Buying every trilogy book separately without checking the omnibus. Both Path trilogies are collected in single omnibus editions, which keeps your shelf (or Kindle library) tidier.
FAQ
What is the best first Aeldari book?
Path of the Warrior by Gav Thorpe. It explains the Path system and Aspect Warriors from the inside and starts a complete trilogy.
What is the best first Drukhari book?
Path of the Renegade by Andy Chambers, the first of the Path of the Dark Eldar trilogy. Then try Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives for a more recent take. Our Drukhari army page covers the tabletop side.
Are there any Harlequin novels?
The Masque of Vyle by Andy Chambers is the main Harlequin-led story. Harlequins also appear in the Path of the Dark Eldar books.
What order are the Rise of the Ynnari books in?
Ghost Warrior, then Wild Rider. The short story Fireheart links the two by introducing Nuadhu Fireheart.
Do I need to read these in order?
Only within each series. The Path trilogies and the Ynnari books each run in order, Asurmen comes before Jain Zar, and everything else stands alone. For the tabletop, see our Aeldari army page.
Do I need to know Warhammer 40k lore before reading Aeldari books?
No. Path of the Warrior is written to stand on its own and explains the Path system, Aspect Warriors and the Craftworlds’ fear of Slaanesh from the inside. That makes it a good first 40k novel as well as a good first Aeldari one. The Ynnari books are the exception, because Ghost Warrior assumes you already know what Craftworlds, Drukhari and Ynnead are.
Which Aeldari books are set after the Great Rift?
On this list, Ghost Warrior, Wild Rider and Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives are set after the Great Rift. Ghost Warrior was the first Aeldari novel set after the Gathering Storm, and Wild Rider follows on from it. The Path trilogies, the Phoenix Lord novels, Valedor and The Masque of Vyle are all set in the 41st Millennium before the Rift, so read those first for background.