Horus Rising

The Horus Heresy Saga, Book 1

By: Dan Abnett

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Audiobook 1 in the Horus Heresy Saga

After centuries of expansion and conquest, the human Imperium is at its height. His dream for humanity accomplished, the Emperor hands over the reins of power to his Warmaster, Horus, and heads back to Terra.

LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE
It all begins here. Witness Horus the hero, humanity's greatest champion and the Emperor's favoured son, before it all goes horribly, tragically wrong…

THE STORY
It is the 31st Millennium. Under the benevolent leadership of the Immortal Emperor, the Imperium has stretched out across the galaxy. It is a golden age of discovery and conquest. But now, on the eve of victory, the Emperor leaves the front lines, entrusting the great crusade to his favourite son, Horus.

Promoted to Warmaster, can the idealistic Horus carry out the Emperor's grand plan, or will this promotion sow the seeds of heresy amongst his brothers? Horus Rising is the first chapter in the epic tale of the Horus Heresy, a galactic civil war that threatened to bring about the extinction of humanity.

Written by Dan Abnett. Narrated by Jonathan Keeble. Runtime 12 hours 22 minutes approx.

©2026 Games Workshop Limited (P)2026 Games Workshop Limited

the voice actor was superb

I love 40k but reading is difficult for me, much less the huge time that is the Horus heresy books. the audiobook made it accessable for me and I didn't expect it to, but I will definitely be giving the next in the series a try

Great story

The narrator was excellent and the story never slowed or got boring the characters fit perfectly and I’m looking forward to the next novel.

I hate Erebus even more now…..

I really enjoyed the story line and lore building this book did. Jonathan Keeble is such a good narrator, and really does the writing justice by bringing the characters to life. There’s so many plot points on the great crusade that got filled in for me, and it made me really appreciate the way Astartes carry themselves with each other, this book really shows off some intellect I’m not usually used to seeing from the Space Marines of the Luna Wolves.

you already know the book is incredible and if you didnt then get it already what are you even doin with your life bro

the story is incredible and is pretty well accepted as THE starting point. I personally loved Toby Longworths narration of this book myself but I recognize that subjectively some people may not have. Jonathan Keeble is my favorite hands down and so I'm incredibly pleased this was made, I used to think how amazing it would be if we re-released the books to all feature him.

TLDR: if you are just wondering if this is a good audiobook the answer is yes.
TLDR: if you are just wondering if this a more good audiobook with Keeble or Longworth the answer is also yes

Superb and sad

My first foray into the 40k novels was Cain but this was my first into the meat of the Herecy and if there is any appropriate way to describe the book its beautiful, brutal, and so very sad because we know what happens down this path. The most terrible thing is how likable and relatable Horus is for a demigod. He is noble, intelligent, honorable, and all that the favorite son of the Emperor should be. The narration is gripping, the read is glorious, and if you don't audibly boo and hiss when Erebus shows up, are you honestly a warhammer fan?

In all seriousness, this book should be a classroom study on how an author respects heros and villains enough to not render them 2d caricatures and a proper way one tells a prequel backstory.