Destiny's Children
science fiction
Series · science fiction
Blood Angels: Rafen
The Blood Angels: Rafen series by James Swallow has 4 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Deus Encarmine (2004).
- Books
- 4 books
- First published
- 2004
- Status
- completed
- Last checked
Start here: Deus Encarmine (2004) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Deus Encarmine
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Deus Encarmine - Book 2:
Deus Sanguinius
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Deus Sanguinius - Book 3:
Red Fury
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Red Fury - Book 4:
Black Tide
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Black Tide
About the Blood Angels: Rafen series
James Swallow's Blood Angels quartet follows Rafen, a battle-brother of the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter, through a Chapter-defining crisis of faith and blood. Deus Encarmine (2004) opens with Rafen's own brother, Arkio, apparently manifesting miracles that convince the wider Chapter he is the reincarnation of Sanguinius, their revered primarch -- a claim only Rafen, who has watched Arkio change in ways the others haven't noticed, is willing to doubt. Deus Sanguinius (2005) pushes that doubt into open schism, with an Inquisitor's hidden agenda threatening to tear the entire Chapter apart from within.
Red Fury (2008) and Black Tide (2010) continue Rafen's story after the Encarmine/Sanguinius duology's fallout, rebuilding a Chapter left dangerously weakened and sending Rafen after the renegade Chaos scientist Fabius Bile to recover stolen relics of Sanguinius's own blood. Read together, the four novels are one of Black Library's earliest deep character studies of a Space Marine Chapter's internal culture and psychology -- the Blood Angels' particular curse, the Red Thirst and Black Rage that shadow every battle-brother -- told from inside the ranks rather than as background lore.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in James Swallow's Blood Angels series?
Four novels centred on Rafen: Deus Encarmine (2004), Deus Sanguinius (2005), Red Fury (2008) and Black Tide (2010).
What order should I read the Blood Angels Rafen novels in?
Publication order. Deus Encarmine and Deus Sanguinius are a direct two-part story; Red Fury and Black Tide continue Rafen's arc afterward.
Is this the same as Blood Angels: The Omnibus?
Blood Angels: The Omnibus collects just Deus Encarmine and Deus Sanguinius. All four novels together, plus short fiction, are collected separately as Blood Angels: The Complete Rafen Omnibus.
Is the Rafen quartet complete?
Yes, it's a complete four-book arc. James Swallow later wrote further, separate Blood Angels short fiction (including Dante: Lord of the Host, 2013), not tracked in this file.
If you like the Blood Angels: Rafen series
Reading order last verified .