Blizzard’sDiabloseries has been one of the most popular ARPGs since its first release in early 1997. Taking place in the world of Sanctuary, a separate, secret world created to help its founders escape the Eternal Conflict between Heaven and Hell, it’s a gory, quasi-biblical, violent lore. While most of the lore takes place in the four mainline games, many books help to flesh out and further explain the canon.
If you’re looking for the best way to jump into the Diablo lore, the novels are an excellent place to start. Here are our picks for the best books in the Diablo series in 2024.
Updated July 28, 2025 by Kenny Kimberly:Diablo’s been in the spotlight lately with an absolutely stellar season release, Loot Reborn. I’ve pulled myself away from grinding Living Steel long enough to come back and clean up this piece for us all since we all could use a nice new read. Enjoy the additions!
Diablo: The Sin War Book One - Birthright
3,000 years in the past
Kicking off the Sin War trilogy, Birthright takes place 3,000 years before the original Darkening of Tristram. Following a character named Uldyssian, the novel depicts his flight from a false accusation in his journey to clear his name as magical powers awaken within him.
Long before the Darkening of Tristram, Sanctuary was plunged into a long and bloody conflict called the Sin War. The Sin War trilogy focuses on the events around the Sin War, with the first book, Birthright, focusing on Uldyssian.
Uldyssian is a farmer turned fugitive after being blamed for the death of a pair of traveling missionaries. Forced to flee his home to get away from the false accusations, Uldyssian attempts to clear his name only to find horrific powers blossoming inside of him. Vying to retain his humanity as his newfound power threatens to tear him apart, Uldyssian sparks the start of a franchise that helps to flesh out the dangers of magic in the world of Sanctuary.
Richard A. Knaak’s Diablo: Moon of the Spider
Not ideal for the arachnophobic
If you’ve spent time reading any novels in the Blizzard canon, you’ve likely come across the phenomenal works of Richard A. Knaak. This story is set early in the Diablo storyline and helps to expand on the lore of the world.
In Blizzard’s library, there are a few authors that always stand out. Christie Golden is undoubtedly one of the most beloved names, though recent events after the Microsoft acquisition seem to have led to her departure from the team. A name just as titanic is Richard A. Knaak, author of countless iconic stories in the Blizzard canon.
His work on Moon of the Spider is a can’t-miss for any fan of Blizzard lore or Knaak’s writing. We’re going to keep this completely spoiler-free, as there are some twists in this story that absolutely have to be read without spoilers. Just maybe skip this story if you’re arachnaphobic, is all.
Nate Kenyon’s Diablo III: The Order
Stay a while and read
Fans of the Horadric Order, Diablo 3, or Deckard Cain are sure to love this book. Set in the timeline of the third installment in the franchise, this story follows Cain’s efforts to keep the Horadrim alive and a thrilling discovery he makes along the way.
For fans of Diablo 3, this is an unmissable tale. The story takes place before the events of the third game, following Deckard Cain in his efforts to both keep the Horadric Order alive and to continue to follows his duties as a Horadrim. During his research, he discovers an exciting and hopeful bit of information that could turn the tides in the Eternal Conflict.
We won’t go any further than that to avoid any spoilers. We wouldn’t recommend this as the first Diablo novel you read due to how interwoven its lore is with the rest of the franchise, but if you have a grasp of the universe, this is an unmissable tale.
Diablo: Legacy of Blood
The worst kind of cursed armor to find
Published in 2001, Legacy of Blood follows the sellsword Norrec Vizharan. After finding a valuable artifact, he discovers that it’s being pursued by demons that want it for its power. Stuck between fleeing the demons and trying to manage the bloodlust the armor inflicts, it’s a grim story of curses, demons, and bloodshed.
Released in 2001, Legacy of Blood follows the story of a soldier of fortune named Norrec Vizharan. Desperate to make his fortune, Vizharan finds the armor of Bartuc, a mythical Warlord of Blood. Though he’s elated to have found the artifact, Vizharan soon finds himself being chased by a group of demons that desire the armor to take its power.
Making matters worse is the vicious bloodlust that the armor has awakening in him. Desperate to cure the curse, Vizharan has towork against the demonsattempting to take him and the armor as well as the overwhelming, uncontrollable bloodlust that the Warlord of Blood’s legacy is forcing him into. This novel is a standalone novel that needs no other reading nor information from the game to comprehend, making it great for dark fantasy lovers of all kinds.
Diablo: Tales from the Horadric Library
A short story for every taste
Diablo: Tales from the Horadric Library is an anthology of short stories taking place in the universe. Penned by multiple authors, this story gets its name from the Brotherhood of the Horadrim, a group of scholarly defenders of Sanctuary.
Novels are great, but sometimes, it’s better to have a collection of short stories instead of needing to finish several hundred pages of a lore-rich book. The Tales from the Horadric Library fits this ideally, taking the form of an anthology of short stories that all take place at various points in the Diablo universe.
The anthology takes its name from the scholarly order of Sanctuary’s defenders, the Brotherhood of the Horadrim. These stories are varied, with something to fit nearly any taste. They’re generally not vital to the lore, meaning that few crucial canon events are discussed in this collection. Still, they’re great for worldbuilding and are riveting stories in their own right.
Diablo: The Black Road
Almost to Tristram
Following the sellsword Darrick Lang as he returns home after a long journey, The Black Road highlights Lang’s trauma from his time as a sailor. This story takes place around the events of the first game in the Diablo series, mentioning the titular demon through its story.
The Diablo series is rich with soldiers of fortune, and The Black Road shares the story of one of the most tormented. The Black Road follows Darrick Lang, returning home after a long journey away. Finding his home corrupted by an unknown force, Darrick fights against the power that’s consuming his home to try and save it.
As a standalone novel, you may enjoy this story with no previous knowledge of the game or any other books. Despite this, it isn’t completely detached from the lore of the games. The Black Road takes place around the events of Diablo 1 and the Darkening of Tristram, the harrowing event that sets off the series of games. While this event isn’t occurring in the book, Diablo’s presence is alluded to or referenced a few times.
Diablo: Legends of the Barbarian - Bul-Kathos
Bul-Kathos guides your hand
Published in July 2023, Legends of the Barbarian - Bul-Kathos takes place long before the events of the Sin War. The graphic novel focuses on the legendary Bul-Kathos, using a graphic novel format to describe his rise to prestige as the father of Barbarians.
Are you a Barbarian main looking for a story that highlights your ancestors and the glory of Mount Arreat? Maybe you prefer graphic novels over several hundred page novels for their swifter, more vivid reading? Whatever the case may be, Legends of the Barbarian - Bul-Kathos is the perfect Diablo novel.
Taking place long before the events of the Sin War, this story focuses instead on the age of the Nephalem, the first offspring of Angels and Demons and progenitors of Humanity. The graphic novel focuses on the Nephalem Bul-Kathos, a father of two and the future legendary hero of myth that would create the Barbarian civilization.
Diablo: The Official Cookbook: Recipes And Tales From The Inns Of Sanctuary
Ignore the fact that food isn’t in the game
Diablo’s official cookbook is a great resource to help fans of the lore see more about the culture of the people inside the franchise. While fans find this odd given that food isn’t central to the game, food enthusiasts only find it delicious.
When you think of a lore book, you likely don’t think of a cookbook. But Blizzard’sline of cookbookshas extended to Diablo, making it the latest gaming series to join the trend. One interesting thing for this cookbook is that, unlike many other games, there isn’t any sort of focus or mechanic on food in any of the Diablo games.
Regardless, this is a great resource for learning about the cultures of the game. The dishes help to highlight the real-world influences of the universe, such as the Scottish and European influences on the cuisine of Scosglen. It’s a wonderful way to bring the world closer to life while also helping you decide on your next dinner.
Diablo: The Kingdom of Shadow
Great for anyone seeking adventure
The Kingdom of Shadow tells the story of the long-dead city of Ureh, a mythical township that some believe to be a gate to the High Heavens. This 2002 release is a standalone novel that was eventually included in the Diablo Archive.
For adventure fans, Richard A. Knaak’s The Kingdom of Shadow is a great starting point. This standalone novel requires no outside reading or information from the game, making it a great starting point for new fans or people who are looking to learn more about that world.
The Kingdom of Shadow follows a mercenary captain’s journey to the dead city of Ureh, a location long thought to be the home of a gate to the High Heavens. Joining him is Quov Tsin, a leader of a hired band of mercenaries and a dedicated Vizjerei sorcerer.
FAQ
Are The Diablo Novels Canon?
The Diablo novels are generally considered canon, yes. However, most of them are not directly tied with the games. Most are prequels and explain lore events, such as the Sin War or the age of the Nephalem.
Where Can I find Diablo Novels?
We recommend using Amazon to find most of them, as some of these books were published decades ago and aren’t regularly carried by brick-and-mortar shops. For newer releases, you can often find them in your standard local bookstore.
No! In fact, most of the lore in the novels is for worldbuilding and is far from critical for understanding the games. The games do a good job of explaining any of the critical events or characters like the Archangels, the Prime Evils, the Sin War, the Nephalem, and more. Diablo II and III in particular are great sources for learning these events, while Diablo 4 focuses heavily on Lilith, Inarius, and the Creation of Sanctuary.
