15 Fantasy Books as Good as Lord of the Rings

The exemplar of mainstream fantasy is the Lord of the Rings. If you’re looking for books with that same feeling while offering something fresh, this list has you covered. Here are 15 fantasy books that are just as good.

15. “Throne of the Crescent Moon” by Saladin Ahmed

Set in a Middle East-inspired fantasy world, this series draws comparisons to the sword & sorcery Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. It’s a refreshing change from the medieval European setting that’s a fantasy trope. A throne is held by a force wielding both mortal and supernatural threats. This story delivers all the excitement you’d expect in a high fantasy tale.

14. “Song of Blood and Stone” by L. Penelope

At the heart of this story is a magical system of Earthsingers and The Silent, and two warring worlds held apart by a fragile veil. We follow Jasminda, an Earthsinger living among The Silent. She meets Jack, a spy from the other side. Peace is at risk. This story examines the real-life factors dividing humans, all within a complex fantasy world.

13. “Graceling” by Kristin Cashore

Graceling is the first book in a trilogy. It follows Katsa, a young woman living in a world where people are gifted with different talents, such as cooking, singing, swimming, etc. Katsa’s talent is killing. She’s the king’s niece. She’s long been forced to use her talent to serve others. When she decides she’s done with that, her journey begins.

12. “The Grace of Kings” by Ken Liu

This highly-awarded novel is lighthearted, thoughtful, inclusive, and epic. It follows Kuni and Mata, opposites brought together in a fight against tyranny. However, after the dust settles, they become leaders of separate groups with separate ideas about where to go from here. Adding to the dilemmas are mythic plot developments and trickster gods.

11. “The Dragon Sword and Wind Child” by Noriko Ogiwara, Translated by Cathy Hirano

This unique and atmospheric novel blends traditional Western fantasy with elements of Japanese mythology. It follows Saya, a teenager who mostly ignores the war between the forces of light and darkness. That is until she discovers she’s a reincarnated priestess of the Goddess of Dark. The tension comes from Saya’s reluctance to lead and being pulled between light and dark.

10. “Dragonsong” by Anne McCaffery

Dragonsong follows Mellony, a musical heroine who runs away to honor her thwarted love of music. Soon thereafter, she has trained nine fire-breathing lizards to sing. She’s become a Mistress of Music. But there’s more afoot. She discovers her new charges quite possibly have the power to save her world.

9. “Sabriel” by Garth Nix

The novel follows Sabriel, a young woman who leaves her comfort zone in search of her missing father. When she enters the Old Kingdom, she realizes her revelations have placed her with confronting a world she’s been shielded from. Readers will enjoy this tough and relatable titular character. Fantasy fans will appreciate the inventive world-building by Garth Nix.

8. “The Deed of Paksenarrion” by Elizabeth Moon

Anyone looking for a book like Lord of the Rings should start with The Deed of Paksenarrion. It’s packed with many of the hallowed high-fantasy tropes. However, it’s far from rehashed tropes. The main character is Paks, a teenage girl. This tale perfectly blends the familiar with something fresh. Paks’s journey feels different, special, remarkable, and definitely re-readable.

7. “The Demon King” by Cinda Williams Chima

The Demon King is the first of a four-novel epic series. The novel features stand-alone leads whose lives slowly drift toward one another and lead to an action-packed culmination. You will be introduced to different clans and classes, wizardry, magical amulets, Queendom, and more. These elements intertwine with character goals for a sense of belonging and a wish to control.

6. “Sorcerer to the Crown” by Zen Cho

Like Lord of the Rings, this story’s appeal is its unlikely hero. Zacharias and Prunella are disdained and despised for their race and sex. However, the return of magic to England rests in their underestimated but capable hands. Adding to the appeal are witty characterizations and the Regency-era politics that overlay the magical world.

5. “The Fifth Season” by N.K. Jemisin

Set on a far-future Earth, the continents have shifted into a single mass where violent tectonic activity is everpresent. However, some people have the power to harness Earth’s energy and can forestall earthquakes. Depending on the region, such people are either revered or reviled. It’s a masterpiece of “de-colonized fiction.” Jemisin is a “don’t miss” fantasy author.

4. “An Ember in the Ashes” by Sabaa Tahir

This story follows characters Laia and Elias, a slave and soldier in the Martial Empire. Not content with their current positions in life, they take a closer look at the forces of evil driving the brutality of their world. What they find is a mix of ancient magic and unsavory people. This entire series is amazing!

3. “A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula K. Le Guin

A Wizard of Earthsea can be compared more to The Hobbit than Lord of the Rings. It focuses on a young wizard named Ged who struggles with his pride and ignorance and the disastrous results they bring. Ursula K. Le Guin is a master of world-building and fantasy and you’ll want to read more by this author!

2. “Legend of Drizzt: Homeland” by R.A. Salvatore

In this Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms series, Drizzt is a spinoff character from an earlier trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. The first book gives the background on Drizzt’s life as an elf born into an evil society. This book belongs on the “must-read” list and makes a great intro for teens and people just getting into reading fantasy.

1. “Aurora Rising” by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristof

A student named Tyler — who through an act of heroism, is late to his graduation from the Academy — is stuck with a group of cadets who are the institution’s dregs. The group bonds around solving a mystery involving a girl who has been in cyber-sleep for hundreds of years. This battle of good and evil involves conspiracy and telekinesis.