The Best Books To Read For Fans Of Lord Of The Rings
“What are the best books to read if you are a fan of Lord Of The Rings?” We looked at 113 of the top books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!
Lord Of The Rings is hard to equal in scope, influence, and the longevity of its popularity, but we tried our best to gather a variety of different books and series to read if you are a fan of LOTR and want something else similar to read. The top 43 books, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Books For Fans Of Lord Of The Rings” lists, are ranked below with images, descriptions, and links. The remaining 50+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.
Happy Scrolling!
Top Books To Read For Fans Of Lord Of The Rings
43 .) Dragonsbane (Winterlands Book 1) by Barbara Hambly
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
“As a vicious dragon stalks the Southlands, Crown Prince Gareth ventures to the forbidding North in search of the only man who can kill it. He is Lord Aversin, the Dragonsbane, whose dragon-slaying days have won him renown across the land. But when Gareth finds Lord Aversin, he discovers the mighty hero is squat and bespectacled, the ruler of a mud-village who admits that he killed the dragon not with a lance, but with ignoble poison. Still, he’ll have to do.
Gareth and Aversin set off in company with Jenny Waynest, a witch with great ambitions but disappointingly puny powers—a ragtag crew destined to become legendary, or die in the attempt.”
42 .) The Lion of Farside (Farside, #1) by John Dalmas
Lists It Appears On:
- Skorks
- About Great Books
The Macurdies had been farmers for generations, and Curtis Macurdy would have been content to spend his life with his exoticallybeautiful wife Varia, earning a living by tilling his plot of land in the American Midwest. Varia was from Yuulith, a magical world separated from Earth by only a dimensional barrier that could sometimes be broached.
41 .) Graceling (Graceling Realm Book 1) by Kristin Cashore
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.
40 .) Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- About Great Books
“Fifteen-year-old Menolly allies with magnificent dragons in the first book in the Harper Hall trilogy, set within science fiction legend Anne McCaffrey’s beloved and bestselling Dragonriders of Pern series.
For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But the number of magnificent dragons who have protected this world and the men and women who ride them are dwindling.
As fewer dragons ride the winds and destruction falls from the sky, Menolly has only one dream: to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily—she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a young girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams. So Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world…and change her life forever.”
39 .) Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- About Great Books
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
38 .) Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
When Zane shot Death, he learned, too late, that he would have to assume his place, speeding over the world riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Sooner than he would have thought possible, Zane found himself being drawn to Satan’s plot. Already the Prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved…unless he could discover the only way out…
37 .) Lion of Macedon by David Gemmell
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
“Over and again, the aged seeress Tamis scried all the possible tomorrows. In every one, dark forces threatened Greece; terrible evil was poised to reenter the world. The future held only one hope: a half-caste Spartan boy, Parmenion. So Tamis made it her mission to see that Parmenion would before the deadliest warrior in the world — no matter what the cost.
Raised to manhood in Sparta, bullied and forced to fight for his life every day, Parmenion had no notion of the unseen dimensions of magic and mystery that shaped his fate. He grew in strength and cunning. His military genius earned him the title Strategos in Sparta. His triumphs for the city of Thebes made him a hero. And finally his fate led him to the service of Philip of Macedon.
As Tamis had foreseen, Parmenion’s destiny was tied to the Dark God, to Philip, and to the yet-unborn Alexander. All too soon the future was upon them. Parmenion stood poised to defeat evil — or to open the gate for the Dark God to reenter the world”
36 .) Sabriel (Abhorsen Trilogy Book 1) by Garth Nix
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
Since childhood, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who refuse to stay dead. But now her father, the Charter-Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him Sabriel must cross back into that world. With Mogget, whose feline form hides a powerful, perhaps malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage, Sabriel travels deep into the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more than her life–and comes face-to-face with her own hidden destiny.
35 .) Saga of Recluse by L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
“Young Lerris is dissatisfied with his life and trade, and yearns to find a place in the world better suited to his skills and temperament. But in Recluce a change in circumstances means taking one of two options: permanent exile from Recluce or the dangergeld, a complex, rule-laden wanderjahr in the lands beyond Recluce, with the aim of learning how the world works and what his place in it might be. Many do not survive. Lerris chooses dangergeld.
When Lerris is sent into intensive training for his quest, it soon becomes clear that he has a natural talent for magic. And he will need magic in the lands beyond, where the power of the Chaos Wizards reigns unchecked. Though it goes against all of his instincts, Lerris must learn to use his powers in an orderly way before his wanderjahr, or fall prey to Chaos.”
34 .) Soldier Son by Robin Hobb
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
Nevare Burvelle was destined from birth to be a soldier. The second son of a newly anointed nobleman, he must endure the rigors of military training at the elite King’s Cavella Academy—and survive the hatred, cruelty, and derision of his aristocratic classmates—before joining the King of Gernia’s brutal campaign of territorial expansion. The life chosen for him will be fraught with hardship, for he must ultimately face a forest-dwelling folk who will not submit easily to a king’s tyranny. And they possess an ancient magic their would-be conquerors have long discounted—a powerful sorcery that threatens to claim Nevare Burvelle’s soul and devastate his world once the Dark Evening brings the carnival to Old Thares.
33 .) Stones of Power by David Gemmell
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
“Chaos and terror stalked the realm. The king had been slain by traitors, and the sword of power had been lost beyond the Circle of Mist. Armies of Saxons, Angles, Jutes, and Brigantes cut a gory swath across the land, led by puppets of the ruthless Witch Queen–whose minions included dark, bloodthirsty creatures and a savage, undead warrior.
All hope lay with young Thuro–in whose veins flowed the blood of kings. He would have to defeat the Witch Queen’s monsters and travel to the land of the Mist, there to seek a ghostly army. And the only one who could prepare Thuro to achieve his birthright was the mountain warrior Culain, the one man who knew the queen’s deadly secret . . .
The legend of the mystic Stones of Power begins with a tale of blood and glory, of love and betrayal, as a boy must come of age amidst the seemingly impossible quest to become the High King.”
32 .) Tales of Alvin Maker by Orson Scott Card
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
From the author of Ender’s Game, an unforgettable story about young Alvin Maker: the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with the power. He must learn to use his gift wisely. But dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.
31 .) The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Goodreads
Millions of young readers have been enthralled by the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his lively companions as they journey through the magical land of Prydain. First published more than thirty years ago and translated into twenty different languages, Lloyd Alexander’s beloved series has become the standard of excellence in fantasy literature for children. Among their many accolades, the award-winning Chronicles of Prydain count a Newbery Medal, a Newbery Honor, and more than two million copies in print.
30 .) The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- SF Signal
“The first book in one of the most remarkable epic fantasies ever written, the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever.
He called himself Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself. Yet he was tempted to believe, to fight for the Land, to be the reincarnation of its greatest hero…”
29 .) The Darwath Trilogy by Barbara Hambly
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- About Great Books
“As a student of medieval history, Gil Patterson is a woman familiar with dark stories. She knows well the Crusades, the Black Death, and the other horrors of the Middle Ages, but it is another kind of atrocity that has begun to haunt her dreams. She sees forces of evil assaulting a beleaguered kingdom, whose kind people are on the brink of annihilation, and awakes each morning in a cold sweat.
Gil dismisses the dreams until a wizard appears in her apartment. He has crossed into her dimension, passing through the fraying fabric of the universe, to ask her help. For mankind to survive he must protect an infant prince, whom he plans to hide in Gil’s world. The student of history is about to get much closer to evil than she ever imagined.”
28 .) The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Skorks
Paksenarrion–Paks, for short–refuses her father’s orders to marry the pig farmer down the road and is off to join the army. And so her adventure begins–the adventure that transforms her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.
27 .) The Demon King (The Seven Realms Book 1) by Cinda Williams Chima
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
“One day Han Alister catches three young wizard setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet away from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won’t use it against him. The amulet once belonged to the Demon King, who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece so powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.
Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna has her own battle to fight. She’s just returned to court after three years of riding and hunting with her father’s family. Raia aspires to be like Hanalea, the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems that her mother has other plans for her-plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.”
26 .) The Dwarves (Dwarves #1) by Markus Heitz
Lists It Appears On:
- Goodreads
- A Fictional Universe
“Abandoned as a child, Tungdil the blacksmith labors contentedly in the land of Ionandar, the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. Although he does not want for friends, Tungdil is very much aware that he is alone – indeed, he has not so much as set eyes on another dwarf. But all that is about to change.
Sent out into the world to deliver a message and reacquaint himself with his people, the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety, but the life of every man, woman and child in Girdlegard depends upon his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions, Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised, he is a true dwarf.”
25 .) The Fionnavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay
Lists It Appears On:
- Best Fantasy Clones
“The Summer Tree is the first novel of Guy Gavriel Kay’s critically acclaimed fantasy trilogy, The Fionavar Tapestry. Five university students embark on a journey of self-discovery when they enter a realm of wizards and warriors, gods and mythical creatures–and good and evil…
It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who would take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds–Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need–the need of Fionavar and all the worlds–was great indeed.And in a marvelous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods, five young people discovered who they were truly meant to be. For they are a long-awaited part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving the wrath the Unraveller and his minions of darkness intend to unleash upon the world…”
24 .) The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- A Fictional Universe
“A great modern classic and the prelude to The Lord of the Rings.
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.”
23 .) The Ill-Made Mute (Bitterbynde Trilogy Book 1) by Cecilia Dart-Thornton
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
In all of Erith, there is perhaps no one as wretched as the nameless mute foundling confined to the lowest depths of Isse Tower. Abused by many and despised by all, the pathetic creature lives without memories in the shadows. The amnesiac longs to escape—to roam the wild landscape in search of a past, a name, a destiny—but dangers surround the tower. Only flying ships and majestic winged horses carrying important visitors can reach the castle safely, landing high above the ground on its battlements. The local servants whisper about malevolent creatures that roam the forests and bear no love for humankind. Escape seems impossible in this treacherous world of wights and monsters.
22 .) The Killing Moon (Dreamblood Book 1) by N. K. Jemisin
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
“The city burned beneath the Dreaming Moon.
In the ancient city-state of Gujaareh, peace is the only law. Upon its rooftops and amongst the shadows of its cobbled streets wait the Gatherers – the keepers of this peace. Priests of the dream-goddess, their duty is to harvest the magic of the sleeping mind and use it to heal, soothe . . . and kill those judged corrupt.
But when a conspiracy blooms within Gujaareh’s great temple, Ehiru – the most famous of the city’s Gatherers – must question everything he knows. Someone, or something, is murdering dreamers in the goddess’ name, stalking its prey both in Gujaareh’s alleys and the realm of dreams. Ehiru must now protect the woman he was sent to kill – or watch the city be devoured by war and forbidden magic.”
21 .) The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- SF Signal
“Quentin Coldwater has been cast out of Fillory, the secret magical land of his childhood dreams. With nothing left to lose he returns to where his story began, the Brakebills Preparatory College of Magic. But he can’t hide from his past, and it’s not long before it comes looking for him.
Along with Plum, a brilliant young undergraduate with a dark secret of her own, Quentin sets out on a crooked path through a magical demimonde of gray magic and desperate characters. But all roads lead back to Fillory, and his new life takes him to old haunts, like Antarctica, and to buried secrets and old friends he thought were lost forever. He uncovers the key to a sorcery masterwork, a spell that could create magical utopia, a new Fillory—but casting it will set in motion a chain of events that will bring Earth and Fillory crashing together. To save them he will have to risk sacrificing everything.”
20 .) The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Lists It Appears On:
- Fuelled By Fiction
- About Great Books
“The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.
For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.
However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand . . .
Conceived and written on a panoramic scale, Gardens of the Moon is epic fantasy of the highest order–an enthralling adventure by an outstanding new voice.”
19 .) The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
Lists It Appears On:
- Fuelled By Fiction
“Once, a hero rose to save the world. He failed.
For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.
Yet somehow, hope survives and a new kind of uprising is being planned-one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine: a teenage street urchin named Vin.
Once, a hero rose to save the world and failed. This time, can a young heroine succeed?”
18 .) The Prince of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker
Lists It Appears On:
- Skorks
- Best Fantasy Clones
Strikingly original in its conception, ambitious in scope, with characters engrossingly and vividly drawn, the first book in R. Scott Bakker’s Prince of Nothing series creates a remarkable world from whole cloth-its language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals-the kind of all-embracing universe Tolkien and Herbert created unforgettably in the epic fantasies The Lord of the Rings and Dune. It’s a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasurimbor Kellhus—part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence—from lands long thought dead. The Darkness That Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.
17 .) The Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip
Lists It Appears On:
- Best Fantasy Clones
- About Great Books
For over twenty years, Patricia A. McKillip has captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands of readers. And although her renowned Riddle-Master trilogy–The Riddle-Master of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind–has been long out of print, it is considered her most enduring and beloved work. Now it is collected in one volume for the first time–the epic journeys of a young prince in a strange land, where wizards have long since vanished…but where magic is waiting to be reborn.
16 .) The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Fuelled By Fiction
“Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.
One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.”
15 .) The Sundering by Jacqueline Carey
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Best Fantasy Clones
“If all that is good thinks you evil… are you?
Once upon a time, the Seven Shapers dwelled in accord and Shaped the world to their will. But Satoris, the youngest among them, was deemed too generous in his gifts to the race of Men, and so began the Shapers’ War, which Sundered the world. Now six of the Shapers lay to one end of a vast ocean, and Satoris to the other, reviled by even the race of Men.
Satoris sits in his Darkhaven, surrounded by his allies. Chief among them is Tanaros Blacksword, immortal Commander General of his army. Once a mortal man who was betrayed by King and Wife, Tanaros fled to Darkhaven a thousand years ago, and in Satoris’s service has redeemed his honor-but left his humanity behind.
Now there is a new prophecy that tells of Satoris’s destruction and the redemption of the world. To thwart it, Satoris sends Tanaros to capture the Lady of the Ellylon, the beautiful Cerelinde, to prevent her alliance with the last High King of Men.
But Tanaros discovers that not all of his heart has been lost–his feelings for Cerelinde could doom Satoris, but save the race of Men…”
14 .) With Fire & Sword Trilogy by Henryk Sienkiewicz
Lists It Appears On:
- Huffington Post
- About Great Books
This powerful novel, “a Polish Gone with the Wind” (New York Times Book Review), is set in the 17th century and follows the struggle of the kingdom of Poland to maintain its unity in the face of the Cossack-led peasant rebellion.
13 .) Dragonlance Chronicles (Dragonlance #1-3) by Margaret Weis
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Goodreads
- A Fictional Universe
“Lifelong friends, they went their separate ways. Now they are together again, though each holds secrets from the others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful, sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world.
No one expected them to be heroes.
Least of all, them.”
12 .) His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- SF Signal
- Huffington Post
“These thrilling adventures tell the story of Lyra and Will—two ordinary children on a perilous journey through shimmering haunted otherworlds. They will meet witches and armored bears, fallen angels and soul-eating specters. And in the end, the fate of both the living—and the dead—will rely on them.
Phillip Pullman’s spellbinding His Dark Materials trilogy has captivated readers for over twenty years and won acclaim at every turn. It will have you questioning everything you know about your world and wondering what really lies just out of reach.”
11 .) The Belgariad by David Eddings
Lists It Appears On:
- A Fictional Universe
- Goodreads
“Long ago, the Storyteller claimed, in this first book of THE BELGARIAD, the evil god Torak drove men and Gods to war. But Belgarath the Sorcerer led men to reclaim the Orb that protected men of the West. So long as it lay at Riva, the prophecy went, men would be safe.
But Garion did not believe in such stories. Brought up on a quiet farm by his Aunt Pol, how could he know that the Apostate planned to wake dread Torak, or that he would be led on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger by those he loved–but did not know…?”
10 .) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- SF Signal
- Goodreads
Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world, which has been enchanting readers of all ages for over sixty years.
9 .) The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn #1) by Tad Williams
Lists It Appears On:
- Best Fantasy Clones
- A Fictional Universe
“A war fueled by the powers of dark sorcery is about to engulf the peaceful land of Osten Ard—for Prester John, the High King, lies dying. And with his death, the Storm King, the undead ruler of the elf-like Sithi, seizes the chance to regain his lost realm through a pact with the newly ascended king. Knowing the consequences of this bargain, the king’s younger brother joins with a small, scattered group of scholars, the League of the Scroll, to confront the true danger threatening Osten Ard.
Simon, a kitchen boy from the royal castle unknowingly apprenticed to a member of this League, will be sent on a quest that offers the only hope of salvation, a deadly riddle concerning long-lost swords of power. Compelled by fate and perilous magics, he must leave the only home he’s ever known and face enemies more terrifying than Osten Ard has ever seen, even as the land itself begins to die.”
8 .) The Well at the World’s End by William Morris
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
The Well at the World’s End is a fantasy novel by the British artist, poet, and author William Morris. Some believe it is the first example of novel set in an original fantasy world, and thus the inspiration for JRR Tolkien.
7 .) Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1) by Christopher Paolini
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- A Fictional Universe
- Early Bird Books
- Itcher
Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.
6 .) A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones) by George R. R. Martin
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- SF Signal
- Goodreads
- Fuelled By Fiction
“Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King’s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert’s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse—unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.
“
5 .) The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
Lists It Appears On:
- SF Signal
- About Great Books
- Goodreads
- SF Signal
“Enter the world of Gormenghast. The vast crumbling castle to which the seventy-seventh Earl, Titus Groan, is Lord and heir. Titus is expected to rule this Gothic labyrinth of turrets and dungeons, cloisters and corridors as well as his eccentric and wayward subjects. Over the course of these three novels-“”Titus Groan,”” “”Gormenghast,”” and”” Titus Alone””–Titus must contend with a kingdom about to implode beneath the weight of centuries of intrigue, treachery, manipulation, and murder.
Peake has been compared to Dickens and Tolkien, but the Gormenghast trilogy is unique. This true classic is a feast of words unlike anything else in the world of fantasy, and those who explore Gormenghast castle will be richly rewarded. “
4 .) The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle Book 1) by Patrick Rothfuss
Lists It Appears On:
- Fuelled By Fiction
- About Great Books
- Early Bird Books
“My name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.
So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature—the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend. “
3 .) Riftwar series by Raymond Feist
Lists It Appears On:
- A Fictional Universe
- Best Fantasy Clones
- SF Signal
Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan. Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni. While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir. Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival. But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy. Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all–in his own impregnable stronghold. An epic tale of adventure and intrigue. Daughter of the Empire is fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field today.
2 .) The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan
Lists It Appears On:
- About Great Books
- A Fictional Universe
- Early Bird Books
- Best Fantasy Clones
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
1 .) The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin
Lists It Appears On:
- A Fictional Universe
- Fuelled By Fiction
- About Great Books
- Goodreads
- Huffington Post
Originally published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea marks the first of the six now beloved Earthsea titles. Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death’s threshold to restore the balance.
The Additional Best Books To Read For Fans Of Lord Of The Rings
| # | Book | Author | Lists |
| (Titles Appear On 1 List Each) | |||
| 44 | A Tolkien Bestiary | David Day | Goodreads |
| 45 | AMBER | Roger Zelazny | |
| 46 | American Gods | SF Signal | |
| 47 | Arcane | Sever Bronny | About Great Books |
| 48 | Assassin’s Apprentice (Realm of the Elderlings #1) | Robin Hobb | A Fictional Universe |
| 49 | Chronicles of Prydain | Lloyd Alexander | Best Fantasy Clones |
| 50 | Codex Alera | Jim Butcher | Skorks |
| 51 | Discworld | Terry Pratchett | SF Signal |
| 52 | Dracula | Bram Stoker | SF Signal |
| 53 | Enemy of God (The Warlord Chronicles, #2) | Bernard Cornwell | Goodreads |
| 54 | Falling Kingdoms series | Morgan Rhodes | Fuelled By Fiction |
| 55 | First Law | Joe Abercrombie | Best Fantasy Clones |
| 56 | Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2) | Robin Hobb | Goodreads |
| 57 | Harry Potter | J.K. Rowling | Itcher |
| 58 | Hawksmoor | SF Signal | |
| 59 | Heir of Novron (The Riyria Revelations, #5-6) | Michael J. Sullivan | Goodreads |
| 60 | Idylls of the King | SF Signal | |
| 61 | J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century | Tom Shippey | Goodreads |
| 62 | Jerusalem Quartet | Edward Whittemore | SF Signal |
| 63 | Keltiad | Patricia Kennealy-Morrison | SF Signal |
| 64 | Legacy of the Drow Collector’s Edition (Legacy of the Drow, #1-4; Legend of Drizzt, #7-10) | R.A. Salvatore | Goodreads |
| 65 | Lord Foul’s Bane | Stephen R. Donaldson | Best Fantasy Clones |
| 66 | Lyonesse Trilogy | Jack Vance | About Great Books |
| 67 | Mists of Avalon | Marion Zimmer Bradley | SF Signal |
| 68 | Nevèrÿon | SF Signal | |
| 69 | Nights at the Circus | SF Signal | |
| 70 | Orlando Furioso | Ludovico Ariosto | SF Signal |
| 71 | Rot & Run/The Benny Imura Tetralogy | Jonathan Maberry | Huffington Post |
| 72 | Sailing to Sarantium | Guy Gavriel Kay | About Great Books |
| 73 | Shadowmarch | Tad Williams | About Great Books |
| 74 | Snow Like Ashes series | Sarah Raasch | Fuelled By Fiction |
| 75 | Symphony of Ages | Elizabeth Haydon | SF Signal |
| 76 | Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy | Douglas A. Anderson | About Great Books |
| 77 | That Hideous Strength (Space Trilogy, #3) | C.S. Lewis | Goodreads |
| 78 | The Anubis Gates | Tim Powers | About Great Books |
| 79 | The Ascendance Trilogy | Jennifer A Nielson | Fuelled By Fiction |
| 80 | The Atlas of Middle-Earth | Karen Wynn Fonstad | Goodreads |
| 81 | The Axe and the Throne | M.D. Ireman | About Great Books |
| 82 | The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | About Great Books |
| 83 | The Book of the New Sun tetrology | Gene Wolfe | SF Signal |
| 84 | The Brothers Lionheart | Astrid Lindgren | About Great Books |
| 85 | The Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne | Brian Staveley | About Great Books |
| 86 | The Complete Chronicles of Conan | Robert E. Howard | Goodreads |
| 87 | The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth | R.A. Foster | About Great Books |
| 88 | The Dark Elf Trilogy (Legend of Drizzt #1) | R. A. Salvatore | A Fictional Universe |
| 89 | The Dying Earth | Jack Vance | SF Signal |
| 90 | The Elenium | David Eddings | Itcher |
| 91 | The Face in the Frost | John Bellairs | SF Signal |
| 92 | The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen | R.T. Lowe | About Great Books |
| 93 | The Gentleman Bastard Sequence | Scott Lynch | Fuelled By Fiction |
| 94 | The Godless World | Brian Ruckley | Best Fantasy Clones |
| 95 | The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy in Five Parts | Douglas Adams | Goodreads |
| 96 | The Iron Tower | Dennis McKiernan | |
| 97 | The King of Elfland’s Daughter | Lord Dunsany | SF Signal |
| 98 | The Land of Laughs | Jonathan Carroll | SF Signal |
| 99 | The Last Unicorn | Peter S. Beagle | SF Signal |
| 100 | The Lumatere Chronicles | Melina Marchetta | Fuelled By Fiction |
| 101 | The Malloreon | David Eddings | |
| 102 | The Master and Margarita | SF Signal | |
| 103 | The Mortal Instruments | Cassandra Claire | Itcher |
| 104 | The Once and Future King | T. H. White’ | SF Signal |
| 105 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Oscar Wilde | SF Signal |
| 106 | The Serpent’s Tooth | Diana Paxson | SF Signal |
| 107 | The Steel Remains | Richard K. Morgan | About Great Books |
| 108 | The Swans’ War | Sean Russell | About Great Books |
| 109 | The Sword and the Flame (The Dragon King, #3) | Stephen R. Lawhead | Goodreads |
| 110 | The Sword of Shannara | ||
| 111 | The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen | Alan Garner | Best Fantasy Clones |
| 112 | The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | SF Signal |
| 113 | The Winner’s Trilogy | Marie Rutkoski | Fuelled By Fiction |
11 Best Books Similar To Lord Of The Rings Sources/Lists
| Source | Article |
| A Fictional Universe | If you like “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien, then you might enjoy… |
| About Great Books | Top 50 Books Like Lord of the Rings |
| Best Fantasy Clones | Best of the Tolkien Clones |
| Early Bird Books | 10 Engrossing Fantasy Books like The Lord of the Rings |
| Fuelled By Fiction | Lord of the Rings fan? Try these |
| Goodreads | Books like The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings, #1-3) |
| Huffington Post | 7 Trilogies That Are As Good As ‘Lord Of The Rings’ |
| Itcher | 4 Great Books like Lord of the Rings – Epic Fantasies to Lose Yourself In |
| Books/series similar to Lord of the Rings? | |
| SF Signal | MIND MELD: Fantasy Books/Series That Are Better Than The Lord Of The Rings |
| Skorks | 10 Awesome Fantasy Series That Are Not Potter or LoTR |
