Skip to content

Assassin's Apprentice

Books like Assassin's Apprentice

30 fantasy books to read after Assassin's Apprentice, by Hobb, Robin, the closest match first.

  1. Lord Of The Rings

    1. Lord Of The Rings

    by Tolkien, J.r.r.

    • On the same lists

    Do I even need to discuss it? The father of modern fantasy, the recreation of the English myth, an apex of English literature; Lord of the Rings is more than...

  2. Fafhrd And The Gray Mouser (cover not available)

    2. Fafhrd And The Gray Mouser

    by Leiber, Fritz

    • On the same lists

    Often referred to as 'the greatest fantasy author you've never read' by some. And sadly true.But if you've read any modern sword and sorcery with dark themes, complex characters, strong...

  3. Legend

    3. Legend

    by Gemmell, David

    • On the same lists

    The first of the Drenai Saga introduces readers to Druss, a legendary hero who awaits death and can kick your cushy behind.

    If you like stories about grand heroes who stand up for the downtrodden, who fight for a righteous cause, then Legend is a shining beacon of this sort of fantasy....

  4. The Way Of Kings

    4. The Way Of Kings

    by Sanderson, Brandon

    • On the same lists

    The Stormlight Archive has for better or worse become the poster-boy for where (classic) epic fantasy is going. It's the evolution of the Tolkien-style fantasy -- a fantasy that was...

  5. The Farseer Trilogy (cover not available)

    5. The Farseer Trilogy

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    One of my favorite fantasy trilogies of all time and one of the best audiobook trilogies.  Youâll fall in love with the characters and their stories thanks to Robin Hobbâs...

  6. Farseer Trilogy

    6. Farseer Trilogy

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    Robin Hobb has received significant praise for her Realm of the Elderlings world, which spans four series and several other short works. However, among that epic list, The Farseer Trilogy...

  7. The Night Circus

    7. The Night Circus

    by Morgenstern, Erin

    • On the same lists

    There are two types of fantasy readers. Those who feast on action-packed epic struggles for kingdoms, glory, and maybe to save the world from certain destruction from inimical forces. And...

  8. The Broken Sword

    8. The Broken Sword

    by Anderson, Poul

    • On the same lists

    Dark gritty fantasy the way it's meant to be: violent, brutal, mythical, and supremely well written. Much has been made about the recent grimdark movement, with much credit being given...

  9. Assassin's Apprentice

    Farseer book 1 Start here

    9. Assassin's Apprentice

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    Several sets of linked trilogies and short stories of high fantasy set in the same world.

    How could a story about the apprentice of an assassin not be grimdark? It couldn't, that's how. This first entry sparked off three trilogies about the one protagonist, which contain...

  10. Soldier's Son (cover not available)

    10. Soldier's Son

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    The wild west frontier fantasy with magic.

    The wild west frontier fantasy with magic.

  11. American Gods (2003)

    American Gods book 1 Start here

    11. American Gods (2003)

    by Gaiman, Neil

    • On the same lists

    An ambitious and award-winning novel that is, at its simplest, a road story, but it is also a complex story of old gods and new, of folklore, of past selves, of culture and belief.

    American Gods by Neil Gaiman won the 2003 Nebula Award for Best Novel. "American Gods" is a novel written by Neil Gaiman, first published in 2001. The story follows the character...

  12. Assassin's Quest

    Farseer book 3

    12. Assassin's Quest

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    “An enthralling conclusion to this superb trilogy, displaying an exceptional combination of originality, magic, adventure, character, and drama.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his...

  13. Fool's Errand  (the Tawny Man)

    The Farseer Books book 7

    13. Fool's Errand (the Tawny Man)

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    FitzChivalry Farseer emerges from seclusion when Prince Dutiful, the young heir to the Farseer throne, disappears, and as Fitz sets out to find the Prince before his betrothal ceremony, he...

  14. Golden Fool  (the Tawny Man)

    The Farseer Books book 8

    14. Golden Fool (the Tawny Man)

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    “As good as gold . . . Golden Fool proves again that Hobb is one of the best in the business.”—Monroe News-Star Fitz and the Fool continue their quest as...

  15. Fool's Fate (the Tawny Man)

    The Farseer Books book 9

    15. Fool's Fate (the Tawny Man)

    by Hobb, Robin

    • Same author

    “Complex . . . an atmosphere-filled adventure . . . with a fair quota of surprises . . . a winning combination of strong characters and colorful societies.”—Kirkus Reviews In...

  16. Under Heaven

    Under Heaven book 1 Start here

    16. Under Heaven

    by Kay, Guy Gavriel

    • On the same lists

    An alternate ancient china told with the majesty of one of fantasy's best wordsmiths.

    On paper, this is the perfect setup for a grand fantasy novel: Guy Gavriel Kay (Tigana, The Fionavar Tapestry, Lions of Al-Rassan) applies his considerable literary talent to crafting an...

  17. The Blade Itself

    First Law World book 1 Start here

    17. The Blade Itself

    by Abercrombie, Joe

    • On the same lists

    Abercrombie's work has become synonymous with the growing sub-genre of grimdark fantasy Naturally there's a lot of crossover between grimdark fantasy (which subverts the tropes of traditional heroic fantasy) and...

  18. The Dark Tower

    The Dark Tower book 7

    18. The Dark Tower

    by King, Stephen

    • On the same lists

    The multiverse, parrellel universes, and a gun slinger that can save the multiverse. What more can you ask for? The Dark Tower is the single body of work that ties together every book ever created by King. Read it.

    "The Dark Tower" is a series of books by Stephen King that blends elements of multiple genres, including horror, western, fantasy, and science fiction. The series follows the quest of...

  19. Neverwhere

    19. Neverwhere

    by Gaiman, Neil

    • On the same lists

    An example of the crossover between Urban Fantasy and Crossworlds. An ordinary man is transported to a world of shadows and darkness and must make his way home.

    Most (all?) of Gaiman’s works are urban fantasy. The crowd favorite is Neverwhere, which is an interesting take on the whole multiverse conceit found in science fiction. The premise is...

  20. City Of Stairs

    The Divine Cities book 1 Start here

    20. City Of Stairs

    by Bennett, Robert Jackson

    • On the same lists

    Robert Jackson Bennett is one of the most talented writers in the genre but who has, for whatever reason, been mostly overlooked by the average reader. His best book (in...

  21. Tigana

    21. Tigana

    by Kay, Guy Gavriel

    • On the same lists

    Tigana is based on Renaissance Italy. Kay uses Italian politics to make the story seem plausible.

    Tigana is both a sweeping epic and a look into human nature – flaws and all. The characters and plot exist in an area of grey where good and evil...

  22. The Worm Ouroboros

    22. The Worm Ouroboros

    by Eddision, E. R.

    • On the same lists

    If there was an award given out for the Most Influential Fantasy Novel Ever Written That No One Ever Reads, this book would get it. The book tells a stylized...

  23. 2005: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

    23. 2005: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

    by Clarke, Susanna

    • On the same lists

    The revival of magic in an alternate Britain with two very different magicians and some fairies, too.

    Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is an epic tale of the rebirth of magic in nineteenth-century England. Taking place among the regular historical occurrences of the time, the main difference...

  24. The Color Of Magic

    24. The Color Of Magic

    by Pratchett, Terry

    • On the same lists

    A huge series, these books are part of the Comic Fantasy sub-genre. It parodies and is influenced by canonical authors like Tolkien, Lovecraft, and Shakespeare in addition to folklore, mythology, and fairy tales.

    What would a list of best fantasy books be without mentioning Terry? Not that Brooks dude who wrote an entire series about glowing pebbles. The other one. The funny one....

  25. The Curse Of Chalion

    25. The Curse Of Chalion

    by Bujold, Lois Mcmaster

    • On the same lists

    Lois McMaster Bujold is famous for her very atypical characters. She demonstrated this with her Miles Vorkosigan character, and she does the same thing with the Curse of Chalion. The...

  26. Good Omens

    26. Good Omens

    by Gaiman, Neil

    • On the same lists

    A sushi-loving angel, a gearhead demon and Death as a gamer nerd. Do we even need to be a plot?Why it's on this listSometimes fantasy (and its audience) takes itself...

  27. The Princess Bride

    27. The Princess Bride

    by Goldman, William

    • On the same lists

    A cult classic both on the page and in film, this story is full of romance, sword fights, comedy, true love, miracles, pirates, princesses, wild beasts, and a good dash of wit. An entertaining read worth every moment.

    If you've never said, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”, you're about as rare as a swear word at Hogwarts. Part of the reason...

  28. Bartemaus

    28. Bartemaus

    by Stroud, Jonathan

    • On the same lists

    This series follows a magician in training and Bartimaeus, a 5,000 year old djinni (who has quite the wit).

    In a genre that's collapsing under the weight of cloned Tolkien worlds, hackneyed plots, and stick-thin characters, it's hard to find something new and interesting. That is until you read...

  29. Nos4r2

    29. Nos4r2

    by Hill, Joe

    • On the same lists

    One of those weird trips into a nightmare land that you want to wake up from but can't. NOS4R2 reads with the same style and power of Stephen King horror...

  30. The Lightbringer Trilogy

    30. The Lightbringer Trilogy

    by Weeks, Brent

    • On the same lists

    A recent epic fantasy trilogy, but one of the most exciting epic fantasy series the past decade. The Lightbringer has probably the most unique magic system I've seen yet in...

Matches come from series and authors, from the lists the books share, and from the books readers open together. They are rebuilt every night. Back to Assassin's Apprentice.

The shortlist

Liked Assassin's Apprentice? New releases and the lists readers are opening most, by email.