Books like Legend
30 fantasy books to read after Legend, by Gemmell, David, the closest match first.
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1. Troy Trilogy
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
- On the same lists
This trilogy adapts the Trojan War and creates complex subplots to keep readers engaged. Like a good epic story should, this series has it all: battle, love, intrigue, tragedy, happiness.
The best of Gemmell's work -- and the last of his work too. Troy is a retelling of the Greek tale of Troy, but done told in such a refreshing...
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Drenai Tales book 1 Start here
2. Legend
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
Gemmell specializes in heroic fantasy. His best book is widely regarded as Legend. Legend doesn’t try to be anything but what it is: a heroic adventure with lots of blood,...
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3. Legend
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
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....
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4. Waylander & Waylander Ii
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
David Gemmell's Drenai Saga burst onto the heroic fantasy scene in 1984 and bears no relation to the Draenei from World of Warcraft. His lasting impact on the fantasy world...
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Drenai Tales book 3
5. Waylander
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
"Waylander" by David Gemmell is a gripping fantasy novel that tells the story of a legendary assassin named Waylander, who is hired to retrieve the stolen Armour of Bronze, a...
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Drenai Tales book 2
6. The King Beyond The Gate
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
"The King Beyond the Gate" by David Gemmell is the second book in the Drenai Saga, which follows the story of Druss the Legend, a skilled warrior and leader who...
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7. Knights Of Dark Renown
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
"Knights of Dark Renown" by David Gemmell is a thrilling and intense fantasy novel that follows a group of infamous knights as they journey to a cursed castle to face...
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Drenai Tales book 4
8. Quest For Lost Heroes
by Gemmell, David
- Same author
"Quest for Lost Heroes" by David Gemmell is an epic and exciting fantasy novel that follows a group of warriors as they embark on a perilous journey to rescue their...
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Raven's Shadow book 1 Start here
9. Blood Song
by Ryan, Anthony
- On the same lists
One of the best fantasy novels in recent times, Blood Song also happens to have many school-like elements. Left as a child at the gates of the Sixth Order, Vaelin...
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Grim Company book 1 Start here
10. The Grim Company
by Scull, Luke
- On the same lists
With 'grim' in the title, it's not hard to guess that this book is clearly camped in the grimdark sub-genre, and it hits all the right beats for gritty, amoral...
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11. Malazan Book Of The Fallen
by Erikson, Steven
- On the same lists
A grand and epic series with a huge cast of characters with epic battles, sieges, mages, and carnage.
Steven Eriksen has been both lauded and criticized for his extreme detail, and that extends to his magic system. In Malazan, magic comes from warrens, a realm from which mages...
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Low Town book 1 Start here
12. Low Town
by Polansky, Daniel
- On the same lists
Low Town (titled the Straight-Razor Cure in the UK), is the first instalment in the Low Town series, and is a noir detective mystery transplanted to a fantasy setting. The...
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The Acts Of Caine book 1 Start here
13. Heroes Die
by Stover, Matthew Woodring
- On the same lists
A novel about two worlds that blends Science Fiction and Fantasy. An action packed adventure filled with real danger, sorcery, and a complex social system.
The Acts of Caine series takes adventure fantasy and drags it sixteen miles through the mud, and then tortures what's left. In a dystopian future, humanity has discovered a way...
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14. The Prince Of Nothing
by Bakker, R. Scott
- On the same lists
In a world saturated by religious fanaticism, Maithanet, enigmatic spiritual leader of the Thousand Temples, declares a Holy War against the infidels. Ikurei Conphas, military genius and nephew to the...
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15. Chronicles Of Amber
by Zelazny, Roger
- On the same lists
A 10 book chronicle--these stories combine other worlds, magical elements, mystery, shadow, and science.
The Amber Chronicles is a complex blend of genres and plot. It starts like a murder mystery, drawing the reader in, then it moves on to a mixture of sci-fi...
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16. The Riyria Revelations
by Sullivan, Michael J.
- On the same lists
Sullivan was a self-published author who was, after years of persistence, able to land a contract with a publishing company. The series have garnered a lot praise over the past...
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17. Broken Empire / Red Queens War
by Lawrence, Mark
- On the same lists
The first in The Broken Empire series, this gritty and violent novel focuses on a single character, who is an anti-hero, with a very dark past.
Mark Lawrence doesn’t use an abundance of technical explanations and diagrams, but that doesn’t make his magic system any less interesting. In fact, it lets him focus on his astonishing...
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18. The Incorruptibles
by Jacobs, John Horner
- On the same lists
This book is an odd mix of Western, Ancient Roman, steampunk, demons, elves and dwarves. It's a one of a kind book primarily just about the fates of a small...
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The Red Queen's War book 1 Start here
19. Prince Of Fools
by Lawrence, Mark
- On the same lists
This first entry into the Red Queen's War trilogy is about a layabout, womanizing, alcoholic prince. He's also just funny enough not to think he's an utter bastard. Okay, he's...
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Manifest Delusions book 1 Start here
20. Beyond Redemption
by Fletcher, Michael R.
- On the same lists
In a world where belief defines reality, the world could be a paradise, right? Not in Fletcher's world of Manifest Delusions, where corpses line the streets and narcissists spawn false...
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The Crimson Empire book 1 Start here
21. A Crown For Cold Silver
by Marshall, Alex
- On the same lists
The Crimson Empire trilogy, of which there are two instalments published at the time of writing, is one of the best additions to darker fantasy in recent years. It's the...
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22. Lord Of The Rings
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
The quintessential Fantasy trilogy draws from medieval history as well as its European folklore.
Yep, had to include it. Most people have probably read this series and even more authors have written hackneyed copies of it, but this series is the original father epic...
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A Land Fit For Heroes book 1 Start here
23. The Steel Remains
by Morgan, Richard K.
- On the same lists
An incredibly dark and gritty epic fantasy that embodies the reaction to shiny fantasy stories. It subverts most traditional fantasy tropes.
This book is a thoroughly grimdark adventure, following a world-weary PTSD sufferer on his quest to save the world he doesn't much care for. It's messy, gross, intense, brooding and...
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The Traitor Son Cycle book 1 Start here
24. The Red Knight
by Cameron, Miles
- On the same lists
The first in its series, this book introduces readers to a mysterious character who returns from a campaign and fights for money.
The Red Knight and the Traitor Son Cycle it begins are the most historically-accurate depictions of medieval-era warfare that I've ever read. In fact, if you want to continue enjoying...
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The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever book 1 Start here
25. Lord Foul's Bane
by Donaldson, Stephen R.
- On the same lists
Epic Fantasy that's also very High Fantasy. Features an antihero hero.
Lord Foul's Bane begins the epic Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, a series in which a leprosy-stricken man in the real world is transported to a stereotypical fantasy world....
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26. The First Law
by Abercrombie, Joe
- On the same lists
This series takes place in an epic fantasy world at war and contains gritty violence and realistic characters.
Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny,...
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27. Farseer Trilogy
by Hobb, Robin
- On the same lists
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...
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28. The Golem And The Jinni
by Wecker, Helene
- On the same lists
In Wecker's debut novel, two very unusual immigrants arrive, separately, in 19th century immigrant New York. These two characters are (unsurprisingly) a golem named Chava, created by a Jewish rabbi...
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Night Angel book 1 Start here
29. The Way Of Shadows
by Weeks, Brent
- On the same lists
With magically enhanced assassins, intrigue, and a conflicted protagonist, this trilogy is epic and personal.
The Night Angel trilogy is the story of a young, abused street-thief's transformation into a badass, magically-enhanced assassin. As one might expect from a story about learning to kill people...
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30. The Last Unicorn
by Beagle, Peter S.
- On the same lists
A beautiful, beautiful tale that will haunt you for the rest of your life. It's a simple story with a hell of a lot of heart. There's a good reason...
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 Legend.
The shortlist
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