Books like Mythago Wood
30 fantasy books to read after Mythago Wood, by Holdstock, Robert, the closest match first.
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1. The Mythago Cycle
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
A wonderfully beautiful novel that explores the ideas of myth and reality and the connection between the two. You'll find here a hauntingly story about a primeval forest somewhere undefined...
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Mythago Wood book 2
2. Lavondyss
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
Tallis Keeton grows up in the shadow of Ryhope Wood, the ancient forest that her brother Harry vanished into when she was a baby. She has inherited her grandfather's letter...
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3. The Bone Forest
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
A collection of eight short stories set in a mystical wood features a snow woman, a scientist succumbing to an age-old madness, roaming demons, conjurers working their pagan magic, and...
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4. Merlin's Wood
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
A powerful and compelling return to Robert Holdstock's award-winning Mythago cycle.
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5. Gate Of Ivory
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
Magic is what lures people like anthropology student Theodora to the exotic, dangerous world of Ivory, where everything is for sale and magic really works. But cut off from her...
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Mythago Wood book 5
6. Avilion
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
At the heart of Ryhope Wood, Steven and the mythago Guiwenneth live in the ruins of a Roman villa close to a haunted fortress from the Iron Age, from which...
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Mythago Wood book 3
7. The Hollowing
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
After the disappearance of his son into the mysterious depths of Ryhope Wood, a father braves the powerful forces of the strange, magical forest on a quest that takes him...
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8. Gate Of Ivory Gate Of Horn
by Holdstock, Robert
- Same series
- Same author
A son searching for his father in a British forest discovers a world teeming with live mythological characters. One of them is a Celtic princess-warrior and he falls in love...
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9. The Anubis Gates
by Powers, Tim
- On the same lists
An award winning novel that has time travel, historical figures, Egyptian mythology, and 19th century England.
In creating this world, Powers borrowed ideas from all over the place. Mythology, Ancient Egyptian theology, quantum theory, and classical literature“ they're all used in The Anubis Gates. It's a...
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10. War For The Oaks
by Bull, Emma
- On the same lists
What happens when a rock star is pulled into a supernatural conflict between good and evil? Well, let's head on over to Minneapolis of all places and find out
It was in the 80s that the subgenres of fantasy we know today started. One of these – urban fantasy – owes much of its development from War for the...
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11. 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...
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Xanth book 1 Start here
12. A Spell For Chameleon
by Anthony, Piers
- On the same lists
When this came out, there was nothing like it. The consensus is that you'll either love the Xanth books or hate them. If you fell into the latter category it...
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13. Fevre Dream
by Martin, George R. R.
- On the same lists
A lesser known novel by the Game of Thrones creator that is a fine example of a more mythic take on vampirism. Fevre Dream is a steamboat sailing up the antebellum Mississippi River, which just so happens to be carrying the lord of the vampire race. It is a blend of history and myth.
He writes stories where castration, rape, skull-crushing, and child sacrifice are parred for the course. So it should come as no surprise that George R.R. Martin conquered the sub-genre of...
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14. 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...
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New Crobuzon book 1 Start here
15. Perdido Street Station
by Miéville, China
- On the same lists
The cycle blends multiple genres, including Steampunk, Sci Fi, and Horror. Magic is commonplace and practiced by skilled professionals.
The famous (or infamous, depending how you view the New Weird movement) novel is generally considered one of the founding pillars of the New Weird genre. This novel meets many...
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16. The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- On the same lists
In this trilogy some University of Toronto graduates are transported from a Celtic conference to a magical world where they must against the darkness.
Gavriel Kay's Fionavar is an ode to J.R.R. Tolkien, building on his life as an editorial assistant to his son, Christopher. Kay was instrumental in the publication of the legend's...
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Watership Down book 1 Start here
17. Watership Down: A Novel
by Adams, Richard
- On the same lists
On one level a classic tale of adventure, with anthropomorphized rabbit characters. On another level, it is an epic struggle between tyranny and freedom.
Yes, we're talking about that book about bunnies. No, we haven't lost our minds. Take note: This isn't a children's book, despite it being about fluffy animals. If you've read...
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Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn book 1 Start here
18. Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn
by Williams, Tad
- On the same lists
Epic fantasy with attention to characters and details.
Tad Williams' series was the source of inspiration for many of the titles on the listand some outside of it. Authors like R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and more all cite...
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19. Conan The Barbarian
by Howard, Robert E.
- On the same lists
Conan – the name conjures up images of swords, bare chests, sweat, blood and lots of furs (like a non-campy version of Dolf Lungren's He-Man). It's hard to believe that...
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Vlad Taltos book 1 Start here
20. Jhereg
by Brust, Steven
- On the same lists
The genius of this series lies in the exquisite character development – especially in relation to the hero, Vlad Taltos. We're accustomed to rooting for anti-heroes these days, (Hi, Dexter...
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Lyonesse book 1 Start here
21. Lyonesse
by Vance, Jack
- On the same lists
If you were to open a copy of Lyonesse and give it a good shake, a bunch of (very annoyed) fairies would fall out. Because they're everywhere in this book....
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The Prince Of Nothing book 1 Start here
22. The Darkness That Comes Before
by Bakker, R. Scott
- On the same lists
This book and the Prince of Nothing trilogy, as well as the other books that follow, are so dark that you'll need a shower after reading them. And therapy. This...
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23. Talion: Revenant
by Stackpole, Michael A.
- On the same lists
List more than a few entries on this Top 100 list, Talion is a completely underrated fantasy book. Stackapole is a prolific author, writing everything from Star Wars novels, video...
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24. Elantris
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
This fantasy fiction novel will suck you in. Elantris is one of the best standalone fantasy books in the genre. It's about addictive as chocolate and a whole lot healthier!...
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25. 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...
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26. The Etched City
by Bishop, K.j.
- On the same lists
The Etched city was formed from the love union between Stephen King and China Mieville. If you want a more complex fantasy novel with a good dose of the bizarre,...
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Thursday Next book 1 Start here
27. The Eyre Affair
by Fforde, Jasper
- On the same lists
Imagine an alternate world where the world of books and people collide. It does in this delightful series by Jasper Fforde. I could spend the next 10,000 words trying to...
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Howl’s Moving Castle book 1 Start here
28. Howl's Moving Castle
by Jones, Diana Wynne
- On the same lists
A journey of discovery and wonder. This story is part fairy tale, but flips some of the typical conventions—like the main character is an old lady.
Before famous director, Hayao Miyazaki turned Howl's Moving Castle into an animated film, it was an enchanting novel written by Diana Wynn Jones. This novel follows the life a young...
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First Law World book 5
29. The Heroes
by Abercrombie, Joe
- On the same lists
The title is a bit tongue-in-cheek, as Abercrombie himself describes it this way: "Three men. One battle. No heroes." It was designed to be a standalone novel, but is set...
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The Last Unicorn book 1 Start here
30. The Last Unicorn
by Beagle, Peter S.
- On the same lists
The short sequel to The Last Unicorn and is the quest of a young girl who seeks to make her village safe from a mean griffon.
Told from the perspective of the unicorn herself, this novel is as much satire as it is fairytale. The journey begins when she overhears a conversation insinuating that the unicorns...
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 Mythago Wood.
The shortlist
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