Books like Shadow Saga
27 fantasy books to read after Shadow Saga, by Sprunk, Jon, the closest match first.
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1. Vlad Taltos
by Brust, Steven
- On the same lists
If smartass characters are your thing, then Vlad Taltos by Steven Brust should be at the top of your list. The book is unoriginally named after the protagonist, but in...
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Left Hand Of God book 1 Start here
2. The Left Hand Of God
by Hoffman, Paul
- On the same lists
Paul Hoffman's The Left Hand of God caused a major buzz upon its release in 2010. It succeeded almost unheard of hype, with trailers, apps, and 'best-seller' labels right off...
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3. Tales Of The Otori
by Hearn, Lian
- On the same lists
When your focus is character and action, it's easy to just settle for generic medieval fantasy and be done with it. However, at some point, you start craving something new,...
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4. Study
by Snyder, Maria V.
- On the same lists
Poison Study is another novel that toes the line between young adult and mature. It opens with an incredible hook and drags you all the way through the story on...
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5. Shadowdance
by Dalglish, David
- On the same lists
A fantasy assassin list would not be complete without a mention of David Dalglish's Shadowdance series. Through the course of the novels, we get the viewpoint of not one, but...
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6. The Riyria Chronicles
by Facs, Michael J Sullivan Md
- On the same lists
Michael J. Sullivan's Ryria series is one of the highest rated in fantasy, and for good reason. His books have sold over one million copies in English and thousands more...
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7. Waylander & Waylander Ii
by Gemmell, David
- On the same lists
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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8. His Fair Assassin
by Lafevers, Robin
- On the same lists
Robin LaFever's Grave Mercy drags you into the trilogy with a great hook and only gets better from there. It's set in an alternate 14th century Brittany, where fourteen-year-old Ismae...
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9. The Anvil Of The World
by Baker, Kage
- On the same lists
Sci-fi fans may know Kage Baker for her popular series, The Company. It's a blend of fictional world and humor, and her debut fantasy series is no different. The Anvil...
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Throne Of Glass book 1 Start here
10. Throne Of Glass
by Maas, Sarah J.
- On the same lists
If you're a YA fan, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better assassin fantasy book than Throne of Glass. As the novel opens, Celaena is given a chance to end...
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11. Tales Of Pawan Kor
by Hayden, David Alastair
- On the same lists
Despite the similarity in name, there's little to connect Tales of Pawan Kor and our previous list item. This world is very clearly high fantasy, with beautifully detailed creatures, religions,...
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12. Villains By Necessity
by Forward, Eve
- On the same lists
Good has triumphed over evil, but things are not perfect. This is the story of the last assassin
The examination of morality is a common theme in assassin novels, but none do it quite like Eve Forward's Villains by Necessity. The author takes the concept and turns it...
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13. Fallen Blade
by Mccullough, Kelly
- On the same lists
The subject of McCullough's Fallen Blade series is fairly obvious from the title, yet the series has more depth than you may expect. The opening sucks the reader into the...
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14. In The Lion Of Cairo
by Oden, Scott
- On the same lists
History and fantasy nuts should find an amazing middle ground with The Lion of Cairo. It's set between the Second and Third Crusade, and it's clear Oden has done his...
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Six Of Crows book 1 Start here
15. Six Of Crows
by Bardugo, Leigh
- On the same lists
Think Oceans 11, but the fantasy version where the characters have magical abilities and you have some idea what Leigh Bardugo's fantasy trilogy is about. A band of thieves teams...
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16. The Acts Of Caine
by Stover, Matthew Woodring
- On the same lists
The Acts of Caine is another series that takes traditional fantasy and turns it upside down. The books take us away from boring clichés and blends sci-fi, dystopia, and fantasy...
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17. Son Of Shadows
by Sprunk, Jon
- Same author
Liadan, the daughter of Sorcha, must take up her mother's quest to save her brothers from the spell that has held them captive.
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Shadow Campaigns book 2
18. Shadow's Lure
by Sprunk, Jon
- Same author
The unforgiving Northlands . . . In Othir, he was at the top of the food chain--an assassin beyond compare, a dark shadow in the night. But Caim left that...
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Shadow Campaigns book 3
19. Shadow's Master
by Sprunk, Jon
- Same author
Hi, how are you? Yes, I am talking to you, the reader of the this book's description. It's rude not to answer a person when they ask you a question....
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First Law World book 4
20. Best Served Cold
by Abercrombie, Joe
- On the same lists
Monza Murcatto is out for blood. Known as the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Styria, she is betrayed by her employer and left for dead....
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21. A Tale Of The Kin
by Hulick, Douglas
- On the same lists
A gritty novel, the first in the Tales of Kin series, that centers on a relic smuggler who happens upon a very powerful ancient book.
It's not often you get a likable murderer, but in his Tales of the Kin series Douglas Hulick manages to do just that. Drothe lives in a world of snitches,...
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Graceling Realm book 1 Start here
22. Graceling
by Cashore, Kristin
- On the same lists
Katsa is a pragmatic graceling born with the ability to kill with her bare hands from the time she was eight years old. Graced as all gracelings are with unique...
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Ile-rien book 2
23. The Death Of The Necromancer
by Wells, Martha
- On the same lists
Martha Wells is best known for her Books of Raksura series, but this nebula nominated book is one of her best by far. Despite its publication in the late nineties,...
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24. 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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Night Angel book 1 Start here
25. 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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Mistborn book 1 Start here
26. Mistborn
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
Though Sanderson's main criticism is a lack of character depth, it's hard to deny the satisfying coming of age stories in Mistborn. The novel describes a classic rags-to-riches story, Vin...
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Gentleman Bastards book 1 Start here
27. The Lies Of Locke Lamora
by Lynch, Scott
- On the same lists
Not all Grimdark lacks humor. This series blends the darkness of Grimdark Fantasy with some lighter, comedic moments.
There's so much about this wonderful series that's right. From a thrilling Robin Hood caper story (think a magical Oceans 11), compelling and complex characters, deep and expansive world-building, fascinating...
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 Shadow Saga.
The shortlist
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