Books like Lyonesse
30 fantasy books to read after Lyonesse, by Vance, Jack, the closest match first.
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Lyonesse book 3
1. Madouc (1990)
by Vance, Jack
- Same series
- Same author
The last of the Lyonesse novels follows Madouc, a fiery young princess at King Casmir's court who learns she was left by the fairies in place of a human baby....
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Lyonesse book 3
2. Madouc
by Vance, Jack
- Same series
- Same author
The last of the Lyonesse novels follows Madouc, a fiery young princess at King Casmir's court who learns she was left by the fairies in place of a human baby....
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Lyonesse book 2
3. The Green Pearl
by Vance, Jack
- Same series
- Same author
In a fishing village in South Ulfland, a fisherman cuts open a flounder and finds a green pearl, in which a sorceress's malice has been condensed, and which brings misery...
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Lyonesse book 3
4. Madouc
by Vance, Jack
- Same series
- Same author
The last of the Lyonesse novels follows Madouc, a fiery young princess at King Casmir's court who learns she was left by the fairies in place of a human baby....
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5. Tales Of The Dying Earth
by Vance, Jack
- Same author
- On the same lists
A series, and the reason there is a Dying Earth sub-genre.
Tale of the Dying Earth truly stands as one of the greatest works ever penned. Everything that's good and bad about the human condition is eloquently expressed within this tale....
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Ghormenghast book 2
6. Gormenghast
by Peake, Mervyn
- On the same lists
The first real Fantasy of Manners series and is set in a Byzantium kingdom rife with intrigue, treachery, manipulation and murder.
A startling work of imagination that will evoke feeling when you read it. Reading Gormenghast is like feasting your eyes on a masterfully drawn painting -- you might not always...
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7. Chronicles Of Narnia
by Lewis, C. S.
- On the same lists
In the first book of this series a wardrobe serves as the portal to the magical land of Narnia.
Nearly half a century ago, fantasy was dividing into two fantasy worlds: Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Narnia has entertained generations of children and...
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8. 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....
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9. 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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The Dying Earth book 2
10. The Eyes Of The Overworld
by Vance, Jack
- Same author
In the dim far future of Earth, when the sun had shrunk to a small red disk in the dark sky and the race of man lived in isolated cities...
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The Dying Earth book 3
11. Cugel's Saga
by Vance, Jack
- Same author
The roguish Cugel the Clever is stranded on a shore on the other side of the world by the Laughing Magic and must fight, bluff, and connive his way back...
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The Dying Earth book 4
12. Rhialto The Marvellous
by Vance, Jack
- Same author
Rhialto the Marvellous takes up the personal and political conflicts among a conclave of two dozen magicians of Ascolais and Almery in the 21st Aeon. The shocking appearance of the...
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Elric book 1 Start here
13. Elric Of Melnibone
by Moorcock, Michael
- On the same lists
The first of the Elric Saga, this novel is signficant because the protagonist is a magic user and a bit frail—not quite the typical Sword and Sorcery hero.
Elric is the prince of a dying race, a pale, morose champion of right, despite the cards stacked against him. He's a physical weakling who needs to take drugs and...
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14. 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...
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Vlad Taltos book 1 Start here
15. 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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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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Mythago Wood book 1 Start here
17. Mythago Wood
by Holdstock, Robert
- On the same lists
There are many novels and novellas in this cycle which take place in a forest that has been untouched since the last ice age. It is a labyrinth, a place of peril and living myths.
'Unique' is a vastly overused word. It has about as much meaning as Kim K's twitter feed. But in the case of Mythago Wood, it's warranted. Firstly, Holdstock tells the...
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Thursday Next book 1 Start here
18. 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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The Last Unicorn book 1 Start here
19. 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...
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20. 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...
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21. 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...
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22. 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...
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23. The King Of Elfland's Daughter
by Dunsany, Lord
- On the same lists
The King of Elfland's daughter tells the tale of a human prince who is dispatched by his father to woo and wed the elf princess of a mystical land.Why it's...
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24. Chronicles Of The Black Company
by Cook, Glen
- On the same lists
Cook has real-life naval experience and this series benefits from that experience—realistic, gritty, amoral harsh, from battle sequences to characterizations.
This was one of the first gritty fantasies to hit the shelves. To appreciate this work fully, imagine what it must have been like to encounter the kind of dark...
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25. 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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26. Man Of His Word
by Duncan, Dave
- On the same lists
A beloved fantasy series by all who've read it, though few modern fantasy readers have read it. This is probably one of the best hidden epic fantasy gems out there...
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The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever book 1 Start here
27. 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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Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn book 1 Start here
28. 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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29. 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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The Second Sons book 1 Start here
30. The Lion Of Senet
by Fallon, Jennifer
- On the same lists
Another series that seems to be virtually ignored by the general public. Perhaps because it’s a low fantasy series (i.e. there is no magic, though the world is a sort...
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 Lyonesse.
The shortlist
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