Skip to content

Tales Of The Otori

Books like Tales Of The Otori

27 fantasy books to read after Tales Of The Otori, by Hearn, Lian, the closest match first.

  1. Across The Nightingale Floor

    Tales Of The Otori book 1 Start here

    1. Across The Nightingale Floor

    by Hearn, Lian

    • Same series
    • Same author

    Historical Fantasy set in a fictional feudal Japan, this series follows a young warrior who seeks to avenge is adoptive father and escape the legacy of his biological father.

    Assassin fantasy set in a distinctly Japanese milieu. This one’s got everything you want in a good martial arts fantasy tale: ninja assassins, samurai warriors, beautiful princesses, evil lords, deadly...

  2. Grass For His Pillow

    Tales Of The Otori book 2

    2. Grass For His Pillow

    by Hearn, Lian

    • Same series
    • Same author

    Adopted by an Otori Lord, orphan Takeo rises to become a closely held member of the Tribe and finds his love for Maruyama heir Shirakawa Kaede challenged by dissembling clans...

  3. Brilliance Of The Moon

    Tales Of The Otori book 3

    3. Brilliance Of The Moon

    by Hearn, Lian

    • Same series
    • Same author

    Brilliance of the Moon is the third book in the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. Don't miss the related series, The Tale of Shikanoko. A beautiful, haunting...

  4. Vlad Taltos

    4. 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...

  5. The Left Hand Of God

    Left Hand Of God book 1 Start here

    5. 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...

  6. Study

    6. 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...

  7. Shadowdance

    7. 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...

  8. Shadow Saga

    8. Shadow Saga

    by Sprunk, Jon

    • On the same lists

    There's a tendency in fantasy to build extremely complex, D&D-like worlds, and in many cases, that's just what readers are after. However, there's also something to be said for books...

  9. The Riyria Chronicles

    9. 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...

  10. Waylander &  Waylander Ii

    10. 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...

  11. His Fair Assassin

    11. 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...

  12. The Anvil Of The World

    12. 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...

  13. Throne Of Glass

    Throne Of Glass book 1 Start here

    13. 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...

  14. Tales Of Pawan Kor

    14. 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,...

  15. Villains By Necessity

    15. 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...

  16. Fallen Blade

    16. 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...

  17. In The Lion Of Cairo

    17. 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...

  18. Six Of Crows

    Six Of Crows book 1 Start here

    18. 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...

  19. The Acts Of Caine

    19. 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...

  20. Best Served Cold

    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....

  21. A Tale Of The Kin

    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,...

  22. Graceling

    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...

  23. The Death Of The Necromancer

    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,...

  24. Farseer Trilogy

    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...

  25. The Way Of Shadows

    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...

  26. Mistborn

    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...

  27. The Lies Of Locke Lamora

    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 Tales Of The Otori.

The shortlist

Liked Tales Of The Otori? New releases and the lists readers are opening most, by email.