Books like Under Heaven
30 fantasy books to read after Under Heaven, by Kay, Guy Gavriel, the closest match first.
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Under Heaven book 2
1. River Of Stars
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same series
- Same author
“River of Stars is a major accomplishment, the work of a master novelist in full command of his subject.”—Michael Dirda, in The Washington Post “Game of Thrones in China.”—Salon.com Ren...
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2. Tigana
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
- 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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3. The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
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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4. A Song For Arbonne
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
An Historical Fantasy that focuses on the clash between two cultures and features intrigue, romance, mystery, revenge and redemption.
A book that's powerful in the beauty of its lyrical prose, the powerful descriptions, and the deep characters. This is a book that has more in common with pure historical...
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5. The Lions Of Al-rassan
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
Book Flap Description The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has...
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The Divine Cities book 1 Start here
6. City Of Stairs
by Bennett, Robert Jackson
- On the same lists
Robert Jackson Bennett is one of the most talented writers in the genre but who has, for whatever reason, been mostly overlooked by the average reader. His best book (in...
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The Sarantine Mosaic book 1 Start here
7. Sailing To Sarantium
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
Kay writes a lot of fantasy that appeals to those who enjoy a good, well thought out romance novel. While romance is not the only point of Kayâs stories (Kay...
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8. The Night Circus
by Morgenstern, Erin
- On the same lists
There are two types of fantasy readers. Those who feast on action-packed epic struggles for kingdoms, glory, and maybe to save the world from certain destruction from inimical forces. And...
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The Fionavar Tapestry book 2
9. The Wandering Fire
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
In the second novel in Guy Gavriel Kay’s critically acclaimed Fionavar Tapestry, five men and women from our world must play their parts in a colossal war, as the first...
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The Fionavar Tapestry book 3
10. The Darkest Road
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- Same author
Five men and women from our world face a battle with an evil beyond imagining in the deeply moving conclusion to Guy Gavriel Kay’s acclaimed Fionavar Tapestry. As the Unraveller’s...
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11. Lord Of The Rings
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
Do I even need to discuss it? The father of modern fantasy, the recreation of the English myth, an apex of English literature; Lord of the Rings is more than...
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12. Assassin's Apprentice
by Hobb, Robin
- On the same lists
Hobb is one of the best characterization writers in the Fantasy genre. Her characters are vividly real, leaping out of the pages into our minds as living characters. She has...
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13. Fafhrd And The Gray Mouser
by Leiber, Fritz
- On the same lists
Often referred to as 'the greatest fantasy author you've never read' by some. And sadly true.But if you've read any modern sword and sorcery with dark themes, complex characters, strong...
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14. Legend
by Gemmell, David
- On the same lists
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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15. The Way Of Kings
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
The Stormlight Archive has for better or worse become the poster-boy for where (classic) epic fantasy is going. It's the evolution of the Tolkien-style fantasy -- a fantasy that was...
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16. 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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17. Long Price Quartet
by Abraham, Daniel
- On the same lists
Western settings. Farm boys. Spoilt rich kids. Often, coming of age fantasy hits you over the head with unsubtle interactions and world-building. Abraham's Long Price Quartet does not fit into...
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American Gods book 1 Start here
18. American Gods (2003)
by Gaiman, Neil
- On the same lists
An ambitious and award-winning novel that is, at its simplest, a road story, but it is also a complex story of old gods and new, of folklore, of past selves, of culture and belief.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman won the 2003 Nebula Award for Best Novel. "American Gods" is a novel written by Neil Gaiman, first published in 2001. The story follows the character...
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19. 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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20. The Golem And The Jinni
by Wecker, Helene
- On the same lists
This is one of the more non-traditional fantasy, literary picks on this list, but don't be scared off: The Genie and the Golem is one of the most heart-warming, touching...
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The Crescent Moon Kingdoms book 1 Start here
21. Throne Of The Crescent Moon
by Ahmed, Saladin
- On the same lists
This debut novel promises a good start to a new series. The novel is an example of the Sword and Sorcery kind of swashbuckling action.
Adventure fantasy that's unlike anything you've read before. Take the setting and wonder and magic of The Arabian Nights, mix in the modern fantasy traditions, and bake it with some...
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Reckoners book 1 Start here
22. Steelheart
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
While Sanderson excels at writing âepicâ fantasy, Steelheartwas a pleasant surprise. Sanderson takes on the âsuperheroâ fantasy genre andwrites a uniquely compelling tale about a band of ordinary humans whospecialize...
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23. Nos4a2
by Hill, Joe
- On the same lists
A child's imagination becomes a weapon in Joe Hill's chilling tale of a car that carries children away to Christmasland.
In the tradition of Steven King, the spiritual father to Joe Hill's style of horror, NOS4A2 is a novel about the tricky space of growing up and the uncanny shit...
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24. Braided Path
by Wooding, Chris
- On the same lists
Heavily influenced by Asia, the Braided Path is a long, but very rewarding read. It’s loosely categorized as Young Adult, but a read through this series had me seriously questioning...
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25. Paper Mage
by Cutter, Leah R.
- On the same lists
An exotic historical fantasy heavily influenced by Chinese with some well-developed world. What’s quite interesting about this novel is that the characters reflect Chinese/Eastern values as opposed to the usual...
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26. The Paladin
by Cherryh, C. J.
- On the same lists
A fantasy based in an oriental world. The emperor’s son’s former tutor flees after the death of his master to escape the killing spree of the new regent. Several years...
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Crossroads book 1 Start here
27. Spirit Gate
by Elliott, Kate
- On the same lists
There is a distinct Asian flavor to this trilogy (called Crossroads). True to Kate Elliot form, there’s quite a bit of attention to world-building and plenty of strong characters. While...
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28. The Prince Of Shadows
by Clair, Jennifer St.
- On the same lists
I like to call this the Wheel of Time set in a fantastical China which about sums up this series. Overall, the series that integrates an impressive amount of Chinese...
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Moshui book 1 Start here
29. Dragon In Chains
by Fox, Daniel
- On the same lists
An interesting book that’s quite recent. It’s set in an alternate Chinese fantasy landscape which includes emperors in exile, dragons, monks, and magical stones. The pace is slow, but the...
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30. The Assassins Of Tamurin
by Tower, S. D.
- On the same lists
At the age of eleven a girl is cast out from her village and begins her training as an assassin. Politics, romance, and magic weave a new kind of coming of age story.
This one reminded me a bit like Across the Nightingale Floor, but with less special affects; it’s more of a subtle, character driven story. The setting is an invented pseudo...
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 Under Heaven.
The shortlist
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