Fantasy Books Like The Lord Of The Rings That Will Take You On Epic Adventures

In a world of gods, both sleeping and waking, two travelers wander the land: Sir Hereward the witch-knight and Mister Fitz the puppet-sorcerer. But the pair aren’t the mercenaries they seem to be since they’re on a mission to slay the gods.

I was originally wary of this book because it’s a short story collection with not much in the way of an overarching plot. However, each individual story is so strong and entertaining that it easily became one of my favorite reads.

Think of it as an episodic fantasy story that takes you from pirate adventures to snowy expeditions, with plenty of magical creatures and iconic side characters to keep you company as you make your way from story to story.

While the stories range from darker to more light-hearted, all of them pack an emotional punch. The two main characters are lovable, and their longstanding friendship is a joy to watch unfold.

Intrigued by Garth Nix’s writing? Check out this podcast episode in which he talks about his upcoming books!

If your favorite thing about Tolkien’s work is the almost obsessive level of detail put into the worldbuilding of Middle-Earth, then it’s absolutely imperative that you check out Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive series. I would argue that, besides The LOTR, this series has some of the most detailed worldbuilding I have ever read.

There are many expertly juggled storylines which introduce you to multiple POV’s in the first book, but it begins with a soldier-turned-slave and a young scholar/wannabe thief.

In a world battered by supernatural storms like Category 1000 hurricanes, a war is fought against a bizarre enemy army. But beneath it all is a conspiracy that calls into question the entire point of the war.

The Way of Kings destroys the limits of what fantasy worlds can look like, from the alien landscape to the many detailed cultures in the land.

The level of complexity in the world, plot, and characters, as well as the unique magic system and political intrigue in this novel would be sure to bring a proud scholarly tear to Professor Tolkien’s eye.

This book is about two cities: Ombria and the ghost-filled city beneath it. The story begins with a tragedy.

After the king dies, his wicked aunt wastes no time in kicking out his mistress, Lydea, and capturing the little crown prince. Lydea, now doomed to the streets, finds help in a little girl who may or may not be made of wax.

Covering her heartbreak with fury for the young prince’s capture, Lydea and the wax girl team up with the late king’s strange nephew to save him.

As the two cities—one light and one shadowed—this book is a journey through duality. It reads like a fairytale but is grounded in real-world consequences. It’s dreamy, but realistic. There’s a grim tinge to the world, but it still has moments of fantastical brevity that you see throughout The Lord of the Rings, which give this book a similar feel.

The characters are also very endearing and clever with every interaction, which makes the story even more entertaining, and the found family trope adds a wholesome touch which I love. 

The beginning of The Wheel of Time series is both praised and criticized as being heavily inspired by The Lord of the Rings.

If you’re looking for a story and worldbuilding similar to Tolkien’s but unique in its own way, this will be both familiar and refreshing for you.

In this story, a magical stranger whisks a group of friends away on a quest to defeat the dark lord. The band of adventurers sets out across this beautiful world, beginning a journey that has captured the hearts of the fantasy community.

As I said, those familiar with The Lord of the Rings will see the similarities, but you can tell the author was intentional in making the concept his own.

While The LOTR leans towards the “good versus evil” theme, The Eye of the World focuses more on morally gray situations. This reveals the nuance in the characters as they are forced to grapple with the hard choices they must make.

If The Lord of the Rings and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy had a love affair, you'd end up with this book.

Terry Pratchett shows off his worldbuilding prowess by introducing us to Discworld, a planet that is simultaneously absurd and compelling.

Our main characters are a bizarre trio: an idiot wizard, a precious ray of sunshine, and a vicious guard dog. Unfortunately, the guard dog is also a walking treasure chest, so the trio is forced to travel across the planet to avoid the powerful beings who seek to claim the treasure for themselves.

The Color of Magic is witty, smart, and surprisingly detailed in its world-building. If you’re a high fantasy lover like me, you’ve probably seen the same general story and worldbuilding clichés a few too many times, but this gem is full of originality and feels like a breath of fresh air.