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Quick answer: If you loved Michael J. Sullivan's Age of Myth, read his Riyria Revelations, then try The Name of the Wind, Assassin's Apprentice, The Eye of the World and The Lies of Locke Lamora. All offer well-drawn heroes, myth and history.
Age of Myth starts Sullivan's Legends of the First Empire, where humans and gods clash and a young woman, Persephone, becomes a leader. It blends character drama and epic stakes. The books below share that mix of myth, war and strong characters. Most are adult epic fantasy, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theft of Swords | Michael J. Sullivan | Adult | more Sullivan |
| Rise of Empire | Michael J. Sullivan | Adult | Riyria series |
| Age of Swords | Michael J. Sullivan | Adult | continuing the series |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical fantasy |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character depth |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | long quests |
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | large casts |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | Teen and adult | fantasy classics |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | heist fantasy |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | grimdark fans |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | magic systems |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | long epics |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | Teen and adult | short classics |
| The Fifth Season | N.K. Jemisin | Adult | award-winning fantasy |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | political intrigue |
1. Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
Two thieves, Royce and Hadrian, take on a royal job and find themselves in a bigger plot. Sullivan's first Riyria collection, clever and fun.
Best for: more Sullivan.
2. Rise of Empire by Michael J. Sullivan
The Riyria duo get pulled into the politics of a kingdom. Action and humor continue.
Best for: Riyria series.
3. Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
The second Legends of the First Empire book follows Raithe and Persephone in a growing war. Faster and bloodier.
Best for: continuing the series.
4. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of his life. Lyrical and character-driven.
Best for: lyrical fantasy.
5. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard is trained as an assassin. Emotional and slow-burn.
Best for: character depth.
6. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Rand al'Thor and his friends leave their village. First of the Wheel of Time.
Best for: long quests.
7. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Soldiers, scholars and an ancient order in a world of storms. Huge and ambitious.
Best for: large casts.
8. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
A hobbit carries a ring toward doom. The foundation of epic fantasy.
Best for: fantasy classics.
9. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A gang of thieves in a canal city plot elaborate cons. Funny and dark.
Best for: heist fantasy.
10. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Grim humor and flawed heroes. Start of the First Law.
Best for: grimdark fans.
11. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A thief joins a crew to topple a god-king. Clever and fast.
Best for: magic systems.
12. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
A kitchen boy at a castle is drawn into a war. Slow and rich.
Best for: long epics.
13. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
A boy wizard makes a terrible mistake. Short and wise.
Best for: short classics.
14. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
A world suffering catastrophic seasons and a woman with earth-shaking powers. Inventive and moving.
Best for: award-winning fantasy.
15. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. Political and violent.
Best for: political intrigue.
How to Choose
For more Sullivan, start with Theft of Swords for an easier entry, or continue with Age of Swords. For lyrical writing, The Name of the Wind. For epic scale, The Eye of the World or The Way of Kings. For humor and heists, The Lies of Locke Lamora. For short classics, A Wizard of Earthsea. Sullivan's books are often recommended to readers who prefer accessible, character-led fantasy to dense world-building. If you like a faster pace, start with Theft of Swords. If you like epic history, keep going with the First Empire series. Each volume is long, so allow a few weeks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Riyria first?
No. The Legends of the First Empire books are set thousands of years earlier and stand on their own.
What order are the First Empire books?
Age of Myth, Age of Swords, Age of War, Age of Legend, Age of Death and Age of Empyre.
Is Age of Myth a good start for new fantasy readers?
Yes. It is accessible, with clear characters and no heavy jargon.
Who is Michael J. Sullivan?
An American fantasy author who began by self-publishing the Riyria books.
What should I read after Sullivan?
Robin Hobb, Patrick Rothfuss and Scott Lynch are common next steps.
Is Age of Myth connected to Riyria?
Yes, loosely. It is a prequel set thousands of years earlier, but you can read either series first.
Are there maps?
Yes, Sullivan's books include maps in the print editions.
How does Sullivan compare with Sanderson?
Both write clear, plot-driven epics, though Sullivan's books are generally shorter and lighter in tone.