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Quick answer: If you liked Flesh and Fire, read Laura Anne Gilman's Weight of Stone and Weight of Blood, then Assassin's Apprentice, The Curse of Chalion, The Goblin Emperor and Kushiel's Dart. All are character-driven fantasies with original magic and political intrigue.
Laura Anne Gilman's Flesh and Fire (2009) begins the Vineart War series, set in a world where magic comes from vines and wine, and a young slave named Jerzy becomes a Vineart's apprentice. It is inventive, adventurous and focused on character. The books below offer similar new magic systems, apprenticeship tales and political tension.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight of Stone | Laura Anne Gilman | Adult | the sequel |
| Weight of Blood | Laura Anne Gilman | Adult | the finale |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character-driven fantasy |
| The Curse of Chalion | Lois McMaster Bujold | Adult | thoughtful fantasy |
| The Goblin Emperor | Katherine Addison | Adult | kind political fantasy |
| Furies of Calderon | Jim Butcher | Adult | elemental magic |
| Magician | Raymond E. Feist | Adult | classic apprentice tale |
| Kushiel's Dart | Jacqueline Carey | Adult | courtesan spy |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | magic and rebellion |
| Elantris | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | standalone fantasy |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Adult | fairy-tale magic |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical storyteller |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | Adult | thoughtful wizard |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | gritty humour |
1. Weight of Stone by Laura Anne Gilman
Jerzy continues his training as dangers grow. A natural next step.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Weight of Blood by Laura Anne Gilman
The Vineart War reaches its conclusion. A satisfying end.
Best for: the finale.
3. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard is trained as an assassin. Emotional and slow-burning.
Best for: character-driven fantasy.
4. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
A broken soldier becomes tutor to a princess in a cursed court. Warm and clever.
Best for: thoughtful fantasy.
5. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
A half-goblin becomes emperor after his family dies. Gentle, detailed and heartfelt.
Best for: kind political fantasy.
6. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
A young man with no magic faces a land of elemental furies. Fast and fun.
Best for: elemental magic.
7. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
A kitchen boy becomes a magician as war breaks out. Epic and classic.
Best for: classic apprentice tale.
8. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
A courtesan with a unique gift becomes a spy. Lush and political.
Best for: courtesan spy.
9. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a crew to topple an immortal ruler. Tight plot, clear magic rules.
Best for: magic and rebellion.
10. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
A prince is cursed and cast into a ruined city. Inventive and complete.
Best for: standalone fantasy.
11. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
A girl is taken by a wizard to protect her valley from a Wood. Lush and atmospheric.
Best for: fairy-tale magic.
12. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his own story. Beautiful and slow.
Best for: lyrical storyteller.
13. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
A young wizard faces a shadow he has unleashed. Short and serious.
Best for: thoughtful wizard.
14. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A group of thieves in a fantasy city run elaborate cons. Witty and fast.
Best for: clever heists.
15. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A barbarian, a torturer and a vain officer are drawn into a conflict. Dark and funny.
Best for: gritty humour.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Flesh and Fire: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For the next in the series, read Weight of Stone and Weight of Blood. For apprenticeship tales choose Assassin's Apprentice, Magician or A Wizard of Earthsea. For political fantasy pick The Goblin Emperor, The Curse of Chalion or Kushiel's Dart. For new magic systems try Mistborn, Elantris or Furies of Calderon. Flesh and Fire is the start of a trilogy, so you can read all three in order. Gilman has also written urban fantasy and science fiction, so readers who enjoy her style have more to explore. If you enjoy the apprenticeship structure, choose Assassin's Apprentice or A Wizard of Earthsea. If you enjoy original magic, pick Mistborn or Elantris. If you prefer gentle political fantasy, try The Goblin Emperor. Short series like the Vineart War are a good way to try a new author.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · What Age Is Wings of Fire Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flesh and Fire about?
A young slave in a world where magic comes from wine becomes a Vineart's apprentice.
Who wrote it?
Laura Anne Gilman.
When was it published?
2009.
How many books are in the series?
Three: Flesh and Fire, Weight of Stone and Weight of Blood.
Is the series complete?
Yes.
Is it good for beginners to fantasy?
Yes, the magic system is clear and the story is quick.
Is there a lot of violence?
Some, but it is not graphic.
What should I read next?
Try Weight of Stone or Assassin's Apprentice.
What is a Vineart?
A magic user in Gilman's world who works with grapevines and wine.
Is the book similar to Mistborn?
Both feature unusual magic systems, though the tone and setting differ.