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Quick answer: If you loved Kings of the Wyld, read its sequel Bloody Rose, then The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Blade Itself, The Black Company and Guards! Guards!. All mix rowdy fantasy adventure with humour and found family.
Nicholas Eames's debut follows an aging band of mercenaries who get back together for one last mission, treating adventurers like rock stars. Readers love its jokes, its heart and its deep bench of sword-swinging characters. The books below share its swagger, humour and sense of friendship.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloody Rose | Nicholas Eames | Adult | the sequel |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | grimdark with laughs |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | capers and friends |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Adult | mercenary bands |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | storytelling magic |
| The Heroes | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | battlefield stories |
| Guards! Guards! | Terry Pratchett | Adult | comic fantasy |
| Orconomics | J. Zachary Pike | Adult | fantasy satire |
| Legends & Lattes | Travis Baldree | Adult | cozy fantasy |
| The Rage of Dragons | Evan Winter | Adult | revenge and war |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | epic fantasy |
| The Princess Bride | William Goldman | Adult | humour and adventure |
| Kill the Farmboy | Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson | Adult | fantasy parody |
| Dungeon Crawler Carl | Matt Dinniman | Adult | LitRPG humour |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | the original party |
1. Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
The second book follows a new band led by Rose, daughter of Kings of the Wyld's Gabriel. It has the same rowdy humour and a fresh set of characters.
Best for: the sequel.
2. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A torturer, a barbarian and a vain swordsman are drawn into a war. Gritty, funny and full of morally gray characters.
Best for: grimdark with laughs.
3. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A band of thieves in a fantasy Venice runs elaborate cons until a rival ruins them. Witty and clever, with loyal friends.
Best for: capers and friends.
4. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A mercenary company serves a dark empire, told by its tired chronicler. A founding work of gritty military fantasy.
Best for: mercenary bands.
5. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of how he became a legend. Lyrical, richly detailed and a major fantasy hit.
Best for: storytelling magic.
6. The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
A three-day battle is told from many viewpoints. Brutal, funny and excellent at showing the chaos of war.
Best for: battlefield stories.
7. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
A dragon appears in a fantasy city and the ragged watch has to respond. A classic of comic fantasy.
Best for: comic fantasy.
8. Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike
A disgraced hero joins a new adventuring party and discovers the business of quests. A funny satire of fantasy and role-playing games.
Best for: fantasy satire.
9. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
A retired orc warrior opens a coffee shop. Cozy and charming, with a found-family heart.
Best for: cozy fantasy.
10. The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
A young man trains to become a soldier and take revenge in a world at war. Fast, intense and inspired by African cultures.
Best for: revenge and war.
11. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The start of a huge epic about soldiers, mages and gods. Dense but rewarding for those who want a big world.
Best for: epic fantasy.
12. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
A farm boy rescues his true love with the help of odd companions. The original funny fairy tale.
Best for: humour and adventure.
13. Kill the Farmboy by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson
A farmboy sets out to be a hero in a world of clichés. A silly parody full of puns.
Best for: fantasy parody.
14. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
A man and his cat are pulled into a deadly dungeon game show. Violent, funny and addictive.
Best for: LitRPG humour.
15. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo joins a band of dwarves to reclaim treasure from a dragon. The classic quest with a band of misfits.
Best for: the original party.
How to Choose
If you want more Eames, start with Bloody Rose. For grittier, funnier fantasy, pick The Blade Itself, The Heroes or The Black Company. For clever crews, choose The Lies of Locke Lamora or Legends & Lattes. If you want pure comic fantasy, read Guards! Guards!, Orconomics or Kill the Farmboy. For a game-like romp, try Dungeon Crawler Carl. Many of these contain violence and strong language. If you finish Kings of the Wyld and want to keep the party going, join a new fantasy book club or try the audiobooks, which capture the humour well.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kings of the Wyld about?
Clay Cooper's old band, Saga, reunites to rescue his friend's daughter from a besieged city.
Is it a series?
Yes, it begins The Band series, which continues with Bloody Rose.
Is it funny?
Yes, it is full of banter, rock-and-roll references and silly names.
Is it grimdark?
It has violence, but the tone is much lighter than grimdark.
How long is the book?
It runs about 500 pages in print, which is a typical length for epic fantasy.
What should I read first if I'm new to fantasy?
The Hobbit and Legends & Lattes are friendly starting points.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes, and many fans recommend it for the humour and banter.
What makes Kings of the Wyld different from other fantasy?
It treats adventurers like rock stars and focuses on friendship and aging, which gives the story humour and heart.