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Quick answer: If you are an adult who loves Ranger's Apprentice, try Assassin's Apprentice, The Way of Shadows, Blood Song, The Belgariad, Magician and The Lies of Locke Lamora. They offer apprentices, quests and loyal friends.
John Flanagan's series, beginning with The Ruins of Gorlan, follows Will, an orphan who becomes a Ranger's apprentice, and his friends Horace and Alyss. It is fast and friendly, and many adults enjoy it. Readers who finish it want more fantasy about apprentices and adventure, with more mature themes. These 15 books fit. Some include violence.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ruins of Gorlan | John Flanagan | Teen/Adult | the first book |
| Brotherband Chronicles: The Outcasts | John Flanagan | Teen/Adult | more by the same author |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | readers who like character focus |
| The Way of Shadows | Brent Weeks | Adult | readers who want darker apprentices |
| Blood Song | Anthony Ryan | Adult | readers who like swordplay |
| Pawn of Prophecy | David Eddings | Adult | readers who want a lighter epic |
| Magician | Raymond E. Feist | Adult | readers who want a classic |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | readers who like heists |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | readers who like prose |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | readers who want a classic |
| Redwall | Brian Jacques | Teen/Adult | readers who like old-fashioned adventure |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | Teen/Adult | readers who like dragons |
| The Black Prism | Brent Weeks | Adult | readers who like clever magic |
| The Sword of Shannara | Terry Brooks | Adult | readers who like classic quests |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | readers who like heists |
1. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
The first Ranger's Apprentice book. Will trains as a Ranger and faces dark forces. Start here if you are new.
Best for: the first book.
2. Brotherband Chronicles: The Outcasts by John Flanagan
Flanagan's second series follows Hal and a crew of outcasts at sea. Fast and fun.
Best for: more by the same author.
3. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Fitz, a royal bastard, is trained as an assassin. Emotional and rich.
Best for: readers who like character focus.
4. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Azoth, a street kid, trains as an assassin under a master. Dark and fast.
Best for: readers who want darker apprentices.
5. Blood Song by Anthony Ryan
Vaelin Al Sorna is raised as a warrior and tells his story. Fast, with strong battle scenes.
Best for: readers who like swordplay.
6. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
Garion, a farm boy, is drawn into a quest for a stolen orb. A gentle, humorous start to a long saga.
Best for: readers who want a lighter epic.
7. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
Pug, a boy at a castle, becomes a powerful magician as two worlds fight. A classic of epic fantasy.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
8. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Locke and his gang of thieves pull off elaborate cons. Clever and funny.
Best for: readers who like heists.
9. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his story, from orphan to University student. Lyrical and long.
Best for: readers who like prose.
10. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo joins thirteen dwarves on a quest. The original friendly adventure.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
11. Redwall by Brian Jacques
Matthias, a young mouse, defends Redwall Abbey from the rat Cluny. Feasts, battles and riddles.
Best for: readers who like old-fashioned adventure.
12. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eragon finds a dragon egg and becomes a Rider. Classic quest fantasy.
Best for: readers who like dragons.
13. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Gavin Guile, the Prism, rules a world of color-based magic. Fast and twisty.
Best for: readers who like clever magic.
14. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Shea Ommadon sets out to find a sword to defeat the Warlock Lord. A classic quest.
Best for: readers who like classic quests.
15. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Vin and her crew plan to overthrow a god-emperor. A tight plot and clever system.
Best for: readers who like heists.
How to Choose
For more Flanagan, read The Outcasts. For darker apprentices, begin with Assassin's Apprentice or The Way of Shadows. For classic quests, choose Magician or Pawn of Prophecy. A simple plan is to follow a friendly book with a darker one for contrast. These books are suitable for older teens and adults, with battles and some death. If you like adventure with a friendly tone, balance Flanagan with a darker apprentice story and a quest classic. Audiobooks for Flanagan are popular and the plot moves quickly, which suits travel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Ranger's Apprentice for?
It is recommended for ages 10 and up, though adults enjoy it.
How many books are there?
Twelve in the main series, plus the Brotherband spin-off.
Which Flanagan series should I start with?
Ranger's Apprentice starts with The Ruins of Gorlan.
Is it like Lord of the Rings?
It is lighter and faster, with an emphasis on friendship.
Is Ranger's Apprentice a good gateway to adult fantasy?
Yes, the language is simple and the stakes are clear, which makes it a good bridge.
Which series is darkest on this list?
The Way of Shadows and Blood Song are the darkest.