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Quick answer: If you loved Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books, read Magician, then try The Belgariad, The Sword of Shannara, Dragons of Autumn Twilight and The Eye of the World. All offer classic epic fantasy with quests, magic and big wars.
Raymond E. Feist built the world of Midkemia, where a boy named Pug becomes a great magician. His novels are classic epic fantasy with swords, wizards and clashing empires. The picks below share that style, from early epics to later series. Most are adult or older teen fantasy, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magician: Apprentice | Raymond E. Feist | Teen and adult | the series starter |
| Silverthorn | Raymond E. Feist | Teen and adult | continuing the saga |
| Daughter of the Empire | Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts | Adult | political fantasy |
| Pawn of Prophecy | David Eddings | Teen and adult | comfort fantasy |
| The Sword of Shannara | Terry Brooks | Teen and adult | Tolkien-style quests |
| Dragons of Autumn Twilight | Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman | Teen and adult | party-based adventure |
| Legend | David Gemmell | Adult | heroic fantasy |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | long epic quests |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | big, slow epics |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | Teen and adult | fantasy roots |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | Teen and adult | magic with depth |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character-driven fantasy |
| The Magicians' Guild | Trudi Canavan | Adult | magic-school readers |
| Wizard's First Rule | Terry Goodkind | Adult | fast-paced epics |
| Prince of the Blood | Raymond E. Feist | Adult | more Midkemia |
1. Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist
The opening of Feist's best-known saga follows two boys, Pug and Tomas, as an alien invasion arrives. Start here if you have not read Feist yet.
Best for: the series starter.
2. Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist
The second Riftwar book follows a quest to save a princess. Faster and lighter.
Best for: continuing the saga.
3. Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts
A young woman in an alien empire fights political enemies. Court intrigue from the other side of the Riftwar.
Best for: political fantasy.
4. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
A farm boy discovers he is part of a prophecy. The first Belgariad book, easy and comforting.
Best for: comfort fantasy.
5. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
A young man seeks a magic sword to defeat a dark lord. Heavily indebted to Tolkien, but gripping.
Best for: Tolkien-style quests.
6. Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
A band of companions reunites in a world of dragons. The first Dragonlance book, based on a game.
Best for: party-based adventure.
7. Legend by David Gemmell
Warriors defend a fortress against huge odds. Heroic and gritty.
Best for: heroic fantasy.
8. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Rand al'Thor flees his village with friends. First of the Wheel of Time.
Best for: long epic quests.
9. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
A kitchen boy at a castle is drawn into a war for a kingdom. Slow, rich and wide in scope.
Best for: big, slow epics.
10. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
A hobbit leaves the Shire with the One Ring. The foundation of modern fantasy.
Best for: fantasy roots.
11. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
A boy wizard makes a terrible mistake and must face it. Short, wise and beautiful.
Best for: magic with depth.
12. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard is trained as a killer. Character-driven and emotional.
Best for: character-driven fantasy.
13. The Magicians' Guild by Trudi Canavan
A slum girl discovers she has magic. First of the Black Magician trilogy, in the spirit of Feist's school stories.
Best for: magic-school readers.
14. Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
A woodsman meets a woman fleeing assassins and a sword that changes everything. Fast and dramatic.
Best for: fast-paced epics.
15. Prince of the Blood by Raymond E. Feist
Another Midkemia tale about a prince in a plot with a hidden twist. A good pick for Feist fans.
Best for: more Midkemia.
How to Choose
Start with Magician if you have not read Feist. For comfort fantasy, choose The Belgariad. For long journeys, The Eye of the World. For depth and prose, A Wizard of Earthsea. For a darker mood, try Assassin's Apprentice. Remember that many of these series are long, so plan your reading around the first book and keep going if it grabs you. If you prefer a series with a clear end, Feist's Riftwar Saga wraps up quickly, while Wheel of Time takes a lifetime. If you like one-volume reads, A Wizard of Earthsea is the best choice. Dragonlance and Shannara suit readers who enjoy games.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read the Riftwar books?
Start with Magician, then Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon, or follow publication order.
Is Feist's world connected to a game?
Midkemia began as a tabletop role-playing setting that Feist and friends played in as students.
Is Magician good for teenagers?
Yes. It is accessible and adventurous, with only mild violence by adult fantasy standards.
Which fantasy series is the best for beginners?
The Belgariad and Magician are friendly starting points.
Is there a Feist book not in the Riftwar?
Yes. His Empire series, written with Janny Wurts, follows events in the alien world of Kelewan.
Are these books suitable for teenagers?
Many are. The Belgariad and Dragonlance are popular with younger readers, while Gemmell and Hobb are better for adults.
What is the best Feist book to start with?
Magician, the first Riftwar novel, is the best starting point.