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Quick answer: If you like Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, read The Wheel of Time, The Name of the Wind, The Blade Itself and The Fifth Season. All offer big, detailed fantasy worlds with deep magic systems and long series.
The Cosmere is Brandon Sanderson's shared universe, linking Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Elantris, Warbreaker and many others through hidden connections. Readers love the clear magic rules, the planning and the huge payoffs. The books below offer similar epic fantasy with strong world building, from long classics to modern favourites.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | epic series start |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | complex military fantasy |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | gritty humour |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical coming of age |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character-driven fantasy |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | Adult | thoughtful magic |
| The Fifth Season | N. K. Jemisin | Adult | world-ending epic |
| The Black Prism | Brent Weeks | Adult | colour magic |
| The Way of Shadows | Brent Weeks | Adult | assassin story |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | Adult | standalone epic |
| The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | Adult | grimdark military fantasy |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | classic epic |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | Adult | the foundation |
| A Game of Thrones | George R. R. Martin | Adult | political epic |
1. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Young villagers leave home and are drawn into a war with a dark lord. Sanderson completed the Wheel of Time after Jordan's death.
Best for: epic series start.
2. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The Malazan empire fights a war across continents. Dense and rewarding, for patient readers.
Best for: complex military fantasy.
3. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A barbarian, a torturer and a vain officer are drawn into a conflict. Dark, funny and sharp.
Best for: gritty humour.
4. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of his life, from performer to wizard. Beautifully written.
Best for: lyrical coming of age.
5. 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.
6. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard is trained as an assassin. Emotional and slow-burning.
Best for: character-driven fantasy.
7. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
A young wizard unleashes a shadow and must face it. Short, serious and influential.
Best for: thoughtful magic.
8. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
A woman searches for her daughter in a world of constant disaster. Inventive and powerful.
Best for: world-ending epic.
9. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
A powerful ruler and his secret son face a coming war. Fast and inventive.
Best for: colour magic.
10. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
A street boy becomes an assassin's apprentice. Dark and action-packed.
Best for: assassin story.
11. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Queens, dragons and secret orders in a divided world. Big, rich and complete in one book.
Best for: standalone epic.
12. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
An orphan wins a place at an elite military school and discovers shamanic power. Harsh and gripping.
Best for: grimdark military fantasy.
13. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
A kitchen boy is drawn into a war for a kingdom. Slow and rich.
Best for: classic epic.
14. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
A small hobbit sets out to destroy a ring. The model for epic fantasy.
Best for: the foundation.
15. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Noble families fight for a throne in a brutal world. Intricate, dark and gripping.
Best for: political epic.
How to Choose
For Sanderson's own style choose The Wheel of Time, which he finished, or the Mistborn books. For gritty humour pick Joe Abercrombie. For lyrical fantasy try The Name of the Wind. For character-driven stories read Robin Hobb. For new ideas read The Fifth Season or The Poppy War. Most of these start long series, so check content notes and whether the series is complete. Some readers prefer to finish a series before starting it, to avoid long waits between books, and that is especially true of the Wheel of Time and Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings. A good strategy with huge fantasy series is to read the first book and decide whether you like the style. Sanderson's own approach is clear and plot-driven, which is why readers who like the Cosmere often enjoy Brent Weeks and N. K. Jemisin. Readers who prefer prose and character may enjoy Hobb or Rothfuss. Audiobooks are a good way to digest very long series, and many have excellent narrators.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cosmere?
Brandon Sanderson's shared fantasy universe connecting many of his series.
Where should I start with the Cosmere?
Many readers start with Mistborn: The Final Empire.
Do I need to read everything in order?
No. Each series can be read alone, though hidden links reward readers who read more.
Is Sanderson's Wheel of Time part of the Cosmere?
No, it is a separate world by Robert Jordan, which Sanderson finished.
What is a magic system?
A set of rules explaining how magic works in the story.
Are these books long?
Yes, many exceed 600 pages.
Are they violent?
Some are, especially Abercrombie and Erikson.
What should I read next?
Try The Name of the Wind or The Blade Itself.
Should I read Mistborn or Stormlight first?
Most readers begin with Mistborn: The Final Empire because it is shorter and complete in a trilogy.
What is a good standalone epic fantasy?
The Priory of the Orange Tree and Elantris are both complete in one volume.