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Quick answer: If you loved The Dwarves, try The War of the Dwarves, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Elves, Grunts! and Orcs. Each one is an epic fantasy that puts dwarves, orcs or other usually minor races at the center of the adventure.
Markus Heitz's German bestseller, published in 2003 and translated into English, follows Tungdil, a dwarf raised by a human magus who has never met his own people. Sent on a simple errand, he is drawn into a war against orcs, älfar and a dark sorcerer threatening the land of Girdlegard. Readers love its loyal dwarves, its battles and its humor. These books share its unusual heroes and its classic quests.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The War of the Dwarves | Markus Heitz | Epic | readers who want the sequel |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | Classic | readers who want the original dwarf quest |
| The Lord of the Rings | J.R.R. Tolkien | Epic | readers who want the great epic |
| The Elves | Bernhard Hennen | Epic | readers who want the elves' version |
| Grunts! | Mary Gentle | Comic | readers who like orcs as heroes |
| Orcs | Stan Nicholls | Gritty | readers who want orc heroes |
| Legend | David Gemmell | Heroic | readers who like last stands |
| The Sword of Shannara | Terry Brooks | Classic | readers who like quests |
| Gotrek and Felix: Trollslayer | William King | Gritty | readers who like dwarf warriors |
| Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight | Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman | Classic | readers who like adventuring parties |
| The Belgariad: Pawn of Prophecy | David Eddings | Classic | readers who like farm-boy heroes |
| Kings of the Wyld | Nicholas Eames | Fun | readers who like old adventurers |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Epic | readers who like clever magic |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Grimdark | readers who like gray characters |
| Guards! Guards! | Terry Pratchett | Comic | readers who want funny fantasy |
1. The War of the Dwarves by Markus Heitz
Tungdil faces new threats to Girdlegard.
Best for: readers who want the sequel.
2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Thirteen dwarves and a hobbit seek a dragon's gold.
Best for: readers who want the original dwarf quest.
3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Frodo carries a ring to destroy it.
Best for: readers who want the great epic.
4. The Elves by Bernhard Hennen
An elven saga in the same German tradition.
Best for: readers who want the elves' version.
5. Grunts! by Mary Gentle
Orcs become Marines thanks to a magical curse.
Best for: readers who like orcs as heroes.
6. Orcs by Stan Nicholls
A warband of orcs fights for survival.
Best for: readers who want orc heroes.
7. Legend by David Gemmell
An aging warrior defends a fortress.
Best for: readers who like last stands.
8. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
A young man must wield a legendary sword.
Best for: readers who like quests.
9. Gotrek and Felix: Trollslayer by William King
A dwarf seeks a heroic death.
Best for: readers who like dwarf warriors.
10. Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Friends reunite as war comes.
Best for: readers who like adventuring parties.
11. The Belgariad: Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
A boy discovers his destiny.
Best for: readers who like farm-boy heroes.
12. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Retired mercenaries reunite.
Best for: readers who like old adventurers.
13. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A thief joins a crew against a god-king.
Best for: readers who like clever magic.
14. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Unlikely heroes are drawn into war.
Best for: readers who like gray characters.
15. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
A city watch faces a dragon.
Best for: readers who want funny fantasy.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Dwarves: 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.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Dwarves. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Continue with The War of the Dwarves. For the classic dwarf quest, The Hobbit is essential. If you like seeing other races as heroes, Orcs, Grunts! and The Elves are great choices. Warhammer fans will enjoy Trollslayer.
Related: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Dwarves about?
A dwarf raised by humans joins his people's war against orcs and a dark sorcerer.
Is The Dwarves part of a series?
Yes. It is the first in a long German fantasy series.
Who is Markus Heitz?
A bestselling German fantasy author.
Is The Dwarves translated into English?
Yes. English translations by Sheelagh Alabaster are available.
Is The Dwarves like Tolkien?
It uses classic Tolkien-style races but focuses on the dwarves.
Who is Tungdil?
The dwarf hero, raised by a human magus.
What should I read next?
The War of the Dwarves.