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Quick answer: If you loved The Eye of the World, read The Great Hunt, then The Fellowship of the Ring, The Way of Kings, A Game of Thrones and The Name of the Wind. All are big, immersive fantasy series with deep worlds, prophecies and heroes who start out ordinary.
Robert Jordan's 1990 novel opens The Wheel of Time with Rand al'Thor and his friends fleeing their quiet village when a mysterious Aes Sedai arrives, and a Dark One's servants hunt them across the land. It is the start of a fourteen-book epic, finished by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's death. The books below offer similar long journeys, hidden destinies and rich magic systems for readers who love to sink into a series.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Hunt | Robert Jordan | Adult | the next book |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | Adult | the foundation |
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | epic and deep |
| A Game of Thrones | George R. R. Martin | Adult | political epic |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical storyteller |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | magic and rebellion |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | classic epic |
| Magician | Raymond E. Feist | Adult | classic apprentice tale |
| Pawn of Prophecy | David Eddings | Adult | easy classic quest |
| The Sword of Shannara | Terry Brooks | Adult | Tolkien-style quest |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | Teen | dragon epics |
| The Warded Man | Peter V. Brett | Adult | demons and survival |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character-driven fantasy |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | complex military fantasy |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
1. The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
Rand and his friends are drawn into a hunt for a stolen horn and a larger war. A strong second book that widens the world.
Best for: the next book.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
A small hobbit sets out to destroy a ring. The model for epic fantasy and a clear influence on Jordan.
Best for: the foundation.
3. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Soldiers, scholars and rulers face a coming storm. Large, intricate and the first of The Stormlight Archive.
Best for: epic and deep.
4. 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.
5. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his own story, from performer to wizard. Beautiful and slow.
Best for: lyrical storyteller.
6. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a crew to topple an immortal ruler. Tight plot and a clear, original magic system.
Best for: magic and rebellion.
7. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
A kitchen boy is drawn into a war for a kingdom. Slow, rich and a model for later fantasy.
Best for: classic epic.
8. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
A kitchen boy becomes a magician as war breaks out. Epic, classic and warm.
Best for: classic apprentice tale.
9. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
A farm boy is pulled into a quest to recover a stolen orb. Light, funny and fast, the start of The Belgariad.
Best for: easy classic quest.
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
A half-elf must find a sword to defeat a dark lord. A classic of 1970s epic fantasy.
Best for: Tolkien-style quest.
11. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
A farm boy finds a dragon egg and is thrown into a war. A friendly start to epic fantasy.
Best for: dragon epics.
12. The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
Three young survivors learn to fight demons that rise at night. Dark and fast.
Best for: demons and survival.
13. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard is trained as an assassin. Emotional and slow-burning.
Best for: character-driven fantasy.
14. 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.
15. 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.
How to Choose
To stay in the series read The Great Hunt next, and plan to read in order. For the roots of epic fantasy choose The Fellowship of the Ring, The Dragonbone Chair or Magician. For more magic rules pick Mistborn or The Way of Kings. For darker politics try A Game of Thrones. For lighter, quicker quests read Pawn of Prophecy or Eragon. The Wheel of Time is long, so many readers pace themselves with shorter books in between. The Wheel of Time was adapted for television, but the books give far more detail about the magic and the many viewpoint characters. Audiobooks, read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, are popular for a series this long.
Related: What Is the Most Read Book in the World? · What Age Is Brave New World Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Eye of the World about?
Young villagers flee their home when servants of the Dark One come hunting for them.
Who wrote it?
Robert Jordan.
When was it published?
1990.
How many books are in The Wheel of Time?
Fourteen main books plus a prequel.
Who finished the series?
Brandon Sanderson, working from Jordan's notes after Jordan's death in 2007.
Is it a slow start?
The opening chapters are gentle, and the pace builds after the first quarter.
Is there a TV series?
Yes, a streaming adaptation. Check current listings.
Do I need to read in order?
Yes.
What should I read next?
Try The Great Hunt or The Way of Kings.