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Quick answer: If you loved The Lord of the Rings as an adult, try The Silmarillion, A Game of Thrones, The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World, The Name of the Wind, Mistborn and The Lies of Locke Lamora. Each builds a world with history, maps and a fight for survival.
Tolkien set the standard for epic fantasy: a deep history, invented languages, a long quest and a clear stakes of good against evil. Adult readers who finish the trilogy often want that same sweeping scale, with or without the same moral clarity. These 15 books cover traditional quests, grittier epics and Tolkien's own deeper lore.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Silmarillion | J.R.R. Tolkien | Adult | readers who want more lore |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | readers who want the prequel |
| The Children of Húrin | J.R.R. Tolkien | Adult | fans who like darker tales |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | readers who want a modern epic |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | readers who want a long series |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | readers who love prose |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | readers who like clear rules |
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | readers who love sprawling stories |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | readers who want a break from quests |
| The Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | All ages | readers who like quiet depth |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | readers who like slow, rich worldbuilding |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who want grimdark |
| Elric of Melniboné | Michael Moorcock | Adult | readers who want sword and sorcery |
| The Once and Future King | T.H. White | Adult | readers who like legends |
| Lord Foul's Bane | Stephen R. Donaldson | Adult | readers who want an anti-hero |
1. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
The history of Middle-earth from creation through the First Age. Dense, mythic and beautiful.
Best for: readers who want more lore.
2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
If you have not read it, Bilbo's journey is a lighter prelude to the trilogy. Warm and funny.
Best for: readers who want the prequel.
3. The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien
A tragic tale from the First Age of Middle-earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien. Grim and tragic.
Best for: fans who like darker tales.
4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses fight for the Iron Throne while an ancient danger grows in the north. Gritty, political and violent.
Best for: readers who want a modern epic.
5. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Rand al'Thor leaves his village with friends when the Dark One's forces appear. Closest to Tolkien in structure.
Best for: readers who want a long series.
6. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his story, from street orphan to the University. Lyrical, rich and unfinished.
Best for: readers who love prose.
7. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Vin and a crew of thieves plan to topple an immortal ruler. A clever magic system and a tight plot.
Best for: readers who like clear rules.
8. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Soldiers, scholars and a prince struggle in a world of storms and magical swords. Huge in scope.
Best for: readers who love sprawling stories.
9. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Locke and his gang of thieves pull off grand cons in a city of canals. Funny, dark and clever.
Best for: readers who want a break from quests.
10. The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ged, a young wizard, releases a shadow that haunts him. A short and thoughtful classic.
Best for: readers who like quiet depth.
11. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
Simon, a kitchen boy, is swept into a war over a crown. A major influence on later epics.
Best for: readers who like slow, rich worldbuilding.
12. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Logen Ninefingers, a torturer and a fop are pulled into a war. Gritty and darkly funny.
Best for: readers who want grimdark.
13. Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
Elric, a sickly albino prince, wields a soul-drinking sword. A pulpy and influential counterpoint to Tolkien.
Best for: readers who want sword and sorcery.
14. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
White's version of the King Arthur legend, from boyhood to tragedy. Funny, moving and wise.
Best for: readers who like legends.
15. Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson
Thomas Covenant, a leper, finds himself in a magical Land. Dark and divisive, and a landmark of the genre.
Best for: readers who want an anti-hero.
How to Choose
If you want more Tolkien, read The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin and The Hobbit. For an epic of the same length, try The Eye of the World or The Way of Kings. For darker adult stories, pick A Game of Thrones or The Blade Itself. For something shorter, try The Wizard of Earthsea. Plan for long books and take your time.
Related: What Age Is The Lord of the Rings Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · How Long Does It Take to Read The Lord of the Rings?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest book to The Lord of the Rings?
The Eye of the World is the closest in structure, with a quest and a Dark Lord.
Should I read The Silmarillion?
Yes, if you like the history. It reads more like mythology than a novel.
Is A Game of Thrones too dark?
It has violence and sexual content, so it is much more mature than Tolkien.
Where should I start after the trilogy?
The Hobbit and The Silmarillion complete Tolkien's story.