Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you loved The Way of Kings, read Words of Radiance, then Mistborn, Warbreaker, The Eye of the World and A Game of Thrones. All offer huge worlds, detailed magic and sweeping plots.
Brandon Sanderson's 2010 novel begins The Stormlight Archive with a soldier turned slave, a young scholar and a prince haunted by visions. It is long and richly built, with a complex magic system. The books below feature epic scale, strong characters and deep world-building for readers who want to be immersed.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Words of Radiance | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | the sequel |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | Sanderson's start |
| Warbreaker | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | standalone epic |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | long epic series |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | political fantasy |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | massive world-building |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | storytelling magic |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | gritty fantasy |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | classic epic fantasy |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character-driven fantasy |
| The Black Prism | Brent Weeks | Adult | new magic ideas |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | Adult | standalone dragons |
| The Fifth Season | N.K. Jemisin | Adult | inventive worlds |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Adult | dark military fantasy |
| The Shadow of What Was Lost | James Islington | Adult | epic mysteries |
1. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
The sequel continues the story with more battles, secrets and answers. Fans of the first book will want it right away.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a crew planning to overthrow an immortal ruler. Inventive magic and a satisfying plot.
Best for: Sanderson's start.
3. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Two sisters are caught in a plot involving gods and a magic system based on color. A standalone epic.
Best for: standalone epic.
4. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Rand al'Thor leaves his village with friends and learns he is tied to a great destiny. The start of The Wheel of Time.
Best for: long epic series.
5. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble families fight for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. Political, violent and complex.
Best for: political fantasy.
6. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The start of a huge epic about soldiers, mages and gods. Dense but rewarding.
Best for: massive world-building.
7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of how he became a legend. Lyrical and richly detailed.
Best for: storytelling magic.
8. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A torturer, a barbarian and a vain swordsman are drawn into a war. Gritty and funny.
Best for: gritty fantasy.
9. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
A kitchen boy becomes part of a war for a kingdom. A classic that influenced George R.R. Martin.
Best for: classic epic fantasy.
10. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A bastard prince is trained as a royal assassin. Intimate and emotional.
Best for: character-driven fantasy.
11. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
A world in which light is magic, and a ruler hides a secret. Fast with clever ideas.
Best for: new magic ideas.
12. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
A world of dragons, queens and secret societies. A standalone epic with a strong cast.
Best for: standalone dragons.
13. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
In a world regularly destroyed, a woman hunts for her kidnapped daughter. Winner of the Hugo Award.
Best for: inventive worlds.
14. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan enters a military academy and discovers a deadly power. Brutal and inspired by Chinese history.
Best for: dark military fantasy.
15. The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
Young people in a school of magic uncover a secret that threatens the realm. A good option for fans of big epics.
Best for: epic mysteries.
How to Choose
If you want more Stormlight, read Words of Radiance next. For other Sanderson series, pick Mistborn or Warbreaker. For classic big epics, choose The Eye of the World, The Dragonbone Chair or A Game of Thrones. For moral complexity and grim stakes, try The Blade Itself, Gardens of the Moon or The Poppy War. If you like standalone novels, The Priory of the Orange Tree is a good option. Many of these books are very long. A reading tip: Sanderson's books are long, so consider audiobooks, which are widely praised and make the world easier to follow. If you are new to epic fantasy, Mistborn is a more compact starting point.
Related: The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday: Summary and Key Takeaways · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Way of Kings about?
It follows Kaladin, a slave soldier, Shallan, a scholar, and Dalinar, a highprince, as a war nears and old powers return.
How long is The Way of Kings?
About 1,000 pages.
How many Stormlight books are there?
Five main books so far, with more planned.
Do I need to read Mistborn first?
No, but the books share a universe called the Cosmere.
Is it suitable for teens?
It is written for adults but has little explicit content.
What order should I read the Stormlight Archive in?
Start with The Way of Kings and continue with Words of Radiance.
Is The Way of Kings hard to follow?
It has many characters and invented terms, but Sanderson's clear prose helps.
What is the Cosmere?
The shared universe of Sanderson's books.
Do I need to read it before Mistborn?
No, you can start with either.
Which book here is the best standalone?
Warbreaker and The Priory of the Orange Tree each tell a complete story, so they suit readers who want a big world without a long series.