The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Cradle

Wight, 2016 · #65 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 75/120

Lindon is the weakest boy in a clan of martial artists, forbidden to learn their sacred art. He refuses to accept his fate and sets out to become the strongest.

Its strongest scores: climax and fights and creative details. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked Cradle, read:

1. Redwall

   Jacques, 1986 · #69 on the list · 74/120

   When a warlord rat besieges Redwall Abbey, a young mouse searches for the lost sword of the legendary Martin the Warrior.

   Close on theme, structure, further reading, creative details.

2. Mistborn

   Sanderson, 2006 · #40 on the list · 84/120

   Under an ash-choked sky ruled by a god-king for a thousand years, a street thief learns to burn metals for power. She joins a crew planning the impossible heist of the Final Empire.

   Close on mood, theme, further reading, creative details.

3. The Drenai Saga

   Gemmell, 1984 · #54 on the list · 79/120

   An aging axeman, Druss the Legend, and other heroes of the Drenai stand against impossible odds at fortresses like Dros Delnoch.

   Close on structure, further reading, real-world blend, climax and fights.

4. The Wheel of Time

   Jordan, 1990 · #32 on the list · 86/120

   Rand al'Thor, a farm boy from the Two Rivers, learns he is the Dragon Reborn. He is destined to fight the Dark One and to break the world again.

   Close on theme, structure, creative details, real-world blend.

5. Kings of the Wyld

   Eames, 2017 · #83 on the list · 70/120

   Clay Cooper, the retired member of a famous mercenary band, is pulled back for one last tour across a monster-filled world to rescue a friend's daughter.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

How the scores work: each book is rated 1 to 10 on eleven criteria; real-world blend and climax and fights count double, for a maximum of 120. See the full Fantasy 101.