The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Heroes Die

Stover, 1998 · #36 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 85/120

Caine, a celebrity assassin from a future Earth, is sent into a fantasy world as entertainment for viewers back home. He must rescue his wife from a god-emperor.

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

If you liked Heroes Die, read:

1. The Old Kingdom

   Nix, 1995 · #24 on the list · 89/120

   Sabriel, daughter of the Abhorsen, crosses the Wall from her English-style boarding school into a land where the dead will not stay dead. She must walk into Death itself.

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

2. The Broken Empire

   Lawrence, 2011 · #37 on the list · 85/120

   Jorg Ancrath, a prince turned road-brigand at thirteen, fights his way back to a throne in a ruined future that was once our world.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

3. The Chronicles of Amber

   Zelazny, 1970 · #31 on the list · 86/120

   Corwin wakes in a hospital on Earth with no memory and discovers he is a prince of Amber, the one true world. His siblings are fighting over the throne.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

4. The Shadow Campaigns

   Wexler, 2013 · #56 on the list · 78/120

   A veteran captain and a disguised woman soldier serve a mysterious new colonel through a gunpowder-and-magic colonial war.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

5. Kane

   Wagner, 1970 · #75 on the list · 72/120

   Kane, cursed by a mad god to wander forever, is a scheming swordsman and sorcerer who works with any side that suits him.

   Close on mood, structure, further reading, divine influence.

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.