The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Lightbringer

Weeks, 2010 · #63 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 76/120

The Prism, who wields every color of light, hides a secret, while his newly discovered son must learn the magic and survive the war.

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

If you liked Lightbringer, read:

1. Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne

   Staveley, 2014 · #80 on the list · 71/120

   After their emperor father is murdered, his three heirs must face assassins, ancient beings and the secret hidden behind their faith.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

2. The Demon Cycle

   Brett, 2008 · #85 on the list · 70/120

   Demons rise from the ground each night and only magic wards stand between them and humanity. A boy determined to fight back becomes a legend.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. The Bound and the Broken

   Cahill, 2019 · #90 on the list · 68/120

   A wandering bard and a trapped noble woman face the gods' meddling in a world on the verge of war.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

4. Licanius

   Islington, 2014 · #77 on the list · 71/120

   Three students at a school for the gifted are drawn into a war tied to a prophecy, a closing magical Boundary and fate itself.

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

5. Powder Mage

   McClellan, 2013 · #49 on the list · 80/120

   After a coup topples a king, a powder mage field marshal faces royalist plots, foreign armies and a god threatening to return.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

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.