The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like Raven's Mark

McDonald, 2017 · #70 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 73/120

Ryhalt Galharrow, a bounty hunter, works for a sorcerer called Crowfoot at the edge of the Misery. The Misery is a poisoned, warped wasteland left by a weapon.

Mood8Theme7Structure7Further reading3Creative details8Real-world blend1Divine influence6Climax and fights8Epicness5Genre standard3Originality8

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

If you liked Raven's Mark, read:

  1. The Vagrant

    Newman, 2015 · #81 on the list · 71/120

    A silent man carrying an infant and a sentient sword walks through a broken land overrun by the demonic Infernal.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  2. The Blacktongue Thief

    Buehlman, 2021 · #89 on the list · 68/120

    Kinch Na Shannack, a thief in debt to the guild that trained him, is pulled into a quest against giants with a battle-scarred knight he was supposed to rob.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  3. Greatcoats

    de Castell, 2014 · #86 on the list · 69/120

    The King's travelling magistrates were disbanded when the king was killed. Falcio val Mond keeps the king's final order and keeps judging.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  4. A Land Fit for Heroes

    Morgan, 2008 · #84 on the list · 70/120

    Three veterans of a war against lizard-invaders now live on its bitter fringes. They are drawn back to face a stranger threat, the dwenda.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  5. The Grey Bastards

    French, 2015 · #94 on the list · 64/120

    Half-orc riders on war hogs patrol a lawless borderland and uncover a plot that could doom their brotherhood.

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

Featured pick

Acenes of Sparta: The Dragon Slayer

Manolis Tsongas, 2026 · #5 on the list · 101/120 · for adults and mature teens

A dragon is the real reason King Leonidas and his three hundred died at Thermopylae. Sixty-two years later the gods send a Spartan boy of the agoge to kill it. The book takes lessons from tragedy and the cost of sacrifice, as is the Greek way.

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.