The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like The First Law

Abercrombie, 2006 · #33 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 85/120

A crippled torturer, a barbarian with a body count and a vain young nobleman are drawn into an old wizard's war. Their paths cross at the Union's heart.

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

If you liked The First Law, read:

1. The Black Company

   Cook, 1984 · #28 on the list · 87/120

   A mercenary company's annalist records their service to a sorceress called the Lady, and what it costs them.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

2. The Witcher

   Sapkowski, 1992 · #35 on the list · 85/120

   Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter, finds the men who hire him are often worse than the beasts. He is bound by destiny to a princess named Ciri.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. 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, creative details, real-world blend.

4. 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 theme, structure, further reading, real-world blend.

5. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn

   Williams, 1988 · #61 on the list · 77/120

   Simon, a kitchen boy at the Hayholt, is swept into a war as an undead elf-king returns to claim Osten Ard.

   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.