The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like The Witcher

Sapkowski, 1992 · #35 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 85/120 · adapted for screen

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.

Mood8Theme8Structure7Further reading6Creative details8Real-world blend3Divine influence4Climax and fights8Epicness7Genre standard8Originality7

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

If you liked The Witcher, read:

  1. The First Law

    Abercrombie, 2006 · #33 on the list · 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.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  2. A Song of Ice and Fire

    Martin, 1996 · #14 on the list · 94/120

    Noble houses tear Westeros apart over the Iron Throne. Meanwhile an older threat gathers beyond the Wall in the north.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser

    Leiber, 1939 · #50 on the list · 80/120

    A towering northern barbarian and a small, quick thief roam the city of Lankhmar, stealing, drinking and getting into trouble with wizards.

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

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.