Finding a book like Lord of the Rings is a hard task. JRR Tolkien's legendary fantasy novels have been enchanting readers for over a century, and has inspired numerous films, TV shows, and video games. But here at IGN we love both books and a challenge so we've put together a list of the best books to inspire all the feelings that reading the epic series brings you. Whether you're a fan of second breakfast, want to be swept up in a great battle, or love the sweeping fantasy of Middle Earth, there's something for every Tolkien fan here.
See our guide to the the Lord of the Rings Books to see everything in the series.
Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes Series #0)
This prequel to Travis Baldree's bestselling Legends and Lattes is perfect for readers whose favorite part of Lord of the Rings is all the meals and quiet moments. Following Viv the Orc in the years leading up to Legends and Lattes, we meet her here after injuring herself during a raid and having to take up residence in a small seaside town. It's a far cry from the battlefield and gives her time to consider her life and what makes it worthwhile. This is perfect of the D&D fans among you and those who want a fantasy world with lower stakes than saving the world.
The King of Elfland’s Daughter (Folio Special Edition)
Seen as one of Tolkien's biggest influences, The King of Elfland’s Daughter has long been seen as a seminal book for fantasy readers. Written by Lord Dunsany all the way back in 1924, the book follows the story of Alveric, the son of a lord, who is sent to find the titular child and embarks on an epic journey to do just that. While this was the kind of book you once had to find in the backrooms of a second hand book shop, Folio Society recently released a truly stunning special edition limited version of the novel which is brought to life in beautiful hardcover format. The book features an introduction by Erin Morgenstern, a foreword by Neil Gaiman and original artwork by Julie Dillon, and is a truly stunning addition to any fantasy collection.
A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle #1)
Of course whenever you're making a list of the best fantasy titles you read you have to include something by the fantastic Ursula LeGuin. In this case we're going for A Wizard of Earthsea, the first book in her Earthsea Cycle, which takes readers on a sprawling journey through the life of a young boy named Duny who holds great power within him. As he learns how to wield it he must come of age in an increasingly dangerous time and place, echoing the story of a young Hobbit named Frodo Baggins. LeGuin writes the kinds of stories you can lose yourself in instantly and this is one of her most powerful and fantastical tales for readers of all ages.
The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time Series #1)
The Wheel of Time series always comes up when people are thinking about books like Lord of the Rings and we're no different. When it comes to books that match the sweeping high fantasy of LotR it's hard to beat Robert Jordan's epic series. As a matriarchal community of leaders await the arrival of a prophesied evil-doer, a mysterious woman enters a small town and changes the lives of its inhabitants forever in this first book that introduces us to a vast and mystical world filled with strange creatures and powerful magic users. Taking place over 15 books this is a series to sate all your fantasy needs, and one that for many readers easily sits alongside Lord of the Rings. There is even a Wheel of Time TV series that adapts the books to the screen.
The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air Series #1)
Holly Black has made her mark as a must-read fantasy author thanks to her stunning middle grade series The Spiderwick Chronicles with Tony DiTerlizzi, but we're featuring her YA series The Cruel Prince as one of the best series for Lord of the Rings lovers. This gorgeously twisted story is set in the mystical and violent world of the Fae, as a young woman and her sister are pulled into the underground realm and forced to live alongside the wicked royal family. For lovers of fantastical creatures, deep folklore, and the horrors that come with magic, this is one of the most gripping, exciting, and romantic fantasy series out there.
The Blacktongue Thief (Blacktongue #1)
This breakout fantasy book has been getting readers excited since it dropped in 2021, shaking up what we expect from the genre. Kinch Na Shannack is used to hitting easy marks and making his way in the world thanks to the things that he gains from them. But when he mistakenly tries to scheme on a knight named Galva, soon his life is turned upside down. Taking the tropes we know and love and bringing them to life in an entirely new way, this novel feels like playing your favorite tabletop game while Lord of the Rings plays on VHS in the background. Truly a dynamite adventure that'll leave you wanting more. And luckily there are new books in the burgeoning series coming soon.
Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)
One of the best contemporary fiction books of the last decade, Song of Blood and Stone transports readers to a vibrant and brutal fantasy world torn apart by warring rulers, where a young outsider, Jasminda, finds herself playing a huge part in the future of her kingdom. If you've always been most enamored by the political machinations and warmaking that features in Lord of the Rings then this treacherous novel will draw you in and keep you reading til the very last page. A new take on the chosen one story, Song of Blood and Stone is a must read for fantasy fans of all stripes.
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)
Often credited with redefining the genre, The Name of the Wind feels like one of the most widely read fantasy novels of the 21st century, breaking the boundaries between high fantasy and popular fiction. Set in the fictional world of Temerant which exists alongside the mystical world of the fae, this is a story of a man with a dark and terrible secret trying to start again in a world of great wizards, brave knights, evil beings, talented bards, and all the kinds of characters you hope to find in a great fantasy novel.
The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
If the beautiful inhabitants of Rivendell are what drew you to Lord of the Rings, then you'll fall for the gorgeous, lavish folklore of The Never Tilting World. This stunning fantasy adventure is set in a world where generations of twin goddesses ruled peacefully until one sister betrayed the other causing chaos in the realm of Aeon, leaving war in its wake. Two young women who couldn't be more different find themselves called on a journey that could change their lives and world forever, but the question is what will it cost them?
Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more. Rosie is a published comics author who has written titles including Godzilla Rivals vs. Battra and The Haunted High-Tops. She co-hosts the weekly Crooked Media pop-culture podcast X-Ray Vision. When she's not writing, you can find her playing Dragon Ball FighterZ or rewatching weird old horror and martial movies in her free time. She loves making comics and zines as well as collecting VHS and reading as much manga as humanly possible. You can find her on social at @rosiemarx.
