There are certain authors who, once discovered, become rather like a second home to us—comfortable, thrilling, and endlessly welcoming. Brandon Sanderson is just such an author. Yet even the most devoted reader must eventually turn the final page of The Stormlight Archive or Mistborn, and then comes the question that has troubled many a soul: “Whatever shall I read next?”
Fear not, dear reader, for I have gathered here a collection of fifteen remarkable books that shall delight any admirer of Sanderson’s particular brand of magic. These are tales of intricate systems, grand adventures, and characters who feel as real as your own companions.
Books with Magnificent Magic Systems
If it is the clever construction of magical rules that draws you to Sanderson’s work, these volumes shall prove most satisfying.
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
In a world where light itself becomes the stuff of magic, Brent Weeks has crafted something rather extraordinary. The chromaturgy system—wherein drafters transform light into a physical substance called luxin—rivals anything in the Cosmere for its ingenuity. Gavin Guile, the most powerful man alive, holds secrets that could shatter empires. The Lightbringer series scales to heights of epic grandeur, with family drama and clever plotting woven throughout like threads of colored light.
Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
What happens when gunpowder becomes magical? Brian McClellan—who studied under Sanderson himself—answers this question with tremendous flair. Field Marshal Tamas has just overthrown his king, and now faces prophecies, mysteries, and the threat of divine retribution. The Powder Mages can ingest gunpowder to enhance their abilities, float bullets with uncanny precision, and sense explosives from great distances. It is flintlock fantasy at its finest.
The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington
Here is a series that began when its author found inspiration in Mistborn, yet grew into something wonderfully original. Time itself becomes a plaything in these pages, with prophecies and paradoxes weaving together in ways that shall make you gasp aloud. The magic is layered, the plot twists arrive with the precision of a master clockmaker, and by the final volume, every thread connects with startling elegance.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe was a legend before he was thirty—a musician of unparalleled skill, a magician of considerable power, and a man with a story worth telling. Patrick Rothfuss writes prose so beautiful it nearly sings, and his magic systems blend sympathy, naming, and alchemy into a fascinating whole. The tale unfolds as Kvothe himself narrates his past to a chronicler, and one cannot help but lean closer to hear every word.
Epic Tales of Sweeping Scope
For those who adore the grandeur of the Stormlight Archive, these sagas offer worlds vast enough to lose oneself within.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
One cannot discuss epic fantasy without mentioning this monumental work—especially when Sanderson himself completed the final three volumes after Jordan’s passing. Fourteen books trace the journey of Rand al’Thor, a shepherd boy destined to save or destroy the world. The magic system shines brilliantly, the world-building spans continents and cultures, and the themes of duty and honor resonate throughout. It is the very definition of epic.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
If you desire complexity and scale beyond measure, Steven Erikson offers exactly that. Ten volumes of intricate plotting, hundreds of characters, and a history spanning millennia await the intrepid reader. The themes run deep—compassion, war, civilization’s rise and fall—while gods and mortals alike struggle across a world both beautiful and brutal. This is not a light undertaking, but the rewards are immense.
Character-Driven Adventures
Sometimes it is the people we meet within pages who matter most. These books offer companions worth knowing.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Picture this: a Venice-like city where a gang of clever thieves execute the most audacious cons imaginable. Locke Lamora and his Gentleman Bastards will steal your heart as surely as they steal fortunes from unsuspecting nobles. The banter is delightful, the plotting is intricate, and the heist elements feel perfectly at home alongside the fantasy. If Mistborn taught you to love thieves, this book shall prove a splendid companion.
Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
Royce the cynical thief and Hadrian the optimistic mercenary make an irresistible pair. When they’re framed for the king’s murder, their troubles have only begun. Michael J. Sullivan writes with warmth and wit, crafting adventures that feel classic in the best sense. The Riyria Revelations offers the pure joy of fantasy without cynicism—exactly the sort of comfort Sanderson readers often seek.
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
FitzChivalry Farseer is a royal bastard, raised in stables and trained as an assassin. Robin Hobb writes characters with such depth that they feel like old friends, and Fitz’s journey from abandoned child to the kingdom’s secret weapon is utterly compelling. The Skill and the Wit—two forms of magic—add fascinating dimensions to a deeply personal story.
Dark and Morally Complex Tales
For those who appreciate Sanderson’s more shadowed corners, these books explore the grayer territories of fantasy.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Logan Ninefingers is a notorious barbarian fleeing his violent past. Glokta is a crippled torturer who was once a war hero. Captain Jezal dan Luthar is a selfish nobleman dreaming of fencing glory. Joe Abercrombie brings these unlikely souls together in a grimdark tale laced with dark humor and moral complexity. The First Law trilogy subverts expectations at every turn while remaining thoroughly entertaining.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Yeine Darr arrives at the floating city of Sky to find herself named heir to a throne she never wanted. But the true power lies with the enslaved gods who serve the ruling family—dangerous, beautiful beings whose ancient war still echoes through the present. N.K. Jemisin’s debut is as ambitious as it is beautiful, exploring power, identity, and the relationship between mortals and the divine.
Books Sanderson Himself Recommends
The master has shared his own favorites, and they are well worth investigating.
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Sanderson has called Terry Pratchett’s later works “pure genius,” and Going Postal demonstrates precisely why. Moist von Lipwig, a con man facing execution, is offered a choice: death, or running the city’s decrepit post office. Pratchett’s wit sparkles on every page, his satire cuts with gentle precision, and beneath the humor lies genuine wisdom about redemption and finding unexpected purpose.
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Sanderson calls this “a wonderful work,” and one can hardly argue. In a world resembling Renaissance Italy, a conquered province has had its very name erased by sorcery—only those born there can even remember Tigana existed. This is a story about memory, identity, and the lengths people will go to reclaim what was stolen. Kay’s prose is magnificent, his characters unforgettable.
Sabriel by Garth Nix
A young woman must cross from a world resembling early-twentieth-century England into a magical realm where the dead do not rest peacefully. Sabriel is an Abhorsen—not a necromancer who raises the dead, but one who puts them to rest. The magic system involving bells is wonderfully inventive, and the journey into the cold river of Death itself remains one of fantasy’s most haunting images.
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Dragons in the Napoleonic Wars! Captain William Laurence of the Royal Navy never expected to bond with a dragon, but when a captured egg hatches and the dragonet chooses him, his life changes forever. Naomi Novik blends military historical fiction with fantasy in the most delightful manner, and the friendship between Laurence and the dragon Temeraire is utterly charming.
Finding Your Next Adventure
The question remains, dear reader: where shall you begin? If magic systems enchant you most, reach for The Black Prism or Promise of Blood. If sweeping scope calls to you, The Wheel of Time awaits. Should you crave characters who feel like friends, Theft of Swords or The Lies of Locke Lamora will serve you well.
Whatever you choose, know this: the world of fantasy literature is vast and generous, filled with wonders enough to last a lifetime. Brandon Sanderson may have shown you the door, but these authors will gladly lead you further still—into realms of imagination where anything becomes possible.
Now go forth and read. Adventure awaits.
