If you like Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga, try David Anthony Durham's Acacia . It's to a somewhat similar feel to A Song of Ice and Fire. The series wasn't as good as it initially promised to be, but it's still good enough to read; the author pulls some interesting plot threads out of the blue by the end of book 2. My major complaint about the series was that I never really found the characters all that interesting.

 

And of course, you should watch the HBO mini-series based on Martin's books. At the time of writing, A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings have been completed. Storm of Swords will be released over two seasons (since the book is so darn big).

 

Another series that's shaping up to be something like A Song of Ice and Fire is Ken Scholes' Psalms of Isaak series, which is projected to be 5 books, of which 3 have been written. It's got that grand narrative infused with magic, science, and world-ending events, and a cast of compelling, complex characters. It's sort of a mix between A Song of Ice and Fire and Kay's The Lions of al-Rassan. The setting itself is quite interesting, a sort of post-apocalyptic steampunk fantasy setting; overall the setting is pretty unique and makes the story and events even more interesting.

 

Another series that had a similar feeling to Martin's work is The Godless World trilogy -- there are some similar elements or at least the gritty, dirty feel of A Song of Ice and Fire is present in the books. It's actually more like a cross between Martin and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

 

Sword of Shadows is pretty close to Martin in terms of the setting and the portrayal of gruesomeness. The setting is a cold, brutal, Arctic-ice world. It's not as "grand" or "epic" as Martin and the cast of characters is not as morally ambiguous. Still a pretty damn good read, though the author is taking her sweet time finishing the damn series already.

 

I would be doing you a disservice if I did not recommend Glenn Cook's The Black Company series. It's gritty military fiction with a cast of grey characters, and great battle scenes -- something that Martin focuses on. The focus of the series centers around a company of soldiers.

 

You might also give Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind a gander; it's also one of my top picks, and if you like Martin, I'll bet money you'll also appreciate Rothfuss's book. The sequel 'A Wise Man's Fear' is also out now, and delivers a pretty good punch -- Rothfuss has ensured the series is NOT a one-book pony. I won't say that The Name of the Wind is similar to Martin's work in form, style, or setting, so don't think you are going to be getting A Song of Ice and Fire 2.0 here. It's a completely different work, one that's far more the personal and concentrated story of one man than a cast of characters battling to save their world -- but it's another great example of some of the best fantasy out there.

 

The Way of Kings might be another epic fantasy you should look at if you like the grand scope and vision of Martin's work. It's more of a standard fantasy tale (magic plays a huge part, there are fantastical landscapes, etc) than Martin's work and the heroes tend to be straight out "good guys". However, not everything is gray -- there are some bad characters that are sympathetic. As only the first book is out, we are still waiting to see where things go. This is probably the best standard epic fantasy tale so far that follows some of the more traditional epic fantasy conventions in the style of say, Jordan and Tolkien.

 

If you like reading about Jon Snow, you might give Farseer a read. It's pretty much the story of a young king's bastard who grows up in a castle full of intrigue. He doesn't have a lot of options and struggles to survive, and in the process gets tangled up in a series of political schemes. The main character also has a special relationship with wolves (he can speak to them mind-to-mind via a magical skill called the 'Wit') so you might read this one if you like the whole Stark and Direwolf thing. Some of the best characterization in the fantasy genre.

 

Of course, Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen is a must-read, and it's a finished 10 books long. There are some elements that are similar to Martin's work: it's got gritty and intense battle scenes, a cast of ambiguously grey characters, main character deaths, plenty of brutality that characters inflict on each other, and unpredictable (and utterly massive) plots. It's quite similar to Martin in the way that the line between villain and hero is quite blurred. You often end up rooting for characters on both sides of the war. No one is really "the hero" and every character is either trying to maintain their power status quo, or steal it from someone else.

 

Also read Greg Keyes' The Briar King , the first in his (now completed) quadrilogy which features delicious prose, gritty realism and an enticing plot. It starts with a bang and ends with a whimper though -- but this aside, it's a good read if you are looking for one of those "the world is ending and we must save it" epic fantasy reads.

 

You can also try R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before , which features superlative prose, a unique, but fascinating storyline, and the gritty realism that Martin exhibits. It's also a heck of a lot more philosophical too, which may or may not be something you like.

 

Monarchies of God -- a vastly under-appreciated series. If you like the epic struggle between kingdoms, fierce battles, strange unexplored lands across the sea, and life aboard a ship. Paul Kearny writes a compelling tale here.

 

You might also like Tad Williams newest fantasy saga: Shadowmarch which has some similar plot elements (strange fey creatures coming down from the north behind a wall of magic mist, trying to take over the world). There's a rich cast of characters scattered across the world in completely different lands (much in the way that Martin features characters living in the frozen north, characters living in exotic deserts, and so on). The creatures the north, the Quar, are similar to the Others, but more developed as mysterious, yet somewhat sympathetic entities, rather than the zombie-making horrors that Martin makes the Others to be. You might say this is the story of "The Others" and how they came to be so damn pissed off at the world of men.

 

Give Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy a read. It's witty, intelligently plotted, the characters are all grey, and there's a ton of brutal action in the books. Abercrombie writes some of the best fight scenes in the genre, and his portrayal of war and battle is spot on (especially in his later books like The Heroes) and will make you really think about the ultimate cost of war. One of the best series that's come out in a few years -- one that actually tries to do something new in the genre. Even better, with every new book added to the series (or universe), Abercrombie gets better and better. It's similar to Martin's work in the sense that there is really a moral compass -- good and evil are just both sides of the same coin. Heroes are not made out to be noble paragons: they are just straight out meaner, stronger or more conniving than the rest.

 

Another new recommendation on this list: The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V. S. Redick. Oh man, this series is lovely to read. It’s a dramatic fantasy stuffed with complexities: politics and kingdoms clash in an end-of-the-world struggle that takes place on the vessel of a single ship, where characters big and small, powerful and weak struggle against each other.

The Blade Itself is a new style of Fantasy that's gaining swift momentum. The quality level demanded of a good Fantasy novel is now very high. Readers are no longer satisfied with the dark lords versus farm boy conceit. This new style of Fantasy takes the old staples of Fantasy and remakes them into something more sophisticated. Strong, witty writing, dry humor, twisted plotting, and full of contrasting elements, this new style makes for some intelligent reading. In this new world of noir Fantasy, shades of gray are the new black and white.

If you like this 21st century upgrade to the Fantasy genre similar to Abercrombie, check out:

Read Abercrombie's other standalone books set in the same world as First Law: Best Served Cold and The Heroes. His newest work, Red Country, is set for a late October 2012 release.

R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing series. In short, an epic fantasy about a fake Jesus Christ with some of the same powers comes back to "rescue" mankind from evil. But this savior’s goals are questionably self centered. The books are full of raw action, grey characters, with an interesting hero, and a subtle mix of some deep philosophy thrown in too.

Scott Lynche's The Lies of Locke Lamora. This hero is in fact a thief. And not a thief who steals from the rich to give to the poor, but rather steals from the rich to get rich -- filthy rich. Full of sharp and witty writing, often hilarious with a dark edge to boot as you progress through the book. Probably the closest style of "writing" you'll find to Abercrombie.

 

Michael Stover's Cain series. A lot of dark, sarcastic humor in all the books; plenty of grittyism; heroes die and suffer;intelligent plots and fantastically sharp prose.

George R.R. Martin. His A Song of Ice and Fire is as gray and gritty -- maybe even more so. Really, I've talked enough about him here. Just read him, dammit!

 

If you like the dark cynicism found in Abercrombie's work, you should read some Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series. You might also like his Gap sci-fi.

Steven Erickson's Malazan Book of the Fallen -- dark epic fantasy on a grand, grand, grand scale.

If you like the epic-fantasy-turned-on-its-head that marks Abercrombie's effort, read Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains. Morgan writes some interesting science fiction but has turned his writing chops to the fantasy genre with a new epic fantasy series. Like Abercrombie, Morgan flips some of the standard fantasy conventions on their side (including an openly gay hero).

You might also want to check out Stephen Deas' fast paced, ultra violent fantasy Memory of Flames. Like some of the books recommended above, there are no real heroes. Everyone is willing to betray another to reach their goals. The story has some great action, though less character development. You can think of this series as a more gritty and unfeeling version of Naomi Termerak.

Sam Sykes' Tome of the Undergates is another novel in the same vein as the Blade Itself. The book subverts some of the standard fantasy conventions. Overall, I quite enjoyed it as it's a creative and witty take on some of the standard fantasy conventions.

A new series on the fantasy scene by Daniel Abraham, one of the most gifted writers in the genre (author of The Long Price Quartet), is The Dragon's Path. It's a fresh and innovative answer to the standard epic fantasy fare, challenging quite a few of the fantasy assumptions that most people take for granted. Definitely up your alley if you appreciate authors like Abercrombie, Bakker, and Lynch.

Similar recommendations: Malazan Book of the Fallen is in a class of its own when it comes to big battles, powerful heroes, and gray morality. There's simply nothing out there quite like it...yet. But here are a few recommendations that you should try out, if you love this series and are a big fan of epic battles, grey characters, genius heroes facing huge military odds yet somehow winning, and huge plots with a specific focus on war.

George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga also features an epic scope and the gray characterization that Erickson so loves. Martin's' work is smaller is scale though and tends to be more focused, plot wise. The battles take a while to build up, but when they happen, oh boy!

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a military fantasy; you might want to read Glen Cook's classic The Black Company series. It's dark, gritty, and has a hell of a lot of battles. It's the book that has forever defined military fantasy and it's probably the "closest" you'll find to Malazan in terms of style and feeling. His recent series (starts with The Tyranny of the Night) is also a military fantasy series -- a series that pits men against ancient demon creatures.

For a "different" sort of gritty military fantasy, you might also want to give Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky a read. Some pretty novel concepts in the book and series.

You can also try Scott R. Baker's The Darkness That Comes Before saga, a series which has big battles and the black grittiness pioneered by Martin. It's a smart fantasy too with a philosophical twist (some hate this, some love this). Think Jesus Christ decides to take over the world through war and deceit, and that pretty much sums up the series.

Oath of Empires might be something you could try out; it's an alternative history saga, where the Roman Empire has never fallen and magic works. Oath of Empires is epic, featuring massive magical battles and huge opposing armies (Persian and Roman) clashing so hard you can hear the horses scream. It's never become "popular" in fantasy circles, which is a pity.

Also give James Barclay's Cry of the Newborn a whirl. It's similar in style and content (though less epic) to Erickson's work. It's an example of a Fantasy military fiction done right. Barclay also knows how to write damn good battle scenes, giving even Erickson a run for his money.

Also give David Anthony Durham a try. His recent novel, Acacia, is a fantastic read -- big on the epic battles and gritty dark realism of Erickson and Martin with a focus on some heroes. There are some big battles in the series too.

Another series that put a lot of emphasis into tactics and military would be John Marco's Tyrants and Kings.

For a different take on the whole military fantasy subgenre, you could read Naomi Navik His Majesty's Dragon. It's sort of old-style naval military fiction, but replace the ships with talking dragons. The series has garnered some impressive reviews over the past couple of years -- it's well worth reading if you are in the mood for something different.

A good heroic stand alone fantasy book about a girl who becomes a legendary military leader is Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion. There is a great deal of military detail present in the book (fans of The Black Company may be especially interested).

For a standalone fantasy book that's ALL military fantasy, check out Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and his other standalone, Best Served Cold.

A couple more suggestions for those of you who love military fantasy fiction (I know I do). Paul Kearney's The Monarchies of God could be considered military fantasy. I personally don't care what you call it, this series is one of the most under-appreciated fantasy series out there. Don't make the mistake of not reading it! You should also check out his new novel, The Ten Thousand which is military fantasy at its best. A must read if you like Glen Cook or the Malazan novels.

Also give Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series a go. It's a coming-of-age story set in a roman-inspired fantasy milieu. Lots of action, magic, military tactics, struggles against overwhelming military odds and so on.

And finally, if you are still scrounging around trying to find some good military fantasy books, check out books written by Chris Bunch (The Seer King series and Dragon Master series especially). He's a mixed bag in terms of quality, but you can expect a LOT of military strategy, tactics, and graphic sex in his books.

If all these recommendations are not enough, take some time to check out the Top 25 Best Epic Fantasy Series books list -- the best of the best epic fantasy series are detailed in it. You'll probably want to read the Best Military Fantasy Books list too.

If you like The Name of the Wind, the closest you get to a similar series in feeling is Robin Hobb's The Farseer. Though the authors have a different style and radically different plots, both authors really delve deep into the mind of the protagonist. And both series are coming-of-age stories in which the narrator is looking back at their youthful life. Through each series, you really get to know the hero. Both stories are about the rise of a no-name boy into something great.

I would also suggest you read Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora. Like The Name of the Wind, Lies of Locke Lamora jumps back and forth between the present and the past of the main character. Both are also coming-of-age stories. This book is something special, and the protagonist (it's a story about a master thief) is an absolute blast to read about. Book two has been out for a while and the third book is coming out this year (2011).

Daniel Abraham's The Long Price Quartet is another fantasy series that you might like -- there's some really good characterization going on in the series, though it's not really your standard "epic fantasy."

You don't want to miss reading The The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V. S. Redick (book one of three) , which is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a while. What's the plot about? There are two great empires clashing, crazy god kings set on world domination, and a medley of different characters sharing a ship (including talking rats, miniature people, evil mages, princesses, assassins, and ship boys) all fighting over a powerful talisman that could destroy the world. It's a complex, dramatic, and wonderful new fantasy series.

You might also like Peter V. Brett's The Warded Man -- a book (part of a series, of course, with book two already out) that delivers on action. Brett does a good job creating the hero, from village boy to badass fighter/warder. A good book with an interesting hero character (especially following the whole coming-of-age conceit of a young boy growing into his destiny). This book gets my vote as one of the most exciting fantasy books I've read. Trust me, once you start the book, you are not going to want to stop reading it. Now, I was quite disappointed with the sequel, The Desert Spear, which messed up quite a bit of the plot threads (though part of the book is still pretty exciting) by making a series of implausible things happen.

 

Some might like Brent Week's Night Angel Trilogy which is a sort of gutter-rat to badass assassin story. The story really follows the main character closely; there are a lot of over-the-top heroics and magic (especially the main character who becomes super-powerful) combined with an interesting hero character which makes the book somewhat reminiscent of The Name of the Wind. Name of the Wind is better written, and the magic is more mysterious and toned down with complex characterization (Weeks falls really short here as his characters are pretty simplistic I feel), but the over-the-top heroic antics of the main character/s does bring to mind some of Kvothe's exploits.

Also give Brandon Sanderson's new book, The Way of Kings (the first book of his new mega series The Stormlight Archive) a good read. Sanderson does a stellar job with the characters in the book (particularly the hero, Kaladin who the author spends most of the book building up), and the plot looks to be something that's going to rival Jordan in terms of sheer storytelling (not to mention length). Oh yea, and there's a lot of military stuff going on in the novel. You can read my review of The Way of Kings. Overall, The Way of Kings was one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I read in 2010. Of course, you should also check out Sanderson's other big series:Mistborn.

A character-driven epic fantasy would be Tad Williams' classic Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. Though I warn you, it can take a while before the plot gets rolling in a Tad Williams novel!

For a standalone fantasy book that's about a hero (with a twist), read Nobody's Son. It's not as well known as many of the other books I've mentioned. The story itself is interesting, because it starts where most fantasy tales end: the hero has conquered evil and sets out to claim the prize, only to find out that having everything is not as swell as it's made out to be.

 

A good old-school fantasy tale that's managed to age very well is A Wizard of Earthsea. A pretty compelling hero character.

And probably the best fantasy novel I've read about a "hero" would be Michael Stackpole's Talion: Revenant. It's one of the best books I've read, period.

What can I possibly recommend if you like Lord of the Rings? 'Rings' is the progenitor of an entire genre and one can recommend almost anything. Regardless, I'll try to suggest a couple of books based on the "feel" of Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien has always been about the world in which his characters live, never about the characters which live in his world. He created a world full of myth and legend, starkly real and full of mystery. There is always some strange power deep in a mountain, or some magical glade in the heart of a forest. There are worlds deep in the world, and worlds high in the heavens. It's a land full of wonder, a world too large to explore; it's an earth that still has mysteries and unknown lands.

There are several authors who recreate this type of world -- but with stronger characters and more meaningful relationships. Tolkien's characters were always too perfect, too evil; their motivations are at best unclear and at worst, unrealistic. Modern fantasy has taken the roots created by Tolkien and grown them into full trees and in some cases grafted those roots to new trees completely.

 

Be sure to check out our Best of the Tolkien Clones list.

If you like Tolkien, read Eye of the World by Jordan. This man, when he was alive, claimed Tolkien's world-building mantle: Jordan created a massive world, richly developed cultures, and a well-defined magic system. When you read Jordan, you explore an ancient world full of secrets. I have to throw out a disclaimer though: Wheel of Time is far from perfect; Jordan becomes lost in his own world as it grows too big even for him; (some of) his characters devolve into caricatures, and Jordan's handling of romance between characters is puerile to say the least. However, many people still find the books great fun, and if you like Tolkien's epic style, Jordan is a must read. Jordan died a few years ago, but the talented Brandon Sanderson is finishing the series and looks to be doing a good job. In fact, with Sanderson's finishing touch, the Wheel of Time is finally getting back on track; Sanderson's last two Wheel of Time books were some of the best Wheel of Time stories since books 5-6. 2013 will mark the final completion of the series when A Memory of Light, the final book, is released.

 

For another epic fantasy with an end-of-the-world plot and a coming-of-age (sorta) story, read Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings (first book in the Stormlight Archive saga). If Jordan took up Tolkien's world-building mantle with A Wheel of Time, Sanderson is picking up that epic fantasy mantle with this generation's new epic fantasy series.

If you want a book that's like Lord of the Rings but longer, has strong female characters, and very strong characterization (FAAAR better than Jordan's), read Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn saga, another classic.

 

 

If you like the whole ancient mythos of Middle Earth, the histories, the tales within a tale, the small stories that Tolkien throws into his world that tell of the "early days" of mankind and of elves and of magic and gods and kings, then you'll find a lot to like in Tad William's ShadowMarch which incorporates a lot of folklore tales of gods and faeries which are directly relevant to the plot and story; there's a lot of mystery and magic to the world created by Williams.

If you want the beautiful, almost lyrical writing of Tolkien and a world in which magic is present but still a grand mystery (i.e. not every character is throwing around magic like kids throwing sand at a beach), Sean Russell's The Swan's War is the answer. Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle is also a beautiful tale, full of lyrical, often sad, prose; a tale about a village boy who seeks his destiny. Patricia A. McKillip's Riddle-Master is also another series(trilogy) with similarities to Tolkien's style of writing.

For a 12th-century version of Middle Earth set in a stark (English) European landscape that's as cold as the world is gritty and brutal where main characters can die at any moment, read George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire saga tale.

 

If you want to see some of Tolkien's conventions turned on their heads and enjoy a noir version of a classic high-fantasy tale with a starkly realized cast of grey characters, read Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy.

 

Another interesting tale that plays directly on the Tolkien mythos is Jacqueline Carey's The Sundering duology, which takes many of Tolkien's conventions and mixes them up. It's a story told in all that high language, high mythology glory that Tolkien wrote in. Think of it as "Sauron's Tale" as told from the perspective of the bad guys who you find out are more misunderstood than anything else, while the good guys are self-righteous pricks. The whole thing is quite serious (this is by no means a comedy but rather a tragedy) and I thought it was a pretty compelling tale all around.

 

If you like Black Company, you should definitely read his other fantasy series, The Instrumentalities of the Night. It combines an ancient evil coming-back-into-the-world plot, a military genius hero, plenty of conflicts between worldly powers, political scheming, all filtered through Cook's military narrative. The closest you'll find to The Black Company in style and form.

For another "dark" military fantasy, you should read Malazan Book of the Fallen. It's more epic in scope than The Black Company, but there are enough similarities that you'll find yourself right at home. Stevenson has stated that Glen Cook's books were an influence on his own writing.

 

You may want to give Daniel Abraham's The Dagger and the Coin series a good go at it. Books one and two are out and they are seriously good -- some of the best epic fantasy that's come out. A good mix of epic and military fantasy with some smart writing and a cast of compelling characters (some which are anti-heroes). If you like Black Company, you'll like this series.

 

Paul Kearney's The Ten Thousand is a superb military fantasy by a much underrated author. If you like Black Company, you'll dig this one hard.

Sanderson's awesome The Way of Kings is also another book you might want to read (it's first in the Stormlight Archive series). The main character (Kaladin) has a few basic similarities to The Black Company main character (Croaker). Both are retired physicians who've given up their profession to become soldiers. Both lead a squad of men (and there is the squad dynamics). Cook's work is more gray and his style more dry, however. The narrator (Croaker), is not a crazy badass super hero, while Sanderson's work is more heroic in nature as is the character. So don't get the idea that The Way of Kings is anything like The Black Company as a whole, but as stated there are some similarities.

Heroes Die (Acts of Caine) (Matthew Woodring Stover)NEW

And for a series that's pretty darn gritty in the way of "war is dirty and sucks and everything is going to hell in a hand basket", Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire should be read. Glen Cook helped influence Martin's works.

If you like the Assassin factor of Heroes Die, read Brent Weeks' The Night Angel Trilogy. It's a good read and Weeks is a rising star in the Fantasy world. The series is much, much lighter reading than the Acts of Caine, and the prose is not half as good. Good for light reading though.

 

For some compelling anti-hero reading about an assassin king, you should read Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. Right up your alley if you like the violence and amorality of Stover's Caine character.

 

Also read Robin Hobb's The Farseer Trilogy -- an epic tale about an assassin-in-training in a fantasy landscape, but with one of the most well-drawn characters ever to grace the Fantasy scene.

Sanderson has written a lot of other good epic fantasy that you should read. The Mistborn Trilogy series is a given. His Elantris stand alone is also great. Warbreaker, I wasn't too fond of. The last three Wheel of Time books have been finished off by him as well.

For more rolling epics in the high fantasy style of The Way of Kings, The Wheel of Time is probably the closest you'll find in terms of "style." Malazan Book of the Fallen is also another huge epic fantasy series, but the characters are more gray (and there are a lot more of them). Still, it's one of the best epic series out there right now. And for a fantasy series that doesn't focus as much on magic and dark lords but more on character relationships and complex politicking (and some epic sword battles), Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire should be read.

For more epic fat fantasy recommendations, check out the Best Epic Fantasy Recommendation list.

It's a no brainier to read her other books set in the same universe: Live Ship Traders trilogy (set in the same world, but with a different protagonist), and Tawny Man trilogy (direct sequel to the Assassin trilogy). Also try her Soldier's Son Trilogy ; it has a feel that's similar to (yet different from) her Farseer series (less well received by fans and reviewers though).

Guy Gaverial Kay's Tigana. This book is packed with emotion. If you like the emotional intensity and pathos of Hobb, you will love Tigana.

 

The Name of the Wind is a good read if you like the compelling characterization of the protagonist.

Also, if you are bedazzled with the Assassin mythos of her world, try reading Brent Weeks The Way of Shadows. Weeks is a new force on the fantasy scene with his Night Angel trilogy. With all the action, magic, and adventure, Weeks is like the John Woo of the fantasy scene, but with a grittier edge. I can't say the books are really "deep" by any means, but if you are looking for a series that's a bit dark with over the top action, magic, romance, and a teen hero full of angst, read it.

Prince of Thorns is another series that features an assassin protagonist. This is some dark anti-hero fantasy that's written in first person (like Farseer). However, the protagonist does some pretty horrific things to achieve his goals -- unlike Fritz, who for most of the story, acts like everyone's favorite doormat. If you want to read a much darker, amoral and selfish version of Fritz, one who's not afraid to seize what's rightfully his and damn anyone or anything that stands in his way, this might be one to take a good look at. It's some of the best fantasy that has come out recently, and is a must read if you like your fantasy gray and gritty; if not, skip this recommendation.

Try reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K Jemisin. The protagonist is female and it's written in first person with a good amount of emotional weight. There are a few similarities -- both protagonists were related to powerful families and were, for the most part, abandoned by their family line. Both are stories about a rise from obscurity to importance in a place where royal intrigue and power struggles are part of the norm.

 

For a non-fantasy book that will have you emotionally involved in the protagonist, you might want to give Ender's Game a read. Being science fiction, there is nothing similar about the plot itself, but it's also a detailed look at the struggle of a young boy who doesn't have a lot of options and who must struggle to survive in an unfriendly world where the odds are stacked against him. A superlative science fiction novel all round. 

For an emotionally weighted story about a down-and-out soldier who becomes involved with politics (and saving a young woman who's part of that court), give Lois McMaster Bujold's Curse of Chalion a read. It was a Hugo nominee. The sequel, Paladin of Souls, won a Hugo. Both books are written in a style similar to Hobb's Farseer and the characters are complex and deep -- especially the protagonist. The relationships between characters is also very well done. Well recommended for anyone who likes character-driver fantasy tales.

For less "epic" fantasy recommendations, try Rai-Kirah by Caron Berg which is a very well written character-driven fantasy. Give the Sevenwaters books by Juliet Marillier a good look. It has some deep characterization of the protagonists; you may also give the Kushiel books by Jaqueline Carey a read.

For an epic military fantasy with some serious characterization, I recommend John Marco's Tyrants and Kings series. The series is about a man who abandons his kingdom and betrays an empire and turns traitor for the love of a woman who's an enemy of his country.

And for a fantastic low-fantasy series with some of the best characterization I've seen, read Jennifer Fallon's Second Sons trilogy.

For some of the best fantasy about a badass assassin, you must read the Heroes Die series by Matthew Stover. Some of the best stuff written in the Fantasy genre, and there are no other books as viscerally action-packed. Caine, the hero, takes violence to a whole new universe. It's not all just violence though. The Caine novels are sharply written and the plot is strong as steel.

For a book with a young, scrappy female protagonist/assassin, you can't do better than Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study.

The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan tells a light fantasy adventure tale about a thief falsely accused of being an assassin.

You may also like Mistborn by Sanderson -- the main character in the first book is sort of like a badass magical assassin/thief/terrorist.

And finally, read any The Book of Jhereg by Steven Brust. They are a different, but still pretty straightforward pulp fantasy fiction series: there's a ton of humor with a strong anti-hero. Don't expect the level of complexity of some of the other recommendations, but the series is a full adventure to follow.

You may want to check out Abraham's newest fantasy series, The Dragon's Path. Quite a few people are saying it's nearly as good as his The Long Price Quartet series and it's a more "standard epic fantasy" which many of you are used to by now (dragons, elder gods, trolls, magic).

If you like the whole economic aspect of The Long Price Quartet, you should take a hard look at KJ Parker's works. Start with his Colours in the Steel. Both JK Parker and Daniel Abraham both write what's called economic fantasies -- fantasy that deals with economics in some major way.

Of course, it's a given that you should read the sequel books to Lies of Locke Lamora. The newest one (third book), Republic of Thieves is due out in 2013 after having been delayed for several years now.

Give The Name of the Wind a try for another book with a very strongly characterized protagonist.

If you like the dry, sarcastic tone of the narration and dark humor of the Locke books, you should give Joe Abercrombie's novels a read.  Probably the closest you'll find that matches the style and pacing found in Lynch's books.

You might enjoy Michael Sullivan's The Crown Conspiracy which is the story of a falsely accused criminal trying to set his name right. It's a light-hearted, over-the-top fantasy tale; not as dark as Scott's books, though.


Robin Hobb's The Farseer Trilogy trilogy is also coming-of-age story which features some of the same conventions used by Lynch, such as a strong protagonist, flashbacks to younger years, a troubled childhood, the journey from nothing to something, etc. The plot is completely different, however.
If you like the whole "band of merry adventurers against the world" sort of thing, then you might give Tigana a try; it's the story of a band of musicians who double as revolutionaries seeking to overthrow and evil sorcerer.

You might also like the Mark Charan Newton's Nights of Villjamur for a similar style of fantasy (in tone, not plot). Along the lines of gritty fantasy made into a non-epic fantasy, read Sam Sykes' Tome of the Undergates.

Another recommendation you might find interesting is Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser if you are a fan of the Gentlemen Bastards books. Jean is a much less raunchy version of Fafhrd and Locke is a far more risk taking and reckless version of Gray Mouser.

For a modern version of fantasy weird, give China Mieville a try. It's not in the same vein as Gormenghast, but Mieville is the head of one of the "new" schools of fantasy that aims for the weird and the bizarre. Oh, and he's a superbly talented author too. You might start with his Perdido Street Station. In fact, Mieville has publicly stated that his Perdido Street Station novel was influenced by Gormenghast.

Another author who's been heavily influenced by Peake is Jeff Vandermeer (read his book Ambergris). You might as well read The Etched City by K.J. Bishop, another book that shares some of the Gothic weirdness of the Gormenghast series.

For another series that's baroque in description, alien in setting and just about as beautiful a series as Gormenghast is Gene Wolf's The Book of the New Sun series. It's a visual feast of the imagination. It's not strictly fantasy, but more of a "science fantasy."

And if you want another literary fantasy series with a rich narrative, dry humor, and a compelling story, all written in flowery language, read Jack Vance's Lyonesse trilogy. For many older fantasy readers, this series is often compared with The Lord of the Rings and Dune in literary scope. Those weaned on filler fantasy of the likes of Brook, Eddings, and Salvatore, may not appreciate the scope and beauty of this work, but for those who love literary fantasy in the epic fantasy tradition, read it.

If you want more suggestions for a similar style of fantasy, take a good look at the new Best Literary Fantasy Books list.

Classic Epic Fantasy with Magic, Swords, and Action Galore

If you loved The Wheel of Time, you absolutely must read Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings, first book in his Stormlight Archive saga (a 10-book epic fantasy saga). Way of Kings is Sanderson at his best. This is HIS version of The Wheel of Time (and the man's certainly got the resume to write it, having directly penned the last 3 Wheel of Time books). This is the closest you'll find to Jordan's series, hands down. For another epic fantasy  with a very interesting magic system, where a company of heroes fight against an evil god kin, read Mist Born by the same author (Brandon Sanderson).

You might also try Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis's The Death Gate Cycle, a monolithic seven book saga that's reminiscent of Jordan's style: heavy on the magic, tension and action, but unique enough not to be a banal hack. By far it's the best stuff both authors have done up to this day (they usually write the sort of hack fantasy that I rail against on this site).

You might also try Raymond E. Feist's Magician, as he writes in a style and flavor similar to Jordan (heavy on politics, action, and magic).

For a high-fantasy series that's criminally underappreciated, read Dave Duncan's classic A Man of His Word (starts with Magic Casement). The basic premise sounds pretty hackneyed, but it's far from that. Duncan takes many of the classic fantasy conventions and puts a unique twist on everything. Some of the best classic epic fantasy in the genre.

Jim Butcher's Codex Alera is also another magic-packed, plot-driven, epic fantasy feast of a series you might like. It's got a really unique magic system and it's fantasy set in an alternate Roman Empire where magic actually works.

You can read The Briar King series by Greg Keyes for an epic "save the world" fantasy that starts with a big big bang but ends in a bit of a whimper. Despite the somewhat disappointing ending, it's a very well written series that's better than your average epic fantasy.

If you are hunting around for more action- and magic-heavy series, you might give  The Rune Lords series. It probably has the most unique magic system I've seen; the story itself is pretty standard fare though, as are the characters and writing.

For an interesting epic fantasy that's big on adventure and exotic characters and landscapes and one that takes place on the sea aboard a giant ship, give the Chathrand Voyage series by  Robert VS Redick a read.

Slow-Paced, Character Driven Epic Fantasy

If you are looking for epic fantasy that's not necessarily driven by pure action and magic and battles, these are some recommendations to look at.

Try Michelle West's The Sun Sword, another large epic fantasy saga (six books) that shares some similarities with Jordan's Wheel of Time. West's writing style is drastically different that Jordan's, however -- far more subtle, and often ponderous. If you are an action freak, The Sun Sword pacing will probably be a bit too slow for you. Good for lovers of fine writing where every plot is meticulously woven together over a long period of time and characters are slowly built up. NOT for the action freaks.

For a slower-paced, character-driven epic fantasy, give Janny Wurts "The Wars of Light and Shadow" a read. It's a huge epic fantasy that concerns itself with the actions of two opposing "heroes", one that's on the light side and one that's on the dark side. Much slower paced and more character driven and better plotted than the Wheel of Time -- which some will love and some will hate. But hands down, the prose is much superior.

Modern Dark and Gritty Epic Fantasy

Fantasy has evolved the past 10 years. Now dark, gritty and sarcastic is in vogue. If you want a more complex fantasy where characters are often shades of gray and heroes are more anti-hero than hero, where heroes sometimes die and no good deed goes unpunished, these series are the best.

Give George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire a try. It's a massive epic like Jordan's The Wheel of Time (but not as long), and it's universally held in the highest esteem, a sort of paragon of what all Fantasy books should strive to be. You thought those "Dragonlance" books were good? Feast on Martin for a taste of what Fantasy books should be like.

For a different style of epic fantasy, you may want to give Malazan Book of the Fallen a read. It's also a massive series like WOT, spanning 10 books and it's completed as well, so no waiting around for the sequel books. The series has a huuuuge cast of characters, magic galore, and features large-scale battles that are as vicious as they are exciting to read. But don't expect the WOT; Malazan is a different sort of fantasy that provokes strong feelings -- you will love it or you will hate it.

A new fantasy series that's been making some pretty big waves in the fantasy world is The Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham. It's sharply written with a cast of complex, grey characters. In the background, it has many of those epic fantasy conventions (world ending darkness coming into the world, many different races and creatures, mysterious magic, etc). It's not your typical epic fantasy though -- think of it as epic fantasy 2.0.

For a darker less "epic" fantasy where all the characters are completely grey (and evil is not necessary evil), give The Black Company by Glen Cook a read. There are a number of books in the series, but I recommend reading the (best) first series (called "The Books of the North") of the Black Company followed by the next best series (The Books of the South).

For a different take on the whole epic fantasy movement, one that's darker and more gritty where heroes are not always heroes or good guys, you might look at Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing series. In the same vein, check out Joe Abercrombie's The First Law series. And for a real subversion on the whole epic fantasy genre, give Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains a read. These recommendations are a more modern, "adult" take on the classic epic fantasy that Jordan wrote

And for my final "epic fantasy recommendation," read Steven King's The Dark Tower. It's a 7-book monstrosity that's taken King several decades to finally finish. In fact, many of King's books indirectly tie into the The Dark Tower in some way or the other. It's sort of like a cross between the western genre, the post-apocalyptic genre, and the fantasy genre. Well worth reading for a different take on the whole epic fantasy thing.

For more epic fat fantasy recommendations in the vein of The Wheel of Time, check out the Best Epic Fantasy Recommendation list.

Coming Soon...

I can't recommend anything directly similar to The Coldfire Trilogy -- it's a unique series. It's a dark fantasy world with a strong anti-hero and many elements of "horror" to it. But I'll try to make a couple of suggestions.

You might like Friedman's newer series (Magister Trilogy) which has some darker elements to it (one must suck the life out of a person to use magic). It's not nearly as dark as The Coldfire trilogy though and there is no anti-hero.

Read The Crooked Letter (Book One of the Cataclysism) by Sean Williams for a story set in a horror tinged world with a magic system that's sort of similar to that of The Coldfire Trilogy.  It's not the same plot or anything, but it's one of those books that introduces deeper human issues into the fabric of the story and the setting is somewhat reminiscent  of the weird world of The Coldfire Trilogy -- a place where monsters and creatures of the dark just lurk around the corner.

If you like the horror aspect of The Coldfire Trilogy where creatures of the dark wait just around the corner out of sight, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting humans, give Peter V. Brett's The Warded Man a read. Not the same style plot and the writing is not as good, but the world portrayed is quite interesting with demons coming out at night prowing the landscape and killing any humans not behind special wards. You might also look at The Abhorsen Trilogy as the world portrayed is one with dark creatures haunting the landscape practically  in every nook and cranny of the landscape. Also read Joseph's Delany's Spook's Apprentice series which is a YA story about a a young  apprentice who works as a sort of exorcist in a landscape filled with creatures of the night.

The Coldfire Trilogy has a very strong anti-hero. For epic fantasy with a strong anti-hero, you probably can't more anti hero than The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.

For a strong anti-hero tale about a prince who decides to take back his throne by fair means or foul (and mostly foul), read The Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence. Nothing is similar about the plot, but there may be some overlap between one of the anti-hero characters' in both novels, willing to do anything at all to achieve their goal of power.

You should also read Glenn Cook's The Black Company books -- I would count these books as dark fantasy. The characters are morally ambiguous and in fact fighting for a side that many would consider "evil" or the "dark lord" (in this case, a "dark lady"). His new series, The Tyranny of the Night, also has some of those dark fantasy elements too -- like the ColdFire world, dark spirits come out at night to attack humans. For one more recommendation that features a world somewhat like the Coldfire one (in that monsters come creeping out of the shadows at night), read The Warded Man.

For another epic fantasy series that's character- and plot-driven with some anti-hero elements and morally ambiguous characters, Abercrombie's The First Law series comes to mind. The same goes for Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire -- a huge cast of completely amoral "hero" characters. Good and evil are not clearly delineated.

I would also suggest Steven King's The Talisman, which is about a young boy who must enter into a dark fantasy world to save his mother. There is a strong delineation between good and evil, but the world itself is pretty dark. Of course, if you like the Talisman, then King's The Dark Tower (which has some dark fantasy elements to it) is a given read too.

If you don't mind novels that are not your standard heroic fantasy, but have a strong element of "Gothic" to them and a cast of bizarre characters you might find in any horror novel, you can check out some of China Mieville works (The Scar).

Finally, if you like the whole partial "vampire" aspect of the main hero, you might want to read George Martin's stunning Fevre Dream.

 

Try reading American Gods. Both this and the Troupe touch on an alternate reality that’s hidden behind the real world. Both novels are steeped in myth. Both novels feature a young protagonist trying to find his way with the guidance of a gruff older man helping to show him the way. There are some overlaps between Silenius from the Troupe and Mr. Wednesday from AG. Both characters exhibit a  mystery that encompasses the entire narrative structure of the book.

 

You may want to give Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere a read too -- there are some stark similarities to it in some ways.  Chances are if you liked Neverwhere (and also American Gods), you’ll enjoy The Troupe.

 

For something that’s completely different yet has some similar qualities, try Gene Wolf’s The Sorcerers House. Like the Troupe, it’s one of those novels you can read a second time over to try and pick out the narrative clues and hints dropped which foreshadow the twist of an ending.

 

 

Coming Soon

The vast scope of The Darkness That Comes Before is very redolent of Steven Erickson's Malazan Book of the Fallen saga, though the characters are less gray, and the story more focused.

Also try George R.R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, which is very epic and very gritty but way less philosophical. I'd also say it's more "character driven" as a whole than is The Darkness that comes before.

Another series that does that is Abercrombie's First Law series (starts with The Blade Itself) and Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains. 

I'd say you'll also probably find Acacia by David Anthony Durnham a good read too -- there are gray characters, an exotic landscape, and world-ending powers at play in the background.

For another fantasy about war, look at John Marco's Tyrants and Kings trilogy. It's a great read with a cast of grey characters.

Another gritty military fantasy you'll probably like (though it's less cerebral than The Prince of Nothing) is The Black Company by Cook.

The Godless World series by Brian Ruckley is dark, atmospheric and very gritty, though it lacks some of the polish of the other series, it's a rough-cut gem still.

For a deep character-driven fantasy you might try  Daniel Abraham's The Long Price Quartet.

For a gray fantasy with lots of politics, different kingdoms going to war, a cast of ambiguous characters, adventure and magic, check out Paul Kearney's Monarchies of God.

Are you a fan of fairies in a fantasy tale? Another book that deals with old fairy folk tales is Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child. A novel about the search for identity, The Stolen Child makes for a compelling read. The Stolen Child, like Susanna Clarke's work, is very well written. These books are sort of your "out of the box" fantasy. It's quite refreshing to see the fantasy genre has more to it than epic fantasy. 

For an epic fantasy series about fairies, you could read Shadowmarchby Tad Williams. There's lots of little folklore tales about fairies and elder creatures scattered throughout the story -- something that Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell has in abundance.

Want more good books about 'magicians'? You may also find that you like Sean Russell's Moontide Magic Rise duology. It's kind of the same premise: magic has vanished from the world, a couple of people are trying to bring magic back to the world, etc. In my opinion, this is the closest book/series that you'll find to Susanna Clarke's work. For a grown-up book about the cost of being a magician, look at Lev Grossman's The Magicians. It's not your usual fantasy fare and a refreshing change. Of course, you could also read the standard epic village boy to might magician in Feist's Magician.

If you like his Donaldson's First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever, then you should read his Covenant trilogies listed above. His new trilogy (The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Unbeliever) is a riveting read that will please both old and new fans. Thomas' old lover, Linden, returns to The Land, only to find it changed beyond recognition... And Thomas the Unbeliever? Read the books to find out! Also read his Mordant's Need duology -- some people argue it's his best work.

If you like the characterization of Thomas Covenant, you may like Tad William's epic fantasy Memory, Sorrow, Thorn saga which really follows the transformation of the protagonist over the course of the series. Read Robin Hobb's The Farseer Trilogy for another story with magnificent characterization set in a fantasy landscape (though Farseer is not exactly epic fantasy). Donaldson is unique in fantasy because his character is whole and whole an anti-hero instead of a hero. For another fantasy tale about a doubting hero (he's way less of a selfish jerk than Thomas, however), you can read Brandon Sanderson's magnificent The Way of Kings.

If you like fantasy series that take "bad guys" and turn them into interesting anti-heroes, here are some recommendations. You may like George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire; there are some detestable main characters (anti-hero types) who become more agreeable as the series progresses; You see a slow evolution of these characters. You should also read The Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman. The main character is wholly an anti-hero who sometimes does bad, bad things.

Donaldson also has a very interesting (and dark dark) science fiction series (Gap) that you will like if you liked the antihero aspect of Thomas Covenant.

The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie features some pretty interesting antihero characters: you've got a torturer with a heart of gold, a bloody barbarian who hates killing yet is infamous for his bloody murders, a wizard who looks and acts like Gandalf, but is worse than Sauron, and a "hero" who's really a coward.

Gene Wolf's The Book of the New Sun features a rather interesting anti-hero. Severian, the "hero" of the story has a rather dubious occupation: he tortures people.

And for the antithesis of every standard sword and sorcery hero you've read, Elric of Melinbone takes the crown here. He's a physical weakling who takes drugs to kick ass. He's the emperor of a dying kingdom, and his power comes from a bunch of evil demons. In any other series, Elric WOULD be the bad guy.

You should read Anansi Boys by Gaiman -- features one of the same characters from American Gods and is about the same sort of story. Really though, any of Gaiman's novels are good. His next best recommended is probably Neverwhere. Many people will tell you that Gaiman's best work of his career is his The Sandman graphic novels -- which are probably the best graphic novels ever written, IMHO.

For other Fantasy concerned with myth and legends coexisting (or struggling) with the modern world, read Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood. Kay's very good Ysabel also deals with a similar theme. You will also enjoy Tim Power's The Anubis Gates which is a rip-roaring adventure that incorporates some of the same themes (myths coming to life). Another (quite funny) take on the same theme is Marie Phillips' Gods Behaving Badly.

Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child is another book that grapples with the reality of folk tales' (fairies') effect on the modern world. It's also a deep look into a man's search for his identity. China Mieville also explore the same theme (old myths living amongst and struggling with today's realities) in his novel, Kraken. Another popular author that also likes to juxtapose myth and modern society is Charles de Lint. Myth existing in today's world does seem to be a common them with the Urban Fantasy subgenre, but the above books are the best written that feature myths living in the modern world.

Coming

I'm going to give my recommendations on works of similar "style" to Williams. Williams writes with an almost pedantic eye -- every little detail is lovely detailed -- to practically everything. This includes characters, settings, and even pots. Everything down to the minutest detail is lovingly rendered into prose. It can take a long while before things happen in a Tad Williams book, which may turn off those who love instant action with no patience for slow pacing.

For a series (and author) who's often a bit slower paced with an attention to beautiful, sometimes lyrical prose, give works by Sean Russell a read. I would start with his Moontide Magic Rise duology. If you like his work, give his The Initiate Brother (an Asian fantasy) a go. For a high fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien with gorgeous and lyrical prose, read Swans' War.

You should read Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, if you have yet not. Tolkien is a writer who loves to write. The pacing is quicker than Memory, Sorrow, Thorn, but the language is gorgeous as is the setting portrayed by Tolkien

Another book that shares some similarities with Memory, Sorrow, Thorn is Michael A Stackpole's The DragonCrown War Cycle , which features an epic, black & white struggle, struggle between good and evil. Also read William's new fantasy saga Shadowmarch. Wonderful prose and a strong plot.

I also recommend reading Tad William's other works. His Shadowmarch series is really good (and completed). His other series, Otherland is a stellar read too. It's science fiction, but there are quite a few fantasy elements too; it's kind of like the Matrix. Otherland is of the best Science Fiction books, IMHO.

Coming

Read Mike Carey's Felix Castor series (start with The Devil You Know). It's very similar to The Dresden Files (in the same genre) and I would argue as close as you are going to get to The Dresden Files without being a complete rip-off. You've got the hardboiled detective thriller story merged with the supernatural. The hero is a freelance exorcist in the vein of Harry Dresden though with a lower power level.

Another series that's got a lot of similarities to The Dresden Files, one that's got a lot of dark humour and visceral action is Sandman Slim. Like Dresden Files, it combines hardboiled detective fiction noir with the supernatural. The main character himself has a lot of comparisons to Dresden.  The series is darker than Dresden.

You should also check out Simon Green's Nightside. - a series very, very similar to The Dresden Files, though much more over the top in terms of powerful characters. It's comparatively as dark, however, with more elements of horror in the story. The narration has that sarcastic edge that Butcher imbues into The Dresden Files. You might think of the protagonist John Taylor as a British version of Harry -- probably the most similar in terms of characterization to Harry Dresden I've seen yet and there's a lot of humor in the books. The hero is sort of a supernatural private detective and operates in London where the supernatural coexists right alongside the natural world. 

Give Glen Cook's "Garrett, P.I." series  a read. A detective with some ESP powers. Has the dark noir humor that make The Dresden Files interesting.

Give Harry Connolly's Twenty Palaces Series a read too. It's a very good contender for something similar to The Dresden Files and to make it even more so, Jim Butcher even recommends it! The main character is not a super powerful hero, however, but merely the underling who gets pushed around by more powerful people. A different, yet interesting perspective from the usual. The lead character is very Dresden like character though in an underling position rather than a top dog position. The character faces a lot of similar situations to Dresden.

For another book with a lot of similarities to The Dresden Files, try reading Fated by Benedict Jacka.  The premise is pretty interesting and does quite a bit to set itself apart from the rest of the other books in the genre. The protagonist is a mage with only one power -- the ability to see into the future; he lacks the dramatic powers that other mages have. However his prescience allows him to pull off operations with 1 in a million chances of succeeding. Butcher himself recommends this novel as being similar to The Dresden Files on the cover blurb.

And for a Harry Dresden clone that's still a bit different, you might try The Iron Druid Chronicles by Keaven Hearn. It's got many trappings similar to The Dresden Files: the character is a 2000-year-old druid (rather than a wizard), he's got a magical amulet he uses for protection, there's a wise-cracking sidekick (a dog instead of a skull), and various supernatural friends and powers (werewolves, vampires, witches, and ghosts) interact with the main character. The main character is so similar to Dresden that it's kind of bothersome at times; I'd call it Dresden Lite.

Finally, if you want to venture out of the urban fantasy setting and into the epic fantasy zone, check out Butcher's Codex Alera.