6 Fantasy Books That Give The Lord of the Rings a Run for Its Money

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The Lord of the Rings - book cover - 1955 (2)

Published Aug 5, 2026, 8:17 PM EDT

Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel.

A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated.

Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point.

Are there any fantasy books better than The Lord of the Rings? Many fans of the genre would argue that there aren't. When he started working on the book, J. R. R. Tolkien envisioned it as little more than a simple sequel to his legendary children's novel The Hobbit. Gradually, however, the manuscript started to evolve into something far larger and far more ambitious. The epic novel was published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955, and saying that it completely revolutionized the fantasy genre would be an understatement. Even those who wouldn't call it the best fantasy novel of all time would have to at least admit that it's the most important and influential of the 20th century.

There are six particular fantasy books, however, that definitely give The Lord of the Rings a run for its money. These are some of the greatest, most groundbreaking masterpieces the genre has ever seen on the printed page, gems that have aged like fine wine and are essential reading for any fantasy fan. Whether they're high or low fantasy, dark or light, long or short, epic or intimate, these absolute gems of fantasy literature would gladly challenge the king for his crown. Whether they are or aren't better than The Lord of the Rings is almost entirely subjective, but the fact of the matter is that they're strong enough that that's even a debate in the first place.

6 'The Blade Itself' (2006)

Front cover of 'The Blade Itself' by Joe Abercrombie

British author Joe Abercrombie is the mind behind the First Law series, which is composed of two trilogies, three standalone novels, and a few short stories. The first of those trilogies is easily the best, and the first book in that trilogy is also the most iconic of the entire First Law series: The Blade Itself, the birth of one of the best book trilogies of all time. It's a defining work of grimdark and low fantasy, and what really makes it stand out is just how irresistibly funny it is. It's a direct subversion—and at times, even a loving mockery—of traditional high fantasy tropes, serving as the perfect counterbalance to that grimdark tone.

The Blade Itself and its clever deconstruction of the entire fantasy genre result in one of the most entertaining reading experiences.

Abercrombie's prose is remarkably raw and intimate, making The Blade Itself perfect for those who love when fantasy is character-driven. There's also a fascinating level of moral ambiguity in the book's characters, however, making Abercrombie's profound exploration of their psyches all the more fascinating. With this strong character work as a solid foundation, The Blade Itself and its clever deconstruction of the entire fantasy genre result in one of the most entertaining reading experiences that any fantasy novel has offered throughout the 21st century.

5 'Assassin's Apprentice' (1995)

Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden is her real name, but it was under the pen name Robin Hobb that she wrote one of the greatest high fantasy book trilogies ever, The Farseer Trilogy. And it just so happens that the first book in the series, Assassin's Apprentice, is easily the best of the lot. It's one of those high fantasy books that are perfectly written, built on the foundation of one of the most interesting magic systems the genre saw throughout the 1990s.

On top of that foundation, Hobb wove an intricate tale of identity, belonging, and the need for human connection, one so wonderfully intimate and emotional that it's impossible not to get teary-eyed at certain parts. There is plenty of high fantasy full of grand battles and tremendous power out there for fans of that sort of thing to enjoy. Assassin's Apprentice, on the other hand, is for those interested in the idea of a fantasy novel with richer emotional depth, psychological intimacy, and character development. In that sense, it's pretty much unparalleled.

4 'The Crippled God' (2011)

Cover of 'The Crippled God' by Steven Erikson

Canadian author Steven Erikson wrote the Malazan Book of the Fallen, a series of several epic fantasy novels that together make up one of the most stunning works of fantasy literature the world has seen since Tolkien's Legendarium. Many of the series' installments could be counted among the best high fantasy books of all time, but one in particular stands out as the greatest: The Crippled God, the tenth and final volume of Malazan. It's the highest-rated installment in the series on Goodreads, and for good reason.

Aside from being a phenomenal way of ending the series, offering thematic and plot resolutions that are nothing if not immensely satisfying and thought-provoking, The Crippled God is also a masterful high fantasy masterpiece in its own right. Anchored by Erikson's deeply philosophical and wonderfully dense prose—which readers will have likely already fallen in love with if they've gotten this far into Malazan—, The Crippled God is revolutionary in how it subverts the expectations that one would typically have from the conclusion of such an epic fantasy series. Instead of ending in a climax full of blood, death, and destruction, the entirety of The Crippled God revolves around the idea that empathy and compassion are the ultimate act of victory. It's an absolute masterclass in how to make an entirely unpredictable fantasy book series conclusion.

3 'The Name of the Wind' (2007)

Patrick Rothfuss has kept fans waiting a whopping 15 years (and counting) for the third and final chapter in his Kingkiller Chronicles trilogy. Whether it will ever actually see the light of day is entirely between Rothfuss and the gods of writing. But regardless of that book's outcome, one thing will forever remain true: The Name of the Wind is one of the greatest fantasy books ever written, an absolute masterpiece that's still worth reading in 2026. It's heroic high fantasy at its most fascinating and most strongly character-driven, chronicling the youth and coming-of-age of Kvothe, one of the most interesting fantasy novel protagonists of the 2000s.

Rothfuss' melodic, poetic prose is some of the most beautiful writing ever to grace the fantasy genre.

Aside from being exceptional from beginning to end, The Name of the Wind is arguably also one of the most influential fantasy books of all time, having set a new stylistic standard for the high fantasy genre going forward. That's because Rothfuss' melodic, poetic prose is some of the most beautiful writing ever to grace the fantasy genre, more than enough to single-handedly make this a must-read. Add to that some immensely potent character development, riveting thematic work, and some of the most richly detailed world-building of any post-Tolkien fantasy novel, and you get a masterpiece that's right up there with The Lord of the Rings as one of the genre's best.

2 'A Storm of Swords' (2000)

Cover of 'A Storm of Swords' by George R.R. Martin

George R. R. Martin is another author who, even more infamously than Rothfuss, has kept fans waiting 15 years for the next installment in his Song of Ice and Fire series. Thanks to HBO's Game of Thrones and its derivatives, many have discovered and re-discovered this exceptional series of epic high fantasy novels. Regardless of whether The Winds of Winter ever does come into fans' lives, one thing will forever remain true, and that's that A Storm of Swords is not only the best installment in the series, but also one of those dark fantasy books that are perfectly written.

The third installment in the Song of Ice and Fire, A Storm of Swords features some of the grittiest, most perfectly functional prose that Martin has ever offered. Thanks to this sense of style, the way Storm of Swords takes advantage of the sociopolitics and world-building laid out by its two predecessors to then deliver an explosive, game-changing evolution of those elements is profoundly admirable. This threequel is a turning point for the entire series, bolstered by relentless momentum and a seamless blend of several fantasy subgenres. Only a writer like Martin could ever possibly craft a fantasy book flawless enough to rival The Lord of the Rings.

1 'Words of Radiance' (2014)

Cover of 'Words of Radiance' by Brandon Sanderson

Anyone tired of fantasy authors who go over a decade without delivering a new novel will very likely fall in love with Brandon Sanderson, one of the most prolific and hugely celebrated authors of speculative fiction currently working. Sanderson has penned several fantasy books that are perfect from the first page to the last, but if there's any one of them in particular that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as a book as legendary as The Lord of the Rings, it's Words of Radiance. The second book in the Stormlight Archive series, itself part of Sanderson's overarching Cosmere shared universe, it really is one of the most unforgettable fantasy novels ever published.

It's an absolute behemoth of an epic fantasy book, following a fascinating set of characters through a gripping story that leads to one of the most astoundingly huge endings in the modern history of fantasy. From the world-building to the magic system to the character development, there's virtually nothing to complain about when reading Words of Radiance, a surprisingly cinematic masterpiece that's impossible to put down. Perfectly structured and stunning in how it subverts several high fantasy tropes, delivering a reading experience that's delectably unpredictable from start to finish, it's a book that anyone who loves The Lord of the Rings should check out sometime in their lives.

Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz Which Lord of the Rings
Character Are You? One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed

The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.

💍Frodo

🌿Samwise

👑Aragorn

🔥Gandalf

🏹Legolas

⚒️Gimli

👁️Sauron

🪨Gollum

BEGIN YOUR QUEST →

You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do? The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.

AAccept it. Someone has to, and running changes nothing. BStay by the side of whoever carries it. They shouldn't go alone. CStep forward and lead. This is exactly what I was made for. DIt's mine now. I won't let anyone else have it.

NEXT QUESTION →

Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You: True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.

AFollow them without hesitation. I'd rather die beside them than live without them. BRally others and forge a plan to help — strength in numbers. COffer wisdom and guidance. My counsel may save them where swords cannot. DLet them go. Only the strong survive, and sentiment is a weakness.

NEXT QUESTION →

Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is: Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.

ADestroy it. Nothing good comes from power this absolute. BUse it to protect those I love — just this once. CWield it wisely. I have the will and the knowledge to do good with it. DSeize it. I have waited long enough. It belongs to me.

NEXT QUESTION →

What does "home" mean to you? Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.

AA simple, peaceful place — green hills, good food, no adventure required. BWherever the people I love are. Home is a feeling, not a place. CA kingdom I must earn before I can truly claim it as mine. DI lost it long ago. That loss is what drives everything I do.

NEXT QUESTION →

When a battle is upon you, your approach is: War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.

ASurvive by any means. I'm not a fighter — but I'll do what I must. BFight for the person beside me, not for glory or honour. CLead the charge. Nothing inspires an army like a king at the front. DStrike from range, fast and precise — never let them get close.

NEXT QUESTION →

Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You: Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it's knowing which questions to ask.

AListen, then offer honest encouragement. Sometimes people just need belief. BGive them practical help — words are fine, but action is better. CSpeak carefully. I have seen much, and I know what counsel can cost. DTell them what they want to hear. Trust is a tool like any other.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you see yourself, honestly? Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.

ASmall and ordinary — but perhaps that's exactly why I was chosen. BDefined entirely by who I serve and love. I am nothing without them. CForged by hardship into something the world has not yet fully seen. DDiminished from what I once was — and consumed by the need to reclaim it.

NEXT QUESTION →

Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world? Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.

AI find peace in it — forests, rivers, open skies. Nature restores me. BI prefer the earth underfoot — stone, mines, solid and real things. CI have watched the world change for longer than most can comprehend. DNature offers hiding places, cold water, raw fish. That's enough for me.

NEXT QUESTION →

You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You: How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.

AShow mercy. Even the most broken souls deserve a chance at redemption. BPity them — but never trust them. They made their choices. CSee them as a tool. Their knowledge or skills may still serve a purpose. DDestroy them before they can cause more harm. Mercy is a luxury we cannot afford.

NEXT QUESTION →

When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you? In the end, we are all just stories.

AThat an ordinary person did an extraordinary thing — and came home. BThat I never abandoned the person who needed me most. CThat I was worthy of the crown — and everything it demanded. DNothing. I don't need songs. I needed it, and now it's gone.

REVEAL MY FATE →

The Fellowship Has Spoken Your Place in Middle-earth

The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.

💍 Frodo

🌿 Samwise

👑 Aragorn

🔥 Gandalf

🏹 Legolas

⚒️ Gimli

👁️ Sauron

🪨 Gollum

You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don't have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.

You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you'd do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.

You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.

You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.

Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.

You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don't do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.

You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you're not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.

You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

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