86 books like The Hero and the Crown

In Dragon Keeper, Robin Hobb expands on her Liveship Traders universe. The (deformed) dragons that take the spotlight are less friendly and their uneasy bonds with their caretakers give a whole different experience for the readers. It is a less heroic tale to read and more of a struggle, but one that is beautifully drawn out by Hobb’s amazing skill as a writer. It’s a book as much about self-discovery, as it is about building trust. In my eyes, the slow-burn storyline remained interesting because of the strong cast of characters and my curiosity about how the dragons would evolve, both emotionally and physically. You shouldn’t expect much action, but it provides a marvelous read nonetheless.

Dragonsong is the science fantasy story of an isolated teenage girl who runs away from home when forbidden to pursue her passion for music. She stumbles on a nest of fire lizards—the legendary ancestors of the dragons that keep her world safe—and must stop hiding her identity and use her gifts to aid the dragonriders in their crucial mission. 

This book has the SF/F holy trinity of great plot, characters, and world-building—but what really hooked me was the multi-dimensional female main character that I connected to immediately. I’m a musician and creative thinker, too, so I could see myself in Menolly. This book is for anyone who has ever been told to hide part of who they are—and anyone who loves dragons, of course.

A classic adventure story full of hobbits, trolls, and so much more.

It surprised me how much I enjoyed The Hobbit!

It’s underrated how funny this book is and it’s not as challenging a read as you’d think.

(I also highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis).

Basically, I’d recommend the whole Folk of Air series, but you should start with The Cruel Prince, as they build upon one another.

Jude is the definition of a kick-ass heroine. She takes absolutely no prisoners, even in a setting where she seemingly has less power than those around her. She will fight tooth and nail to get the respect she deserves, and I love that about her. Also, Cardan. Cardan.

I don’t even know what else to say about him without starting a whole different review thread, but specifically, Jude and Cardan’s interactions. Just read it.

I first read The Inheritance Cycle in middle school. It was my introduction to high fantasy, and I relished joining Eragon on his adventures into a world of dragons, elves, and dwarves.

Fast forward quite a few years, and I listened to the audiobooks with my husband. This is a series that can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages and was worth repeating. I especially recommend the audiobook for the voice of the dragon, Saphira, and the pronunciation of the dwarfish and elvish languages.

It was this series that inspired me to escape into the dragon-riding daydream that became my first series as an author. 

From the moment I spied the cover, I knew I had to read this book. 

It featured an armored soldier on horseback leading a group of weary travelers on a dark, foreboding night. It whispered of danger and mystery–two things all good fantasy contains. The group, inspired by prophecy, battles against unworldly creatures, eyeless monsters, and enigmatic foes in their quest to defeat the dark one.

I loved the clear delineation between the creator and the dark one and their contrasting visions for the world.

I fell in love with the people of Pern and their struggles to survive. They adapted and overcame the dangers. They battled against the thread and made a home on Pern.

I was amazed that this was a science fiction book, not a fantasy. It had dragons. I was well past my young adult years when this book hooked me like a fish.

In this world, I saw infinite possibilities for more stories. It touched my heart and made me realize that I could overcome any obstacle in my life. It also taught me that, like Pern, my future held infinite possibilities.

Have you ever wished you knew what your pet was thinking? That you could communicate with them with words or even with the power of your mind? I know I have.

This book is basically a chronicle of the Napoleonic Wars…but with dragons! When British naval Captain Will Laurence forms a bond with the dragon Temeraire, it changes both of their lives. The two are pressed into service, fighting against Napoleon’s own squad of dragon-riders.

The air battle scenes are thrilling, but the real heart of the book is the bond between Will and Temeraire. It is a daring adventure tale but also a fabulous, cozy read. Reading it makes me wish I had a dragon pal that I was telepathically bonded to (though I’m not too keen to have to square up with Napolean). 

I found this book around the same time I started writing my book, and it gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to write zombies.

In a fantasy world, in a country called Arelon, Prince Raoden is struck by the mysterious Shaod—a magical power that turns anyone it afflicts into an undead monster. Unable to heal or die, Raoden and those like him live in the murky slums inside the walls of Elantris, the once-grand City of the Gods.

As far as zombie stories go, Elantris is probably the most benign. It’s more a subversion of the trope—those unaffected by the Shaod believe Elantrians to be feral, cannibalistic monsters when they’re actually the same as everyone else (except they’re dead)—than a true exploration of pop-culture zombie “cannon,” but that’s what makes it so deep.

These aren’t mindless monsters unable to do anything but hunt for food, they’re… show more.

I adore Ead!! Unsurprisingly, that's why I’m including this book in my recommendations. One of three central characters (including my second favourite in this book – Sabran), Ead won me over because she’s just fantastically capable, but not showy about it at all. She’s the kind of person you’d love to have at your side through thick and thin. 

I got a little bit of a Robin Hobb vibe from this book which also made it a winner for me because I love all of Hobb’s work. This is a monster of a book (and it’s a standalone), but the pacing moves quite quickly despite the length and I never got stuck or felt like it bogged down in too much detail. The world building is fantastic and brings the story to life.