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Books Like Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne

Staveley, 2014 · #80 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 71/120

After their emperor father is murdered, his three heirs must face assassins, ancient beings and the secret hidden behind their faith.

Mood6Theme7Structure6Further reading3Creative details7Real-world blend1Divine influence9Climax and fights8Epicness7Genre standard3Originality5

Its strongest scores: divine influence and climax and fights. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, read:

  1. The Bound and the Broken

    Cahill, 2019 · #90 on the list · 68/120

    A wandering bard and a trapped noble woman face the gods' meddling in a world on the verge of war.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  2. The Demon Cycle

    Brett, 2008 · #85 on the list · 70/120

    Demons rise from the ground each night and only magic wards stand between them and humanity. A boy determined to fight back becomes a legend.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  3. Lightbringer

    Weeks, 2010 · #63 on the list · 76/120

    The Prism, who wields every color of light, hides a secret, while his newly discovered son must learn the magic and survive the war.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  4. The Faithful and the Fallen

    Gwynne, 2012 · #72 on the list · 73/120

    In a world where an ancient war between Elyon and Asroth is about to be fought again through mortals, a young man trains to be a warrior.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  5. Raven's Shadow

    Ryan, 2011 · #92 on the list · 66/120

    Vaelin al Sorna, given to a warrior order as a boy, rises through its brutal training into war, faith and a hidden gift.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

Featured pick

Acenes of Sparta: The Dragon Slayer

Manolis Tsongas, 2026 · #5 on the list · 101/120 · for adults and mature teens

A dragon is the real reason King Leonidas and his three hundred died at Thermopylae. Sixty-two years later the gods send a Spartan boy of the agoge to kill it. The book takes lessons from tragedy and the cost of sacrifice, as is the Greek way.

How the scores work: each book is rated 1 to 10 on eleven criteria; real-world blend and climax and fights count double, for a maximum of 120. See the full Fantasy 101.