The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like The Chronicles of Prydain

Alexander, 1964 · #53 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 79/120 · adapted for screen

Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper leaves his farm to chase a lost oracular pig. He grows into a hero in the war against Arawn, Lord of the Land of Death.

Its strongest scores: theme and structure. The five books below have the closest scores across all eleven criteria.

If you liked The Chronicles of Prydain, read:

1. Tigana

   Kay, 1990 · #34 on the list · 85/120

   A sorcerer-king's curse has erased a province's very name from memory. A few survivors plot to win it back.

   Close on theme, structure, further reading, creative details.

2. The Broken Empire

   Lawrence, 2011 · #37 on the list · 85/120

   Jorg Ancrath, a prince turned road-brigand at thirteen, fights his way back to a throne in a ruined future that was once our world.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. The Monarchies of God

   Kearney, 1995 · #48 on the list · 80/120

   As faith fractures and a holy city falls, a castaway king's ship sails west into the unknown in search of a new world.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

4. The Shadow Campaigns

   Wexler, 2013 · #56 on the list · 78/120

   A veteran captain and a disguised woman soldier serve a mysterious new colonel through a gunpowder-and-magic colonial war.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

5. Kane

   Wagner, 1970 · #75 on the list · 72/120

   Kane, cursed by a mad god to wander forever, is a scheming swordsman and sorcerer who works with any side that suits him.

   Close on mood, creative details, real-world blend, divine influence.

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.