The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like The Grey Bastards

French, 2015 · #94 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 64/120

Half-orc riders on war hogs patrol a lawless borderland and uncover a plot that could doom their brotherhood.

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

If you liked The Grey Bastards, read:

1. Kings of the Wyld

   Eames, 2017 · #83 on the list · 70/120

   Clay Cooper, the retired member of a famous mercenary band, is pulled back for one last tour across a monster-filled world to rescue a friend's daughter.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

2. The Chathrand Voyage

   Redick, 2008 · #91 on the list · 67/120

   Aboard a six-hundred-year-old ship carrying a peace mission, a tarboy, a young bride and a crew of tiny ixchel are caught in a plot to restart a war.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

3. The Blacktongue Thief

   Buehlman, 2021 · #89 on the list · 68/120

   Kinch Na Shannack, a thief in debt to the guild that trained him, is pulled into a quest against giants with a battle-scarred knight he was supposed to rob.

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

4. Raven's Mark

   McDonald, 2017 · #70 on the list · 73/120

   Ryhalt Galharrow, a bounty hunter, works for a sorcerer called Crowfoot at the edge of the Misery. The Misery is a poisoned, warped wasteland left by a weapon.

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

5. Greatcoats

   de Castell, 2014 · #86 on the list · 69/120

   The King's travelling magistrates were disbanded when the king was killed. Falcio val Mond keeps the king's final order and keeps judging.

   Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

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.