The Fantasy 101 › Books Like

Books Like The Vagrant

Newman, 2015 · #81 on the Epic Fantasy 101 Booklist · 71/120

A silent man carrying an infant and a sentient sword walks through a broken land overrun by the demonic Infernal.

Mood7Theme7Structure6Further reading3Creative details8Real-world blend2Divine influence7Climax and fights8Epicness4Genre standard2Originality7

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

If you liked The Vagrant, read:

  1. A Land Fit for Heroes

    Morgan, 2008 · #84 on the list · 70/120

    Three veterans of a war against lizard-invaders now live on its bitter fringes. They are drawn back to face a stranger threat, the dwenda.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  2. 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 mood, theme, structure, further reading.

  3. 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.

  4. Never Die

    Hayes, 2019 · #79 on the list · 71/120

    A boy who cannot die gathers great warriors to kill an emperor. He brings them back from death to do it.

    Close on mood, theme, structure, creative details.

  5. 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 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.