Brandon Sanderson, known for building sprawling fantasy worlds with intricate magic systems, has publicly recommended a long list of books that reach well beyond his own epic-fantasy style, spanning historical fantasy, romantic adventure, dark comedy and gangster-inspired magic.
Among his most enthusiastic picks is Brent Weeks' The Black Prism, the 2010 opener of the five-book Lightbringer series, which follows the Prism Gavin Guile and a young man named Kip as they navigate a magic system built around light-manipulating "Drafters." Sanderson's official site has featured his praise of the novel, calling it one of the most entertaining books he had read.
Sanderson has repeatedly singled out Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana, first published in 1990, as one of his top fantasy recommendations. Set on the Renaissance Italy-inspired Peninsula of the Palm, the story centers on survivors of Tigana battling sorcerers Brandin of Ygrath and Alberico of Barbadior after Brandin erases the memory of Tigana's name and history from anyone not born there.
Barbara Hambly's 1985 novel Dragonsbane, which follows witch Jenny Waynest and lord John Aversin as they confront a dragon at Prince Gareth's request, is another favorite. Sanderson has said the book helped draw him into fantasy as a young reader, noting that its middle-aged heroine offered something different from typical coming-of-age stories.
He has also placed N.K. Jemisin's 2010 debut The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the start of the Inheritance Trilogy following Yeine Darr's struggle for the throne of Sky, on his public recommendation list.
Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, the 33rd Discworld novel published in 2004 and centered on con artist Moist von Lipwig's forced job running Ankh-Morpork's postal service for Lord Vetinari, was named Sanderson's favorite Pratchett novel at the time of his recommendation. He has advised readers not to start the Discworld series with its earliest entries.
Sanderson has described Mary Robinette Kowal's five-book Glamourist Histories, beginning with Shades of Milk and Honey in 2010 and ending with Of Noble Family in 2015, as an ideal combination of adventure, character and magic. Kowal co-hosted the Writing Excuses podcast with Sanderson.
He has also recommended Fonda Lee's Green Bone Saga, starting with 2017's Jade City, describing it as a fantasy world inspired by mid-20th-century Hong Kong gangster stories built around jade-based magic.
Melanie Rawn's 1988 novel Dragon Prince, published by DAW Books and following Rohan and Sioned amid political and magical conflict, earned some of Sanderson's strongest praise—he has called it one of his favorite books of all time.
Joe Abercrombie's The Devils, released in 2025 as the first book in a new series imagining a Europe threatened by invading elves, drew Sanderson's direct involvement: he interviewed Abercrombie during the book's 2025 tour and compared its blend of humor and darker elements to the energy of Terry Pratchett's work.
Finally, Sanderson has repeatedly recommended Patrick Rothfuss' 2007 novel The Name of the Wind, following Kvothe's rise from childhood tragedy to a magical university education, placing it alongside Tigana and Dragonsbane among his major fantasy picks and praising Rothfuss as a genius.
Photo: Nihonjoe, CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
