There’s something magical that happens when you take an unlikely cast of characters, give them a mission, and add some magic to help their cause. It’s one of my favorite mixtures—not just because reading about heists is always a good time, but because a loveable crew makes everything a million times more fun.
That’s one of the things that makes Five Broken Blades such a good story. Five liars are brought together to fulfill a single objective: Kill the tyrannical, immortal king. Each of the five have their own reasons for wanting the king dead, but they all agree he needs to die. It’s the working together that isn’t so simple.
Through a variety of perspectives, the plot has everything fantasy lovers crave: romance, action, mystery, and magic. If you’re looking for a crew filled with untrustworthy characters who will somehow manage to steal your heart, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few fantasy novels with amazing crews and troupes.
The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn
Stealing from the most powerful king in the realm doesn’t just require skill, it takes an ambitious thief. Someone like Ardor Benn. He’s known as a master of complex heists. When a priest hires him and tells him the job, Ardor knows he can’t accomplish the job alone. He assembles a team of forgers, disguisers, schemers, and thieves all seeking fame and glory. But the deeper they get, the more it becomes obvious that this is more than just a job. Ardor and his crew just might be humanity’s last hope.
Fire in the Ocean
Sierra has just saved the world and all she wants is a vacation. Hawaii sounds nice. So nice that when her boyfriend can’t go, Sierra takes Chaco, her Coyotl Trickster. Only, halfway through their flight, Chaco starts to feel sick. When they land, they discover Fred, the disappearing mannegishi who snuck along. Even worse, Chaco isn’t just under the weather, he’s mortal.
It’s a messy situation, but nothing a little sand and surf can’t fix. But when they are swept undersea on a whale watching excursion, they realize something evil is afoot. And with a mortal Chaco cut off from land, Sierra will have to be clever enough for both of them if they want to survive.
Six of Crows
Anyone can buy anything in Ketterdam for the right price. Kaz Brekker has built his criminal empire on this fact. When he’s offered the chance to become richer than his wildest dreams, he knows he has the crew that just might be able pull it off. It’s impossible. But they’re more than dangerous outcasts. They’re the Crows. And if they manage to not kill each other, they just might save the world.
The Sun Wolf and Starhawk Series Books 1–3
Captain Sun Wolf is a gifted mercenary with a deadly army. His lieutenant, Starhawk, has helped him conquer cities and loot treasure while taking care of his bloodthirsty men. When a port city is sacked by a mad wizard, Sun Wolf finds himself with an unexpected offer. A woman from the town sought him out, pleading for his army’s help. In exchange, she promises riches like none he has ever seen. But Sun Hawk has succeeded for recognizing which battles to fight, and taking on a wizard isn’t advisable. He just never expected how persuasive one woman could be.
The Gilded Wolves
Paris in 1889 is undergoing extraordinary change. The Exposition Universelle has both stirred up life and dredged up ancient secrets. And no one has tracked those dark truths like Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the Order of Babel asks for his help, they offer him the one thing he can’t resist: his true inheritance. But he can’t hunt down this ancient artifact on his own. He puts together a crew of unlikely experts who can survive into the dark heart of Paris. What they discover there might change the course of human history… if they can stay alive, that is.
The Atlas Six
To earn a place in the Alexandrian Society is to secure a life of power, wealth, and prestige. Every year, only six talented magicians are selected by Atlas Blakely. They are given access to the Society’s archives and are given on year to prepare. Five will be initiated. One will be eliminated. As this year’s six fight to survive, they realize that things within the Society aren’t what they seem. And the consequences of discovering that truth are deadlier than they ever imagined.
The Devils
When Brother Diaz is summoned to the Sacred City, he knows it’s finally time for the Pope, her excellency, to grant him a grand holy assignment. Instead, he’s given a mission of a different sort. An evil prince in a neighboring land is causing trouble. And Brother Diaz is in charge of the only thing that can stop him. To help, the Pope has given him her Devils: a group of unrepentant murderers and monsters. On a hellish journey, there’s no one better to have on his side… as long as they stay on his side.
