8 Heart-Stopping Fantasy Books for Fans of Assassin’s Apprentice

The first book in the magnificent Boudica Quartet, Dreaming the Eagle reimagines the larger-than-life figure of Boudica, the ancient Celtic queen who led the rebellion against the Roman conquest of Britain. Manda Scott draws from British myth to craft a richly-detailed tribal world that is also grounded in historical fact. 

Dreaming the Eagle introduces readers to eleven-year-old Breaca (who will be later renamed as Boudica, meaning “Victorious Woman”) who must give up her shamanic dreams and train as a warrior instead. Fans of Hobb will particularly adore Scott’s painterly prose in this emotional rollercoaster of a book, written in the vein of historical fantasy. 

If you’re more in the mood for science fantasy, you can check out Unwrapped Sky by Rjurik Davidson that mixes steampunk magic and technology in an original and entertaining way, bringing the fictional land of Caeli-Amur to life. The characters too are extremely interesting—including a philosopher assassin, an idealistic seditionist and a power-hungry bureaucrat who will stop at nothing to get what he wants—and their threads converge in startling ways that will keep you turning the pages for more. 

If the heroic quests and Arthurian motifs in the Farseer books have piqued your attention, you will definitely enjoy T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, a lush, evocative and at times anachronistic retelling of the Arthurian legends. Originally published in four separate volumes, the book draws heavily from Le Morte d'Arthur (1485) by Sir Thomas Malory but reworks the myths and legends in novel ways. This is particularly evident in the out-of-sync narration of Merlin (who often mentions 20^th century words or phrases in the medieval era), and is also informed by the devastating consequences of the World Wars. 

In the same Arthurian vein, you may enjoy The Mists of Avalon by Marion Bradley Zimmer, which is relayed through the perspectives of the female characters and is also heavy on the intrigue.

Those looking for a new epic fantasy series to escape to can add the Orb and Arrow books by V.L. Stuart to their TBR lists and hitch a ride to the fictional world of Darae filled with mages, archers, healers and the undead. There’s a delicious Tolkienesque quality to the worldbuilding, while the apprenticeships and alliances that structure the arc of the novel will remind readers of Assassin’s Apprentice. 

For excellent and thoughtful prose, backed by strong character development and beautiful plotting, one can never go wrong with an Ursula K. Le Guin book. Although the Earthsea novels were primarily intended for a younger audience, they can be savored by adults too—filled with symbolism and philosophical insights. The books begin with the story of Ged, a young mage grappling with the consequences of dark magic, and follows him as he grows to a wise and responsible wielder of magic, alongside other memorable characters and newer threats. 

And if you’re going in blind, I’d recommended you pick up the omnibus edition, Books of Earthsea, accompanied by evocative illustrations by Charles Vess, which collects all the novels, novellas and short stories set in the same world in a single hardbound volume.

The Burnt Empire Saga by Ashok K. Banker draws upon the Indian epic Mahabharata to tell the story of two young princes, Adri and Shvate. Like Fitz who despite having royal blood is treated as an outcast by the nobility, Adri and Shvate face many barriers to inherit their birthright, such as the Test of Fire. 

But more evil lurks in this land infested with demons and demigods, and the two princes have to contend with new players vying for a crumbling realm. Packed with twists and turns, Upon a Burning Throne is a dark and dazzling read, with Banker masterfully crafting a world for readers to get lost in.

If the story, characters and sense of world in Assassin’s Apprentice captivated you a great deal, you can try the Black Magician trilogy by Australian writer Trudi Canavan. Though written for a more YA audience, her books have the same depth, with characters who mature as the series progresses, and filled with satisfying twists. I’d recommend you start off with the standalone prequel, The Magician’s Apprentice that will introduce you to the world of Kyralia and feisty female characters you’ll fall in love with.

Finally, if you’re longing for mesmerizing prose with slow, character-driven story arcs, Patricia A. McKillip is another writer you should check out once you’re done with Hobb. A good place to start would be The Forgotten Beasts of Eld—a short, illustrated fantasy novel that won the World Fantasy Award in 1975. 

It narrates the story of Sybel, an isolated sorceress who grows up with an assorted menagerie of fantastical creatures until at the age of sixteen, she is tasked to raise a baby. Hypnotic, lyrical and thrilling, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a comfort read that will stay with you for a long time and maybe even propel you to check out her other works, which are similarly marked by an enchanting storytelling style and evocative prose.