Brandon Sanderson's 10 Fantasy Book Picks for Every Kind of Reader

If you've ever finished a Brandon Sanderson novel and immediately asked, "What do I read next?" — you're in luck. The prolific author and creative writing instructor has spent years championing fellow fantasy writers, and his curated list of recommendations is a treasure map for any genre devotee.

According to Polygon, Sanderson's picks range from the books that shaped him as a young reader to exciting newer releases, covering everything from color-based magic systems to newspaper-founding dwarves. Whether you're killing time between Cosmere releases or simply hungry for your next great read, here's a breakdown of what Sanderson thinks belongs on your shelf.

The Book That Started It All for Young Sanderson

Sanderson has credited Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly as a formative read from his middle school years — one that revealed just how powerfully an author could forge a bond with their audience. The novel follows a prince, a lord, and a witch on a mission to slay a dragon nesting deep in a gnomish cavern, though the quest quickly grows more morally complex than any of them anticipated. Fans of The Hobbit will feel right at home.

Epic Courts and Sweeping Sagas

For readers who love political intrigue woven into their world-building, Sanderson points to Melanie Rawn's debut, Dragon Prince. Prince Rohan, newly thrust into leadership after his father is injured, must navigate a treacherous courtship scheme orchestrated by a rival ruler with seventeen daughters and an eye on Rohan's lands.

Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana offers a similarly layered experience, drawing on Renaissance Italy for its backdrop. A sorcerer king has literally erased the memory of an entire province — and the people born there are willing to go to war to reclaim their identity before it disappears forever.

Magic Systems That Rival Sanderson's Own

It's no surprise that Sanderson — whose Cosmere universe continues to expand in fascinating directions — gravitates toward stories with intricate, rule-based magic. Brent Weeks' The Black Prism fits that description perfectly. Its Prism protagonist wields color magic by splitting light, but a surprise son and a rebellious king send his world into chaos. The ending alone will have you reaching for the sequel.

Fonda Lee's Jade City earns a spot on the list for its similarly meticulous approach to its six jade disciplines. Set in a post-WWII Hong Kong-inspired world, it's less medieval quest and more organized crime drama — rival clans, resource wars, and reluctant heirs included.

From Beloved Classics to Modern Masterpieces

Sanderson has spoken openly about how much Terry Pratchett meant to him, calling him his favorite living author until Pratchett's passing in 2015. His pick, The Truth, centers on a journalist and his dwarf collaborators launching The Ankh-Morpork Times — and stumbling straight into a murder mystery with a terrier as the star witness.

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind also makes the cut, following the legendary Kvothe as he recounts his life as performer, beggar, and student to a traveling scribe. Sanderson fans who've been waiting for updates on their favorite series can probably sympathize — readers have been waiting 15 years for Rothfuss to finish his trilogy.

Garth Nix's Sabriel, the first entry in the Old Kingdom series, rounds out the classics corner with a teenage necromancer racing to protect her world from the restless dead. And N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms brings gods into the equation — enslaved, weaponized, and at the center of a dangerous romance that redefines its heroine's destiny.

A Recommendation That Hits Close to Home

Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie have appeared together at numerous events, and Sanderson has been effusive in his praise for Abercrombie's latest — even drawing comparisons to Pratchett. The novel sends a wildly mismatched crew (think monk, vampire, werewolf, necromancer, and elf) on a princess rescue mission involving shipwrecks, crime lords, and cursed houses.

For a writer who has shared his own theories on what makes fantasy resonate across generations, Sanderson's reading list feels less like homework and more like an invitation into the genres he loves most. Bookmark it — your TBR pile will thank you.

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