Fantasy and sorcery books are often associated with kids, but this is only a misconception. When was the last time you left yourself in a warrior's hands to take you through a beautiful magic adventure? Anyone can get hooked in, regardless of the age.

Why Do We Love Sword & Sorcery Book Genre?

The sword and sorcery book genre offers readers the opportunity to explore a world of adventure, danger and magic. These stories are usually set in ancient times or in imaginary lands, and often feature brave heroes who fight for glory.

I personally enjoy the excitement and suspense that these books offer, as well as the chance to escape from my everyday live. Sword and sorcery books contain elements of romance, mystery and suspense, which make the plot even more enjoyable.

So why do we love sword and sorcery books? For the fans of fantasy including myself, they are the perfect blend of excitement, adventure and escape.

In the following list I collected some of the finest sword and sorcery fantasy books from the recent years, and I tried to order the reverse chronological order.

What Are The Top Sword & Sorcery Books?

A Tournament of Crowns (A Trial of Sorcerers Book 3), by Elise Kova (2023)

Eira, the protagonist, is plunged into an intense whirl of challenges following a controversial act of killing a man. Despite being viewed by many as a remorseless killer, she finds herself thrust into the eagerly anticipated Tournament of Five Kingdoms with little time to cleanse herself of the deed. Trapped with the other champions throughout the competition, Eira is confronted with several obstacles ranging from the deadly games themselves, relentless adversaries seeking vengeance, to the emotionally daunting task of dealing with the man who shattered her heart.

This series weaves a thrilling narrative centered on a magical tournament, layered with intricate mysteries and a simmering romance. Aimed primarily at young adults, the epic fantasy brings together themes of elemental magic, slow-burn love, the significance of found family, and struggles over kingdom futures. With its unexpected plot twists and an immersive world setting, A Tournament of Crowns promises to keep readers riveted and yearning for more.

Juvenile Tribulations, by Nathan D. Latrev (2022)

Juvenile Tribulations is top among the modern sword and sorcery books you should get your hands on if you fancy adventure stories packed with mystery and magic. Nathan engages you with descriptive scenes, humor, and excellent writing style to take you through the fantastic adventures of three allies in a world of deadly battles.

Different races live in Istharium- humans, dwarves, orcs, verdzers, and elves. Meanwhile, a young boy with his longtime friends, Firnael(an elf) and Gugnir (a dwarf) live peacefully and harmoniously in Edrios even after the Last Great War.

These characters love playing pranks, but they are broken off after making an unusual joke during a summer ball. The joke doesn’t sit right with their respective families, so the families disassociate them from being in contact.

Despite the thwarting factors keeping them away from their friendship, they find a way to reunite for an adventure. They are determined to find out why savage orcs are attacking travelers and other civilized orcs. They also want to find out if these events are linked to a tragedy that happened almost half a decade ago

You will love how this book creates a universe with different worlds and the fusion of different races and traditions. The prose is also excellently done to ensure that the different ideas are not overwhelming, even as you reflect on what solid friendship is about.

Mark of the Fool, by J.M Clarke (2022)

Mark of the Fool has made it to the best-seller spot of sword and sorcery books, and there are good reasons for that. With detailed world-building, comedy, action, and magical science, Clarke fully quenches your fantasy thirst.

Imagine a hero who the gods choose, but he doesn’t yield to the calling. This is what Alex Roth does. Following his parents' death, he only desires one thing- to become a wizard. Due to his efforts, he gets accepted to the University of Generasi, a leading wizardry academy. But this is not the plan fate has for Alex.

During his eighteenth birthday, a prophecy marks him as one of the next Kingdom's five Heroes to wrestle the land's greatest enemy, Ravener. His mark is ‘The Fool,' the worst.

Instead of embracing the calling to die or serve the rest of the heroes, he refuses to accept the divine decree and leaves. Together with his younger sister, his childhood ally, and her cerberus, they devise a plan to flee from the university, hoping to solve Ravener's mystery.

You will love how Alex’s charm takes over as he makes longtime friends, learns mad wizard magic, fights mana vampires, and practices alchemy while trying to pay for tuition.

But there is a problem, Alex’s mark as the Fool prevents him from doing certain things. He can’t learn and cast spells if he enhances his skills outside combat, divinity, and spellcraft. Unless, of course, he masters how to exploit the mark. This book is intriguing, with unpredictable twists and turns that will glue you to the pages. Picturing Alex push through limitations will also make you anticipate this book’s sequel.

The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss (2010)

This is an extraordinary work of fantasy that explores the power of stories and legends to shape the world. Highly recommended for fantasy fiction enthusiasts. Anne McCaffrey describes it as magnificent, and critics note that while the author, Rothfuss, may evoke the styles of Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkien, he maintains his unique voice and storytelling prowess.

The story begins with Kvothe, also known as Kote, an unassuming innkeeper, introducing himself as a legendary figure. He recounts his remarkable life, starting from his childhood in a traveling troupe of performers and his time as a street-smart orphan surviving in a crime-infested city.

He then embarks on a daring journey to enroll in a perilous school of magic. Throughout the narrative, readers are introduced to the multifaceted persona of Kvothe: the magician, thief, musician, dragon-slayer, legend-seeker, lover, and infamous assassin.

The Name of the Wind is an exceptional coming-of-age adventure that showcases the pinnacle of fantasy storytelling, making it an absolute must-read.

Homeland (The Legend of Drizzt Book 1), by R.A. Salvatore (2009)

I would never forget the lines of R.A. Salvatore during my long train travels, they just took me another place, a place where a dark elf warrior, Drizzt Do’Urden began his journey to gain his legacy.

Drizzt is a remarkable figure, emerges from a convoluted past that intertwines with his drow heritage. Being the third son of Mother Malice and weaponmaster Zaknafein, his life was originally slated for a ritual sacrifice to Lolth, the Spider Queen, in line with their matriarchal drow society’s custom. His older brother's sudden death, however, spares him, even though he remains vulnerable to his abusive sisters' torment.

As Drizzt matures, he gains recognition for his exceptional warrior skills at the Melee-Magthere Academy, but becomes disillusioned with the malevolent tendencies of his fellow drow who display unreserved cruelty towards other races of the Underdark. This contrast poses a significant challenge – can Drizzt uphold his distinct understanding of good and evil in such a merciless, unethical environment?

Homeland, the very first book of the 36 books series explores this intriguing origin story of Drizzt Do’Urden. Personally this was the series that hooked me into the world of sword and sorcery, so I strongly encourage YA and also adult readers to jump into this fascinating story.

Final Thoughts on Sword & Sorcery Books

As a short final conclusion, these are some of the best modern sword and sorcery fantasy books. Explore a mix of classic magic and modern fantasy, as well as a bunch of heroes and heroines that everyone would love to be close to.

Check out also our favorite YA Dragon Sword & Sorcery Adventure Books.

Joel Stafford

My profession is online marketing and development (10+ years experience), check my latest mobile app called Upcoming. But my real passion is reading books both fiction and non-fiction. I have several favorite authors like James Redfield or Daniel Keyes. If I read a book I always want to find the best part of it, every book has it's unique value.