THEY PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE. THEY GOT 25 TONS AND 18 WHEELS OF HOLY WEAPON.
The Dark Ages… Demon hordes plague Europe as Hell invades Earth. The Six Petals, a secret sect of The Knights Templar, pray for a holy weapon to drive back the scourge. What crashes to earth instead is The Rig, a fully loaded tractor trailer. In the aftermath of its arrival, the only man left standing is an enigmatic former priest. He will become Trucker and lead the fight against Hell—with 25 tons and 18 wheels of demon-slaying machine. Created by Post Malone. Written by Post Malone and Adrian Wassel. Drawn by Barbaric co-creator artist Nathan Gooden.
Admittedly, it’s been years since I played Dungeons & Dragons. Unless you include Baldur’s Gate 3. In that case, I just finished my second full playthrough. Either way, I have plenty of fond memories and have certainly read some fantasy novels that give me those distinct DnD vibes.
A novel that is perfect for Dungeons & Dragons fans needs magic, monsters, powerful villains, and a group of heroes coming together for a common cause. That group is probably the most important part, too. DnD and many tabletop roleplaying games are about the party, after all. Playing DnD by yourself or just you and a DM? That just sounds sad.
So here, you’ll find eight great fantasy novels that are all fun, all focused on dynamic parties of amazing characters, and full of those monsters and magic we all need in our lives. Dungeons & Dragons fans, these books are for you.
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
This book is full of monsters, magic, and mayhem. It’s also full of funny banter between the ragtag party members. Kinch is knee-deep in debt and needs a massive score to dig out of it. But of course, he picks the wrong mark. Not only does he fail to steal anything from Galva, handmaiden to the goddess of death, but he barely escapes with his life. Now Kinch and Galva are intertwined in a fantastical adventure and heist.
The City Stained Red by Sam Sykes
Big, bad, godlike villain threatening to destroy everything? A fated hero who cannot do it alone? Totally sounds like a DnD campaign. Lenk is once again intertwined with the powerful Khoth-Kapira, a demon who rules like an iron-fisted god. As Khoth-Kapira rises further into power, it might only be Lenk and his new group of friends who can save everything.
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
This book and its sequels read like one of the greatest paladin backstories ever. Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, better known as Paks, flees her small village and an arranged marriage. In a world of humans, dwarves, elves, and all kinds of danger, she soon realizes that she has a gift as a paladin. This headstrong young woman will rise to become one of the land’s greatest heroes.
Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui
Okay, so not all fantasy books for fans of Dungeons & Dragons are novels. Nor are they all serious. In this manga, a group of adventurers not only fails to slay the dragon, but the dragon eats one of them. Now, they’re on a quest to revive their fallen comrade, surviving on cooking and eating the monsters they slay along the way.
Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir
At a glance, this necromancers-in-space series may not seem very DnD-like. But really, if you take away the space part, it’s totally some DnD necromancer fun. The 9th Necromancer needs a swordswoman, and Gideon is just that. Doesn’t matter that Gideon is done with that life because that life isn’t done with her. Can she escape this life of servitude, or will she spend the rest of her life and afterlife swinging that sword?
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Oh, the epic battles in this historical fantasy novel are right out of the best DnD campaigns. Based on the Second Sino-Japanese War, this book is about Rin and her friends, who survive a difficult military academy only to be thrust into the middle of a horrible and deadly war. Different schools of magic and combat keep these new soldiers separate, but they’ll need to work together to survive or win.
Record of Lodoss War by Ryo Mizuno
How much is this book for fans of Dungeons & Dragons? Not only is it the start of a series of Japanese fantasy novels, but the novels are also based on an original TTRPG. Parn is on a quest to restore his family’s honor. Along the way, he slowly gathers a party, starting with his childhood best friend, until eventually, they’re the greatest adventurers in all the land.
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed
I like to think of this book as D&D, but with a more Eastern backdrop. Think djinn instead of dragons. In the Crescent Moon Kingdoms, wars and power struggles are pervasive. Djenn and ghuls are as common as warriors. When some horrifying magical murders start occurring, it’s up to a motley little group of adventurers to put a stop to them and find out how deep the conspiracies go.
Okay, sure, I could have included some of the MANY Dungeons & Dragons licensed novels, but what fun would that be? What are some of your favorite DnD novels?