If you enjoy reading novels by Glen Cook then you might also like the following authors:
Joe Abercrombie is an author that readers who enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty and realistic fantasy worlds might appreciate. His book, “The Blade Itself,” introduces a dark, humorous story with morally ambiguous characters forced into unexpected alliances.
Abercrombie creates people who don’t neatly fit into traditional good versus evil roles.
The story follows Logen Ninefingers, a seasoned warrior known for his bloody past; Jezal dan Luthar, a vain nobleman longing for glory; and Sand dan Glokta, an inquisitor famous for both his ruthless methods and biting wit.
Abercrombie weaves their narratives together in a plot filled with betrayal, politics, and battles. Fans familiar with Cook’s tough, realistic style may find similar qualities in Abercrombie’s gritty fantasy storytelling.
Steven Erikson is a Canadian author best known for his epic fantasy series that kicks off with “Gardens of the Moon.” If you enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty military fantasy style, Erikson offers something similarly rich and dark.
“Gardens of the Moon” introduces readers to a vast, war-torn world full of complex characters, powerful magic, and shifting alliances. The Malazan Empire struggles to maintain order as conspiracies unfold and ruthless battles erupt.
With intense action and morally ambiguous heroes, Erikson’s writing creates the kind of suspense and depth that fans of Glen Cook often seek.
Books by Mark Lawrence offer gritty fantasy worlds full of flawed heroes and dark humor. Fans of Glen Cook’s “The Black Company” series might enjoy Lawrence’s “Prince of Thorns,” the first book in “The Broken Empire” trilogy.
The story follows Jorg Ancrath, a ruthless and cunning young prince driven by revenge. Jorg travels through a kingdom ravaged by war, brutal politics, and remnants of ancient technology.
The characters feel vivid and morally complex, provoking questions about power, ambition, and redemption. Lawrence’s narrative pulls readers into a dangerous, twisted adventure filled with intense action and unforgettable twists.
R. Scott Bakker is a Canadian fantasy author known for dark, mature storytelling and morally complicated worlds that fans of Glen Cook might enjoy. His novel “The Darkness That Comes Before” kicks off the epic “Prince of Nothing” series.
It introduces a richly detailed realm filled with political intrigue, philosophical depth, and ancient magic.
The story follows several characters whose lives become intertwined because of a holy war, including a cunning sorcerer, a thoughtful warrior-monk, and a mysterious prophet named Anasûrimbor Kellhus whose appearance threatens to change everything—religion, politics, and destiny itself.
Readers who appreciate Cook’s gritty tales with complex characters and morally ambiguous situations might find Bakker equally fascinating.
If you enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty tales of tough warriors, dark battles, and vivid worlds, David Gemmell is an author worth exploring. Gemmell’s novel “Legend” introduces readers to Druss, an aging but powerful warrior known throughout the land.
Druss comes out of retirement to help defend the fortress of Dros Delnoch against an enormous invading army. Facing impossible odds, he becomes a symbol of hope and bravery by standing firm where others might falter.
Gemmell creates characters who feel authentic, and his stories always explore themes of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. Fans of Cook’s bleaker, battle-driven narratives will find similar strength and excitement in Gemmell’s storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty, action-driven stories might appreciate Richard K. Morgan’s dark and intense narratives. Morgan’s novel “Altered Carbon” combines hard-boiled detective fiction with futuristic sci-fi in a compelling and violent mystery.
Set in a far future where consciousness can be stored and transferred into different bodies, called “sleeves,” the story follows ex-soldier Takeshi Kovacs.
Kovacs is forcefully brought back from digital storage to investigate the suspicious death of a wealthy man’s previous sleeve. With razor-sharp prose, vivid combat scenes, and morally complex characters, Morgan creates a gripping thriller in a world that is fascinatingly bleak.
If you enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty and realistic approach to fantasy, Brandon Sanderson could be a great next read. Sanderson is known for his ability to create detailed magic systems and flawed yet engaging characters wrapped up in big conflicts.
His novel “Mistborn: The Final Empire” shows this perfectly. It introduces readers to a dark world ruled by the oppressive Lord Ruler, a tyrant who’s controlled the populace for centuries.
The story follows Vin, a street-smart thief who discovers she has the rare power to burn metals, granting her incredible abilities.
Teaming up with a bold and charismatic revolutionary named Kelsier, she joins a daring plan to challenge and overthrow this seemingly unstoppable empire. The book’s unique magic, intense conflicts, and memorable characters are elements Cook fans might appreciate.
Tad Williams is an author whose imaginative worlds and memorable characters will appeal to fans of Glen Cook’s storytelling. His book “The Dragonbone Chair” kicks off the epic fantasy series, “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn.”
The story follows Simon, a humble kitchen boy who becomes part of a larger conflict after the kingdom suffers turmoil and betrayal. Williams weaves politics, magic, and ancient mysteries into the narrative, making Simon’s journey rich with adventure and peril.
Those who value Glen Cook’s blend of realism and fantasy elements may find the detailed world-building and relatable characters of Tad Williams equally enjoyable.
Readers who enjoy Glen Cook’s tales of gritty fantasy warfare and complex characters will find a strong match in Peter V. Brett.
Brett’s novel “The Warded Man” introduces a world terrorized nightly by demons rising from the earth, forcing humanity to hide behind protective wards. These symbols are their only defense against relentless, monstrous enemies.
Arlen, the main protagonist, is a young man scarred by tragedy who believes humanity should fight back rather than cower behind wards. The story follows Arlen as he searches for lost knowledge and power to confront the demons directly.
Brett builds a dark atmosphere filled with fear and hope, where human courage stands as mankind’s best—and perhaps only—weapon.
Readers who enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty fantasy style might find Michael Moorcock equally captivating. Moorcock blends dark fantasy and vibrant imagination to build unforgettable worlds. In “Elric of Melniboné,” he introduces Elric, an unusual hero.
Unlike the typical powerful warrior-king, Elric is frail and introspective, relying on a cursed sword to maintain his strength and survive the intrigues of his empire.
Moorcock crafts a vivid tale of kingdoms filled with dark sorcery, ancient evil, and deeply flawed heroes, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Glen Cook’s morally complex settings.
If you enjoy Glen Cook’s gritty military fantasies and morally grey heroes, Brian McClellan could be your next favorite author.
McClellan’s debut novel, “Promise of Blood,” kicks off his “Powder Mage Trilogy” by blending magic, gunpowder, and rebellion into a fresh and explosive fantasy setting.
After overthrowing his king, Field Marshal Tamas faces threats everywhere—from loyalists plotting revenge to rival powers eyeing his weakened nation. Meanwhile, mysterious secrets from ancient prophecies resurface, threatening to plunge the nation into chaos.
The vivid characters and twisty narrative offer the same kind of immersive experience Cook readers know so well.
John Gwynne writes fantasy novels filled with gritty action, immersive worlds, and characters facing impossible odds. Readers who enjoy Glen Cook’s realistic battle scenes and morally complex characters will appreciate Gwynne’s storytelling.
His novel “Malice,” the first installment in “The Faithful and the Fallen” series, introduces a world set to be torn apart by a looming, ancient prophecy. Young Corban dreams of becoming a warrior, unaware that war is already brewing around him.
With kingdoms preparing for conflict, alliances shifting, and dark forces emerging, Gwynne creates an adventure packed with battle scenes, political intrigue, and memorable heroes searching for hope amid chaos.
Paul Kearney writes gritty, military-flavored fantasy that fans of Glen Cook will appreciate. His book “The Ten Thousand” features war on a grand scale, political intrigue, and complex battle scenes.
The novel tells the story of an elite mercenary army hired by a distant empire to fight a bold campaign. As things unravel quickly, these skilled mercenaries find themselves deep in enemy territory and have to fight their way home through savage lands and impossible odds.
Kearney’s realistic approach and morally nuanced characters bring a cinematic intensity to his storytelling. If you enjoyed the gritty camaraderie and battlefield realism of Cook’s “The Black Company,” Paul Kearney offers an equally satisfying read.
Robin Hobb crafts stories full of complex characters and gritty fantasy worlds that may appeal to fans of Glen Cook’s realistic storytelling. Her novel “Assassin’s Apprentice” introduces Fitz, a young illegitimate royal, raised secretly in the castle shadows.
Fitz faces a painful road of duty and sacrifice as he trains in the arts of assassination and delicate palace intrigue. Readers follow Fitz closely, seeing the tension grow between loyalty to his king and danger from hidden enemies plotting for power.
Robin Hobb creates a vividly real kingdom with flawed princes, old magic, danger lurking in every ally, and friendships tested by treachery. Fans of gritty realism and morally gray heroes might find her books an engaging read.
Scott Lynch is known for his fantasy adventures filled with witty dialogue, intricate heists, and memorable characters. If you’re a fan of Glen Cook’s sharp, gritty fantasy worlds, you might enjoy Lynch’s novel “The Lies of Locke Lamora.”
The book introduces Locke Lamora, an orphan raised by a thief who trains him to become a cunning con artist. Locke leads the Gentleman Bastards, a band of skilled thieves who trick nobles and steal fortunes in the bustling city of Camorr.
But their clever schemes put them up against dangerous enemies, and Locke must rely on his wit and courage to outsmart foes and protect his closest friends.
The story delivers an exciting combination of suspenseful twists, dark humor, and clever plotting, perfect for readers who appreciate complex and morally ambiguous characters.