Jin Yong was a celebrated Chinese novelist who specialized in martial arts fiction. His widely influential novels such as The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Deer and the Cauldron combine vivid storytelling, history, and adventure.
If you enjoy reading books by Jin Yong then you might also like the following authors:
Gu Long writes wuxia novels with tightly paced narratives and vivid, cinematic fight scenes. His characters often navigate a shadowy martial arts underworld filled with suspenseful twists and morally complex figures.
In Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword, Gu Long explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and moral ambiguity, creating a vivid and engaging experience.
Liang Yusheng creates traditional wuxia stories that emphasize chivalry, justice, and romance set against historically detailed backdrops. His style is graceful and poetic, with narratives that highlight integrity and heroism.
His novel Seven Swords Descend from Mount Heaven blends vibrant action scenes, adventure, and emotional depth within a historical setting.
Wang Dulu is known for his expressive and character-driven wuxia tales. His stories often examine complex emotions and relationships, with a strong focus on honor, love, and sacrifice.
His most famous work, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, skillfully combines drama, martial arts action, and nuanced characters whose personal struggles echo deeply with readers.
Ken Liu mixes elements of Chinese literary traditions with speculative fiction, bridging cultural and emotional divides. He explores themes like power, history, identity, and technology with compassion and insight.
In his acclaimed novel The Grace of Kings, Liu weaves a narrative inspired by classical Chinese epics, portraying friendships, betrayals, and power struggles in a vividly imagined fantasy world.
R.F. Kuang crafts thought-provoking fantasy stories that resonate deeply with history, politics, and warfare. Her narratives engage readers by tackling complex ethical questions and the consequences of ambition, violence, and power.
Her novel The Poppy War draws inspiration from Chinese history and mythology, expertly combining intense action, compelling characters, and thought-provoking explorations of power, trauma, and morality.
Fonda Lee writes exciting fantasy adventures filled with martial arts action, complex characters, and intricate plots. Her novel Jade City shows families struggling for power and honor in a city where jade grants supernatural strength and speed.
If you enjoyed Jin Yong's fantastic martial arts worlds, you'll appreciate Lee's fresh urban take that blends crime drama with thrilling fight scenes.
Shelley Parker-Chan's writing explores themes of destiny and ambition, set against epic historical backdrops. Her debut novel, She Who Became the Sun, reimagines the rise of the Ming Dynasty founder through a gender-fluid protagonist determined to change fate.
Fans of Jin Yong's historical intrigue and dynamic heroes will enjoy Parker-Chan’s thoughtful storytelling and absorbing narrative style.
Wesley Chu’s work combines fast-paced action and vivid characters in exciting, imaginative settings. His novel The Art of Prophecy introduces readers to a chosen warrior, martial arts battles with striking flair, and surprising twists in destiny.
Like Jin Yong, Chu merges martial arts tradition with engaging adventure, making his stories perfect for readers who crave captivating heroics and entertaining battles.
Rebecca Roanhorse crafts immersive fantasy worlds rooted in diverse mythology and folklore. In Black Sun, she creates a civilization inspired by pre-Columbian Americas, filled with political intrigue, prophecy, and shifting alliances.
Jin Yong’s fans who value detailed world-building and rich cultural influences will find Roanhorse’s stories captivating and immersive.
Seth Dickinson writes intelligent fantasy that examines power struggles, empire, and morality through complex storylines. His novel The Traitor Baru Cormorant follows Baru, a woman determined to rise through political ranks to destroy a brutal empire from within.
Readers who enjoy Jin Yong’s strategic plots, political intrigue, and morally conflicted characters will find Dickinson's narratives equally rewarding.
If you loved Jin Yong's adventurous martial arts tales woven with rich Chinese culture, you'll probably like Elizabeth Lim. She blends Chinese mythology and fantasy effortlessly.
Her book Spin the Dawn tells the story of Maia, a gifted young tailor who disguises herself as a boy to compete in an intense competition. If you enjoy exciting quests, magical challenges, and unique takes on traditional folklore, Lim's vivid storytelling will charm you.
Nghi Vo crafts lush, lyrical stories infused with Asian culture, much like Jin Yong's work. Vo emphasizes complex characters and intricate relationships against beautiful and magical settings.
Her novel The Empress of Salt and Fortune follows an exiled princess determinedly reclaiming her power and influence, with themes about nostalgia, intrigue, and storytelling's lasting impact.
Fans of Jin Yong's subtle characters and immersive historical details should give Vo a read.
If the drama, high stakes, and emotional intensity of Jin Yong draw you in, place Chloe Gong on your reading list. Her novel These Violent Delights reimagines Romeo and Juliet in 1920s Shanghai, where rival mob families and dark supernatural forces collide.
Gong writes action-packed stories full of strained loyalties and vivid historical settings. If you enjoy heightened drama and romance with a fresh take on Chinese culture, Gong won't disappoint.
Andrea Stewart builds unique, imaginative fantasy worlds filled with tension, magic, and ambitious politics reminiscent of Jin Yong's inventive martial sects and ambitious heroes.
Her novel The Bone Shard Daughter introduces a vast empire powered by strange bone magic, fascinating experiments, and complicated moral questions. Stewart delivers suspenseful storytelling, richly realized kingdoms, and characters torn between conscience and duty.
Tasha Suri tells fantasy stories steeped in the lush settings of South Asian traditions, much as Jin Yong skillfully draws from Chinese history and mythology.
Suri's novel Empire of Sand mixes powerful magic, ancient gods, strong-willed protagonists, and intricate political plots. The author explores themes of heritage, freedom, sacrifice, and finding one's place in a harsh, fascinating world.
Fans who loved Jin Yong's attention to culture, tradition, and vivid characters will feel right at home.