The first novel in the seminal Dragonlance Chronicles, Dragons of Autumn Twilight introduces the world of Krynn and a party of heroes that would become archetypes for a generation of players.
Featuring a classic adventuring group—including a noble knight, a cynical mage, a gruff dwarf, and a mischievous kender—the story follows their reunion and subsequent quest against a rising tide of darkness.
Its structure, which gathers a diverse party in a tavern and sends them on a world-spanning adventure, defined how D&D storytelling could be translated into fiction.
This novel marks the first appearance of Drizzt Do’Urden, the iconic drow ranger who defied the evil of his heritage. Set in the unforgiving, frozen tundra of Icewind Dale, The Crystal Shard pits Drizzt and his companions, the dwarven king Bruenor Battlehammer and the human barbarian Wulfgar, against a power-hungry wizard and his demonic artifact.
Salvatore’s kinetic, descriptive combat sequences and focus on a tight-knit party battling monsters and saving remote towns make this the quintessential Forgotten Realms adventure.
The first book in The Dark Elf Trilogy, Homeland delves into the origin of Drizzt Do’Urden and provides an unparalleled look into the sinister drow society of Menzoberranzan. It's a novel about nature versus nurture, as a uniquely moral hero is born into a treacherous world of spider-worshipping priestesses and political assassination.
For D&D fans, this book is a masterclass in crafting a compelling character backstory and serves as the definitive source of lore for one of the game's most popular and complex races.
Kicking off the Avatar series, Shadowdale depicts one of the most cataclysmic events in the history of the Forgotten Realms: the Time of Troubles, when the gods are cast down from the heavens to walk the mortal world.
The story follows a diverse group of the setting’s most famous characters—including the wizard Elminster Aumar and the Knights of Myth Drannor—as they navigate the chaos in the titular town. It perfectly captures the feel of a high-level campaign where the stakes are world-altering and players come face-to-face with legendary figures.
Directly adapted from the groundbreaking "gold box" computer RPG of the same name, Pool of Radiance is Dungeons & Dragons in its purest form. A party of adventurers is hired to cleanse the monster-infested city of Phlan, uncovering a sinister conspiracy tied to a source of immense evil.
The narrative structure closely mirrors a classic D&D module, progressing from clearing city blocks to delving into dungeons and confronting a powerful final boss, making it a nostalgic and faithful translation of the gameplay experience.
Set in the Forgotten Realms, Azure Bonds follows Alias, a formidable warrior who awakens with no memory of her past and a mysterious, magical sigil tattooed on her arm. Her quest to uncover her identity leads her to form an unlikely party with a southern mage, a talking lizardman, and an enigmatic halfling.
The novel excels at creating a sense of mystery and adventure, showcasing a creative and memorable adventuring party that feels organically formed, just like the best player groups.
Written by the creator of the Forgotten Realms, Spellfire offers an intimate tour of the setting from the mind that conceived it. The story centers on Shandril Shessair, a young woman who unexpectedly manifests the rare and powerful ability to absorb and redirect raw magic.
This makes her a target for powerful factions like the Zhentarim and the Cult of the Dragon. The book is rich with the deep lore and intricate magical rules that underpin the D&D universe, told with an authenticity that only the setting's architect could provide.
While not a direct D&D novel, the influence of Another Fine Myth and the entire Myth Adventures series on the tone of many gaming tables is undeniable. It tells the story of Skeeve, a hapless apprentice magician who finds himself partnered with Aahz, a cynical and sarcastic demon (or "dimension traveler").
The novel's focus on witty banter, clever problem-solving over brute force, and humorous deconstruction of fantasy tropes established a template for lighthearted, comedy-driven fantasy that resonates with countless D&D campaigns.
This novel cleverly inverts the classic RPG narrative by focusing on what happens after the heroes fail.
When a party of adventurers is unceremoniously killed, the non-player characters of a small village—including a pragmatic innkeeper, a grumpy guard, and the "cursed" daughter of a blacksmith—must pretend to be the fallen heroes to fulfill a treaty and save their town from rampaging goblins.
NPCs is a heartfelt and humorous exploration of D&D tropes from the perspective of the characters usually left in the background.
Clay Cooper and his legendary mercenary band, Saga, were once the most famous adventurers in the world, but they have since retired into middle age. They are forced to reunite for one last, seemingly impossible quest: to rescue Clay’s daughter from a city besieged by a horde of monsters.
Kings of the Wyld brilliantly frames adventuring parties as touring rock bands and captures the spirit of D&D with its perfect blend of laugh-out-loud humor, epic monster battles, and a surprisingly emotional story about friendship and growing old.
This sharp and witty satire examines the logical conclusion of a world where dungeon delving is a professional industry. A disgraced dwarven berserker with a love for paperwork finds himself leading a "cursed" party of adventurers on a quest that is more of a public relations stunt than a heroic endeavor.
Orconomics skewers everything from loot distribution and adventuring guilds to the moral ambiguity of slaughtering "evil" races for profit, making it a must-read for any player who has ever questioned the absurd economic and ethical systems of their campaign world.
Kinch Na Shannack, a trained thief in debt to a sinister guild, is sent on a mission with a veteran knight and a blind cat. What follows is a journey across a monster-infested and wonderfully unique fantasy world.
The novel's first-person narration feels like a player character recounting their adventures, complete with asides about guild rules, sarcastic commentary on the quest, and vivid descriptions of harrowing encounters with goblins, giants, and ancient horrors.
The Blacktongue Thief masterfully captures the modern feel of a gritty, clever, and immersive D&D campaign.