The Way of Kings
Brandon Sanderson
Like The Black Prism, it builds a detailed magic system with clear rules and a large world, and it pays off careful reading with satisfying reveals about how its powers work.
11 books to read next
Books Like The Black Prism
If you loved The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
The Black Prism is an epic fantasy about a magic system built on colour, where light itself is a weapon and a kingdom's succession is a dangerous game. Readers love its intricate political plotting, its morally grey characters, and the fast pace of its action scenes. It is a dense, layered book that rewards close attention, with a hard edge and frequent reversals of loyalty.
Same intricate magic systems
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss
Its carefully structured magic and sharp, observant prose will appeal to readers who enjoyed the precise, rule-based sorcery of The Black Prism's colour magic.
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Scott Lynch
Its con-artist protagonist, clever schemes and gritty city setting match the morally complicated, plot-driven feel of Brent Weeks's world.
Scheming politics and court intrigue
A Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin
Like The Black Prism, it follows rival factions jockeying for a throne, with shifting alliances and characters whose loyalties are never simple.
Red Rising
Pierce Brown
Its rigid, caste-based society and rebellion against a ruling class echo the power struggles and hard choices at the heart of The Black Prism.
Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson
A crew of thieves plotting to overthrow an empire brings the same ambitious political scheming and inventive magic that make The Black Prism so absorbing.
Morally grey, fast-paced action
The Blade Itself
Joe Abercrombie
Its flawed, pragmatic characters and brutal, fast-moving battles suit readers who liked the hard edge and ambiguous heroes of The Black Prism.
Gardens of the Moon
Steven Erikson
Its sprawling cast, complex military and magical conflicts and refusal to explain everything at once reward the same committed, attentive reading The Black Prism asks for.
Go deeper into epic fantasy
The Fifth Season
N. K. Jemisin
Its layered, nonlinear structure and a world shaped by powerful and dangerous forces will suit readers who enjoyed the imaginative scale and big ideas of The Black Prism.
The Eye of the World
Robert Jordan
A classic sweeping epic with a large cast and a world full of rival powers, it offers the long-form, immersive experience many Black Prism readers want next.
The Poppy War
R. F. Kuang
Its vivid magic tied to a dangerous, intense world and its unsparing look at power and cost will appeal to readers who valued the darker side of The Black Prism.
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