The Kingkiller Chronicle, the first book of what was originally planned to be a trilogy, has garnered him many accolades, including the Quill Award in 2007 for best first novel for “The Name of the Wind.”
The New York Times Best Seller list was topped by its sequel, which was titled The Wise Man’s Fear.
While he is most famous for this collection, Rothfuss has worked on many other projects ranging from comics to podcasts. For those who prefer comics, you may recognize his name from the Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons and Dragons series.
The Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons and Dragons Deluxe Edition, which was written by Rothfuss, Zub, and Little, was submitted for consideration for the Eisner Award in 2022 for “Best Graphic Album—Reprint.”
If you love Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle series, then you’ll love the works of similar authors Cindy Pon and N.K. Jemisin. Read here to find out which books you need to check out.
Books By Patrick Rothfuss
Though he has written many books, Patrick Rothfuss’s most famous and popular series is The Kingkiller Chronicle.
This was originally intended to be a trilogy but eventually was made up of 4 books after Rothfuss added a short story to the series. This book became known as The Kingkiller Chronicle 2.5 as it slotted in between books 2 and 3.
All of The Kingkiller Chronicles take place in a fantasy setting, which isn’t surprising as Rothfuss is a massive fan of the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons.
A lot of the characters in his books are based on the character types used in the game, such as the bard.
The books follow a man named Kote/Kvothe. According to what Kote, a former hero, and innkeeper, says to a Chronicler, the novel is actually his life but written under a different name.
Kvothe began his existence as a guy who had big dreams of becoming a bard and who was prepared to sing narratives all across the world. Tragedy strikes however when someone kills his whole family.
After a long time spent mourning the loss of his loved ones, he ultimately decides to pursue training in the arcane and magic arts.
In the meantime, he enrolls in university, experiences first love, and battles bullies who try to destroy him due to his conceited nature.
It’s fun to watch this man grow and change throughout the books, as we know from his narration that he’ll be the hero in the end, but the journey there is full of exciting and sometimes tragic twists and turns that’ll keep you hooked through the whole series.
A common theme in any of Patrick Rothfuss’s stories is that of fantasy.
Like Game Of Thrones, for example, a lot of his works are set in a medieval style setting and have these themes, but mixed in is a healthy dose of magic, YA, heroism, tragedy, comedy, and more.
Authors Like Patrick Rothfus
Cindy Pon
Cindy Pon is a very talented YA novelist as well as an incredible Chinese brush artist. So has written 10 books, some of which fall into book series, while others are standalone works.
Though she may be most known for her book Want (1st book of the Want series), the one that’s most similar to Patrick Rothfuss’s writing in terms of themes and settings is Serpentine, which is book 1 out of 2 in the current Serpentine series.
This book still has the epic fantasy and mythology that Rothfuss is famous for, but it’s written through a Chinese lens and is heavily inspired by the rich mythology of this region.
A social pariah who struggles to maintain her position among the people she cares about the most? An outsider who has to figure out who she is and what world she belongs to? These are the sure signs of an excellent book.
Skybright, who works as a handmaid for a wealthy noble’s daughter and is also her confidante, harbors a dreadful secret. During the night, she is unable to manage her transformation into a serpentine demon.
Even worse, some other bizarre species assert that she is a member of their domain, and not the land of humans.
Skybright prefers to keep a low profile and offers her mistress Zhen Ni assistance in setting up a marriage arrangement. However, both fate and responsibility have a way of calling at the most inconvenient times, leaving her with little leeway.
While we don’t know much about the magical realm that this series takes place in from book 1, we see indications of its influence as Skybright’s mystery origins call to her throughout the series.
Because she has a duty to complete, which is to protect her mistress, she makes every effort to evade what appears to be fate. There’s loads of lore for you to absorb, but it’s all so interesting that you’ll want to dive head-first into book 2.
Pros
Realistic and interesting characters
Asian fantasy themes and representations which are hard to come by sometimes
Mystical elements such as gods and demons make for very interesting reading
Cons
A bit slow at the beginning may make getting into this book difficult
Quite a weird story so may not be for everyone
Some of the romantic relationships fall flat
Themes: coming-of-age, romance, friendship, family, monsters, demons, and epic fantasy.
N.K. Jemisin
N. K. Jemisin is the pen name used by Nora Keita Jemisin. She is a highly acclaimed writer of science fiction and fantasy (If you like the fantasy and science fiction genre, check out the works of Authors Like Charles Stross). Her works of fiction cover a wide variety of topics, the most prominent of which are cultural strife and injustice.
N.K. Jemisin’s first published novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, as well as the subsequent books in her Inheritance Trilogy, have all garnered positive reviews from critics.
She has been honored with many accolades for her work, one of which is the Locus Award.
If you’re looking for some fantasy YA books to read after Patrick Rothfuss’s books, then you can’t go wrong with the Inheritance Trilogy.
Just be ready for some slightly heavier themes and plot compared to Rothfuss’s books as Jemsin likes to deeply examine how and why injustice and oppression happen.
There is never any profit in a royal succession crisis, and you’ll do good to stay well away from it all, especially if you’re not that close with the rest of your royal family.
Yeine Darr is a member of the royal family, but she was forced to spend her entire life hidden away in a northern tribe because of an unknown scandal. Then her mother passed away suddenly.
In addition to the other two heirs, her grandfather calls her to his palace and announces that she is now an heiress to his kingdom.
When she raises her objections, he tells her that the only option she has is to fight for her position. If she does not, the other heirs will put an end to her life.
After only reading the first chapter, you’ll know that you’re in for an exciting adventure. Yeine will have to prove herself worthy of a place in this new universe and reimagine her role in the world as well as her family.
She has a strong aversion to deception and would much rather go back home to mourn the loss of her mother, but here she is, and she must fight.
The universe, and the lore associated with it, continue to expand with each new revelation, making each page turn exciting and unexpected.
Pros
Masterpiece of world-building
Includes Gods, but in a completely new and interesting way
Characters are very well written and relatable, even if you don’t like some.
Cons
Written in first person which you may find difficult to read
Distinctive writing style and odd use of punctuation sometimes only add to the difficulties in reading
Themes: power, corruption, oppression, revolt, jealousy, and revenge.
Bottom Line
If you’ve read any of Patrick Rothfuss’s books and now you’re looking for something new, then you can’t go wrong with any of the recommendations above.
Each of these books has very similar themes to Rothfuss but writes these in new and exciting ways so you don’t feel like you’re reading the same stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Best To Read After Kingkiller?
What books like Kingkiller? Then try Wrath of the Dawn By Renee Ardieh or The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.
Is A 4th Kingkiller Book Coming Out?
According to author Patrick Rothfuss, there will be a 4th book in this series entitled The Doors of Stone.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
