# Brandon Sanderson's 5 Favorite Fantasy Books

> Brandon Sanderson recommends five near-perfect fantasy books for readers to explore.
- Title: Brandon Sanderson's 5 Favorite Fantasy Books · Collider
- Summary: Brandon Sanderson recommends five near-perfect fantasy books for readers to explore.
- Keywords: brandon sanderson, memory sorrow thorn, dragonsbane, dagger and the coin, the hundred thousand kingdoms, the realm of the elderlings, fantasy books, tad williams, barbara hambly, daniel abraham, n.k. jemisin, robin hobb
- Source: Collider — https://collider.com/brandon-sanderson-favorite-fantasy-books-recommended
- Author: Michael Hein
- Published: 2026-11-13T21:08:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: brandon sanderson, memory sorrow thorn, dragonsbane, dagger and the coin, the hundred thousand kingdoms, the realm of the elderlings, fantasy books, tad williams, barbara hambly, daniel abraham, n.k. jemisin, robin hobb
## Brandon Sanderson's Book Recommendations
Brandon Sanderson, a popular fantasy author, shares five books he recommends for readers to explore.

> not every book will resonate with every reader
## Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn by Tad Williams
Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn is a nine-novel series with themes of apocalyptic struggle against ancient magical forces.

> very long-winded
## Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly's Dragonsbane features a witch and lord fighting an ancient dragon in a complex political situation.

> one of the main reasons he became interested in fantasy
## The Dagger and the Coin Series by Daniel Abraham
Daniel Abraham's Dagger and the Coin series has five books published from 2011 to 2016 with multiple perspectives.

> the dagger representing violence and war
## The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is the first book in her Inheritance Trilogy with hard magic systems.

> magic-users called Orogenes have the ability to control seismic energy
## The Realm of the Elderlings Series by Robin Hobb
Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings series has 16 books with a focus on magical ecology and character-driven stories.

> grounded, character-driven stories building to an epic saga
## All Books Available Now
All recommended books are available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.
## Key takeaway

Brandon Sanderson recommends five fantasy books: Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn by Tad Williams, Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly, The Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, and The Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb.