Best Dungeons & Dragons Novels, Ranked

With Chris Pine headlining a rather crazy tale in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, fans of the fantasy genre and even Dungeons & Dragons might be curious as to what other worlds are out there that contain stories straight from Dungeons & Dragons lore. Outside the likes of roleplaying worlds such as Critical Role’s Exandria are more worlds and even universes that serve as the setting of Dungeons & Dragons stories, some of which are told in novels as well.

For fans of Dungeons & Dragons looking for more intense D&D stories outside streams and films may want to consider deep-diving into worlds such as Krynn and the Forgotten Realms through some of the best D&D novels out there. However, just where should players start when looking for a more literary take on Dungeons & Dragons stories?

Updated on November 24, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Dungeons & Dragons 5e having released its updated Player’s Handbook that presented unique gameplay changes that made massive updates to the dynamics among Classes and builds, players are now eagerly looking forward to the Dungeon Master’s Guide rework that will likely present DMs with just as many new options to spice up their gameplay. However, DMs and players who can’t wait for the new DMG to drop might want to consider checking out some interesting Dungeons & Dragons stories as the basis of their new campaigns – such as the story of an assassin-turned-monk who was called back to his trade to save the world, a retelling of a popular D&D module, the “definitive” lore guide to elves in the Forgotten Realms, and what some might consider the perfect introduction to the Dark Sun setting.

31 Blade Of The Flame

Goodreads: 3.82

Set in the world of Eberron, the Blade of the Flame trilogy follows the story of Diran, once one of the world’s deadliest assassins, as he turns his back on his old life to turn a new leaf as a wandering priest. Unfortunately, his past comes back to haunt him as new threats reveal themselves that only he can seemingly square up against. Each book in the Blade of the Flame trilogy forces Diran to confront his inner assassin and his quest to change himself for the better – something he must do quickly as his new adventures will have him save his former lover, stop a relic from summoning an army of assassins, and prevent an invasion from beast-men.

Tim Waggoner, himself already an accomplished novelist across various fantasy and TTRPG works, showcases his prowess in writing a fast-paced story that doesn’t bore readers. The pacing throughout Blade of the Flame hits the spot just right – it’s not too “urgent” that there’s no room to breathe, and it’s not too “passive” that the stakes are ignored in favor of other locations. Characters are interesting and each offer something new to the story, making Blade of the Flame an interesting take on a crew with a mission that ends up saving the world.

30 The Tomb Of Horrors

Goodreads: 3.5

Players of classic Dungeons & Dragons know of the Tomb of Horrors, the first of Gary Gygax’s “special” dungeons released for the first iteration of the game. Set in Greyhawk, the meta knows the Tomb of Horrors as a “killer dungeon” for its traps, while its story tasks players to track down the demilich Acererak deep in the dungeon to kill it once and for all. This novel, as part of the Greyhawk Classics line, takes players deep into the Tomb from the perspective of the former paladin Kaerion Whitehart and his mercenary companion as they are hired by a group of adventurers to explore the infamous dungeon.

While Kaerion himself is plagued by his own past, their seemingly-ordinary adventure begins to spiral out of control. Not only do they have to eventually confront Acererak, but another company of evil adventurers seem to be hell-bent on stopping them on their tracks – even if it meant killing all of them. Throughout the adventure, Kaerion will be forced to confront his past and choose his future.

29 Evermeet: Island Of Elves

Goodreads: 3.9

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In Forgotten Realms lore, Evermeet is considered the last “true” kingdom of the Elves – one shrouded in mystery and magic, as only a select few are ever permitted in its halls. It’s for this reason that Evermeet: Island of Elves is such an interesting book, as it shares the history of this Elven kingdom across thousands of years – from the Elves’ relationship with gods, the eventual formation of the kingdom, and its defense against threats such as dragons and the Drow.

Told from the perspective of a collection of Elven folklore and legends, Evermeet is both story and epic. The writing of the book is implied to be an Elven opera written by Danilo Thann, a bard and former Lord of Waterdeep. To Dungeons & Dragons players interested in having a campaign set in the Forgotten Realms, this book is a must-read to complete their knowledge of Elven history.

28 Dark Sun: Tribe Of One

Goodreads: 3.73

Perhaps the definitive series to get players into the perilous world of swords and sorcery in the Dark Sun campaign setting, The Tribe of One saga becomes a thrilling introduction into the harsh deserts of Athas. The “Tribe of One” the series talks about is its protagonist, Sorak, an Elf-Halfling hybrid left to die as a toddler until his discovery and integration into a women-run monastery. Although naturally gifted as a fighter and a psychic, Sorak’s trauma as a child had shattered his mind into multiple personalities, transforming him into a “Tribe of One” whose only constants were his magical weapon and his psychic tigone companion.

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As Sorak is just as new to Athas as the players, he becomes the perfect lens through which they can view the campaign setting as a whole. While Sorak’s first adventure in the free city of Tyr will predictably thrust the stranger deep into the land’s politics, it’s the compelling writing of Hawke that can grab fans from start to finish. While Sorak begins with five personalities, his adventures and meditations with himself will slowly open him to even more personalities – each vying for control of his body, and others he manages to commune with. By the end of the story, readers become acquainted not just with Athas but even with Sorak as he overcomes his personal struggles.

27 Finder’s Stone Trilogy

Goodreads: 3.7

It’s often the expectation that a series in the Forgotten Realms must be at some capacity related to Drizzt Do’Urden, but this isn’t the case with the Finder’ Stone Trilogy. Instead, the story begins in “Azure Bonds” where the warrior Alias wakes up to discover twisting blue symbols and runs suddenly inscribed on her right arm with no memory of acquiring them. As she tries to uncover the mystery behind these symbols, her adventures will slowly have her form a motley crew that would take them to various parts of the Realms – with the tattoos slowly being revealed to be more than just a coincidental appearance. The book is followed up by “The Wyvern’s Spur” and ends with “Song of Saurials,” with each sequel setting up the story for a larger plot than Alias could’ve imagined.

Unlike other stories in the Forgotten Realms where stories often cross over with each other, the Finder’s Stone Trilogy is a self-contained tale with a rather strong and likeable cast. Dragonbait alone can easily become a crowd favorite, with his unwavering loyalty to Alias being a mystery on its own. Even the plot of the Finder’s Stone Trilogy – a grand adventure starting with a hangover and a weird tattoo – is something many readers may find oddly grounded, compared to other stories with more grandiose beginnings.

26 Year Of Rogue Dragons Trilogy (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 4.02

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Only the most knowledgeable of Forgotten Realms savants would recognize the relevance of 1373 DR, as this rather seemingly-unremarkable string of numbers will be known in history as the Year of Rogue Dragons. As elaborated in Richard Lee Byer’s Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy, the “Year” takes place at a time when an uncontrollable Rage of Dragons have started to overcome every dragon in Faerun and caused them to rampage. This spelled bad news for dragon hunter Dorn Graybrook, whose grudge against dragons stemmed from a dragon attack that left him orphaned, badly scarred, and in need of metal golem parts.

Beginning with “The Rage,” developed in “The Rite,” and ending in “The Ruin,” the Year of Rogue Dragons will have readers embark in a jaw-dropping race against time as Dorn and his newfound allies would have to not only figure out the cause of the Rage but stop it from consuming Faerun. Fans will take delight in seeing a reluctant Dorn ally himself with the teased “Rogue Dragons,” and D&D aficionados will appreciate how the book actually uses D&D concepts and Spells in their battles.

25 The Avatar Trilogy (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 3.7

Despite The Avatar Trilogy eventually expanding into the greater-in-scope The Avatar Series in how it highlighted the tumultuous Time of Troubles, it’s the former that laid the “ground” work for what would be one of the Forgotten Realms’ most pivotal eras. Beginning with the Company of the Lynx being tasked to save a lady held captive, adventurers Kelemvor, Midnight, Cyric, and Adon are suddenly thrust in a divine quest to retrieve the Tablets of Fate that the gods Myrkul and Bane stole in order to usurp the power of the Overgod Ao.

This act had unprecedented consequences, as Ao punished the gods and forced them to walk among mortals. Not only did this put all magic into haywire, but gods were now vulnerable and capable of being destroyed. Unlike other stories in the Forgotten Realms, The Avatar Trilogy is a satisfying look into a “grander” D&D adventure, one where not only life but literal godhood fell at the hands of the very mortals who once worshipped them.

24 The Cleric Quintet (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 4.074

When one hears of R.A. Salvatore, one might think of his work with Drizzt Do’Urden. However, The Cleric Quintet proves the author has room for memorable characters in his slate, as protagonist Cadderly Bonaduce becomes the embodiment of a “chill guy” being dragged into a bizarre adventure. The first book “Canticle” begins when Cadderly, a scholar-cleric serving Deneir the Lesser Deity of Literature, is lured by an evil priest to open a potion unleashing the Chaos Curse in the Edificant Library.

However, Cadderly’s quest in the Edificant Library will bring him across the Forgotten Realms. Unlike other protagonists, Cadderly will become an endearing character in a reader’s hearts due to his more relaxed but equally heroic nature – especially when his adventures will make him reconsider his religion as more than just a mere lifestyle. Seeing Cadderly form a deeper bond with a relatively unknown Lesser Deity is a sight to behold, and his evolution as a character can make readers naturally want to root for his success – especially when the Chaos Curse continues to plague him time and time again. In today’s terminology, Cadderly can’t ever catch a break.

23 Prince Of Lies (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 3.9

The “Level One to Godhood” is a popular setup for ambitious Dungeons & Dragons campaigns who want to take players from meager adventurers into gods of the known world, and Prince of Lies by James Lowder shows the aftermath of such an endeavor. This Forgotten Realms story takes place after the popular Avatar trilogy, which showed how a companion of adventurers during the Time of Troubles had retrieved the Tablets of Fate that recorded the listings of the gods and their respective portfolios. When members of the company take on the roles of gods, Prince of Lies will have Cyric take on the portfolios of various evil deities, and go mad in the process.

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Now technically the new God of Evil, Cyric’s obsession with fanatical worship has made him an incompetent deity. Forever tasked to contend with the new Goddess of Magic, Mystra, known previously as his former companion Midnight, Cyric will attempt to undermine the current pantheon to amass more power for himself. In the context of Dungeons & Dragons books, seeing how the likes of Cyric conspire to acquire more power can provide an interesting perspective in godly politics for DMs and players who want to pursue this higher-level (literally) play in their games.

22 Songs And Swords Series (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 3.863

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While Drizzt Do’Urden remains one of the most popular figures in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, other characters have made a mark in Faerun through their own versions of heroic deeds. Two such examples were Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann, both former Harpers who saved Waterdeep and prevented various crises on their own adventures. Despite having semi-related stories throughout the Songs and Swords series, the popularity of both characters in Elaine Cunningham’s works eventually led to the two working together more frequently on matters that often affected the realms from behind the scenes.

Danilo Thann becomes an immediately likable character due to his double-faced nature: what at first seems to be a drunkard fool is actually a skilled wizard and agent for the Harpers – a refreshing sight in fantasy stories. While the 1991 release date did little to separate Arilyn Moonblade from traditional fantasy femme fatales, Arilyn slowly discovering her royal heritage while honing her skills as an assassin will slowly transform her into a fan-favorite over the years. Their blossoming romance is a breath of fresh air for fans who want to see characters develop relationships throughout books instead of just within a single story.

21 War Of The Spider Queen

Goodreads: 4.134

Drizzt Do’Urden may have cemented the idea that even the stereotypical “evil” Drow can actually be good, it’s the War of the Spider Queen series that showed how remarkably complex the interpoliticking of Lolth’s worshippers could be deep in the recesses of the Underdark. Unfortunately for denizens of Menzoberranzan and other Drow homes, their society is on the brink of disaster, as priestesses among the Drow have found it increasingly difficult to hide the sudden disappearance of their Spider Queen.

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Unlike Dungeons & Dragons stories that often feature adventurers fighting evil, the War of the Spider Queen series focuses on the inner politics within Drow society. When word gets out of Lolth’s disappearance, Drows start to go missing and other factions try to take advantage of the political fallout. As other forces try to undermine each other amid the threat of a slave revolt and rogue factions – the first of many tribulations to occur in Drow society – it’s interesting to see complex plots interweave and resolve themselves in War of the Spider Queen.

20 The Cloakmaster Cycle (Spelljammer)

Goodreads: 3.52

Why contain a Dungeons & Dragons story in one setting when everything can be connected? This is what Spelljammer achieves for D&D, wherein this serves as the campaign setting that canonical “bridges” all other settings through the concept of spelljamming. Thanks to spelljamming helms, ships (galleons and even creatures) can travel in the void of Wildspace (outer space) and enter virtually any world they want. Ordinary farmer Teldin Moore sees this firsthand in The Cloakmaster Cycle when a spelljamming ship crash lands and destroys his farm on the planet Krynn. When assassins from various worlds start chasing Teldin due to his possession of a mysterious cloak (which will be revealed to be a D&D artifact), he ventures into the weird wild world of spelljamming to uncover the truth behind his newest acquisition.

Although The Cloakmaster Cycle reads like a typical adventure novel, fans of Dungeons & Dragons who want to see the TTRPG in a more “sci-fi” spin would delight in how the story encapsulates the thrill of the Spelljammer setting. Teldin being a Krynn native and suddenly thrust into the wild unknown can already become an inspiration for how Spelljammer campaigns can begin. And with the popularity of isekai or “otherworld transportation” stories, Teldin’s adventures “in space” can be quite the Dungeons & Dragons translation of a similar concept.

19 The Moonshae Trilogy (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 3.55

One of the best ways Dungeons & Dragons introduces its campaign settings is through extended universe novels starring unique characters. And while Drizzt Do’Urden is possibly the most popular character in the Forgotten Realms setting, he isn’t necessarily the first protagonist. Officially starting the setting’s series of novels is The Moonshae Trilogy, where young woman Allicia Kendrick becomes involved in protecting the islands of the Moonshaes and eventually becomes the protector of the world.

What’s perhaps interesting in this work by Douglas Niles is that Allicia’s story isn’t necessarily hard set in the Forgotten Realms, but instead in a self-contained fantasy setting reworked to be a part of the aforementioned setting to advertise its release. Compared to other fantasy works, The Moonshae Trilogy is quite an enjoyable read as the age in its writing can become an interesting way of comparing how settings worked in classic D&D versus modern tales.

18 The Dreaming Dark (Eberron)

Goodreads: 3.67

Perhaps one of the most popular settings in Dungeons & Dragons, Eberron takes pulp and adds staple D&D fantasy with a dash of magically-powered technology. Set after an enigmatic and cataclysmic Last War, most stories in Eberron deal with the aftermath of said conflict – where lost technologies get intermixed with what’s left of nations, with rulers scrambling to fill in vacuums of power. Such is the premise explored in The Dreaming Dark, one of the most iconic trilogy of novels in Eberron.

Unlike other novels in campaign settings, The Dreaming Dark was written by Keith Baker, none other than the creator of the setting himself. Also set at the end of the Last War, four (4) adventurers decide to go to the city of Sharn where their leisurely trip will involve them in a grander, more sinister conspiracy. Fans of D&D who want a blend of semi-steampunk and fantasy with a dash of deep politics will appreciate The Dreaming Dark, especially if they want a look at how the creator of a campaign setting would frame a story in the world they have created.

17 Pages Of Pain (Planescape)

Goodreads: 3.6

Thanks to the Planescape campaign setting, adventures in Dungeons & Dragons get an extradimensional spin as they can finally explore new realms and planes ordinarily inaccessible in traditional worlds. In Pages of Pain, fans of the Planescape: Torment RPG can get a deeper look into life at Sigil at the center of the multiverse, particularly the life of its ruler, the Lady of Pain.

As though in line with its multiversal setup, Pages of Pain is by no means a traditional fantasy story. At one end of the story, the Amnesian Hero is tasked by Poseidon to acquire remnants of his past in a seemingly inescapable Maze. On the other side of the story, the past of the Lady of Pain is explored in a manner that not even Sigil’s denizens are aware of. Fans who want to deep dive into Planescape’s limited publication history would acquire a lot of subtext with Pages of Pain.

16 Saga Of Old City (Greyhawk)

Goodreads: 3.7

After the popularity of Dragonlance novels extended to the exposure of the campaign setting of the same name, D&D co-creator Gary Gygax wrote Saga of Old City as a way of promoting the TTRPG’s first-world Greyhawk. Set in the medieval fantasy world of Oerth, Saga of City stars Gord the Rogue as he trains in the Beggars’ Guild to become a master thief. After returning to Greyhawk City, Gord is thrust into various adventures that test his mettle as a thief, involving him in hostage rescues, swashbuckling against various rivals, and even ending up participating in a war.

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Despite its 1985 release, Saga of Old City gives a much-needed take on the old Greyhawk setting especially for fans who want to go “old school” in their D&D adventures. While Saga reveals Greyhawk as a more traditional medieval fantasy setting, this can be exactly the location players need for a more grounded D&D experience, especially if they want to try AD&D and even D&D 3.5e’s more technical mechanics.

15 The Prism Pentad (Dark Sun)

Goodreads: 3.7

Despite the myriad campaign settings in Dungeons & Dragons, it’s still surprising that the TTRPG had created a post-apocalyptic world for darker stories. Set in the dying desert world of Athas, the Dark Sun campaign emphasizes a lack of deities, a distrust in magic due to the planet’s fragility, and a blending of fantasy and post-apocalyptic science. And for fans of D&D who were initially overwhelmed by the concept, The Prism Pentad is a great introductory story to the setting. Spanning five (5) novels, The Prism Pentad tells the story of a small band of adventurers who, after defending their hometown of Tyr, would eventually become the ones to determine the fate of Athas itself.

What’s perhaps compelling about The Prism Pentad has less to do with the story itself but with how the saga portrays the sheer brutality of life in Athas. Fans of sword-and-sorcery would likely compare the setting with Conan‘s, albeit with more room for mysticism and a dash of Dungeons & Dragons hopefulness.

14 Knight Of The Black Rose (Ravenloft)

Goodreads: 3.8

Most fantasy works have an equivalent of a “dark knight,” with Lord Soth serving as Dragonlance’s resident brooding evil warrior. Cursed with eternal life after failing to save Krynn from its Cataclysm, Lord Soth serves as one of Dragonlance’s worst villains – and Knight of the Black Rose explores what happens when he ends up in D&D’s version of limbo.

Serving as the second of the Ravenloft books, Knight of the Black Rose thrusts Lord Soth into a head-on collision with Ravenloft’s ruler, Lord Strahd von Zarovich, as he tries to accomplish a dark mission. Despite the novel not necessarily adding anything new to Soth’s development, newcomers to Ravenloft may appreciate an outsider’s view as to how D&D’s iconic gothic horror setting warps itself to punish those that end up in its clutches – and how a knight rotted to the core tries to vanquish these same dark forces.

13 The Iron Throne (Birthright)

Goodreads: 3.8

Compared to most other settings in Dungeons & Dragons, Birthright as a setting created as early as 1995 follows the wargaming roots of the franchise. Taking a more grounded approach to fantasy, Birthright features less magic and fantastical events to more political intrigue and world management, where gods sacrificed their lives in a conflict to save the world of Aebrynis which then transferred their powers to the mightiest of heroes in the war. With these heroes having passed through generations, players take the role of descendants or scions that have access to a wide array of abilities through their bloodlines, effectively giving them a position of power to control nations worldwide.

Players interested in how a story in Birthright takes place may appreciate The Iron Throne, arguably much closer to Game of Thrones in the level of intrigue and leagues away from Lord of the Rings due to the deviation from traditional fantasy. Readers would find themselves sympathizing with Michael Roele, destined ruler of the Anuirean Empire, as he tries to outwit conspirators trying to steal his power amid a looming threat that may shatter the world’s status quo.

12 Elminster: The Making Of A Mage (The Elminster Series)

Goodreads: 3.8

Elminster Aumar’s introduction as the Sage of Shadowvale gives players the impression of a wisened spellcaster worthy of the title in the Forgotten Realms. However, Elminster: The Making of a Mage gives players a much-needed introduction to the Dungeons & Dragons character in his younger days before becoming a legend, much like how an adventuring party has set out to make a name for themselves.

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Penned by the creator of the Forgotten Realms himself, it makes sense to see Elminster’s growth from “El” the thief to “Elminster” the powerful sorcerer across his titular series. Despite Ed Greenwood’s writing taking a bit of getting used to, seeing El navigate the war-torn lands of Faerun and see much younger versions of other Forgotten Realms characters put things into perspective how much things have changed throughout Elminster’s existence.