Books like 'Ruin'
Readers who enjoyed Ruin by John Gwynne also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy high fantasy action / adventure grimdark supernatural dark fantasy horror military, war & conflict epic
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Wrath by John Gwynne
24 ratingsEvents are coming to a climax in the Banished Lands, as the war reaches new heights. King Nathair has taken control of the fortress at Drassil and three of the Seven Treasures are in his possession. And together with Calidus and his ally Queen Rhin, Nathair will do anything to obtain the remaining Treasures. With all seven under his command, he can open a portal to the Otherworld... -
![Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski]()
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
41 ratingsGeralt is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.This is a collection of short stories, following the adventures of the hit collection THE LAST WISH... -
![Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski]()
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
44 ratingsGeralt is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.This is a collection of short stories, following the adventures of the hit collection THE LAST WISH... -
![The Tower of the Swallow by Andrzej Sapkowski]()
The Tower of the Swallow by Andrzej Sapkowski
35 ratingsThe world has fallen into war. Ciri, the child of prophecy, has vanished. Hunted by friends and foes alike, she has taken on the guise of a petty bandit and lives free for the first time in her life. But the net around her is closing. Geralt, the Witcher, has assembled a group of allies determined to rescue her. Both sides of the war have sent brutal mercenaries to hunt her down... -
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![Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence]()
Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
30 ratingsKing Jorg Ancrath is twenty now—and king of seven nations. His goal—revenge against his father—has not yet been realized, and the demons that haunt him have only grown stronger. Yet no matter how tortured his path, he intends to take the next step in his upward climb. Jorg would be emperor. It is a position not to be gained by the sword but rather by vote... -
![The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski]()
The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski
42 ratingsThe New York Times bestselling series that inspired the international hit video game: The Witcher Geralt is a witcher: guardian of the innocent; protector of those in need; a defender, in dark times, against some of the most frightening creatures of myth and legend. His task, now, is to protect Ciri... -
![King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence]()
King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
34 ratingsThe second book in the Broken Empire series, Lawrence takes his young anti-hero one step closer to his grand ambition.To reach greatness you must step on bodies, and many brothers lie trodden in my wake... -
![Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski]()
Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski
32 ratingsThe Witcher returns in this action-packed sequel to The Tower of Swallows, in the New York Times bestselling series that inspired The Witcher video games. After walking through the portal in the Tower of Swallows while narrowly escaping death, Ciri finds herself in a completely different world... an Elven world. She is trapped with no way out... -
![Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski]()
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
44 ratingsThe New York Times bestselling series that inspired the international hit video game: The Witcher.For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. The only good elf, it seems, is a dead elf... -
![The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang]()
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
46 ratingsWhen Rin aced the Keju — the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies — it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was... -
![The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett]()
The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett
28 ratingsThe Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty. Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, it is a seat of honor and ancient, powerful magic, keeping the demon corelings at bay. From atop the throne, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging its isolated peoples into a unified army to rise up and end the demon war once and for all... -
![The Pariah by Anthony Ryan]()
The Pariah by Anthony Ryan
17 ratingsBorn into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path - one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier's life in the king's army... -
![Blackwing by Ed McDonald]()
Blackwing by Ed McDonald
18 ratingsThe republic faces annihilation, despite the vigilance of Galharrow's Blackwings. When a raven tattoo rips itself from his arm to deliver a desperate message, Galharrow and a mysterious noblewoman must investigate a long dead sorcerer's legacy... -
![The Heart of Stone by Ben Galley]()
The Heart of Stone by Ben Galley
8 ratingsMercenary. Murderer. Monster. Task has been called many names in his time.“Echoes of Brandon Sanderson and Scott Lynch.”– SFF World“Grimdark with heart and soul.”– Anna Smith Spark, author of The Empires of Dust Trilogy“A very, very good read."– Fantasy Faction“A brutal delight with thrilling action and heart, rowdy and wise, bloody and tender at the same time... -
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![Bloodstone by Karl Edward Wagner]()
Bloodstone by Karl Edward Wagner
12 ratingsKANEThe Mystic Swordsman becomes the living link with the awesome power of a vanished super-race.In the dark swamp where toadmen croak and cower, slumbers an ancient relic of the days when creatures from the stars ruled the Earth. In the booty captured in a savage raid, Kane discovers a ring, a bloodstone, which is the key to the power that lies buried, inactive but not dead, within the forest... -
![She is the Darkness by Glen Cook]()
She is the Darkness by Glen Cook
18 ratingsThe wind whines and howls with bitter breath. Lightning snarls and barks. Rage is an animate force upon the plain of glittering stone. Even shadows are afraid.At the heart of the plain stands a vast grey stronghold, unknown, older than any written memory. One ancient tower has collapsed across the fissure... -
![Darkness Weaves by Karl Edward Wagner]()
Darkness Weaves by Karl Edward Wagner
12 ratingsOnce Efrel was the beautiful consort of a king. Now she is a hideous creature who lives only for revenge. She has allies to aid her, but only Kane, the Mystic Swordsman, can rally her forces for battle. Only he can deliver the vengeance she has devised in her knowledge of black magic... -
![Cry Havoc by Mike Morris]()
Cry Havoc by Mike Morris
8 ratingsThey say when the demons come, you either fight or you die. The Black Dogs know this all too well. For three hundred years, the warrior priests have sacrificed their lives to keep the island nation of Abios safe from the flesh-eating Nostros, while the rest of the world fell under the demons’ savagery. However, an armada now stands poised to invade mankind’s last bastion... -
![Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont]()
Night of Knives by Ian C. Esslemont
25 ratingsThe empire is named for the tiny island and city of Malaz, now a sleepy, seedy backwater port. Tonight however, a once-in-a-generation Shadow Moon brings demon hounds and darker beings. Also, a prophecy promises the return of long missing Emperor Kellanved to the contended imperial throne. This night will determine the fate of the world... -
![The Written by Ben Galley]()
The Written by Ben Galley
14 ratingsGame Of Throne meets Die Hard in this explosive epic fantasy, packed with tattooed mages wielding unbridled spells, meddling gods, dragon-riders, and twisted Norse mythology.Only half the recruits that undergo the Ritual survive to become Written mages. Only they can wield the fiercest of magics, to protect the Arka, until either death or the madness takes them... -
![The Armored Saint by Myke Cole]()
The Armored Saint by Myke Cole
18 ratingsMyke Cole, star of CBS's Hunted and author of the Shadow Ops series, debuts the Sacred Throne epic fantasy trilogy with The Armored Saint, a story of religious tyrants, arcane war-machines, and underground resistance that will enthrall epic fantasy readers of all ages... -
![The Last Four Things by Paul Hoffman]()
The Last Four Things by Paul Hoffman
20 ratingsThe epic story of Thomas Cale-introduced so memorably in "The Left Hand of God"--continues as the Redeemers use his prodigious gifts to further their sacred goal: the extinction of humankind and the end of the world. To the warrior-monks known as the Redeemers, who rule over massive armies of child slaves, "the last four things" represent the culmination of a faithful life. Death. Judgement... -
![Berserk, Vol. 8 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 8 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingshe century-spanning war between Midland and Chuder continues unabated. The two warring kingdoms, vying for supremacy, launch headfirst into what will become the final battle. Leading the Midland forces are the Band of the Hawk, lead by the charismatic Griffith, with the fearless Guts as his trusted champion... -
![Berserk, Vol. 10 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 10 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingsWarrior supreme Guts has returned, and just in time to save the weakened Band of the Hawk from certain destruction… and to form an intimate bond with the beautiful warrior Casca. But job one is to find a way to free Griffith, the Hawks' leader, from the dank dungeons and round-the-clock tortures of the Hawks' former benefactor, the King of Midland... -
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![Berserk, Vol. 9 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 9 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingsGriffith, charismatic leader of the elite mercenary Band of the Hawk, has seen better days. His fearless champion, Guts, has left the Band, defeating Griffith in personal combat as his ticket out. With his judgment clouded by this unthinkable humiliation, Griffith eases his pain in the arms of the daughter of Midland’s king... -
![Berserk, Vol. 7 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 7 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingsTwo feudal kingdoms, Midland and Chuder, battle for supremacy in what will become the final clash in a century-long struggle. Spearheading the Midland forces is the Band of the Hawk, a legendary cadre of elite mercenaries led by the charismatic Griffith and with the fearless Guts as its berserker champion... -
![Berserk, Vol. 5 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 5 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingsHe is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a warrior of legendary prowess — relentless, fearless, merciless. As cold and brutal as the iron of the massive sword he wields. Bent on revenge against the unholy forces that have branded him for sacrifice, but especially on Griffith, one of the demon lords of the Godhand... -
![Berserk, Vol. 6 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 6 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingsBack in the day, Guts the Black Swordsman was a top slayer for The Band of the Hawk, an elite mercenary unit led by Griffith, whose calm demeanor and callow beauty belied his fighting prowess and steel will... -
![Berserk, Vol. 11 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 11 by Kentaro Miura
18 ratingsThe Band of the Hawk -- what's left of them -- are on the run, Guts and Casca having rescued the Hawks' leader, Griffith, from the horrors of the King of Midland's dungeons. Starved, tortured mercilessly and imprisoned in an iron mask, Griffith hangs to life and sanity by a thread.. -
![Berserk, Vol. 1 by Kentaro Miura]()
Berserk, Vol. 1 by Kentaro Miura
26 ratingsCreated by Kenturo Miura, Berserk is manga mayhem to the extreme - violent, horrifying, and mercilessly funny - and the wellspring for the internationally popular anime series. Not for the squeamish or the easily offended, Berserk asks for no quarter - and offers none! His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers...
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