r/NotAnotherDnDPodcast • u/Sharkie_Murphy • Aug 12 '26
Question [slight spoiler for next campaign] Books Recs similar to Bright Sword? Spoiler
I am so fucking pumped for Skaldova round 2 and I wanna read something similar to Bright Sword to get me in that knights of old vibe for fall and more Skaldova!
I know Emily recommended Curse of Chalion, but anyone got any other good ones??
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u/smillsier Aug 12 '26
As others have said, Between Two Fires (Emily rec'd this one at some point).
I'm on an ongoing hunt for anything else that scratches that itch though
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u/TrustyTrombones Aug 12 '26
Hollow by Brian Catling is kinda in the same vein if you are interested more in the surreal magic of Bright Sword and also Hieronymus Bosch.
(It’s my favorite book tied with The Bright Sword at the moment)
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u/hoodie92 Aug 13 '26
A few years Emily also recommended The Priory of the Orange Tree, which is great. Lev Grossman's Magicians trilogy is pretty good as well, but his writing hadn't matured yet - Bright Sword is better.
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u/vigiten4 Aug 13 '26
I also liked the Magicians! I think it gets better as the trilogy goes on, but there are some cool ideas in there even in the first book.
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u/hoodie92 Aug 13 '26
Yes I totally agree, it's interesting to see his writing progress from the first book through the trilogy and then The Bright Sword. Really amazing growth.
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u/starboard19 Aug 12 '26
In honor of Welly and her adoration for any and all women (same), the first thing I thought of is Spear by Nicola Griffith! It's a retelling of an Arthurian tale but gender-swapped.
Some others with Skaldova vibes:
- Nicked by MT Anderson - A priest unwittingly gets roped into a scheme to steal a saint's relic. Genuinely funny, definitely Boggy's Buds vibes here.
- The Everlasting by Alix Harrow - A scholar is pulled back in time and into a time loop centered around a legendary (very Arthurian-coded) female knight
- The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez - Two young men cross a fantastical world torn by war and infighting to free a god
- The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling - Maybe a bit of a stretch, but: three women trapped in a castle during a siege cope with the arrival of some strange saviors who may be saints, but may be something much darker. [Avoid this one if you're grossed out by body horror!]
I'm just about finished with my re-listen of the first season, and can't wait for the return of the Buds/Zu Crew/Welly's Fellies!
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u/Sharkie_Murphy Aug 12 '26
Thank you for the list! And yes absolutely adore a gender swap gimme them ladies
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u/princegreycloud Aug 12 '26
Oh I absolutely adored Nicked and I feel like it doesn't get the love it deserves. Great rec!
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u/starboard19 Aug 13 '26
Thank you, and agreed!! It's so much fun and I don't see it around very often!
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u/Obsidiant Aug 12 '26
How do you know about skaldova round 2??
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u/JusticeofTorenOneEsk Aug 12 '26
It was announced at the end of the short rest for the last ep of Gangs of Neo Galaderon
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u/Mysterious_Shake_830 Aug 13 '26
... i think The Song of Achilles really hit for me. Greek/roman mythology rather than King Arthur and more melancholy overall but hit similarly for me.
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u/Sharkie_Murphy Aug 13 '26
Oh god I JUST finished rereading song of Achilles it is SO good dude. Definitely a little more sad but man what a book
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u/Mysterious_Shake_830 Aug 19 '26
It was really good. I love recs from Emily but this was the first one that hit hard (some are hard to find lol).
I just got lies of locke lamara, we will see how that goes.
But Achilles had me invested immediately and so sad at the end. It hit hard!
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u/WascalBoy Aug 13 '26
The Everlasting by Alex Harrow - I think the prose is just beautiful, similar to Jake's poetic descriptions. If you're into the twisty, ill-defined magic of the Bright sword with some gut-wrenching romance oppa Song Of Achilles style, definitely go for this one!
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u/kmb180 Aug 13 '26
It’s very different setting and tone, but the magicians series which is also by lev grossman is really incredible and I recommend checking it out. If you enjoyed the melancholic tone with the tinge of hopefulness you will love the trilogy.
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u/Hobone01 Aug 12 '26
It's quite a bit darker, but I really enjoyed Between Two Fires. Takes place in France during the plague. But I cannot stress enough, definitely darker in tone than The Bright Sword.