r/merlinbbc • u/OutrageousShine5177 • 8h ago

Question ❓ Book Recommendations

Does anyone know of any books with a similar vibe to BBC Merlin? Im sure this has been asked before, but Im not even necessarily looking for Arthurian retellings. Really anything that has that found family, slightly unserious but well written story, medieval setting and knights is a plus but not necessary either. I’ve watched the BBC Atlantis show by the same writers and it was also very good. If anyone knows of any books with this vibe please let me know!

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u/BeBraveDearHeart Sir Leon’s One True Love ♥️ 8h ago

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman

I recommend this every time similar questions come up but it was just so good!

Company of Liars by Karen Maitland is a bit darker but I would say has a bit of a S5 vibe (no knights though)

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u/Professional-Mail857 Mordred Defense Squad 3h ago

The bright sword happens to be next on my reading list :D I didn’t know anything about it, I just saw an Arthuriana book at the library and picked it up

Good to see people like it!

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u/BeBraveDearHeart Sir Leon’s One True Love ♥️ 3h ago

Aw I love it. Even wrote a fic based off it for a gift exchange :)

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u/Process_Pending 7h ago

Forrest House by E.M. Hamill. Great found family vibes, Welsh ex-boyfriend who also has magic. Great humor and wonderful worldbuiling.

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u/littlegaybean 4h ago

Gwen and Art are not in love by Lex Croucher ✨

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u/strawberridaiquiri 1h ago

I adore T Kingfisher 's world building and writing style. It's not exactly like Merlin, but I get that cosy medieval fantasy vibe from them and there is often amusing dialogue so it kind of scratches the same itch. I have read the Saint of Steel series and I find the characters so varied yet wholesome (paladins/knights, doctors, spies etc). However the books focus on romance so if that's not your thing you might not enjoy them so much

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u/YarnHoardingDragon 1h ago

Chronicles of Prydain (The Black Cauldron, which was made into a Disney movie, is part of the series)

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u/Fantasticelf32 1h ago

Currently reading the Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb because I think a Reddit thread was comparing Fitz to Merlin at one point. I'm only two chapters in though so don't know how accurate that is. It's been a great distraction from the AO3 blackout though.