1
The Blade Itself
Start of First Law seriesby Joe Abercrombie
4.52009624 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a darkly cynical tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
10 Best Books Like The Black Company
If you loved The Black Company by Glen Cook, here are the most similar books our readers recommend.
Quick Answer
The best books like The Black Company are:
- 1The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie4.5Series starter
- 2A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin0Series starter
- 3The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang0Series starter
- 4The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin0#1
- 5Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman4.5Series starter
- 6Defiance of the Fall: A LitRPG Adventure by JF Brink4.7Series starter
- 7The Witcher: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski0
- 8Jade City by Fonda Lee0#1
- 9The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch4.5#1
- 10City in Chains by Harry Turtledove4.1
Fantasy01984
The Black Company, an elite mercenary unit, serves the Lady, a powerful sorceress and former enemy, while chronicler Croaker documents their morally ambiguous campaigns
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Detailed Recommendations
2
A Game of Thrones
Start of A Song of Ice and Fire seriesby George R.R. Martin
02005
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a brutal and cynical tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
3
The Poppy War
Start of Poppy War seriesby R.F. Kuang
02018
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a brutal and unforgiving tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
4
The Fifth Season
Broken Earth #1 (works standalone)by N.K. Jemisin
02015
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a devastating but empowering tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
5
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Start of Dungeon Crawler Crawler seriesby Matt Dinniman
4.52020446 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a darkly hilarious yet brutal tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
6
Defiance of the Fall: A LitRPG Adventure
Start of Defiance of the Fall seriesby JF Brink
4.72021778 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a grim but empowering tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
8
Jade City
Green Bone Saga #1 (works standalone)by Fonda Lee
02017
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a brutal but intimate tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
9
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Gentleman Bastard #1 (works standalone)by Scott Lynch
4.52006752 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a witty but brutal tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
10
by Harry Turtledove
4.12025328 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a gritty but hopeful tone that will resonate with The Black Company fans.
Quick Comparison: Books Like The Black Company
| Book | Author | Rating | Year | Pages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Blade Itself📚 Series starter | Joe Abercrombie | 4.5 | 2009 | 624 | Start a new series |
| A Game of Thrones📚 Series starter | George R.R. Martin | 0 | 2005 | — | Start a new series |
| The Poppy War📚 Series starter | R.F. Kuang | 0 | 2018 | — | Start a new series |
| The Fifth Season | N.K. Jemisin | 0 | 2015 | — | Similar vibes |
| Dungeon Crawler Carl📚 Series starter | Matt Dinniman | 4.5 | 2020 | 446 | Start a new series |
| Defiance of the Fall: A LitRPG Adventure📚 Series starter | JF Brink | 4.7 | 2021 | 778 | Start a new series |
| The Witcher: The Last Wish | Andrzej Sapkowski | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| Jade City | Fonda Lee | 0 | 2017 | — | Similar vibes |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | 4.5 | 2006 | 752 | Similar vibes |
| City in Chains | Harry Turtledove | 4.1 | 2025 | 328 | Similar vibes |
Authors Who Write Like Glen Cook
If you enjoy Glen Cook's writing style, explore these similar authors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are most similar to The Black Company?
The most similar books to The Black Company are The Blade Itself, A Game of Thrones, The Poppy War.
What should I read after The Black Company?
After finishing The Black Company, readers most commonly pick up The Blade Itself next.
Who writes books like Glen Cook?
Authors similar to Glen Cook include Jessica Townsend, Lisa McMann, Jasper Fforde, Erin Hunter, Andrew Peterson.
What genre is The Black Company?
The Black Company is a Fantasy novel by Glen Cook, published in 1984. It features elements of Military Fantasy, Morally Gray Characters, Dark Tone.
How long is The Black Company?
The Black Company varies in length depending on edition.
Does The Black Company have romance/spice?
The Black Company has a spice level of 1/5. This book has light romantic elements.
About The Black Company
The Black Company, an elite mercenary unit, serves the Lady, a powerful sorceress and former enemy, while chronicler Croaker documents their morally ambiguous campaigns. Cook pioneers gritty military fantasy that abandons traditional heroic fantasy tropes for realistic soldier perspectives and moral complexity. The influential first book in a series that inspired modern grimdark fantasy, this novel explores themes of loyalty, survival, and the banality of evil through the eyes of professional soldiers who fight for whoever pays them, creating a fantasy world where heroes are rare and survival requires compromising your principles.