Best Dungeons & Dragons Novels, Ranked

Highlights

• Dive into other Dungeons & Dragons worlds through novels like Prince of Lies and experience the aftermath of gods becoming adventurers.
• Explore the intricate inner politics within Drow society in Dark Elf Trilogy and witness a Drow hero’s rejection of evil ways.
• Witness the personal journey of legendary mage Raistlin in Dragonlance Legends Trilogy as he challenges a goddess for godhood.

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 April 16, 2024, by Rhenn Taguiam:With three of the five upcoming D&D books in 2024 involving the revamped Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide as well as a Vecna-themed campaign, players of D&D might be interested in dabbling into possible creative sources not just for their own sessions, but for entertaining reads in their own right. Thankfully, the rich history of Dungeons & Dragons hasn’t had any shortage of decent storylines and narratives. Among the must-reads in terms of D&D books include a series of books about a civil war among Lolth’s chosen in the Underdark, a compelling adventure saga between two Harpers that become lovers, and the aftermath of an adventuring company eventually tapping into godly powers. All of these have been added here in this list’s latest update.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

11 Vampire Of The Mists (Ravenloft)

Goodreads: 3.9

The existence of elf vampires such as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t a new occurrence in the Forgotten Realms, especially when Vampire of the Mists stars a protagonist with a familiar predicament. When vampire Jander Sunstar finds himself transported from Faerun and into Ravenloft, he establishes an important relationship with Barovia’s ruler, fellow vampire Count Strahd Von Zarovich.

Jander’s characterization forms a profound opposition to the Count’s reputation, where Jander’s struggle to maintain his humanity forms the crux of his eternally damned existence. While Jander and Strahd’s paths will force them to inevitably cross fangs, it’s Christie Golden’s impeccable writing that ensures even the merest conversations provide much-needed insights that humanize (no pun intended) both characters.

10 Secret Of The Djinn (Al-Qadim)

Goodreads: 3.9

It’s not all the time that readers of fantasy novels become participants in the stories themselves, and Secret of the Djinn allows players to partake in a story set in the rather underrepresented setting of Al-Qadim. In the older D&D editions, Al-Qadim, or “The Old” in Arabic is set in the land of Zakhara, also called the “Land of Fate,” a Faerunian peninsula in the world of Toril in the Forgotten Realms. While set in the same “world,” Al-Qadim has a dedicated sourcebook alongside mechanics and concepts unique to the setting, giving fans of the Arabian Nights a way to bask in the glory and wonders of Arabic culture stylized in Dungeons & Dragons.

Technically speaking, Secret of the Djinn is a gamebook or a “Choose Your Own Adventure” novel, where in this case players take the role of pearl diver Jamil as he is contracted by Tala, queen of the sea djinn, to free her husband in Sikak, the City of Coins. Despite the rather outdated nature of the story given its 1994 release, reading and playing Secret of the Djinn is quite a decent ride given its status as the first gamebook in the “Endless Quest” series that follows the same format across different campaign settings. While the latest Endless Quest book was released in 2019, Secret of the Djinn can become a well-appreciated blast to the past for fans who both want to see the “prototype” of D&D’s own CYOA format outside the traditional module as well as witness the world of Al-Qadim through their very own eyes.

9 The Dark Disciple Trilogy (Dragonlance)

Goodreads: 3.96

Imagine a world stuck in the middle of a conflict between gods, where the influx of magic after centuries of absence has plunged the universe itself into a power struggle. Such is the premise of The Dark Disciple Trilogy, one of the more grimdark works under the Dragonlance franchise that offers a look at D&D outside the traditional sphere of fantasy. Set in god-torn Ansalon, wayward Majerean monk Rhys Mason forms an unlikely alliance with the rather annoying Nightshade, whose nature as a nightstalker means the infamous Kender “charm” can also be experienced by the spirits of the dead, as they get sucked into a divine conspiracy.

On the other end of the spectrum is warrior-priestess Mina, the eponymous “Dark Disciple.” She gains this title after she attempts to commit suicide following the death of her goddess Takhsis when she is stopped and is instead recruited by the God of Dead Chemosh to become a part of his quest for dominating existence. With a vampiric curse beginning to plague the land and a Death Knight out for their lives, Rhys and Nightshade need to find a way of curing everything – and fast. This race against time, on top of a more desperate and dark take on fantasy, makes The Dark Disciple Trilogy quite the change of pace from stereotypical fantasy elements. Moreover, the books show the potential of the Dragonlance setting to become a Gothic grimdark setting akin to the likes of Diablo.

8 The Legend Of Huma (Dragonlance)

Goodreads: 4

The Legend of Huma was a much-needed reprieve in the world of Krynn that just lost its gods, with the vision of the eponymous knight wielding the iconic Dragonlance against the Queen of Darkness synonymous with hope. While almost all characters in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting are familiar with the legend, it’s in The Legend of Huma that readers finally encounter Huma as he truly was: a mere Knight of the Crown.

Unfortunately, The Legend of Huma reveals Huma’s life wasn’t as “legendary” as others thought. As he became the reluctant champion of Paladine’s forces, the responsibility of saving the world weighed heavily on the young knight. And while The Legend of Huma reads like a typical Dragonlance novel, seeing Krynn millennia before the campaign setting’s most major events can provide much-needed context in both the world’s factions and nations.

7 The Nine Eyes Of Lucien (Critical Role)

Goodreads: 4

Newcomers to Dungeons & Dragons gameplay can look into Critical Role as one of their driving forces, courtesy of Matt Mercer and the rest of the gang sharing the tales of Exandria’s many heroes across an entertaining (and rules-accurate!) live play series. While much of the material outside the Critical Role episodes is usually graphic novels and comics, fans looking into novels can look into its two novels exploring the Mighty Nein and Vox Machina, respectively.

Among these two books, perhaps The Nine Eyes of Lucien is a worthwhile take on a villain’s perspective in a Dungeons & Dragons story. Starring the eponymous Tiefling Blood Hunter, The Nine Eyes is a captivating take on the charming Tombtaker’s perspective in life before his fateful meeting with the Mighty Nein.

6 I, Strahd (Ravenloft)

Goodreads: 4

Although the 17th officially released novel under the Ravenloft campaign setting, I, Strahd by P.N. Elrod remains one of the best introductions to perhaps one of the most horrific antagonists in the D&D franchise: Strahd von Zarovich. While readers who acquire this 1993 book may notice the rather aging writing, looking beyond the technicalities can unveil a tale that demystifies Strahd as a simple Count Dracula rehash and chronicles his story in a memoir. The book chronicles Strahd’s rulership of the recently freed country of Barovia, an assassination attempt, a love triangle, and proof that passion can be more than enough to change one’s destiny forever.

Despite reading less like a horror novel and more like a melodrama, I, Strahd serves well as a dissection of Strahd as a character. Readers who plan on using the Curse of Strahd module or using Ravenloft as a campaign setting can undoubtedly gain a lot of insights into Strahd’s motivations and personality with this book. It’s not always that a Dungeons & Dragons antagonist is given a spotlight in their novel, and who better to ensure the story strays away from a typical “adventure” than the tragic story of Strahd?

5 Brimstone Angels (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 4.07

Fans looking for an introduction to the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons & Dragons outside the perspective of Drizzt Do’Urden could use a more grounded experience with Brimstone Angels. Serving as the first book in a six-novel series, Brimstone Angels stars Tiefling twins Farideh and Havilar as they explore Faerun with their adoptive father, the Dragonborn Mehen.

Courtesy of author Erin Evans, Brimstone Angels attempted to redefine societal dynamics by putting Tieflings and Dragonborns in the spotlight, with the Warlock Farideh becoming the eventual “template” for the stereotypical Tiefling in subsequent releases. On top of the rather realistic family dynamics of level-headed Havilar, ambitious Farideh, and worrywart Mehen, the inclusion of supernatural forces such as Farideh’s patron Lorcan adds depth to what Forgotten Realms can offer readers.

4 The Sellswords (Forgotten Realms)

Goodreads: 4.19

When one hears the Forgotten Realms, it’s pretty difficult to gloss over the many adventures of Drizzt Do’Urden across dozens of R.A. Salvatore’s works. However, fans who want to get off the Drizzt bandwagon may interest themselves in works centering around two (2) of the most famous characters in the setting: Drow mercenary Jarlaxle and Drizzt’s nemesis Artemis Entreri. While serving as antagonists to Drizzt in his stories, The Sellswords shows readers quite the engaging interplay between the personalities of calculating Entreri and the more ambitious Jarlaxle, with both of them ending up in bizarre conundrums involving their own personal quests while treading amoral ground.

Of all novels in the Forgotten Realms, the story told in The Sellswords is quite interesting as it’s a standalone middle ground to two (2) book groupings. The trilogy follows up on the Paths of Darkness series and serves as the precursor to The Hunter’s Blades, which then allows readers to have a decent basis as to whether or not they may want to dive deep into Drizzt lore.

Considering the infamy of both Jarlaxle and Artemis in the Forgotten Realms setting, Dungeon Masters who plan on including them in their settings, or players who want to base their characters on them may want to give this trilogy a shot.