The Road to Death

by Joe Abercrombie

Abercrombie builds a gritty, morally complicated fantasy world with the same layered intrigue and dark tone you found in Eberron, but he strips away the high-magic heroics to focus on flawed characters navigating political chaos. The way he weaves multiple perspectives together mirrors how Forbeck constructs his trilogy's interconnected plot threads.

by Patrick Rothfuss

Like Forbeck, Rothfuss creates a richly detailed secondary world with its own magic system and hidden history, but he tells it through a more intimate, character-focused lens—a man recounting his own story rather than an epic sweep. The mystery of what's really happening beneath the surface of the narrative will appeal to anyone who enjoyed The Lost Mark's layered plotting.

by George MacDonald

This is my curveball for you—it's fantasy, yes, but it's genuinely more interested in court politics, kindness, and how power actually functions than in battles and quests. If you appreciated the intricate world-building of Eberron, you'll find Addison's attention to cultural detail and her protagonist's earnest navigation of a complex society deeply satisfying in a completely different way.

by Scott Lynch

Lynch writes fantasy heists with the same kind of intricate plotting you'd expect from a game designer—every detail matters, and the payoff comes from how cleverly the pieces fit together. The banter between his con-artist protagonists has that same blend of humor and danger that makes Eberron's darker moments hit harder.

by Elizabeth Kostova

Published in 2005, this is a more literary take on fantasy—a scholarly mystery about Dracula that unfolds across decades and continents. Where Forbeck builds worlds through game mechanics and lore, Kostova builds them through research, atmosphere, and the slow accumulation of historical detail. It's a different pace entirely, but if you love getting lost in a richly imagined world with genuine stakes, this rewards that investment.