What to Read if You Can’t Wait for the Elden Ring DLC
Okay, look. It’s time for a bit of honesty. I’m terrible at Elden Ring. All of From Software’s games, honestly. Notoriously difficult, these games just do not compute for me on a hand-eye coordination level. BUT! I love, love, love watching play-throughs because Elden Ring is just so pretty and the lore is fantastic! So even though I’m not a gamer, I was very excited to hear that the Elden Ring DLC is finally coming out! MORE LORE! More cool environments for me to explore vicariously through my boyfriend and friends and online streamers! So whether you’re an actual gamer working on your new build in anticipation, or if you’re like me and can’t quite get the hang of the combat but are still excited nonetheless, here is a list of books to help soothe the wait for the Elden Ring DLC!
Daughter of Smoke & Bone
by Laini Taylor
If you’re an Elden Ring fan, I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that you like epic world-building and lore with a deep history that unfolds slowly. Well if I’ve guessed right, I think you’re gonna love the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor. I don’t want to spoil anything, because half of the fun of this series is watching the revelations slowly unfurl, but I will give you a little hint – what begins as the tale of a strange, otherworldly girl in Prague slowly but surely unravels into an all-out war and the rush to stop impending cataclysm. Now if you’re not interested in a series that has a contemporary urban-fantasy element, I might suggest you read Laini’s other series, Strange the Dreamer. It has all the same epic scale but told in a high fantasy setting with no real-world elements. The joy is both series have Laini Taylor’s incredible prose and impeccable plotting, so whatever you choose to jump into first, you’re in for a good time!
The Demon King
If you’ve been following us for a minute, you know I’m obsessed with this series! Truly, I think I’ve re-read it more than anything in my life! But what makes the Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima so good for Elden Ring fans? Well, the extensive world, the intricate political and magic systems, and the plotting! Follow Han Alister, ex-gang leader and thief trying to follow the straight and narrow path while also caring for his mother and little sister, as he’s pulled into the treacherous world of wizards after a nasty run-in. He’s forced to take away a wizard’s amulet in self-defense, but this is no ordinary wizard and no ordinary amulet. Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the queendom of the Fells, has returned to court as must now navigate the political tides while fending off suitors – particularly one her mother favors but who would upturn the delicate balance that has held the realm together for centuries. Now if you’ve already followed my advice or had the pleasure of stumbling upon this series on your own and have read these glorious books, I’ll recommend Cinda’s other series, The Warrior Heir. Equally epic, but with an urban-fantasy twist, this series follows your average high-school boy who discovers he’s the heir to a magical heritage and a terrible responsibility.
The Amulet of Samarkand
Another epic of massive proportions, this fantasy series follow Nathaniel, a young magician’s apprentice who’s talent out-strips his good sense. When a devious hotshot wizard ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel, he takes his education into his own hands and summons the powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But Bartimaeus has his own plans, and soon the two are caught up in a storm of espionage, murder, blackmail and revolt. In an alternative version of London spiced with magic and mayhem, this story has impeccable writing and wonderfully deep wells of folklore and myth to put it in the cannon of modern classics!
Beyond the Ruby Veil
Okay, okay, so this rec might be more for our Bloodborne fans as it’s got a very gothic vibe and has a lot of horror and gore. BUT! I stand by the fact that Elden Ring is also very gory and has some horrific plot lines and thus you will still like this book! If you enjoy the unexpected, then let me tell ya – you’re going to LOVE this book! Truly, I couldn’t have predicted what happens in this duology if I tried. It’s got a break-neck pace, a villainous main character you can’t help but be fascinated by, and mysterious lore that is as opaque as it is bloody! I went into this one completely blind, and honestly – that’s the way to do it because my jaw was on the floor the ENTIRE time.
It Ends in Fire
If your favorite section of Elden Ring is the Academy of Raya Lucaria, you’re going to love It Ends in Fire! In a world where Wizards rule with an iron fist, one girl is determined to burn it all to the ground. As a child, Alka Chelrazi witnessed the brutal murder of her parents at the hands of Wizards. Taken in by an underground rebel group, she’s trained as a spy and sent to the most prestigious school of magic in the Republic – Blackwater Academy, where decadent galas can end in blood-splattered duels, and each student is out for themselves. If you loved exploring the halls of Raya Lucaria (and enjoyed taking out the sorcerers), you’ll love this standalone fantasy! Plus the magic system is so unique and the pacing is on point!
The Bone Houses
If you love the mythical vibes of Elden ring, you will absolutely adore the world of The Bone Houses. Set in a world based on Welsh mythology, this novel follows Ryn, a grave digger in a town where the dead won’t stay still, and Ellis a mapmaker with a mysterious past. In the town of Colbren, which sits at the base of harsh mountain range once home to the mysterious fae, the risen dead are called “bone houses” and legend says they are the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis comes to town looking to journey into the heart of the mountains, Ryn can’t resist the coin her offers her to guide him. But their journey will make them face both the curse and long-buried truths about themselves. Part horror novel, part fairy tale, this book has such strong Elden Ring vibes!
That Dark Infinity
If you love Elden Ring for its varying environments and the epic quest vibes, you will adore this book! It’s a little bit The Witcher a little bit The Last Unicorn, and a lot of classic-fantasy vibes! By night, the Ankou is a legendary mercenary who never ages. But when the sun rises, a curse leaves him no more than bones. Meanwhile, the kingdom of Kaer-Ise is sacked, leaving lone handmaiden Flora as the sole survivor – or so she thinks. But when rumors abound that the princess may have survived the assault, Flora sets out to find her, making a deal with the Ankou. In exchange for his help finding the princess, Flora will help him break his curse. What follows is an imaginative journey through varied fantasy lands where the two battle monsters and solve mysteries in a race against time!