10 audiobooks for fans of Graceling
- 1
The Hobbit
Middle-earth • Book 1
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas A. Anderson, Michael Hague, Jemima Catlin
Narrated by Rob Inglis
★ 4.69 ABR Score (4.6M ratings)★ 4.3 Goodreads (4.5M) ★ 4.76 Audible (66.8K)More about this pick
Rob Inglis becomes the definitive voice of Middle-earth, creating distinct personalities for dwarves, elves, and one unforgettable dragon named Smaug.
- 2
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Hoid's Travails • Book 1
by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Lyon
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver immersive fantasy worlds with capable, independent protagonists navigating danger and discovery, while their comparable runtimes provide similarly rich, unrushed storytelling that rewards deep listening. Sanderson's whimsical yet earnest tone complements the same blend of adventure and character growth that makes Graceling compelling, with Michael Kramer's narration matching Xanthe Elbrick's skill at bringing protagonists to vivid life.
★ 4.50 ABR Score (302.4K ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (297.2K) ★ 4.74 Audible (5.1K)More about this pick
A simple island girl ventures across deadly spore seas to rescue her kidnapped love, with Sanderson's trademark magic systems governing every ocean. Michael Kramer brings warmth to this fairy-tale adventure that feels like The Princess Bride in a cosmere setting.
- 3
Shadows of Self
Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 2
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Why this book?
Sanderson's intricate magic system and exploration of identity and power mirror Graceling's examination of exceptional abilities and their moral weight, while Michael Kramer's measured narration provides the same immersive, character-driven listening experience that Elbrick brings to Cashore's world.
★ 4.56 ABR Score (243.6K ratings)★ 4.26 Goodreads (211.7K) ★ 4.75 Audible (31.9K)More about this pick
Lawman Waxillium Ladrian faces a shapeshifting kandra assassin targeting government officials in this Wild West-meets-steampunk fantasy. Michael Kramer navigates Sanderson's intricate magic system as political conspiracy threatens the fragile democracy of Elendel.
- 4
The Alloy of Law
Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 1
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver richly detailed fantasy worlds with capable protagonists navigating complex moral landscapes, while Michael Kramer's measured narration complements the intricate magic systems just as Xanthe Elbrick's engaging performance enhanced Graceling's character-driven narrative. The Alloy of Law maintains that same balance of action and character development across a similarly immersive 11-hour listening experience.
★ 4.53 ABR Score (335.9K ratings)★ 4.19 Goodreads (294.2K) ★ 4.72 Audible (41.7K)More about this pick
Wax returns from the frontier to inherit his family's city estate, bringing gunslinger skills to an industrial world with railroads and electricity. Michael Kramer voices this Mistborn sequel that trades epic fantasy for steampunk detective work with familiar magical rules.
- 5
Sabriel
Abhorsen/The Old Kingdom • Book 1
by Garth Nix
Narrated by Tim Curry
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver immersive fantasy worlds with strong, capable heroines navigating dark magic and moral complexity, while Tim Curry's commanding narration matches Xanthe Elbrick's skill in bringing richly layered characters to life. The similar runtime and pacing create that same engrossing listening experience, though Sabriel ventures into darker, more gothic territory that will appeal to listeners ready to deepen their fantasy investment.
★ 4.37 ABR Score (227.8K ratings)★ 4.16 Goodreads (219.2K) ★ 4.64 Audible (8.6K)More about this pick
Sabriel must cross into the Old Kingdom to find her missing father, armed with necromantic bells and facing the undead. Tim Curry's legendary voice work brings both whimsy and genuine menace to this dark fantasy world.
- 6
His Majesty's Dragon
Temeraire • Book 1
by Naomi Novik
Narrated by Simon Vance
Why this book?
Both audiobooks deliver immersive fantasy worlds with capable protagonists navigating complex political landscapes, enhanced by narrators who bring vivid character depth to their performances. His Majesty's Dragon shares Graceling's blend of action and character development, though it trades intimate fantasy adventure for an epic alternate-history setting with similarly engaging world-building.
★ 4.24 ABR Score (118.8K ratings)★ 4.07 Goodreads (112.8K) ★ 4.57 Audible (6.0K)More about this pick
Simon Vance captures the evolving bond between naval Captain Laurence and dragon Temeraire as they enter the aerial corps during an alternate Napoleonic War where dragons rule the skies.
- 7
The Golden Compass
His Dark Materials • Book 1
by Philip Pullman
Narrated by Ruth Wilson
Why this book?
Both audiobooks feature richly imagined fantasy worlds with fierce, intelligent protagonists who challenge authority and uncover dangerous secrets, all delivered through immersive narration that brings their expansive worlds to vivid life. Ruth Wilson's performance captures the same sense of wonder and peril found in Elbrick's narration, making the comparable runtime perfect for listeners seeking another epic adventure with complex moral questions at its heart.
★ 4.10 ABR Score (1.6M ratings)★ 4.03 Goodreads (1.6M) ★ 4.57 Audible (49)More about this pick
Lyra's quest through parallel Oxford to rescue kidnapped children gains new depth through Ruth Wilson's nuanced performance across multiple worlds and speaking animals.
- 8
A Darker Shade of Magic
Shades of Magic • Book 1
by V.E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.02 ABR Score (435.0K ratings)★ 4.03 Goodreads (435.0K) ★ 4.28 Audible (40)More about this pick
Kell smuggles artifacts between four parallel Londons until a dangerous relic threatens to destroy them all in this richly voiced fantasy adventure.
- 9
Words of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive • Book 2
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
★ 4.96 ABR Score (587.5K ratings)★ 4.76 Goodreads (498.0K) ★ 4.9 Audible (89.5K)More about this pick
Kaladin leads the royal guard while Shallan seeks ancient secrets and Dalinar unites the war camps. Michael Kramer and Kate Reading handle Sanderson's massive cast and intricate magic systems flawlessly.
- 10
Kingdom of Ash
Throne of Glass • Book 7
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
★ 4.91 ABR Score (1.2M ratings)★ 4.71 Goodreads (1.1M) ★ 4.88 Audible (39.0K)More about this pick
Aelin endures torture in an iron coffin while her allies wage final war across multiple kingdoms in this explosive series finale.
Browse Related Lists
How We Rank Audiobooks
Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.
Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.
We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.
Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.