10 audiobooks for fans of Graceling
- 1
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
Narrated by Andy Serkis
★ 4.83 ABR Score (4.5M ratings)★ 4.3 Goodreads (4.5M) ★ 4.92 Audible (28.7K)More about this pick
Andy Serkis transforms this into a masterclass in voice acting, giving each character such distinct presence that you forget you're listening to one narrator. It's the definitive audio experience of Middle-earth's greatest gateway story.
- 2
Crown of Midnight
Throne of Glass • Book 2
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
★ 4.75 ABR Score (1.8M ratings)★ 4.36 Goodreads (1.8M) ★ 4.78 Audible (23.5K)More about this pick
Elizabeth Evans elevates this dark political fantasy with a performance that captures Celaena's razor-sharp wit and moral complexity, making the emotional betrayals land harder than the page version.
- 3
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.
★ 4.61 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.
- 4
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.
★ 4.66 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.
- 5
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.
★ 4.64 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.
- 6
Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass • Book 1
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
Why this book?
Both audiobooks feature resilient heroines with extraordinary combat abilities navigating dangerous political landscapes, and Elizabeth Evans's narration captures the same immersive, character-driven intensity that makes Xanthe Elbrick's performance of Graceling so compelling. The similar runtime and richly developed fantasy worlds mean you'll get the same satisfying depth of storytelling with a protagonist whose journey balances action, self-discovery, and hard-won agency.
★ 4.61 ABR Score (2.5M ratings)★ 4.19 Goodreads (2.5M) ★ 4.59 Audible (28.9K)More about this pick
Elizabeth Evans brings razor-sharp intensity to Celaena's voice, making this dark fantasy competition genuinely addictive. The 13-hour runtime flies by because Evans nails both the brutal action and the simmering character dynamics.
- 7
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.
★ 4.51 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.
- 8
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.
★ 4.42 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.
- 9
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.
★ 4.27 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.
- 10
A Darker Shade of Magic
Shades of Magic • Book 1
by V.E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
★ 4.20 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.
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.