Audiobooks Like His Majesty's Dragon

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Simon Vance narrates Naomi Novik's alternate-history fantasy with a formality that suits the Napoleonic setting perfectly — his voice carries the rhythms of an era when duty and affection were expressed obliquely, which makes the bond between captain and dragon all the more moving across 10 hours. Five of these recommendations feature Vance's narration, two more are by Novik herself, and a strong cluster of award-winning titles means the literary ambition matches the adventure.

10 audiobooks for fans of His Majesty's Dragon

  1. 1
    The Black Prism cover

    The Black Prism

    Lightbringer Saga • Book 1

    by Brent Weeks

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    Why this book?

    Simon Vance's masterful narration returns to deliver another epic fantasy with similarly immersive world-building and intricate magic systems, though Weeks brings a darker, more morally complex tone to his protagonist's journey. The extended runtime allows for the same richly layered storytelling that made His Majesty's Dragon compelling, with added depth in character development and political intrigue.

    4.47 ABR Score (147.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.23 Goodreads (132.5K) ★ 4.71 Audible (15.0K)
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    Gavin Guile rules an empire built on magic drawn from light itself, knowing exactly when his powers will kill him—a premise Simon Vance handles with gravity and wit.

  2. 2
    Spinning Silver cover

    Spinning Silver

    The Mortal Instruments

    by Naomi Novik

    Narrated by Lisa Flanagan

    4.41 ABR Score (163.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.18 Goodreads (154.1K) ★ 4.68 Audible (9.2K)
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    Lisa Flanagan weaves together three women's voices in Novik's Rumpelstiltskin retelling where a moneylender's daughter can turn silver into gold.

  3. 3
    The Way of Shadows cover

    The Way of Shadows

    Night Angel • Book 1

    by Brent Weeks

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    Why this book?

    Simon Vance's commanding narration brings the same immersive depth to The Way of Shadows' darker, morally complex world that made His Majesty's Dragon so compelling, while both works blend intricate worldbuilding with intimate character development that rewards sustained listening.

    4.21 ABR Score (178.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.15 Goodreads (177.4K) ★ 4.6 Audible (604)
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    Street orphan Azoth apprentices himself to the city's most legendary assassin in this dark fantasy about the price of survival and the art of killing.

  4. 4
    Raise the Banner cover

    Raise the Banner

    The King's Ranger • Book 5

    by A.C. Cobble

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    Why this book?

    Simon Vance's commanding narration brings the same epic scope and immersive world-building to Raise the Banner, delivering an equally engaging fantasy adventure with richly developed characters and high-stakes conflict. Both works balance grand military strategy with intimate character moments, creating a satisfying listening experience that rewards sustained attention across similar runtimes.

    4.20 ABR Score (1.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.56 Goodreads (1.4K) ★ 4.71 Audible (267)
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    Rew carries the weight of death and destruction as he marches toward the final confrontation with the blood-collecting Mordens. Fantasy rebellion where centuries of tyrannical rule finally face their reckoning through one ranger's deadly quest.

  5. 5
    The Ranger's Path cover

    The Ranger's Path

    The King's Ranger • Book 2

    by A.C. Cobble

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    Why this book?

    Simon Vance's masterful narration brings the same immersive, adventure-driven storytelling to *The Ranger's Path*, capturing richly detailed fantasy worlds with consistent pacing and character distinction. Both audiobooks deliver epic narratives grounded in compelling protagonists navigating danger and duty, making them ideal for listeners seeking intelligent fantasy that rewards sustained attention.

    4.12 ABR Score (2.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.37 Goodreads (2.1K) ★ 4.64 Audible (244)
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    Political intrigue and family betrayal collide as a king's ranger searches for his imprisoned father across dangerous territory. Vance's commanding performance suits the epic scope.

  6. 6
    Uprooted cover

    Uprooted

    by Naomi Novik

    Narrated by Julia Emelin

    4.05 ABR Score (275.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.02 Goodreads (266.7K) ★ 4.31 Audible (9.0K)
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    A village girl's magical apprenticeship to a centuries-old wizard becomes something far stranger and more dangerous when an ancient corrupted forest begins its assault on human settlements.

  7. 7
    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone cover

    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

    Harry Potter • Book 1

    by J.K. Rowling

    Narrated by Jim Dale

    Why this book?

    Both audiobooks feature immersive world-building and coming-of-age protagonists discovering hidden magical systems, with narrators who excel at bringing ensemble casts and whimsical details to life. Simon Vance and Jim Dale share a similarly engaging storytelling style that makes fantasy settings feel lived-in and emotionally resonant during long listening sessions.

    4.96 ABR Score (11.7M ratings)
    ★ 4.47 Goodreads (11.5M) ★ 4.91 Audible (203.3K)
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    Jim Dale's gift for character voices makes every Hogwarts inhabitant distinct—from Hagrid's gentle rumble to Snape's cutting drawl.

  8. 8
    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets cover

    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

    Harry Potter (Full-Cast Editions) • Book 2

    by J.K. Rowling

    Narrated by Hugh Laurie, Matthew Macfadyen, Kit Harington, Riz Ahmed, Michelle Gomez, Daniel Mays, Mark Addy, Simon Pegg, Cush Jumbo, Alex Hassell, Gemma Whelan, Indira Varma, Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, Arabella Stanton

    4.74 ABR Score (4.5M ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (4.5M) ★ 4.9 Audible (5.0K)
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    Kit Harington joins the returning cast as Hogwarts faces an ancient monster that petrifies students and threatens the school's very existence.

  9. 9
    The Hobbit cover

    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)
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    Rob Inglis becomes the definitive voice of Middle-earth, creating distinct personalities for dwarves, elves, and one unforgettable dragon named Smaug.

  10. 10
    The Broken Eye cover

    The Broken Eye

    Lightbringer • Book 3

    by Brent Weeks

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    4.61 ABR Score (81.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.44 Goodreads (69.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (11.5K)
    More about this pick

    Gavin Guile's capture and enslavement drives this middle volume toward civil war, while Simon Vance handles the complex magic system and multiple perspectives brilliantly.

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.

Read our full ranking methodology →