10 audiobooks for fans of Gardens of the Moon
- 1
Empire of Storms
Throne of Glass • Book 5
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
★ 4.84 ABR Score (1.3M ratings)★ 4.63 Goodreads (1.3M) ★ 4.84 Audible (33.1K)25h 18m listening time • Released 2016Elizabeth Evans transforms this sprawling fantasy epic into something genuinely unputdownable, matching her vocal intensity to Aelin's rage and vulnerability across 25 hours of pure immersion.
- 2
The Hero of Ages
The Mistborn Saga • Book 3
Narrated by Michael Kramer
The Hero of Ages delivers the same epic scope and intricate world-building as Gardens of the Moon, but with a tighter narrative focus that rewards close listening, while Michael Kramer's narration brings clarity to complex magical systems and character arcs that rival Erikson's in emotional depth.
★ 4.83 ABR Score (680.8K ratings)★ 4.56 Goodreads (606.0K) ★ 4.85 Audible (74.8K)27h 25m listening time • Released 2008Michael Kramer's narration elevates this finale into something transcendent—his command of Vin's internal devastation and the apocalyptic scope makes the 27-hour journey feel essential, not exhausting.
- 3
The Final Empire
The Mistborn Saga • Book 1
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Both epics build intricate magic systems within richly layered worlds, though Sanderson's tighter narrative pacing offers a more accessible entry point while maintaining the same epic scope and philosophical depth that makes Gardens of the Moon compelling. Michael Kramer's measured narration complements the character-driven storytelling much as Lister's does, creating an immersive listening experience across a similar 25-26 hour investment.
★ 4.78 ABR Score (1.1M ratings)★ 4.49 Goodreads (999.3K) ★ 4.79 Audible (97.4K)24h 39m listening time • Released 2008The best entry point into Sanderson — a heist story set in a world where the Dark Lord won, with one of the cleverest magic systems ever devised.
- 4
The Name of the Wind
Kingkiller Chronicle • Book 1
by Patrick Rothfuss
Narrated by Nick Podehl
Both epics showcase intricate magic systems and morally complex characters navigating high-stakes conflicts, with narrators who bring distinctive vocal depth to richly layered worlds. The immersive audiobook performances similarly reward close listening, unfolding mysteries and character development across comparable runtimes that justify their length through detailed worldbuilding and philosophical themes.
★ 4.72 ABR Score (1.2M ratings)★ 4.52 Goodreads (1.1M) ★ 4.7 Audible (109.1K)27h 55m listening time • Released 2009Rothfuss's debut is arguably the most beautifully written fantasy of the 21st century — the story of a legend telling the truth about his own myth.
- 5
The Will of the Many
Hierarchy • Book 1
Narrated by Euan Morton
★ 4.71 ABR Score (236.7K ratings)★ 4.59 Goodreads (223.8K) ★ 4.81 Audible (13.0K)28h 14m listening time • Released 2023Euan Morton's layered performance transforms this intricate mystery into something you'll want to hear twice—his control of tone and pacing makes every revelation land with devastating precision.
- 6
House of Earth and Blood
Crescent City • Book 1
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
★ 4.70 ABR Score (1.2M ratings)★ 4.45 Goodreads (1.2M) ★ 4.76 Audible (41.6K)27h 50m listening time • Released 2020Elizabeth Evans' narration transforms this urban fantasy into something genuinely addictive—she nails the irreverent protagonist voice while making the darker twists land with real emotional weight.
- 7
King Sorrow
by Joe Hill
Narrated by Ari Fliakos, Ian Shaw, Kate Mulgrew, Virginia Kull, Dominic Hoffman, Marin Ireland, Tim Sample, Kristen Ariza, Jaime Lamchick, Mike Ortego, Micky Shiloah, Kristen Sieh, Pete Simonelli, Kevin Stillwell, Peter Ganim
★ 4.40 ABR Score (23.5K ratings)★ 4.4 Goodreads (20.4K) ★ 4.68 Audible (3.0K)26h 4m listening time • Released 2025Joe Hill's horror epic hits different when an all-star cast brings its doomed college friends to life—Kate Mulgrew, Dominic Hoffman, and a bench of pros elevate the dread from page to pure audio immersion.
- 8
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Gentleman Bastard Sequence • Book 1
by Scott Lynch
Narrated by Michael Page
Both epics deliver intricate worldbuilding through immersive narration and feature ensemble casts navigating morally complex situations amid sprawling plots. Lynch's sharper wit and faster pacing provide a slightly lighter complement to Erikson's darker tone, while maintaining the same depth of character development and narrative sophistication that rewards close listening.
★ 4.37 ABR Score (348.0K ratings)★ 4.3 Goodreads (345.8K) ★ 4.63 Audible (2.2K)21h 59m listening time • Released 2011Ocean's Eleven in a fantasy Venice — Lynch's debut is dazzlingly inventive, wickedly funny, and features one of the great anti-hero protagonists in modern fantasy.
- 9
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Thorns and Roses • Book 2
Narrated by Jennifer Ikeda
★ 4.89 ABR Score (3.3M ratings)★ 4.63 Goodreads (3.3M) ★ 4.85 Audible (60.0K)23h 16m listening time • Released 2016Jennifer Ikeda's narration transforms this dark fantasy sequel into something genuinely unputdownable—her voice work captures both the vulnerability and lethal power that makes this book such a phenomenon.
- 10
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings • Book 1
Narrated by Andy Serkis
★ 4.82 ABR Score (3.2M ratings)★ 4.41 Goodreads (3.2M) ★ 4.92 Audible (24.9K)22h 38m listening time • Released 2021Andy Serkis doesn't just narrate this—he inhabits every voice so vividly that Middle-earth becomes a living, breathing world in your ears. His performance transforms the audiobook into something almost cinematic, making this the definitive way to experience Tolkien.
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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.