Which Authors Write Like D G Wills Books For Fans?

If you're digging D.G. Wills' vibe — whether that's lean, propulsive plotting, morally messy characters, or a darker, grim-leaning tone — there are a handful of writers who scratch similar itches. I love pointing friends toward these names whenever someone tells me they want more of that mix of tension and character grit. Below I’m grouping suggestions by the specific traits you might be loving in Wills, with a starter book for each author so you can jump right in.

For that grim, bite-sized brutality and characters who are gloriously flawed, Joe Abercrombie is a classic go-to. Try 'The Blade Itself' to see why people call him the king of grimdark banter and brutal honesty. Mark Lawrence’s 'Prince of Thorns' hits that same ruthless drive and internal darkness but with a more poetic edge to the protagonist’s voice. If you like bleak philosophical undercurrents mixed with raw action, R. Scott Bakker’s 'The Darkness That Comes Before' offers dense ideas and a world that feels uncomfortably real. K.J. Parker’s 'The Folding Knife' is another favorite of mine when I want clever, dry wit and morally ambiguous engineers of fate rather than straightforward heroes.

If what draws you to Wills is punchy action and tight pacing, Richard K. Morgan’s 'Altered Carbon' will scratch the sci-fi noir itch with violent, wraparound plotting and a very flawed lead. For fast, inventive magic systems and a brisk, cinematic feel, Brandon Sanderson’s 'Mistborn: The Final Empire' is a different flavor but similarly addictive once you get sucked in. Kameron Hurley’s 'The Mirror Empire' is brilliant if you appreciate wild scope and characters who break rules; her books have that raw, unfiltered energy that keeps me turning pages late into the night.

For readers who loved the emotional core beneath the nastiness — the relationships and slow burns that make the darker moments land — Robin Hobb’s 'Assassin's Apprentice' is a masterclass in character-driven fantasy. Peter V. Brett’s 'The Warded Man' gives the monster-on-the-world urgency with a cast that grows into its own struggles, which scratches the same survivalist itch that I’ve seen people appreciate in Wills. If you want something a little edgier and less mainstream, Daniel Polansky’s 'Low Town' is noir-tinged fantasy with grim humor and a protagonist who constantly surprises you.

I usually suggest picking one author from the list that matches the part of D.G. Wills’ work you enjoyed most — whether it was the pacing, the darkness, or the character heart — and giving their suggested title a try. Half the joy is discovering which new voice hooks you the same way; I still get excited swapping recs with friends after a late-night binge. If you tell me which exact elements of Wills’ books you loved, I can narrow this down even more and line up some perfect next reads.