John Gwynne readers tend to know what they are looking for.
Big battles. Deep loyalties. Old gods, monsters, bloodshed, and characters trying to do the right thing when the world gives them every reason not to. You want stakes that feel real, but you also want people worth fighting for.
The good news is that there is plenty of fantasy out there for you.
The better news is that some of the strongest books in that space are being published independently.
The ten books below all come from indie authors. That means supporting writers who have chosen to build their own careers, publish on their own terms, and take their work directly to readers rather than waiting for approval from the corporate publishing machine.
Independent fantasy is no longer a fallback option. It is where many of the genre’s most exciting writers are working: authors able to take risks, write the stories they want to write, and put out books at a pace traditional publishing often cannot match.
These are not copies of John Gwynne’s work. They each bring something of their own. But if you love the scale, heart, grit, found-family loyalty, and hard-won heroism of The Faithful and the Fallen or The Bloodsworn Saga, there should be something here for you.
Here are ten indie fantasy books to try after John Gwynne.
Herald by Rob J. Hayes
Herald begins in a world still living with the consequences of a war against Heaven itself.
Ancient terrors are returning, tyrant kings hunt the blood of gods, and a prophecy draws together three people from very different corners of the world.
There is a sense of large-scale danger here that should appeal to readers who enjoy the gathering darkness of The Faithful and the Fallen.
Hayes brings gods, monsters, war, and desperate acts of courage together in a story that feels built for readers who like their epic fantasy big.
A Breaking of Realms by Jasmine Young
Jasmine Young’s A Breaking of Realms puts dragons at the centre of a world shaped by power, status, and brutal political rules.
Skálda wants to become a Dragonlord, but when a dragon from another world chooses her, she becomes a target instead.
The story has dragon riders, rival powers, dangerous bonds, and a heroine forced to decide what she is willing to lose for freedom.
Gwynne readers who enjoy creature-led fantasy, fierce loyalties, and high emotional stakes may find this one a strong fit.
Dragon’s Reach by JA Andrews
Dragon’s Reach follows Sable, a thief from the slums who can tell when people are lying.
Her attempt to escape a gang boss instead pulls her into a wider struggle against the Kalesh Empire and the lies holding it together.
Along the way, she gathers an unlikely group of companions, each carrying secrets of their own.
This is a good choice for Gwynne readers who like resistance against empire, a growing band of allies, and a story where truth can be as dangerous as a sword.
Oaths of Blood by Logan D. Irons
Set during the First Crusade, Oaths of Blood begins with mercenary captain Robert Cutnose preparing to storm Jerusalem.
What waits inside the city is worse than anything the siege has prepared him for, drawing him into an ancient conflict between secret orders, immortal hunters, and blood-soaked relics.
The historical setting gives the violence and religious conflict a raw edge, while the supernatural threat keeps widening beyond one man’s revenge.
Readers who like the brutality, battle scenes, and moral greyness of darker Gwynne might want to start here.
The Way of Edan is a big, thoughtful epic fantasy about holy war, prophecy, cultural conflict, and the people caught beneath them.
The Way of Edan by Philip Chase
The expansionist Kingdom of the Eternal is pushing its faith across Eormenlond by force, while resistance grows among those facing conversion or conquest.
At the centre is Dayraven, a young man carrying a curse that may shape the future of the world.
It has the old-world weight, emotional seriousness, and Anglo-Saxon flavour that make it an easy recommendation for fans of John Gwynne.
Rise of the Ranger by Philip C. Quaintrell
Rise of the Ranger begins with a prophecy, fractured kingdoms, and an old enemy preparing to return.
Asher is a ranger, assassin, and survivor with a past stretching back far further than he remembers.
The series has the feel of classic quest fantasy, but it moves with enough pace to keep the story from becoming too comfortable.
Readers who enjoy ancient evils, hard-fought battles, and a lone warrior drawn into the fate of the wider world should give it a look.
Birthrights by David A. Trotter
Birthrights takes place in Tur’Mor, a sprawling city-state where industry, religion, wealth, and corruption are all fighting for control.
A broken warrior searches for answers, while a group of misfits in the city’s poorer districts try to survive with their own secrets intact.
Beneath the surface, forgotten magic and buried truths are beginning to push back into the world.
This is a strong choice for readers who like Gwynne’s interest in divided societies, found family, and old powers returning to disrupt the present.
Makerborn by Daymon Ashcord
Makerborn opens after a god war, in an empire built on slavery, fear, and the suffering left behind by victory.
Alandra serves the empire that stole her daughter, while Bez survives torture and experimentation with only vengeance keeping him alive.
Their personal struggles pull them towards secrets that could unravel the empire itself.
It is darker than Gwynne’s work in places, but readers who enjoy flawed characters fighting through grief, loyalty, and impossible choices should find plenty to hold onto.
Empire of Ruin by David Green
Empire of Ruin is set in a nation built on conquest, where the emperor has turned magic into a weapon of genocide.
As old enemies return and the empire’s lies begin to fracture, several characters are forced to question their loyalties, their history, and the people they trusted.
The threat is large, but the story keeps its focus on family, divided allegiances, and the human cost of war.
Gwynne readers who enjoy huge stakes, magic with consequences, and characters trying to do the right thing inside a failing system should find a lot here.
The Fall of Wolfsbane by Jon Cronshaw
The Fall of Wolfsbane follows Ragnar and Maja Wolfsbane after the Ostreich Empire conquers their home, kills their father, and takes them into the heart of the enemy’s world.
Ragnar is raised among imperial warriors and wyverns, while Maja must survive court politics with a dangerous gift for influencing minds.
Readers who enjoy Gwynne’s mix of family loyalty, hard choices, rebellion, and the slow rise of heroes should find plenty to enjoy here.
John Gwynne has set a high bar for epic fantasy: stories with real darkness, characters worth caring about, and courage that costs something.
Every book here comes from an independent author, which means every read, review, recommendation, and newsletter sign-up makes a practical difference.
Supporting indie fantasy is not charity. It is a way of finding ambitious books that might never have made it through the narrow gates of corporate publishing.
I have put The Fall of Wolfsbane at the end because it is my own book, and I wanted the rest of this list to stand on its own first. But if you enjoy conquest and rebellion, wyverns, divided loyalties, and characters trying to hold onto themselves inside an empire built on violence, I hope you will give it a try.
And if there is an indie fantasy book John Gwynne fans should know about, leave it in the comments. There are always more stories worth finding.
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