10 audiobooks for fans of A Gathering of Shadows
- 1
The Fragile Threads of Power
Threads of Power • Book 1
by V.E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab
Narrated by Kate Reading, Marisa Calin, Michael Kramer
The continuation deepens the magic system and character arcs established in A Gathering of Shadows while maintaining Schwab's lush, immersive prose—and the return of your familiar narrators makes slipping back into this world feel like coming home. The expanded runtime allows for richer world-building and more intricate plotting, rewarding listeners who became invested in the first book's intricate tapestry of power and ambition.
★ 4.28 ABR Score (47.9K ratings)★ 4.26 Goodreads (47.0K) ★ 4.66 Audible (847)21h 35m listening time • Released 2023Schwab's return to her Darker Shade of Magic world crackles with intricate magic and political intrigue, while three narrators masterfully embody distinct perspectives across a sprawling, interconnected story.
- 2
The Lost Metal
The Mistborn Saga • Book 7
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Michael Kramer's masterful narration carries you through another richly layered fantasy world where magic systems are as intricate as they are captivating, and where morally complex characters navigate high stakes with the same emotional depth you experienced in A Gathering of Shadows. Sanderson's world-building demands the same attentive listening that Schwab's does, rewarding you with a sprawling narrative that unfolds with cinematic grandeur across its extended runtime.
★ 4.70 ABR Score (136.9K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (122.5K) ★ 4.86 Audible (14.4K)18h 46m listening time • Released 2022Michael Kramer brings surgical precision to Sanderson's sprawling finale, keeping you locked in through 18+ hours of intricate plotting and emotional payoffs that actually land. This is the rare epic fantasy audiobook where the narrator's control matches the author's ambition.
- 3
The Bands of Mourning
Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 3
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Michael Kramer's masterful narration brings the same richness and dramatic intensity to Sanderson's intricate magic system and character development as he does to Schwab's lush prose, while both audiobooks deliver epic fantasy adventures grounded in complex world-building and morally nuanced protagonists. The listening experience maintains that immersive, cinematic quality you appreciated in A Gathering of Shadows, with layered plots and high stakes that unfold across similarly satisfying runtime.
★ 4.66 ABR Score (220.8K ratings)★ 4.4 Goodreads (193.3K) ★ 4.81 Audible (27.4K)14h 41m listening time • Released 2016Michael Kramer's narration elevates this already brilliant heist-mystery, bringing razor-sharp distinction to Sanderson's cast while keeping the intricate magic system crystal clear at audiobook pace.
- 4
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
by V.E. Schwab, Victoria Schwab
Narrated by Julia Whelan, Katie Leung, Marisa Calin
Schwab's signature blend of intricate worldbuilding and morally complex characters returns with the same immersive depth, while the expanded cast of narrators creates a richer vocal landscape that mirrors the book's multi-perspective storytelling. Those drawn to her atmospheric prose and character-driven fantasy will find the same lyrical quality that makes her work so compelling to experience through audio.
★ 4.06 ABR Score (178.0K ratings)★ 3.93 Goodreads (174.6K) ★ 4.43 Audible (3.4K)18h 26m listening time • Released 2025Schwab's immortal love story across centuries demands multiple narrators, and Whelan, Leung, and Calin deliver distinct voices that make each timeline feel like its own world. The audiobook transforms what could be a sprawling narrative into something intimate and devastating.
- 5
Words of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive • Book 2
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
Both audiobooks feature the masterful dual narration of Kramer and Reading, creating richly layered character voices that bring complex magical systems and intricate relationships to life. Words of Radiance expands on the epic scope and character-driven storytelling you appreciated in A Gathering of Shadows, with similarly immersive world-building and high-stakes magical competition woven throughout a longer, deeply rewarding listening experience.
★ 4.96 ABR Score (587.5K ratings)★ 4.76 Goodreads (498.0K) ★ 4.9 Audible (89.5K)48h 15m listening time • Released 2014The second Stormlight Archive book surpasses the first — the magic system, the characters, and the worldbuilding all deepen into one of epic fantasy's greatest achievements.
- 6
The Way of Kings
The Cosmere • Book 1
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
The same expert narration from Kramer and Reading brings epic depth to Sanderson's intricate magic system and interconnected character arcs, offering a similarly immersive fantasy world that rewards close listening. Both works balance sweeping political intrigue with intimate character moments, though The Way of Kings expands that scope into a richly layered saga that deepens with each re-listen.
★ 4.89 ABR Score (796.4K ratings)★ 4.66 Goodreads (683.1K) ★ 4.84 Audible (113.2K)45h 30m listening time • Released 2010Sanderson's most ambitious work — a 45-hour epic with one of the most intricately designed magic systems in fantasy, and characters whose growth pays off magnificently.
- 7
The Hero of Ages
The Mistborn Saga • Book 3
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Michael Kramer's commanding narration brings the same gravitas to Sanderson's epic world-building and intricate magic system, while both audiobooks deliver immersive fantasy narratives that balance intimate character moments with sweeping, high-stakes adventure. The Hero of Ages expands on the darker, more complex themes of power and sacrifice that make A Gathering of Shadows compelling, offering a similarly rich listening experience across its extended runtime.
★ 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.
- 8
Oathbringer
The Stormlight Archive • Book 3
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Both audiobooks feature the same stellar narration duo of Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, whose dynamic character work brings richly layered magic systems and complex protagonists to life with equal skill. Oathbringer shares A Gathering of Shadows' focus on intricate worldbuilding and character development, though it offers a significantly deeper immersion with its epic scope and explores similar themes of power, identity, and redemption across a longer, more expansive listening journey.
★ 4.83 ABR Score (432.0K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (365.0K) ★ 4.84 Audible (67.0K)55h 5m listening time • Released 2017Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this sprawling epic into something transcendent—their dual narration captures three interconnected characters with such distinct emotional depth that 55 hours vanishes. Oathbringer is where Sanderson's intricate magic system and moral complexity finally match the scope of his ambition.
- 9
The Final Empire
The Mistborn Saga • Book 1
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Michael Kramer's masterful narration brings the same immersive depth to Sanderson's intricate magic system and character-driven narrative as he does in A Gathering of Shadows, while The Final Empire offers the darker, epic scope and morally complex world-building that fantasy listeners crave. The longer runtime rewards you with richer worldbuilding and the same meticulous attention to detail that makes Schwab's prose sing in audio form.
★ 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.
- 10
The Gathering Storm
The Wheel of Time • Book 12
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
The same exceptional narration team brings their signature dual-voice storytelling to an epic fantasy that matches A Gathering of Shadows in its intricate magic systems and high-stakes competition, though expanded across a far grander scope and timeline. Both works immerse listeners in richly layered worlds where power, ambition, and political intrigue drive characters toward pivotal moments of transformation.
★ 4.77 ABR Score (224.4K ratings)★ 4.44 Goodreads (178.7K) ★ 4.9 Audible (45.7K)41h 47m listening time • Released 2013Kramer and Reading's dual narration finally gives the Wheel of Time the vocal landscape it deserves, turning a sprawling epic into something genuinely intimate and propulsive.
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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.