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This is for all the BookTok girlies who fell victim to Baldur’s Gate 3.
There was no escaping the flood of content in August 2023 after Baldur’s Gate 3 was released and took the world by storm. I have never seen a game attract such a wide variety of people, and while I am no stranger to gaming, I admit that I was similarly drawn to the game by… compelling character design (cough cough Astarion I’m looking at you).
While people joked about Baldur’s Gate 3 being an “action packed dating sim,” there is a reason it won Game of the Year in 2023. People play this game over and over again, creating new characters and crafting new stories as they seek to unravel all the game’s secrets. With so many choices, the pathways are endless. It truly is a story that never ends.
So if you came for the characters and stayed for the story, filled with epic adventures, fantastical chaos, and blood-soaked battles, then here are some book recommendations for you.
Books from the writers of Baldur’s Gate 3
If you enjoy the writing in Baldur’s Gate 3, then try these three books, each written by a writer who worked on the game.
Quest Academy: Silvers by Brian J. Nordon
In a world ravaged by a war between demons and humanity, an academy was created. Quest Academy is the only thing that stands between the demons and the end of humanity, ever training the next generation of Heroes in the hopes that one day they will find the Hero who will end it all. And this time, maybe they have. Salvatore Argento doesn’t want to be a Hero, but his unique power may be the key to save humanity from the demons infesting their world. Before he can save the world, first he must learn.
For lovers of fantasy, sci-fi, and dark academia.
Scarlet Citadel by Jack Fields
Gormon Hughes is in trouble. Poor, heartbroken, and indebted to the worst gang in Corinth City, his only salvation lies in the hands of the Scarlet Citadel, an organization of pageant fighters, monster hunters, and secret keepers. In order to survive, Gormon must immerse himself within the Scarlet Citadel and fight for his freedom, fame, and fortune. The climb to the top will be bloody, but with his own dark and twisted magic at his disposal, perhaps he might just win.
A beautiful blend of litrpg and classical fantasy elements. Also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Zara the Fury has been beaten. Awakening to find herself imprisoned by Valerius of the Gilded Knights was quite the shock, but an even bigger shock was waking up in a body and a world that wasn’t her own. Because Zara wasn’t real at all. Zara was the villain in Knights of Eternity, a game in the arcade her nephew was struggling to beat yesterday. But whether she was dreaming or simply going mad, she knew what she must do. Fight.
80’s arcade comes to life in this debut litrpg novel. Also available on Kindle Unlimted.
Books that make you feel like you’re playing D&D
If you enjoy Dungeons & Dragons lore and would be interested in reading a story set in the same or similar world, then try these three books.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Carl is just a regular guy. A regular guy who’s world got invaded by aliens and was forced with the rest of the surviving population of Earth into an underground dungeon to fight to the death. With the help of his ex-girlfriend’s now-talking cat, Princess Donut, and a pair of enchanted heart-print boxers, Carl must fight to reach the deepest floor of the dungeon for the chance to save humanity. Oh, and the entire thing is televised.
The Hunger Games meets D&D in this hilariously clever litrpg novel. Also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Homeland: The Legend of Drizzt by R.A. Salvatore
Drizzt was not supposed to be alive. By drow tradition, he was meant to be sacrificed to Lloth. Such is the way of things in the Underdark. But after the unexpected death of his older brother, Drizzt’s life was spared, thrusting Drizzt into a dark and unforgiving life that he wasn’t meant to live. A life that is anything but kind to him. There is no place for a dark elf with a good heart in Menzoberranzan and Drizzt must find a way to stay true to himself and his morals while surviving in his cruel and deadly home.
An action-packed fantasy book set in the Forgotten Realms, the same D&D Campaign setting as Baldur’s Gate 3.
Non-player characters are not heroes. They do not win fights and they do not save the day. But, what would happen if they had to be? In the town of Maplebark, four NPCs find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time. Adventure is thrust upon them and they must choose to either pretend to be the heroes this story needs, or see their town and their loved ones face certain death.
A behind the scenes look at a D&D campaign gone wrong. Also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Books based off tabletop games
If you enjoy when gaming and storytelling mix, try these two books written by authors who were inspired by tabletop rpg campaigns.
Frostgrave: Second Chances: A Tale of the Frozen City by Mathew Ward
Sisters Yelen and Mirika Semova are explorers, renown in the Frozen City for their success. But after taking a job and discovering a rare artifact, Yelen and Mirika get more adventure than they bargained for. The sisters are separated and must confront their own demons in the wake of the dark truths the artifact revealed. Each are faced with a terrible choice, one they must make if they are to save the Frozen City and break the curse plaguing Yelen and her magic.
A tie in to the fantasy skirmish wargame Frostgrave, brimming with ancient cities, wizard battles, and fallen empires.
Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist
When a spacetime is opened between two worlds, the Kingdom of the Isles finds the unlikeliest of heroes in Pug. Pug, an orphan, who came to study with master magician Kulgan, has never fit into the mold of what a magician is supposed to be. But it is his unique magic that might save both worlds from the dark beings who plague them and end the age-old war between Order and Chaos.
The product of when an author falls in love with his D&D campaign and developed it into something more. Feist was also involved in the development of Betrayal at Krondor, a game set in his Riftwar world.
Choose your adventure
Because what’s better than starting another play-through of Baldur’s Gate 3? Starting another one AND reading a book that evokes the same sense of joy. The fun doesn’t need to end after turning off your console. Happy reading!
