5 Fantasy Books to Read If You Like Returnity (And Why It Belongs in the Conversation)

Readers drawn to morally complex protagonists, decaying empires, and epic fantasy that blends political scheming with world-altering magic will find a perfect match in Returnity, the flagship series published by Returnity Books.

Set on the sentient planet of Tethia, where a mysterious anomaly has warped time and an intelligent fungal blight creeps across the land, Returnity begins with Glowing Ambition—a dark, Machiavellian fantasy about ambition, corruption, and survival in a post-catastrophe world.

Here are five fantasy (and adjacent) novels that share DNA with Returnity—books that tackle power, transformation, and the high cost of control.

1. The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

📌 Why It Fits: Like Returnity, it’s cerebral, politically charged, and driven by a protagonist torn between personal loyalty and ruthless ambition. Baru’s slow corruption mirrors the creeping influence of the alchemy guild.🎯 Bonus: It's a masterclass in financial warfare and empire subversion.

2. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

📌 Why It Fits: Scheming, city-states, and criminals playing aristocrats. It’s gritty, sharp, and has that same sense of clever protagonists trying to outmaneuver a stacked system.

🎯 Bonus: The camaraderie and wit balance out the darker themes—perfect for fans of the more human moments in Returnity.

3. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

📌 Why It Fits: It's haunting, tragic, and deeply political. Like Returnity, it poses big questions about memory, identity, and nationhood.🎯 Bonus: Kay’s prose is lyrical without slowing down the narrative—ideal for fans who want artistry without losing momentum.

4. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

📌 Why It Fits: Magic meets industrial espionage. The setting is tech-adjacent fantasy, with a heroine fighting against powerful merchant guilds. Sounds familiar, right?

🎯 Bonus: Its magic system has a “sci-fi logic” vibe that resonates with Returnity's rational architecture and alchemical infrastructure.

5. Dune by Frank Herbert

📌 Why It Fits: Yes, it’s sci-fi—but Dune laid the foundation for epic worldbuilding with political, ecological, and religious themes. The spice is basically the mushroom. Paul Atreides and Barron Alarie would hate each other… or work together and betray each other gloriously.

🎯 Bonus: For readers who want more philosophical weight and slow-burn rebellion.