Fantasy Adventures Where Science and Strategy Shape the World (10 books)

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These aren’t your typical magic-only fantasy stories. In these books, knowledge matters—whether it’s science, strategy, engineering, or clever problem-solving. If you like fantasy with a grounded edge, where characters build, learn, and outthink their enemies as much as they fight them, this list offers immersive worlds with a different kind of power at play.

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1	The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads Author) 4.52 avg rating — 1,124,941 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
1	The Lonely Knight: A Myre Novel by Bruce Clayton (Goodreads Author) 4.57 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Martian by Andy Weir (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 1,391,854 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.01 avg rating — 379,561 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Black Prism (Lightbringer, #1) by Brent Weeks (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 134,981 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 60,051 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1) by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.66 avg rating — 734,478 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Goblin Emperor (The Chronicles of Osreth, #1) by Katherine Addison (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 58,360 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Senlin Ascends (The Books of Babel, #1) by Josiah Bancroft 4.10 avg rating — 35,395 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Folding Knife by K.J. Parker really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,669 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars