I'm a security guard who works a graveyard shift, and I'm looking for audiobook recommendations. I need to watch my security cameras, so something that plays in the background would be welcome to help while away the hours.

I'm particularly interested in a fantasy series where the protagonist is a mage of some sort. I've got the Libby app, and I think I've put a request to my library to get the audiobook version of Treachery's Wake featuring Mialee from the Forgotten Realms of D&D

Any recommendations for a good audiobook, whether it be uploaded to YouTube or anywhere else, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for the recommendations.

  • Magician by Raymond E Feist is one of the classics of this. Highly recommend

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    Great results. Hope you enjoy it

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    his series are honestly fantastic.

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  • Wheel of Time. Classic, long, complete.

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  • Beneath the Dragoneye Moons. It’s a completely written series, not sure where it’s up to with the audiobook release though. I haven’t listened to the books, but they’re definitely on my list to get. 16 books long. It’s about a girl from our world who is reincarnated into another with magic. Humans aren’t the top of the pecking order either. It’s initially set in an ancient Rome like culture, and the protagonist becomes a healer-mage. Magic, dinosaurs, fantasy creatures, (some are quite creative), moral quandaries, divinity etc.

    Another is The Mark of the Fool. It’s about a young man who is one of the chosen 5. Selected by his god to face his homelands ancient evil. Except he goes ‘stuff that!’ And goes to wizard university instead. His Mark (the Fool) actively hinders his ability to use magic, until he learns to game its interference. It’s also really funny - I loooove his cabal members, and the interactions between quite a few of the characters. Almost all the audio books are out on audible, just the last one to go.

    Skyclad and Skybound are also pretty fun listens - I’m really hoping Scott releases book 3 sometime soon. Again characters from our world going to another. Main character becomes a very powerful mage. It really feels like a massive world, rich with lore and history, where characters have their own lives and motivations separate from the world hoppers, though it also acknowledges their world changing impact.

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    Thanks for the recommendations. I'm a little burned-out on isekai adventures, but Mark of the Fool sounds like a stand-out choice! I'll look into it!

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  • The Penric and Desdemona novellas by Lois McMaster Bujold might be fun. They follow a man (Penric) and the demon (Desdemona) he's possessed by/friends with, and who enables him to do magic. There's about 15 of them, and they're each short and engaging self contained adventures, so they're probably good for listening to at work.

    If you already have a Spotify subscription they also have many of fantasy audiobooks available, which can be convenient if your library doesn't have something or there is a long wait. They have the new Wheel of Time ones recorded by Rosamund Pike, which might fit what you want (there are lots of protagonists, but many of them are magic users). I've been listening to The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez and Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, both of which are high fantasy that feature magic users, though not exactly "mages."

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    Thanks for the recommendations!

    I don't have Spotify, and the only audiobook for the Penric series I could find on YouTube is the 11th in the series. Oh well. I'll definitely keeep it in mind, though 👍

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    It might be available through Libby, or whichever app your library uses. Good luck!

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  • Zack Argyle runs the Epic Fantasy Audiobooks YouTube channel you can listen to for free, with the ad revenue for the channel getting split amongst all the authors. The audiobooks for Argyle's entire Threadlight trilogy are all up on the channel and the series follows several mage protagonists.

    Christopher Buehlman also has an author narrated version of his standalone, Between Two Fires, on his YouTube channel, which a fan has collected in a handy playlist. It's medieval dark fantasy that borders on Biblical horror. The protagonist doesn't meet your mage criteria (he's a knight-turned-brigand on a reluctant escort mission), but it's a great story and the author-narrated version is a wonderfully atmospheric listening experience that I highly recommend.

    If you don't mind a self-promo related rec, you might enjoy my book, Petition by Delilah Waan. I had nothing to add to magic school, so I wrote fantasy job interviews in an East Asian–inspired setting where everybody is an empath. The audiobook is narrated by the phenomenal Emily Woo Zeller and available on Libby.

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    Okay! I just subscribed to his channel. Never heard of Threadlight before, but I'll check it out.

    Biblical horror can be okay. I'll look into Christopher Buehlman at some point 👍

    Magic schools are overused and kinda lame, but fantasy job interviews? Sounds like horror! I'll put it on my list. Thanks Delilah ☺️

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  • You might try Spellmonger by Terry Mancour. Morally-grey mage protagonist with a sense of humour, rich lore, political intrigue, excellent world-building, detailed magic system. John Lee is, imo, one of the best narrators around and makes the audiobooks such a joy to listen to.

    There are 17 books so far with a planned 30 so plenty to keep you company if you so wish.

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    Just checked, and audiobook 1 is on Libby! I've got it tagged and I'm looking forward to listening to it! Thanks ☺️

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  • Dresden files is not high fantasy is urban fantasy but man it's the best wizard protagonist ever.picks up from 3rd book onwards and audiobooks narrations are top notch. Hedgemage will be another good suggestions

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    Y'know, I've been mixed about whether to consider Dresden or not. It takes place in our modern world, which I find distasteful.

    I'll definitely keeep it on the back burner if I ever come around to the idea, though 👍

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  • The Last Herald -Mage it's a trilogy by Mercedes Lackley,Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King it's about an evil mage and probably about the origins of one of his most enduring characters

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    Curious, was this Stephen King when he was high on cocaine? 🤪

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    No, he actually wrote this for his children but it's an awesome book and even the softcover copies have amazing illustrations but it is not a kiddie book

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    Fascinating! A Stephen King book for kids, but not really for kids?

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    Yeah, it's more for teens than for kids but it's so good

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  • The Color of Magic and sequels by Terry Pratchett.

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    Do these take place on Discworld?

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    Yes. The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic are the first two Discworld books. They’re about Rincewind the wizard who isn’t very good at it

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    They hit harder if you’re at least passingly familiar with classic fantasy series and tropes. For example, there’s references to Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series and Conan the Barbarian, but they’re still very good on their own.

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  • The Dragonlance series has Raistlin Majere who isn't necessarily always the main character but definitely has main character energy. He also veers off the path of Protagonist throughout the series, but he's probably my favorite mage in fantasy.

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    That's it! Raistlin is somewhat a side character in Chronicles, which is the first trilogy, but becomes much more prominent and important beyond that. He is still part of the main party in Chronicles though and has his fair share of screen time.

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  • I'm a girl so you may not vibe with everything but here's a few series you can check out split up by age ranges.

    I enjoy all types of fantasy books so some of these are for young adults and below but that doesn’t take away from their worthiness in my opinion.

    Adult Mistborn Trilogy: Super good fantasy series about a girl who learns to use magnetic magic. Highly recommend this one.

    Her Majesty's Royal Coven Trilogy: A queer story about a coven of witches in modern day attempting to stop the end of the world. Book 2 is extremely rough but it makes up for it in the end.

    Poppy War Trilogy: One of the darkest recommends. A girl learns to command the power of gods by doing opium. It's insane, dark and a heavy series but really good.

    Darth Bane Trilogy: While not high fantasy this Trilogy is peak Star Wars and is a perfect blending of high fantasy mages and science fiction all from the villains perspective. Highly recommend this one if you are a Star Wars fan.

    YA-Kids Witchlings: A super emotional series about a young girl being put into the spare witch coven which is seen as a metaphorical death sentence.

    The Last Hope School For Magical Delinquents dualogy: Essentualy a shorter version of Harry Potter but not written by a bigot. Super cute, super fun preteen adventure in a magic school.

    The School For Wicked Witches: A Wizard of Oz series set in a magic school. Like Last Hope its a fun preteen adventure but rather than Harry Potter its WOO.

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    Thanks for the recommendations! I've heard good things about Mistborn, so I might give it a shot.

    I do feel the whole "magic school" thing is a little too overplayed, but I'll take those recommendations into consideration. Also not looking for stories that take place in our world, especially not modern day. I'm looking more for an escape from the real world 😅

    Witchlings sounds really cool! So that's probably going to the top of my list 😁

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  • Rise of the Mages by Scott Drakeford

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  • Dungeon Crawler Carl. Was never a fan of the genre or audio books. This one sold me.

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    Wacky is for sure! No, that's not it. Search Jeff Hays, he's the narrator, DCC. There are currently 7 books, 8 comes out in May with 10 total planned.

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    I think it's available on Libby. I'm not sure I understand how this app works, but I'll talk to a librarian or two and figure it out. Thanks!

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    If you search Jeff Hays on you tube you find some of his readings on for this

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    "Some," but that's not the complete reading. The story wouldn't be complete ☹️

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    I only meant you could try it out to see if you like it. DCC is Amazon exclusive, Kindle and Audible. Downloaded Audible just for these books.

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    Okay. I feel you should have led with it being an exclusive 😅

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    yeah, probably. Sorry :)

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  • I will suggest "The name of the wind-The Kingkiller Chronicle", by Patrick Rothfuss Follows Kvothe, a legendary wizard-like figure telling his life story — rich magic, lore, and deep characterization. Excellent audiobook narration perfect for long shifts it's about 28 Hrs audio.

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    Hey hey! That sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the recommendation. Is it streaming anywhere? If not I'll request it through Libby.

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    I'll give a warning that only 2 of the 3 planned books have been published and it's becoming more and more likely it'll never be finished.

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    did the third book ever come out for that?

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