D&D novels have shared extreme popularity with the tabletop role-playing game for decades. Even at specific points in the game’s history, the novels were actually the money-makers in the business. Many of the Dungeons and Dragons novels hit the New York Time Bestsellers list.
If you haven’t read any of the books here’s the best place to start with with D&D novels. Note: These are novels, not gamebooks. If you want the gamebooks, check out my post on D&D Recommending Reading.
Dungeons and Dragons Novels: Where to Start – Dark Elf Trilogy
The best starting point with the books is the Dark Elf Trilogy. Below are links to the audiobook versions which you can get for free with a three-month trial of Audible. There are links to the paperbacks as well.
- Homeland: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy – Book 1
- Exile: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy – Book 2
- Sojourn: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy – Book 3
These are classic novels that introduced the beloved character of Drizzt by R. A. Salvatore and the stories have continued beyond the original trilogy. You can find the complete Legend of Drizzt novels here. Thirty-six novels in all.
Icewind Dale Trilogy Novels
- The Crystal Shard: Legend of Drizzt: Icewind Dale Trilogy – Book 1
- Streams of Silver: Legend of Drizzt: Icewind Dale Trilogy – Book 2
- The Halfling’s Gem: Legend of Drizzt: Icewind Dale Trilogy – Book 3
The Cleric Quintet
- Canticle: Forgotten Realms The Cleric Quintet – Book 1
- In Sylvan Shadows: Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet – Book 2
- Night Masks: Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet – Book 3
- The Fallen Fortress: Forgotten Realms – The Cleric Quintet – Book 4
- The Chaos Curse: Forgotten Realms The Cleric Quintet – Book 5
Forgotten Realms: Moonshae Trilogy
- Darkwalker on Moonshae: Forgotten Realms: Moonshae Trilogy – Book 1
- Black Wizards: Forgotten Realms: Moonshae Trilogy – Book 2
- Darkwell: Forgotten Realms: Moonshae Trilogy – Book 3
Great Place to Start with DND Novels
Overwhelmed yet? It is easy to be swamped by the number of titles available from Dungeons and Dragons. The novels go on and on. However, this is a great place to start with some of the classic D&D novels.
If you want newer novels, some of the latest releases are movie tie-in books called Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (just like the movie).