If you liked JRR Tolkien’s take on Lord of the Rings – his characters, the detailed description as to the geography, history, and lifestyles of the kingdoms of Middle Earth, the mix of races – Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, etc., and of course the plot – then you’ll definitely like David Eddings’ Belgariad.

The Belgariad – consisting of 5 books, and followed by The Mallorean, another 5-part series, – tells us the story of how Garion, an orphaned boy, is destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save the world by reclaiming the orb from the one-eyed god Torak, the youngest of the 7 gods.

An unlikely mix of individuals are also predestined to help Garion with his task: Belgarath, who’s perceived to be the most powerful sorcerer in the land, his Aunt Pol – the beautiful and mysterious woman who had raised him at Faldor’s Farm and who also happens to be a great sorceress and the daughter of Belgarath, Ce’Nedra – a beautiful princess with nymph ancestry, Barak – a redhead giant who turns into a bear to protect Garion from danger, Leldorin – an impuslive dandy but also a deadly accurate Bowman, Mandorallen – the Knight Protector, Silk – an unlikely prince, he’s a master at spying and doing business, and takes the role of Guide in the quest for the stolen orb, and Velvet (although she is rarely acknowledged by other fans as an important player in the series) – a young spy who has a small but significant contribution to the quest.

Book List:
Book 1 – Pawn of Prophecy
Book 2 – Queen of Sorcery
Book 3 – Magician’s Gambit
Book 4 – Castle of Wizardry
Book 5 – Enchanter’s End Game

Prequels:
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress