Books like Beauty
30 fantasy books to read after Beauty, by Mckinley, Robin, the closest match first.
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Damar book 1 Start here
1. The Blue Sword
by Mckinley, Robin
- Same author
- On the same lists
The original "strong heroine" fantasy author, McKinley broke new ground with her work in the 80's. Harry Crewe feels restless, insignificant, invisible. Until kelar, a kind of magical force handed...
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Damar book 2
2. The Hero And The Crown
by Mckinley, Robin
- Same author
- On the same lists
A classic book that features many recognizable Fantasy tropes: royalty, romance, enchantment, dragons, war.
Aerin is shy, clumsy, ugly, and mistrusted by the people she is supposed to rule. She is ridiculed for being the daughter of a witch with none of her witchy...
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The Queen Of The Tearling book 1 Start here
3. The Queen Of The Tearling
by Johansen, Erika
- On the same lists
In a post-apocalyptic rendition of Earth, civilization has returned to medieval technology, and the rightful queen who was hidden away as a child seeks to regain her throne. Johansen attempts...
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4. Sorcerer's Son
by Eisenstein, Phyllis
- On the same lists
The premise for this series – of a humanized demon and his struggle for freedom – isn't one you'll come across often. It's the kind of idea that could go...
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5. Tiger And Del Series
by Robertson, Jennifer
- On the same lists
This series starts off with so much promise. Del, brave warrior-woman in the North has been training for five years to rescue her brother from slavers in the South and...
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6. The Wee Free Men
by Pratchett, Terry
- On the same lists
"Yes! I'm *me*! I am careful and logical and I look up things I don't understand! When I hear people use the wrong words, I get edgy! I am good...
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7. Nine Princes In Amber: Book One
by Zelazny, Roger
- On the same lists
In the 70s, this was considered the freshest kind of fantasy, and today's writers often point to it as one of their inspirations.Why it made the listThe world-building concept in...
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8. The Silmarillion
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
The Silmarillion is to The Lord of the Rings as the Old Testament is to Westboro Baptist Church. Minus the offensive stupidity. If you're a fervent Tolkien fan, you'll love...
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9. The Michael Moorcock Library Vol.1: Elric Of Melnibone
by Thomas, Roy
- On the same lists
Before the comments section roasts this list, we know Elric appeared in a short story in the 60s. It was only in the 70s that the novel form would be...
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10. Gate Of Ivrel
by Cherryh, C. J.
- On the same lists
It wasn't until the 90s that really gritty fantasy became the norm for the genre, which is why The Morgaine Stories were so different to the standard epic fantasies of...
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11. Tales From The Flat Earth - The Lords Of Darkness
by Lee, Tanith
- On the same lists
In blending A Thousand And One Nights with fantasy elements, Lee created an original world by departing from the Euro-centric mythology that Tolkien had drawn upon in The Lord of...
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12. Thieves' World Series
by Aspirin, Robert
- On the same lists
The Thieves' World Series is the literary equivalent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Or maybe it's closer to the DC Extended Universe in that sometimes Ben Affleck ruins things. The...
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13. To Your Scattered Bodies Go
by Farmer, Philip Jose
- On the same lists
This series can also be considered Science Fiction. Humanity is resurrected (from across all of history) on the banks of a constructed world.
There are some problematic things about this series, but it's an interesting concept and the action scenes are some of the most fun to come out of the 70s. The...
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14. Dragonsong
by Mccaffrey, Anne
- On the same lists
Anne McCaffrey's world of Pern is one of the most well-known – and well realized – worlds in the genre. Dragonsong is a quick read that's perfect for anyone looking...
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15. The Bloody Chamber
by Carter, Angela
- On the same lists
If you've ever paid real attention to fairy tales, you'll have noticed that they're not at all friendly. It's kind of like what happens when you watch roadrunner cartoons and...
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16. Deryni Rising
by Kurtz, Katherine
- On the same lists
That this series remains unknown by today's fantasy readers is a pity, because it's a great series – especially for fans of political fantasy or fantasy that occurs in worlds...
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17. Myth Adventures Series
by Asprin, Robert
- On the same lists
Need a break from lengthy, dense and heavy-handed epic fantasy? Pick this series up – it's lighthearted and easy to read. As with most 70s fantasy, don't expect great female...
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18. The Sword Of Shannara
by Brooks, Terry
- On the same lists
After a nuclear holocaust civilization was destroyed and the world now has a blend of magic and primitive technology—an epic story told across many volumes.
There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who want to burn The Sword of Shannara and those who say they want to burn The Sword of Shannara...
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19. The Drawing Of The Dark
by Powers, Tim
- On the same lists
Other than a good cup of coffee (or tea), a beach or a fresh doughnut, there's nothing that relaxes many people than a cold beer. Beer lovers will talk metaphorically...
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20. The Crystal Cave
by Stewart, Mary
- On the same lists
The first in a series that retells the legend of Merlin.
Sometimes it feels like the Arthurian legend has been done to death. Because it has. But there are some retellings of the tale that are worth reading – if only...
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The Shining book 1 Start here
21. The Shining
by King, Stephen
- On the same lists
A caretaker and his family spend a winter in the Overlook Hotel, King's terrifying novel of a house that wants them.
Disclaimer: Avoid King books if you're sensitive to the overuse of adverbs. Second disclaimer: The movie and the book are quite different, but neither will ruin you for the other...
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22. Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind
by Miyazaki, Hayao
- On the same lists
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is listed by Stephen Betts as one of the 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die in his book of the same...
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23. By The Sword
by Lackey, Mercedes
- On the same lists
By the Sword is full of kickass women. Kerowyn is the granddaughter of the sorceress Kethry, daughter of a noble house, runs the family keep, loves hunting and training horses....
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24. Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary
- On the same lists
Speaking of Classics, we cannot have a list featuring strong female heroines and leave out Wonder Woman. With the 2017 movie featuring Gal Gadot there's been renewed interest in her...
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25. Song Of The Lioness Quartet
by Pierce, Tamora
- On the same lists
Many fantasy-loving women got hooked on fantasy with Alanna as teens. She has her heart set on being a knight, even though it's not "what girls do," and that passion...
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The Immortals book 1 Start here
26. The Immortals
by Pierce, Tamora
- On the same lists
Couldn't leave this one out. Yes, it's another Tamora Pierce YA treasure set in the Kingdom of Tortall,; you can even cross paths with the Lioness herself. Yet Immortals takes...
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27. The Forgotten Beasts Of Eld
by Mckillip, Patricia A.
- On the same lists
Sybel is only sixteen when she is brought an orphaned baby to raise. She has little love for humans, having been raised alone on Eld Mountain with only the magical...
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Ms. Marvel book 1 Start here
28. Ms. Marvel
by Wilson, G. Willow
- On the same lists
This reboot is everything. Diversity FTW! I love that this incarnation of Ms. Marvel is a teenage Pakistani-American from Jersey, who's just as thrilled about her superpowers as she is...
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Fire And Thorns book 1 Start here
29. The Girl Of Fire And Thorns
by Carson, Rae
- On the same lists
FINALLY. A high fantasy novel featuring someone whose beauty isn't one of her major selling points. I love that Elisa is a clever, resourceful, humanly flawed heroine who relies on...
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A Court Of Thorns And Roses book 1 Start here
30. A Court Of Thorns And Roses Series
by Maas, Sarah J.
- On the same lists
For romantic fantasy fans, A Court of Thorns and Roses has it all: mysterious men, tension, romance, magic, and steamy sex scenes. By the end of book one Feyre is...
Matches come from series and authors, from the lists the books share, and from the books readers open together. They are rebuilt every night. Back to Beauty.
The shortlist
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