Books like The Golden Compass
30 fantasy books to read after The Golden Compass, by Pullman, Philip, the closest match first.
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Damar book 1 Start here
1. The Blue Sword
by Mckinley, Robin
- 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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The Queen Of The Tearling book 1 Start here
2. 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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3. 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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Time Quintet book 1 Start here
4. A Wrinkle In Time
by L'engle, Madeleine
- On the same lists
An award winning, YA series of books that present, at least in part, a Christian world-view.
With a foot in both Science Fiction and Fantasy, A Wrinkle in Time is a bridge between reality and fantasy, a meeting place for adult and child readers alike. Meg...
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His Dark Materials book 1 Start here
5. The Golden Compass
by Pullman, Philip
- Same author
This series follows two world hopping children through fateful adventures as they try to save the world—all of them. Mysterious, heroic, magical, breathtaking, this trilogy has lots to offer.
A young girl's journey of magic and discovery that will take her to the ends of the earth...and beyond. His Dark Materials is a modern classic that can be enjoyed...
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6. His Dark Materials
by Pullman, Philip
- Same author
A trilogy of young adult novels where science, theology, and magic are intertwined.
This series is challenging. Not because it's badly written or because there's a complex world to understand, but because it asks the reader to consider their beliefs and question everything...
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7. 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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8. Codex Alera
by Butcher, Jim
- On the same lists
While some of the books on this list offer a fresh take on the classics, Jim Butcher creates something entirely new. It began on a writer's workshop board during an...
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Bloodsounder's Arc book 1 Start here
9. Scourge Of The Betrayer
by Salyards, Jeff
- On the same lists
This novel is dark fantasy down to the core, bringing a refreshing tone and plenty of room for development. It's told not from the eyes of the protagonist but the...
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Shattered Sea book 2
10. Half The World
by Abercrombie, Joe
- On the same lists
Abercrombie kicked off his Shattered Sea series with the award-winning Half a King, but his second novel approaches true mastery. Half the World picks up many years after the first,...
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11. Nation
by Pratchett, Terry
- On the same lists
Pratchett's immensely successful Discworld gets the most attention of his works, but amongst those works lie unrelated novels that deserve even more praise. Nation is one of those, and may...
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Nightrunner book 2
12. Stalking Darkness
by Flewelling, Lynn
- On the same lists
Flewelling's series takes place in the medieval country of Skala and presents a near-perfect sword and sorcery experience. It details the growth of Alec, saved from prison by Seregil, a...
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13. Seventh Son
by Card, Orson Scott
- On the same lists
This series is part Fantasy and part Alternate History and takes place after the American Revolutionary War. Supernatural powers are simply a part of life. The main character has tremendous powers.
Orson Scott Card is best known for his immensely popular Ender's Game series, but he hasn't just tried his hand at the sci-fi genre. Card markets Alvin Maker as a...
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14. The Cycle Of Fire
by Wurts, Janny
- On the same lists
The Cycle of Fire is another one of those classic series. The world is in danger, and three children are its only chance of survival. It's a popular plot line,...
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15. Magician
by Feist, Raymond E.
- On the same lists
It's really hard to go wrong with a good magician's apprentice story, but Raymond Feist manages to push beyond that with an epic scale and several new elements. Magician is...
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16. Song Of The Lioness
by Pierce, Tamora
- On the same lists
Tamora Pierce's Lioness series manages to touch on difficult issues without ever preaching them. Through Alanna, she explores both feminist and gender identity issues while weaving an epic story of...
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17. The Troupe
by Bennett, Robert Jackson
- On the same lists
Vaudeville: mad, mercenary, dreamy, and absurd, a world of clashing cultures and ferocious showmanship and wickedly delightful deceptions. But sixteen-year-old pianist George Carole has joined vaudeville for one reason only:...
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18. 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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19. 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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20. 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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21. 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
22. 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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23. 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
24. 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
25. 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
26. 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...
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Wildwood Chronicles book 1 Start here
27. Wildwood
by Meloy, Colin
- On the same lists
I loved this wild and unruly story for its whimsical course, poetic prose, and indomitable heroine. She is a fiercely independent 7th grader who is so wonderfully Portland. She's vegan,...
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28. The Sun Sword Series
by West, Michele
- On the same lists
Here West creates a deeply original world, evocative of India, or the 1001 Arabian Nights, or ancient Japan; I really can't place it, as it is truly its own, with...
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29. The Traitor Baru Cormorant
by Dickinson, Seth
- On the same lists
How do you take down an empire that will wash away all traces of your culture and customs? From the inside. This provocative geopolitical fantasy was such a surprise. Don't...
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30. Amulet Collection
by Kibuishi, Kazu
- On the same lists
Such a lovely dark and enchanting series! Fair warning, you can't just read volume one and call it a day or you miss the great character and plot development this...
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 The Golden Compass.
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