Books like Kushiel's Dart
30 fantasy books to read after Kushiel's Dart, by Carey, Jacqueline, the closest match first.
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Kushiel's Universe book 2
1. Kushiel's Chosen
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same series
- Same author
Following hard on the heels of Kushiel's Dart, Jacqueline Carey's spectacular debut novel, comes Kushiel's Chosen, the second in the glittering and riveting Kushiel's Legacy Trilogy. Phèdre nó Delaunay has...
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Kushiel's Universe book 3
2. Kushiel's Avatar
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same series
- Same author
A decade of peace has passed in Terre D'Ange, the country founded by the god Elua. Since the world's most famous courtesan saved her queen from assassination, Phèdre n? Delauny...
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Samaria book 1 Start here
3. Archangel
by Shinn, Sharon
- On the same lists
This series does something a bit different from your usual fantasy romance. The setting of the book is a different world, a world with different legends and religions. There is...
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4. Kushiel's Dart
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same author
Comparisons to George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series abound when discussing Kushiel's Dart, but this novel isn't what you would think of as typical fantasy;...
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5. The Sundering
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same author
This series goes for the high style, flowery mythos of The Silmarillion but crossed with the more personal story of The Lord of the Rings. This is not just the...
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Outlander book 1 Start here
6. Outlander
by Gabaldon, Diana
- On the same lists
Claire is on her second honeymoon in 1945 when she walks through an ancient stone circle and right into 1743. This series is part portal fantasy, part historical novel, and part romance.
In the Outlander series, Diana Gabaldon reinvents the use of time-travel in fantasy and historical fiction, crafting a thrilling drama set in the 18th and 20th centuries. The series follows...
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Sevenwaters book 1 Start here
7. Daughter Of The Forest
by Marillier, Juliet
- On the same lists
This series follows several generations of a family who have a special relationship with the Otherworld and takes place mostly in ancient Ireland.
This intricate retelling of the Celtic Swans fairy tale takes an enchanting story and embellishes it with depth, believable backstory, ancient magic, and great characters. It is painfully dark, at...
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Kushiel's Legacy book 2
8. Kushiel's Chosen
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same author
Phèdre nó Delaunay, now a countess living in comfort, is certain that her former lover, the traitor Melisande Shahrizai, is still plotting against Queen Ysandre of Terre d'Ange. She leaves...
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Kushiel's Legacy book 3
9. Kushiel's Avatar
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same author
For ten years, Phèdre has been trying to free her childhood friend Hyacinthe, who is bound to the Master of the Straits, and she believes that the lost name of...
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The Sundering book 1 Start here
10. Banewreaker
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same author
The Seven Shapers once worked together, but a quarrel between the eldest, Haomane, and his younger brother Satoris has split the world. Satoris, wounded by the Godslayer, a shard of...
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The Sundering book 2
11. Godslayer
by Carey, Jacqueline
- Same author
One thousand years after pledging himself to the dark god Satoris, Lord Tanaros works to defend the citadel of Darkhaven from a human uprising, a situation that is complicated by...
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The Immortals book 1 Start here
12. Wild Magic
by Pierce, Tamora
- On the same lists
This is Pierce’s best piece - a fantastic and touching tale about Daine, a young girl with the magical ability to speak to animals. It’s a perfect blend of adventure,...
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Exiles book 1 Start here
13. The Ruins Of Ambrai
by Rawn, Melanie
- On the same lists
Amazon Book Description Fleeing persecution to build a free colony on the planet Lenfell, the magic-wielding Mageborns find their new home torn apart by civil war between the Mage Guardians...
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14. Dragon Prince Trilogy
by Rawn, Melanie
- On the same lists
Amazon Book Description Melanie Rawn's best-selling debut is a novel of love and war, magic and madness, and deadly dangerous dragons that hold the secret to unimaginable wealth that could...
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Dragonlord book 3
15. Dragon And The Phoenix
by Bertin, Joanne
- On the same lists
Amazon Book Description Once every thousand years the phoenix of Jehanglan burns to death in a magical release. For millennia the emperors of Jehanglan have tried to harness the awesome...
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16. Rhapsody
by Haydon, Elizabeth
- On the same lists
This one’s a pure romance. If you want an emotional fantasy series with some pretty strong characterization and a well-realized world, Rhapsody is the book you're looking for. There are...
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Abhorsen book 1 Start here
17. Sabriel
by Nix, Garth
- On the same lists
Garth Nix's Sabriel is marketed to the young adult audience but easily appeals to a wider readership. Fantastic world-building paints both the realm of Ancelstierre, and The Old Kingdom, where...
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Mistborn book 1 Start here
18. Mistborn
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
Though Sanderson's main criticism is a lack of character depth, it's hard to deny the satisfying coming of age stories in Mistborn. The novel describes a classic rags-to-riches story, Vin...
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19. Liveship Traders Trilogy
by Hobb, Robin
- On the same lists
A nautical fantasy featuring pirates, dragons, and magic? What's not to love? To top it off, Liveship Traders is filled with fantastic women. Ronica, the widow of the liveship's former...
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Study book 1 Start here
20. Poison Study
by Snyder, Maria V.
- On the same lists
Yelena is about to be executed for murder and is offered an alternative: food taster to the king. She herself is poisoned and must appear for her daily antidote or...
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21. The Black Jewels Series
by Bishop, Anne
- On the same lists
A landmark step in feminist fiction, this dark fantasy series is unlike anything you've ever read. Bishop takes the physical and typical differences between men and women, highlights rather than...
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22. The Kingkiller Chronicles
by Rothfuss, Patrick
- On the same lists
A world that is vast, fantastical, and strongly rooted in logical world-building—it is a trilogy and biography of a famous musician and adventurer.
If you haven't heard of The Kingkiller Chronicles by now, you'll want to pick it up as soon as possible. Rothfuss' award-winning series took the genre by storm in 2007...
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Ile-rien book 2
23. Death Of A Necromancer
by Wells, Martha
- On the same lists
A delightful blend of different genres with elements of steampunk, mystery, and Gothic tossed in. It's a unique story that really showcases Well's talents. Death of a Necromancer is Well's...
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The Mists Of Avalon book 1 Start here
24. The Mists Of Avalon
by Bradley, Marion Zimmer
- On the same lists
A story of King Arthur's court, through the eyes of Arthur's half-sister Morgaine Le Fay.
I can't do a list of the top 50 fantasy novels with strong female leads without including The Mists of Avalon. Considered one of the great classics of modern fantasy...
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25. Long Price Quartet
by Abraham, Daniel
- On the same lists
Western settings. Farm boys. Spoilt rich kids. Often, coming of age fantasy hits you over the head with unsubtle interactions and world-building. Abraham's Long Price Quartet does not fit into...
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Graceling Realm book 1 Start here
26. Graceling
by Cashore, Kristin
- On the same lists
Katsa is a pragmatic graceling born with the ability to kill with her bare hands from the time she was eight years old. Graced as all gracelings are with unique...
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27. The Curse Of Chalion
by Bujold, Lois Mcmaster
- On the same lists
Lois McMaster Bujold is famous for her very atypical characters. She demonstrated this with her Miles Vorkosigan character, and she does the same thing with the Curse of Chalion. The...
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28. Riddle-master Trilogy
by Mckillip, Patricia A.
- On the same lists
This trilogy offers another refreshing take on traditional coming of age stories. Often in fantasy, magic is seen as a way out for the protagonist. It lets them move away...
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29. 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
30. 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...
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 Kushiel's Dart.
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