Books like The Dark Is Rising
30 fantasy books to read after The Dark Is Rising, by Cooper, Susan, the closest match first.
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The Dark Is Rising book 1 Start here
1. Over Sea
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
Three children on a holiday in Cornwall find an ancient manuscript which sends them on a dangerous quest for a grail that would reveal the true story of King Arthur.
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2. The Dark Is Rising Sequence
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
The setting is our world, but rooted in a mythological Celtic past.
One of the best YA epic fantasy series. Well-developed characters that are stereotypical but still exhibit a surprising amount of depth. A standard save-the-world plot, but one that still evokes...
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The Dark Is Rising book 3
3. Greenwitch
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
Includes an excerpt from the next story in the Dark Rising Sequence, 'The grey king.'
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The Dark Is Rising book 4
4. The Grey King
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
Will Stanton, the youngest of the Old Ones who guard the world against the Dark, is sent to stay with relatives in Wales to recover from an illness that has...
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The Dark Is Rising book 5
5. Silver On The Tree
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
"And Where the Midsummer Tree Grows Tall by Pendragon's Sword the Dark Shall Fall." The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. Six individuals...
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The Dark Is Rising book 1 Start here
6. Over Sea
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
Part of Cooper's Dark Is Rising fantasy, "Over Sea, Under Stone" is now available in this digest edition.
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The Dark Is Rising book 3
7. Greenwitch
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
Simon, Jane, and Barney, enlisted by their mysterious great-uncle, arrive in a small coastal town to recover a priceless golden grail stolen by the forces of evil -- Dark. They...
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The Dark Is Rising book 4
8. The Grey King
by Cooper, Susan
- Same series
- Same author
In this volume of The Dark Is Rising sequence, Will Stanton, visiting in Wales, is swept into a desperate quest to find the golden harp and to awaken the ancient...
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9. Bartimaeus Sequence
by Stroud, Jonathan
- On the same lists
If you're fed up with books that take themselves too seriously, Jonathan Stroud's debut series is a great place to find a break. His style is of a casual, comedic...
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10. Troy Trilogy
by Gemmell, David
- On the same lists
This trilogy adapts the Trojan War and creates complex subplots to keep readers engaged. Like a good epic story should, this series has it all: battle, love, intrigue, tragedy, happiness.
The best of Gemmell's work -- and the last of his work too. Troy is a retelling of the Greek tale of Troy, but done told in such a refreshing...
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11. Lord Of The Rings
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
The quintessential Fantasy trilogy draws from medieval history as well as its European folklore.
Yep, had to include it. Most people have probably read this series and even more authors have written hackneyed copies of it, but this series is the original father epic...
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Vlad Taltos book 1 Start here
12. Jhereg
by Brust, Steven
- On the same lists
The genius of this series lies in the exquisite character development – especially in relation to the hero, Vlad Taltos. We're accustomed to rooting for anti-heroes these days, (Hi, Dexter...
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13. The Shadow Campaigns
by Wexler, Django
- On the same lists
First book in The Shadow Campaigns series and a military fantasy.
The first book was pure awesomeness -- that pure intersection between military strategy, adventure, and unbridled action with a cast of interestingly complex characters. The first book's desert setting was...
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Watership Down book 1 Start here
14. Watership Down: A Novel
by Adams, Richard
- On the same lists
On one level a classic tale of adventure, with anthropomorphized rabbit characters. On another level, it is an epic struggle between tyranny and freedom.
Yes, we're talking about that book about bunnies. No, we haven't lost our minds. Take note: This isn't a children's book, despite it being about fluffy animals. If you've read...
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15. Talion: Revenant
by Stackpole, Michael A.
- On the same lists
List more than a few entries on this Top 100 list, Talion is a completely underrated fantasy book. Stackapole is a prolific author, writing everything from Star Wars novels, video...
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16. Elantris
by Sanderson, Brandon
- On the same lists
This fantasy fiction novel will suck you in. Elantris is one of the best standalone fantasy books in the genre. It's about addictive as chocolate and a whole lot healthier!...
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17. Red Rising (not Magic, But Hunger Games Survival Meets School Setting With Some Fantasy Elements)
by Brown, Pierce
- On the same lists
Books in this sub-genre focus almost entirely on magic, but Red Rising stands in stark contrast to that. Part dystopia, part sci-fi fantasy, Red Risingfocuses on the story of a...
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18. The Etched City
by Bishop, K.j.
- On the same lists
The Etched city was formed from the love union between Stephen King and China Mieville. If you want a more complex fantasy novel with a good dose of the bizarre,...
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Sevenwaters book 1 Start here
19. 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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20. Chronicles Of Narnia
by Lewis, C. S.
- On the same lists
In the first book of this series a wardrobe serves as the portal to the magical land of Narnia.
Nearly half a century ago, fantasy was dividing into two fantasy worlds: Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Narnia has entertained generations of children and...
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Howl’s Moving Castle book 1 Start here
21. Howl's Moving Castle
by Jones, Diana Wynne
- On the same lists
A journey of discovery and wonder. This story is part fairy tale, but flips some of the typical conventions—like the main character is an old lady.
Before famous director, Hayao Miyazaki turned Howl's Moving Castle into an animated film, it was an enchanting novel written by Diana Wynn Jones. This novel follows the life a young...
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The Lord Of The Rings book 1 Start here
22. The Hobbit
by Tolkien, J.r.r.
- On the same lists
Smaug is the classic dragon figure lying under the mountain—a scary creature who keeps the dwarves from their home and who must be defeated.
The Hobbit is one of the most well-loved fantasy novels of all time. Written by J.R.R Tolkien as a bedtime story for his children, The Hobbit is a light-hearted tale,...
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23. 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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24. The Book Of Lost Things
by Connolly, John
- On the same lists
This book makes the list for its unique focus on psychology inside of the sub-genre. Connolly tells the story of a child so lost in books and darkness that he...
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25. Tyrants And Kings
by Marco, John
- On the same lists
Military fantasy with some great characterization, gray characters, and a lot of plot twists the whole way through. The author takes great pains to create most characters as morally ambiguous...
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His Dark Materials book 1 Start here
26. The Golden Compass
by Pullman, Philip
- On the same lists
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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27. Abhorsen Trilogy
by Nix, Garth
- On the same lists
A dark epic fantasy tale about a girl who will go into the land of the dead to save her father. It's an exciting adventure that's also scary. Nix is...
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28. Tigana
by Kay, Guy Gavriel
- On the same lists
Tigana is based on Renaissance Italy. Kay uses Italian politics to make the story seem plausible.
Tigana is both a sweeping epic and a look into human nature – flaws and all. The characters and plot exist in an area of grey where good and evil...
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Mythago Wood book 1 Start here
29. Mythago Wood
by Holdstock, Robert
- On the same lists
There are many novels and novellas in this cycle which take place in a forest that has been untouched since the last ice age. It is a labyrinth, a place of peril and living myths.
'Unique' is a vastly overused word. It has about as much meaning as Kim K's twitter feed. But in the case of Mythago Wood, it's warranted. Firstly, Holdstock tells the...
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30. 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...
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 Dark Is Rising.
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