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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His Dark Materials book 2
1. The Subtle Knife
by Pullman, Philip
- Same series
- Same author
The second book in the His Dark Materials series introduces readers to Will who is from our Oxford. Will and Lyra travel worlds and together. Yet another example of Crossworlds meant for YA audiences.
The spellbinding sequel to The Golden Compass, the modern fantasy classic that Entertainment Weekly named an "All-Time Greatest Novel" and Newsweek hailed as a "Top 100 Book of All Time,"...
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His Dark Materials book 3
2. The Amber Spyglass
by Pullman, Philip
- Same series
- Same author
Lyra and Will find themselves at the center of a battle between the forces of the Authority and those gathered by Lyra's father, Lord Asriel.
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Leviathan book 1 Start here
3. Leviathan
by Westerfeld, Scott
- On the same lists
Westerfeld takes today's futuristic visions of cyborgs and genetically engineered creatures and puts them into WWI.
A steampunk fantasy with a lot of oomph to it. It’s an alternative history story, one that merges the period history of World War 1 events with a fantastical world...
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4. 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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5. The Golden Compass
by Pullman, Philip
- Same author
His Dark Materials plunges you into an intriguing alternate universe that is both familiar, and strange. Imagine a world where we each have our own daemons (spirit animals) that are...
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6. The Book Of Dust: La Belle Sauvage
by Pullman, Philip
- Same author
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!\"Too few things in our world are worth a seventeen year wait: The Book of Dust is one of them.\" —The Washington PostPhilip Pullman returns to...
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Ile-rien book 2
7. 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 Monarchies Of God book 1 Start here
8. Hawkwood's Voyage
by Kearney, Paul
- On the same lists
One of the best undiscovered epic fantasy series out there a sort of A Song of Ice and Fire lite if you will. Yes, if you want to look at...
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9. Black Magician
by Canavan, Trudi
- On the same lists
This is a pretty decent epic fantasy about a street girl-turned magician. Thereâs nothing really new here, but the whole story does make for an entertaining enough read.
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10. The Difference Engine
by Sterling, William Gibson, Bruce
- On the same lists
and William Gibson. An example of Retro Futurism with a Steampunk feel.
A classic - perhaps THE classic steampunk novel, penned by two of the genre’s founders: William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. The premise of this novel is a simple “What If”...
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Oswald Bastable book 1 Start here
11. The Warlord Of The Air
by Moorcock, Michael
- On the same lists
Steampunk has been around for a few decades, though it’s only the past few years that it’s established its very own subgenre. The Warlord of the Air is a classic...
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12. 20 Thousand Leagues Under The Sea
by Verne, Jules
- On the same lists
Other writers may dabble in Victorian-era fantasy, but for the “original” Victorian-era fantasy writer, Jules Verne is the authentic deal, actually being a Victorian-age science fiction writer. 20 Thousand Leagues...
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13. The Time Machine
by Wells, H. G.
- On the same lists
Follow a time traveller into an alien-like future Earth to witness the consequences of humanity's social and biological choices and evolution.
A mechanical contraption that lets you travel back in time. Classic steampunk from a classic author.
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14. Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
- On the same lists
Arguably the first Sci Fi novel and one that is also very much part of the Gothic tradition.
While not “strictly” a steampunk, this is one of the first science fiction novels, the ultimate science-gone-wrong story, and Victor Frankenstein is the quintessential mad-scientist, harnessing the power of a...
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15. Girl Genius
by Foglio, Phil
- On the same lists
I like to try and include different types of books on these lists and for a comic steampunk (they generally tend to be so…serious), Girl Genius deserves a nod. The...
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Skinjacker book 1 Start here
16. Everlost
by Shusterman, Neal
- On the same lists
The souls of children (aged 5-15) who die become afterlights and wander the Earth eternally.
The premise of this novel completely redefines the boundaries of young adult fantasy. Told from the perspective of individuals stuck in a 'limbo' between life and death, Shusterman's work is...
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The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles book 1 Start here
17. Spook's Apprentice
by Delaney, Joseph
- On the same lists
A seventh son is apprenticed to the Spook, who protects the county from witches, ghosts and boggarts.
A fantastic story about a young boy training to be an exorcist in a land where dark things roam the night.One of the best modern children's tales I've read. This...
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18. The Thief Of Always
by Barker, Clive
- On the same lists
A tale for the ages: a young boy, unhappy with his life, desires to live in a place free from any responsibilities. He finds that place through a creepy tunnel...
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Incarceron book 1 Start here
19. Incarceron
by Fisher, Catherine
- On the same lists
One of the more unique tales. It's the story about a young boy trapped in a brutal and mysterious prison, where humans eke out a survival-level existence and are hunted...
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20. Coraline
by Gaiman, Neil
- On the same lists
In this novel a young girl finds a portal to another world, pretty typical. But, the world she finds is worse than her own.
This haunting children's novel follows a young, curious girl named Coraline, who discovers a hidden world inside a locked cupboard in her home. Inside this world, everything is better. Her...
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The Hungry City Chronicles book 1 Start here
21. Mortal Engine
by Reeve, Philip
- On the same lists
A steampunk-esque fantasy tale that follows loosely in the path Rowling trod with Harry Potter, but presents the reader with a completely different setting. Fans of Harry Potter, Artemis Foul,...
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22. The Dark Tower Series
by King, Stephen
- On the same lists
In his self-acclaimed magnum opus, The Dark Tower series, Stephen King has crafted a unique multi-genre tale that blends fantasy with science fiction and Western fiction. Comprised of 8 books,...
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23. The Hunger Games Trilogy
by Collins, Suzanne
- On the same lists
Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who competes in a battle to the death.
Suzanne Collins' engaging narrative, while not entirely original, has garnered millions of fans across the globe, proving that The Hunger Games Trilogy has something for adults and children alike. On...
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24. The Mortal Instruments
by Clare, Cassandra
- On the same lists
In The Mortal Instruments, Cassandra Claire takes the stereotypical characters of fantasy and completely reinvents them into a thrilling and immersive fantasy narrative. The Mortal Instruments series follows the life...
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Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children book 1 Start here
25. Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
by Verne, Jules
- On the same lists
Most recently adapted into a chilling, gloomy film by the infamous Tim Burton, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is yet another entertaining and engaging young adult novel to recently...
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26. A Million Junes
by Henry, Emily
- On the same lists
The protagonist of Emily Henry's novel, June, is not your typical young adult narrator. June is shockingly funny and more than just a typical female protagonist hung up on her...
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27. Ingo Series
by Dunmore, Helen
- On the same lists
Comprised of five novels, Helen Dunmore's sweet and charming Ingo series is a perfect introduction to young adult fantasy, especially for teenagers. After Sapphire's father vanishes off the coast of...
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28. Fallen Series
by Kate, Lauren
- On the same lists
A story of star-crossed lovers takes an incredible turn in this dark and intense series from Lauren Kate. While this series has been heavily criticized, it is impossible to ignore...
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29. Dear Reader
by O'connell, Mary
- On the same lists
Only being published this year, Mary O'Connell's Dear Reader is a fairly new addition to the young adult fantasy genre. However, don't let that deter you, as O'Connell's novel is...
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The Girl From Everywhere book 1 Start here
30. The Girl From Everywhere
by Heilig, Heidi
- On the same lists
Taking the time travel genre to a whole new level, Heidi Heilig has captivated readers with her magical series, The Girl from Everywhere. This book uses a winning formula of...
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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