Books like 'A Darker Shade of Magic'
Readers who enjoyed A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy action / adventure urban fantasy supernatural mystery alternate history europe british-isles united-kingdom
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The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud
26 ratingsAfter leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment... -
![Warbound by Larry Correia]()
Warbound by Larry Correia
18 ratingsNew York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author's gritty urban fantasy set in an alternate noir 1930s. A tough P.I. battles an interdimensional monster that wants to suck magic power out of the world. Sequel to Hard Magic and Spellbound. Book Three in the Grimnoir Chronicles...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal urban 20th-century action-adventure adult aliens -
![Draakenwood by Jordan L. Hawk]()
Draakenwood by Jordan L. Hawk
14 ratingsSomeone is killing members of the old families…and the evidence points to Whyborne. Widdershins has been unusually quiet for months. But now a mysterious creature from the Outside is on the loose, assassinating members of the town’s old families by draining their blood...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal action-adventure adult alternate-history angst -
![The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley]()
The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley
18 ratings1888. Five years after they met in The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, Thaniel Steepleton, an unassuming translator, and Keita Mori, the watchmaker who remembers the future, are traveling to Japan. Thaniel has received an unexpected posting to the British legation in Tokyo, and Mori has business that is taking him to Yokohama...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure adult alternate-history -
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![Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine]()
Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine
18 ratingsWith the future of the Great Library in doubt, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone must decide if it's worth saving in this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen. But with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, its future is uncertain...Categorized as:
dystopia historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history audiobook -
![Tempting Fate by April White]()
Tempting Fate by April White
14 ratingsSeventeen-year-old Clocker, Saira Elian is back on the run and being hunted by Mongers. The Descendants of War are amassing power in the 21st century, bent on controlling all the Immortal Descendants. Their attempt to kidnap Saira, a rare Descendant of Time and Nature, reveals just how brazen they’ve become...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history audiobook book fiction -
![Spellbound by Larry Correia]()
Spellbound by Larry Correia
24 ratingsDark fantasy goes hardboiled in #2 of the hard-hitting Grimnoir Chronicles by the New York Times best-selling creator of Monster Hunter International... -
![The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman]()
The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman
16 ratingsIn this thrilling historical fantasy, time-traveling Librarian spy Irene will need to delve deep into a tangled web of loyalty and power to keep her friends safe.Irene is trying to learn the truth about Alberich-and the possibility that he's her father...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history audiobook book dragons -
![Necropolis by Jordan L. Hawk]()
Necropolis by Jordan L. Hawk
16 ratingsan alternate cover edition can be found hereIntroverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne has spent the last few months watching his lover, Griffin Flaherty, come to terms with the rejection of his adoptive family. So when an urgent telegram from Christine summons them to Egypt, Whyborne is reluctant to risk the fragile peace they’ve established...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal action-adventure adult alternate-history audiobook -
![The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher]()
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
31 ratingsJim Butcher, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files and the Codex Alera novels, conjures up a new series set in a fantastic world of noble families, steam-powered technology, and magic-wielding warriors…Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world...Categorized as:
dystopia epic magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history animals anthropomorphism -
![In Plain Sight by Dan Willis]()
In Plain Sight by Dan Willis
12 ratingsWhen a magical plague is released in a Depression-era New York soup kitchen, private detective Alex Lockerby finds himself in a desperate hunt to catch a madman before he can strike again.His investigations lead Alex to a famous thief, a daring heist, and the search for a mythic book of ancient magic, but none of that brings him any closer to finding the man responsible for the massacre...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal urban action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![Hexslayer by Jordan L. Hawk]()
Hexslayer by Jordan L. Hawk
13 ratingsHorse shifter Nick has one rule: never trust a witch.Nick has devoted his life to making his saloon a safe haven for the feral familiars of New York. So when a brutal killer slaughters a feral under his protection, Nick has no choice but to try and catch the murderer. Even if that means bonding with a handsome Irish witch...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal action-adventure adult alternate-history audiobook -
![Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray]()
Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray
25 ratingsNew York City.1927.Lights are bright.Jazz is king.Parties are wild.And the dead are coming...After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough lies. They're more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal urban action-adventure alternate-history -
![Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine]()
Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine
18 ratingsFor the US hardback, see ISBN13: 9780451489210.To save the Great Library, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone, Paper and Fire, and Ash and Quill put themselves in danger in the next thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.The opening moves of a deadly game have begun...Categorized as:
dystopia historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal urban action-adventure alternate-history -
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![The Convent's Secret by C.J. Archer]()
The Convent's Secret by C.J. Archer
18 ratingsTo find the one man who can fix the magic in Matt’s watch, he and India are led to a convent where the nuns will do anything to keep their secrets private. Including murder? Matt and India must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the mother superior and two babies given to her care many years ago. But sometimes, the truth is painful and its exposure can have deadly consequences... -
![The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman]()
The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman
20 ratingsA corrupt countessA spy in dangerAnd an assassin at largeThe fifth title in Genevieve Cogman's witty and wonderful Invisible Library series, The Mortal Word is a rollicking literary adventure.Peace talks are always tricky, especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed. This rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae... -
![The Hungry Dreaming by Craig Schaefer]()
The Hungry Dreaming by Craig Schaefer
6 ratingsThe discovery of lost letters between Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, describing historical events that never happened, sends shockwaves through the academic world. Meanwhile, a citywide surveillance program is coming to New York on a groundswell of dirty money and dead bodies. To hard-nosed Brooklyn reporter Nell Bluth, the two mysteries couldn't be more different... -
![The Shadow of Water by Jacquelyn Benson]()
The Shadow of Water by Jacquelyn Benson
6 ratingsLily Albright can see the future, and it looks like hell. In an England on the brink of war, Lily is plagued by visions of the cataclysmic destruction of London. An ancient prophecy is coming to fruition, and it starts with the gruesome discovery of a corpse in the sewers.To save her city, Lily must untangle a web of conspiracy and violence... -
![Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse]()
Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse
21 ratingsKai and Caleb Goodacre have been kidnapped just as rumors of a cult sweeping across the reservation leads Maggie and Hastiin to investigate an outpost, and what they find there will challenge everything they've come to know in this action-packed sequel to Trail of Lightning...Categorized as:
dystopia magic magical-realism paranormal urban action-adventure alternate-history apocalyptic -
![A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske]()
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
22 ratingsRed White & Royal Blue meets Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light, featuring an Edwardian England full of magic, contracts, and conspiracies. Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses... -
![Spellmaker by Charlie N. Holmberg]()
Spellmaker by Charlie N. Holmberg
24 ratingsDead wizards, stolen enchantments, and broken promises force a young spellbreaker out of the shadows in the next thrilling installment of the Spellbreaker series by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician.England, 1895. An unsolved series of magician murders and opus thefts isn’t a puzzle to Elsie Camden... -
![Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin]()
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
26 ratingsHer story begins on a train.The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo... -
![The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud]()
The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud
39 ratingsAt only fourteen, Nathaniel is a rising star: a young magician who is quickly climbing the ranks of the government. There is seemingly nothing he cannot handle, until he is asked to deal with the growing Resistance movement, which is disrupting London life with its thefts and raids...Categorized as:
british-isles epic europe historical-fiction magic paranormal united-kingdom action-adventure -
![Proper Scoundrels by Allie Therin]()
Proper Scoundrels by Allie Therin
10 ratingsDon’t miss this spin-off from Allie Therin's acclaimed Magic in Manhattan universe! Their scandalous pasts have left them wounded and unworthy—and hopelessly perfect together. London, 1925Sebastian de Leon is adjusting to life after three years spent enthralled by blood magic...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal 20th-century action-adventure adult -
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![Starcrossed by Allie Therin]()
Starcrossed by Allie Therin
12 ratingsWhen everything they’ve built is threatened, only their bond remains…New York, 1925Psychometric Rory Brodigan’s life hasn’t been the same since the day he met Arthur Kenzie. Arthur’s continued quest to contain supernatural relics that pose a threat to the world has captured Rory’s imagination—and his heart... -
![Hexmaker by Jordan L. Hawk]()
Hexmaker by Jordan L. Hawk
15 ratingsA straight-laced policeman. A lighthearted thief. A murdered millionaire.Fox shifter Malachi steals for one of the biggest crime rings in New York City. But when he witnesses the murder of a millionaire, the only person who can keep him safe is Dr. Owen Yates, forensic hexman for the Metropolitan Witch Police—and Malachi’s witch.Owen is horrified to discover his familiar is an uneducated thief...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal urban action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon]()
The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
26 ratingsThe hotly anticipated third book in the bestselling Bone Season series – a ground-breaking, dystopian fantasy of extraordinary imaginationFollowing a bloody battle against foes on every side, Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London's criminal population...Categorized as:
dystopia historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal urban 21st-century -
![The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles]()
The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles
17 ratingsA story too secret, too terrifying—and too shockingly intimate—for Victorian eyes. A note to the Editor Dear Henry, I have been Simon Feximal’s companion, assistant and chronicler for twenty years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal abuse action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death by Kim Harrison]()
The Turn: The Hollows Begins with Death by Kim Harrison
18 ratings#1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to her beloved Hollows series with The Turn, the official prequel to the series that will introduce fans and readers to a whole new side of Rachel Morgan's world as they've never seen it before!Can science save us when all else fails? Trisk and her hated rival, Kalamack, have the same goal: save their species from extinction... -
![The Secret Chapter by Genevieve Cogman]()
The Secret Chapter by Genevieve Cogman
18 ratingsA Librarian’s work is never done, and once Irene has a quick rest after their latest adventure, she is summoned to the Library. The world where she grew up is in danger of veering deep into chaos, and she needs to obtain a particular book to stop this from happening... -
![The Dark Archive by Genevieve Cogman]()
The Dark Archive by Genevieve Cogman
18 ratingsA professional spy for a mysterious Library which harvests fiction from different realities, Irene faces a series of assassination attempts that threaten to destroy her and everything she has worked for.Irene is teaching her new assistant the fundamentals of a Librarian's job, and finding that training a young Fae is more difficult than she expected... -
![The Magician's Diary by C.J. Archer]()
The Magician's Diary by C.J. Archer
18 ratingsPRAISE FOR C.J. ARCHER'S GLASS AND STEELE SERIES: "Part romance, part mystery, part magic; all of which a joy to read." - Dreamer J's Book Reviews "This story has everything I look for in a quality, entertaining piece of fiction. 1) A strong female lead, 2) a dark and mysterious male character (I admit, they are my weakness), 3) eloquent writing, and 4) lots of quirky humor and banter... -
![The Dark by Marianne Curley]()
The Dark by Marianne Curley
18 ratingsEthan and Isabel, heroes from The Named, are on a more exciting journey than ever and are joined by Isabel's brother Matt, who is still getting accustomed to life in the Guard. Arkarian, their ageless mentor, has been kidnapped and sent by the Goddess of Chaos to a frighteningly dark underworld...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history book dark demons -
![The Key by Marianne Curley]()
The Key by Marianne Curley
18 ratingsThe battle to protect the future is coming to an end as the evil Order of Chaos launches their final attack on the Named. To defeat the Order, the Named must locate the Key to a treasury of weapons hidden somewhere in the ancient city of Atlantis. The race is on to capture the Key before a horde of undead soldiers find it...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history book demons female-author -
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![A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark]()
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
20 ratingsNebula, Locus, and Alex Award-winner P. Djèlí Clark returns to his popular alternate Cairo universe for his fantasy novel debut, A Master of DjinnCairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal urban action-adventure adult -
![Hard Magic by Larry Correia]()
Hard Magic by Larry Correia
24 ratingsJake Sullivan is a licensed Private Eye—with a seriously hardboiled attitude. He also possesses raw magical talent and the ability to make objects in his vicinity light as a feather or as heavy as depleted uranium, all with a magical thought. It's no wonder the G-men turn to Jake when they need someone to go after a suspected killer who's been knocking off banks in a magic-enhanced crime spree...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal urban 20th-century action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray]()
Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
27 ratingsThe longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal urban action-adventure alternate-history -
![Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk]()
Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk
17 ratingsWill a dark history doom their future together?New York copper Tom Halloran is a man with a past. If anyone finds out he once ran with the notorious O'Connell tunnel gang, he'll spend the rest of his life doing hard time behind bars. But Tom's secret is threatened when a horrible murder on his beat seems to have been caused by the same ancient magic that killed his gang... -
![The Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris]()
The Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris
18 ratings#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris is at her best in this alternate history of the United States where magic is an acknowledged but despised power in this third installment of the Gunnie Rose series... -
![The Apothecary's Poison by C.J. Archer]()
The Apothecary's Poison by C.J. Archer
18 ratingsWhen a newspaper report of a medical miracle catches Matt's eye, he and India go in search of Dr. Hale in the hope he is more magical doctor than miracle worker and can lead them to Chronos. But Hale turns out to be an apothecary magician keen to educate the public about magic. Their disappointment at not finding Chronos is soon forgotten when Hale is murdered, and Matt becomes a suspect... -
![Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood]()
Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
18 ratingsWith the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves...Categorized as:
dystopia historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal 20th-century action-adventure alpha-mc -
![Blind Tiger by Jordan L. Hawk]()
Blind Tiger by Jordan L. Hawk
10 ratings1924, Chicago. Prohibition is in full swing and gang bosses rule the city with might—and magic.When Sam Cunningham flees his small-town life to try his luck in the big city of Chicago, he quickly finds himself in over his head in a world of gangs, glitz, and glamour. Fortunately, he has his cousin Eldon to teach him the trade of hex-making...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal abuse action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![Chainbreaker by Tara Sim]()
Chainbreaker by Tara Sim
15 ratingsClock mechanic Danny Hart knows he's being watched. But by whom, or what, remains a mystery. To make matters worse, clock towers have begun falling in India, though time hasn't Stopped yet. He'd hoped after reuniting with his father and exploring his relationship with Colton, he'd have some time to settle into his new life. Instead, he's asked to investigate the attacks...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal action-adventure alternate-history asian-mc audiobook -
![Spellbound by Allie Therin]()
Spellbound by Allie Therin
15 ratingsTo save Manhattan, they’ll have to save each other first… 1925New YorkArthur Kenzie’s life’s work is protecting the world from the supernatural relics that could destroy it. When an amulet with the power to control the tides is shipped to New York, he must intercept it before it can be used to devastating effects...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal urban 20th-century action-adventure -
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![Red, White, and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth]()
Red, White, and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth
16 ratingsThe Presidential Campaign Trail, 2012: A political operative and a volunteer are brutally murdered while caught in a compromising position. Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK.And with that, a centuries-old horror known only as the Boogeyman returns to taunt Nathaniel Cade, the President’s Vampire...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal urban action-adventure adult alternate-history audiobook -
![The Dagger in the Desk by Jonathan Stroud]()
The Dagger in the Desk by Jonathan Stroud
17 ratingsA thrilling new case for London’s most talented psychic detection agency—from the global bestselling author of the Bartimaeus Sequence.In London, a mysterious and potentially deadly ghost is stalking the halls of St Simeon’s Academy for Talented Youngsters. It lurks in the shadows, spreading fear and icy cold – and it carries a sharp and very solid dagger..Categorized as:
dystopia magic paranormal urban 21st-century action-adventure alternate-history book -
![Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles]()
Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
17 ratingsArchaeologist Saul Lazenby has been all but unemployable since his disgrace during the War. Now he scrapes a living working for a rich eccentric who believes in magic. Saul knows it’s a lot of nonsense...except that he begins to find himself in increasingly strange and frightening situations. And at every turn he runs into the sardonic, mysterious Randolph Glyde...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor]()
The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor
18 ratingsFrom the New York Times bestselling authors of Welcome to Night Vale and It Devours! and the creators of the hit podcast, comes a new novel set in the world of Night Vale and beyond.In the town of Night Vale, there’s a faceless old woman who secretly lives in everyone’s home, but no one knows how she got there or where she came from...until now... -
![The Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard]()
The Fear Institute by Jonathan L. Howard
18 ratingsJohannes Cabal and his rather inexact powers of necromancy are back once more. This time, his talents are purchased by The Fear Institute as they hunt for the Phobic Animus - the embodiment of fear... -
![The Ink Master's Silence by C.J. Archer]()
The Ink Master's Silence by C.J. Archer
18 ratingsIt should be a happy time for India and Matt, but forces beyond their control conspire to ruin their future. A distraction from their troubles comes in the form of murder. When the editor of The Weekly Gazette is killed, controversial journalist and ink magician Oscar Barratt asks India and Matt to investigate...
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