Books like 'The Chosen and the Beautiful'
Readers who enjoyed The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy urban fantasy alternate history supernatural historical-fiction lgbtq retellings wlw magical-realism
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The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by John Joseph Adams, Stephen King
26 ratingsThe game is afoot! Night Shade Books is proud to present the fantastic adventures of the world's greatest detective — mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror, no genre can escape the esteemed detective's needle-sharp intellect and intuition... -
![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 poc-mc action-adventure adult -
![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 -
![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... -
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![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 poc-mc action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![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... -
![Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler]()
Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler
26 ratingsDoro is an entity who changes bodies like clothes, killing his hosts by reflex--or design. He fears no one--until he meets Anyanwu. Anyanwu has also died many times. She can absorb bullets and make medicine with a kiss, give birth to tribes, nurture and heal, and savage anyone who threatens those she loves. She fears no one--until she meets Doro...Categorized as:
classics historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal poc-mc -
![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... -
![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... -
![Kindred Rites by Katharine Eliska Kimbriel]()
Kindred Rites by Katharine Eliska Kimbriel
6 ratingsNow that Alfreda has begun to learn the Wise Arts, she is needed at home in the village of Sun Return. The woods around the cabin are alive with poltergeists. Candles light by themselves, and even the rocks dance. There is much work for an apprentice practitioner.But a more dangerous task calls. For a new family has moved to the frontier; a family with strange ambitions and even stranger powers... -
![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... -
![A Radical Act of Free Magic by H.G. Parry]()
A Radical Act of Free Magic by H.G. Parry
8 ratingsA tale of revolution and wonder in a world not quite like our own, A Radical Act of Free Magic is the conclusion to this genre-defying series of magic, war, and the struggle for freedom in the early modern world.The Concord has been broken, and a war of magic engulfs the world...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal retellings alternate-history book dragons -
![The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith]()
The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith
24 ratingsA spellbinding novel of bloodlines, self-discovery, and redemption by the author of the Washington Post bestseller The Vine Witch.Abandoned as a child in turn-of-the-century Paris, Yvette Lenoir has longed to uncover the secrets of her magical heritage and tap her suppressed powers. But what brave and resourceful Yvette has done to survive the streets has made her a fugitive...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal alternate-history audiobook book fae -
![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... -
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![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... -
![The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson]()
The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson
10 ratingsLondon, 1914. Lily’s visions could stop a killer… if she’ll trust a reclusive aristocrat with her darkest secret.A monster stalks the gaslit streets of Edwardian London, draining the blood of the city’s mediums. Lily Albright knows who’s next.Lily is plagued by visions of the future she can never change...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal alternate-history book fiction gaslamp -
![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 poc-mc 20th-century action-adventure -
![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...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal 20th-century action-adventure adult age-gap -
![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:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal 21st-century action-adventure aliens -
![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... -
![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 poc-mc wlw action-adventure -
![The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker]()
The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
20 ratingsChava is a golem, a woman made of clay, able to hear the thoughts and longings of the people around her and compelled by her nature to help them. Ahmad is a jinni, a perpetually restless and free-spirited creature of fire, imprisoned in the shape of a man... -
![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... -
![Firestarter by Tara Sim]()
Firestarter by Tara Sim
12 ratingsThe crew of the Prometheus is intent on taking down the world’s clock towers so that time can run freely. Now captives, Colton, Daphne, and the others have a stark choice: join the Prometheus’s cause, or fight back in any small way they can and face the consequences. But Zavier, leader of the terrorists, has a bigger plan—to bring back the lost god of time...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal poc-mc alternate-history audiobook -
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![The Shotgun Arcana by R.S. Belcher]()
The Shotgun Arcana by R.S. Belcher
12 ratingsR. S. Belcher’s debut novel, The Six-Gun Tarot, was enthusiastically greeted by critics and readers, who praised its wildly inventive mixture of dark fantasy, steampunk, and the Wild West. Now Belcher returns to Golgotha, Nevada, a bustling frontier town that hides more than its fair share of unnatural secrets.1870...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal retellings action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![Of Noble Family by Mary Robinette Kowal]()
Of Noble Family by Mary Robinette Kowal
14 ratingsThe final book of the acclaimed Glamourist Histories is the magical adventure that might result if Jane Austen walked on the darker side of the Regency...Jane and Vincent have finally gotten some much-needed rest after their adventures in Italy when Vincent receives word that his estranged father has passed away on one of his properties in the West Indies...Categorized as:
drama historical-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal poc-mc 21st-century action-adventure -
![Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood]()
Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood
18 ratingsA fever ravages New London, but with the Brotherhood sending suspected witches straight to the gallows, the Sisters are powerless against the disease. They can’t help without revealing their powers—as Cate learns when a potent display of magic turns her into the most wanted witch in all of New England. To make matters worse, Cate has been erased from the memory of her beloved Finn...Categorized as:
drama historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal action-adventure alpha-mc alternate-history -
![The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow]()
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
31 ratingsIn 1893, there's no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal wlw alternate-history -
![Where Oblivion Lives by T. Frohock]()
Where Oblivion Lives by T. Frohock
6 ratings"Frohock has intricately woven a unique reinterpretation of history. Eloquent prose accompanies a lyrical theme amid prewar tensions, enriching this imaginative historical fantasy...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal poc-mc action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott, Amy Griswold]()
A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott, Amy Griswold
8 ratingsIn the sequel to Lambda Literary Award-winning Death by Silver, metaphysician Ned Mathey and private detective Julian Lynes again challenge magical and murderous threats in a Victorian London not quite the city in our history books. Mathey is recruited by Scotland Yard to assist the new Metaphysical Crimes Squad in the case of a literally heartless corpse...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal adult alternate-history audiobook -
![The Kindred of Darkness by Barbara Hambly]()
The Kindred of Darkness by Barbara Hambly
8 ratingsWhen James Asher and his wife Lydia's baby daughter Miranda is kidnapped by the Master Vampire of London, the stakes are high: blindly follow the Master Vampire's instructions, keep out of the way of the human networks that serves the vampires, destroy the interloper who seeks to seize control of the London Nest, and find the key to the Nest's tortuous inner workings: The Book of the Kindred of...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction paranormal poc-mc 20th-century adult alternate-history black-mc -
![The Queen of Swords by R.S. Belcher]()
The Queen of Swords by R.S. Belcher
8 ratings1870. Maude Stapleton, late of Golgotha, Nevada, is a respectable widow raising a daughter on her own. Few know that Maude belongs to an ancient order of assassins, the Daughters of Lilith, and is as well the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Anne Bonney, the legendary female pirate...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal retellings action-adventure adult alternate-history -
![Somewhere Beneath Those Waves by Sarah Monette]()
Somewhere Beneath Those Waves by Sarah Monette
10 ratingsMonette's diverse collection delves deeply into the mythic and reaches far beyond everyday reality. Readers cannot resist journeying with her into realms-dangerously dark or illuminatingly revelatory-they could never imagine without her as their guide. From ghost stories in the tradition of M. R...Categorized as:
lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal adult alternate-history anthologies female-author -
![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 -
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![The Paradox by Charlie Fletcher]()
The Paradox by Charlie Fletcher
10 ratingsSOMETIMES YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR – SOMETIMES IT LOOKS BACKThose who belong to the secret society called the Oversight know many things. They know cold iron will hold back the beasts in the darkness. They know it is dangerous to stand between two mirrors. And they know that, despite their dwindling numbers, it remains their duty to protect humanity from the supernatural. And vice versa... -
![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:
asian-mc historical-fiction lgbtq magic paranormal poc-mc action-adventure alternate-history -
![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 poc-mc 20th-century action-adventure -
![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 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... -
![The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark]()
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark
25 ratingsThe Haunting of Tram Car 015 returns to the alternate Cairo of Clark's short fiction, where humans live and work alongside otherworldly beings; the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles the issues that can arise between the magical and the mundane...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal poc-mc retellings 21st-century -
![Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark]()
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
25 ratingsIn America, demons wear white hoods.In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq literary-fiction magic magical-realism paranormal poc-mc retellings -
![A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark]()
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark
27 ratingsEgypt, 1912. In an alternate Cairo infused with the otherworldly, the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities investigate disturbances between the mortal and the (possibly) divine... -
![The Plastic Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg]()
The Plastic Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
24 ratingsWall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg returns to the enchanting world of The Paper Magician.Alvie Brechenmacher has arrived in London to begin her training in Polymaking—the magical discipline of bespelling plastic. Polymaking is the newest form of magic, and in a field where there is so much left to learn, every Polymaker dreams of making the next big discovery... -
![The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley]()
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
20 ratingsIn 1859, ex-East India Company smuggler Merrick Tremayne is trapped at home in Cornwall after sustaining an injury that almost cost him his leg and something is wrong; a statue moves, his grandfather’s pines explode, and his brother accuses him of madness... -
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![The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark]()
The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
19 ratingsCreeper, a scrappy young teen, is done living on the streets of New Orleans. Instead, she wants to soar, and her sights are set on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann-Marie’s trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal poc-mc retellings 21st-century -
![Feast of Stephen by K.J. Charles]()
Feast of Stephen by K.J. Charles
15 ratingsA Charm of Magpies Christmas coda. Stephen and Crane have finally got away on their long-awaited Christmas break, along with Crane’s henchman Merrick and Jenny Saint. A promised gift is made, and a request unexpectedly and magically fulfilled…This story comes after Flight of Magpies and is not a standalone read. Download now in any format from Smashwords...Categorized as:
historical-fiction lgbtq magic magical-realism paranormal 21st-century adult alternate-history -
![The Litany of Earth by Ruthanna Emrys]()
The Litany of Earth by Ruthanna Emrys
12 ratingsThe state took Aphra away from Innsmouth. They took her history, her home, her family, her god. They tried to take the sea. Now, years later, when she is just beginning to rebuild a life, an agent of that government intrudes on her life again, with an offer she wishes she could refuse. "The Litany of Earth" is a dark fantasy story inspired by the Lovecraft mythos...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal retellings adult alternate-history book cosmic-horror -
![Soulstar by C.L. Polk]()
Soulstar by C.L. Polk
12 ratingsWith Soulstar, C. L. Polk concludes her riveting Kingston Cycle, a whirlwind of magic, politics, romance, and intrigue that began with the World Fantasy Award-winning Witchmark. Assassinations, deadly storms, and long-lost love haunt the pages of this thrilling final volume... -
![Lost Acre by Andrew Caldecott]()
Lost Acre by Andrew Caldecott
12 ratingsWynter is here . . .Geryon Wynter has returned to Rotherweird and has not only taken over the town but is busy destroying the countrysiders' life too. Can our small band of heroes find a way to outwit a genius whose master plan is five centuries in the making? Watch this space . .Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic magical-realism action-adventure adult alternate-history audiobook book -
![The Case of the Spellbound Child by Mercedes Lackey]()
The Case of the Spellbound Child by Mercedes Lackey
12 ratingsNow in paperback, the fourteenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series continues the reimagined adventures of famed detective Sherlock Holmes.While Sherlock is still officially dead, John and Mary Watson and Nan Killian and Sarah Lyon-White are taking up some of his case-load--and some work for Lord Alderscroft, the Wizard of London...Categorized as:
historical-fiction magic paranormal retellings action-adventure alternate-history animals audiobook
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