If you’re a fan of the atmospheric, the suspenseful, and the hauntingly mysterious, we’ve got some reading suggestions for you. Check out these books at the library, then claim your seat for An Evening with Author Katherine Arden on Thursday, October 2, at 6:30 p.m.
Teen & Adult Readers
You’d like The Warm Hands of Ghosts if you enjoyed…
The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door / H. G. Parry
Both books are richly detailed, atmospheric historical fantasy novels set during and after World War I. In both, sisters go to extreme lengths in pursuit of cures for their brothers, both wounded by supernatural forces during the war.
The London Séance Society / Sarah Penner
Set in Victorian England (Séance Society) or post-World War I Belgium (Ghosts), these suspenseful and intricately plotted mysteries feature women who uncover shocking secrets connected to their lost siblings.
You’d like The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight trilogy) if you enjoyed…
Shadow and Bone (Grisha trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo
Whether you read the books or watched the Netflix adaptation, Bardugo’s Grisha and Arden’s Winternight trilogies are lush and descriptive fantasies inspired by Russian folklore. Both feature courageous heroines who are determined to choose their own paths.
The City of Brass (Daevabad trilogy) / S. A. Chakraborty
Though Winternight is based on Russian mythology and Daevabad has Middle Eastern influences, strong female protagonists are at the center of each of these atmospheric series. Immersive world-building and a well-developed cast of characters adds richness.
For the Wolf (Wilderwood duology) / Hannah Witten
Readers looking for folklore-inspired fantasy novels will appreciate both compelling series about magically gifted women whose abilities are destined to save their kingdoms from destruction.
Children & Middle Grade Readers
You’d like Small Spaces if you enjoyed…
Stranger Things (TV series)
Appealing to tweens and adults alike, Stranger Things’ Upside Down gives off the same vibe as the twilight world of the Smiling Man in Small Spaces. In both stories, it’s just as easy to accidentally stray into the wrong world.
City of Ghosts (trilogy) / Victoria Schwab
Surviving a near-fatal accident that gives her the ability to enter the spirit world, the daughter of television ghost-hunters travels to three different haunted cities.
The Clackity (Blight Harbor trilogy) / Lora Senf
In these scary horror series, courageous young protagonists find themselves tangling with dangerous ghosts while also dealing with grief and navigating friendships. The settings are atmospheric and lightly magical while grounded in the real world.
You’d like The Strangest Fish if you enjoyed…
The Fish of Small Wishes / Elana Arnold
In these feel-good, whimsical picture books with soft, glowing illustrations, sympathetic girls seek out new homes for fish that are magically growing bigger.
The Polar Bear in the Garden / Richard Jones
In these sweet picture book fantasies with vibrantly colored illustrations, sensitive children care for creatures that keep growing, be it a polar bear or a fish.
About Author Katherine Arden
Arden didn’t set out to be a writer. Read a bit about her journey to the bestsellers list in this blog post.
