Books like Darkness of Dragons — picked by fans

I thought Hogwarts was special until I discovered the magical city of Nevermoor–a whole society filled with intrigue, surprises, and whimsical twists. (Giant talking cats, anyone?)

The central mystery is also gripping stuff, as cursed child Morrigan grapples with her powers and the dark presence of a powerful evil lurking just out of sight.

This is another one I have re-read because I love the fantasy aspect. I didn’t come across C.S. Lewis’ books until I was a young adult, and then it was his adult writings. Now, I’m loving catching up on his Narnia series.

Written in 1950, this classic tale lives on, never becoming out of date, and I love that it is currently a stage production.

As a Christian, I also love a classic tale of good versus evil, with the drama between the white witch and the lion hero, Aslan, who overcomes death to save Narnia from the witch’s evil spell. For me, it’s a truly inspirational allegorical tale that stands the test of time.

This wonderful (and danger-ridden) adventure starts by establishing a believable and endearing bond between siblings Ottilie and Gully—despite their grim life circumstances. The stakes are shot sky-high when Gully goes missing, and Ottilie risks life and limb to find him and get him back—only to discover a much more incredible (and terrifying) predicament that spans way beyond her small little (family-orientated) world. The mystery and tension driving Ottilie (and the story) are tight and addictive. And the world-building and dangers are delightful in the most imaginative (and scary) way. Secret organizations, dangerous hunts, blight-spreading monsters. And a scared but clever and determined girl who must disguise herself as a boy, to save the one she loves most. A well-worth read!

This is one of my personal inspirations for wanting to write (my own series) as a Quest-based Adventure. Deltora Quest follows brave and brash Leif, stoic but loyal Barda, and wild, headstrong Jasmine on an addictive and dangerous sprawling adventure to recover the powerful gemstones of the Belt of Deltora, and save the kingdoms from eternal darkness and servitude under the conniving Shadow Lord. A typical quest fantasy plot (and more basic Middle Grade format than older Middle Grade) but the characters, twists, and trials themselves are marvelously memorable. There are new encounters, new monsters, and new puzzles at every turn—making for delightfully fun story-telling. An archetypical quest-based adventure that is sure to capture any young reader’s (and young at heart) imagination!

Alexis is an incredible storyteller. She takes her readers on an amazing journey filled with fantastic descriptions that use all of the senses. Her characters are real, well-developed, believable people with problems, insecurities, and the hope to make things better. Her settings are stunning. And the plot is amazing!

Dragon is the best at making balloon sculptures, drawing, and performing with his drums and guitar. He beats Frog in the race and is NOT a good winner. Dragon is a show-off and stacks the highest block tower. And then one day no one is around, because no one likes a “Braggin Dragon”.

This book has a great message about learning to appreciate your friends and how to be humble. The art in this book is excellent. The character design is brilliant and funny, and the book and text design works really well. A fantastic book on friendship to add to a classroom.

Whimsical, humorous, and utterly Victorian—to say that Wormwood Abbey is my bookish cup of tea would be a vast understatement!

I absolutely adored this enchanting adventure with an intrepid heroine and only the most historical of dragons. I’d been intrigued by the book ever since I saw the cover on Instagram. The alluring combination of puffed sleeves and dragon scales was enough to pique my interest.

In the first few pages, I was smitten by Christina Baehr’s exquisite use of vocabulary, which, for a word nerd like myself, was a sheer joy to read. By chapter four, I was charmed by Bather’s endearing characters, and by chapter six, I was hooked by the cozy gothic mystery.

I had to know EVERYTHING about Wormwood Abbey and its fantastical secrets, and once I’d reached The End, I simply had to continue with The Secrets of Ormdale series to find out what happened… show more.

Fireborne is the first book of a YA crossover fantasy series called The Aurelian Cycle trilogy.

The primary narrators – dragon riders Annie and Lee – are best friends born on opposite sides of a class uprising and civil war that ripped their lives apart. Annie and Lee’s world is complicated. There are no easy choices or untarnished heroes – including Annie and Lee.

By telling this story through two very different points of view, Munda forces us to draw our own conclusions about right and wrong. She doesn’t make it easy. I can’t promise you won’t throw the book across the room in outrage at least once, but you will chase after it and keep reading until the (not that bitter, I promise) end. 

If anyone can successfully blend post-apocalyptic fiction, romance, and fantasy into one amazing book, it’s definitely Ruby Dixon. I admit that when I first discovered this book, I was skeptical that it would be able to juggle those elements successfully.

However, this book introduces us to a fascinating post-apocalyptic world destroyed by the one thing nobody expects dragons! As it turns out, though, these are humanoid people who can shift into dragons at will. The world-building in this book and in the series that follows it is just right—compelling without being overwhelming—and the spice is, as usual with Dixon, irresistible. Highly recommended.

A deep dive into a new kind of anti-heroin. The first book in the Gyenona's Children duology delivers readers into a new kind of dark fantasy world that has enough to feel familiar yet is innovative and fresh. Any fans of fiction that is brutal and bloody as well as features strong minority demographic representation will enjoy this book as well as Hutson’s work as a whole.