85 Books Like Fated

At the heart of the Markhat series, there is always a mystery, and I love a good mystery. Markhat is a “Finder,” which really means he’s a private investigator set in a sort of war-torn medieval world with hints of steampunk now and then. There are some good pulp fiction aspects, lots of great fantasy, and definitely a habit of turning the trope on its head. Vampires aren’t typical; witches can be hags, but banshees, well, Tuttle does not deliver the ordinary banshee. 

One of the things I love about Tuttle’s writing is that he isn’t afraid to define his own rules, his own world, and his own characters. He does atmosphere with a touch of grim, but always with a gem waiting to be dusted off to steal the show. Fast-paced urban fantasy that I loved enough to reread.

Normally, I don’t like “gods” books because it seems like the god just shows up and saves the characters after putting them in danger in the first place. But in this series, the gods really are dead. They are still causing issues for our intrepid main character (Nik), but they are dead.

Nik is a stubborn, nearly homeless, awkward guy who takes jobs to survive in an epic fantasy setting. He barely has any magic, and it often seems to misfire. He tends to make impulsive decisions that have him running for his life quite frequently. Somehow, he survives and manages to solve cases. 

There is a delightful family saga that threads throughout the series. His friends are questionable (thieves, turncoats, and dangerous entities). Wry, dark humor, and a fast-paced environment make for great reads in this series.

Where do people go when they disappear and can’t be found? Well, maybe they end up in Jay Barnson’s world, a dangerous place full of monsters and enemies. While this has a kind of “scoring” typical of DnD, that is a background to high fantasy adventures and survival.

The main starts out not only humble but pretty powerless. He must survive on his wits and heart and never stops doing that, even as he becomes physically and magically stronger in each book. Tangled, delightful plots that kept me turning the pages and characters I greatly enjoyed spending time with.

There is a lot of good growth in each book of the series and fun shenanigans to keep things from being dismal, even as the characters fight for their lives and freedom.

There are a few good men out there who fight for the underdog. The main is bound by a powerful overlord. He’s good at his job but doesn’t have a choice. His only friend appears to live inside a ring he wears (djinn). The bad work environment doesn’t mean he doesn’t fight for what is right, even as he tries to figure out a way out of his predicament.

This is a thriller-level urban fantasy with solid plotting and lots of twists and turns. It is about as far from romantasy as you can get, and the hero has a great story to tell. McClellan is better known for his fantasy, but I absolutely love this urban fantasy series.

Another fabulous London-set book where magic is real! The character of Eliza is a fantastic one to follow through this first book and the series. The web of intrigue will draw you into this alternate-history saga and keep you turning pages way past your bedtime! By now, you probably can tell how much I love magic mixed with the real world, and this book does a fantastic job of blending the two. With a fantastic set of characters, fabulous historical setting, and the mystery of magic, it sets up for a great story and a great series.

I believe you can choose to be kick-ass. Delilah “Lila” Bard eventually chooses to be kick-ass. Eventually, on the surface, this book is about Kell. But Lila has the true character arc. I love that Lila walks the edge: hero or anti-hero?

My own life has been defined by the choices I make. I wasn’t given a lot of opportunities. I didn’t have a lot of luck. I had to make my own luck. Lila makes her own ‘luck’. She turns surviving into an opportunity to thrive because of the choices she makes. She screws up several times, risking her life and others. Even at the end, I’m not sure if she’s a hero. She’s real and attempting to evolve out of a dim past into a bright future in her own unique way. I relate to that. 

When I tell you I gasped at the end of this book, I am not exaggerating. I am not one to be surprised by books, but this one kept me guessing the entire time.

I was surprised multiple times throughout the book, and the complicated relationship between Anna and her aunt is fascinating from the very first page. I also really loved the worldbuilding and magic system as it is expertly woven into the story.

I find that many fantasy books have a magic system that is just there, but this one drives the plot.

Set in 1917, during an era that I have always been particularly drawn to, The Toymakers is one of those rare books that manages to capture magic in a way that feels both whimsical as well as deeply poignant – it truly reads like a fairy tale for adults set against the tragic backdrop of the First World War. Reading this book was like reading the first Harry Potter book – I was totally captivated and transported back in time to London and the Emporium (a wonderful magical toy shop). This book had me spellbound – both in terms of the enchanting forms of magic employed by the toy-makers as well as the darker aspects of their lives and the secrets uncovered.

I adore it when characters name inanimate objects, be it weapons or their cars; take my money, I’m all in. London, the kickass knight at the heart of this series, is the heroine I needed. Armed with her trusty axe, Babe, and an unwavering moral compass, London isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the name of what is right.

I love everything about this book, including the phenomenal world-building and a kick-butt female protagonist to root for. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the sun is forever obscured, allowing vampires to reign supreme, London captured my attention from the very first page.

I love her courage, strength, and determination, all of which make her an unforgettable character. And I loved Babe, the axe. 

Like many fantasy novels, The Paper Magician revolves around a character who feels small, lost, and powerless.

Although Ceony Twill desperately wants metal magic, she gets assigned to paper and decides to make the most of it. Since I’m half-Japanese, I immediately thought “origami!” when I read about the folding magic. It is the first book in a trilogy and I found the story to be a light, fast read.

Holmberg’s Victorian, gas-lamp world feels familiar, and though I found the characters a little thin (paper joke intended!), I enjoyed Ceony’s adventure. My favorite characters were two of the paper creatures, Fennel and Jonto, and I dare you not to adore them too!