Here are 4 books that The Apothecary Diaries fans have personally recommended if you like The Apothecary Diaries. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Howl's Moving Castle

Joe Mahoney Author Of Adventures in the Radio Trade: A Memoir

From Joe's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Broadcaster Family man Dog person Aspiring martial artist

Joe's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Joe Mahoney Why Joe loves this book

I was curious about this book after having seen the movie. I quite like the movie, but I love the book. It's terrific, and quite a bit different than the book. It's written with humour, panache and originality. Terrific characters and concepts. Howl pops right off the pages. If you love inventive fantasy, you'll love Howl's Moving Castle.

By Diana Wynne Jones ,

Why should I read it?

25 authors picked Howl's Moving Castle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

Now an animated movie from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, the oscar-winning director of Spirited Away

In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell...

Deciding she has nothing more to lose, Sophie makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above her town, Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl, whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls...

There Sophie meets Michael, Howl's apprentice, and Calcifer…


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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Book cover of From Blood and Ash

Ella d’Avoine Author Of The Crimson Warrior

From my list on fantasy strong female protagonists.

Why am I passionate about this?

One might read for many reasons, but one of the main reasons for me is to connect and relate to the character. Female voices are very underheard, and I feel incredibly passionate about changing that and creating and reading stories where the female protagonists have strong voices and are not afraid to be heard. I think it’s important that we continue to create female characters that are raw and real and that portray subjects and feelings that need to be heard more.

Ella's book list on fantasy strong female protagonists

Ella d’Avoine Why Ella loves this book

The character development in this book was one of my favorite things ever. From the beginning the female protagonist is brave, but as she goes through all of these changes, you see her grow into her newfound place in the world and that bravery only grows with it.

I loved this book because although she is strong and powerful, she has a very real and emotional side, giving her character so much depth and relatability. 

By Jennifer L. Armentrout ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked From Blood and Ash as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“I hope you guys love this book as much as I do!! (Let me just say...Hawk *swoon*!!)” ~ NYT bestseller Sarah J. Maas

Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.

A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather…


Book cover of Oathbound Healer

Unknown Author

By Selkie Myth ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Oathbound Healer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner of the 2021 Stabby Award for Best Serialized Fiction!

Elaine is ripped from this world to Pallos, a land of unlimited possibilities made real by a grand System governing classes, skills, and magic.
An ideal society? What is this, a fantasy novel?
Adventures? Right this way!
A Grand quest? Nah.
Friends and loot? Heck yes!
Humans are the top dog? Nope, dinosaur food.
Healing and fighting? Well, everything is trying to eat her.
Join Elaine as she travels around Pallos, discovering all the wonders and mysteries of the world, trying to find a place where she belongs, hunting those…


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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of Shadow Slave

Unknown Author

By Guiltythree ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Shadow Slave as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Growing up in poverty, Sunny never expected anything good from life. However, even he did not anticipate being chosen by the Nightmare Spell and becoming one of the Awakened - an elite group of people gifted with supernatural powers. Transported into a ruined magical world, he found himself facing against terrible monsters - and other Awakened - in a deadly battle of survival.What's worse, the shadow powers he received happened to possess a small, but potentially fatal side effect...


Book cover of Howl's Moving Castle
Book cover of From Blood and Ash
Book cover of Oathbound Healer

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