12 Books Like The Haunting of William Thorn

Dark Heir is the second book in the Dark Rise trilogy. I didn't know that going into this series, I believed it was only two books. So imagine my surprise (and anguish) as I neared the end of Dark Heir and realized nothing was going to be wrapped up.

I never expected to love Will Kempen as much as I did. He is fully aware of his past life in the second book, and reading about him fighting against his better nature and the will of his past life is heartbreaking and thrilling. I've never encountered a character like him before. We can't truly know, or trust, his actions. Cunning, deceptive and alone in his struggles. He wants to do what is right, despite everything working against him. But hiding his true identity from his friends, and more importantly, James St. Clair, became impossible.

The end of this book had… show more.

It was only natural that The Golden Raven would make this list. It's the second book in Jean's trilogy and overall, the fifth book in the All For the Game series.

Jean continues to break my heart all throughout this book. The things he suffered at Edgar Allen and at the hands of Riko make me sick to my stomach. But his capacity to love still shocks me. It would only be natural for Jean to close himself off, to hide away from the world. He doesn't do that, though. He opens up to his friends, the rest of the team at USC. The people around him support him and love him, and with that support he has been able to open up about his trauma and begin to move past it.

One scene that I've been thinking about for months is when Jean simply admits that he likes to… show more.

While you read this story, you step into a world where magic and science intertwine, where armored bears rule the icy north, witches soar through the skies, and every person has a daemon—a living reflection of their soul. The adventure takes us across breathtaking landscapes, from the bustling streets of Oxford to the frozen wastelands of the Arctic, uncovering secrets that shake the very foundation of reality.

Lyra’s journey is thrilling, full of mystery, danger, and a sense of wonder that never fades. Philip Pullman weaves a story so immersive and thought-provoking that it makes us question everything we think we know. It’s a book that sparks curiosity, adventure, and just the right amount of rebellion.

It would be the most extreme of criminal acts for this beloved book not to be my ‘list topper!’ Reading this book instilled an instant love of good fantasy storytelling in me early on. It defines the fantasy genre, exemplifying the absolute best extremes in great world-building, characters, and epic storytelling.

Tolkien set the high bar I strive for in all areas in my own writing with one of the most memorable stories in one of the most unforgettable worlds of all time … and he managed to pull it all off within the context of a single book! No matter how many times I go back and re-read this one, I find something new to cherish, and you will too!

Although heists and team-driven stories are difficult to mess up, I rarely find a gem with fun, snarky, and interesting characters like those delivered by Bardugo.

Clever banter effortlessly drives the storyline from beginning to end. When you start to feel the characters are proving to be one-dimensional and predictable, they begin to change and evolve (albeit a bit slowly for my tastes), which made for a surprisingly satisfying read (I’m including book two in this observation).

Worldbuilding is intelligent enough to keep you trusting the author when you grow concerned that the ending will be unrealistically implausible. Okay, maybe that last observation is my personal pet peeve with modern authors, but Six of Crows pulled off the credibility factor reasonably well.

The late Sir Pratchett was a hero of mine. The Discworld universe is one of the most well-put-together, zany, yet relatable places. The amount of depth that he was able to achieve with a setting that others might consider a joke is astounding.

In order for a universe to connect with me, it has to have characters that I love dearly. Granny Aching and her granddaughter Tiffany are among the few literary characters that have ever brought me to tears on multiple occasions. I used to read this book to my students, and there is one scene in particular towards the end that causes me to choke up every time I read it.

It’s simple and powerful, and it speaks to me on a personal level. I lost my mom back in 2008, and the scene to which I am referring here hits on that sense of loss so well… show more.

This has a quite classic theme of good versus bad. I was really rooting for Zacriah from the start. He was more of your “has hidden magic” hero, but he came from humble beginnings. I do like an underdog, but more than that I like everyday people (or elves!) and seeing how they rise against adversity. Maybe because, especially in the current climate, it feels like we need to do this more and more. Zacriah is an everyday hero. Hadrian, the other protagonist is, however, a prince. The writing is such though that I was rooting for him too. Maybe because it was obvious that he cared for Zac from the start and I’m a sucker for a love story. 

I think found family might be my favourite trope of all! Pantomime has it in spades, along with a fascinating setting and an absolutely unique character in Micah. Great queer rep, of course, and a really interesting story.

The world of this fantasy murder-mystery cruise was so fun, and I had such an enjoyable time visiting it.

If you’re looking for the best-found family in the most stunning dragon book ever, look no further than the Den in this book, a queer Jamaican-inspired book about magic-wielders and dragon-riders defending their island from colonizers.

I cheered Elara, Faron, and the rest of the cast on as the book soared to thrilling heights and completely swept me away. I came for the world, magic, and dragons and stayed for the banter, found family, touching story of love and loss—and dragons. I firmly believe that this one will become a classic of YA fantasy.