Like That Movie/TV-Show? Read These Books!

If you're like me, then you enjoy getting book recommendations based on other media. Sometimes I feel like these kinds of comparisons are put together on merely a surface level, so I made sure to think long and hard about the following suggestions. Please let me know if any turn out accurate! Edit: I later realized that a lot of the "media" I chose are adaptations of other books. Not sure what that says about me. But alas!

1. Howl's Moving Castle/Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett

If you like the film adaptation of Howl's Moving Castle, then I think you'll also enjoy Heather Fawcett's Even the Darkest Stars. Not only do both stories deal with wizards and witches, but the magic systems share a similar atmospheric quality. Both stories also feature a curse that needs breaking and a fire demon who likes to strike bargains. I highly recommend both of these magical stories.

Bonus: If you love Howl's Moving Castle, book or film, I would also recommend Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White. Its two main characters strongly remind me of Sophie and Howl.

2. The Lord of the Rings/Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

 

This comparison may not seem as obvious, but while I was reading Strange the Dreamer, something about the epicness of the story's scale reminded me of Lord of the Rings. In both, you've got a group of travelers who bond on a journey and face danger together. War plays an important role in both stories, and the authors place an emphasis on magical locations. Now, I am by no means a Lord of the Rings expert. (Like at all.) So some of you LotR fans may disagree with me on this one. But I definitely think you get the same vibe from both. I would also, of course, recommend you read the LotR books too if you enjoyed Strange. They're fantastic.

3. Game of Thrones/Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes

 

To me, Falling Kingdoms feels like a lite Game of Thrones. And I don't mean that in a demeaning way - there are just as many (if not more) betrayals in Falling Kingdoms as there are in Game of Thrones. Both are fantasies with a large cast of characters and perspectives - some who are good, some who are bad, and many who are gray. Broken princes, political schemers, rebels, and avenging princesses all play a role in these war-waging kingdoms. Sidenote: The main ship in this series is slow-burn and GLORIOUS, and also reminds me of a certain pairing in GoT. If you're looking for a YA version of Game of Thrones, I highly recommend picking up Falling Kingdoms.

Bonus: I'd also recommend The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King by Holly Black if you dig bloody political vies for the crown and ruthless characters.

4. Hick/Sadie by Courtney Summers

I recently watched Hick (not just because it stars Eddie Redmayne...*cough*...) and it instantly reminded me of Sadie. Quick trigger warning that both stories involve pedophilia. Hick also includes an implied rape scene. If you like tough hitchhiking heroines, backroad country settings, and gritty topics, I think you'll enjoy both this movie and this book.

5. The Raven Cycle/The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

Before you complain, I know this is cheating. Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle is slated to become a tv show on SyFy, though, and the stories give off such similar vibes that I had to include it, okay? I had to. So I cheated a little. Just let me explain. The Wren Hunt opens with a girl named Wren being "hunted" by a group of boys in a deadly game played on St. Stephen's Day. Wren is secretly an Augur, a magic-user whose power is slowly being stolen by enemy magic-users called the Judges. Wren has to go undercover amongst the Judges to try and steal back her people's magic. Drama ensues.

The whole story takes place in Ireland and is infused with Irish mythology and history. The way Mary Watson interweaves folklore into the story feels strikingly similar to how Maggie interweaves Welsh folklore into The Raven Cycle. Both stories have a mix of fantasy and contemporary, with a underlying current of magical realism. Both also feature a group of prep school magic boys (though I'd say The Wren Hunt boys have a darker bent to them). Overall, I 100% see these stories attracting the same audience. If you love Blue, Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah, then I highly recommend picking up The Wren Hunt.

Non-Spoiler Review: The Wicked King by Holly Black

4 stars. The Wicked King was a lot shorter than I anticipated, but boy did it pack a punch. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an advance copy of this long-awaited sequel, and let me just say that I was completely unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster awaiting me.

The Wicked King kicks off not long after where The Cruel Prince left off and keeps a heart-pounding pace right up to the finish. I would say that you see a softer side of Cardan in this sequel, and I think readers who felt lukewarm about the first book will appreciate the turn Jude and Cardan's relationship takes. (Full Disclosure: I floated somewhere between lukewarm and obsessed.) Jude is just as stabby and conflicted, and I loved her even more in this book. The tension ramps up between Jude and Cardan, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing moody Cardan rule as king while Jude pulls all the strings. I will say, there's a section in the book where the setting shifts briefly and I found myself itching to skim a few pages. I'm not sure if it's due to a lack of world development, but that's my worst complaint.

For some reason the plot took a lot of turns I didn't see coming, and I had to reexamine my idea of what the story is. But, to be honest, I sort of enjoyed being blindsided by the twists. My absolute favorite part of The Wicked King was the ending. No spoilers, but let's just say it was as jaw-dropping/no-way-inducing/are-you-frickin'-kidding-me as the ending of The Cruel Prince. Perhaps even more so. I...still think about that ending months after finishing. I recommend this truly wicked sequel to both fans and skeptics. The wait for Queen of Nothing is going to be a long one.


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