Books like Sabriel

A chilly, death-haunted quest where a young woman must wield the bells of necromancy to hold back the encroaching dark. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Sabriel.

eerie
autumnal
dread-tinged
adventurous

01
The Abhorsen Chronicles
Garth Nix · 2003
A chilly, bell-ringing descent into a shadow-drenched world where death is a river and magic requires absolute precision.
Shares:
- eerie
- autumnal
- earnest
- atmospheric
02
Lirael Daughter of the Clayr
Garth Nix · 2003
A lonely outcast discovers her true calling—and a fiercely loyal magical hound—deep within the shadowed, labyrinthine stacks of an ancient library.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest
- atmospheric
- coming of age
03
The Ambassador's Mission
Trudi Canavan
A nostalgic yet tense return to a beloved magical world, balancing shadowy underworld wars with high-stakes diplomatic intrigue.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest
04
Magyk (Septimus Heap)
Angie Sage · 2005
A cozy, spell-soaked adventure where hidden identities unravel amidst quirky wizards and heartwarming family bonds.
Shares:
- adventurous
- coming of age
05
The Magicians' Guild
Trudi Canavan · 2005
A gritty, Dickensian underdog story where raw, untamed magic collides with entrenched privilege.
Shares:
- earnest
- atmospheric
06
Spellslinger
Sebastien de Castell
A fast-paced, witty fantasy adventure where survival depends on sleight of hand and sharp words rather than overwhelming magical power.
Shares:
- adventurous
- coming of age
07
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
Patricia A. McKillip
A lyrical, mythic fairy tale about a solitary woman who must choose between the safe, cold magic of her isolated mountain and the messy, painful warmth of the human world.
Shares:
- earnest
08
Alphabet of thorn
Patricia A. McKillip
A quiet, magical mystery about the transformative power of words and the secrets hidden within a royal library.
Shares:
- earnest
- atmospheric
- coming of age
09
Among Others
Jo Walton
A quiet, fiercely intelligent love letter to the science fiction and fantasy books that save us when the real world becomes unbearable.
Shares:
- earnest
10
Un Lun Dun
Mieville, China · 2007
A delightfully weird, trope-smashing portal fantasy where the sidekick takes charge in a wonderland of discarded junk.
Feels:
- surreal
- quirky
- wondrous
11
Darke
Angie Sage
A shadowy, spell-fueled adventure that balances creeping darkness with the enduring warmth of loyal friends.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest
- coming of age
12
Tithe
Holly Black
A grungy, intoxicating plunge into a hidden world where magic is sharp, dangerous, and smells like rust and stale beer.
Shares:
- eerie
- atmospheric

Back to Sabriel