5 book series you should read if you enjoyed Shadow and Bone

The Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology are epic fantasy novels which take us to the sweeping world of Ravka and the glittering streets of Ketterdam. They feature pirates, adventures, and magic; power, heists and thieves. These bestselling books by Leigh Bardugo form the foundation of the Netflix hit series Shadow and Bone, which has a new season premiering tomorrow. If after watching the series or reading the books you find yourself desperate for more of the same, then we have the perfect list of book recommendations for you!

A Fire Beneath The Skin series by Victor Gischler

If you’re looking for a book series with a wholly original magic system and questions about the corrupting influence of power

Book One in this series, Ink Mage, introduces us to Rina, the newly made Duchess of Klaar, after a calamity has befallen her homeland. In order to protect her people and bring safety to Klaar, Rina seeks out the power of the Prime, a tattoo inked down her spine by a wizard which, when paired with other powerful tattoos, enhances Rina’s abilities.

But this magic comes at a price. The enhancements to Rina’s powers don’t last, and using them too much can be harmful. And the wizards themselves can only know so many spells and tattoos without suffering severe damage to themselves.

Questions of power and corruption sit at the heart of A Fire Beneath The Skin, similar to how they sit at the heart of Shadow and Bone. Gischler’s focus on the less fortunate in society also recalls Bardugo, who writes about what the horrors of war do to those seen as collateral damage amidst the fights of the powerful.

The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black

If you’re looking for a politically driven book series

One of the central themes of Shadow and Bone is the way political games can affect alliances, decisions, and ultimately the direction of nations themselves. In The Folk of the Air, Holly Black focuses on exactly this; we follow the character of Jude and her dealings with Prince Cardan as she tries to manipulate the people in charge of the world of Elfhame.

Just as in Shadow and Bone, there is romance in The Folk of the Air, but it is very much a side plot; politics take center stage. As a reader, you feel deeply connected with all the characters, but you are aware of the deeper games at play and how these plots intersect and undermine one another.