Erin Morgenstern writes books that feel like dreams you wish you could step right into. Her stories have a beautiful way of being told, and the plots unfold in such a clever way.
If you love books with this kind of dreamy magic and are in search of authors with a similar style, you might enjoy this list of writers.
Neil Gaiman creates stories filled with magic, myths and strange adventures. Those who enjoy Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” or “The Starless Sea” may find something similarly captivating in Gaiman’s novel “The Ocean at the End of the Lane.”
In this short yet enchanting tale, a man revisits his childhood home for a funeral. Once there, forgotten memories surface along with a fantastic yet unsettling adventure he had as a child.
He meets Lettie Hempstock, an unusual girl who insists that the small pond behind her farmhouse is actually an ocean. As past and present blur together, the story explores childhood fears, friendships and mysterious forces hidden beneath ordinary life.
Susanna Clarke is an English novelist known for her elegant writing style and magical storytelling. Readers who enjoy Erin Morgenstern’s whimsical narratives and lush atmosphere might particularly appreciate Clarke’s “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell”.
This unique novel is set in an alternate 19th-century England where magic has faded into myth until two magicians emerge to bring spells back into fashion.
Jonathan Strange, charismatic and impulsive, and Gilbert Norrell, cautious and bookish, find themselves both partners and rivals as their differing approaches to magic reshape history.
Clarke blends magic, rich historical detail, and fascinating characters into a tale full of wonder, ambition, and endless possibilities.
Alice Hoffman writes lyrical novels full of rich, magical storytelling. Her style blends everyday reality with enchanting elements in ways that remind readers of Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” and “The Starless Sea”.
Hoffman’s novel, “Practical Magic”, follows sisters Sally and Gillian Owens. Raised by eccentric aunts known for spells and potions, Sally and Gillian grow up in a house filled with mystery and whispers of magic.
When love complicates their lives, the sisters confront family secrets, powerful emotions, and an age-old curse. Hoffman’s narrative balances human drama, romance, and magical realism beautifully.
Readers experiencing Hoffman’s weaving of magic into daily lives will find echoes of the spellbinding quality they love in Morgenstern’s books.
Sarah Addison Allen crafts stories filled with magical realism, romance, and a sense of small-town charm. If you enjoyed Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus,” you might appreciate Allen’s “Garden Spells.”
This novel tells the tale of the Waverley sisters, whose enchanted apple tree reveals glimpses of the future. In their quiet southern town, magical elements blend seamlessly into everyday life.
Allen creates a warm, inviting atmosphere with touches of whimsy and gentle magic that enrich her characters’ relationships and struggles. Her writing style is vivid yet approachable, gently drawing readers into an emotional and magical experience.
Madeline Miller is an author who brings myth and legend to life with elegance and emotional power. If you enjoyed the magical realism and lyrical storytelling in Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus,” you might love Miller’s “Circe.”
This novel explores Greek mythology through the eyes of Circe, a figure known primarily as a witch in Homer’s Odyssey. Shunned by her immortal family and exiled to a remote island, Circe’s story unfolds with surprising humanity.
Characters you’d recognize from mythology—Odysseus, Hermes, Daedalus—are portrayed with depth and fresh perspective that make their ancient tales feel new again. Miller creates the kind of immersive and emotional experience that stays with you long after you put the book down.
Books by Laini Taylor are great for readers who enjoy Erin Morgenstern’s magical atmospheres and lush storytelling. In “Strange the Dreamer,” Taylor introduces Lazlo Strange, a gentle and curious librarian whose lifelong obsession is the lost mythic city of Weep.
When Lazlo finally gets the chance to travel there, he discovers a city overshadowed by a mysterious tragedy, haunted by gods and nightmares. This beautifully written story weaves together dreams and reality, love and loss, and the delicate balance between hope and despair.
Taylor builds a rich and imaginative world filled with characters you won’t soon forget. If you enjoyed the enchantment and wonder of Morgenstern’s narratives, Laini Taylor’s storytelling can offer a similarly captivating reading experience.
Katherine Arden is an author readers of Erin Morgenstern may find appealing for her atmospheric storytelling and blend of magic with real-world settings.
Her novel “The Bear and the Nightingale” draws from Russian folklore, set in a medieval Russian village where harsh winters and old spirits dwell side by side. The story introduces Vasya, a brave young woman gifted with the sight to see mythical creatures and spirits.
As her village turns away from ancient traditions, a dark force begins to rise, threatening their safety and existence. Arden seamlessly weaves together history, adventure, and folklore into an enchanting tale filled with mystical elements and compelling characters.
V.E. Schwab writes captivating stories filled with magic and rich atmosphere, which readers of Erin Morgenstern often appreciate.
Her novel “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” tells the fascinating tale of Addie, a woman who bargains for immortality but becomes cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Across centuries and continents, Addie’s journey explores art, memory, loneliness, and the subtle ways we leave marks upon the world.
Schwab’s vivid storytelling and beautifully drawn characters offer a reading experience that fans of “The Night Circus” or “The Starless Sea” will find irresistible.
Readers who enjoyed Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” may appreciate Naomi Novik’s captivating storytelling and imaginative narratives. Novik blends fantasy with folklore and historical elements, creating worlds filled with wonder.
Her novel “Uprooted” centers around Agnieszka, a young woman chosen by a mysterious sorcerer known as the Dragon to live with him in exchange for protecting her village.
In this new life, Agnieszka discovers magic within herself and faces the dark forces hidden in the forest that threaten everything she knows. Novik’s storytelling weaves magic, suspense, and deep emotional connections into a tale that’s both enchanting and thrilling.
If you enjoy Erin Morgenstern’s magical storytelling and vivid worlds, you might also appreciate Holly Black’s novels. Holly Black crafts fascinating stories filled with dark, intricate fairy folklore and complex characters.
In “The Cruel Prince,” Jude, a mortal girl raised in the enchanting yet ruthless world of Faerie, navigates dangerous court intrigues and clever power struggles.
The tale explores themes of ambition, deception, and forbidden attraction, set in a realm both beautiful and treacherous.
Holly Black’s captivating style creates an atmosphere full of tension and enchantment, perfect for readers drawn to fantastical worlds and morally complex characters.
Readers who enjoyed Erin Morgenstern’s blend of magic, mystery, and captivating storytelling might find Maggie Stiefvater equally fascinating. Maggie Stiefvater writes imaginative tales filled with magic, folklore, and characters who feel incredibly real.
Her novel “The Raven Boys” follows Blue Sargent, a girl raised in a family of psychics, who has always known she’d cause the death of her true love. Blue’s path soon crosses with four boys from Aglionby Academy, who are searching for the legendary sleeping king, Glendower.
The novel weaves together ancient Welsh myths, compelling friendships, destinies intertwined in unexpected ways, and a slow-building magic that transforms ordinary moments into something extraordinary.
Isabel Allende is an author who blends magical realism with deeply emotional stories. If you’re a fan of Erin Morgenstern’s atmospheric storytelling, then Allende’s novel “The House of the Spirits” might resonate with you.
It follows the lives of the Trueba family across generations in Latin America, with touches of magic that feel organic and believable. Clara, one of the book’s central characters, predicts the future and interacts with spirits, bringing depth to everyday events.
Family secrets unravel slowly, wrapped up in political unrest, personal conflicts, and tender moments. The story explores themes of love, death, rebellion, and destiny, all anchored by vivid characters you can’t help but care about.
If you enjoy the magical storytelling and imaginative worlds created by Erin Morgenstern, you might find Joanne Harris equally captivating. Harris blends subtle magic, vivid characters, and sensory detail to create enchanting settings you won’t easily forget.
Her novel, “Chocolat,” follows the whimsical arrival of Vianne Rocher in a quiet French village. There she opens a chocolate shop that awakens the villagers’ desires and stirs the disapproval of the strict parish priest.
As Vianne’s charm gradually influences the village, secrets and tensions emerge, building toward an emotional climax. Harris’s prose is warm and inviting—perfect for readers who love stories filled with charm, mystery, and gentle magic.
Readers who loved Erin Morgenstern’s blend of magic, romance, and mysterious storytelling might also enjoy Juliet Marillier. Marillier’s novels are known for their atmospheric settings and lyrical prose that whisk you away to lands filled with folklore and ancient magic.
In her book “Daughter of the Forest,” she retells the tale of the Brothers Grimm’s “Six Swans.” Sorcha, the youngest sister in an Irish family, must undertake a daunting task to free her brothers from a dark spell.
The book’s emotional depth and the vivid, enchanted portrayal of ancient Ireland capture readers from the first page to the very last.
Leigh Bardugo creates fantasy worlds that pull readers deep into magic, suspense, and vivid imagination. If you loved Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus,” you might find Bardugo’s “Ninth House” intriguing.
The novel follows Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a troubled young woman offered a second chance at Yale to monitor activities of secret campus societies. Quickly, Alex discovers rituals that blur lines between reality, magic, and the darker parts of ambition.
Bardugo crafts a tale with mystery, hidden magic, and a heroine you’ll root for as she uncovers secrets of privilege, power, and the supernatural.