Lev Grossman writes engaging fantasy fiction aimed at adults. His acclaimed series, starting with The Magicians, cleverly mixes magic with relatable modern-day challenges, earning him a broad readership.
If you enjoy reading books by Lev Grossman then you might also like the following authors:
Neil Gaiman explores magical worlds blending everyday reality with fantasy. In Neverwhere, he creates an imaginative, hidden London beneath city streets.
If you enjoyed Lev Grossman's blend of realism and fantasy, Gaiman's enchanting style and darkly whimsical stories might appeal to you.
Susanna Clarke's novels blend historically detailed settings with imaginative magical plots. In Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, she presents an alternate version of 19th-century England where magic returns after centuries of absence.
Like Grossman's style, Clarke crafts relatable characters navigating complex magical worlds.
Naomi Novik combines folklore and intricate storytelling with contemporary themes, offering a fresh take on classic fantasy tropes. In Uprooted, she tells a story rich with magic, friendship, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of eerie forests and enchanted towers.
Fans of Grossman's character-driven approach and realistic portrayals of magic could find Novik especially enjoyable.
Erin Morgenstern writes vivid, imaginative worlds paired with lyrical prose and dreamlike atmospheres. Her novel The Night Circus transports readers to an enchanting competition between two talented young illusionists whose rivalry becomes complicated by love.
Morgenstern's narrative echoes the magical intensity and emotional depth found in Lev Grossman's storytelling.
Seanan McGuire crafts absorbing, character-focused fantasy that intertwines magic with contemporary situations and believable emotions.
In Every Heart a Doorway, she depicts teens altered by extraordinary adventures through magic portals who must learn to navigate everyday life again.
Readers enjoying Grossman's realism fused with fantasy may appreciate McGuire's compassionate approach and intriguing narrative style.
Patrick Rothfuss writes thought-provoking fantasy that explores magic, storytelling, and the burden of legend, similar to Lev Grossman's style. In The Name of the Wind, and subsequent sequels, Rothfuss follows Kvothe, a gifted young man driven by tragedy and determination.
With vivid characters, emotional depth, and an emphasis on the gritty reality behind heroic legends, Rothfuss creates a fantasy world that's compelling and grounded in humanity.
Tamsyn Muir mixes fantasy, science fiction, humor, and dark mystery into stories that feel inventive and unexpected. Her novel Gideon the Ninth blends an irreverent tone with necromancers, sword fights, and gothic horror.
Like Grossman, Muir blends different genre elements and creates characters who are flawed yet easy to root for.
Alix E. Harrow crafts immersive stories where history, folklore, and magic interweave naturally. In her novel The Ten Thousand Doors of January, readers follow a young woman's journey through mysterious portals into other worlds.
Harrow, like Grossman, engages readers with thoughtful fiction filled with rich language, believable magic, and real emotional stakes.
Katherine Arden weaves folklore, myth, and real historical settings to tell stories of courage, magic, and the human spirit. In The Bear and the Nightingale, Arden brings medieval Russia vividly to life and mixes history with magic and folklore.
Readers who enjoy Grossman's layered storytelling and characters who mature through adversity will find Arden's work deeply satisfying.
V.E. Schwab creates fantasy worlds that feel immersive yet relatable, driven by morally complex characters and richly imagined settings. A Darker Shade of Magic explores multiple parallel Londons and follows Kell, a magician capable of passing between different worlds.
Fans of Grossman will appreciate Schwab's talent for layered worlds, nuanced characters, and vibrant storytelling filled with magic and intrigue.
China Miéville writes imaginative stories set in worlds that mix fantasy, horror, and science fiction. His novels are richly detailed, filled with bizarre places and complex societies.
If you enjoyed Lev Grossman's blend of realism and magic, you'll appreciate Miéville's ability to ground the extraordinary in the everyday. Try reading Perdido Street Station, which pulls you into a gritty, surreal city filled with strange creatures and gripping mysteries.
Catherynne M. Valente tells stories full of beauty, wonder, and sharp wit. Her prose is magical and poetic, and she explores themes of identity, myth, and imagination. Like Grossman, Valente takes familiar fairy tale tropes and gives them surprising twists.
Her novel The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making offers a whimsical yet thoughtful journey, filled with charm and emotional depth.
Jeff VanderMeer is known for weaving fascinating and eerie stories that blend fantasy and sci-fi elements. His style creates suspenseful atmospheres and unsettling mysteries that draw you in completely.
Like Grossman, he portrays the darker, stranger sides of fantastic settings with clarity and detail. Try his novel Annihilation, which takes readers on a tense and mysterious exploration into a strange landscape where reality becomes uncertain.
Marlon James crafts epic stories that are intense and richly layered. His writing is vivid, bold, and deeply immersive. James draws readers into elaborate worlds informed by myth and folklore, much like Grossman builds upon classic fantasy traditions.
Check out his novel Black Leopard, Red Wolf, an African-inspired fantasy filled with adventure, violence, and mythic storytelling.
Diana Wynne Jones tells engaging, witty stories filled with warmth and humor. She writes about magic and adventure in a way that feels fresh, smart, and deeply human.
Readers who enjoyed Grossman's affectionate twist on magical traditions will love Jones's playful yet insightful storytelling. Start with Howl's Moving Castle, an enchanting tale about a young woman cursed into old age, blending magic, humor, and heart.