Mary Robinette Kowal’s books are a treat for anyone who enjoys stories which blend history with a touch of the fantastical. Take her Glamourist Histories books for example. They place magic right into the Regency period.
You find yourself reading about balls and social calls, but also magical duels. These books have clever characters and a sharp eye for social details. If you enjoy this sort of blend, you might search for authors with a similar approach.
Naomi Novik crafts clever historical fantasies filled with richly-drawn characters and imaginative worlds. Her novel “Uprooted” is a dark fairy tale about a young woman named Agnieszka.
Agnieszka lives in a village next to a menacing forest, where each decade a wizard called the Dragon chooses a girl to serve him in his lonely tower.
Everyone expects the Dragon to pick Agnieszka’s best friend, Kasia, but instead he picks Agnieszka herself, sending her life into unexpected turmoil. Soon she confronts both mystery and corruption within the forest, discovering powers she never suspected she possessed.
For readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s thoughtful blend of magic, history, and emotional depth, Naomi Novik’s “Uprooted” offers an equally satisfying journey.
Books by Katherine Addison often blend imaginative world-building with themes of politics and social intricacy that fans of Mary Robinette Kowal might appreciate.
One standout book is “The Goblin Emperor,” where young Maia, an overlooked and half-goblin heir, unexpectedly finds himself emperor after tragedy strikes his family.
It’s a fascinating story about Maia’s struggle to adapt to court life full of intrigue, subtle politics, and complex customs.
If you enjoy character-driven narratives with thoughtful layers of court politics and heartfelt personal growth, Katherine Addison could be a perfect next read.
Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s blend of vivid characters, science-fiction themes, and engaging narratives may appreciate Catherine Asaro. Asaro brings together elements of science fiction, romance, and intriguing social dynamics in her work.
Her book “Primary Inversion” introduces readers to Sauscony Valdoria, a fighter pilot and heir to an interstellar empire caught in a tense conflict between two powerful empires. The story combines complex politics, emotional intensity, and fascinating futuristic technology.
Fans of rich storytelling and compelling character relationships could find this novel appealing.
Elizabeth Bear is a versatile science fiction and fantasy author whose stories combine vivid characters, detailed world-building, and thoughtful explorations of human experience.
Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s “The Calculating Stars” might find Bear’s “Ancestral Night” particularly appealing. Set in a richly imagined galaxy filled with complex societies and advanced technologies, “Ancestral Night” centers on Haimey and her shipmate, Connla.
They uncover an alien derelict, leading them to become embroiled in a conflict about the nature of freedom, morality, and consciousness. Fans of Kowal’s work may appreciate Bear’s strong characters and thoughtful examination of humanity’s place among the stars.
Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s blend of nuanced characters and thoughtful storytelling may appreciate Lois McMaster Bujold. Her novel “The Curse of Chalion” offers a fascinating mix of fantasy, court intrigue, and compelling human drama.
It follows Cazaril, a weary nobleman returned from captivity, as he becomes entangled in dangerous palace politics. Tasked with protecting a young princess, he soon realizes that a terrible curse has gripped the royal family.
With careful plotting and memorable characters, Bujold creates a rich and believable world that thoughtfully examines destiny, duty, and sacrifice.
Robin Hobb is an author known for creating richly developed fantasy worlds and memorable characters. Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s thoughtful storytelling and engaging character dynamics may also appreciate Hobb’s style and themes.
Her novel “Assassin’s Apprentice” follows Fitz, a royal bastard who trains in secret to become an assassin for the kingdom. Fitz navigates court intrigues, complex loyalties, and the burden of mysterious abilities called “the Wit” and “the Skill.”
The story combines elements of coming-of-age and political drama with a strong emotional core. It’s the type of deep, character-driven fantasy that fans of Kowal often enjoy.
If you enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s thoughtful blend of fantasy, historical detail, and character depth, you may find Seanan McGuire a great next read. McGuire’s stories often explore themes of identity, magic, and diverse realities.
Her novella, “Every Heart a Doorway,” follows teenagers returning from magical worlds, now adjusting to ordinary life at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Nancy, who recently came back from the Halls of the Dead, is struggling with the normality of everyday school life.
But when tragedy strikes at the home, Nancy and her fellow residents must band together—each bringing their unique experiences from extraordinary worlds—to unravel the mystery. McGuire creates a vivid and emotional narrative about belonging and acceptance.
N.K. Jemisin is an imaginative author known for bringing deep characters and thoughtful storytelling into fascinating speculative worlds. If you’ve enjoyed Mary Robinette Kowal’s alternate histories and engaging narratives, Jemisin’s “The Fifth Season” could be a great fit.
The novel introduces readers to a land called the Stillness, a place torn apart by periodic apocalyptic events called Seasons. Jemisin skillfully follows three individuals whose personal struggles intersect dangerously with the world’s uncertain future.
Secrets emerge, tension builds, and the lives of these characters intertwine in unexpected ways. With powerful themes about survival, discrimination, and connection, Jemisin offers a vivid exploration of what it means to fight for hope in a falling world.
Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s thoughtful storytelling and detailed world-building will likely appreciate Becky Chambers.
Chambers writes science fiction with warmth and rich character connections, often highlighting the small, meaningful moments of human interaction against grand, expansive settings.
Her novel “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet” follows Rosemary Harper, who joins a diverse crew aboard the spaceship Wayfarer as they journey across the galaxy.
The crew features humans and fascinating alien species, each with unique perspectives and complex personal histories.
Together, they navigate cultural differences and personal bonds while heading on a mission that challenges each crew member’s understanding of community, friendship, and belonging.
For readers who value Kowal’s ability to blend emotional depth and speculative worlds, Chambers offers a similarly inviting exploration of space and imagination.
Patricia C. Wrede writes fantasy novels full of humor, strong characters, and captivating magic—perfect for readers who enjoy the imaginative style of Mary Robinette Kowal.
Her book, “Sorcery & Cecelia,” co-authored with Caroline Stevermer, takes place in a magical Regency-era England, where two young cousins exchange witty letters.
These letters detail their unexpected encounters with enchantments, scheming wizards, and charming intrigue at society parties. The book blends historical settings and delightful fantasy in a way that will appeal to those who loved Kowal’s elegant fusion of magic with history.
Gail Carriger writes lively fantasy novels that blend historical settings with fascinating supernatural twists. If you enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s smart blend of historical detail and speculative elements, Carriger’s book “Soulless” might appeal to you.
In Victorian London, Alexia Tarabotti navigates a society filled with vampires, werewolves, and proper manners. But Alexia herself has no soul—no special powers whatsoever—except her clever mind and sharp wit.
When supernatural beings mysteriously start disappearing around her, Alexia sets out to find answers. The story combines humor, romance, and adventure in a fresh narrative approach that fans of thoughtful, witty fantasy will enjoy.
Anne McCaffrey is an author whose stories often blend rich character development with fascinating worlds of dragons and space exploration. If you enjoyed Mary Robinette Kowal’s “The Calculating Stars,” then “Dragonflight” could be a great book to explore next.
In “Dragonflight,” dragons and their riders work together to protect their world, Pern, from deadly airborne threads. These dragonriders are heroes who risk their lives in the sky to save humanity below—but over time, people have started to forget the threat altogether.
The story follows Lessa, a young woman who forms a strong bond with a powerful dragon queen. Together they face an ancient danger everyone else has dismissed, and the adventure quickly becomes both epic and deeply personal.
Jo Walton is a fantasy and science fiction author known for blending thoughtful narrative, strong characterization, and intriguing historical elements. Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s style may appreciate Walton’s book “Among Others.”
This novel follows Morwenna, a teen who has survived a tragic event and now faces loneliness at an English boarding school. Through her diary we discover subtle magic, reflections on classic science fiction novels, and hints at the mysterious conflict that changed her life.
Walton masterfully weaves the protagonist’s emotional journey with touches of fantasy, creating a deeply personal, memorable tale.
Readers who appreciate Mary Robinette Kowal’s blend of historical detail and speculative fiction might enjoy Connie Willis. Willis skillfully combines history, humor, and intriguing speculative concepts.
In her novel “To Say Nothing of the Dog,” she explores time travel with wit and charm as historian Ned Henry journeys to Victorian England to fix a temporal mishap.
Ned’s mission—to retrieve a seemingly ordinary object—turns delightfully complicated by mismatched romances, etiquette blunders, and historical chaos.
Willis’s clever storytelling creates a narrative both entertaining and thoughtful, perfect for fans seeking intelligent, amusing time travel adventures.
Readers who enjoy Mary Robinette Kowal’s blend of thoughtful fantasy and vivid storytelling will find Jacqueline Carey’s novels equally absorbing.
Carey creates worlds rich in complex societies, compelling characters, and intriguing plots that weave together adventure, politics, and emotional depth.
In her novel “Kushiel’s Dart,” readers meet Phèdre nó Delaunay, a remarkable protagonist marked by the gods, whose unusual gift for pain and pleasure draws her into a dangerous world of court intrigue and secret alliances.
Set in Terre d’Ange, a fantasy land inspired by Renaissance Europe, this book combines intricate political plotting with an immersive, richly detailed world.
Fans of Kowal who appreciate strong heroines, well-developed worlds, and stories full of clever twists will find Jacqueline Carey’s “Kushiel’s Dart” a satisfying read.