4 hand-picked fantasy, found family, and emotional depth books curated by NextBookAfter.
Six of Crows gripped you with its high-stakes heists, morally gray anti-heroes like ruthless Kaz, and the found family bonds forged in Ketterdam's underworld. Foundryside amps up that thrill with intricate theft schemes in a magic-infused industrial city, where flawed protagonists navigate ethical chaos, sharp banter, and unpredictable twists. If you loved the emotional depth, diverse representation, and witty commentary on corruption, this is your next obsession-worthy read.
Craving more forbidden magic that crawls under your skin after Gideon the Ninth? This one trades space tombs for colonial tension and plague mysteries, delivering a healer protagonist whose blood magic could save or destroy. Same irreverent wit, same queer chaos, same emotional gut-punch—just with magic that demands a price and found family forged in desperation.
If Somewhere Beyond the Sea stole your heart with its whimsical magic, queer tenderness, and found family vibes that feel like a warm embrace against the world's chaos, then The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna is your next obsession. Dive into a sanctuary of quirky witches banding together in cozy rebellion, echoing the laugh-through-tears charm and uplifting themes of acceptance that made Klune's tale unforgettable. It's all about quiet heroism, emotional growth, and building homes where love blooms fiercely—perfect for fans seeking that soul-deep sense of belonging without the high-stakes drama.
If Bryce's defiance and Hunt's forbidden heat left you feral, When the Moon Hatched delivers that same intoxicating blend: a sharp-tongued heroine, sizzling slow-burn romance, and rebellion-fueled chaos with cosmic stakes. The banter crackles, the twists detonate, and the found family forged in betrayal will wreck you in all the right ways.