Fans pick 49 books like Rom

This book was a game changer when it first came out in the Christian fiction genre. The supernatural elements of Angels and demons in Christian fiction novels were not as prevalent in the '80s and '90s. Especially the inner workings of how the battle between good and evil works and strategizes on a personal level for the souls of men in the invisible supernatural spiritual realm.

The battle is real and has eternal consequences, and this book definitely shines the light on that in this exciting supernatural thriller. It is a must for Christian and secular lovers of the supernatural genre.

A classic, this book is timeless. Lewis conveys a message of courage, hope, and triumph through a unique perspective. Young Lucy and her three older siblings are refugees staying at the home of a professor during WWII. Lucy discovers a large wardrobe that acts as a portal to a strange land where she discovers many mystical creatures. I felt for Lucy when she wasn't believed by her siblings at first and cheered when they finally discovered the truth.

In the land, the kids participate in a battle between good and evil, symbolic of the Catholic church. This was a fun book to read, as I was on the edge of my seat (the first time) cheering for Lucy, who was my favorite of the bunch.

Where to start? Lord of the Rings contains countless unlikely heroes. From Frodo and Sam, simple hobbits who have to undergo an impossible task to save the entire world, to Theoden or Faramir, the books are full of tales of valor and strength as the good of the world strives to overcome an impossible evil.

The books are written with the key theme that even ordinary people can do great good, and that is reflected in the Hobbits. They are an ordinary race, unimportant for most of history, but they possess the courage and the heart to save their world. I love these books above all else, and the characters are all inspiring and loveable.

For all you fantasy and sci-fi fans like me who are aspiring or veteran writers looking for good characters of magical supernatural or beings of legend, look no further. It is full of different types of beasts of yore from mythology, monsters and beasts from the ancient world and modern fantasy characters.

It was such a good resource to have when developing a storyline with creatures that will be part of your world-building. The art and illustrations are perfect, along with the descriptions/bios of the creatures, and were an invaluable resource for me to expand my ideas for my books. I absolutely loved it. If you are doing research for your world-building that is entertaining and useful, this is it!

No list of magic would be complete without Nimona. Everyone’s talking about the Netflix adaptation, but if you ask me, the original graphic novel is not to be missed. A wonderfully quirky romp that somehow achieves moments of intense poignancy and beauty, this is a book for everyone.

Once upon a time, the gorgeous covers of the Mercy Thompson series caught my eye and tempted me to taste urban fantasy. The stories turned me into an insatiable glutton. Night Broken is the eighth book in the series, and the way it handles a relationship under stress from a manipulative ex who plays the victim is chef’s kiss perfection. No silly miscommunication tropes here, thank you very much. It’s a solid story about two shifters who are confident enough in their relationship and themselves to deal not only with ex and pack drama, but also a terrifying magical foe. Talk about relationship goals. 

This is fantasy right up to date: for 8 to 12-year-olds, it was published in 2021. Its castle setting immediately defines it as fantasy: "Beyond the castle’s moat, the deep, dark forest was shot through with trails of sunlight, tracing golden paths of possibility…. The dark-haired girl… sat, bare feet dangling against stone, on the windowsill of her tower bedroom." It’s a vivid picture, instantly engaging us in a world where family is very important. The heroine, Cordelia, is one of three triplets. Their task is to use their magical powers to find and mend the Raven Crown so that the parched land beyond the forest can be healed of the fighting that rampages across it, and people and the natural world live in peace—themes I feel very much in sympathy with.

You might not be able to judge a book by its cover, but you can judge it by its opening sentences. I loved the opening of The Frenzy. The protagonist doesn’t ask “Who am I?” but “What am I?” One word makes all the difference, and it hooked me immediately. 

The story is engrossing and there’s a lot going on, but the best part is that Block does a great job of bringing the 17-year-old protagonist, Liv, to life. Her relationship with her mother is totally real and the love she and her boyfriend, Corey, share, is inspirational. 

When I first picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. Our story follows Cabe, the son of a Dragon Master, as he is thrust into adventure when the Brown Dragon himself comes and demands Cabe go with him. What really intrigued me about this book was how Knaak wrote his dragons. They are shape-changing beasts that rule the land under their own council led by the Gold Dragon. This was the first book I read that portrayed dragons as having a leadership similar to that of a monarchy, and once I delved into their world, I didn’t want to stop reading.

Is it wrong to feel cozy while people are being digested by a monster? And yet. Shesheshen is a terrifying blob monster that has to eat and absorb people to use their bones to walk and talk.

She falls in love! Awww. She wants to lay her eggs in her love so they can feast on her beloved’s entrails. Ewww. This is straight-up horror. But it's somehow also funny and clever and heart-warming, even with all the murder.

I wanted to spend more time with Shesheshen, even though she probably would take the compliment by eating me for my shinbones.