Love She Who Rides the Storm? Readers share 64 books like She Who Rides the Storm...

By Caitlin Sangster,

Here are 64 books that She Who Rides the Storm fans have personally recommended if you like She Who Rides the Storm. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of The Way of Kings

Jeff Ayers Author Of Skate the Thief

From my list on fantasy for those who donā€™t know they like fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was reading from a young age, but I didnā€™t start devouring books until I found the fantasy genre. I firmly believe that there is a set of books out there that every person can love, even if they donā€™t consider themselves a capital-R, serious Reader. It would be a great waste for someone not to know that fantasy literature might be their special thing. If someone is searching for a genre of fiction that they could fall in love with, I sincerely hope that these books can open the doors to other worlds. 

Jeff's book list on fantasy for those who donā€™t know they like fantasy

Jeff Ayers Why did Jeff love this book?

This was my first introduction to Sandersonā€™s work, and I knew within a few pages that we were going to be a good fit. Iā€™d just gotten off of reading through Martinā€™s A Song of Ice and Fire, and the ā€œmultiple POVsā€ angle of the book was a big pull for me.

The frankly bizarre world of the book (and the series of which this is book 1, The Stormlight Archive) was so full of strange creatures and patternsā€“so studded with interesting, resourceful charactersā€“that I couldnā€™t put it down over the course of days to finish it.

By Brandon Sanderson,

Why should I read it?

15 authors picked The Way of Kings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, Book One of the Stormlight Archive begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion.

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades andā€¦


Book cover of The Unspoken Name

Ash Howell Author Of New Year, New You

From my list on redefining your queer, magical self.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a queer speculative fiction writer, I often find myself drawn to themes of identity. Reckoning with identity and defining your own (and redefining, and redefining, and redefining) is a critical part of the queer experience in the cis-hetero norms of the real world. Fantasy and science fiction have always given readers a lens to see themselves through, and many queer readers have found their own definitions between the lines of a book. The protagonists and stories in these books couldnā€™t be more different, but each offers a unique and compelling vision of discoveringā€”or makingā€”a place for themself in their magical world.

Ash's book list on redefining your queer, magical self

Ash Howell Why did Ash love this book?

Csorweā€™s fate is to enter the Shrine of the Unspoken and die on her fourteenth birthday. In classic orc lesbian fashion, she decides not to do that, turning her back on destiny to become the sword hand of an outcast wizard (and the tall, buff orc lady of your dreams).

Csorweā€™s journey of self-definition begins at fourteen; she knows who she doesnā€™t want to be. In her burgeoning adulthood, Csorwe is forced to confront who she was and decide who she wants to be; a parallel that will resonate with many queer readers as they cheer Csorwe through swordfights, betrayals, and becoming brave enough to stand up for herself, again.

By A. K. Larkwood,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Unspoken Name as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Unspoken Name by A. K. Larkwood is the incredible first epic fantasy in the Serpent Gates duology.

'An astounding debut . . . unlike anything I've read before' - Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

Does she owe her life to those planning her death . . .

Csorwe was raised by a death cult steeped in old magic. And on her fourteenth birthday, she'll be sacrificed to their god. But as she waits for the end, she's offered a chance to escape her fate. A sorcerer wants her as his assistant, sword-hand and assassin. As thisā€¦


Book cover of Realm Breaker

Gillian Grant Author Of Where the Shadows Beckon

From my list on fantasy with worlds to get lost in.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve always sought to escape this world for another; one more exciting. Whether it was reading, or playing D&D, I constantly looked for new places to explore. Building my own has become one of my favorite things about writing. What starts as a simple ā€˜What if...ā€™ turns into a place I find myself in daily. Iā€™m no longer just an explorer, but a builder, and my craving for unique worlds hasnā€™t gone away. Iā€™m still learning, still creating new worlds beyond my first, and always still walking new ones. I hope you love escapism as much as I do, because these books will transport you.

Gillian's book list on fantasy with worlds to get lost in

Gillian Grant Why did Gillian love this book?

Realm Breaker was pitched as Lord of the Rings meets Guardians of the Galaxy, and it doesnā€™t disappoint. A vast, intricate world full of complex political powers, vibrant cultures, and dangerous magic easily slides this into the epic category. Allward is a realm of relative peace until one of the many Spindles that separate it from other realms is opened and unleashes a terrifying army. In order to stop it, a group of unexpected allies band together to use the Spindleblade to shut the Spindles before more are opened. With a dangerously handsome villain, a slow-burn romance to die for, and amazing action sequences, youā€™ll find yourself longing to walk, sail, and travel the Ward long after youā€™ve put Realm Breaker down.

By Victoria Aveyard,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Realm Breaker as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RED QUEEN COMES A BRAND NEW SERIES

SAVE THE WORLD OR END IT...

A strange darkness is growing in the Ward. Even Corayne an-Amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea.

Fate knocks on her door, in the form of a mythical immortal and a lethal assassin, who tell Corayne that she is the last of an ancient lineage - with the power to save the world from destruction.

Because a man who would burn kingdoms to the ground is raising an army unlike any seen before,ā€¦


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Book cover of The Ballad of Falling Rock

The Ballad of Falling Rock by Jordan Dotson,

Truth told, folks still ask if Saul Crabtree sold his soul for the perfect voice. If he sold it to angels or devils. A Bristol newspaper once asked: ā€œAre his love songs closer to heaven than dying?ā€ Others wonder how he wrote a song so sad, everyone who heard itā€¦

Book cover of Rule of Wolves

Gillian Grant Author Of Where the Shadows Beckon

From my list on fantasy with worlds to get lost in.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve always sought to escape this world for another; one more exciting. Whether it was reading, or playing D&D, I constantly looked for new places to explore. Building my own has become one of my favorite things about writing. What starts as a simple ā€˜What if...ā€™ turns into a place I find myself in daily. Iā€™m no longer just an explorer, but a builder, and my craving for unique worlds hasnā€™t gone away. Iā€™m still learning, still creating new worlds beyond my first, and always still walking new ones. I hope you love escapism as much as I do, because these books will transport you.

Gillian's book list on fantasy with worlds to get lost in

Gillian Grant Why did Gillian love this book?

Starting a recommendation with the latest book in the series might be the wrong move, but nothing captures the scope of Bardugoā€™s beautiful Grishaverse like this novel. Read the rest before this one, because this is the book where all our favorite plots and characters collide. And this book has it all. Gritty criminals, powerful saints, the horrors of war, touching romance, and answers to questions many had after finishing the first trilogy. More than anything, Rule of Wolves solidifies the Grishaverse as a fantasy world worthy of being with the big boys like LotR and the Wizarding World. No matter if you identify with the thieves, the Grisha, the pirates, or the monsters of legend, thereā€™s a place in this world for everyone. Count me as a Crow, though.

By Leigh Bardugo,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Rule of Wolves as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!

2021 Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Young Adult Fantasy!

See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with Shadow and Bone, now a Netflix series.

The wolves are circling and a young king will face his greatest challenge in the explosive finale of the instant #1 New York Timesā€“bestselling King of Scars Duology.

The Demon King. As Fjerdaā€™s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charmā€”and even the monster withinā€”to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a youngā€¦


Book cover of Dance of Thieves

Marcelina LoBue Author Of Masks of Faded Dreams

From my list on fantasy romance books to stay up until 3 a.m. reading.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up, I've always been attracted to the fantasy genre; I've been obsessed ever since my teacher introduced me to it in the first grade. What started as innocent fairy books evolved to dark, spicy fantasy romance/romantasy. Now, in addition to staying up way past my bedtime reading, I'm a teenage author of my own YA fantasy romance book, Masks of Faded Dreams. This genre has truly changed my life. As cliche as that sounds, it's true; it's both my form of escapism and an eye-opening experience into worlds I'd never known existed. 

Marcelina's book list on fantasy romance books to stay up until 3 a.m. reading

Marcelina LoBue Why did Marcelina love this book?

Dance of Thieves...more like Thieves of My Heart. Seriously, this book stole my heart.

From the first few pages, I knew there was something incredibly special about this story. Kazi and Jase embody that rich x poor dynamic and warmed my heart instantly. They both deal with so many personal issues that they handle in different ways; I love how it shows how there are many ways to grieve, and seeing as I was going through a difficult time while reading, it was a part of my healing journey.

The angst was on a whole other level. Although it was a bit political intrigue-heavy, the romance DID NOT disappoint. It left me staying up well past midnight to finish their story. 

By Mary E. Pearson,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Dance of Thieves as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

'Mary E. Pearson is a fearless storyteller' Stephanie Garber

A reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives, and their hearts, in a new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles.

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makesā€¦


Book cover of Code of Silence

Eddie Jones Author Of The End of Calico Jack

From my list on fun, fast ā€œcleanā€ reads for reluctant YA readers.

Why am I passionate about this?

Fer over ten years I skippered a small book publishing company. During them years I inspected countless book proposals, most which got tossed overboard. I kin quickly gauge whether a manuscript be ripe fer publication. I bring that same skill ter reading YA and middle grade fiction. Ter be honest, it be a good deal easier ter judge the work of others than write great ficiton. But since ā€œvoiceā€ be the reflection of the authorā€™s soul, it helps ter know that those who be crafting the tales ā€˜ave thar moral compass aligned ter true north. These four authors be stand up in my book.

Eddie's book list on fun, fast ā€œcleanā€ reads for reluctant YA readers

Eddie Jones Why did Eddie love this book?

I read this book years ago after a writer's conference and it stuck with me. The three characters have to choose between doing whatā€™s right, which will put them in danger, or keeping quiet, which may save their lives. Itā€™s a gritty theme for early YA readers but one I think thatā€™s more important today than ever before. Normally I wouldnā€™t recommend two titles by the same author but itā€™s hard to find contemporary YA boy books that treat young men with respect. Timā€™s books present an accurate portrait of how the boys I know roll. Tempted and sometimes fallen, but always stepping up to do the right thing. The boys in Timā€™s book serve as good role modelsā€¦ eventually.

By Tim Shoemaker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Code of Silence as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Like many a crackerjack thriller, this one boasts a breakneck beginning...Rarely are kids in thrillers portrayed this realistically...Deliberate, plausible, and gritty whodunit."

-Booklist Starred Review

Telling the Truth Could Get Them Killed. Remaining Silent Could Be Worse.

When Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy witness a robbery that leaves a man in a coma, they find themselves tangled in a web of mystery and deceit that threatens their lives. After being seen by the criminals-who may also be cops-Cooper makes everyone promise never to reveal what they have seen. Telling the truth could kill them. But remaining silent means an innocent manā€¦


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Book cover of Forsaking Home

Forsaking Home by I. Graham Smith,

Forsaking Home is a story about the life of a man who wants a better future for his children. He and his wife decide to join Earth's first off-world colony. This story is about risk takers and courageous settlers and what they would do for more freedom. 

Book cover of The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid

Ben Guterson Author Of Winterhouse

From my list on kids suddenly caught up in mysterious circumstances.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve always been drawn to stories that feature mysterious locales and secret objects and strange or magical occurrences, so books with these elementsā€”particularly when the main characters in the books are young people learning about themselves and the world around themā€”are often very satisfying to me. Thereā€™s something naturally engaging, I believe, in tales where someone is thrust into a disorienting situation and has to make sense of the uncertainty he or she faces. The books Iā€™ve written for young readers all tend in this direction, and so Iā€™m always on the hunt for stories along these same lines.

Ben's book list on kids suddenly caught up in mysterious circumstances

Ben Guterson Why did Ben love this book?

This humorous, intelligent taleā€”about a diplomatā€™s son who befriends a troupe of young pickpockets in early-ā€˜60s Marseillesā€”is a brisk read by a writer who cares as much about the rhythm of his sentences as he does the arc of his story. Before our hero knows it, heā€™s caught up in a life of excitement that begins to make sense to himā€”until it doesnā€™t. Full of surprises, including one that walloped this reader as much as it does the main character, this novel navigates a shadowy and unexpected world where young teens talk like seasoned criminals, and friendship itself is a risky proposition.

By Colin Meloy, Carson Ellis (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

From the creators of the New York Times bestselling Wildwood Chronicles comes an original, humorous, and fast-paced middle grade novel about a band of child pickpocketsā€”imagine The Invention of Hugo Cabret meets Oliver Twist.

It is an ordinary Tuesday morning in April when bored, lonely Charlie Fisher witnesses something incredible. Right before his eyes, in a busy square in Marseille, a group of pickpockets pulls off an amazing robbery. As the young bandits appear to melt into the crowd, Charlie realizes with a start that he himself was one of their marks.

Yet Charlie is less alarmed than intrigued. Thisā€¦


Book cover of Loot

Stacy Nockowitz Author Of The Prince of Steel Pier

From my list on mobsters, schemers, and thieves.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m a middle school librarian, former language arts teacher, and middle grade author. I have a passion for all things literary, especially as they relate to kids in grades 5-8. I also grew up in New Jersey, so I come by my fascination with the Mob as a result of proximity. What I enjoy most about books about criminals is the moral gray area that some criminals exist in. Theyā€™re doing bad thingsā€”robbing banks, selling stolen goods, killing peopleā€”but their hearts are pulling them in another direction. Middle school kids also feel that tug of moral dilemmas, figuring out what is just and unjust, and I love to help them wrestle with those ideas.

Stacy's book list on mobsters, schemers, and thieves

Stacy Nockowitz Why did Stacy love this book?

Loot is a really fun book about kids for whom thievery runs in the family. Twelve-year-old March sees his father die during a heist, and now March is on a mission to find the precious stones that will reverse the curse on his family. On the way, he meets the twin sister he never knew he had, and together, they set out to find the jewels. What I love most about this book is that March is kind of an anti-hero. Heā€™s not the all-around good guy that readers find in so many middle grade books. He loves being a thief and wants to carry on his fatherā€™s legacy. But, of course, March is a great kid at heart, and I couldnā€™t help but root for him all the way through this maze of a mystery.

By Jude Watson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Loot as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

"LOOT hits the jackpot." -- Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times bestselling author

On a foggy night in Amsterdam, a man falls from a rooftop to the wet pavement below. It's Alfie McQuinn, the notorious cat burglar, and he's dying. As sirens wail in the distance, Alfie manages to get out two last words to his young son, March: "Find jewels."But March learns that his father is not talking about a stash of loot. He's talking about Jules, the twin sister March never knew he had. No sooner than the two find each other, they're picked up by the policeā€¦


Book cover of The Thief Lord

Ben Guterson Author Of Winterhouse

From my list on kids suddenly caught up in mysterious circumstances.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve always been drawn to stories that feature mysterious locales and secret objects and strange or magical occurrences, so books with these elementsā€”particularly when the main characters in the books are young people learning about themselves and the world around themā€”are often very satisfying to me. Thereā€™s something naturally engaging, I believe, in tales where someone is thrust into a disorienting situation and has to make sense of the uncertainty he or she faces. The books Iā€™ve written for young readers all tend in this direction, and so Iā€™m always on the hunt for stories along these same lines.

Ben's book list on kids suddenly caught up in mysterious circumstances

Ben Guterson Why did Ben love this book?

Long a favorite of mine, every couple of years I enjoy returning to this book about two brothers who fall in with a group of Venetian street children and the young master-thief who oversees them. Funke's classic, assured style grants this relatively contemporary novel (first published in Germany in 2000) a charming, old-fashioned sensibility, while the pacing and characterization should appeal to the most modern of readers, at least to my eyes. The book has everything I love in stories for young readersā€“mystery, magic, friendship, and startling plot twistsā€“and the interior illustrations done by Funke herself are lovely.

By Cornelia Funke, Christian Birmingham (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Thief Lord as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

The magical multi-award-winning modern classic from master
storyteller and New York Times-bestselling author,
Cornelia Funke - over a million copies sold worldwide!

'A completely delicious read.' THE OBSERVER

'Today's young readers will probably love this book as they
love the Harry Potter series' THE NEW YORK
TIMES

'My enjoyment of The Thief Lord grew and grew as
I read it' DIANA WYNNE JONES

Winter
has come early to Venice.

Two orphaned children are
on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways
of the city. Befriended by a gang of street children and their
mysterious leader, the Thiefā€¦


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Book cover of Forsaking Home

Forsaking Home by I. Graham Smith,

Forsaking Home is a story about the life of a man who wants a better future for his children. He and his wife decide to join Earth's first off-world colony. This story is about what risk takers and courageous settlers and what they would do for more freedom.

Edin isā€¦

Book cover of Desperadoes

Charles Salzberg Author Of Man on the Run

From my list on reads for valuable lessons as a crime writer.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was an English major in college and my dream was to write the Great American Novel. My literary heroes were writers like Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Bernard Malamud, Jean Rhys, Margaret Drabble, Truman Capote, and Norman Mailer. They ā€œtaughtā€ me how to write. About a dozen years ago, I concentrated on writing crime novels, like Swannā€™s Last Song and Second Story Man, both of which were nominated for Shamus Awards (Second Story Man won the Beverly Hills Book Award.) I'm a magazine journalist and write nonfiction books, screenplays, plays, and book reviews. I teach writing here in New York City, and Iā€™m on the Board of PrisonWrites and the New York Writers Workshop.

Charles' book list on reads for valuable lessons as a crime writer

Charles Salzberg Why did Charles love this book?

Like many of us, Iā€™m fascinated by the Old West (maybe itā€™s all those cowboy shows and movies I watched as a kid).

The novel follows legendary Dalton Brothers gang (related to the Younger brothers who ran with Jesse and Frank James). I stumbled across Desperadoes, which artfully co-mingles truth and fiction.

Hansen uses the conceit of having a novel told in the form of a fictional memoir, written in 1937 by 65-year-old Emmett Dalton, the last surviving member of the infamous gang.

Hansen centers his action around the gangā€™s plot to rob two banks in Coffeyville, Kansas, and itā€™s a master class in the art of blending fact and fiction.

Itā€™s something Iā€™ve tried to do in my book, which incorporates into the plot an actual plot to knock over a ā€œmob bank,ā€ backed by a real-life New England mob boss.

By Ron Hansen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Desperadoes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

At age 65, Emmett Dalton, the sole survivor of the infamous Dalton gang makes a living by selling his outrageous adventure stories to Hollywood. Desperadoes details his memories of the murders, bootlegging and thievery he and his posse committed. The grit and excitement of these violent times are expertly evoked by the sharp pen and authentic voice of HarperCollins' bestselling author Ron Hansen.


Book cover of The Way of Kings
Book cover of The Unspoken Name
Book cover of Realm Breaker

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