Books like 'Essential Magic'
Readers who enjoyed Essential Magic by Cara McKinnon also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy victorian highlander
-
The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author and “remarkable reading phenomenon” (Lancashire Post) Lucinda Riley, The Moon Sister transports you to the grandeur of the remote Scottish Highlands and the gypsy caves of Granada, just as Spain descends into civil war, interweaving the stories of two women searching for their destinies, at the risk of potentially losing their chance at love... -
![Blood Eagle by Tim Hodkinson]()
Blood Eagle by Tim Hodkinson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEinar and the Wolf Coats undertake a dangerous mission to war-torn Northern France in this thrilling Viking adventure from Tim Hodkinson.936 AD. Brittany is torn apart by war. Many nobles have sought refuge in King Aethelstan's England, including Louis, prospective king of Francia. Einar and the Wolf Coats, disillusioned by events in Norway, are also at Aethelstan's court... -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![The Warrior Brothers of Skye: The Complete Series by Jayne Castel]()
The Warrior Brothers of Skye: The Complete Series by Jayne Castel
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTravel back in time to Dark Ages Isle of Skye and meet Galan, Tarl, and Donnel. Three warrior brothers, three strong women—and three unforgettable love stories. BLOOD FEUDA forced marriage ... and a passion that could forge peace or start a war. Tea, the daughter of a Pictish chieftain, prepares to wed her enemy... -
![The Border Series: Box Set by Cecelia Mecca]()
The Border Series: Box Set by Cecelia Mecca
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe first three books plus a bonus prequel novella in the bestselling Border Series: The Ward's Bride, The Thief's Countess, The Lord's Captive and The Chief's Maiden. THE WARD'S BRIDE: PREQUEL NOVELLA English knight Sir Adam Dayne is offered the ultimate prize by the earl who raised him: lordship of Langford castle... -
-
![Precious Bane by Mary Webb]()
Precious Bane by Mary Webb
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsBooks like PRECIOUS BANE are as rare as blue moons. A forgotten classic set in rural Shropshire at the turn of the 19th century blends a simple, rustic love story with a profound sense of nature's mystic truth.Prue Sarn is an original and appealing heroine of English literature as she triumphs over a physical handicap to win her heart's desire...Categorized as:
victorian historical 20th century strong heroine disabilities and marks fantasy length-medium -
![A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett]()
A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 45 ratingsIn 1866, tragedy strikes at the exclusive Windfield School. A young student drowns in a mysterious accident involving a small circle of boys. The drowning and its aftermath initiates a spiraling circle of treachery that will span three decades and entwine many lives... -
![Captivating the Scoundrel by Darcy Burke]()
Captivating the Scoundrel by Darcy Burke
Daphne Foliot has always known she’ll be married off to a man who, like her, descended from one of King Arthur’s fabled knights. That doesn’t mean she wants to be, even if it is her beloved father’s wish. Raised without a mother, she owes everything to the man who encouraged and funded her education and supports her dream of becoming the first female member of the Order of the Round Table... -
![Sealskin by Su Bristow]()
Sealskin by Su Bristow
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDonald is a young fisherman, eking out a lonely living on the west coast of Scotland. One night he witnesses something miraculous, and makes a terrible mistake. His action changes lives—not only his own, but those of his family and the entire tightly knit community in which they live... -
![A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell]()
A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell
When Clara Marie Stanton's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all Clara can do to protect them from his desperate schemes and society's prejudice. Her family may be eccentric, yes, but they certainly aren't insane. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing...Categorized as:
victorian fantasy historical christian steampunk mystery glimpses-kisses length-medium -
![Dangerous Magic: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Monica Fairview]()
Dangerous Magic: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Monica Fairview
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA sparkling tale of Regency England, a forced marriage, and two mages who must work together to save the Kingdom. Elizabeth Bennet is stunned when the Royal Mages come to her peaceful country home of Longbourn to take her away. She is even more bewildered when she is commanded to marry a powerful mage by the name of Fitzwilliam Darcy... -
![The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni]()
The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 30 ratings‘I am Rani Jindan, Mother of the Khalsa. That is my identity. That is my fate.’Daughter of the royal kennel keeper, the beautiful Jindan Kaur went on to become Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest and last queen; his favourite. She became regent when her son Dalip, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne... -
![A Restless Knight by Deborah Macgillivray]()
A Restless Knight by Deborah Macgillivray
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHad the music stopped, or had she just ceased to hear it? All she could do was stare into the dragon green eyes. Drown in them. This man was her destiny. Nothing else mattered. He removed the netting from her grasp and then dropped it.Shaking, Challon took her face in both hands. The hunger in his eyes rippled, tangible. So strong, it nearly robbed her of breath... -
![Never Conspire with a Sinful Baron by Renee Ann Miller]()
Never Conspire with a Sinful Baron by Renee Ann Miller
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsLast season, Lady Nina Trent fell for a scoundrel. This year, she intends to choose more wisely... When a duke more interested in fox hunting and sports than womanizing comes to town, Nina thinks him the perfect catch. Sadly, he doesn't seem to notice her... -
![Secrets to Reveal by Tilly Wallace]()
Secrets to Reveal by Tilly Wallace
Rated: 3.98 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsEvery heart holds a secret, but some are harder to reveal than others... England, 1812. Aster Simmons lives a quiet and orderly existence working as a secretary and indulging in her love for puzzles--until her routine is disrupted by the arrival of an impertinent Scotsman who lounges around her office like an overgrown dog... -
-
![The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux]()
The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux
Would you risk your life—on the love of a lifetime? Charleston, 1799: A daughter of Southern gentility and a gifted painter, Catherine Edilean Harcourt has no lack of suitors at home in Virginia, waiting to fulfill her dream of marriage and family. But Cay’s adventurous spirit, fostered by growing up with her three brothers, is piqued while visiting her godfather in South Carolina... -
![Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy]()
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 66 ratingsThe bold and beautiful Bathsheba Everdene has arrived at weatherbury, creating a stir in the idyllic community of the countryside... -
![The Princess: A Medieval Romance by Claire Delacroix]()
The Princess: A Medieval Romance by Claire Delacroix
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPrincess Brianna of Tullymullagh is determined to marry only for love-until her father's holding is conquered and the king decrees that she must wed one of the victor's sons. Thinking she can outwit this condition, Brianna issues a the son who brings her a gift that makes her laugh will win her hand. Thus begins the Bride Quest of the three brothers Fitzgavin... -
![The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan]()
The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsIt's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event which only occurs once in several decades... -
![Murder at the Mayfair Hotel by C.J. Archer]()
Murder at the Mayfair Hotel by C.J. Archer
Rated: 3.91 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsIt was the most fashionable place to stay in London, until murder made a reservation. Solve the puzzle in this new cozy historical mystery from USA Today bestselling author of the Glass and Steele series.December 1899. After the death of her beloved grandmother, Cleopatra Fox moves into the luxury hotel owned by her estranged uncle in the hopes of putting hardship and loneliness behind her... -
![The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers]()
The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers
Rated: 3.91 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Edgar Award–winning author of A Dreadful Splendor blends mystery and spooky thrills with friendship and romance in this delicious love letter to Gothic fiction, featuring two brides who must band together to unravel the ghostly secrets at the heart of a crumbling island manor. 'Til death do us part.. -
![India Black in the City of Light by Carol K. Carr]()
India Black in the City of Light by Carol K. Carr
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen it comes to undercover work, nobody does it better than Madam of Espionage India Black... India and the handsome British spy, French, are ordered to escort a Russian agent to Paris where he will be exchanged for one of Her Majesty’s operatives. The task seems straightforward and India looks forward to enjoying the delights of the city—and the delights of French...Categorized as:
victorian mystery historical suspense steampunk heroine sleuth fantasy length-medium -
![Limelight by Emily Organ]()
Limelight by Emily Organ
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 30 ratings“Miss Green, the actress Lizzie Dixie has been murdered.” I stared at the young inspector. “But it’s impossible. She drowned. Years ago.”London, 1883. Fleet Street’s pioneering lady reporter Penny Green is stunned when a long-dead actress is found murdered in Highgate Cemetery... -
![The Shield of Three Lions by Pamela Kaufman]()
The Shield of Three Lions by Pamela Kaufman
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe return of a classic, by bestselling author Pamela Kaufman. “Richly rewarding, superbly written. . . . The richness of the characters, the historical details, and the story as a whole make this novel a memorable reading experience.”—Chicago Sun-Times Eleven-year-old Alix is the daughter of the baron of Wanthwaite, whose lands along the Scottish border are among the best in England...Categorized as:
highlander contemporary medieval historical fantasy legends & fairy tales length-long -
![The Third Son by Elise Marion]()
The Third Son by Elise Marion
Rated: 3.77 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsPrince Damien, the spoiled youngest son of the king of Cardenas, finds that his world will never quite be the same again when a fiery Gypsy girl, Esmeralda, comes dancing into his privileged life. Rake. Rogue. Scoundrel. Each of these words has been used to describe Damien Largess, youngest prince of Cardenas, most frequently by his ridiculously somber eldest brother... -
-
![Angel's Mask by Jessica Mason]()
Angel's Mask by Jessica Mason
The timeless tale of The Phantom of the Opera brought to life as never before...Christine Daaé arrives penniless and hopeless at the steps of the great Paris Opera House, in search of an angel. What finds her instead is a man in a mask named Erik, a tortured soul masquerading as a ghost. Fascinated by Christine, Erik dons a new mask to be close to that of the Angel of Music... -
![Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan]()
Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab by Columbkill Noonan
Rated: 3.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBarnabas Tew is a private detective struggling to survive in his trade in Victorian London. Fearing that he is not as clever as he had hoped to be, he is plagued by a lack of confidence brought on in no small part by his failure to prevent the untimely deaths of several of his clients... -
![The Beholders by Hester Musson]()
The Beholders by Hester Musson
Rated: 3.61 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsSOME HOUSES ARE HAUNTED BY THE LIVING June, 1878. The body of a boy is pulled from the depths of the River Thames, suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin. Four months earlier. Harriet is a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall... -
![Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke]()
Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke
Rated: 3.55 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsAnnabel is about to marry the perfect man . . .The last thing Miss Annabel Wheaton desires is true love. She learned the hard way that love makes a woman foolish and leads only to heartache. That’s why she agreed to marry an earl who needs her money. He’s got a pedigree and a country estate, and he won’t ever break her heart. There’s only one problem . . -
![Girl in the Afternoon: A Novel of Paris by Serena Burdick]()
Girl in the Afternoon: A Novel of Paris by Serena Burdick
Rated: 3.53 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe Savarays are at the center of bourgeois Parisian society, as supporters of the Impressionist movement, friends of Édouard Manet, and citizens relatively unaffected by the Franco-Prussian war raging beyond their estate - until their beloved adopted son Henri, a burgeoning artist, disappears early one morning and 18-year-old Aimee Savaray sets out to find him... -
![Bride of the Sea by Emma Hamm]()
Bride of the Sea by Emma Hamm
Rated: 3.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsThe Little Mermaid meets Irish Mythology in this retelling of the beloved classic… An Otherworld Series Companion Novel Once upon a time… Saoirse dreams of land. Her father has other plans, and intends to marry her off as soon as possible. When a ship sinks near her home, she carries the only surviving sailor to a faerie blessed isle and plans her escape... -
![The Rainbow by David Herbert Lawrence]()
The Rainbow by David Herbert Lawrence
Rated: 3.70 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsThe Rainbow is a 1915 novel by British author D. H. Lawrence. It follows three generations of the Brangwen family, particularly focusing on the sexual dynamics of, and relations between, the characters... -
![The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White]()
The Sultan's Seal by Jenny White
Rated: 3.35 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsRich in sensuous detail, this first novel brilliantly captures the political and social upheavals of the waning Ottoman Empire. The naked body of a young Englishwoman washes up in Istanbul wearing a pendant inscribed with the seal of the deposed sultan. The death resembles the murder by strangulation of another English governess, a crime that was never solved... -
![The Professor by Charlotte Bronte]()
The Professor by Charlotte Bronte
Discover the Hidden Gem from the Author of Jane Eyre! 📚 Dive into the lesser-known masterpiece from Charlotte Brontë, the genius behind Jane Eyre and Villette. In "The Professor," she weaves a compelling tale of love, ambition, and resilience. 🏫 William Crimsworth, our unconventional hero, escapes the constraints of his English society to seek adventure in the exotic world of Brussels... -
-
![Effi Briest illustriert by Theodor Fontane]()
Effi Briest illustriert by Theodor Fontane
Rated: 3.26 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsNach einer behüteten Kindheit heiratet die 17jährige Effi, dem Willen ihrer Eltern entsprechend, den fast 20 Jahre älteren Baron von Innstetten, ein Jugendfreund ihrer Mutter, dem sie nach Kessin, einem kleinen Ort an der Ostsee folgt...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
