Books like 'The Bladesmith Queen'
Readers who enjoyed The Bladesmith Queen by Sarah MacLean also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy paranormal dark romance medieval competent heroine independent heroine strong heroine working class heroine commander
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Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
Beautiful Sorcha is the courageous young woman who risked all to save her family from a wicked curse and whose love shattered generations of hate and bridged two cultures. It is from her sacrifice that Sorcha's brothers were brought home to their ancestral fortress Sevenwaters, and her life has known much joy...Categorized as:
medieval magic strong heroine competent heroine independent heroine commander witches paranormal -
The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 57 ratingsThey say Black Dow’s killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud... -
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Crown of Blood and Ruin by L.J. Andrews
War begins. But secrets have the power to end. .. everything. Fallen princess. Traitor. Queen. Forsaking her people and her birthright, Elise Lysander takes her place at the side of the new fae king of a broken land. Revered by some, hated by many, Elise’s fight for her love and freedom is only beginning...Categorized as:
magic witches alpha male competent heroine strong heroine commander fantasy from hate to love -
When We Were Kings by Auryn Hadley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsON THE FIRST DAY SHE MET HER MATCH. THEN SHE KILLED 16 MEN. Tossed into the gladiator arena, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress should have been the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second. Having grown up behind the sheltered walls of the Oberhame Palace, she knew what the crowd wanted...Categorized as:
alpha male medieval strong heroine magic fantasy historical friends to lovers paranormal -
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Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 70 ratingsSet in Colonial New England, Slewfoot is a tale of magic and mystery, of triumph and terror as only dark fantasist Brom can tell it. Connecticut, 1666. An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil... -
The Axe Falls by William D. Arand
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsDominic’s world had been a fairly simple life. To live his life to the best of his abilities, gain experience, level up, and strive to enjoy himself as best as one could in a backwater. Which, while tough on its own, was made infinitely harder by his father being the local executioner. All of that becomes infinitely worse when his entire family is murdered... -
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 46 ratingsKinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path... -
Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast and mysterious forest? and a new heir has been born. But the family? s joy turns to despair when the baby is taken, and something unnatural is left in his place. To reclaim her newborn brother, Clodagh must enter the shadowy Otherworld and confront the powerful prince who rules there? -
The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman
A standalone novel following young warrior Galva dom Braga on her journey from untested academy swordswoman to feared and bloodied veteran knight, set during the war-torn, goblin-infested years just before The Blacktongue Thief . The goblins have killed all of our horses and most of our men. They have enslaved our cities, burned our fields, and inflicted a waking nightmare on the known world... -
Thorns of Frost by Krista Street
Being entered into the Rising Queen Trial is equivalent to death. If I win, I’ll marry my enemy. If I lose, I’ll marry another fae of the king’s choosing. Either way, my freedom is lost unless I find a way to escape. Intent on fleeing, I train my new affinities and learn what’s needed to survive while pretending to vie for the throne...Categorized as:
magic alpha male competent heroine independent heroine strong heroine fantasy fae from hate to love -
Wit'ch Star by James Clemens
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe three deadly Weirgates are destroyed but the threat of the Dark Lord remains. And so Elena and her companions have gone their separate ways to prepare for what is yet to come. Elena herself has journeyed to the beautiful city of A'loa Glen, there to recover her strength and spirit. Enter Harlequin Quail. Some might call him a fool, but the little man in the jester's suit claims to be a spy... -
A Memory Not Mine by Rebecca Byron
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsCaught between two men; one, a centuries-old vampire who has stalked her across lifetimes, a predator with an obsession as insatiable as his hunger; the other, a brooding guardian bound by secrets as dark as the desire smoldering between them. After the death of her parents in a car accident, Mira is left reeling—and haunted by questions about her family’s legacy... -
Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant
Fallon McLeod has gifts any warrior would covet—fierce strength, unmatched skill, even immortality. But those gifts have come at a price that puts everyone he loves at risk. Only when his brother, Quinn, is taken captive does Fallon leave the seclusion of his Highland home to seek the king's aid... -
Dragon Emperor 2 by Eric Vall
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsNow tested in battle, Evan aims to become the heir of Hatra. Once that he’s a lord, Evan has even more on his plate, from rebuilding the city’s aqueducts to fighting demonic hordes. On top of all that, the King of Rahma gives Evan a quest to prove his worth: to find the lost Sword of Hatra, which was last seen a thousand years ago... -
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The Spirit Stone by Katharine Kerr
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsPrince Dar of the Westlands calls the new fortress of Zakh Gral "a dagger laid against our throat. " It was built by the Horsekin, ancient enemies of his people. To destroy the threat, the elven prince has called upon his dwarven and human allies. Their leaders know that if the Westlands fall, their own throats will feel the dagger next... -
A Discovery of Witches Vol. 2 of 2 by Deborah Harkness
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA Tale of Survival and Revenge. Saori wakes up in a small village surrounded by mountains. She has no memories of anything that happened previously to arriving here. As she is forced to integrate among the villagers, the dark and macabre history of the place comes to light. Trapped in a village with cold and unwelcome people, the girl wants to find a way out and beyond the mysterious mountains... -
The Greensward by D.K. Girl, Danielle K. Girl
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsThe Lady’s Horsemen are riding out once more. Carrying death’s scythe to where tormented souls linger. But what awaits them in a world where divine magick has returned? Pitch is recovered from the injuries he received in the Forest of Dean, and Silas won’t soon forget the part he played in setting his guardian back on his feet... -
Wicked Schemes by Amy Oliveira, Santana Knox
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsTHE GODS HAVE WAGED A WAR IN HER NAME, A FATE SHE NEVER DREAMT REFUSING. The first nightmare I can remember was not my own. To be born with power is to be gifted, but all I know is a curse. I am Florencia Morales, one of the seven witches whose fate was woven long before we were born. Marriage was never my dream, never a desire or a goal... -
Entreat Me by Grace Draven
Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard's salvation. . .. until they confront her elder sister... -
A World of Lost Words by Jane Washington
I was born with a shadow inside me, a beast clawing and ripping its way to freedom. I was born with a clock inside me, the tick-ticking of my heartbeat drawing us all closer to the inevitable, the inescapable. The end of everything. And now, finally, it has arrived. The world is burning, the souls are screaming, the castles are crumbling... -
Blood Rites by Peter North
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAwaken the power. Unlock your potential. Grow stronger. Embrace the blood…Lazarus Cross wakes after centuries of slumber, a single objective burning in his revenge. His newfound thirst for blood is insatiable. But when the woman who awakened him disappears before he can learn his identity or purpose, he must rely on his own strength and cunning to survive... -
The Soul Mirror by Carol Berg
A scientific young woman probes the mysterious death of her magically gifted sister in this quasi-Renaissance epic fantasy sequel to The Spirit Lens. Anne de Vernase is fighting to hold herself together as scandal and tragedy tear her family apart. Her father remains at large, convicted of treason and murder thanks to her own testimony—and his pursuit of depraved sorcery... -
The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsDon’t miss the brand-new chilling gothic thriller from the bestselling author . . . ‘Fascinating and enthralling’ Prima. ‘Wonderfully atmospheric and compelling’ Rosamund Lupton. ‘A flawless read’ Elizabeth Lee. ‘Seething with gothic menace’ Caroline Lea. Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse. A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms... -
Bound in Crimson Cord by Augusta Grey
Brynen Harlow has an impossible choice to make. Betray her country or betray her heart. Born with the power to heal, Brynen is a commoner hiding a deadly secret from the Crown. When the Witch Finder catches her practicing unlawful healing, she's sent to the Tower to be burned. Before Brynen faces the pyre, an ancient enemy attacks from the continent... -
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To Hunt a Demon King by Madeleine Eliot
Little Red Riding Hood meets spicy romantasy in this witchy retelling of a classic fairy tale. Elara has only one goal in her life: to convince her mother to treat her like the fully grown witch she is and let her attend a Coven meeting. But on her twenty-fifth birthday, Elara discovers that her mother had good reasons for keeping her away from the Coven and her grandmother, its unfeeling Crone...Categorized as:
witches magic competent heroine independent heroine medieval alpha male fantasy forced proximity -
Ancient Retribution by Katie Reus
A dragon princess once lost…. Juniper hunts down the most dangerous criminals on her black ops missions—and she’s good at it. A dragon shifter who was raised by wolves, she doesn’t know her birth clan and gave up trying to find them a hundred years ago... -
Emperor Awakened by K.D. Robertson
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHis empire stands ready, even as old friends march against him. Mykah is ready to march on the capital and slay the emperor’s killers but his enemies have other plans. The corrupted Empire has pincered him. Armies approach from all directions. Worse, those armies are led by some of his oldest friends. To win this multifront war, Mykah must adapt. He must continue to train and cultivate his allies... -
Deerskin by Robin McKinley
As Princess Lissla Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her beauty she is the image of her dead mother, the queen. But this likeness forces her to flee from her father's lust and madness; and in the pain and horror of that flight she forgets who she is and what it is she flees from: forgets almost everything but the love and loyalty of her dog, Ash, who accompanies her...Categorized as:
magic medieval competent heroine independent heroine strong heroine fantasy paranormal rape -
A Tainted Claim by Zoey Ellis
He will take what he is owed. And she will not escape him. Ana is determined to put her nights with Maddoc behind her, but one thing becomes clear. The Alpha outlaw won’t let her go. Infuriated by Ana’s disobedience, Maddoc uses all his resources to reassert his claim, no matter what violent destruction it causes. But Ana is no longer the Omega she once was... -
Rebels of Last World by Atlas Kane
Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsChoose a Class. Win your Harem. Reclaim the World. Cade Clarke spends his last night on Earth drinking with an old Army buddy. When he decides to risk his life to defend a gorgeous bartender, he pays the ultimate price. Resurrected to Antinium, Cade finds himself thrown into a world where the very rules of reality have shifted... -
Emperor Forged by K.D. Robertson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe emperor is dead. Betrayed. Now a new ruler must rise from the ashes. Mykah had been the Empire’s greatest general before it had rotted to corruption. Now he builds his own empire in order to crush the greatest nation in the world. At his side is the stunning woman who leads the horned barbarians from the north, known as the oni. The Empire’s armies are limitless... -
Inked: A Paranormal Circus Romance by Emma Hamm
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIrene Evans has only known sin. As the daughter of a pastor, she shouldn't be able to see the souls of the dead. Her father sees her as possessed, and calls in an expert on exorcism. When she sees a chance to escape, she flees to a nearby circus where her life is turned upside down. Booker Ward is known by many names. Assassin. Freak. The Tattooed Man... -
Caught to Conjure by Kyra Alessy
A powerful witch who escaped a cruel life. Three stubborn enemies who would drag her back. Can they save their world together or will past hatred prove stronger than love? Growing up hated and despised, Vie escaped her uncle and the three men who made her miserable. She vowed never to return to that life nor to let herself be treated like that again. But then they found her …... -
In Death We Part by M. Bonnet
My routine was simple - classes, work, repeat - then an unearthed family secret changed everything. Four mysterious men shattered my life and stomped on the pieces until I had nothing left. They were strangers to me, but I was no stranger to them. They had been watching me… waiting until the time was right to strike... -
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Blood of Heirs by Alicia Wanstall-Burke
Lidan Tolak is the fiercest of her father’s daughters; more than capable of one day leading her clan. But caught between her warring parents, Lidan’s world begins to unravel when another of her father’s wives falls pregnant... -
Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson
Once he had scorched the world. Once he had driven back overwhelming darkness. Once he had loved with such passion, his name was legend. .. TAIREN SOUL. Long ago, in the magical holocaust known as the Mage Wars, the immortal Fey and their allies fought to defeat the grasping evil of the Elden Mages and their dark-gifted supporters...Categorized as:
magic alpha male medieval insta-love commander working class heroine witches competent heroine -
Red by K.D. Miller
They don’t go into the woods…. Every full moon, the Beast rises within the woods. Every full moon, some poor soul is sent into that forsaken forest as a sacrifice. Every full moon, the village holds its collective breath that the sacrifice will be enough. Any other time, the woods are supposed to be safe, but no one dares take a chance. Not until Sloane Whelan...Categorized as:
medieval magic witches working class heroine insta-love alpha male independent heroine fantasy -
The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsHave you ever wondered just what was going on when that odd little man with the long name stepped up and volunteered to spin straw into gold for the miller’s daughter? If you stop and think about it, there are some very peculiar and rather hard-to-explain components to the story. Vivian Vande Velde has wondered too, and she’s come up with these six alternative versions of the old legend...Categorized as:
magic medieval contemporary dark legends & fairy tales historical paranormal fantasy -
Faraj by Brittni Chenelle
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat good are wings when the sky itself is ready to collapse? We’ve lost one of our own, and the dissension between the valkyries has done far more damage than the monsters attacking our realm. With the darkness closing in, everybody seems to be looking for one poor soul to blame... -
Caged by Helene Gadot
Rated: 3.85 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMagic is illegal in Ravenswood. Those of us with power are collected and stuffed into prisons. They found me when I was still just a child. I've spent my whole life caged, beaten and experimented on. I'm nothing but a nightingale shifter, little power to combat the torture. The last thing I ever expected was to find my mates in this hell, but they're brought in, snarling and furious and huge... -
Scars of His Wrath by Zoey Ellis
Bound by fate to the man she's sworn to defy. Revered for her magical ability, Naya is the most treasured omega in her parents' empire. Her birth marked the arrival of peace in the land, and her people eagerly await her reign. But Naya is haunted by a tragedy. Finding her mate is the key to banishing the shadows plaguing her... -
The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore
Rated: 3.85 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWolf Hall. meets. The Favourite. in this beguiling debut novel that brilliantly brings to life the residents of a small English town in the grip of the seventeenth-century witch trials and the young woman tasked with saving them all from themselves. England, 1643. Puritanical fervor has gripped the nation... -
Savior of the Shades by Vasilisa Drake
My fated mate is my bully. First, he rejects me in front of the entire pack for being too weak. And when I run, he chases me…. And kills me. But this is not the end of my story. I wake up in the underworld, lost, confused—. But for the first time: powerful. My wolf is finally free, and I have mysterious magic... -
Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsSet against the historical reign of the Golden and Iron King, Bohemian Gospel is the remarkable tale of a bold and unusual girl on a quest to uncover her past and define her destiny. Thirteenth-century Bohemia is a dangerous place for a girl, especially one as odd as Mouse, born with unnatural senses and an uncanny intellect. Some call her a witch. Others call her an angel... -
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The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane
Dive into the world of beasts and barbarians in this prequel to the exhilarating Gathering of Dragons series by Milla Vane. A warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. When she arrives in Blackmoor, however, she finds a land cursed by a demon and ruled by an evil warlord. .Categorized as:
magic competent heroine alpha male independent heroine strong heroine paranormal fantasy dark -
Firebird by Juliette Cross
House of the Dragon meets From Blood and Ash in this epic, scorching dark romantasy. A conqueror captivated…. A witch prophesied to save them all…. A world where dragons rule Rome. From the moment Roman general and nephew to the emperor Julianus Dakkia laid eyes on Malina, he was enthralled by the Dacian dancer... -
The Dark Queen by Susan Carroll
From Brittany's misty shores to the decadent splendor of Paris's royal court, one woman must fulfill her destiny while facing the treacherous designs of Catherine de Medici, the dark queen. She is Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, one of the Cheney sisters, renowned for their mystical skills and for keeping the isle secure and prosperous... -
The Seventh Sister by M.A. Brown
Rated: 3.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsThe Seventh Sister is an epic dark romantasy set in a lush and immersive world with fairytale like elements, classic romantasy vibes, and an edge of your seat pace. The story follows Ertha, a True Healer who is kidnapped from her place at the Selenyss Temple by the legendary Sons of Uther... -
The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
Kill the dragon. Find the blade. Reclaim your honor. It’s that, or end up like countless knights before her, as a puddle of gore and molten armor. Maddileh is a knight. There aren’t many women in her line of work, and it often feels like the sneering and contempt from her peers is harder to stomach than the actual dragon slaying. But she’s a knight, and made of sterner stuff...Categorized as:
magic medieval competent heroine independent heroine strong heroine fantasy high fantasy horror -
The Silver Rose by Susan Carroll
From Brittany's fog-shrouded forests to the elegant dark heart of Paris's royal court, one woman must challenge a country's destiny-and her own dangerous fate. France, 1585. She is the youngest and most powerful of the "Sisters of Faire Isle," women known far and wide for their extraordinary mystical abilities...
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