Books like 'The Valley Iris'
Readers who enjoyed The Valley Iris by Lauren Lee Merewether also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy young adult ancient times found-family survival pagan sweet heroine
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Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 34 by Mizuho Kusanagi
Rated: 4.72 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsAs Yona continues to read Su-won’s mother’s journal, she uncovers secrets about the Crimson Dragon King’s bloodline! What’s more, Yona discovers the series of events that led to the lethal animosity between Su-won’s parents and her own… The fates of Kashi, Il, Yon-hi, and Yu-hon are bound by... -
Obsidian Throne by Robin D. Mahle, Elle Madison
The epic conclusion to Rowan's...Categorized as:
found-family medieval historical fantasy young adult sassy heroine strong heroine high fantasy -
Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 44 by Mizuho Kusanagi
Yellow Dragon Zeno has sealed away the other three dragons in the Chalice of the Four Dragons’ Blood. He tells Yona and Hak that he wishes to return the four dragons to the heavens and end his life... -
The Blackthorn Queen by Melanie Karsak
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBritain, AD 38, Princess Cartimandua—Carti—of the Brigantes tribe faces an uncertain future when her father’s sudden death ignites turmoil. Suspicion falls on the Crow People of the Votadini tribe, straining the fragile peace between the factions. But they’re not the only ones bearing a grudge. A tangled web of political games soon unfolds... -
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The Crow Queen by Melanie Karsak
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBritain, AD 38, When destiny crowns Cartimandua queen of the Brigantes, she inherits not just the rule of her ancient tribe but an imminent war. Seeking to take advantage of the upheaval amongst the Brigantes, the Parisii tribe strikes. Cartimandua’s enemies soon discover the new Brigantes queen wears a crown of thorns and talons. Carti has no time to waste on petty squabbles... -
Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Shadows by Melanie Karsak
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA kingdom at war.A conflict forged in the tragedies of the past.A shield-maiden thrust into the heart of all.Just when Ervie was beginning to break free of the shadows that plagued her, the Gauls set fire to her world. With King Harald murdered, the warhorn calls for revenge. From Skagen to Grund, the Vikings will rally to avenge the heinous attack...Categorized as:
ancient times historical medieval vikings fantasy legends & fairy tales young adult length-medium -
Queen of Stone by Melanie Karsak
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsBritain, A.D. 43With the arrival of the Romans, Boudica’s world is in upheaval. She and Prasutagus must decide where they stand. Will they fight the invaders alongside Caratacus or bargain with the Romans to secure the future of the Iceni? Every choice seems like a bad one. But more than anything, Boudica wants to keep her people and her family safe... -
Exiles by Jaye L. Knight
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsExiled after their defeat in Samara, the Resistance struggles to find allies in their quest to restore King Balen to his throne and put an end to the emperor’s tyranny. When the crete people refuse to lend their aid, Balen leads a group to Dorland to reason with them and win their support...Categorized as:
found-family fantasy christian young adult new adult medieval historical political-intrigue -
The Crow Queen by Melanie Karsak
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBritain, AD 38, When destiny crowns Cartimandua queen of the Brigantes, she inherits not just the rule of her ancient tribe but an imminent war. Seeking to take advantage of the upheaval amongst the Brigantes, the Parisii tribe strikes. Cartimandua’s enemies soon discover the new Brigantes queen wears a crown of thorns and talons. Carti has no time to waste on petty squabbles... -
A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson
The fate of a cursed nation depends on a princess who must outwit a mortal enemy and outlast the trials of a death-defying ritual in a thrilling adventure by USA Today bestselling author Sariah Wilson.Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess—one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion... -
The Breaker of Stars by Nicole Platania
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBook 3.5 in The Curse of Ophelia series. Coming 2024... -
I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway!, Volume 2 by ATAKA, Sou Inaida
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFated to die as the villainess of an otome game, Mystia sets out to change her own unhappy ending!Mystia Aren is the daughter of a noble family, and she just started high school. She’s surrounded by a group of adoring classmates and her charming fiancé. Everything seems perfect...Categorized as:
found-family fantasy young adult regency love triangle friends to lovers historical other-man-woman -
Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsA Tale of the Christ describes the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, Jewish prince from Jerusalem who gets betrayed by his friend from childhood and enslaved by the Romans. He is taken to Rome where he becomes a charioteer and a Christian. Running in parallel with Judah's narrative is the unfolding story of Jesus, who comes from the same region and is a similar age...Categorized as:
ancient times historical christian christmas young adult fantasy length-medium audiobook -
Rebel Daughter by Lori Banov Kaufmann
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFor fans of The Red Tent and The Dovekeepers!Winner of a 2021 National Jewish Book AwardFinalist for The Christy Rebel Daughter transports the reader to one of the most dramatic and momentous events in human history – the destruction of Jerusalem in the 1st century... -
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Ties of Deception by Alice Ivinya
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn innocent goddess. A manipulative god. A deception that could destroy an empire.Purity, a goddess of life, has only one purpose: to be happy. The happier she is, the more blessings those around her receive. So she spends her days in luxury receiving gifts and adoration.And now she has even caught the eye of the empire's prince...Categorized as:
ancient times fated-mates fantasy historical new adult from hate to love young adult multicultural -
The Triumphant by Lesley Livingston
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsThe final book in the Valiant series takes Fallon and her warrior sisters on an epic journey from the corrupt Roman Republic to the wonder of the ancient Alexandria, Egypt.In the wake of their victorious fight to win back the Ludus Achillea, Fallon and her gladiatrix sisters have become the toast of the Republic... -
Scarlight by Evie Marceau
A life saved is a soul owned.When she was six years old, Bryn was saved from a wolf attack by a prince from a rival kingdom. Rangar Barendur’s people believe that a life saved is a soul owned, and ten years later, Rangar returns to collect his prize: Bryn...Categorized as:
found-family survival sweet heroine fantasy legends & fairy tales young adult fae cold hero -
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Rated: 3.98 of 5 stars · 74 ratingsIn The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck paints a powerful portrait of Wang Lung, a humble Chinese farmer, and his enduring bond with the land. As he rises from poverty to wealth, the earth remains his anchor amid love, ambition, hardship, and change...Categorized as:
survival historical high-school 20th century young adult multicultural contemporary war -
The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
Set in the challenging terrain of Ice Age Europe that millions of Jean Auel’s readers have come to treasure, The Mammoth Hunters is an epic novel of love, knowledge, jealousy, and hard choices—a novel certain to garner Jean Auel even greater acclaim as a master storyteller of the dawn of humanit y...Categorized as:
ancient times fantasy historical young adult love triangle other-man-woman length-epic m-f -
The Sweetest Betrayal by Natalie Mae
In this heart-pounding conclusion to The Kinder Poison trilogy—which People magazine proclaimed a "delicious high-stakes adventure"—war looms over Orkena, but can Zahru save her people without losing herself?War has come to Orkena. Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country’s long-time enemy... -
Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsTwo intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more... -
Bemused by Farrah Rochon
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe untold origin story of the 5 Muses from Disney’s Hercules is revealed in this rollicking YA fantasy filled with mythical adventure, music, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.The Muses narrated Hercules’s story. Now, in this novel for fans of the New York Times bestsellers Go the Distance and Fire & Fate, they’ll narrate their own "gospel truth... -
The Gods Only Know by Rory L. Scott
The Gods Only Know is an arranged marriage, childhood-friends-to-lovers, second-chance fantasy romance novel. It is the second book in the Tempt the Gods series and cannot be read as a standalone.Poseidon and Athena. Finally friends.When the Greek and Roman gods are forced to merge into one pantheon, the unthinkable happens... -
The Vengeful Princess: by Kelly Wightman, Jessica L. Lee
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsComing to Divinos Academy drastically changed my life. I’d completely given up hope of ever having a meaningful existence. I had every intention of ending it all, but fate had other plans for me. Instead of finding one reason to live – I found four!Four extremely assertive, arrogant, compelling alphaholes that made me irrevocably fall in love with them...Categorized as:
ancient times fantasy reverse harem from hate to love strong heroine young adult poly historical -
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Meraki: A Syren Story by Naomi Kelly
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSynopsis:Her song is a gift bestowed by the gods; so why does it feel like a curse?Seventeen-year-old Wren thinks she has just swum away from the greatest threat in the sea. That's until she finds herself being hauled upon a warlord's boat. With her life at the mercy of a young, temperamental King, Wren must decide who is her ultimate enemy... -
One for All by Lillie Lainoff
An OwnVoices, gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.Tania de Batz is most herself with a sword in her hand. Everyone in town thinks her near-constant dizziness makes her weak, nothing but “a sick girl”; even her mother is desperate to marry her off for security... -
In the Shadow of Demeter by Vic Malachai
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe daughter of King Zeus of Olympus lived a small life. The least of his sons and daughters, hers was not the moon, or love, or battle…so low that she should have more rightly been numbered among his demigod children. Kore lingered at the edge of the feast hall, watching the great gods and goddesses revel... -
The Witches' Covenant by Michael Dalton
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsErich, Ariel and Astrid have begun their life together, but all is not well. Ariel and Astrid have discovered that sharing a husband is a greater challenge than they anticipated, a challenge that is exacerbated by a difficult winter trip to Wittenberg, where Erich hopes to enter the service of Frederick III, Elector of Sachsen. But their trip is soon interrupted by unexpected complications...Categorized as:
ancient times legends & fairy tales fantasy young adult historical medieval high fantasy magic -
Voice of Gods by Eleanor Herman
Rated: 3.84 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAs the end of an age approaches, gods whisper horrors, families scheme for power, and one woman may hold the secret to a lost legacy.At 19, Ada of Caria yearns to take the Snake Blood throne from her mad older siblings—and seeks the help of a young orphaned girl named Helen, the first True Oracle to have walked the earth in more than three hundred years... -
Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk
Rated: 3.85 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsForged in battle... From the dust of the arena... A legend will riseThe action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic—and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus...Roma Victrix. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to create an empire―an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves...Categorized as:
ancient times young adult fantasy historical from hate to love length-medium audiobook -
Olympian Confessions: Hades & Persephone (Olympian Confessions) by Erin Kinsella
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPersephone is a goddess without a title even though her relatives include the Lord of Light, Goddess of Wisdom, and the Queen of the Gods.She’s only known as the daughter of her mother, something that leaves her feeling frustrated. She longs to escape Mount Olympus to discover who she truly is... -
A Curse of Gold by Annie Sullivan
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsGold in her hands.A contract on her head.A kingdom on its deathbed.After barely surviving thieving, bloodthirsty pirates and a harrowing quest at sea to retrieve King Midas's stolen treasure, Kora finds readjusting to palace life just as deadly.Returning as a cursed princess who has angered Dionysus, Kora’s people have openly turned against her, threatening to overthrow her as heir to the throne... -
Redemption by Jessica Therrien
Rated: 3.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsLead Council member, Christoph, is dead by Elyse’s hand, and Descendants have begun to emerge, exposing their secret to the world. Some see this as the prophecy come to fruition, but the prophecy caries a heavy consequence. It was never meant to be as peaceful as most had hoped. Humans and Descendants struggle to live together in a world that isn’t ready for such a change. America is divided...Categorized as:
ancient times young adult fantasy legends & fairy tales historical length-short audiobook -
Lord of the Two Lands by Judith Tarr
In 336 B.C., Egypt lay under the yoke of Persia, ruled by Governors appointed by the King of Kings in Persis. And in the Temple of Amon in Thebes dwelt the only living child of Nectanebo, the last fully Egyptian Pharaoh, who had been defeated in battle and slain by Darius's servantsBut from the north a spirit of fire was moving across the World... -
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The Heartbeat Thief by A.J. Krafton, Ash Krafton
Rated: 3.68 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHaunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth—she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it. In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections... -
Daphnis and Chloe by Longus
Rated: 3.79 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA tender novel describing eager and inept young love, Daphnis and Chloe tells the story of a baby boy and girl who are discovered separately, two years apart, alone and exposed on a Greek mountainside... -
Spirit's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Himiko the beloved daughter of a chieftain in third century Japan has always been special. The day she was born there was a devastating earthquake, and the tribe's shamaness had an amazing vision revealing the young girl's future—one day this privileged child will be the spiritual and tribal leader over all of the tribes...Categorized as:
found-family survival contemporary length-long glimpses-kisses historical young adult fantasy -
The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel
The Shelters of Stone opens as Ayla and Jondalar, along with their animal friends, Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, complete their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar’s people: the Zelandonii. The people of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii fascinate Ayla. Their clothes, customs, artifacts, even their homes—formed in great cliffs of vertical limestone—are a source of wonder to her...Categorized as:
ancient times historical fantasy young adult mystery length-epic m-f explicit-open-door -
The Betrayed by Kiera Cass
Rated: 3.76 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsKiera Cass brings another sparkling romance to a stunning conclusion in this sequel to the instant #1 New York Times bestseller The Betrothed.Can you follow your heart when it’s already broken?After fleeing Coroa and leaving the memory of her beloved Silas behind, Hollis is unsteadily adjusting to life in Isolte... -
Ōkami by Renée Ahdieh
Rated: 3.73 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsAt the close of Flame in the Mist, to end a bloodbath between the Black Clan and imperial soldiers, Ōkami allows himself to be taken prisoner by Prince Raiden, Mariko’s betrothed. For someone who doesn’t believe in heroes, it’s a surprising choice: to trade his life for the lives of his friends and the one he loves. For he will surely be killed when he arrives in the Imperial City... -
Athena's Child by Hannah M. Lynn
Rated: 3.76 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsDaughter. Sister. Priestess. Protector. Son. Brother. Demi-God. Hero. Monsters.Gifted and burdened with beauty far beyond that of mere mortals, Medusa seeks sanctuary with the Goddess Athena. But when the lustful gaze of mighty Poseidon falls upon her, even the Temple of Athena cannot protect her.Young Perseus embarks on a seemingly impossible quest... -
Outrun the Wind by Elizabeth Tammi
Rated: 3.63 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe Huntresses of Artemis must obey two rules: never disobey the goddess, and never fall in love. After being rescued from a harrowing life as an Oracle of Delphi, Kahina is glad to be a part of the Hunt; living among a group of female warriors gives her a chance to reclaim her strength, even while her prophetic powers linger... -
Gladiatrix by Russell Whitfield
Rated: 3.59 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThe Ancient Roman public's hunger for gladiatorial combat has never been greater. The Emperor Domitian's passion for novelty and variety in the arena has given rise to a very different kind of the Gladiatrix.Sole survivor of a shipwreck off the coast of Asia Minor, Lysandra finds herself the property of Lucius Balbus, owner of the foremost Ludus for female gladiators in the Eastern Empire... -
The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
Ayla, the heroine first introduced in The Clan of the Cave Bear , is known and loved by millions of readers. Now, in The Plains of Passage, Ayla’s story continues.Ayla and Jondalar set out on horseback across the windswept grasslands of Ice Age Europe. To the hunter-gatherers of their world--who have never seen tame animals--Ayla and Jondalar appear enigmatic and frightening...Categorized as:
ancient times fantasy historical young adult length-epic m-f explicit-open-door audiobook -
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Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
Rated: 3.64 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsDrawing on ancient texts and modern archeology to reveal the trans woman’s story hidden underneath the well-known myths of The Iliad, Maya Deane’s Wrath Goddess Sing weaves a compelling, pitilessly beautiful vision of Achilles’ vanished world, perfect for fans of Song of Achilles and the Inheritance trilogy.The gods wanted blood. She fought for love... -
Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn
Rated: 3.48 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsCamille, a revolutionary's daughter, leads a band of outcasts – a runaway girl, a deserter, an aristocrat in hiding. As the Battalion des Mortes they cheat death, saving those about to meet a bloody end at the blade of Madame La Guillotine. But their latest rescue is not what she seems...
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