If she likes (Philip Pullman)…

[Fallulah]

If my relative is receiving the last of the Book of Dust / His Dark Materials books for Christmas and is wildly excited by this… what other books might she like?

This really isn’t my genre at all so I’m clueless!

The Dark is Rising sequence - Susan Cooper.

Or as a lighter suggestion, Diana Wynne Jones.

Oh I’ve read Ghost Hawk by Cooper. I’ll take a look at those - thanks!

Robin Hobbs
Sheri Tepper

Douglas Adams, maybe? He writes sci fi rather than fantasy, but is similar to Pullman in many respects – British, atheistic (but open-minded), and very interested in ideas, which he uses light-hearted sci fi to explore (just as Pullman uses fantasy). Also a superb stylist (hardly surprising for a lifelong admirer of P. G. Wodehouse).

Patrick Ness Chaos series
Phillip Reeve Mortal Engines
Patrick Rothfuss The name of the wind
Garth Nix Sabriel series
Brian Sanderson Tress of the Emerald sea
Terry Pratchett Tiffany Aching (Discworld)
Just off the top of my head these feel like similar, hefty, world building series. Also try more Pullman, the Lockhart series is one of my first favourites, though aimed a little younger than the newer books from him maybe?

Susanna Clarke - Piranesi or Strange and Norrell.
More Phillip Pullman (Sally Lockhart or some of the stand alones)

Wind Singer trilogy by William Nicholson

I would second Garth Nix and Sabriel.

Thank you so much for all these suggestions. Are the Dark Materials books children’s books? My relative is an adult and lots of the recommendations say 9 -12 years when I look them up on Amazon. I’m throwing no shade at an adult reading children’s books, just don’t want to insult her!

They are meant to be children's books. But they are a satisfying read for adults. I still stand by my Dark is Rising suggestion - definitely adult suitable, despite being children's. But I'd probably give the Diana Wynne Jones suggestion a miss. I love them, but they are very definitely kids' books.

I came on to suggest Mortal Engines. I’m not surprised it’s already got a mention. I believe it’s aimed at children, but I loved it!

Has she read The Hobbit? I only ask because I somehow avoided reading that as a child and it’s another book I really enjoyed reading as an adult.

i would recommend A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge. And some of her others too. Like the Pullman, it’s young adult and equally sophisticated in style and content. And really excellent storytelling.

Thank you so much. This is not my genre at all so you are all being really helpful!

Songlight by Moira Buffini

My childhood is well behind me but I loved Francis Hardinge's books. The Lie Tree is excellent. I think it won awards.

What else does she like? I'm excited about the last in the Dust trilogy but it's not a typical read for me so might not be for her either. Does she use Amazon or Waterstones wishlists? Or you could just give her a book token?