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Quick answer: If you liked Nevernight, read Jay Kristoff's Godsgrave and Darkdawn, then Throne of Glass, The Way of Shadows, Six of Crows and Gideon the Ninth. All are dark, fast fantasies about killers in training, revenge and sharp-tongued heroines.
Jay Kristoff's 2016 novel follows Mia Corvere, a girl whose family is destroyed, who joins a school of assassins in a world with three suns, to take revenge. It is bloody, witty and filled with footnotes. The books below offer similar assassin academies, anti-heroes and gothic worlds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godsgrave | Jay Kristoff | Adult | the sequel |
| Darkdawn | Jay Kristoff | Adult | the finale |
| Empire of the Vampire | Jay Kristoff | Adult | vampire epic |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen | assassin heroine |
| The Way of Shadows | Brent Weeks | Adult | assassin story |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Adult | heist crew |
| Gideon the Ninth | Tamsyn Muir | Adult | necromancers in space |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | Adult | magic school with monsters |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Adult | character-driven fantasy |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | brutal dystopia |
| Sabriel | Garth Nix | Teen | necromancer heroine |
| Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo | Adult | secret societies at Yale |
| The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | Adult | grimdark military fantasy |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | clever heists |
| Illuminae | Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Teen | files and documents |
1. Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
Mia fights her way through the arena. Darker and faster.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff
The Nevernight trilogy reaches its end. Epic and tragic.
Best for: the finale.
3. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
A hunter of monsters recounts his life in a world without sun. Dark, long and gothic.
Best for: vampire epic.
4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena competes to become the king's champion. Fast and fierce.
Best for: assassin heroine.
5. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
A street boy becomes an assassin's apprentice. Dark and action-packed.
Best for: assassin story.
6. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A criminal mastermind assembles a crew for an impossible job. Sharp and layered.
Best for: heist crew.
7. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A swordswoman and a necromancer solve a mystery in a decaying palace. Witty and gothic.
Best for: necromancers in space.
8. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
A student at a school full of monsters tries to survive. Funny and inventive.
Best for: magic school with monsters.
9. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard is trained as an assassin. Emotional and slow-burning.
Best for: character-driven fantasy.
10. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner on Mars infiltrates the elite. Fast and violent.
Best for: brutal dystopia.
11. Sabriel by Garth Nix
A young woman takes up her father's work in a land of the dead. Atmospheric and tense.
Best for: necromancer heroine.
12. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
A scholarship student investigates occult societies. Dark and intense.
Best for: secret societies at Yale.
13. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
An orphan wins a place at an elite military school and discovers shamanic power. Harsh and gripping.
Best for: grimdark military fantasy.
14. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A group of thieves in a fantasy city run elaborate cons. Witty and fast.
Best for: clever heists.
15. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Two exes escape an attack while an AI takes control of their ship. Fast and funny.
Best for: files and documents.
How to Choose
For the full trilogy read Godsgrave and Darkdawn. For more Kristoff choose Empire of the Vampire or Illuminae. For assassin tales pick The Way of Shadows or Throne of Glass. For schools of danger read Gideon the Ninth, A Deadly Education or The Poppy War. For heists try Six of Crows or The Lies of Locke Lamora. Nevernight is violent and sexual in places, so check content notes. Kristoff's novel is famous for its footnotes, in which the narrator comments with sarcasm and extra background, and some readers love them while others skim. Audiobook versions handle them with a separate voice. If you want more worlds with strong voices, Kristoff's Empire of the Vampire is bigger and darker. If you want a lighter assassin story, Throne of Glass is a faster read. If you want a school setting, Gideon the Ninth and A Deadly Education offer different tones. Audiobooks with the footnotes performed by a second narrator are a highlight. Readers new to Kristoff may find the world building dense, so it helps to read the first chapters slowly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nevernight about?
A girl trains as an assassin to take revenge on those who destroyed her family.
Who wrote it?
Jay Kristoff.
When was it published?
2016.
Is it a trilogy?
Yes: Nevernight, Godsgrave and Darkdawn.
Is it for teens?
It is written for adults, with violence and sex.
Is it funny?
Yes, with sarcastic narration.
Are the footnotes necessary?
They add humour and context but can be skimmed.
What should I read next?
Try Godsgrave or Throne of Glass.
Is Nevernight good for fans of Throne of Glass?
Yes, though it is darker and more graphic.
Does Nevernight have romance?
Yes, but it is secondary to revenge and survival.
Is Nevernight dark fantasy or YA?
It is adult dark fantasy, with violence and sex.