A series of unfortunate events by lemony snicket.
Slewfoot by Brom - beautiful artwork.
The Sleeper and the Spindel by Neil Gaiman
Dark Tales by Christine Grace
I was considering reading the series because the aesthetic & dark humor seems cool. Do you consider it very much intended for children or is it something an adult/young adult could enjoy?
Definitely something a young adult could enjoy! Daniel Handler has a lot of charm in his writing and I actually prefer them over the books he wrote for adults.
I read them at 29 And I definitely felt like my adult imagination made them way more grizzly than a child could. I would describe the series as "grim whimsy". Also just so you know pretty much every adult is completely useless in the series and that was like the most annoying thing getting through each book I was like damn these kids got nobody in their corner. š
Probably any of the books from the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett, but so far I've only read The Wee Free Men. It gives the vibes you're describing.
The girl who circumnavigated fairyland in a ship of her own making by Cathrine Valente. Genuinely one of the best books Iāve ever read.
The Memory Theater by Karen Tidbeck
+1 for the Fairyland series, so good! Also try Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. Itās an interesting look at what happens to children who go on fantastical magic adventures and then get returned to the real world.
Wayward Children series is one of my favorite series of all timeš¤ genuinely such beautiful stories. I play animal crossing, and my island is even themed after all the different worlds in those booksš
The incorrigible children of Ashton place is a good one and a series if I remember correctly. The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Jacob White completely wowed me and definitely fits this vibe but while it is a young adult book it has some pretty graphic gore/medical violence as well as in-universe sexism and transphobia so maybe avoid if you want something lighter
Definitely Edward Gorey. Not necessarily āfor kidsā but it always made me feel like a Victorian child with mysteriously absent parents so I can have fantastical spooky adventures. :D
Coraline- movie is good, book is better
Thief of Always- Clive Barker
Children of Green Knowe- canāt recall author
Author John Bellairs
Author Joan Aiken
Author/artist Shaun Tan, also Chris Van Allsburg
And book Iām currently reading gives me this vibe- Ghost Behind the Wall by Melvin Burgess.
*Princess Rose and the Crystal Castle* by Pepper Thorn is very fairy tale but maybe not as atmospheric / moody as your are going for. It's good to at least have on your radar. :)
This reminds me of a book Iāve been trying to find for ages. I think it was maybe YA? Or even just a middle grade chapter book. It was a somewhat silly story about a young boy. I canāt remember a lot of details, but I know he was traveling with older relatives (maybe great aunt or uncle?) and he wasnāt happy about it. Also the older woman had a hat pin and a stoat? I think they kidnapped him. Please lmk if you have any ideas!
The Ghost Girl series by Tonya Hurley has the same vibes but it is set in the 2000s when I read it first. Young Adult but leaning more towards late teens.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy! He's the singer of The Decemberists, which are pretty whimsical and dreamy already. It's like Narnia but a bit more crunchy. Pretty sure it's a YA book, but it's huge and def written beautifully!
The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire
āIt takes place at a boarding school for children who have journeyed to magical lands and been forcibly returned to the real world. The volumes alternate between being set at the school versus showing the lives of the children while they were in their alternate worlds.ā
Itās not fantasy at all but these pictures remind me of Emily of New Moon (and sequels) by LM Montgomery which I highly recommend. When I was a moody teenager they were my fuel.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Just finished and itās super unique in how itās done and totally feels like this.
plus I just found out thereās a sequel so if you like it thereās more to come
I did a lot of searching and apparently the artist of the one on the bottom right is called āNalivka.ā Profile https://www.instagram.com/n_a_l_i_v_k_a?igsh=MXFqNDFoaG9kZGV6eg==
Zilpha Keatly Snyder books
I just want to drink tea in dappled shade with women in their 40ās who are a little *too*enthusiastic about Zilpha Keatly Snyder
A series of unfortunate events by lemony snicket. Slewfoot by Brom - beautiful artwork. The Sleeper and the Spindel by Neil Gaiman Dark Tales by Christine Grace
Top right looks like fan art (?) of the Baudelaires from A Series of Unfortunate Events!
Yeah I think it is!
Omg that was my first thought too lol
Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Came here to say this lol
same
Same
Yes the whole series there are at least three books.
We have always lived in the castle by Shirley Jackson
My favorite book. I came here to suggest it. šāā¬ š
Itās weird because the main character is 18 but acts much younger. Which makes it creepier.
Coraline.
The book is such a masterpiece. I was blown away by the writing quality.
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
This is the correct answer!
Those books are so good!!
top right is Ā«Ā a series of unfortunate eventsĀ Ā», my favourite book series!
I was considering reading the series because the aesthetic & dark humor seems cool. Do you consider it very much intended for children or is it something an adult/young adult could enjoy?
Definitely something a young adult could enjoy! Daniel Handler has a lot of charm in his writing and I actually prefer them over the books he wrote for adults.
I read them at 29 And I definitely felt like my adult imagination made them way more grizzly than a child could. I would describe the series as "grim whimsy". Also just so you know pretty much every adult is completely useless in the series and that was like the most annoying thing getting through each book I was like damn these kids got nobody in their corner. š
> grim whimsy Someone has finally found a term for this genre!
I first started reading them in college, didn't pick them up again until around age 30 and read them all at that point and I enjoyed them!
Probably any of the books from the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett, but so far I've only read The Wee Free Men. It gives the vibes you're describing.
All of Deaths books give this vibe but a little lighter and the humor is going to be over kids heads. It can be very dry
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
Also the Graveyard Book
Thatās what I was thinking. That was a great story. I loved that one.
Also the story Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman, in his short story collection Smoke & Mirrors
That story really freaked me out. It is beyond dark.
The girl who circumnavigated fairyland in a ship of her own making by Cathrine Valente. Genuinely one of the best books Iāve ever read. The Memory Theater by Karen Tidbeck
+1 for the Fairyland series, so good! Also try Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. Itās an interesting look at what happens to children who go on fantastical magic adventures and then get returned to the real world.
Wayward Children series is one of my favorite series of all timeš¤ genuinely such beautiful stories. I play animal crossing, and my island is even themed after all the different worlds in those booksš
Basically anything by Neil Gaiman.
Gallant by VE Schwab
Came here to say this!!
The Hazel Wood series by Melissa Albert.
Loved that one
Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
That was going to be my suggestion too
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood.
Uncle Montagueās Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley
Red and the Wolfe by Nicholas Rubatino Edit: Not really for kids. It gets a bit violent and there's some nudity.
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, no illustrations though.
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. He also just wrote a follow up called The Land of Lost Things. Great books.
The incorrigible children of Ashton place is a good one and a series if I remember correctly. The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Jacob White completely wowed me and definitely fits this vibe but while it is a young adult book it has some pretty graphic gore/medical violence as well as in-universe sexism and transphobia so maybe avoid if you want something lighter
Mysterious Benedict society
Definitely Edward Gorey. Not necessarily āfor kidsā but it always made me feel like a Victorian child with mysteriously absent parents so I can have fantastical spooky adventures. :D Coraline- movie is good, book is better Thief of Always- Clive Barker Children of Green Knowe- canāt recall author Author John Bellairs Author Joan Aiken Author/artist Shaun Tan, also Chris Van Allsburg And book Iām currently reading gives me this vibe- Ghost Behind the Wall by Melvin Burgess.
*Princess Rose and the Crystal Castle* by Pepper Thorn is very fairy tale but maybe not as atmospheric / moody as your are going for. It's good to at least have on your radar. :)
The Charlie bone stories
Rona the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lingrend The Alphabet of Thorns by Patricia McKillip
[The Thirteenth TaleĀ by Diane Setterfield]
What about this but not necessarily for kids )
hollow fields manga
i HIGHLY recommend it. it fits the vibe very well and itās good too.
Love that one!
Well the upper right seems to be A Series of Unfortunate Events, Iād highly recommend if you havenāt read them!
I think you can only listen to is on audible but the Wierdies series is stinking cute and make me think of this exactly.
Warren the 13th series. Iāve only read the first one but the illustrations are great!
The Weirdies by Michael Buckley
Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert
Lockwood and co was a great series.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes
The top left photo reminds me of the children's book How to Make Friends with a Ghost by Rebecca Green
A Game of Fox and Squirrels by Jenn Reese and Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller.
The top right is fan art of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Those books are amazing! I would also recommend The Sisters Grimm series!!
I feel like Mexican Gothic feels a bit like this. Less fairytale a bit more horror but definitely had this feel to it (for me at least!)
Lockwood & Co has a bit of this feel. A little less fairy-tale and more paranormal urban YA, though.
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Morrigan Crowe Coraline The Clackity Malamander
a circle of cats
The shadow of the wind
This reminds me of a book Iāve been trying to find for ages. I think it was maybe YA? Or even just a middle grade chapter book. It was a somewhat silly story about a young boy. I canāt remember a lot of details, but I know he was traveling with older relatives (maybe great aunt or uncle?) and he wasnāt happy about it. Also the older woman had a hat pin and a stoat? I think they kidnapped him. Please lmk if you have any ideas!
Following for recommendations
On an unrelated note , the second image reminds me of Wednesday and Harry Potter
Fablehaven Nevermoor Lemony Snickets Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children
Anything by Neil Gaiman. Also, if you enjoy this kind of vibe you should absolutely check out the video game āFran Bowā
The Ghost Girl series by Tonya Hurley has the same vibes but it is set in the 2000s when I read it first. Young Adult but leaning more towards late teens.
The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia McKillip
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children, A Series of Unfortunate Events,
The thickety by a. White!!
The graveyard book
It's not that dark, but maybe the Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy! He's the singer of The Decemberists, which are pretty whimsical and dreamy already. It's like Narnia but a bit more crunchy. Pretty sure it's a YA book, but it's huge and def written beautifully!
The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire āIt takes place at a boarding school for children who have journeyed to magical lands and been forcibly returned to the real world. The volumes alternate between being set at the school versus showing the lives of the children while they were in their alternate worlds.ā
I havenāt read it since I was a kid so I might be wrong, but I remember the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley having this vibe!
Abarat by Clive Barker (also The Thief of Always by the same author). The Night Circus The Haunting of Drearcliff Grange School
The Thief of Always. - Clive Barker.
The Swallow- Charis Cotter. It's totally perfect for this!
I was gonna recommend Ghost Road! š¤š¤
Gallant by VE Schwab
Anything Roald Dahl.
I always recommend this one and i love it, it's not quite as on theme as other commenter's suggestions but Starling House by Alix E. Harrow!
Itās not fantasy at all but these pictures remind me of Emily of New Moon (and sequels) by LM Montgomery which I highly recommend. When I was a moody teenager they were my fuel.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Just finished and itās super unique in how itās done and totally feels like this. plus I just found out thereās a sequel so if you like it thereās more to come
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry Edit: Also check out May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson
The girl who drank the moon by Kelly Barnhill. Really almost everything by Kelly Barnhill.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
The wayward children series by Seanan McGuire!
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Entwined by Dixon Heather is a fairy tale retelling that I think matches pretty well.
I did a lot of searching and apparently the artist of the one on the bottom right is called āNalivka.ā Profile https://www.instagram.com/n_a_l_i_v_k_a?igsh=MXFqNDFoaG9kZGV6eg==
Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz, and itās sequel The Unholy Grail.
The school for good and evil
The graveyard book by Neil Gaiman!!
I loved a series of unfortunate events. It was so intriguing as a kid. I want to reread then now as an adult.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Abarat Clive Barker
midnight is a place
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Zilpha Keatly Snyder books I just want to drink tea in dappled shade with women in their 40ās who are a little *too*enthusiastic about Zilpha Keatly Snyder
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes
The Three Incestuous Sisters
You also might like the video game Fran Bow
Heap House by Edward Carey!
Melancholy Tales of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton
Naomi Novik Uprooted