Books like Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson show the politics and palace intrigue of various, beautifully created fantasy worlds of the young adult industry. They allow us to indulge in other worlds and immerse ourselves with characters like Kazi from Dance of Thieves.
Kazi is a well-known reformed street thief who is sent to investigate the inner workings of the Ballenger empire. The new Ballenger ruler is young Jase who is put in power after the empire’s patriarch dies. The empire itself is a foreboding and terrifying force which even the neighboring kingdoms bow down to.
Kazi is sent by a young queen who wishes to begin a new era in the turmoil that the new leadership brings. Upon arrival at the palace, Kazi realises Jase is not the entitled, brutal boy she expected to meet.
The more they get to know each other, the more they have to deny their feelings for one another whilst also concealing both their true intentions.
This is a wonderful and thrilling novel but if you have already read Dance of Thieves, you might be looking for something similar to sink your teeth into.
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10 Books like Dance of Thieves
Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo
In this novel about a heist set in Bardugo’s wonderful fantasy world, we meet six unlikely members of the group attempting to break into and out of the prison in the Ice Court.
Ketterdam is a bustling hive home to international trade and also numerous criminal gangs. A brutal and dangerous place to live, those who inhabit the port are as resilient as they have been forced to be.
Kaz Brekker is a young criminal prodigy who is offered a chance at riches beyond comprehension. Although it is a deadly and difficult heist to pull off, Kaz and his crew are determined.
Soon, they realise the success of this heist is the only thing standing between the world and its impending destruction.
Pick up Six of Crows for a thrilling book similar to Dance of Thieves.
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books like Six of Crows!
Into the Crooked Place, by Alexandra Christo
Tavia (a busker), Saxony (a resistance fighter), Karam (a ring fighter) and Wesley (a gangster) are four crooks who must come together to navigate the streets of Creije when dark magic threatens the world as they know it.
After Tavia accidentally hands a vial of dark magic into the wrong hands, it sparks a series of events where danger is spreading across the world. Together, they must stop this dark magic but as they dig deeper into the problem, they begin to question if they can even trust one another.
A fantasy novel full of magic and turmoil, Into the Crooked Place is a great book, so why not pick it up for your next read?
The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black
Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince is a novel, much like Dance of Thieves, in which we get a glimpse of the palace intrigue of a fantasy world.
The world of Faerie is a dark, dangerous but desperately alluring world in which Jude and her sisters are whisked away to live in since their parents were murdered at a young age. Now grown, they have lived among the fae for most of their life.
Jude desperately wants to fit in and belong but mortals are hated and ridiculed by the fae and no more than Prince Cardan himself. This makes Jude want to prove herself even more, to best the immortals.
Somehow, she finds herself entangled in royal politics by becoming a spy. Cardan may be a vicious fae but they realise they must put their hatred of one another aside to save the world of Faerie itself.
A book similar to Dance of Thieves, we see two characters find a love despite their differences and the secrets that lay between them.
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books similar to The Cruel Prince!
Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi
Juliette from Shatter Me hasn’t touched a single person in nearly a year. Juliette has been locked up by the Reestablishment after accidentally killing someone after touching them.
The reasons why Juliette’s touch is lethal are unknown to even her. But as long as she is locked up without a chance of killing anyone, no one cares to find out.
The world outside is crumbling as disease and natural disaster occurs. The Reestablishment promised to be the cure to the world’s death but too many people have died and now people are calling for war.
Now, they need Juliette. She is their best weapon.
Another novel of political turmoil set in a thrilling world unlike ours, this book may be your next five stars!
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books like Shatter Me!
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard
This novel is the first in the Red Queen series, set in the world of Norta.
In Norta, there are two types of people. Reds are commoners, powerless, and ruled by the elite Silvers who each possess a superpower.
Mare Barrow is a Red, living with her family in a poverty-stricken area named the Stilts. Mare somehow finds herself working in the Silvers palace where unexpectedly, she finds herself publicly showcasing powers she didn’t even know she had in front of the entirety of Silvers.
Scared of how and why Mare has powers, the Silvers declare her a long-lost princess and she is forced to live in the palace, engaged to one of the Silver princes. Secretly helping the Red uprising, Mare must live long enough to escape the palace walls whilst keeping her own heart on guard.
With its elite empire of ruling Silvers comparable to the Ballenger empire, this might be your new favourite novel!
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books similar to Red Queen!
The Shadows Between Us, by Tricia Levenseller
This dark and alluring fantasy book is full of palace intrigue and thrilling romance.
Alessandra is a violent and murderous woman who isn’t afraid to use her skillset to serve her own ambitions. She comes up with an elaborate plan to seduce and then marry the Shadow King, whilst secretly plotting to kill him after and rule the six kingdoms on her own.
But the politics with the palace walls are deeper and darker than she first imagined. Threats come from all directions and soon, Alessandra is saving the Shadow King’s life more times than she wishes she had to. But the longer she is around the king, the more feelings grow and murder seems like a faraway dream.
Pick up The Shadows Between Us for your next fabulous read!
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books like The Shadows Between Us!
Three Dark Crowns, by Kendare Blake
On the island of Fennbirn, there are a set of triplets born in each generation where each triplet has an equal right to the throne.
The triplets are each born with a magical power and when they turn sixteen, a fight for the throne begins.
Separated and trained since birth for the battle to the death, sisters fight until there is one queen standing. Mirabella is an elemental; Arsinoe is a naturalist; Katharine is a poisoner. But things are not as they seem and this battle may change the course of history.
Three Dark Crowns is a perfect read for fans of books that follow stories about royalty, death and magic.
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
The first in the Graceling series, we meet Katsa who is a Graceling, a rare kind of person born with a rare skill to kill.
Katsa has been able to kill someone without even so much as a weapon since she was eight. As the King’s niece and a Graceling, she is forced to work as the King’s thug.
But Katsa finds out the truth behind her Grace and another secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms. Not to mention how she has fallen for Prince Po in the midst of all this chaos.
Another novel full of royalty and politics and magic, this book is sure to make you laugh and cry!
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books similar to Graceling!
An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
An Ember in the Ashes follows a deadly and powerful empire and two opposing forces who come together for the greater good.
Laia is a slave to the Martial Empire and when her brother is taken prisoner for treason, she gets given a choice. To spy for the rebels and free her brother or stand by and let the emperor wreak more havoc over the lives of others.
Now a spy in the Empire’s elite military school, she meets Elias who wishes to be free of the tyranny that the Martial Empire enforces.
Together they must join forces and free themselves and the rest of the kingdom from the clutches of the emperor.
Have you already read this novel? Check out our list of books like An Ember in the Ashes!
Ash Princess, by Laura Sebastian
The Fire Queen was Theodosia’s mother who, when she was six, had to watch die in front of her when her country was invaded by the Kaiser. Now cruelly named the Ash Princess, Theodosia lives a life enslaved to the Kaiser.
Forced to watch the suffering of her citizens, she realises something must be done to reclaim her country and save herself and her people from the evil the Kaiser brings.
A compelling book, Ash Princess is your next best read, with its evil empire and plot to spread ruin.
Reading books like Dance of Thieves can transport you into another world completely where empires and evil rules and our protagonists aim to end their time on the throne. Hopefully, you found your next great read above!
Are you looking for something similar to Dance of Thieves? Have any recommendations that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments!
