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Neil Gaiman, you’ve put us avid fantasy readers in a very difficult position.
As someone who has considered Stardust to be one of their most beloved stories of all time, someone who got lost in the creepy whimsicalness of Coraline and has the most beautiful illustrated copy of Neverwhere sitting on their bookshelf, I was deeply hurt by the news about Neil Gaiman. Although there are plenty of ways to continue to read his books without supporting the man himself, and putting your hard-earned money into his pocket, there are also so many other incredible books out there to be discovered.
So instead of focusing on being sad, I wanted to take this opportunity to shine a light on books that could be read instead of, or alongside, some of Gaiman’s most popular works. Whether you are looking for alternate books to read instead of supporting a problematic author or you simply want some new fantasy book recommendations, look no further. I’ve got you.
Instead of Stardust, try Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees
Lud-in-the-Mist is a story about a human city nestled along the edge of Fairyland, similar to the village of Wall in Stardust, and the events that ensue when the human and fairy worlds mix. But, in Lud-in-the-Mist, the people know that Fairyland exists and they have grown to fear it, particularly the fairy fruit that floats down the river to its shores. The consumption of fairy fruit has been outlawed, so when the son of Nathaniel Chanticleer, the mayor of Lud-in-the-Mist, is believed to have eaten fairy fruit, he must set out on a journey and unveil old mysteries in order to save his son and his city.
Considering Neil Gaiman himself states (in editions that include his introduction) that Stardust draws heavily from Lud-in-the-Mist, this is the perfect choice if you are looking to read a beautifully written book with all the makings of an adult fairytale. Lud-in-the-Mist is also said to have influenced the writings of Susanna Clarke and John Crowley and, pre-dating Tolkien, has a very Shire-like feel to its world.
Instead of Neverwhere, try King Rat by China Mieville
When something murders Saul Garamond’s father and leaves Saul to be wrongfully imprisoned for the crime, Saul never would have expected his savior to come in the form of King Rat, a shadow that beckons Saul into the dark and grim world beneath the streets of London. But King Rat has an agenda of its own, and in order to free himself, Saul is thrown into a plot for revenge against forces he doesn’t understand. Forces that seek to use him and then destroy him.
King Rat is a weird, gritty novel that, similarly to Neverwhere, explores the dark, fantastical world lingering below the streets of London. This could possibly be the weirdest thing you ever read, but perfect if you are craving a book that explores the possibility of a whole other world just beneath your feet.
Instead of Coraline, try A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
Mona is a wizard, but is nothing like the wizards who protect her city. Her strange magic is perfect for her job in her aunt’s bakery, because it only works on bread. Accompanied by her familiar, a sourdough starter named Bob, she lives a comfortable life. Until she finds a dead body on the floor of the bakery. Until she realizes that there’s an assassin haunting the streets, an assassin killing off wizards one by one and Mona might be next.
Although the premise of A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking differs from Coraline, the two are very similar in terms of hitting that perfect sweet spot between horror and childlike fantasy that Coraline does so well. And if you like A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, then I would also recommend you check out Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher.
Instead of American Gods, try Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
Yaga siblings Bellatine and Isaac have been estranged for years, only to be brought back together by the mysterious circumstance of their sudden inheritance from their ancestral home in Russia: a sentient house on chicken legs. But when Bellatine and Isaac embark on a tour of their family’s traveling theater show across America, they realize that a dark and violent power followed their new home to the shores of America and leaves only destruction in its wake as it hunts them.
Thistlefoot brings Jewish mythology to the highways of America. This is the perfect read for anyone interested in ancient magic from another land interacting with the modern, American world and the odd chaos that ensues.
Instead of Good Omens, try To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust
To quote Milton, “better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.”
To Reign in Hell reimagines the fall of Satan, when firstborn angel Yaweh entrusts Satan to carry out his plan to save Heaven at the cost of the lives of countless angels. With the deceptive and self-serving Abdiel whispering in Satan’s ear, Satan and Yaweh are trapped in the web of lies woven around them and a simple questioning of morality is escalated into an all out war of the Heavens.
Although To Reign in Hell is not a comedy like Good Omens, I still wanted to recommend it as a well-crafted fantasy story that is simultaneously satirical and blasphemous in nature. If you enjoy religious retellings where the demons or fallen angels are not necessarily the bad guys, then To Reign in Hell is the book for you.
Your next adventure awaits!
Although Neil Gaiman is one of the first people that comes to mind when thinking of the most accomplished fantasy authors of our time, there are so many other incredibly talented authors out there just waiting to be discovered. I hope that you found one or two books to add to your TBR and if you’re interested in more fantasy book recommendations, check out Books Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans Should Be Reading and New Books of 2025: 5 New Releases to be Excited About in 2025 for more.
And, as always, happy reading!
