The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Uprooted

Naomi Novik

A young woman is chosen to serve a powerful wizard known as the Dragon who protects her village from an evil forest. Like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features a strong female protagonist entering a magical realm, drawing heavily from folklore and featuring a complex relationship with a powerful magical being. The story combines elements of sacrifice, duty, and romance while exploring themes of magic and nature.

Six Crimson Cranes

Elizabeth Lim

A princess must save her brothers after they're turned into cranes by her stepmother's curse. Drawing from East Asian mythology like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features a determined heroine who must navigate a magical world while racing against time. The story combines court intrigue, forbidden magic, and familial devotion with rich world-building and folklore elements.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Sue Lynn Tan

Inspired by the Chinese moon goddess legend, this story follows Xingyin as she leaves her home on the moon to protect her mother and navigate the Celestial Kingdom. Similar to The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features a brave heroine entering a divine realm, combining mythology, romance, and self-sacrifice. The story weaves together court politics, magical adventures, and personal growth.

A Thousand Steps into Night

Traci Chee

In a Japanese-influenced fantasy world, a girl is cursed with a darkness that will eventually turn her into a demon. Like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features a journey through a spirit realm and encounters with various supernatural beings. The story combines mythology, adventure, and self-discovery while exploring themes of destiny and choice.

Spin the Dawn

Elizabeth Lim

A young seamstress disguises herself as a boy to compete for the position of imperial tailor, embarking on an impossible quest to sew three magical dresses. Like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it draws from Asian culture and features a protagonist who makes great sacrifices for her family. The story combines magic, romance, and adventure with themes of determination and destiny.

The Keeper of Night

Kylie Lee Baker

A half-British Reaper, half-Japanese Shinigami must find her place in the Japanese underworld after fleeing London. Like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features a protagonist navigating a supernatural realm inspired by Asian mythology. The story explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complex nature of death gods while blending cultural elements.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

Julie C. Dao

An East Asian reimagining of the Evil Queen's story, following a young woman's dark journey to become Empress. While different in tone from The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it shares the elements of East Asian mythology and a female protagonist navigating a world of spirits and magic. The story explores ambition, destiny, and the cost of power.

The Never Tilting World

Rin Chupeco

Twin goddesses must save their world that has been split into eternal day and night. Similar to The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features divine beings, magical realms, and strong female protagonists facing impossible odds. The story combines environmental themes with magic and adventure while exploring family bonds and destiny.

The Bone Witch

Rin Chupeco

A young woman discovers she has the power to raise the dead and must learn to control her abilities in a world that fears her kind. Similar to The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features Asian-inspired fantasy elements and a female protagonist dealing with magical powers. The story blends dark fantasy with coming-of-age elements and explores themes of power and sacrifice.

Girls of Paper and Fire

Natasha Ngan

In an Asian-inspired fantasy world, a girl is chosen to serve as a concubine to a powerful demon king. Like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, it features themes of sacrifice and destiny, though with a darker tone. The story combines elements of fantasy, romance, and resistance against fate while exploring themes of power and identity.