Books like 'The Return of Absent Souls'
Readers who enjoyed The Return of Absent Souls by C.J. Archer also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy romance mystery magic paranormal epic
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The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsBook Two in the Internationally Bestselling Mirror Visitor QuartetWhen our heroine Ophelia is promoted to Vice-storyteller by Farouk, the ancestral Spirit of Pole, she finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the public spotlight and her special gift is revealed to all... -
![Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree]()
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsHigh Fantasy with a double-shot of self-reinventionWorn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen... -
![The Emperor's Bone Palace by Hailey Turner]()
The Emperor's Bone Palace by Hailey Turner
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEvery heart is meant to break.THE NAMELESS. As a warden, Soren’s duty is to guard against the dead, but he was never trained to guard against his heart. Drawn into a web of Solarian politics, Soren finds himself at the center of a storm of his own making, unwilling to break free if it means losing the man he loves... -
![The Reckoning by Vanessa Nelson]()
The Reckoning by Vanessa Nelson
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMissing girls. A plea for help she can’t ignore. An ancient enemy with plans of his own. Nine-year-old girls are missing from across the lands. Yvonne has promised to find them, and she always keeps her promises. Even when she doesn’t know where to start looking. There’s more trouble around. Mercenaries are disappearing... -
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![The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty by Melanie Cellier]()
The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty by Melanie Cellier
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThey call her the Sleeping Princess, but Celeste is far from asleep… Celeste has been cursed since her sixteenth birthday--just not in the way the rest of the kingdom thinks. All they see is her breath-taking beauty, marred by her foolishness. Only she knows that she retains her brilliant mind. And it’s a secret she must keep at all costs... -
![Diplomats and Fugitives by Lindsay Buroker]()
Diplomats and Fugitives by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsEven though Basilard is the official Mangdorian ambassador to the Turgonian Republic, he still isn’t fully trusted by his pacifist people. After he was enslaved and forced to entertain spectators in pit fights that left him scarred and mute, his kin turned their backs on him, condemning him for choosing violence... -
![The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, Evie Gaughan]()
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, Evie Gaughan
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsOn a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books... -
![The Blade's Memory by Lindsay Buroker]()
The Blade's Memory by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsThe king is missing.A secret organization is hunting sorcerers.The enemy has powerful new weapons to deploy, and the capital is more vulnerable than it's ever been.Worst of all, at least in Ridge Zirkander's view, someone put that jackass Colonel Therrik in charge of the flier battalion... -
![Dragon Tear by Lindsay Buroker]()
Dragon Tear by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsNow that Jev is no longer obligated to marry a manipulative noblewoman, Zenia can finally pursue a relationship with him. But there’s something else she must deal with first. She’s learned that the magical dragon-tear gem she wears around her neck is linked to a living dragon, one that is being held prisoner and tortured. Zenia owes her life several times over to the creature... -
![Royal Tea Service by Casey Blair]()
Royal Tea Service by Casey Blair
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMiyara has saved the day, again.And once again, the world has come calling.Everyone wants a piece of the magical disaster zone for their own agendas, and some will stop at nothing to destroy the border and bring catastrophe down on the world... -
![If He's Daring by Hannah Howell]()
If He's Daring by Hannah Howell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn a dazzling new novel in the Wherlocke family saga, New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell creates an unforgettable story of intrigue, jeopardy, and desire. . .Stealing a stranger's carriage is the second most reckless thing Lady Catrin Gryffin de Warrene has ever done. The first is succumbing to her powerful attraction to the carriage's owner... -
![A Tale of Beauty and Beast: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Melanie Cellier]()
A Tale of Beauty and Beast: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Melanie Cellier
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsPrincess Sophia has helped her twin sister Lily save the duchy of Marin. But now Sophie faces an even greater threat when she sets out to free the cursed kingdom of Palinar from its beastly prince. Alone, and with danger on every side, Sophie must navigate a magical castle and its even more mysterious master to discover the secret to breaking the curse... -
![The Searching by Vanessa Nelson]()
The Searching by Vanessa Nelson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOath-sworn to help those in need, Yvonne has been framed for murder.Tracking down those responsible for the destruction of the Stone Walls was a difficult enough task, but someone has made it much harder. The King is dead, and Yvonne is accused of his murder... -
![The Witch's Knight by Paula Brackston, Trevor Brackston]()
The Witch's Knight by Paula Brackston, Trevor Brackston
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA girl destined to become Queen Witch.A knight sworn to protect her throughout time.A supernatural battle between good and evil.In Book One of the White Shadow Trilogy, the story moves between 11th century Wales and present day London. Gwen is born to a noble family in the Welsh mountains, unaware of her true magical identity...Categorized as:
paranormal magic fantasy historical-fiction historical fiction witches-wizards mystery -
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![Elven Fury by Lindsay Buroker]()
Elven Fury by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsJev Dharrow is trying to convince his father to cancel his arranged marriage so he can wed Zenia, the woman he loves. But when elven assassins arrive in the city, all his personal problems must be set aside. They are after his good friend, Lornysh, an elf who has saved Jev's life a dozen times over the years... -
![The Prison of Buried Hopes by C.J. Archer]()
The Prison of Buried Hopes by C.J. Archer
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn the fifth instalment of this epic fantasy series, a journey south brings together nine eclectic friends and leads them ever closer to answers – and danger. On their journey south to Freedland, Josie, Dane and their friends sense that someone is following them. Hiding in the twin cities of Merrin Fahl seems like their best course of action – until they’re recognized by strangers... -
![Remnants by Honor Raconteur]()
Remnants by Honor Raconteur
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFinally over with the wedding, managed to escape the parents, signed up with the MISD, yay! Got assigned a permanent team with Chi, Vee, and Maksohm, double yay! Toh’sellor has been stolen. Yeah, this is not going to be fun. It is, in fact, anti-fun. Oh, and monkeys. Poor Chi... -
![Seeing Danger by Wendy Vella]()
Seeing Danger by Wendy Vella
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLord Devonshire Sinclair understands his family’s heightened senses are a result of a long ago pact between the Sinclairs and the powerful Raven family. To Honor and Protect is their creed. He has also accepted that no woman could live at his side and understand what he is capable of…until now... -
![A Discovery of Witches Vol. 2 of 2 by Deborah Harkness]()
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![The Fae Artifactor by Honor Raconteur]()
The Fae Artifactor by Honor Raconteur
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsPeople really have to stop kidnapping her…. Sevana has quite enough on her plate, what with her wonky magical core still spastically melting or exploding things on her. She has every intention of seeking professional help, if such a thing exists, but is stopped before she can even go back home. That is to say, she’s kidnapped. AGAIN... -
![Solstice Day Gifts by Lindsay Buroker]()
Solstice Day Gifts by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsAfter a year full of adventure, intrigue, and tragedy, Sicarius agrees to spend Solstice Day on a tropical island with Amaranthe, resting and relaxing far away from the chaos of the new republic. But there are a couple of problems. First off, the island is riddled with old wanted posters of Sicarius, along with countless people who would like to collect the bounty. Second.. -
![Recovery by Amy Rae Durreson]()
Recovery by Amy Rae Durreson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsReawakening: Book Three Resistance, exile, plague. Raif has survived them all, but now he finds himself in search of a new purpose. Traveling north to wake the dragon Arden, he hopes he has finally found a leader worthy of his loyalty, but Arden turns out to be more of a frivolous annoyance than an almighty spirit lord... -
![Bell of Eternity: A Celtic Legends Novel by Martina Boone]()
Bell of Eternity: A Celtic Legends Novel by Martina Boone
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA timeless, modern romance in a magical castle in Cornwall, filled with food, memorable characters, and small town warmth, heart, and intrigue--perfect for fans of Poldark, Susanna Kearsley, Sarah Addison Allen, Nora Roberts, and Debbie Macomber. Emma Larsen put her life on hold after the accident that left her famous mother paralyzed and cost a man his life... -
![Ghost in the Cowl by Jonathan Moeller]()
Ghost in the Cowl by Jonathan Moeller
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOverviewCaina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.But the victory cost her everything.Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends... -
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![The Dragon Sage by Jay Lynn]()
The Dragon Sage by Jay Lynn
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA mesmerizing blend of breath-taking action and incredible sorcery. Fans of Throne of Glass and A Game of Thrones will not be able to put down this epic fantasy adventure. Standing alone in a dark cell, Alec waits for the death he cannot seem to escape. The pungent smell of sweat and blood are permanently absorbed into his scarred skin... -
![Mask of Deception and Sacrifice by Callie Thomas]()
Mask of Deception and Sacrifice by Callie Thomas
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIf she can remove the monster’s mask, she will earn her freedom…but failure will cost her life.Thirteen years ago, Princess Fiona fled the bloodshed within Ravenwood Castle. She has no desire to return to the place of her childhood nightmares, especially not as a prisoner locked in chains... -
![River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland]()
River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAisling of Bruadair is frantic to find both the truth about her future and a mercenary to save her country. When an offer of aid comes from an unexpected direction, she is relieved her quest is almost complete. But she soon realizes her task is far from over . . . and will include perils she never dreamed she would ever face... -
![Into the Dying Light by Katy Rose Pool]()
Into the Dying Light by Katy Rose Pool
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn the jaw-dropping conclusion to the Age of Darkness trilogy, hearts will shatter, cities will fall, and a god will rise. "Solidifies Katy Rose Pool's status as one of the best fantasy writers of the 21st century."—Popsugar on As the Shadow RisesFollowing the destruction of the City of Mercy, an ancient god has been resurrected and sealed inside Beru's body... -
![The Dead Letter Delivery by C.J. Archer]()
The Dead Letter Delivery by C.J. Archer
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe discovery of long-lost mail delivers a marriage proposal, a missing person, and a magical mystery.A road trip with Gabe and her friends leads Sylvia to discover more about her mother’s veiled past yet throws up several questions, too. The stack of unopened letters addressed to her family will hopefully provide answers... -
![By the Moonbeam and the Mist by Mariah Montoya]()
By the Moonbeam and the Mist by Mariah Montoya
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer memories are gone, but her powers are only growing…Rayna Drey’s second year at the Esholian Institute should be spent advancing her Wild Whispering magic that the Good Council bestowed upon her last year. Unfortunately, she can’t quite focus on her new classes or enjoy all the parties with her friends... -
![Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian]()
Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens... -
![The Whisper of Silenced Voices by C.J. Archer]()
The Whisper of Silenced Voices by C.J. Archer
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen the husband of the king’s mistress is poisoned, Josie must pretend he died of natural causes, or risk putting her own life in danger. It’s yet another secret she must learn to keep, yet another intrigue whispered about in the gilded halls of King Leon’s mysterious palace. With her enemies intent on ruining her, Josie needs all the friends she can get... -
![Awakened by Casey Odell]()
Awakened by Casey Odell
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAfter escaping from the elves and the General, Claire is on the run again with the last person she’d thought she’d end up with— Farron. Shadowy forces are nipping at their heels, and soon they are attacked. But they have bigger worries. An old friend of Farron’s shows up: a beautiful woman with a mark shockingly similar to her own.As it turns out, she is not alone... -
![Queen of Volts by Amanda Foody]()
Queen of Volts by Amanda Foody
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsReturn to the City of Sin, where the final game is about to begin…and winning will demand the ultimate sacrifice.Only days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, one last bloodthirsty game has begun. The players? The twenty-two most powerful, notorious people in New Reynes... -
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![The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty]()
The Traitor's Ruin by Erin Beaty
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAfter proving her worth in book one as a deft spy and strategic matchmaker, Sage Fowler is now comfortably positioned in high society as the royal tutor. When she’s called upon to teach his majesty’s soldiers how to read and write, she jumps at the chance to serve her kingdom of Demora—and to be reunited with her fiancé, Captain Alex Quinn. During a skirmish, Sage and Alex are separated... -
![Ice Cracker II: And Other Stories by Lindsay Buroker]()
Ice Cracker II: And Other Stories by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsShe's wanted for crimes against the throne. He's the empire’s most notorious assassin. With bounties on their heads, they’re not likely candidates for heroics, but they're on a quest for redemption. Unfortunately, they'll have to pursue and conquer great threats to earn the emperor's recognition.Three short fantasy stories set in the author's "Emperor's Edge" universe... -
![Duty Bound by Lindsay Buroker]()
Duty Bound by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsCrown Agent Jev Dharrow’s good dwarf friend Cutter is missing, as is the city’s master gem cutter. Jev doesn’t know who would want them, but he’s determined to find out. He hopes his fellow agent, Zenia, can help him locate the missing dwarves... -
![A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross]()
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsHouse of Earth and Blood meets The Witch's Heart in Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan.Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university... -
![Resistance by Amy Rae Durreson]()
Resistance by Amy Rae Durreson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsReawakening: Book Two Overthrowing the Shadow that ruled Tiallat was only the first step. For rebel leader Iskandir, rebuilding his shattered country is an even greater challenge. A poor harvest, religious conflict, and years of tyrannical governance combine with the challenge of getting the soldiers of the Shadow’s army home and rehousing the exiled who are flooding back into free Tiallat... -
![The Shadow Mark by Mason Thomas]()
The Shadow Mark by Mason Thomas
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAuraq Greystone, once a military officer with a promising future, exists on the fringe of society. Accused of murder, Auraq is on the run from the ax—until two fugitives crash into his solitary life. One is a young man named Kane. The glowing marks on his arm pulse with an otherworldly power, and they have made him the target of a sinister organization called the Order of the Jackal... -
![The Musician and the Monster by Megan Van Dyke]()
The Musician and the Monster by Megan Van Dyke
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMusic says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. I’m sorry I killed you.Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne... -
![The Traitor's Game by M.J. Scott]()
The Traitor's Game by M.J. Scott
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMagically bound to the man who should be her enemy. Chloe de Montesse thought her new life would be peaceful. But now she has an inconvenient marriage no one wants to let her end, a diplomatic scandal to navigate, and old troubles swirling around her. As well as trying to determine who might want her dead... -
![The Chef by Mell Eight]()
The Chef by Mell Eight
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsChar is a level one chef, capable of imbuing magic into his cooking. Offered a job in a new city where he can further develop his skills and grow toward his goal of one day owning his own restaurant, Char undertakes a dangerous journey through the Spikehorn Mountain pass. However, deadly beasts, thieves, and dodgy recipe ingredients aren't the only challenges in the mountains... -
![Banished by C.J. Archer]()
Banished by C.J. Archer
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn infestation of evil ghosts is too much for spirit medium Cara to handle alone. She summons Quin, and together they attempt to discover where the ghosts came from, and why they refuse to leave this realm. To protect the residents, Cara and Quin must work closely together, leading to old feelings resurfacing between them... -
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![To Catch a Prince by May Sage]()
To Catch a Prince by May Sage
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA power has risen in the lands, a dark shadow no one seems to understand. As the newest Enchantress, Talia knows her duty lies in finding it. But she’s failed the bonds of blood once, looking away as her sister was continuously abused; she can’t leave while she can be of use to her. Especially since she may never come back... -
![The Temple of Forgotten Secrets by C.J. Archer]()
The Temple of Forgotten Secrets by C.J. Archer
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGlancia is plunged into perilous times, but it's the events in her village that worry Josie more. A terrible fire puts the lives of those she loves at risk and threatens to shatter the uneasy peace. Josie and the captain investigate the cause of the blaze, but powerful enemies try to stop them. As the dangers grow more intense, so do the feelings between Josie and the captain... -
![Sound the Gong by Joan He]()
Sound the Gong by Joan He
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, comes the dazzling and sweeping conclusion to The Kingdom of Three duology, Sound the Gong, the breathtaking sequel to the critically-acclaimed Strike the Zither.All her life, Zephyr has tried to rise above her humble origins as a no-name orphan. Now she is a god in a warrior’s body, and never has she felt more powerless... -
![Ice Cracker II by Lindsay Buroker]()
Ice Cracker II by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsShe’s wanted for crimes against the throne. He’s the empire’s most notorious assassin. With bounties on their heads and soldiers hunting them, they’re not likely candidates for heroics. But when they unearth a plot against the military’s premier ice breaking ship, they may be the only ones who can thwart the saboteurs...if the soldiers don't kill them first... -
![The Echo of Broken Dreams by C.J. Archer]()
The Echo of Broken Dreams by C.J. Archer
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen a palace maid is attacked, Josie and the captain of the guards investigate together. Since one of the suspects is a foreign diplomat and magic expert, they use the opportunity to learn more about sorcery. But it soon becomes clear that he is using them to get to the truth about the palace and the servants' origins... -
![Decrypted by Lindsay Buroker]()
Decrypted by Lindsay Buroker
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsProfessor Tikaya Komitopis knew that bringing Admiral Rias Starcrest home to meet her family wouldn’t be easy, not when he led the fleet that decimated her nation during the war. She isn’t surprised when people believe she’s been brainwashed, that Rias is still loyal to the empire, and that he has nefarious plans for her homeland...
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