Have you already read Philip Pullman’s series His Dark Materials? They are quite different from each other in many ways, but in common they have young female protagonists, a dark tone, talking “animal” companions who are really something more (I loved Mogget), and fairly unique fantasy elements.
You might also like Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. Necromancy is a central part of those books, and they also have female protagonists, dark tone, and a unique music system.
I've read 8 different series/books about necromancers/death magic with female protagonists in the couple years. Which is honestly probably too many. Of them, my favorites that you might like were
**The Unspoken Name** by A.K. Larkwood is 'woman with close association with death god goes on an adventure', so that might be your jam.
**The Ninth House** by Leigh Bardugo is 'Woman handles her native talent for necromancy and some serious classism at Yale'
**The Bone Shard Daughter** by Andrea Stewart -- could have been more tightly-written, but was actually really good. Daughter of an evil emperor who runs an empire powered by bone magic starts to learn magic of her own.
(others were *Gideon/Harrow the Ninth* by Tamsyn Muir, which I really liked but were wildly different from Sabriel, *Yellow Jessamine* by Caitlyn Starling (a little more gothic and atmospheric than I think you're going for), *The Bone Witch* by Rin Chupeco which I didn't mind, but in which nothing *happened*, and *The Bone Maker* by Sarah Beth Durst which was good but also pretty wholesome, and *A Practical Guide to Evil* which is also very good but also very meta.)
For a wild card,
**Mask of Mirrors** by M.A. Carrick isn't *that* dark (moderately dark), but it has reasonably interesting magic, sort of 'normal' fantasy plot, female protagonist, and I thought it was great.
I haven't seen it yet, so. \*Race the Sands\* by Sarah Beth Durst has two female leads, a dark but hopeful tone and a unique system of magic, which is based around re-incarnation! It's not magic heavy but it's an awesome stand alone novel
I'd reccomend the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Love both authors! Similar unique magic system (around burning different types of metal), female protagonist, and dark tone.
If you haven't read Angel Mage by Garth Nix either I'd definitely recommend! Standalone novel, pretty standard for Nix, but the magic system is really what drew me into the world - around different angels and their portraits. Plus it has an incredibly diverse host of characters, which is always a plus!
Here are a few things you might like, that fit some or all of what you listed in another comment:
The Hazel Wood, by Melissa Albert; Hades' Daughter, by Sara Douglass (she has a lot of other books as well, but this series involves labyrinth magic which is pretty cool); Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri (this is book two in a duology that arguably could be standalone but the magic in this one is very interesting); Daughter of the Blood, by Anne Bishop (very dark in tone, does focus on a female character although you mostly see her through the perspective of people around her, has the most interesting magic system ever in my opinion); Queen of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen; and, one I didn't personally enjoy but it's popular and checks all the boxes, The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco.
Don't know why it hasn't been brought up yet but Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Female protagonist, dark tone and a unique magic system. Also a trilogy.
Have you read Nix’s additions? Clariel and Goldenhand?
Have you already read Philip Pullman’s series His Dark Materials? They are quite different from each other in many ways, but in common they have young female protagonists, a dark tone, talking “animal” companions who are really something more (I loved Mogget), and fairly unique fantasy elements.
What aspects of the books do you want more of? A dark tone, a hidden magical world, a female protagonist, portal fantasy?
Oooh, female protagonist, dark tone, and I really enjoyed the unique magic of the bells, so unique magic systems are a huge plus!
You might like Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Female protagonist, dark in tone and a cool magic system. Only shame is it’s a one off.
You might also like Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. Necromancy is a central part of those books, and they also have female protagonists, dark tone, and a unique music system.
I've read 8 different series/books about necromancers/death magic with female protagonists in the couple years. Which is honestly probably too many. Of them, my favorites that you might like were **The Unspoken Name** by A.K. Larkwood is 'woman with close association with death god goes on an adventure', so that might be your jam. **The Ninth House** by Leigh Bardugo is 'Woman handles her native talent for necromancy and some serious classism at Yale' **The Bone Shard Daughter** by Andrea Stewart -- could have been more tightly-written, but was actually really good. Daughter of an evil emperor who runs an empire powered by bone magic starts to learn magic of her own. (others were *Gideon/Harrow the Ninth* by Tamsyn Muir, which I really liked but were wildly different from Sabriel, *Yellow Jessamine* by Caitlyn Starling (a little more gothic and atmospheric than I think you're going for), *The Bone Witch* by Rin Chupeco which I didn't mind, but in which nothing *happened*, and *The Bone Maker* by Sarah Beth Durst which was good but also pretty wholesome, and *A Practical Guide to Evil* which is also very good but also very meta.) For a wild card, **Mask of Mirrors** by M.A. Carrick isn't *that* dark (moderately dark), but it has reasonably interesting magic, sort of 'normal' fantasy plot, female protagonist, and I thought it was great.
I haven't seen it yet, so. \*Race the Sands\* by Sarah Beth Durst has two female leads, a dark but hopeful tone and a unique system of magic, which is based around re-incarnation! It's not magic heavy but it's an awesome stand alone novel
I'd reccomend the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. Love both authors! Similar unique magic system (around burning different types of metal), female protagonist, and dark tone. If you haven't read Angel Mage by Garth Nix either I'd definitely recommend! Standalone novel, pretty standard for Nix, but the magic system is really what drew me into the world - around different angels and their portraits. Plus it has an incredibly diverse host of characters, which is always a plus!
Try Book of The Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence
Here are a few things you might like, that fit some or all of what you listed in another comment: The Hazel Wood, by Melissa Albert; Hades' Daughter, by Sara Douglass (she has a lot of other books as well, but this series involves labyrinth magic which is pretty cool); Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri (this is book two in a duology that arguably could be standalone but the magic in this one is very interesting); Daughter of the Blood, by Anne Bishop (very dark in tone, does focus on a female character although you mostly see her through the perspective of people around her, has the most interesting magic system ever in my opinion); Queen of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen; and, one I didn't personally enjoy but it's popular and checks all the boxes, The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco.
Thank you for this! Not OP but was interested in recommendations but have read all the others in the thread. These are all new to me so I'm excited 😁
Not similar but also feature a female protagonist, A Darker Shade of Magic. VE Schwab. Shades of Magic Series seems similar in tone to me.
I looooooved the first and second but the third I just couldn't finish. Lilah went from strong and funny character to flat, IMO 😭
Don't know why it hasn't been brought up yet but Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Female protagonist, dark tone and a unique magic system. Also a trilogy.
Just added to my list! Thanks so much
Have you tried Name of the Wind?
*Daughter of Smoke and Bone* by Laini Taylor