Books like Skulduggery Pleasant. Kingdom of the Wicked

Skulduggery Pleasant. Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy reads as witty, adventurous. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

J.K. Rowling · 2007

The saga's darkest, most propulsive volume — a on-the-run quest that trades school corridors for wilderness danger and mounting loss, building to an all-or-nothing confrontation.

mildly eerieYA

The Chalice of the Gods

Rick Riordan · 2023

A breezy, banter-driven return to Percy's wry first-person voice — lower-stakes and more comedic than the original series, structured as a single quest with the trio reunited.

mildly eerieYAcomplete story

Mortal Coil

Derek Landy · 2010

A fast-moving supernatural adventure pitched to YA readers, driven by a race-against-time threat that blurs life and death alongside the established Skulduggery/Valkyrie partnership.

creepy, not goryYAdeep cut

Peter and the Starcatchers

Dave Barry · 2004

An origin-story romp aboard a doomed ship, mixing orphan camaraderie with magical stardust and a pirate chase — brisk, kid-friendly adventure aimed at the Peter Pan mythos.

mildly eerieyounger readersdeep cut

Demon thief

Darren Shan · 2005

A fast, plainly-told YA horror-fantasy adventure that drops a boy into demon-hunting duty with quick chapters and constant threat.

creepy, not goryYAcliffhanger

The Empty Grave

Jonathan Stroud · 2017

The finale of a ghost-hunting series where a teenage agency confronts the origin of 'the problem' — series-culminating stakes with supernatural allies and a long-running mystery finally cracking open.

intensely scaryYAdeep cut

Fablehaven

Brandon Mull · 2006

A brother-and-sister discover a hidden preserve of magical creatures and quickly learn the rules exist for good reason — an adventurous middle-grade fantasy with escalating danger

closed-doorcreepy, not goryyounger readers

The iron trial

Holly Black · 2014

A propulsive middle-grade/YA magic-school opener built around a trial, an ensemble of young apprentices, and secrets that hook readers into a series.

younger readersdeep cut

Nightfall

Shannon Messenger · 2017

A propulsive middle-series entry that keeps its tween/teen ensemble sprinting between reveals, alliances, and betrayals — earnest, plot-forward, and emotionally invested in its found family.

mildly eerieYA

My brother is a superhero

David Solomons · 2015

Both explore destiny & friendship

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality

Roshani Chokshi · 2022

A fast, funny mythological quest full of banter and found-family warmth, balancing a countdown-to-doom plot against comic set-pieces like a rock concert trial.

mildly eerieYAdeep cut

How to Ride a Dragon's Storm

Cressida Cowell · 2008

A brisk, boyish adventure narrated with comic self-deprecation as Hiccup and Toothless face storms and monsters — light peril, high whimsy, aimed at young readers.

mildly eerieyounger readersdeep cut