1
The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories)
The Land of Stories #1 (works standalone)by Chris Colfer
4.32012
Why you'll love it:
A perfect companion read that hits the same notes as Half Upon a Time.
10 Best Books Like Half Upon a Time
If you loved Half Upon a Time by James Riley, here are the most similar books our readers recommend.
Quick Answer
The best books like Half Upon a Time are:
- 1The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories) by Chris Colfer4.3#1
- 2Fablehaven by Brandon Mull4.7
- 3The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani4.0
- 4Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger4.4
- 5The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell4.7
- 6Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend4.6
- 7On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson4.7#1
- 8Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan4.7Series starter
- 9The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann4.6
- 10The Son of Neptune: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan0
When a mysterious girl named May literally falls from the sky claiming she's not a princess and doesn't believe in magic, Jack—whose father disappeared after that infamous beanstalk incident—finds himself reluctantly drawn into her quest to rescue her kidnapped grandmother. Their adventure becomes far more dangerous when they discover May's grandmother might be the legendary Snow White, and a vengeful Wicked Queen will stop at nothing to find her. This thrilling journey weaves together fractured fairy tales where nothing is quite what it seems and heroes come in the most unexpected forms.
We may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
Detailed Recommendations
2
by Brandon Mull
4.72026384 pages
Why you'll love it:
This delivers a very similar reading experience to Half Upon a Time — fans consistently love both.
3
by Soman Chainani
4.02013488 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a witty and subversive tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
4
by Shannon Messenger
4.42012496 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a hopeful and adventurous tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
5
by Cressida Cowell
4.72017300 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a adventurous and heartwarming tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
6
by Jessica Townsend
4.62018512 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a whimsical but earnest tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
7
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Wingfeather Series #1 (works standalone)by Andrew Peterson
4.72020285 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a whimsical yet earnest tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
8
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Start of Percy Jackson and the Olympians seriesby Rick Riordan
4.72013400 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a adventurous and empowering tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
9
by Lisa McMann
4.62012416 pages
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a hopeful and empowering tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
10
by Rick Riordan
02017
Why you'll love it:
This fantasy shares a adventurous and heroic tone that will resonate with Half Upon a Time fans.
Quick Comparison: Books Like Half Upon a Time
| Book | Author | Rating | Year | Pages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories) | Chris Colfer | 4.3 | 2012 | — | Closest match |
| Fablehaven📚 Series starter | Brandon Mull | 4.7 | 2026 | 384 | Start a new series |
| The School for Good and Evil📚 Series starter | Soman Chainani | 4.0 | 2013 | 488 | Start a new series |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities📚 Series starter | Shannon Messenger | 4.4 | 2012 | 496 | Start a new series |
| The Wizards of Once | Cressida Cowell | 4.7 | 2017 | 300 | Similar vibes |
| Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow📚 Series starter | Jessica Townsend | 4.6 | 2018 | 512 | Start a new series |
| On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness | Andrew Peterson | 4.7 | 2020 | 285 | Similar vibes |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief📚 Series starter | Rick Riordan | 4.7 | 2013 | 400 | Start a new series |
| The Unwanteds | Lisa McMann | 4.6 | 2012 | 416 | Similar vibes |
| The Son of Neptune: The Graphic Novel | Rick Riordan | 0 | 2017 | — | Similar vibes |
Authors Who Write Like James Riley
If you enjoy James Riley's writing style, explore these similar authors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are most similar to Half Upon a Time?
The most similar books to Half Upon a Time are The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories), Fablehaven, The School for Good and Evil.
What should I read after Half Upon a Time?
After finishing Half Upon a Time, readers most commonly pick up The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories) next.
Who writes books like James Riley?
Authors similar to James Riley include Jessica Townsend, Lisa McMann, Jasper Fforde, Erin Hunter, Andrew Peterson.
What genre is Half Upon a Time?
Half Upon a Time is a Fantasy novel by James Riley, published in 2010.
How long is Half Upon a Time?
Half Upon a Time is 401 pages long.
About Half Upon a Time
Life’s no fairy tale for Jack. After all, his father's been missing ever since that incident with the beanstalk and the giant, and his grandfather keeps pushing him to get out and find a princess to rescue. Who'd want to rescue a snobby, entitled princess anyway? Especially one that falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says "Punk Princess," and still denies she's royalty. In fact, May doesn't even believe in magic. Yeah, what's that about? May does need help though--a huntsman is chasing her, her grandmother has been kidnapped, and Jack thinks it’s all because of the Wicked Queen . . . mostly because May’s grandmother might just be the long-lost Snow White. Jack and May's thrillingly hilarious adventure combines all the classic stories—fractured as a broken magic mirror—into one epic novel for the ages.