Manga and anime have established themselves as fixtures of the media landscape. Manga occupies an entire aisle in Barnes and Noble. It dominates bestseller lists. Anime films top the box office. Musical artists reference anime series in their songs and even cosplay them on social media and at concerts.
So it goes to say that when a fan watches an anime they love, they follow it up by trying to find other anime like it. Maybe they even pick up the original manga. And then go on to seek out more manga like that. But sometimes those fans want a change of pace. They want prose, but they want prose that reminds them of their favorite anime or manga.
But what does that mean? After all, the reasons why people like anime or manga can vary from person to person. Is it the vibes? Because it can be difficult for a novel match the cozy vibes from your favorite anime. Or is it the worldbuilding? Because let’s be real. Anime often rides on rule of cool worldbuilding that wouldn’t fly in most mainstream fantasy novels. Fantasy readers tend to like a certain level of rigor and consistency in their stories. Anime doesn’t always follow this convention. Or is it a plot element that they’ve latched on? As you can see, the reasons are vast and varied.
Nevertheless, some fantasy books do pair well with anime, and here are a few suggestions that match the energy of different anime series in different ways.
For Witch Hat Atelier Fans
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Witch Hat Atelier was the breakout anime of the 2026 spring season, but it wasn’t really a surprise. The original manga has won many awards, so it seemed like a foregone conclusion that an anime adaptation would attract even more fans. The series follows Coco, a young girl who loves magic. But when her curiosity leads to tragic consequences, she’s taken on as a witch apprentice to save her mother.
Kelly Barnhill’s children’s book begins with a custom: Every year, townspeople offer up a baby to a witch that lives in the nearby forest to appease her. Of course, the witch is misunderstood and doesn’t need these young sacrifices. She rescues the abandoned babies and finds them new homes with welcoming families. Unfortunately, one year, she accidentally feeds a baby the wrong thing, which grants that child immense magical potential. She chooses to raise the child, but when the girl turns thirteen, her magic manifests and with it comes the promise of danger.
Child of a Hidden Sea
One Piece is one of the biggest series of all time in every sense. The original manga holds a Guiness World Record. The live action adaptation is one of Netflix’s most popular shows. The anime is getting a new reboot. Many people love this series and even if they don’t, they’ve probably heard of it. One Piece is that series.
Set in a world made up of island nations, it’s a sprawling adventure following an extraordinary young man who dreams of becoming the Pirate King but ends up challenging the existing world order.
Dellamonica’s Child of a Hidden Sea has a similar vibe. The heroine, Sophie, finds herself transported to a world consisting of island nations, torn apart by politics, and suffering a huge conspiracy. Sophie is even notorious, and somehow everyone knows who she is. Sound familiar?
For Jujutsu Kaisen Fans
Jade City
Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most popular anime today. It’s about a young man who unwittingly becomes the host of an infamous, and long-dead, evil sorcerer. This catapults him into the hidden world of curses, the sorcerers who fight them, and a centuries-old struggle to gain control over the world. The plot isn’t necessarily what makes Jujutsu Kaisen popular, though. It’s the stunning fight scenes, flashy animation, and visual spectacle.
On the other hand, Fonda Lee’s Jade City isn’t about fighting the supernatural. It’s essentially a mafia story set in an Asian-inspired urban setting. But it does have some flashy powers and intense action.
For My Hero Academia Fans
The Death of Captain America
Published when the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated cinema and before superhero fatigue wore down movie-going audiences, My Hero Academia introduced a whole new generation of fans to anime and manga. Set in a world where most of the population has superpowers, My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a superhero but has no abilities himself.
The original manga is famously inspired by American superhero comics, so if you want to read something like it, try Larry Hama’s The Death of Captain America. This novelization tracks the aftermath of Captain America’s assassination. Fans of My Hero Academia know that the series has its own larger-than-life superhero, All Might, and it’s his downfall that sets multiple things into action.
For Frieren Fans
The Bone Harp: A Tale of Elfland
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a fantasy manga that balances melancholic vibes, cozy slice-of-life, and unexpected revelations and magical battles. It follows Frieren, a near-immortal elf who was part of the hero’s party that defeated the Demon King. But decades after that great battle, most of her companions have died and she travels a land that finally knows peace. Of course, things don’t stay peaceful for long.
If you like the idea of seeing the world through an elf’s eyes, particularly in the context of their extremely long lives, Victoria Goddard’s The One Harp is the novel for you. It tells the story of Tamsin, an elf bard-turned-warrior, who wakes up after what appeared to have been his death. But he can’t complain. He’s healthy and alive. Now, he just has to piece together his memories. And if he should happen to reassemble a harp, all the better. If you love Frieren’s bittersweet vibes, this standalone novel comes close to delivering that same feeling.
Featured image: Crunchyroll / Netflix
