9 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books to Read Based on Your Favorite Disney Movie

If you enjoyed the high-stakes journey and Mesoamerican backdrop of The Road to El Dorado, this sweeping fantasy romance offers a poignant look at two survivors navigating different eras of Mexican history. Connected by a mystical moon conch, Sitlali and Calizto find a way to communicate across five centuries while one flees gang violence in the present and the other endures the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521. 

As they share their struggles and cultural heritage, they forge a deep bond that defies the boundaries of time. Secret of the Moon Conch is a compelling choice for readers who love stories about ancient magic, overcoming impossible odds, and finding home in another person.

For fans of The Hunchback of Notre Dame who were moved by Quasimodo’s search for acceptance, this story follows Imp, a creature born into a monster’s lair with the confusing appearance of a human boy. Just as the gargoyles of Notre Dame provided sanctuary, a group of grumpy stone gargoyles take Imp under their wings, though his dual nature leaves him caught between two worlds that don't quite claim him. 

This atmospheric tale explores the struggle of a misunderstood outcast forced to navigate a dangerous destiny while proving that true identity is found in one’s actions rather than one's origin. T.C. Shelley delivers a heartwarming speculative adventure centered on the classic theme of finding where you belong when you fit in nowhere.

For readers who love the icy aesthetics and elemental magic of Frozen, this reimagining of The Snow Queen offers a complex look at a princess discovering her dangerous lineage. After escaping a high-security institute, seventeen-year-old Snow is thrust into the frozen realm of Algid, where she must navigate a landscape of thieves, witches, and a ruthless royal father. 

Much like Elsa’s journey toward self-actualization, Snow must learn to master her power before it consumes her, though her path leads her through much darker betrayals. Stealing Snow is the perfect pick for those intrigued by stories about reclaiming a throne and the blurred lines between being a hero and a villain.

If you were drawn to Rapunzel’s yearning for the world beyond her tower in Tangled, you will find a similar spirit in Cordelia, a shapeshifter living in a castle hidden deep within an enchanted forest. Safely tucked away from a kingdom-wide war for the Raven Throne, Cordelia and her siblings must suddenly flee their sanctuary when the outside world discovers their secret royal lineage. 

Much like the journey of reclaiming a lost identity, this story follows Cordelia as she uses her unique abilities to protect her family and navigate a landscape of hidden truths and dangerous magic. The Raven Heir powerfully explores the themes of finding one's courage and the unbreakable bond of family.

Mirroring the zero-to-hero trials of Hercules, this mythic reimagining focuses on the grueling tests of strength and character faced by the gods themselves. When a brutal conflict leaves Hephaestus broken, he and his rival Ares are forced into a series of punishing challenges that strip away their divine egos and blur the line between enmity and alliance. 

While Disney’s Hercules explored the meaning of a true hero’s heart, this story delves into the complex, shifting bonds between Ares, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite as they navigate a cosmic struggle for redemption. Of Forges & Fury is the perfect pick for readers interested in reading about legendary figures as they’re pushed to their physical and emotional limits.

For readers who share the sort of curiosity that took Alice down the rabbit hole, this national bestseller offers a sophisticated journey into a surreal, underground realm. When graduate student Zachary Rawlins discovers a book containing a chapter from his own life, he follows a trail of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—into a vast, subterranean library where time and logic operate differently. 

Similar to how Alice navigated a world of eccentric characters and shifting landscapes, Zachary must traverse a starless sea and twisting tunnels to uncover the secrets of a place where stories come to life. The Starless Sea offers a dreamlike exploration of mystery and magic, mirroring the curious spirit of a journey into the unknown in Alice in Wonderland.

Recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, this epic military fantasy echoes the warrior girl journey of Mulan through a much sharper, more intense lens. Rin, a war orphan who defies expectations to earn a spot at an elite military academy, must navigate the pressures of duty and identity while discovering a lethal, shamanic power. 

Just as Mulan fights to save her people from invasion, Rin becomes the Nikara Empire's last hope against a looming foreign threat, though the cost of her victory involves a harrowing pact with a vengeful god. This is an essential read for those who want to see a classic trope transformed into a complex exploration of war, power, and the loss of innocence

If you were moved by the solitary dedication of Wall-E in a world without people, Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Service Model offers an existential and darkly humorous look at a service robot navigating a post-human landscape. 

Much like the waste-collector Wall-E, Charles is an automaton whose core programming is challenged when he realizes the old hierarchies of human mastery have disintegrated. Upon fleeing his household and entering a wider, decaying world, he must find a new purpose within a robotic ecosystem that no longer has anyone left to serve. This is a thought-provoking pick for fans of sentient droids, exploring what happens to artificial life once its primary directive is gone.

Mirroring the protected sanctuary theme of Sleeping Beauty, this story centers on a hidden fortress city where residents are shielded from the death and demonic forces that prowl outside its borders. Paralleling the three fairies who hid Aurora in a remote cottage to keep her safe from a curse, the Oracle of Mera gathers people from across time to live in a secure refuge, provided they venture back into the dangerous wilderness for rescue missions. 

When two citizens are sent to save a woman and her children, they must balance the safety of their barricaded home against the encroaching evil that threatens to breach their sanctuary. A Rose-Red City is a must-read for those intrigued by the concept of a high-tech gilded cage and the bravery required to face the monsters waiting just beyond the thorns.