Books That Ought to Go On the Same Charcuterie Board as THE TRIDENT AND THE PEARL

Written by Sarah K. L. Wilson

Authors are always readers first. Always. We write what we want to read, spending years crafting careful narratives, questioning and re-questioning our work, feeling our pulses pound and our breathing hitch when we get to write that scene — whatever that is for us. We pump ourselves up on the best soundtracks, call out the next line in the movie even though we’ve never seen it before, and drink in every experience with the ever present question in the back of our minds: how would I get a reader to feel this?

Likewise, when we read, we get inspired. Maybe we read a book and think, “That’s not how I would have done that!” and feel like we absolutely must demonstrate our own variation on that theme — that it needs to be let loose and can’t be stopped. Or, conversely, we read a story so brilliantly written that we despair of ever writing so well ourselves and we immediately seek out whatever project we’re working on and ask ourselves, “How can I be more like that?”

And that brings me to this list. I am always reading (or re-reading because, yes, I’m a re-reader). And even though I’m a picky reader, it doesn’t matter, because there are so many incredible books coming out every year that I can be picky and still have something to read all the time. The books I’m about to list are just a shallow sampling of all the great books that you could — and frankly, probably should — be reading. I apologize for listing so few, but maybe the power of the recommendation lies in the brevity of the list.

In this list you’ll find works that compliment and highlight different aspects of both my latest book, THE TRIDENT AND THE PEARL, and each other. Theoretically, you could read these and get different vibes and a different experience from each one, but still feel that they work together like olives and cheese and cut bell peppers and figs and whatever else you’d put on a snack board — distinct and yet complimentary.

Let me fill your To Be Read list with a tasty sampling based on the most generous reviews of my book (and let’s just look at the generous ones because I don’t want to cry this morning). My favorite reviewers say that THE TRIDENT AND THE PEARL is mythic, lyrical, and delves into deep fantasy world-building. Since I write in the fantasy genre, choosing books that do the same is laughably easy. But finding just the right ones? A bit more challenging. I hope you enjoy this list I’ve curated.

The Raven Scholar, The Shattered King, and Circe book covers.

First up (these are in no particular order) THE RAVEN SCHOLAR by Antonia Hodgson. I’m a late adopter on this masterpiece, having only picked it up in January, nearly a full year after its release. But the scheming, the power plays, the gods, the murder and duplicity and intricate fantasy world with difficult characters? Yeah, it’s great read and a fantastic first addition to this collection. Read this when you’re in a thoughtful mood and ready to commit to a new series.

Moving on to a favorite of mine from my 2025 reads, THE SHATTERED KING by Charlie N. Holmberg. Charlie is already well known for her brilliant writing and the very cleverly done magic system and highly motivated heroine in this one resonated deeply with me. I think truly well-considered magic systems are harder to create than people realize and this one hits on every level for me. Gorgeously done.

I’m going to throw CIRCE by Madeline Miller in here next, although honestly, it feels like I’m reaching too hard to even put it on the board with my book. Honestly, every bit of poetry in my writing and the deep epic nature of the relationship between gods and mortals, monsters and the natural world comes from the desire to live up to this book. You’ve probably already read it, but I’m going to put it on this list anyway … because there are new readers born every day and one of them might find this list having never read this modern take on the classic myth.

The Tainted Cup, The Everlasting, and Clockwork Boys book covers.

Let’s talk about THE TAINTED CUP by Robert Jackson Bennet next, which became a cult classic — or maybe fully a genre classic — almost immediately upon publication. How can anyone not enjoy what is essentially Sherlock Holmes set in an intricate water world (and if my personal head-canon insists that all the characters are actually walking, talking frogs, are you going to really deny me that delight)? The world building in this book is next level and I am so here for it. Honestly, I want to know everything about this world and we’re being fed it in tasty little bites a bit at a time. To also get really likable, intriguing characters on top of that and a twisty mystery? Well, that’s all a reader can ask for, really.

THE EVERLASTING by Alix E. Harrow blew me away at the end of last year. I bought it for the cover — I mean, it’s a great cover — and also because I’d just read THE SIX DEATHS OF THE SAINT (a short story by the same author). I realized immediately that THE EVERLASTING was an expansion and iteration on the same concept as the short story and I delighted in the evolution of that concept, while also really appreciating the deep angst, well-done emotion, and all the star-crossed lover, mind-bending, twisty-timeline fantasy amazingness that is this book. It’s a very difficult thing to make the reader want with the characters and Alix pulls it off. So, hats off for that, Alix. Brilliant work.

I’m going to end this list with a pick out of left field — CLOCKWORK BOYS by T. Kingfisher because I’m an absolute sucker for a practical (and even thorny) heroine and a noble, yearning hero and this book delivers both all mixed up with zaniness and breaking of all the rules. I love the book, and while my agent and editor both removed the really weird stuff from my manuscript (Thank you. No one wanted the drowned unicorn. I know that now.) I’m still glad that T. Kingfisher left it in hers. I think it brings just the right dash of flavor to round out this list. And, of course, everything from T. Kingfisher is wildly craveable and addictive — so, don’t say I didn’t warn you when you’re up all night tonight with one of her books.

If you’ve made it this far, I hope you’ve found something to love on this list of books that I feel pair gorgeously with THE TRIDENT AND THE PEARL. Enjoy the read, and don’t forget to shout about your favorite books, too! We can all use a little more joy and a few more books in our lives.