The Mairelon books are quite unique,
but the books recommended in the following list might also appeal to fans of MM and MW. Books recommended for "All Readers" are appropriate for anyone old enough to read the Mairelon books; books for "Older Readers" have content which is inappropriate for children and younger teens.
Regency Fantasies for All Readers
This book started out in the same world as the Mairelon books, but it evolved into a slightly different take on an alternate Regency period with magic that is well worth reading. The Grand Tour isn't quite as good as its predecessor, but still a worthwile read. There are a few absolutely priceless moments which are not to be missed. Regency Fantasies for Older Readers
This book is too complex to sum up in a couple of sentences, but basically it is about how magic returns to England. Magic had once thrived there, according to Clarke's alternate history, but by the time of the Regency, there were no longer any practicing magicians left... except for Mr Norrell, and later his pupil, Jonathan Strange. Appearances by the Duke of Wellington, Lord Byron and other historical figures give the book an authentically Regency character, while the mysterious activities of magicians and fairies past and present tinge it with a slightly otherworldy feel. (NOTE: A longer review of this book will be coming soon -- watch for updates on our home page!) Mystery Books for All Readers
This gentle mystery is almost like a modern day fairy tale; Lori Shepherd is "rescued" from a miserable life by Aunt Dimity's will and the wealthy, cheerful lawyer Bill Willis. Mystery Books for Older Readers
Sherlock Holmes, Watson, their clients and their foes are nothing like the people in the Mairelon books; however, the complicated plots should satisfy those craving a story as delightfully difficult to follow as MM is at times. Jess Tregarth, aided by gothic novelist David Randall, is on the run from some rather amateurish crooks in England. This book also features a druid society along the order of the Sons of the New Dawn. Fantasy Books for All Readers
This is the first of four thoroughly original fairy tales. Princess Cimorene, plagued by
a witless suitor and pointless laws of propriety, runs away to be a dragon's captive princess and discovers a political plot involving the selection of the dragons' next King. King Mendanbar of the Enchanted Forest (who bears a certain similarity to Mairelon) is trying to discover why there are burn, magic-less patches of land appearing in his kingdom; meanwhile, Cimorene is on a mission to rescue the kidnapped dragon Kazul. When Mendanbar's magic sword is stolen, Cimorene, with the help of Morwen (a witch) and Telemain (a magician) and two of Morwen's cats, sets out to find it and to put an end to the schemings of the corrupt Society of Wizards. Cimorene's son Daystar finds himself sent out on a sort of a quest with a magic sword. Of all the Enchanted Forest books, this is the least similar to the Mairelon books and the least humorous. Christopher Chant visits alternate worlds in his sleep. This talent is exploited by his evil Uncle Ralph, who makes Christopher an unwitting agent in his inter-world smuggling operation. This classic children's book about Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad is worth reading for any reason, but Mairelon fans will appreciate certain of Toad's adventures, which involve, among other things, a wagon and being on the run.
Books Set or Written During the Regency (for Older Readers)
Thackeray's brilliant satirical novel follows the life of Becky Sharp, a notorious schemer looking to climb the social ladder during and after the Napoleonic wars. Books About the English Regency (for Older Readers)
Chronicles the absurdity of high society during the Regency, with not to be missed anecdotes of Beau Brummell, the Prince Regent, and the ladies of Almack's among many others. A useful guide to everday life in the nineteenth century, although it can be a bit confusing picking out which bits of information apply to the Regency era (1780-1830) and which to the Victorian (1840-1900). A detailed biography of the Prince Regent, later King George IV, and his love of food, wine, and women. Unrecommended Books
The Starscape editions of MM and MW claim that the books should appeal to fans of Phillip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke. Figuring that the converse was true as well, we ordered The Ruby in the Smoke and one of its sequels (it's part of a series called the Sally Lockhart Trilogy.) We were quite disappointed to find that the books were not very much like the Mairelon books at all. Besides obvious differences in setting (Victorian versus Regency) and genre (creepy mystical mystery versus explicit fantasy/mystery), the Lockhart books are much darker than the Mairelon books. So to save other Mairelon fans time and money, the Royal College of Wizards hereby unrecommends the following:
Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters
Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters
The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters
Trojan Gold by Elizabeth Peters
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
An Elegant Madness by Venetia Murray
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Poole
The Prince of Pleasure by Saul David
The Sally Lockhart Series by Phillip Pullman