Last Updated on November 16, 2023 by Louisa
Are you in need of suggestions for the best books with non-human characters? Then you’ve come to the right place!
There are so many fantasy and young adult books out there featuring vampires, werewolves, fairies, warlocks, gremlins, demons, zombies…you name it!
Choosing our favorites was no easy task, but we think we have been able to round up the best of the best.
If you’re looking for a new book with non-human characters, read on for more inspiration.
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Books with Non-Human Characters
1. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1) – Cassandra Clare
As the gracious host I am, I will kick things off with my personal favorite book series with non-human characters.
In my opinion, The Mortal Instrument series is the most exciting young adult fiction novel series to come out of the 21st century.
Written by Cassandra Clare, the series takes place in New York, where demons roam the Earth and supernatural beings with demon-fighting magical abilities, called shadowhunters, are sent to Earth to destroy them.
When Clary Fray goes to a nightclub with her best friend Simon, she witnesses a boy and a demon fighting, which causes her to scream.
Only, humans are not supposed to see shadowhunters, which causes the boy, Jace, to become fascinated with the girl and to learn about how she can see him.
As Jace and Clary search for answers, they begin to have strong feelings for each other. As Clary learns more about her family history, she finds that she has as much to lose as she does to gain.
I love this book because it has so many different creatures, from mythological creatures to some invented by Cassandra Clare herself (shadowhunter). I also love how there is always a love triangle.
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2. Rogue Spotter Universe Series – Kimberly A. Rogers
Recommended by Leslie Conzatti – upstreamwriter.blogspot.com
The series I’m going to hype is definitely the Therian Way series by Kimberly A. Rogers (also known as the Rogue Spotter Universe series, since she’s tied it into another series she wrote!)
In the Therian Way books, humans coexist in a contemporary setting alongside Fae Elves and Therians (which are animal shifters). The two main characters are a Tiger shifter and a half-Elf Leopard shifter.
It’s a gorgeous and glorious series as the two are forced to work together because of the half-Elf’s political connections… and then due to the Therian sensibilities.
They end up having to marry, and in the meantime, they’re both Federal investigators who are assigned to track down murderers, terrorists, and whatever else is threatening the safety and security of the general public.
I love her characters, I love the banter, and the novels themselves have lots of plot twists and are well-paced – I definitely recommend this series to anybody who likes a good shifter series with excellent world-building!
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3. The Ogress and The Orphans – Kelly Barnhill
Recommended by Vidya Tiru – LadyInReadWrites.com
Too many books come to mind for this theme but going with the most recent loved reads, I will have to pick Kelly Barnhill’s The Ogress and the Orphans.
An excerpt from the description: An Instant Fantasy Classic from Newbery Medalist Kelly Barnhill About the Power of Generosity and Love – and How a Community Suffers When They Disappear
This is delightful with all-the-good-feels and a must-must-must-read. You will fly through the 400 pages of the book in no time, and then want to keep reading.
I am so glad I have not read The Girl Who Drank the Moon yet (for I can now keep reading Barnhill’s writing!).
When the Ogress moves to the once charming town of Stone-in-the-Glen, the children of the Orphan House befriend her and try to show their townspeople the truth about the Ogress as well as the real villain in their midst.
At once a commentary of recent and current times, and a charming heartwarming fantasy, this book is a beautiful read for all ages (though the intended audience is middle-graders).
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4. A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas
If you love faerie romance and fantasy novels, then you will love a book like A Court of Thorns and Roses.
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre stumbles upon a wolf in the woods, she soon meets another creature in demand of retribution.
Dragged to a treacherous magical land, she is held prisoner by an immortal faerie and her captor, Tamlin.
Despite his initial icy and hostile demeanor, Feyre soon adapts to her new home and finds herself developing feelings for him.
An ancient evil is threatening this world, though, and Feyre must put aside her emotions in order to protect Tamlin and his people from being doomed forever.
This widely talked about retelling of Beauty and The Beast has been taking people’s breath away with its thrilling action scenes and powerful characters – so if you haven’t read it yet then make sure you do! You won’t regret it!
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5. Dog Man: Grime And Punishment – Dave Pilkey
One for the children out there, this epic book with non-human characters follows the noble adventures of Dogman, a half man half dog superhero.
Grime and Punishment is the most beloved of the series and is the ninth book by worldwide bestselling author Dave Pilkey.
Set against a backdrop of kindness, empathy, and good deeds, Dog Man is filled with hilarious moments which will have your child rolling with laughter. Some moments celebrate friendship and the victory of good over evil.
This is also a great beginner chapter book for second graders as it’s accompanied by fun graphics and written using short sentences and simple vocabulary.
I don’t think I’ve met a child who hasn’t read Dogman. Although it’s a graphic novel, kids find the stories hilarious and the pictures delightful, so if you’re looking for non-human characters to spark your child’s reading interest, this is the book.
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6. Kiss of Snow – Nalini Singh
If you love a juicy age gap romance novel, then you’ll love this classic from the New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh, Kiss Of Snow. It’s a captivating story in the world of shapeshifters, psychics, and werewolves.
Alpha wolf, Hawke, is used to getting exactly what he wants. Since Sienna Lauren joined the pack, she has been his one weakness. As the Alpha he is dangerous and he compels her to madness.
Hawke is used to being a lone wolf and lost the woman who would’ve been his mate many years ago. He tells himself that Sienna is too young to handle him. But Sienna says otherwise.
But while they battle their storms of emotions with each other, they must also prepare for another fight. A deadly enemy is out to destroy their pack and everything they hold dear.
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Final Word
So there you have it, those are our favorite books with non-human main characters, and as you can see, there’s a lot of diversity on this list.
We hope this guide gave you some inspiration for your next read!
