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The Locked Tomb Series
by Muir, Tamsyn
The Locked Tomb series is a necromantic space opera that feels like a haunted house mystery trapped in a dying solar system. It follows a group of bone-wielding acolytes tasked with ascending to godhood, but the real meat of the story lies in the jagged, volatile relationship between a sword-swinging cavalier and her skeletal-obsessed mistress. The tone shifts wildly from laugh-out-loud snark to crushing, existential dread within a single page. It is intentionally difficult, layering complex lore and unreliable narrators over a foundation of gothic decay. You will love this if you enjoy stories that demand your full attention, reward you for solving cryptic puzzles, and aren't afraid to let their characters be genuinely messy, spiteful, and deeply broken people. It is a dense, rewarding experience for readers who prefer their science fiction with a heavy dose of macabre humor.
10 Books similar to 'The Locked Tomb Series'
When we curated this list, we looked for stories that mirror the specific tension between cold, rule-based magic and the messy, unpredictable nature of human connection. We selected books like The Traitor Baru Cormorant and A Memory Called Empire because they share that same appetite for high-stakes political maneuvering and moral grayness. Meanwhile, titles like The Library at Mount Char and Ninefox Gambit were included to satisfy the craving for truly bizarre, high-concept world-building. These picks focus on the intersection of power, identity, and the ways that trauma shapes a found family under duress.
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by Tamsyn Muir
As the foundational text of the series, this is the definitive recommendation for those who love necromantic space opera, irreverent humor, and intricate, puzzle-box mysteries. It perfectly balances gothic horror with modern, snarky dialogue and deep, complex character dynamics.
Fans of the political maneuvering and dense world-building in The Locked Tomb will appreciate this space opera about an ambassador navigating a treacherous imperial court. It shares a similar fascination with identity, language, and the heavy burden of legacy.
This novel mirrors the brutal, high-stakes political environment and the morally gray protagonists found in Muir's work. It is a devastatingly smart exploration of power, sacrifice, and the personal cost of revolution.
by Yoon Ha Lee
Readers who enjoy the 'magic as science' system and the mind-bending, non-linear storytelling of the Locked Tomb series will find a kindred spirit here. It features a high-concept setting where math and belief systems dictate reality, coupled with a tense, forced partnership.
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If you love the bizarre, grotesque, and uniquely original world-building of Tamsyn Muir, this contemporary fantasy will scratch that itch. It is equally strange, violent, and darkly funny, focusing on a group of 'librarians' with god-like powers.
This book features a hard magic system based on 'coding' reality, which will appeal to readers who appreciate the technical, rules-based magic in the Locked Tomb. It combines a heist-style plot with a gritty, urban atmosphere and a strong, clever protagonist.
by Ann Leckie
Like the Locked Tomb series, this novel challenges traditional narrative perspectives by centering on an artificial intelligence inhabiting multiple bodies. It is a masterclass in examining identity, gender, and imperial power structures through a unique, non-human lens.
by Marlon James
For readers who enjoy the dense, challenging, and non-linear prose style of Muir's later books, this epic fantasy offers a visceral, hallucinatory experience. It is dark, mythic, and deeply concerned with the nature of truth and unreliable memory.
by N.K. Jemisin
This series shares the 'world-ending' stakes and the deep, often tragic, emotional resonance of the Locked Tomb. It features a brutal, unforgiving world where magic is a source of both power and immense suffering, alongside a complex, shifting narrative structure.
Fans of the 'found family' dynamic and the banter-heavy, ensemble-driven nature of the Locked Tomb will enjoy this heist story. It features a diverse cast of outcasts with deep-seated traumas and complex interpersonal relationships.
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