The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1)

by Diana Wynne Jones

Jones shares Stroud's gift for pairing a young protagonist with a far more powerful, morally ambiguous magical being—and like Bartimaeus, Howl is vain, witty, and constantly exasperated by his human companion. The magic system feels lived-in and practical rather than grandiose, and there's that same delicious tension between characters who need each other but would rather bicker.

by George MacDonald

This one's a bit of a departure from Stroud's spy-thriller pacing, but it shares something crucial: a young protagonist suddenly thrust into a world of magical politics where he's vastly outmatched and must learn the rules quickly or die. Addison focuses on court intrigue and the weight of responsibility rather than action sequences, but the emotional stakes feel just as high as Nathaniel's.

by Richard Morris

Cho writes Regency-era London with magicians operating in the shadows of society, much like Stroud's contemporary setting, but she adds a layer of social commentary about power and prejudice that Stroud hints at but doesn't fully explore. The protagonist relationships crackle with the same kind of verbal sparring you loved between Nathaniel and Bartimaeus, and the magic feels genuinely consequential.

by Robin McKinley

Published in 1982, this gives you that earlier-decade perspective while maintaining the same propulsive narrative energy. McKinley's heroine learns magic and combat from a culture not her own, and like Nathaniel, she's constantly discovering she's in over her head—but the focus is on her growing competence and the genuine friendships she builds, rather than revenge. It's less cynical than Stroud but equally gripping.

by Giambattista Piranesi

Here's your surprise pick: Clarke writes literary fantasy that feels almost like a puzzle-box mystery. Where Stroud gives you unreliable narrators who gradually reveal their true natures, Clarke does something similar but with an entire world—the magic is subtle, the worldbuilding is architectural rather than explained, and you'll find yourself rereading passages once you understand what's actually happening. It's quieter than Amulet, but the sense of being manipulated by forces you don't understand is remarkably similar.