I’m love books with animal sidekicks/familiars, especially if they have a snarky attitude. Some of my favorites are: The Abhorsen/ Old Kingdom, Provost’s Dog, and Nevernight Chronicles
Of course, your mileage may vary, but these are definitely worth checking out!
beebeebeeBe on
You absolutely have to read the His Dark Materials trilogy. It’s right up this alley. 🙂
Dazzling-Ad4701 on
Thursday next has a genetically-reconstituted dodo called Pickwick. she’s not a huge factor in any of the adventures (too dim), but she’s quite endearing.
TheTwoFourThree on
**Hollow Kingdom** by Kira Jane Buxton.
ThatIckyGuy on
Only read the first book in the series, but The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, the main character has a dog and he can understand the dog. (Probably not in the same vein as The Disreputable Dog, but eh…)
Brandon Sanderson’s series, The Stormlight Chronicles, but they’re not animals. They’re (without getting into too much detail) pieces of a dead god that develop their own personalities and appear to their bonded as little spirits called Spren. One of the main characters, Kaladin, is this serious, brooding guy and the Spren that appears to him is cute and bubbly. I love Syl so much.
One of the characters in Jim Butcher’s series, The Cinder Spires, has a talking cat (she can hear it, no one else can because she’s special). I don’t remember the cat’s personality, but I remember really liking the cat.
Jack-Campin on
Doris Lessing, *Memoirs of a Survivor*. It’s a genetic mixup of dog and cat.
TarikeNimeshab on
In **Dungeon Crawler Carl** series the mc has a talking cat.
meatwhisper on
*The Bone Shard Daughter* by Andrea Stewart features a cool fantasy setting inspired by Polynesian Islands/Asian mythology, interesting plot twists and cliffhanger chapter endings, and some very kick ass (but imperfect) characters. I really thought the magic system and looming dread of the setting was very satisfying.
Scuttling-Claws on
Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher
ommaandnugs on
Jane Lindskold Firekeeper series,
Wolfwalker series by Tara K Harper
Immortals series by Tamora Pierce
pikanakifunk on
Not all familiars but I really liked the animals. The characters weren’t sweet/cute. Gobbelino London series by Kim M Watt.
pikanakifunk on
There are animal characters and fantasy elements. They aren’t cutesy/precious but they are funny. The main character is a cat PI. He has magical abilities. Gobbelino London series by Kim M. Watt. Snark aplenty 🙂 Sorcerers, Necromancy, mermen, etc.
PeterM1970 on
Summon The Keeper by Tanya Huff is about a supernatural troubleshooter and her sarcastic cat familiar. They have to take over a haunted hotel with very odd clientele and a portal to Hell in the basement. Hell is actually a speaking character and as much confidant as enemy. Fun book.
Old Nathan by David Drake is set about the 1820s in the Ohio River Valley and stars an old man with witchy powers, including the ability to speak to animals. His cat and bull get a fair amount of screen time. Ignore the cover, it was intended for a completely different book.
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Hey, if you’re into books with sassy animal companions, you might dig [The Dresden Files series](https://wydgetlabs.com/?red=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB074CF4JMZ%3F%26psc%3D1%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Damznwydget-20%26th%3D1%26language%3Den_US) by Jim Butcher. It’s got a wise-cracking skull named Bob that technically isn’t an “animal” but he’s got the attitude and you’ll probably fall in love with him. Plus, there’s a temple dog named Mouse who’s pretty badass.
Another great pick would be [The Parasol Protectorate series](https://wydgetlabs.com/?red=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2Fs%3Fk%3Dthe%2Bparasol%2Bprotectorate%2Bseries%3F%26psc%3D1%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Damznwydget-20%26th%3D1%26language%3Den_US) by Gail Carriger. It features a fiery preternatural woman alongside a cheeky werewolf Lord. There’s also a vampire, but unfortunately, he’s more dandy than animal! Both of these series pack a punch in the fun and adventure department.
Of course, your mileage may vary, but these are definitely worth checking out!
You absolutely have to read the His Dark Materials trilogy. It’s right up this alley. 🙂
Thursday next has a genetically-reconstituted dodo called Pickwick. she’s not a huge factor in any of the adventures (too dim), but she’s quite endearing.
**Hollow Kingdom** by Kira Jane Buxton.
Only read the first book in the series, but The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, the main character has a dog and he can understand the dog. (Probably not in the same vein as The Disreputable Dog, but eh…)
Brandon Sanderson’s series, The Stormlight Chronicles, but they’re not animals. They’re (without getting into too much detail) pieces of a dead god that develop their own personalities and appear to their bonded as little spirits called Spren. One of the main characters, Kaladin, is this serious, brooding guy and the Spren that appears to him is cute and bubbly. I love Syl so much.
One of the characters in Jim Butcher’s series, The Cinder Spires, has a talking cat (she can hear it, no one else can because she’s special). I don’t remember the cat’s personality, but I remember really liking the cat.
Doris Lessing, *Memoirs of a Survivor*. It’s a genetic mixup of dog and cat.
In **Dungeon Crawler Carl** series the mc has a talking cat.
*The Bone Shard Daughter* by Andrea Stewart features a cool fantasy setting inspired by Polynesian Islands/Asian mythology, interesting plot twists and cliffhanger chapter endings, and some very kick ass (but imperfect) characters. I really thought the magic system and looming dread of the setting was very satisfying.
Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher
Jane Lindskold Firekeeper series,
Wolfwalker series by Tara K Harper
Immortals series by Tamora Pierce
Not all familiars but I really liked the animals. The characters weren’t sweet/cute. Gobbelino London series by Kim M Watt.
There are animal characters and fantasy elements. They aren’t cutesy/precious but they are funny. The main character is a cat PI. He has magical abilities. Gobbelino London series by Kim M. Watt. Snark aplenty 🙂 Sorcerers, Necromancy, mermen, etc.
Summon The Keeper by Tanya Huff is about a supernatural troubleshooter and her sarcastic cat familiar. They have to take over a haunted hotel with very odd clientele and a portal to Hell in the basement. Hell is actually a speaking character and as much confidant as enemy. Fun book.
Old Nathan by David Drake is set about the 1820s in the Ohio River Valley and stars an old man with witchy powers, including the ability to speak to animals. His cat and bull get a fair amount of screen time. Ignore the cover, it was intended for a completely different book.
I liked the Jinxed series by Amy McCulloch.