Top 14 'Found-Family' Fantasy Novels to read for a Heartwarming Escape from the Real World
There's something uniquely comforting about the 'found-family' trope. In a world that can often feel isolating, the idea of forging your own family—a loyal, loving, and fiercely protective group of people bound not by blood but by choice—is incredibly powerful. These are the stories of misfits, outcasts, and lonely souls who stumble upon each other and realize they've found their home. It's a theme that resonates deeply, offering a sense of hope and belonging that we all crave.
Fantasy, as a genre, is the perfect playground for this trope. When the stakes are world-ending and the challenges are magical, the bonds formed in the crucible of adventure become unbreakable. Whether it's a ragtag crew of thieves planning an impossible heist, a group of adventurers on a desperate quest, or simply a collection of lonely hearts building something new together, these stories remind us that family is what you make it. It’s a topic we cherish here on Goh Ling Yong’s blog, as these character-driven narratives provide the most memorable and heartwarming escapes.
So, if you're ready to trade the real world for one filled with magic, camaraderie, and unshakable loyalty, you've come to the right place. We’ve curated a list of the top 14 found-family fantasy novels that will feel like a warm hug for your reader's soul. Grab a cozy blanket and your favourite beverage—it's time to meet your new family.
1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
If you want a masterclass in the found-family trope, look no further than Six of Crows. Set in the bustling, crime-ridden city of Ketterdam, the story follows criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker as he assembles a crew of six dangerous outcasts for an impossible heist. Each member is broken in their own way—a spy known as the Wraith, a sharpshooting gambler, a runaway with a secret, a convict hungry for revenge, and a Heartrender using her power to survive.
What makes this duology so brilliant is that these characters don't just become friends; they become essential to one another's survival and healing. They are a collection of jagged edges that somehow fit together perfectly. Bardugo masterfully weaves their tragic backstories with their present mission, showing how their shared trauma and fierce loyalty forge them into a unit more cohesive than any blood family. The witty banter is razor-sharp, the emotional stakes are sky-high, and their unwavering belief in each other, even when they won't admit it, is the true heart of the story.
Read this if: You love a high-stakes heist, morally grey characters with hearts of gold, and dialogue that crackles with energy.
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Prepare for your heart to melt. This book is the literal embodiment of a warm hug. It follows Linus Baker, a by-the-book caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He lives a quiet, lonely, grey life until he's sent on a highly classified assignment to an orphanage on a remote island that houses six of the world's most dangerous magical children, including the Antichrist.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a story about shedding prejudice and finding love and acceptance in the most unexpected of places. As Linus spends time with the chaotic, wonderful children and their charming caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, his rigid worldview begins to dissolve, replaced by colour, laughter, and belonging. This book is pure, unadulterated comfort. The family is formed so gently and earnestly that you can't help but be swept up in its warmth.
Read this if: You need a low-stakes, high-comfort read that will restore your faith in kindness and the power of chosen family.
3. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
While known for its incredible magic system and epic world-building, the true soul of the first Mistborn book is Kelsier's crew. In a world choked by ash and ruled by an immortal tyrant, a charismatic thief named Kelsier gathers a team of allomancers—people with the ability to ingest and "burn" metals for magical power—to pull off the ultimate job: overthrowing the empire.
The crew is a collection of specialists, from gruff smokers and elegant nobles to eager young apprentices. At the center is Vin, a mistrustful street urchin who discovers she has immense power. Watching her slowly learn to trust Kelsier's crew and accept them as her family is one of the most rewarding character arcs in modern fantasy. They bicker, they train, they plan, and through it all, they build a bond forged in the fires of rebellion. This is found family with world-changing stakes.
Read this if: You love intricate magic systems, epic revolutionary plots, and watching a cynical protagonist learn to trust and love a team of loyal misfits.
4. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Okay, technically this is science fiction, but its heart is pure found-family fantasy. The story follows Rosemary Harper, a young woman running from her past who joins the multi-species crew of the Wayfarer, a tunnelling ship that creates wormholes. The plot is secondary to the characters and their relationships.
This book is a slice-of-life adventure about the everyday moments that build a family. You'll watch the crew share meals, navigate cultural differences, solve ship-wide problems, and support each other through personal crises. From the reptilian pilot Sissix to the loving AI, Lovey, every member of the crew feels distinct and real. Chambers explores themes of identity, culture, and belonging with a gentle, optimistic touch that makes this a deeply comforting and thought-provoking read.
Read this if: You're looking for a low-conflict, character-driven story that feels like a cozy sci-fi sitcom in the best possible way.
5. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Welcome to the city of Camorr and the thieving crew known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Orphaned as a child, Locke Lamora is taken in by a master con man and raised alongside a group of fellow orphans. Together, they become the most audacious and successful thieves in the city, bound by a brotherhood that is thicker than any blood.
The dynamic between Locke and his best friend, Jean Tannen, is the absolute core of this series. Their loyalty is absolute, their banter is hilarious, and their shared history, revealed through brilliant flashbacks, gives their relationship incredible depth. The entire crew, under the tutelage of their "father," Chains, operates as a seamless, loving, and dysfunctional unit. Be warned, this is a much grittier and more violent world than some others on this list, but the emotional payoff of their bond is immense.
Read this if: You enjoy clever heists, witty dialogue, a bit of grimdark grit, and a central friendship that is the stuff of legends.
6. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
What happens when a legendary mercenary band gets old, fat, and retired? Clay Cooper is about to find out. When his former frontman, Gabriel, shows up asking him to get the band—Saga—back together for one last impossible mission, Clay reluctantly agrees. What follows is a hilarious, heartfelt, and action-packed "getting the band back together" tour across a monster-infested world.
Kings of the Wyld is a love letter to classic rock and D&D, but its soul is the rediscovered brotherhood between these middle-aged adventurers. They are no longer the legends they once were; they have bad backs, estranged families, and a lot of baggage. But as they journey together, the old camaraderie reignites, and they remember why they were a family in the first place. It's funny, surprisingly emotional, and a fantastic twist on the classic adventuring party.
Read this if: You want a book that perfectly balances laugh-out-loud humour with genuinely touching moments of friendship and fatherhood.
7. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Dubbed the flagship of the "cozy fantasy" subgenre, Legends & Lattes is a book with low stakes and high levels of warmth. Viv, a battle-weary orc barbarian, decides to hang up her sword for good and pursue her dream of opening the city's first-ever coffee shop. She knows nothing about business, but with a little help, her dream starts to take shape.
The found family here builds as organically as a good cup of coffee brews. It starts with Tandri, a resourceful succubus who becomes Viv's first employee and business partner, and soon grows to include a quiet but brilliant baker, a guitar-playing hobbit, and even a grumpy dire-rat. They are a group of individuals who find purpose and community in building something new together. It's a gentle story about second chances and the quiet joy of finding your place.
Read this if: You want to curl up with a book that feels like sitting in your favourite cozy café on a rainy day.
8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Sargent has a strange life. She lives in a house full of psychics and has been told for as long as she can remember that if she kisses her true love, he will die. Then she meets the Raven Boys—Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah—four privileged students from the local private academy on a quest to find a sleeping Welsh king.
The magic of this series isn't just in the ley lines and ancient legends; it's in the utterly unique and compelling friendship between these five characters. They are an unlikely constellation of personalities: the obsessive leader, the angry scholar, the volatile dreamer, and the quiet observer, all drawn into the orbit of the practical, no-nonsense Blue. Their bond feels fated and electric, a perfect mix of teenage angst, ancient magic, and unwavering loyalty.
Read this if: You love atmospheric, lyrical prose, a touch of magical realism, and a friend group so real you'll wish you could join them.
9. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Kell is one of the last Antari, magicians with the rare ability to travel between parallel Londons: Grey, Red, White, and the lost Black London. His official duty is as an ambassador to Red London's royal family, where he has an unbreakable brotherly bond with Prince Rhy Maresh. But Kell has a secret, dangerous hobby: smuggling. When a deal goes wrong, he runs into Delilah Bard, a cunning thief from Grey London who dreams of adventure.
The found family in this series is small but mighty. The core is the fierce, co-dependent relationship between Kell and Rhy, but it's the chaotic addition of Lila Bard that solidifies the trio. They are three people from different worlds who challenge, infuriate, and ultimately save each other time and time again. Their loyalty isn't easy or simple; it's hard-won and tested at every turn, which makes it all the more powerful.
Read this if: You're looking for a fast-paced adventure with a unique magic system and a small, intensely loyal found family at its core.
10. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
We have to pay respect to the original. The Fellowship of the Ring is arguably the most iconic found family in all of fantasy literature. At the Council of Elrond, nine companions from different races and corners of Middle-earth—Hobbits, a Wizard, an Elf, a Dwarf, and Men—pledge themselves to the quest of destroying the One Ring.
What makes the Fellowship so enduring is the sheer unlikeliness of their union. Dwarves and Elves are ancient enemies, the Men of Gondor and Rohan have their own concerns, and Hobbits are homebodies who have never seen the wider world. Yet, for a common good, they set aside their differences and forge a bond of profound love and loyalty. From Samwise Gamgee's unwavering devotion to Frodo to the grudging respect between Legolas and Gimli, their relationships are the emotional bedrock of this epic masterpiece.
Read this if: You want to experience the foundational text for the fantasy found-family trope and appreciate a classic, epic journey.
11. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Set in a magical 1889 Paris, this book is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and The Da Vinci Code. It follows the brilliant treasure hunter and hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, who is on a mission to reclaim his stolen inheritance. To do it, he needs his team of experts: a historian, a dancer with a secret, a hot-tempered engineer, and a naturalist who loves puzzles.
The relationships in The Gilded Wolves are a beautiful, complicated tangle of shared history, unspoken feelings, and fierce protectiveness. Each character has a unique magical ability and a reason for being an outcast, and they find a sense of belonging only with each other. Their dynamic is a mix of academic puzzles, high-stakes action, and deep emotional vulnerability. They are a family defined by both their brilliant minds and their wounded hearts.
Read this if: You enjoy historical fantasy, intricate puzzles, diverse representation, and a healthy dose of romantic pining within your found-family crew.
12. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
If you're looking for found family on an epic, world-spanning scale, this standalone fantasy is for you. The world is divided by conflicting beliefs about dragons—some worship them, others despise them. The story follows four main characters from vastly different backgrounds: a queen who must conceive an heir to protect her realm, a lady-in-waiting who is secretly a mage, a dragon rider from the East, and an alchemist sent on a deadly mission.
As an ancient, nameless evil begins to stir, these characters' paths converge. They must overcome centuries of prejudice, mistrust, and political division to unite against a common enemy. The found family here isn't a small, cozy crew but a global alliance forged between powerful women and their allies. It’s a breathtaking story about how connection and understanding can bridge even the widest of chasms.
Read this if: You want a sweeping epic fantasy with incredible world-building, dragons, and a found family of powerful women who literally save the world together.
13. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Another sci-fi entry that is simply too good at the found-family trope to leave off the list. Ryland Grace wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. His crewmates are dead, and he soon realizes he is humanity's last hope to stop a sun-eating microbe from causing a new ice age. Alone and billions of miles from home, he makes a discovery: he's not the only one trying to solve this problem.
The relationship that forms between Ryland and an alien being he nicknames "Rocky" is one of the most pure, heartwarming, and brilliant depictions of friendship you will ever read. They don't share a language, a biology, or even a basic understanding of each other's worlds, but they are united by a common goal and a shared sense of scientific curiosity and decency. Their bond transcends species and galaxies, proving that family can be found in the loneliest places in the universe.
Read this if: You love clever problem-solving, mind-blowing science, and want to read about the best interstellar bromance ever written.
14. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Yadriel, a trans boy from a traditional Latinx family of brujos, is determined to prove his gender and his magical abilities to them. He performs a ritual to summon the ghost of his murdered cousin but accidentally summons Julian Diaz, the resident bad boy from his school. Now, Yadriel is stuck with a very handsome, very annoying ghost who won't leave until Yadriel helps him figure out how he died.
The found family here is a powerful trio: Yadriel, his fiercely supportive cousin Maritza, and the ghost Julian. While Yadriel's blood family struggles to accept him, Julian sees and accepts him for exactly who he is from the very beginning. Together, they investigate Julian's death, confront old pains, and build a bond of absolute trust and affection. It’s a beautiful, poignant story about identity, acceptance, and the love that sets you free.
Read this if: You're looking for a contemporary YA fantasy with fantastic representation, a heartwarming romance, and a touching story about finding acceptance with the people who matter most.
The world of fantasy is vast, but the stories that stick with us are often the ones with a powerful emotional core. The found-family trope gives us characters to root for and relationships that feel as real and vital as our own. They are a powerful reminder that the family we choose can be the one that saves us. As a long-time reader and content writer for Goh Ling Yong, I find myself returning to these types of stories again and again for that exact reason.
Now it's your turn. Which of these books is your favourite? Or is there a beloved found-family fantasy novel that we missed? Share your recommendations in the comments below—let's build the ultimate reading list together
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Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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