The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

"A bored boy steps into a house where every day brings Halloween thrills and Christmas wonders—but delights come with a price no child should pay. Strange, playful, and wickedly imaginative, The Thief of Always is a dark fairy tale that invites you in and dares you to leave."

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Love The Thief of Always but unsure what to read next?

These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Possible spoilers below.

In The Thief of Always, did you enjoy a clear, goal-driven plot with a young protagonist navigating a sinister, magical world?

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

If you loved following Harvey Swick's quest to escape the Holiday House in The Thief of Always, you'll be drawn in by Coraline Jones' determined journey through a mysterious door to rescue her parents from the clutches of the Other Mother. Both stories feature brave young heroes facing perilous challenges in enchanting but dangerous worlds, with every step driven by the urgent need to set things right.

In The Thief of Always, did you enjoy a coming-of-age journey as a child matures through magical dangers and personal trials?

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

You’ll appreciate how The Graveyard Book follows Nobody Owens as he grows up among ghosts and faces supernatural threats, mirroring Harvey’s own transformation as he learns about courage, choice, and growing up in The Thief of Always. Both books weave magical adventure with the bittersweet realizations of childhood’s end.

In The Thief of Always, did you enjoy a darkly whimsical world with mysterious magic and hidden dangers?

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

If the eerie, ever-shifting Holiday House and its sinister magic captivated you, you’ll be enchanted by September’s journey through Fairyland—a place filled with strange rules, peculiar creatures, and an undercurrent of peril. Like Harvey, September is lured into a world that seems wonderful but hides darker secrets beneath its fantastical surface.

In The Thief of Always, did you enjoy an eerie, detailed setting where every corner hides secrets and surreal wonders?

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

If you enjoyed the vividly imagined, creepy Holiday House in The Thief of Always, you’ll love exploring the mysterious island and the strange home filled with peculiar children in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Both worlds are richly described, brimming with atmospheric detail and hidden dangers that keep you turning pages.

In The Thief of Always, did you enjoy unexpected, dark twists in a seemingly magical place that turns sinister?

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

If you were gripped by the sinister transformations and surprises lurking in the Holiday House, Something Wicked This Way Comes will thrill you with its shadowy carnival, chilling revelations, and the way ordinary childhood is upended by the arrival of dark, magical forces. Both stories masterfully blend the wondrous and the macabre, keeping you guessing at every turn.