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The Book That Held Her Heart

Mark Lawrence

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Similar in characterization + relationships

These books are ranked using the characterization + relationships labels extracted for The Book That Held Her Heart. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Characterization labels used: young woman protagonist, young man protagonist, adopted siblings, librarian, Jewish girl, new POV character, scattered ensemble, complicated characters, ancillary characters, mechanical creations, magical creations

Relationships labels used: romance, love story, family bond, adopted family, friendship, companionship, bond under strain, reunion quest, factional conflict, proxy conflict

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization + relationships embeddings are close.

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The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017

Charles Yu · 2017 · The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy

A guest-edited year’s-best anthology of 20 science fiction and fantasy stories, ranging from playful meta pieces to dark social commentary.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · interdimensional characters · social outsiders · prisoners · witch · knight · alien characters · black protagonist · young black man · girls

Relationships labels: young love · romance · teen romance · family tension · friendship · prisoner-state relationship · romantic quest · community conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1599

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World Departed

Sarah Lyons Fleming · 2020 · The Cascadia Series

A zombie outbreak on the West Coast forces a mismatched group of ordinary survivors to protect family, love, and each other.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: flawed characters · relatable characters · ordinary people · middle-aged protagonist · adult children · self-doubt · character growth · redemption arc · anxious character · rule-bound character

Relationships labels: found family · family bonds · friendship · marriage strain · romantic tension · budding romance · parent-child relationship · sibling relationship · community bonds

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1619

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The Trials of Koli

M.R. Carey · 2020 · Rampart Trilogy

Exiled from his village, Koli travels through a deadly future England while a second narrator reveals what’s unfolding back home.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: naive protagonist · coming-of-age · sensitive protagonist · skeptical companion · trans girl · healer · sentient AI · mature female narrator · found family group · mismatched companions

Relationships labels: found family · romantic interest · former love interest · childhood friend · companionship · mentor relationship · trust issues · marriage · community conflict · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1633

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The Book That Wouldn't Burn

Mark Lawrence · 2023 · The Library Trilogy

A girl from the Dust and a boy trapped in a vast library uncover secrets that bend time, knowledge, and identity.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: curious heroine · clever protagonist · determined protagonist · precocious child · trapped protagonist · found family · adopted siblings · librarian protagonist · outsider protagonist · young adult lead · humorous characters · mysterious assistants · robotic caretakers · monstrous antagonists · intellectual protagonist

Relationships labels: found family · sibling group · forbidden love · romantic undercurrent · cross-time connection · friendship · caregiver dynamic · community bonds · power imbalance · class conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1640

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The Beginning Place

Ursula K. Le Guin · 2005

Two troubled young adults find a doorway to a twilight world, where escape, fear, and love become a single test.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: disaffected young man · young woman · stuck protagonist · outsider protagonist · gatekeeper · traumatized character · abusive family survivor · emotionally dependent mother · abusive stepfather · baffled hero · shy protagonist · strong female character

Relationships labels: romance · forbidden romance · dependency · parent-child conflict · abusive family · mother-son conflict · mother-daughter conflict · rivalry · trust · partnership · companionship · community outsider

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1643

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The Width of the World

David Baldacci · 2017 · Vega Jane

After escaping the Quag, Vega Jane finds a world built on hidden slavery and must rally allies to fight back.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young heroine · leader arc · underdog protagonist · loyal companions · talking animal companion · magical protagonist · teen protagonists

Relationships labels: friendship · romantic tension · love triangle · rivalry · loyalty · betrayal · teamwork · found family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1648

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Todos los fines del mundo

Andrea Chapela · 2025

In a climate-ravaged near future, a young woman reconsiders love, friendship, and who she’d face the end of the world with.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young woman protagonist · introspective protagonist · indecisive protagonist · emotionally conflicted · nostalgic · affectively confused · relationship-focused · community-seeking · desire-driven

Relationships labels: friendship · romantic tension · love triangle · polyamory · chosen family · companionship · codependency · miscommunication · ambiguity · intimacy · community

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1656

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The Faint of Heart: A Graphic Novel

Kerilynn Wilson · 2023

In a heartless dystopia, a teen artist who kept her heart must protect her emotions and resist conformity.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · young artist · outcast · steadfast heroine · sweet protagonist · morally resistant · classmate with secret · Scientist figure · family tension · creative protagonist

Relationships labels: sister relationship · family estrangement · friendship · new friendship · community pressure · romantic subplot · love subplot · sibling bond · art partnership · betrayal

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1660

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قطز

Monther Alkabbani, منذر القباني · 2014 · فرسان وكهنة

A young Saudi man is pulled into a tangled mystery where history, science, faith, and hidden identities collide across time.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: searching protagonist · dual self · mysterious mentor · enigmatic figure · strong female character · clever protagonist · morally ambiguous characters · historical figures · young adult characters · transformed hero

Relationships labels: romantic tension · marriage · family bonds · rivalry · betrayal · mentor influence · power imbalance · community conflict · male female dynamics · generational conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1669

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A Gift of Time

Jerry Merritt · 2016

An aging, suicidal man gets a chance to relive his life from age ten and tries to fix the mistake that haunts him.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: suicidal protagonist · older protagonist · child protagonist · physicist protagonist · engineer protagonist · likable characters · well-developed characters · morally conflicted protagonist · emotionally distant protagonist · precocious child

Relationships labels: family bonds · brother relationship · father-son tension · aunt-nephew bond · friendship · romance · sacrifice · community ties · dependency

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1674

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The Girl with the Red Balloon

Katherine Locke · 2017 · The Balloonmakers

A teen accidentally time-travels to 1988 East Berlin and joins a magical resistance while history and family secrets collide.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: Jewish protagonist · Romani love interest · queer character · teen protagonist · grandparent subplot · resilient heroine · strong-willed heroine · ordinary teen · secretive characters

Relationships labels: forbidden romance · friendship trio · grandparent-grandchild · family legacy · found family · platonic bonds · protective sibling · mentor relationship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1686

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ソードアート・オンライン 3: フェアリィ・ダンス [Sōdo āto onrain 3: Fearyi Dansu]

Reki Kawahara · 2009 · Sword Art Online

Kirito enters a new VRMMO to rescue Asuna, while family secrets and divided viewpoints reshape the quest.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: overpowered protagonist · coming-of-age · protective hero · damsel in distress · strong female character · secret crush · brother-sister tension · playful protagonist · emotionally conflicted

Relationships labels: romance · unrequited love · cousin romance · sibling-like relationship · rescue relationship · family tension · mentor-like help · harem dynamics

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1689

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