Arcane concluded on Netflix after the incredible season 2 finale at the end of November 2024. Though short-lived, it seems impossible that viewers will ever forget the impact that Arcane has had on the world of fantasy and sci-fi television. Luckily, since it's set in the League of Legends world, there's plenty of room for Arcane spinoffs and future series that exist in the same continuation. As of now, there are plenty of animated series to watch now that Arcane is over, but the best recommendation for fans of Arcane might not be a TV show but a book series.
The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir is the perfect follow-up to Arcane for many reasons. Beginning with the 2019 novel Gideon the Ninth, The Locked Tomb books hit many of the same major beats as Arcane. There are currently three books released in the main series of The Locked Tomb, with the fourth book still unpublished. Full of the action, tragedy, and humor that Arcane has come to be known for, The Locked Tomb novels have been growing in popularity and notoriety for a long time, and Arcane's end might help shed more light on them.
Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb Series Is The Perfect Arcane Replacement For Cait & Vi Fans
A similar love story plays out in Gideon the Ninth
Full of tongue-in-cheek humor and centering on a phenomenal enemies-to-lovers LGBTQ+ romance, it won't take long for readers to see why Gideon the Ninth is so often compared to Arcane. There were many relationships in Arcane, but the love that blossomed between Cait and Vi by the end of the series had some of the best build-up and payoff of the entire narrative. The relationship between Gideon and Harrowhark in Gideon the Ninth shares similarities to Cait and Vi. Gideon and Harrow also come from different classes and start out with plenty of friction between them.
The Locked Tomb series is more gothic in tone and aesthetic than Arcane, which is a show that leans into the steampunk style.
Also, one of the best fantasy books about revenge, Gideon The Ninth, combines sci-fi and fantasy, which is one of the ways that Arcane shines as well. The Locked Tomb series is more gothic in tone and aesthetic than Arcane, which is a show that leans into the steampunk style. However, both use the perspectives of dissatisfied young women to propel the story. The trope of finding solace in someone who used to be an enemy but perfectly understands your situation applies to the characters in the book and show.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Arcane (2021–2024)
100%
93%
Why Gideon The Ninth & Its Sequels Will Appeal To Arcane Fans
The relationship element is great, but it's not the only reason to read The Locked Tomb
While the comparisons to Cait and Vi are a great reason to start Gideon the Ninth, this is far from the only aspect of the story that will keep Arcane fans engaged. Gideon and Harrowhark are essential pieces of the story, but there are also interesting and complex secondary characters who help to flesh out the world of The Locked Tomb universe. Additionally, the world-building and immersive settings in Gideon the Ninth are similar to the nooks and crannies of Zaun and Piltover, allowing characters to explore and uncover hidden secrets.
Even though Arcane has come to an end, that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of great books, shows, and movies like it to fill the void.
Outside of Gideon's romance, as a protagonist, she fills the same niche as strong female characters like Jinx and Vi, who feel trapped by their circumstances. As the series progresses, new characters and perspectives are introduced, each expanding upon the reader's existing knowledge about the world. Each narrator is rich in nuance and will instantly grab the audience's attention. The Arcane and League of Legends spinoffs set up by Arcane's conclusion will likely share the gritty and intense tone that's come to define the TV show and the books and series similar to it.
There is no official publication date for the fourth book in The Locked Tomb series, Alecto the Ninth.
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Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane focuses on sisters Violet and Powder (later Jinx) as they end up on opposite sides of a growing conflict between the wealthy utopia of Piltover and its dark undercity whose citizens wish to break away from their oppressors. Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Kevin Alejandro star in this animated adventure.
Image by Yeider Chacon
English (US) ·