You liked watching Keladry of Mindelan grit through Lord Wyldon's unfair probation, outwork bullies like Joren, and survive dangers from spidren to midnight ambushes. In A Deadly Education, El Higgins faces a school that literally tries to kill its students, where survival depends on discipline and allies won the hard way. If Kel’s extra drills, quiet competence, and stubborn refusal to quit hooked you, El’s strategic grind through the Scholomance’s lethal classes and clique politics will hit the same nerve—only with the dial turned up to “survive or die.”

If Kel winning over a rules-bound system—earning respect from pages, sparring partners, and even Lord Wyldon—was your favorite part, you’ll love Paksenarrion. In Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, Paks enlists as a nobody and climbs step by step through a mercenary company’s ranks. The appeal is the same as Kel mastering page drills and codes: barracks life, formation work, field campaigns, and honor tested under pressure. Like Kel facing hazing and proving herself in the practice yards, Paks earns status through discipline, courage, and clean sword-work until rank finally follows merit.

Kel’s determination to become Tortall’s first openly female knight—despite sneers from Joren’s circle and Wyldon’s skepticism—mirrors Harry Crewe’s journey in The Blue Sword. Swept into the desert realm of Damar, Harry trains with the King’s Riders, mastering blade and horse until she earns a warrior’s place. If you loved Kel’s dawn practices, her cool head in the spidren fight, and the way she quietly commands loyalty from Neal and her peers, Harry’s blend of restraint, hard-won skill, and battlefield resolve will feel wonderfully familiar.

You enjoyed Kel tackling page training, enduring hazing, and proving herself in real danger (those spidren again!), so stepping back to Alanna: The First Adventure is a perfect fit. Alanna disguises herself to train as a page, survives brutal lessons, and wins allies much like Kel with Neal and her friends. If Kel’s quiet, methodical growth grabbed you, you’ll appreciate Alanna’s own coming-of-age—duels, healing, and first brushes with magic—set against the same Tortallan codes of honor and the same climb from page to squire to knight.

If the moment Kel is rescued by and later defended by her fierce flock of sparrows—and her growing rapport with animals—stuck with you, The Golden Compass offers that bond at the heart of the story. Lyra’s dæmon, Pantalaimon, is a constant partner: advisor, comfort, and conscience during her daring rescues and polar treks. The way Kel draws courage from her small allies during real danger echoes Lyra’s bravery with Pan at her side, giving you that same sense of companionship fueling a young hero’s nerve.