On the surface they're very different: SLB is set in the South and is a coming-of-age tale about quite a young girl, while NH is set in modern-day central New York and is about a middle-aged magus who has stolen a trove of Russian magic. However, in both cases the main character is trying to come to terms with a major event in their lives, both have to face something they don't want to, and both have (to me, anyway) a definite pagan flavor. Which of course I like :)