Chloe Gong writes young adult fantasy, and her books often include rich historical settings, romance, and maybe a bit of mystery. Think of books set in places like 1920s Shanghai.
If you love stories with those kinds of elements, you might be looking for authors with a similar style. This article is for you.
If you enjoy Chloe Gong’s blend of vivid characters, fast-paced adventures, and richly imagined worlds, Marie Lu might be your next favorite author. With stories full of action and tension, her novels often feature smart, rebellious protagonists you can’t help but root for.
One standout book is “Legend,” set in a dystopian future where the western United States is now the oppressive Republic, constantly at war. June is a prodigy born to an elite family; Day is the Republic’s most wanted criminal.
After tragedy strikes June’s life, their paths cross in ways neither expects. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, they’re drawn together by truths more complex than either imagined.
Like Gong, Lu crafts a high-stakes narrative filled with twists and fascinating relationships that keep pages turning.
Emiko Jean is an author known for blending vibrant characters, intricate plots, and vivid cultural backdrops. Her novel, “Tokyo Ever After,” follows Izumi Tanaka, an ordinary American teenager whose life changes overnight when she learns she is actually a Japanese princess.
Izumi soon finds herself navigating a completely different world of royal expectations, palace intrigue, and high-pressure media attention. The story explores themes of identity, belonging, and romance, wrapped in witty humor and heartwarming moments.
Readers who enjoyed Chloe Gong’s combination of cultural heritage, romance, and complex family dynamics might find “Tokyo Ever After” appealing.
Sabaa Tahir is an author known for creating stories filled with intense emotion and high stakes action, set in rich, vivid worlds. Readers who enjoy Chloe Gong’s stories of complex characters and tense plots will be fascinated by Tahir’s approach.
Her book “An Ember in the Ashes” explores a brutal empire governed by harsh discipline and fear. In it, Laia, a young woman from an oppressed group, risks everything to save her brother by spying for the resistance.
Elias, an elite soldier training under ruthless conditions at the Empire’s military academy, desperately seeks to escape the tyranny he serves. Both characters find themselves caught in a struggle between duty, fear, freedom, and courage.
The dangerous bond they form complicates things even further. This story is perfect for readers who enjoy thrilling narratives and compelling relationships under pressure.
Elizabeth Lim writes vivid fantasies inspired by fairytales and Asian legends. Her book “Six Crimson Cranes” centers around Princess Shiori, who secretly possesses forbidden magic.
After a curse turns her brothers into cranes, she must break this enchantment without speaking a word—because to do so would cost her brothers their lives. Shiori’s quest takes her through a vibrant, magical world filled with dragons, demons, and unexpected allies.
Elizabeth Lim builds a rich setting mixed with adventure, magic, and romance. If you enjoyed Chloe Gong’s blend of historical detail, fantasy, and compelling characters, Elizabeth Lim might become your next favorite author.
Julie C. Dao writes vivid fantasy inspired by East Asian folklore. Readers who enjoyed Chloe Gong’s books will appreciate Dao’s novel “Forest of a Thousand Lanterns.” This story follows Xifeng, an ambitious young woman destined for greatness, but greatness comes at a cost.
Xifeng must navigate dark magic, palace intrigue, and her own ruthless ambition to fulfill the destiny foretold for her. With poetic prose, complex characters, and beautifully reimagined mythology, Dao creates a story that balances thrilling action with thoughtful storytelling.
Renee Ahdieh offers stories that blend lush fantasy worlds with compelling characters and emotional depth. Readers who enjoyed Chloe Gong’s rich historical settings and intriguing romantic tension will feel right at home with Ahdieh’s writing.
In “The Wrath and the Dawn,” Ahdieh draws inspiration from “One Thousand and One Nights” to create a vivid tale of love and revenge. In this story, each evening a young king marries a bride, only to execute her at dawn.
After her best friend is killed, headstrong Shahrzad becomes the next bride, determined to survive and avenge her friend’s death.
But the king isn’t entirely who he seems, and secrets begin to unravel as Shahrzad navigates palace intrigues, shifting alliances, and dangerous attractions.
Ahdieh masterfully crafts a story full of suspense, romance, and captivating scenes that keep readers hooked until the last page.
Readers who enjoyed Chloe Gong’s blend of fantasy, vivid characters, and suspenseful plots might also appreciate Tomi Adeyemi. Adeyemi is known for her captivating West-African-inspired fantasy “Children of Blood and Bone.”
The story follows Zélie, a young heroine tasked with bringing magic back to a land where it was violently suppressed.
Alongside a runaway princess and a conflicted royal warrior, Zélie faces danger, betrayal, and unexpected challenges, which make her journey unforgettable and intense. Adeyemi’s style combines action, loyalty, romance, and a richly built world full of vibrant culture.
Alwyn Hamilton is an author known for action-packed fantasy books with sharp dialogue and strong characters, characteristics that fans of Chloe Gong will easily appreciate.
Her debut novel, “Rebel of the Sands,” introduces readers to Amani, a young sharpshooter who longs to flee her oppressive hometown.
When she teams up with a mysterious fugitive, they journey across a desert inhabited by dangerous magical creatures, powerful Djinni, and political rebels.
Hamilton weaves adventure, magic, and romance together smoothly and pulls readers into a vivid world of sandstorms and rebellion. Anyone who enjoys dynamic characters, tense action scenes, and richly drawn worlds will find plenty to love about “Rebel of the Sands.”
Marie Rutkoski weaves fantasy worlds filled with tension, romance, and political drama. Fans of Chloe Gong will appreciate Rutkoski’s skill in creating complicated relationships set against intense rivalries.
In her novel “The Winner’s Curse,” Kestrel, a general’s daughter, impulsively purchases a slave named Arin at an auction. Soon, she realizes that Arin has hidden motives and secrets.
As Kestrel begins to unravel his real identity, she is thrust into choices between loyalty to her people and her growing heartache. The stakes get higher with every turn, and the unfolding conflict makes this book hard to put down.
If you enjoy Chloe Gong’s vivid storytelling and intriguing blend of history and fantasy, try exploring Roshani Chokshi’s novels. Chokshi often weaves mythology into vibrant historical settings with memorable characters and engaging adventures.
Her book “The Gilded Wolves” is set in 1889 Paris, where Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, a clever young treasure hunter, is tasked with retrieving an ancient artifact.
Together with his diverse and gifted crew, he navigates the glittering yet dangerous world of secret societies, hidden artifacts, and complex puzzles.
Along the way, secrets unfold, friendships deepen, and ambitions clash, creating an exciting historical fantasy adventure fans of Chloe Gong may find highly appealing.
Kristin Cashore creates vivid fantasy worlds filled with powerful characters and intense emotional stories. Her novel “Graceling” follows Katsa, a fierce fighter born with an extraordinary power called a Grace.
Because of this unique skill, she serves as a deadly weapon for her uncle, a corrupt king. Katsa yearns for freedom, and after she meets the mysterious Prince Po, events unfold that challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and the world.
Readers who enjoyed Chloe Gong’s blend of strong characters and engaging storytelling in “These Violent Delights” will likely find Kristin Cashore a satisfying discovery.
If you enjoy Chloe Gong’s blend of historical settings, romance, and vivid storytelling, Adrienne Young might be a perfect match for your bookshelf. Young is an engaging author who crafts immersive worlds filled with strong characters and emotional depth.
Her novel “Fable” follows the story of a courageous young woman named Fable who is abandoned by her father on a dangerous island of thieves and scavengers.
Left to survive alone, Fable battles harsh conditions to find her father and claim her rightful place beside him in the ruthless merchant business. This tale is filled with intrigue, danger, and romance set against the backdrop of the open sea, pirates, and treasure hunts.
Adrienne Young’s storytelling is rich and captivating, offering readers an adventurous escape into an exciting and beautifully crafted world.
Books by Traci Chee offer the perfect blend of intrigue, magic, and vivid settings for fans of Chloe Gong. In “The Reader,” Chee introduces readers to Sefia, a young heroine in a world where reading and books are forbidden and virtually unknown.
When her aunt is kidnapped, Sefia turns to a mysterious book left behind by her murdered father. The book holds secrets, power, and a story that might change everything she knows about herself and her world. Chee crafts her story through adventure, magic, and hidden histories.
Anyone who enjoyed Chloe Gong’s blend of action, hidden mysteries, and compelling characters will find plenty to love in “The Reader.”
Readers who enjoy Chloe Gong’s blend of fantasy, history, and romance will appreciate Hafsah Faizal’s vivid storytelling and rich world-building.
Faizal’s debut novel, “We Hunt the Flame,” introduces readers to Zafira, a skilled young huntress who ventures into a cursed forest called the Arz to feed her people, disguised as a man to avoid discovery.
Nasir, the kingdom’s feared assassin known as the Prince of Death, sets out on his own mission to track down a powerful artifact. It quickly becomes clear that the fates of both hunter and assassin are deeply intertwined.
With mysteries, intricate characters, and poetic prose, Faizal crafts an absorbing tale filled with danger, secrets, and adventure.
If you enjoy Chloe Gong’s blend of historical intrigue, dark atmosphere, and morally complex characters, you might also appreciate Jay Kristoff. Kristoff is known for storytelling that combines vivid world-building with intense action and nuanced characters.
His novel “Nevernight” introduces readers to Mia Corvere, a determined young woman seeking revenge against those who destroyed her family.
She joins the Red Church, a ruthless school for assassins where survival requires navigating deadly rivalries, uncovering secrets, and mastering challenging tests.
This powerful narrative draws readers into a gritty and richly detailed setting filled with shadows and surprises at every turn.