James Dashner is an American writer famous for young adult science fiction novels. His exciting bestseller The Maze Runner introduces readers to action-packed adventures full of suspense and intriguing puzzles.
If you enjoy reading books by James Dashner then you might also like the following authors:
Suzanne Collins is a fiction author known especially for her dystopian series The Hunger Games. If you enjoy James Dashner’s stories full of futuristic worlds and dangerous trials, you’ll probably appreciate Collins’ style.
In The Hunger Games, we follow Katniss Everdeen, a teenager from District 12. She volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in a deadly televised event, a brutal fight for survival between district children.
The book shows the harsh realities of oppression, courage in desperate situations, and Katniss’ struggle to preserve her humanity when the stakes are life and death. There’s tension, drama, and vivid characters that keep readers invested until the very end.
Books by Veronica Roth offer a thrilling mix of suspense, action, and vivid storytelling that makes her a favorite among fans of James Dashner.
In her novel Divergent, Roth creates an intense world divided into five distinct factions based on virtues like courage, honesty, and selflessness.
When the novel’s protagonist, Beatrice Prior, faces choosing a faction to dedicate her life to, she discovers she doesn’t fit neatly into just one category. Her unique ability could either save her society or destroy everything it values.
Readers who enjoy Dashner’s fast-paced stories and vivid dystopian worlds will likely find themselves drawn into Roth’s imaginative, high-stakes narrative.
Marie Lu is an author known for fast-paced young adult novels set in dystopian worlds. If you enjoyed James Dashner’s The Maze Runner, then Legend by Marie Lu could be a great next read. Legend takes place in a future America divided into two conflicting sides.
The story follows Day, a rebellious teen who’s the country’s most wanted outlaw, and June, a prodigy working for the military elite. After tragedy strikes June’s family, she’s determined to track down Day, who she believes is responsible.
But as she gets closer to the truth, June uncovers secrets about the nation she serves. With tense action sequences and complex characters, it keeps readers hooked from the start.
If you enjoy the fast-paced adventures and suspenseful twists of James Dashner, you might want to check out Pittacus Lore. Pittacus Lore is the pen name of authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes, who teamed up to create the exciting Lorien Legacies series.
The first book, I Am Number Four, introduces readers to John Smith, a teenager from another planet hiding out on Earth. Three of his fellow survivors have already been hunted down. John moves from town to town, changes identities frequently, and tries hard to blend in.
But in his new town, things become even more complicated thanks to high school friendships, romance, and the growing realization that his hunters are closer than he thinks.
With gripping action and mysteries that build layer by layer, I Am Number Four combines elements of science fiction and suspense into a story Dashner fans might truly appreciate.
Readers who enjoy James Dashner’s suspenseful storytelling will likely appreciate Rick Yancey’s novels. Yancey is skilled at crafting intense narratives that blend science fiction elements with relatable, human emotions.
In his novel The 5th Wave, Earth faces devastating alien invasions that come in frightening stages, each wave designed to decimate humanity further.
Cassie Sullivan, the central character, is a spirited teenager determined to find and rescue her younger brother amidst the chaos.
The story is gripping because it alternates perspectives, offering readers insights from different survivors as they face turmoil, danger, and uncertainty. Fans of fast-paced action with emotional depth will probably find The 5th Wave worthy of their attention.
Scott Westerfeld is an author you might enjoy if you like James Dashner. His book Uglies takes place in a world where teenagers undergo mandatory cosmetic surgeries at age sixteen to become pretties.
The story follows Tally Youngblood, a teen who eagerly awaits her chance to become pretty. Things take a serious turn when Tally meets Shay, another girl who questions their society’s rules and beauty standards.
Soon Tally is faced with tough moral choices and unexpected secrets that could shatter everything she believes. Westerfeld crafts a vivid futuristic setting, filled with suspenseful twists and thought-provoking themes, that Dashner fans are certain to appreciate.
Readers who enjoy James Dashner’s fast-paced stories and imaginative worlds will appreciate Neal Shusterman. Shusterman creates suspenseful novels with engaging characters, fascinating dilemmas, and surprising turns.
In his novel Unwind, society has resolved a bitter conflict over abortion with an unsettling solution called unwinding, where teenagers are harvested for their body parts. Three teens—Connor, Risa, and Lev—find themselves facing this terrifying fate.
Rather than accepting it, they resist, sparking a daring escape and forcing them to question society’s beliefs about life, freedom, and humanity.
Readers are pulled into intense action and thought-provoking questions about morality and choice, making it a strong pick for anyone who enjoys Dashner’s style.
Pierce Brown is an author known for his intense storytelling and action-filled science fiction adventures. If you’ve enjoyed the dangerous trials and surprising twists of James Dashner’s Maze Runner, you should try Brown’s Red Rising.
The story follows Darrow, a young miner who toils beneath Mars’ surface, believing he’s working toward humanity’s future.
But after a shocking revelation exposes the truth—that his people have been deceived—Darrow sets out on a risky mission to infiltrate the ruthless elite who control society. The stakes are huge, the characters memorable, and every chapter keeps the pages turning.
Veronica Rossi is an author known for exciting dystopian adventures similar in vibe to James Dashner’s stories. Her novel Under the Never Sky introduces readers to Aria, a girl raised in the safety of domed cities, shielded from the dangerous outside world.
After she’s suddenly exiled from her protected home, Aria meets Perry, an outsider skilled in survival. Together they set off on a journey across a harsh landscape filled with powerful storms and unpredictable threats, searching for answers and facing dangers at every turn.
Rossi creates a vivid, harsh world that fans of The Maze Runner would quickly appreciate.
Readers who enjoy James Dashner’s fast-paced storytelling and survival themes might also appreciate Emmy Laybourne. In her novel Monument 14, Laybourne captures the chaos of an environmental disaster through the eyes of a group of kids trapped inside a supermarket.
When massive hailstorms and chemical spills devastate their town, the kids must band together and face tough decisions. Laybourne keeps the pace quick and tensions high, offering authentic characters and intriguing dilemmas that grip you from start to finish.
Books by Michael Grant offer fast-paced adventures and showcase teen characters placed in intense survival scenarios. If you’ve enjoyed James Dashner’s Maze Runner, you might be interested in Michael Grant’s Gone.
In this novel, everyone above the age of fifteen suddenly vanishes from a coastal town, leaving the teens behind in chaos. Kids must navigate power struggles, strange new abilities, and terrifying challenges.
Grant’s storytelling is vivid, suspenseful, and packed with action that keeps the pages turning quickly.
Kiera Cass is an author known for creating stories filled with drama, romance, and suspense. Readers who enjoy the thrilling adventures found in James Dashner’s novels may also find Kiera Cass appealing.
Her book The Selection features a young woman named America Singer who lives in a strictly divided society. America is chosen to compete in a televised contest for the prince’s heart, but her own heart is conflicted.
The competition is fierce, the danger is real, and secrets lurk behind glamorous palace walls. The stakes climb higher with every chapter, and readers may find themselves hooked to find out who America will trust—and who might betray her.
Alexandra Bracken is an author known for her fast-paced, thrilling stories filled with adventure and suspense. If you enjoyed James Dashner’s books, you’ll probably appreciate Bracken’s style as well.
In her novel The Darkest Minds, Bracken tells the story of Ruby, a teenage girl who survives a mysterious disease that wipes out most children in America. Those who survive develop strange powers. Considered dangerous, they’re sent to government-run camps.
After Ruby escapes from one of these camps, she joins other teenagers on the run and uncovers secrets about the government’s plans. The book pulls you into Ruby’s fight for freedom and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
Amie Kaufman is an Australian author known for science fiction and adventurous stories. If you enjoyed James Dashner’s Maze Runner series, you might also appreciate Kaufman’s book Illuminae, co-written with Jay Kristoff.
Illuminae is the first book in a science fiction series set in space amid a deadly corporate conspiracy and an intense fight for survival. The story follows Kady and Ezra, two teenagers forced to flee their home planet after it is attacked.
They become separated and must piece together disturbing secrets through hacked documents, emails, and transcripts. The unique layout of mixed-media storytelling makes Illuminae stand out, offering suspense, twists, and characters you can root for until the last page.
Jay Kristoff is an Australian author known for fast-paced stories filled with adventure and suspense, appealing to fans of James Dashner’s exciting narratives.
In his book Lifel1k3, Kristoff introduces readers to a futuristic, gritty world where robots and humans coexist uneasily, especially in a junkyard city crawling with gangs and scavengers.
The protagonist, Eve, is a scrappy young mechanic whose entire life takes a wild turn when she encounters an impressively realistic android named Ezekiel. Soon, Eve finds herself caught up in secret plots, dangerous enemies, and thrilling twists about identity and survival.
The book combines action, mystery, and technology in a captivating way—perfect for anyone who enjoyed the tension and fast pacing of Dashner’s Maze Runner.