Kristin Cashore is an author many readers love for her young adult fantasy books. Her stories often feature really strong female characters and plots that keep you guessing.
Think about *Graceling*, where Katsa has a special ability for killing, or *Fire*, with its fantastical monster-like heroine. If you are searching for authors who write books with a similar feel, here are some writers you might enjoy.
Readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore’s strong characters and vivid worlds will likely appreciate Tamora Pierce’s imaginative storytelling. Pierce is well known for her engaging fantasy adventures that feature brave and determined heroines.
One of her best-loved works is “Alanna: The First Adventure,” the first book in the “Song of the Lioness” series. This captivating tale follows Alanna of Trebond, a courageous girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to train as a knight.
Facing challenges at every turn, Alanna must prove herself to peers and mentors who have no idea who she truly is. Along the way, she discovers friendship, magic, and inner strengths she never knew she had.
Pierce’s detailed world-building and memorable characters offer readers an exciting new journey to embark upon.
Readers who enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s vibrant fantasy worlds and strong-willed protagonists may find Leigh Bardugo equally captivating. Bardugo crafts compelling narratives filled with rich world-building and unforgettable characters.
Her novel “Shadow and Bone” introduces readers to Alina Starkov, an orphan mapmaker whose entire life shifts when she discovers a rare magical power. Alina is thrust into Ravka’s dark conflicts and enchanting societies, facing tests of loyalty, power, and identity.
Bardugo offers a vivid story about magic, danger, and discovering personal strength, which fans of Kristin Cashore’s storytelling will surely appreciate.
Robin McKinley is a fantasy author known for engaging characters, magical worlds, and clever retellings of classic fairy tales. If you’re a fan of Kristin Cashore, you might appreciate McKinley’s “The Blue Sword.”
This novel follows young Harry Crewe, unexpectedly transplanted to a remote desert kingdom. Stolen from her quiet life, Harry finds herself entwined in the land’s mysterious cultures, magic, and conflicts.
Filled with adventure, strength, and vivid landscapes, McKinley’s storytelling is sure to resonate with readers who enjoyed “Graceling” and “Fire.”
Sara J. Maas creates fantasy novels filled with strong, complex characters and richly imagined worlds. If you enjoy stories by Kristin Cashore, you’ll appreciate the way Maas crafts intense personal journeys and vivid romances within magical realms.
Her book “Throne of Glass” introduces Celaena Sardothien, a brilliant teenage assassin offered a deal: enter a dangerous competition to become the king’s champion or remain imprisoned forever.
Celaena’s fierce individualism, the high stakes of the tournament, and the secrets hidden within an oppressive kingdom make this tale both suspenseful and deeply emotional.
Fans of dynamic female heroes and intricate plots will find plenty to explore in Sara J. Maas’s storytelling.
Readers who enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s books might also appreciate Laini Taylor’s style, especially in “Daughter of Smoke and Bone.” Taylor is known for creating vivid, magical worlds filled with strong, relatable characters and emotional depth.
In this story, readers meet Karou, a blue-haired art student living in Prague who has a secret life filled with strange errands and mysterious, monstrous creatures she calls family.
She tries to balance two radically different realities—ordinary life among humans and a hidden realm of magic and danger. As Karou begins to uncover the truth of her past, a beautiful yet painful tale of love, war, and difficult choices unfolds.
This book’s blend of fantasy elements, complex relationships, and powerful storytelling may resonate strongly with Kristin Cashore’s fans.
Readers who enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s “Graceling” series may also appreciate Megan Whalen Turner’s engaging storytelling and memorable characters. Turner creates intriguing plots filled with clever twists and vivid world-building.
Her book “The Thief” introduces readers to Gen, a skilled and boastful thief who’s released from prison by the king’s advisor. He agrees to steal a legendary artifact hidden deep within enemy territory.
Throughout the journey, alliances are tested and secrets unfold in unexpected ways. Fans of smart dialogue, intricate relationships, and surprising plot turns will find plenty to enjoy in Turner’s well-crafted narrative.
Readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore’s imaginative and complex storytelling might appreciate Marie Rutkoski’s engaging narratives and dynamic characters.
Rutkoski’s “The Winner’s Curse” introduces Kestrel, the daughter of a powerful general, in a world where war and politics intertwine. After impulsively purchasing a slave named Arin, Kestrel finds unexpected connections and dangerous secrets beneath his quiet demeanor.
She soon faces difficult choices between personal loyalty and her country’s expectations, building tension in a story full of intrigue, romance, and tough moral decisions. Fans of Cashore’s strong heroines and richly layered worlds may find much to enjoy in Rutkoski’s writing.
Cinda Williams Chima is an author worth discovering if you’ve enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s blend of fantasy, intriguing characters, and memorable worlds. Chima’s novel, “The Demon King,” starts the “Seven Realms” series.
The story follows Han Alister, a young thief who comes into possession of a powerful amulet. Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna struggles with royal duties, friendship, and her own ambitions.
Their paths cross as political schemes and magic intertwine, building a rich fantasy filled with secrets, danger, and adventure.
If you’re drawn to strong characters and detailed, immersive worlds, “The Demon King” is a captivating read that sets the stage for an impressive series.
Books by Holly Black offer fantasy worlds filled with complex characters, intriguing plots, and high stakes, appealing to readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore. A good starting point is “The Cruel Prince,” the first in her “Folk of the Air” trilogy.
This story follows Jude Duarte, a mortal brought to the treacherous world of Faerie against her will. Jude navigates dangerous court politics, betrayal, and shifting alliances as she seeks her place among the deceptive and powerful fae.
Holly Black portrays morally complex characters and tense rivalries that readers of Kristin Cashore’s “Graceling” or “Fire” will likely appreciate.
Readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore’s vivid fantasy worlds and strong characters will likely appreciate Juliet Marillier. Marillier is known for blending myths and historical elements into captivating stories.
Her book “Daughter of the Forest” is the first in the Sevenwaters series. It tells the story of Sorcha, a young woman tasked with saving her six brothers from a powerful curse.
Sorcha must stay silent while she weaves shirts out of a painful plant, enduring hardship and sorrow to break the spell. This story combines magic, family loyalty, romance, and sacrifice, echoing themes often found in Cashore’s work.
Naomi Novik is an author known for creating vivid fantasy worlds with strong characters and intriguing storylines. Readers who enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s blend of adventure and strong character development might appreciate Novik’s novel “Uprooted.”
This book follows Agnieszka, a young woman selected unexpectedly by a distant and intimidating wizard called the Dragon, who takes a young woman from her village every ten years.
Agnieszka soon discovers her own unique magic and must navigate a tense relationship with the Dragon, powerful evil forces from a haunted forest, and loyalties that test her courage and inner strength.
Novik smoothly weaves folklore and magic into a story filled with fresh surprises and thoughtful characters.
Readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore’s vivid fantasy worlds and strong, relatable characters may also appreciate Sabaa Tahir’s novels. Tahir’s book “An Ember in the Ashes” takes place in a ruthless empire inspired by ancient Rome.
The story alternates between Laia, a slave girl determined to save her brother from imprisonment, and Elias, a conflicted soldier forced to serve the brutal regime. As their paths cross, Laia and Elias must navigate danger, betrayal, and trust in their fight against oppression.
Tahir creates a tense and emotional tale of courage and rebellion that resonates deeply.
Shannon Hale writes captivating fantasy stories filled with adventure, strong heroines, and engaging themes of identity and courage. If you enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s vivid characters and imaginative worlds, Hale’s novel “The Goose Girl” could be a perfect match.
This story follows Princess Ani, a young royal who can communicate with animals. Betrayed by someone close, Ani ends up stranded in a foreign kingdom. Determined to reclaim her identity, the princess takes a risk and disguises herself as a humble goose keeper.
In this role, she faces dangers, uncovers surprising friendships, and becomes a stronger, wiser version of herself. Hale’s storytelling sweeps you into Ani’s journey from uncertainty to bravery, through a tale filled with magic, loyalty, and unexpected twists.
Readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore’s vivid worlds and strong, complex characters may find a similar appeal in the fantasy novels of Garth Nix. His book “Sabriel” introduces readers to a dark and captivating realm called the Old Kingdom.
Here magic, the boundary between life and death, and powerful necromantic bells shape the destiny of the protagonist, Sabriel. She is a young woman thrust into extraordinary circumstances as she inherits her father’s role as Abhorsen, responsible for laying the undead to rest.
The story brings together action, suspense, and genuine emotional depth as Sabriel journeys through shadowy lands to confront dark powers threatening her world.
Fans of Cashore’s blend of fantasy adventure and spirited heroines will likely appreciate “Sabriel” and the rich storytelling of Garth Nix.
If you enjoy Kristin Cashore’s imaginative worlds and strong characters, Victoria Schwab may capture your interest as well.
Her book “A Darker Shade of Magic” introduces Kell, one of the last magicians who can travel between parallel versions of London—Red, Grey, White, and a mysterious, forbidden Black London. Kell serves as a messenger between kingdoms.
But when he accidentally comes into possession of a dangerous artifact from the sealed-off Black London, his life takes a dangerous turn. Schwab creates vivid settings filled with magic, danger, and characters you root for.
Fans of Cashore’s thoughtful storytelling will likely appreciate the depth and excitement found here.