Light Mode

15 Authors like Kristin Cashore

Kristin Cashore writes compelling young adult fantasy filled with vivid characters. Her novel Graceling introduces readers to a unique world praised for strong heroines and captivating adventures.

If you enjoy reading books by Kristin Cashore then you might also like the following authors:

  1. Leigh Bardugo

    Leigh Bardugo creates vivid fantasy worlds mixed with intricate magic systems and morally complex characters. Her stories often center on themes like found family, power struggles, and personal growth.

    In Shadow and Bone, she introduces readers to the rich Grishaverse, where heroine Alina Starkov discovers hidden powers and faces dark forces threatening her world.

  2. Sarah J. Maas

    Sarah J. Maas writes character-driven fantasy novels that blend romance, action, and adventure. She explores themes like identity, strength, and freedom, often through strong, relatable heroines.

    Her novel Throne of Glass follows the assassin Celaena Sardothien as she battles for survival, faces unexpected emotions, and uncovers truths about a royal conspiracy.

  3. Sabaa Tahir

    Sabaa Tahir crafts intense, emotionally engaging fantasy worlds filled with political unrest and resistance. She tackles themes of oppression, courage, and the search for justice.

    Her novel An Ember in the Ashes follows Laia and Elias, whose paths cross in a brutal empire as they fight to find independence and meaning amid danger and oppression.

  4. Marie Lu

    Marie Lu writes fast-paced, action-heavy fantasy and science-fiction stories filled with compelling characters and high stakes. Her books often explore rebellion, moral challenges, and the consequences of power.

    In Legend, readers meet June and Day, two characters from opposites sides of a fractured society, whose collision leads to unexpected discoveries and intense choices.

  5. Victoria Aveyard

    Victoria Aveyard combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create gripping stories centered on rebellion, betrayal, and power dynamics. She often addresses issues of inequality, identity, and the complexities of right and wrong.

    Her novel Red Queen introduces Mare Barrow, a girl from the lower caste who finds herself swept into royal intrigue when she unexpectedly displays powers she shouldn't have.

  6. Holly Black

    Holly Black writes dark fantasy novels full of magic, danger, and morally complex characters. She often explores themes of power struggles, deception, and hidden identities.

    If you enjoy Kristin Cashore's strong heroines and immersive fantasy worlds, you might like Black's The Cruel Prince, which follows Jude, a mortal girl navigating a treacherous fairy court filled with intrigue and betrayal.

  7. Tamora Pierce

    Tamora Pierce is known for her adventurous stories and strong female protagonists who break the mold. Her novels explore themes of courage, friendship, and finding one's place in the world.

    If you appreciate novels like Kristin Cashore's that feature heroines confronting societal expectations, you'll enjoy Pierce's Alanna: The First Adventure, about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to become a knight.

  8. Rae Carson

    Rae Carson creates engaging YA fantasy stories filled with compelling characters, suspenseful adventures, and emotional growth. She highlights courage, identity, and young people discovering their own strength.

    If Kristin Cashore's books resonate with you, give Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns a try. It tells the story of Elisa, who rises to confront challenging circumstances and comes into her own power.

  9. Morgan Rhodes

    Morgan Rhodes delivers fast-paced fantasy filled with sweeping action, romance, and shifting loyalties. Her characters face tough moral choices in worlds threatened by war and turmoil.

    Fans of Kristin Cashore's political intrigue and conflicted characters might love Rhodes's Falling Kingdoms, which follows multiple young protagonists whose paths cross in a land on the brink of destruction.

  10. Laini Taylor

    Laini Taylor's writing blends lyrical prose with richly imaginative fantasy worlds. Her stories often include star-crossed romance, mythical elements, and themes of identity and belonging.

    If Kristin Cashore's vivid worlds and nuanced characters appeal to you, Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone could become a new favorite, threading together the human world with a vibrant realm of extraordinary creatures.

  11. Shannon Hale

    Shannon Hale writes memorable fantasy stories with strong female leads and imaginative settings. Her stories often explore friendship, courage, and self-discovery, blending fairy-tale charm with believable characters and adventures.

    Readers who enjoy Kristin Cashore's thoughtful heroines might appreciate Hale’s book, The Goose Girl, a tale of adventure, magic, and personal growth.

  12. Melina Marchetta

    Melina Marchetta’s novels are filled with emotion, complex characters, and detailed storytelling. She often writes about characters facing personal issues and difficult choices, set against rich and immersive fantasy worlds.

    Fans of Cashore’s character-driven narratives would likely enjoy Marchetta’s novel, Finnikin of the Rock, offering depth, sweeping adventure, and powerful relationships.

  13. Susan Dennard

    Susan Dennard is known for crafting dynamic characters, intricate worlds, and fast-paced action. Her books often focus on friendships and alliances, portraying how these connections shape and influence the characters’ journeys.

    Readers who enjoyed the engaging, high-stakes fantasy style of Kristin Cashore might like Dennard’s Truthwitch, which features compelling friendships set within captivating magic systems.

  14. Roshani Chokshi

    Roshani Chokshi excels at weaving lush, imaginative settings inspired by mythology and folklore. Her stories balance magical intrigue, rich imagery, and characters grappling with identity, belonging, and difficult choices.

    Fans who enjoyed the thoughtful exploration of internal conflicts and vivid settings in Kristin Cashore’s novels may also like Chokshi's The Star-Touched Queen, a beautifully vivid story inspired by Indian folklore.

  15. Garth Nix

    Garth Nix creates adventurous and imaginative fantasy stories featuring deep world-building, intriguing magical systems, and resilient characters.

    His novels often center around young protagonists overcoming daunting obstacles, uncovering hidden strengths, and navigating complex moral choices.

    Readers drawn to the unique magical elements and fresh characters in Cashore’s writing might enjoy Sabriel, a captivating tale about a young woman confronting dark magic and her own destiny.