Maggie Stiefvater crafts books with a very distinct feel. Think of *The Raven Cycle*, for example. These books have a blend of magic, strong friendships, and a sense of something bigger at play.
If you enjoy her way of building atmosphere and creating characters that feel so real, you may want to discover other authors with a similar approach.
If you enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s atmospheric storytelling and magical worlds, you’ll likely appreciate Laini Taylor. Taylor crafts beautifully imaginative fantasies filled with complex characters, rich emotions, and vivid settings.
In her novel “Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” we meet Karou, a talented art student who fills sketchbooks with creatures that seem more real to her than imagined.
Unknown to her friends, Karou lives a double life running mysterious errands around the globe for the equally mysterious Brimstone.
As secrets unravel and she encounters a stranger named Akiva, Karou must confront truths about a centuries-old conflict between two realms—and her own hidden past. Taylor’s creativity, emotional depth, and lyrical writing create a story readers won’t soon forget.
Readers who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s atmospheric storytelling should try Leigh Bardugo. Her novel “Six of Crows” is a fast-paced mix of clever plotting, dark magic, and vividly drawn characters. Set in the gritty streets of Ketterdam, it follows criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker.
Kaz assembles a talented crew for an almost impossible heist: breaking into an impenetrable fortress and retrieving a hostage. Each member of Kaz’s team carries secrets and scars, and their shifting loyalties keep you guessing until the very end.
Bardugo builds tension well and creates compelling emotional stakes, making the book hard to put down.
Readers who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s blend of fantasy and dark, atmospheric storytelling may find Holly Black equally captivating. Holly Black specializes in modern fairy tales that mix wonder with danger.
Her novel “The Cruel Prince” centers around Jude, a mortal girl taken as a child to the treacherous world of Faerie. Growing up among beautiful yet ruthless creatures, Jude faces cruelty from her fairy peers.
Determined to secure a place of power for herself, Jude becomes tangled in court intrigues, betrayals, and dangerous romances. Holly Black combines vivid world-building with morally complex characters, making “The Cruel Prince” an exciting read.
Books by Victoria Schwab often explore magical worlds and morally complex characters that fans of Maggie Stiefvater will appreciate. In “The Near Witch,” Schwab creates a mystical and eerie atmosphere in the small village of Near, where children mysteriously begin to vanish.
Lexi, a strong-willed girl who grew up hearing tales of the Near Witch, suspects these disappearances are tied to a strange newcomer called Cole.
As suspicion and fear begin to grip the village, Lexi and Cole set out to uncover the truth of an old local legend, facing dark forces as they search for answers.
With poetic prose, supernatural suspense, and layered characters, Schwab’s storytelling provides a captivating journey for readers who enjoy the magical realism and emotional depth of Stiefvater’s work.
Readers who enjoyed Maggie Stiefvater might find Sarah J. Maas equally captivating. Maas writes vivid fantasy worlds filled with strong, relatable characters, complex relationships, and exciting, page-turner plots.
Her book “A Court of Thorns and Roses” follows Feyre, a human girl forced into a mysterious faerie realm after she unknowingly kills a wolf belonging to it. Feyre’s survival depends on adapting to the dangerous, magical new reality around her.
As she navigates twisted bargains, tense romance, and dark threats, readers are drawn deep into a world of intrigue, magic, and emotional depth.
Fans of Stiefvater’s imaginative storytelling and atmospheric settings can find similar satisfaction in Maas’s richly developed fantasy worlds.
Cassandra Clare creates fantasy worlds with vivid characters and magical adventures that fans of Maggie Stiefvater often enjoy. Her novel “City of Bones” introduces readers to Clary Fray, an ordinary teenager who suddenly sees things others can’t.
After witnessing a mysterious encounter in a crowded club, Clary learns she is connected to the hidden Shadowhunter world—a place filled with demon hunters, secret alliances, and ancient runes.
She must navigate dangerous secrets, find her missing mother, and uncover truths about herself she never expected. clare’s engaging storytelling and emotional depth will resonate deeply with readers drawn to magical realism and adventure.
Readers who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s imaginative worlds and lyrical style may find Melissa Albert’s novels fascinating. Albert blends fantasy elements with modern-day settings to create something fresh and mysterious.
In her book “The Hazel Wood,” we meet Alice, a teen whose grandmother wrote dark fairy tales that gained a strange cult following.
After her grandmother passes away, Alice’s mother disappears, and the only clue left behind points to the Hazel Wood—the isolated estate where her grandmother created her disturbing stories.
Alice must uncover dark family secrets and face eerie fairy-tale worlds that are far too real and dangerous. The atmospheric writing, twisty plot, and engaging characters make Melissa Albert a great find for Stiefvater fans.
Naomi Novik writes fantasy novels filled with vivid characters and imaginative worlds, perfect for readers who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s storytelling. Her novel “Uprooted” follows a young woman named Agnieszka, who lives near a dark and mysterious forest called the Wood.
Every ten years, a wizard called the Dragon chooses one girl from the village to serve him, and this time, he surprisingly picks Agnieszka. She quickly discovers hidden powers she never even guessed she had.
As Agnieszka learns magic, she becomes involved in a deep struggle against the haunting forces of the Wood, discovering secrets about her town, her world, and herself. Readers who love rich world-building and strong, unforgettable characters would enjoy “Uprooted.”
Juliet Marillier is an author who beautifully combines folklore, magic, and deep characterization in her stories. If you enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s thoughtful and atmospheric tales, consider picking up Marillier’s book “Daughter of the Forest.”
It’s a story inspired by the classic tale of the Six Swans—and follows Sorcha, the youngest sibling and only girl in a family of seven. When a powerful spell transforms her brothers into swans, Sorcha faces seemingly impossible tasks to try to break the curse.
The narrative is rich with Celtic mythology, bravery, and sacrifice. Marillier’s writing brings her characters vividly to life, making the twists and turns of Sorcha’s journey feel authentic and heartfelt.
Roshani Chokshi writes beautifully imagined stories that mix fantasy and mythology with vivid characters and poetic prose. If you enjoyed Maggie Stiefvater’s elegant storytelling, Chokshi’s “The Star-Touched Queen” could be your next favorite.
The book follows young Maya, a princess cursed with a dark and deadly horoscope, who becomes queen to Amar, ruler of Akaran—a mysterious and magical kingdom filled with secrets.
As Maya tries to understand her new husband and the eerie palace she now calls home, she discovers hidden truths and ancient mysteries that could change both her life and her fate.
Chokshi’s lush, atmospheric storytelling and emotionally rich characters will appeal to readers who like magic rooted in myth and love stories with depth and imagination.
Megan Shepherd is an author you might enjoy if you appreciate Maggie Stiefvater’s atmospheric storytelling and complex characters.
In Shepherd’s book “The Madman’s Daughter,” Juliet Moreau is the young heroine whose father once shocked Victorian society with his horrifying experiments. When Juliet travels to a remote island, she finds her father’s dark work continuing in disturbing ways.
The story mixes gothic horror, suspense, and romance beautifully. Shepherd creates a tense mood through eerie settings and a gripping mystery around Juliet’s fight between family loyalty and morality.
If you enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s atmospheric storytelling and characters wrapped in mystery, you might appreciate April Genevieve Tucholke. Her novel “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” blends romance and gothic suspense.
It follows Violet White, a teenager who rents out her family’s crumbling seaside mansion to River, a mysterious boy whose arrival coincides with strange, unexplainable events in their small town.
As eerie happenings unfold and dark family secrets emerge, Violet tries to understand who—or what—River truly is. Tucholke captures a haunting mood with vivid descriptions and complex characters, bringing readers into a world where legend and reality mix.
Anna-Marie McLemore writes lyrical, magical stories that blend fairy-tale atmosphere with strong emotional depth. Readers who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s vivid storytelling and complex characters will appreciate McLemore’s novel “When the Moon Was Ours.”
It’s a hauntingly beautiful book about Miel and Sam, two best friends with secrets as mysterious as their pasts. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, a strange and enchanting detail reflecting the story’s magical realism.
Sam, known for creating intricate moons to decorate their town, guards a deeply personal secret. Their bond is tested by the Bonner sisters, who want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin and believe their magic can win back lost love.
This is a tale of identity, love, and the magic that lies hidden within everyone.
Readers who enjoy Maggie Stiefvater’s blend of magic, myth, and complex characters might find Libba Bray equally appealing. Bray crafts stories that weave together historical settings with supernatural elements and sharp humor.
In her novel “A Great and Terrible Beauty”, readers meet Gemma Doyle, a spirited teenager sent from India to an English boarding school in the Victorian era after tragedy strikes her family.
There, Gemma discovers she’s connected to powerful, mysterious realms beyond ordinary reality. As she navigates friendship, secrets, and unusual forces, readers get pulled into a vivid story that is both magical and emotionally rich.
Books by Rebecca Ross offer readers a perfect mix of fantasy, adventure, and heartfelt relationships, similar in style and appeal to author Maggie Stiefvater.
In “A River Enchanted,” Ross introduces readers to the mysterious Isle of Cadence, a beautiful yet dangerous place haunted by secrets.
When young musician Jack Tamerlaine returns home after being away for years, he must confront troubling disappearances among the island’s young girls.
Jack soon pairs up with his childhood rival, Adaira, to uncover truths hidden deep within their community, their own families, and the island itself.
Ross crafts a rich narrative filled with lyrical prose, fascinating folklore, and characters whose quiet strengths and imperfections make them unforgettable. If Maggie Stiefvater’s style of storytelling speaks to you, Rebecca Ross’ books may hold your next favorite read.