Marissa Meyer creates stories that blend fairy tales and futuristic settings. Consider *The Lunar Chronicles*; that series reimagines Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White in a sci-fi world.
If you enjoy a similar combination of fantasy, strong heroines, and a touch of romance, here are some authors you might find interesting.
Leigh Bardugo is an author known for her engaging books filled with magic, adventure, and memorable characters. If you enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s ability to reinvent fairy tales and craft vivid worlds, Leigh Bardugo may be an author you’d appreciate.
Her novel “Shadow and Bone” is the first in the Grisha Trilogy, a series set in Ravka, an imaginary land inspired by Tsarist Russia. Alina Starkov is a young soldier who discovers she holds a rare and powerful magic within her—a talent that could save her war-torn country.
Soon, she is swept away into the luxurious yet dangerous court of the Grisha, an elite society of magical soldiers led by the mysterious Darkling. As war looms and secrets surface around her, Alina must learn to navigate power, trust, and loyalty.
Bardugo offers readers plenty of magic, suspense, and richly developed characters set against a beautifully crafted backdrop.
Cassandra Clare is an author known for engaging fantasy worlds, dynamic characters, and a blend of magic and adventure. If you enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative storytelling and rich world-building, Cassandra Clare’s “City of Bones” could be a great next read.
This first book in “The Mortal Instruments” series follows Clary Fray, a teenage girl who stumbles upon a hidden world of Shadowhunters—warriors who hunt demons—and discovers secrets about her own family.
Clare combines mystery, romance, and supernatural elements in a way that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
Readers who enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative and character-driven stories may find Veronica Roth equally engaging. Veronica Roth is the author behind the popular dystopian novel “Divergent.”
Set in a future Chicago, the story follows Tris Prior, a strong-willed teenage girl faced with a choice that determines her entire life. Society is split into factions based on virtues: bravery, honesty, intelligence, selflessness, and peace.
As Tris navigates new allegiances, she discovers unsettling secrets about herself and the factions she grew up trusting. Roth crafts intense conflicts, thoughtful themes about identity, and relationships filled with tension and depth.
“Divergent” offers the kind of intricate world-building and powerful characters that resonate strongly with Meyer’s fans.
If you enjoy Marissa Meyer’s exciting stories and imaginative worlds, you might also appreciate Marie Lu’s books. Marie Lu writes vivid science fiction and fantasy series that balance adventure, futuristic settings, and complex characters.
Her novel “Legend” introduces us to a dystopian future divided by poverty and privilege, where two teenagers—June, an elite prodigy, and Day, a wanted criminal—find their paths intertwined. Their unlikely meeting sparks secrets, betrayal, rebellion, and tension-filled action.
It’s an engaging start to a gripping trilogy, full of suspense and emotion, perfect for readers who savor fast-paced storytelling and vibrant characters.
Victoria Aveyard is an author to explore if you enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s imaginative worlds and strong characters. Her novel “Red Queen” introduces a vivid setting where society divides itself by blood color—Silver blood means supernatural powers, while Red marks you as ordinary.
The story follows Mare Barrow, a young woman who grows up as a lowly Red until she discovers an unexpected power that challenges the entire social order. Mare enters a dangerous world of royalty, deception, and rebellion.
If you’re searching for a story filled with secrets, betrayals, and complex characters, “Red Queen” might be the next book for you.
Books by Tahereh Mafi offer imaginative worlds, complex characters, and emotional depth that readers of Marissa Meyer will appreciate. In her novel “Shatter Me,” we meet Juliette Ferrars, a girl whose touch is lethal.
Juliette is imprisoned by a government that fears her power and wants to exploit it. This story combines action, romance, and internal struggle, set against the backdrop of a dystopian society.
Fans of Meyer’s vivid storytelling and strong heroines will find themselves drawn to Juliette’s personal journey and the novel’s rich world-building.
Readers who enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative and romantic storytelling will find a lot to like in Kiera Cass’s work. Cass has become popular for her novel “The Selection,” which mixes romance, royalty, and a dash of competition.
In a future society divided strictly by class, young America Singer is unexpectedly chosen for a televised competition where girls from across the kingdom vie for the prince’s hand. America faces complicated choices between love, loyalty, and ambition.
Cass masterfully blends romance, drama, and intriguing social dynamics, crafting a page-turner that will easily appeal to Meyer fans.
Readers who enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative worlds and rich storytelling might find Stephanie Garber’s novels equally enchanting. Garber masters the art of creating magical, mysterious atmospheres filled with romance and adventure.
In “Caraval,” two sisters, Scarlett and Tella, receive invitations to a legendary, otherworldly game known as Caraval. When they arrive, Tella quickly disappears, and Scarlett must navigate fantastical challenges and a series of illusions to find her sister.
In this story reality blends with fantasy, leaving both Scarlett and the reader guessing. For fans of vivid, dreamlike settings and intriguing puzzles, Garber’s “Caraval” offers an experience worth exploring.
Books by Sabaa Tahir offer a captivating blend of fantasy, adventure, and deep character journeys that fans of Marissa Meyer will certainly enjoy. In her novel “An Ember in the Ashes,” readers enter a brutal world inspired by ancient Rome.
The story centers around Laia, a young woman forced to become a spy within the Empire’s oppressive military academy to rescue her brother. There’s also Elias, reluctant soldier and top cadet, who dreams secretly of freedom from a ruthless regime.
Their paths cross as their destinies intertwine, bringing tension, danger, and hope at every turn. Sabaa Tahir crafts a vivid world filled with complex characters, difficult choices, and dramatic twists.
Sarah J. Maas is a popular fantasy author who creates vibrant worlds full of magic, adventure, and unforgettable characters. Readers who enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s imaginative stories may find something exciting in Maas’ book “Throne of Glass.”
The story introduces Celaena Sardothien, an infamous assassin pulled from imprisonment by a prince who offers her freedom—under one condition. She must compete against deadly rivals in a series of brutal trials.
However, contestants soon begin to mysteriously die, and Celaena finds herself entangled in dark forces behind the palace walls. With rich world-building, intriguing characters, and plenty of twists, “Throne of Glass” can capture readers seeking adventure, romance, and suspense.
If you enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative storytelling and rich fantasy worlds, Laini Taylor may capture your interest too. Taylor creates vivid tales filled with magic, mystery, and deep emotional resonance.
Her novel, “Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” introduces readers to Karou, a young art student raised by mysterious creatures who trade teeth for wishes.
Karou always feels caught between two worlds—until she encounters Akiva, an angelic stranger whose secrets threaten to unravel everything she understands about herself and the war-torn realm from which she truly comes.
With its lush setting, intriguing mythology, and unforgettable characters, this novel could draw you into a magical journey that explores identity, love, and destiny.
Readers who enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative retellings might appreciate Rosamund Hodge, another author adept at reinvented fairy tales. One of her notable books, “Cruel Beauty,” is an inventive spin on the classic tale of “Beauty and the Beast.”
Nyx, the protagonist, grows up aware that one day she must marry the prince of demons, Ignifex, a being responsible for curses upon her people. Unlike typical heroines, Nyx is not meek or obedient; she plans to deceive her monstrous husband and free her land from suffering.
But as Nyx slowly uncovers the truth about Ignifex and his mysterious castle, her firm resolve begins to waver. Hodge’s blend of mythology, romance, and darker twists gives readers a fresh, engaging experience with the familiar tale.
Readers who enjoyed Marissa Meyer’s fairy-tale inspired novels may appreciate Melissa Albert’s unique twist on dark fantasy and folklore. Albert’s book “The Hazel Wood” blends mystery and fantasy into an eerie and atmospheric adventure.
It follows the story of Alice, a seventeen-year-old girl who has spent her life avoiding the bad luck that haunts her family.
When Alice’s grandmother—the famous and isolated author of dark fairy tales—dies alone, strange events begin to unfold, pulling Alice toward the spooky world her grandmother created.
Alice realizes her grandmother’s stories may not be just stories, and to find answers, she must face the dangers hidden in the mythical Hazel Wood.
The book mixes adventure, creepy settings, and dark fairy-tale elements that fans of Meyer’s imaginative storytelling will likely enjoy.
Lauren DeStefano crafts imaginative, emotionally charged tales filled with engaging characters and fantastic worlds. If you enjoy Marissa Meyer’s storytelling style, check out DeStefano’s novel “Wither.”
In this dystopian story, Rhine Ellery, a young woman kidnapped and forced into a marriage, struggles to survive in a future where genetic experiments have led to drastic consequences. Faced with limited life expectancy, Rhine searches desperately for freedom and truth.
DeStefano weaves suspense, romance, and moral dilemmas into a fascinating adventure that stays with you long after the final page.
If you enjoy Marissa Meyer’s imaginative retellings and futuristic settings, you might also appreciate Julie Kagawa’s creative storytelling. She blends fantasy, adventure, and compelling characters together seamlessly.
Her book “The Iron King” introduces us to Meghan Chase, a teenager who discovers that she’s actually half-fae, daughter of a mythical faerie king.
When her little brother is kidnapped and taken to the dangerous Faery world, Meghan sets out on a journey full of magical creatures, strange alliances, and hidden dangers.
Kagawa builds a vivid and intriguing world, and readers who loved Meyer’s strong heroines and exciting twists will surely find a similar magic in “The Iron King.”