Tahereh Mafi’s books possess a special appeal. If stories in dystopian settings catch your eye, and if you enjoy a strong romantic element combined with prose that reads like poetry, then you probably know Mafi’s work.
She writes with lyrical prose and creates memorable female characters. For readers seeking authors with a similar style, read on.
Books by Victoria Aveyard might capture the attention of readers who enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s writing style and imagination. Her book “Red Queen” introduces readers to a divided world where blood color determines fate.
Mare Barrow’s life is turned upside down when she discovers she has abilities she shouldn’t possess. She’s thrust into the royal court’s dangerous politics and must navigate alliances and betrayals.
If you appreciated the unique powers and emotionally charged scenes in Mafi’s “Shatter Me,” you’ll probably connect with Mare’s struggles and the vivid tension in “Red Queen.”
Books by Marissa Meyer often blend science fiction and fantasy with rich, memorable characters and unique reimaginations of classic fairy tales. If you enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s dramatic, emotional storytelling, you might find Meyer’s book “Cinder” especially interesting.
It’s a futuristic retelling of Cinderella set in a world filled with cyborgs, spaceships, and a deadly plague. The protagonist, Cinder, a talented teenage cyborg mechanic, finds herself at the heart of both an intergalactic conflict and a complicated love story.
The novel mixes suspense, romance, and adventure in a fresh, exciting way that feels compellingly new, even as it echoes the familiar Cinderella story.
Marie Lu is an author whose exciting dystopian worlds and strong, complex characters often appeal to fans of Tahereh Mafi. Her book “Legend” sets readers in a futuristic America divided into two very different groups: the wealthy Republic and the struggling Colonies.
June, an intelligent and determined prodigy from the elite ranks of the Republic, crosses paths with Day, a resourceful teenager from the streets and the Republic’s most wanted criminal. When June’s brother is murdered, Day becomes the prime suspect.
June is intent on revenge, but as she learns more about Day, she uncovers secrets about the Republic that change everything. The book takes readers into a tense story filled with action and tough moral decisions, perfect for anyone who enjoyed “Shatter Me” by Tahereh Mafi.
If you enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s blend of fantasy, romance, and tense battles, you might also appreciate Cassandra Clare’s “City of Bones.”
In this first book of the “Mortal Instruments” series, Clare introduces readers to Clary Fray, a teenager who discovers she belongs to a hidden world of demon hunters known as Shadowhunters.
Set in a vividly imagined New York City filled with supernatural threats and deep family secrets, the book offers memorable characters and relationships that pull you into an emotional and adventurous journey.
Fans of Mafi’s engaging heroines and intense storytelling often find Clare’s imaginative worlds equally captivating.
Julie Kagawa writes imaginative YA fantasy filled with characters who face both the magical and the ordinary. Her novel “The Iron King” tells the story of sixteen-year-old Meghan Chase, whose life flips upside down when her brother Ethan disappears.
Meghan soon learns about her own secret faery heritage and must navigate the dangerous realm of the Fey to find Ethan. Readers who enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s emotional storytelling and vivid, character-driven worlds will find plenty to love in Kagawa’s adventurous and romantic tale.
Readers who enjoyed Tahereh Mafi’s poetic writing style and vivid imagination might also appreciate Laini Taylor. Taylor crafts fantasy worlds that weave together romance, mystery, and supernatural elements.
In her novel “Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” she introduces Karou, a blue-haired art student in Prague with a secret life. Between attending classes and sketching monsters in her notebook, Karou runs mysterious errands for Brimstone, a strange creature who raised her.
When black handprints appear burned onto doors worldwide, she gets drawn into a conflict between angels and demons that challenges everything she believed was true.
Taylor’s writing blends magic and emotional depth in a way readers who loved Mafi’s “Shatter Me” series are likely to enjoy.
Veronica Roth is an author known for fast-paced stories and strong, complex characters. Her book “Divergent” introduces readers to a futuristic Chicago divided into factions based on personality traits.
At sixteen, Tris Prior must choose a faction that determines her place and identity for the rest of her life. But when her faction initiation uncovers a dangerous secret, she realizes that not everything in her carefully ordered world is what it seems.
Like Tahereh Mafi’s novels, “Divergent” blends romance, high action, and a vivid dystopian setting to draw you deeply into the protagonist’s journey.
Sarah J. Maas is an author known for crafting intense characters, vivid worlds, and romantic tension that fans of Tahereh Mafi often connect with.
Her novel “Throne of Glass” introduces readers to Celaena Sardothien, a fierce and notorious assassin freed from a brutal labor camp for one dangerous opportunity: compete as the King’s Champion.
Celaena navigates palace intrigue, deadly rivalries, and hidden threats at every turn. With action, twists, and layered characters full of secrets, Maas delivers a story worthy of your bookshelf space.
Books by Kiera Cass offer engaging stories filled with romance, tough choices, and intriguing glimpses into alternate societies. If you enjoyed Tahereh Mafi’s imaginative worlds and emotional depth, Cass’s “The Selection” might capture your attention too.
The novel introduces America Singer, a spirited young woman chosen to compete with other girls for the heart of Prince Maxon in a televised contest. At first America resists the glamour of royal life and the pressures that come with it.
As she navigates palace politics, unexpected friendships, and powerful feelings, the stakes become higher than she ever anticipated. Cass blends romance, drama, and thoughtful observations about caste and privilege into a story that’s easy to get lost in.
Books by Leigh Bardugo offer readers vivid fantasy worlds with memorable characters and rich storytelling similar in mood and depth to the novels of Tahereh Mafi.
In “Shadow and Bone,” Bardugo introduces readers to Alina Starkov, a young woman suddenly discovering a rare and life-altering power.
She is thrust into the glamorous yet dangerous world of Ravka’s elite Grisha magic users, faced with the task of challenging an oppressive darkness known as the Shadow Fold.
Alina must navigate intrigue, betrayal, and complex relationships in her struggle to determine friend from foe. Leigh Bardugo’s writing style blends magic, romance, and adventure in a way readers who enjoyed Mafi’s “Shatter Me” series will easily connect with.
Books by Alexandra Bracken often resonate with readers who enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s stories. Bracken writes vivid, emotional novels set in imaginative worlds.
Her book “The Darkest Minds” follows Ruby, a girl who survives a mysterious illness that wipes out most children and leaves survivors with supernatural abilities. Held in a strict government camp, Ruby manages to escape and joins a group of other young survivors.
Together, they search for a safe haven while learning to trust each other in a dangerous world. The novel blends suspense, action, and heartfelt connections, making Ruby’s journey easy to care about.
Books by Sabaa Tahir have a style that speaks directly to fans of Tahereh Mafi. If Tahereh Mafi’s storytelling connects with you, Sabaa Tahir could be your next favorite author. Tahir’s novel “An Ember in the Ashes” is a thrilling fantasy inspired by the Roman Empire.
It follows Laia, a slave whose family was torn apart by an oppressive regime. To save her brother’s life, Laia must risk everything to spy on the ruthless military academy, Blackcliff.
Inside Blackcliff, she meets Elias, a talented but reluctant soldier desperate to escape the violent world he belongs to. Their intertwined fates create a tale of courage, rebellion, and forbidden connections set against a backdrop of brutal politics and ancient magic.
Readers who enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s lyrical style and unique characters may appreciate Maggie Stiefvater’s novels. Maggie Stiefvater writes with a vivid imagination and crafts complex relationships among her protagonists.
Her book “The Raven Boys” introduces Blue, a girl from a family of clairvoyants, whose fate becomes strangely tied to a group of private school boys searching for a legendary Welsh king.
The story blends mystery, magic, friendship, and prophecy, set vividly in the sleepy town of Henrietta. Fans of Mafi who love intriguing plots, paranormal elements, and emotional depth will likely find “The Raven Boys” equally captivating.
If you enjoy Tahereh Mafi’s emotional storytelling and strong characters, you might also appreciate Suzanne Young. Her novel “The Program” imagines a world where teenage depression and suicide have become an epidemic.
To fix this crisis, society creates The Program, an intense treatment meant to erase painful memories. The story follows Sloane, a girl determined to protect herself and those she cares about from losing their identities.
Young creates a story that’s emotional, suspenseful, and explores complex issues around individuality, love, and the price of forgetting.
Richelle Mead creates stories filled with passion, mystery, and strong, memorable characters, qualities Tahereh Mafi fans often appreciate. In Mead’s novel “Vampire Academy,” readers enter St. Vladimir’s Academy, a secret boarding school for vampires and their guardians.
Rose Hathaway, a tough, determined guardian-in-training, vows to protect her best friend Lissa, a royal vampire threatened by unknown forces.
The friendship between Rose and Lissa, combined with intriguing magical elements, forbidden romance, and tense action sequences, makes “Vampire Academy” an absorbing story that engages readers from start to finish.