A Court of Mist and Fury

Throne of Glass

Sarah J. Maas

Another epic fantasy by Maas featuring a strong female protagonist with magical abilities. Follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin competing to become the royal champion. The book blends action, romance, and complex world-building with a powerful heroine navigating political intrigue and personal transformation.

Red Rising

Pierce Brown

A dystopian sci-fi novel with intense action and complex character development. Darrow, a low-born miner, infiltrates the ruling class to overthrow a oppressive society. The book features themes of rebellion, identity, and personal growth similar to Maas's work.

Six of Crows

Leigh Bardugo

A fantasy heist novel with multiple perspectives and complex characters. A group of outcasts attempt an impossible mission in a richly imagined world. The book features intricate plotting, magical elements, and characters fighting against overwhelming odds.

An Ember in the Ashes

Sabaa Tahir

A dark fantasy set in a brutal empire with multiple perspectives. Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier, fight against a oppressive system. The book features complex characters, magical elements, and themes of resistance and personal transformation.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Laini Taylor

A fantasy about Karou, an art student with a mysterious magical background. The novel explores themes of identity, forbidden love, and magical worlds. It features rich world-building and a complex protagonist discovering her true origins.

The Winner's Curse

Marie Rutkoski

A fantasy romance with political intrigue and a strong female lead. Kestrel, a strategic military strategist, falls in love with a slave she purchases. The novel explores themes of power, forbidden love, and personal conflict in a richly detailed world.

Shadow and Bone

Leigh Bardugo

A fantasy set in a Russian-inspired world with magical soldiers and dark powers. Alina Starkov discovers a rare magical ability that could save her country. The novel features complex world-building, magical conflicts, and a heroine discovering her true potential.

The Cruel Prince

Holly Black

A dark faerie fantasy with political manipulation and complex relationships. Jude, a human in the faerie world, navigates court intrigue and power struggles. The novel features a strong-willed protagonist fighting against a dangerous magical society.

Caraval

Stephanie Garber

A magical fantasy about two sisters participating in a mysterious performance game. The novel blends romance, magic, and adventure with unexpected twists. It explores themes of sisterhood, personal discovery, and magical transformations.

Graceling

Kristin Cashore

A fantasy novel about Katsa, a woman with extraordinary fighting abilities. She struggles with her powerful gift and fights against political corruption. The book explores themes of personal agency, magical abilities, and challenging societal expectations.

The Wrath and the Dawn

Renée Ahdieh

A retelling of One Thousand and One Nights with a strong female protagonist. Shahrzad volunteers to marry a murderous king to seek revenge. The novel blends romance, magic, and personal transformation in a richly detailed world.

The Kiss of Deception

Mary E. Pearson

A fantasy about a princess fleeing an arranged marriage and finding her own path. The novel blends romance, adventure, and political intrigue. It features a strong female protagonist challenging traditional expectations and discovering her true self.

Divergent

Veronica Roth

A dystopian novel about Tris, who doesn't fit into a strictly divided society. She challenges the system and discovers her true potential. The book features themes of personal identity, rebellion, and challenging societal structures.