A native of Tacoma, Washington, Marissa Meyer began her writing career at a young age – creating Sailor Moon fanfiction and posting it online, which helped her to develop her craft.

Now one of the most celebrated new writers in young adult fiction, Meyer has produced 12 novels, 3 short stories, one additional anthology of short stories, two graphic novels, and an interactive ebook.
Her primary series, The Lunar Chronicles, has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and featured several times on the New York Times bestseller list.
If you enjoy the works of Marissa Meyer, then you will love these recommendations from Rick Riordan, James Dashner, Veronica Roth, Victoria Aveyard, and Cassandra Claire.
Books By Marissa Meyer
Throughout her relatively short career, Marissa Meyer has produced several books, collections, and short stories.
Her novels include:
- Lunar Chronicles – Cinder (2012), Scarlet (2013), Cress (2014), and Winter (2015)
- The Renegades Trilogy – Renegades (2017), Archenemies (2018), and Supernova (2019)
- The Gilded Series – (Gilded (2021), and Cursed (2022)
She has also written a series of Lunar Chronicles tie-in novels, including:
- Fairest (2015, prequel)
- Stars Above (2016, anthology)
- Wires and Nerve: Volume 1 (2017, graphic novel)
- Wires and Nerve, Volume 2: Gone Rogue (2018, graphic novel)
- Cinder’s Adventure: Get Me To The Wedding! (2022, interactive ebook).
Additionally, she has produced the stand-alone novels Heartless (2016), and Instant Karma (2020), as well as the short stories Gold In The Roots Of The Grass (2016, A Tyranny Of Petticoats), The Sea Witch (2013, Because You Love To Hate Me: 13 Tales Of Villainy), and The Phantom of Linkshire Manor (2021).
The Lunar Chronicles
Perhaps her most famous and popular series, The Lunar Chronicles, focuses on reimagined, futuristic, science fiction stories which take inspiration from classic European fairy tales, including Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel.
Themes
Despite having a wide array of works, there are several themes that Meyer tends to explore frequently. These include ideas of good vs evil, love, loss, destiny, and identity vs. family conflict.
5 Similar Authors To Marissa Meyer

For those who are fans of Marissa Meyer’s work, we have compiled a list of our top 5 picks – allowing you to experience what we consider to be the creme de la creme of the YA fiction scene.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Rick Riordan
First on our list, but in no particular order, we have the esteemed YA writer Rick Riordan – whose Percy Jackson & The Olympians series of books are popularly consumed the world over.
Focusing on the titular Percy Jackson, a demi-god in a world where the gods of the Greek pantheon reside in the 21st century.
The series follows Percy as he navigates growing up, his burgeoning abilities, the hierarchy of the pantheon, and the impending threat of the titans – led by Kronos – who intend to destroy the world.
Pros
- Imaginative
- Well written
- Hugely popular
- Expansive universe of content
- Summarizes Greek mythology well
- Engaging material
Cons
- Slightly childish narrative voice
- Minimal character development
- Strays away from the mythological source material
Themes: young adult, mythology, good vs evil, destiny
James Dashner
Being perhaps Dashner’s most famous literary work, The Maze Runner series is a dystopian science fiction saga and tells the stories of numerous individuals surviving in a post-apocalyptic world that has been ravaged by a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Told in non-chronological order, The Maze Runner series is considered a forerunner of the genre – selling millions of copies worldwide and being adapted into numerous languages.
Pros
- Well written
- Solid world-building
- Gripping and intriguing
- Expansive universe of content
Cons
- Quite violent for YA fiction
- Intense narrative world
- Some minor bad language
Themes: young adult, survival, family ties, good vs evil
Veronica Roth
Next on our list, we have Veronica Roth – an American novelist and short story writer perhaps most famous for her Divergent Trilogy, a popular series that has sold millions of copies around the world.
Focusing on a dystopian society separated into five distinct factions, the Divergent series focuses on ideas surrounding independence, individualism, and notions of breaking against the societal norms of the respective ‘factions’.
Pros
- Relatable characters
- Written well
- Engaging content
- In-depth narrative world
- Plenty of action
- Contents positive messages
- Contains positive role models
Cons
- Quite violent
- Contains some romance
- Contains minor substance use
- Lacks educational value
Themes: young adult, identity, family ties, loyalty, good vs evil
Victoria Aveyard
Next, we have Victoria Aveyard, an American novelist perhaps most famous for her Red Queen series.
Focused on protagonist ‘Mare Barrow’ – a 17-year-old thief who develops supernatural powers – Red Queen focuses on a dystopian fantasy world bereft with war, conflict, and political deception, with all of the houses vying for Barrow’s mysterious powers in their efforts to stop conflict and take power.
Pros
- Positive role models
- Contains a positive message
- Well written
- Rich narrative world
- Minimal bad language
Cons
- Contains violence
- Could be considered scary for younger teens
- Some minor language
- Some minor substance use
Themes: young adult, identity, discrimination, destiny, family ties, conflict
Cassandra Clare
Last on our list, but by no means least, we have Cassandra Clare – an American novelist best known for her YA fantasy series The Mortal Instruments.
The Mortal Instruments follows the story of ‘Clary Fray’, whose encounters with a band of ‘shadow hunters’ (led by ‘Jace Herondale’) lead her to discover her own angelic origins, mysterious, supernatural abilities, and impending armageddon.
Pros
- Immersive series
- Solid world-building
- Some positive role models (especially for YA girls)
- Engaging content
Cons
- Becomes slightly formulaic
- Loses its positive message over time
Themes: young adult, good vs evil, loyalty, identity, friendship
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for your next literary adventure, then why not give these great authors a try? Something tells me you won’t be disappointed!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Age Range Is YA (Young Adult) Fiction?
Generally speaking, the target age range for young adult fiction is between 12 and 18 years of age.
Is YA Fiction Suitable For Adults?
While designed for teenagers first and foremost, adults can also enjoy YA fiction – in fact, many of the famous YA series (such as Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc) have legions of adult fans.
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