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.
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.
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 DivergentTrilogy, 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.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
