E.K. Johnston has built a devoted readership with young adult novels that combine emotional intelligence, immersive world-building, and quietly powerful character work. Whether she is writing original fantasy, contemporary-leaning speculative fiction, or tie-in stories such as Ahsoka, her books often center compassion, resilience, identity, and the cost of doing what is right.
If you love Johnston for her thoughtful heroines, character-driven plots, inclusive storytelling, and blend of adventure with heart, these authors are excellent next picks:
Claudia Gray is a strong match for readers who enjoy E.K. Johnston’s emotional clarity and gift for writing speculative fiction that never loses sight of the people at its center. Her novels tend to pair high-stakes settings with nuanced relationships, moral tension, and characters trying to stay human inside huge political or cosmic conflicts.
A great place to start is Lost Stars, one of the most beloved modern Star Wars novels. It follows two childhood friends whose lives diverge as the Empire rises, making it an ideal pick for readers who want romance, loyalty conflicts, and a galaxy-spanning story with genuine emotional weight.
Rae Carson writes adventurous, character-focused fiction with capable protagonists who grow through hardship rather than simply overpowering it. Like Johnston, she is especially good at balancing external danger with internal development, creating stories that feel both exciting and grounded.
Try Walk on Earth a Stranger, a historical fantasy set during the Gold Rush. Its vivid setting, determined heroine, and strong sense of journey will appeal to readers who like speculative elements woven into richly realized worlds.
Amie Kaufman is an excellent recommendation if you enjoy fast-moving YA science fiction with strong emotional stakes. Her books often feature inventive formats, sharp pacing, and young characters trying to survive systems much larger than themselves, all while navigating trust, grief, and loyalty.
Her standout novel Illuminae, co-written with Jay Kristoff, delivers a very different reading experience through files, transcripts, and messages. Beneath the flashy structure, though, it offers exactly what many Johnston fans want: compelling teen voices, danger, and a strong emotional core.
Marie Lu is known for sleek, accessible prose and stories driven by tension, loyalty, and difficult choices. Her books often feature young protagonists caught in oppressive systems, making her a natural fit for readers who appreciate E.K. Johnston’s interest in identity, responsibility, and survival under pressure.
Start with Legend, a gripping dystopian novel about two teens from opposite sides of society. It is fast-paced and cinematic, but its strongest appeal lies in the way both characters are forced to reevaluate what they believe.
Sabaa Tahir writes intense, emotionally charged fantasy with a sharp sense of injustice and survival. Readers who like Johnston’s ability to combine empathy with high stakes may appreciate Tahir’s focus on characters who endure brutal worlds without losing their capacity for hope, love, or defiance.
An Ember in the Ashes is her best-known novel and a strong starting point. Inspired in part by ancient Rome, it offers danger, rebellion, layered relationships, and a memorable cast caught between duty and freedom.
Leigh Bardugo is a good choice for Johnston fans who want immersive fantasy worlds and well-defined character arcs. Bardugo excels at creating settings with a strong sense of political tension and mythic atmosphere, while still keeping her stories rooted in questions of trust, belonging, and power.
Begin with Shadow and Bone, the novel that launched the Grishaverse. Its magical conflict, vulnerable heroine, and expanding world make it especially appealing for readers who enjoy fantasy that feels both intimate and epic.
Sarah J. Maas writes bigger, more romance-forward fantasy than Johnston, but there is still meaningful overlap for readers who enjoy determined heroines, found family, and emotionally driven adventure. Her books are full of trials, betrayals, and transformation, with strong emphasis on character bonds.
Throne of Glass is the obvious place to begin. It starts as the story of a teenage assassin competing for freedom, then expands into a much larger fantasy saga with court politics, magic, and personal reinvention.
V.E. Schwab is ideal for readers who like imaginative premises paired with introspective character work. Like Johnston, Schwab has a talent for making fantastical concepts feel emotionally immediate, and her novels often explore identity, loneliness, power, and the cost of crossing boundaries.
A Darker Shade of Magic is a great starting point. With parallel Londons, rare magic, and a memorable central duo, it offers lush world-building without sacrificing momentum or emotional depth.
Kiersten White is especially appealing if you enjoy E.K. Johnston’s interest in reimagining familiar ideas through a fresh, character-driven lens. White often takes historical or mythic material and reshapes it around fierce, complicated young women who are not easily reduced to heroes or villains.
Pick up And I Darken for a darkly compelling alternate-history story inspired by Vlad the Impaler. Its ruthless protagonist, intricate relationships, and constant political pressure make it a strong recommendation for readers who like morally complex YA.
Mackenzi Lee brings humor, momentum, and warmth to character-driven historical adventure. Readers who appreciate Johnston’s humanity and inclusive perspective may enjoy Lee’s ability to write flawed, witty protagonists whose journeys are entertaining on the surface but also emotionally revealing underneath.
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is her breakout novel and remains the best introduction to her work. It mixes road-trip energy, romance, family tension, and 18th-century adventure in a way that feels lively and accessible.
Adrienne Young writes atmospheric fantasy steeped in survival, tradition, and emotional conflict. If you like Johnston’s ability to create stories where identity and duty are in constant tension, Young’s fiction offers a similarly strong pull, often with immersive settings and quietly intense character dynamics.
Her novel Sky in the Deep is a strong entry point. Inspired by Norse-inflected culture and conflict, it follows a warrior forced to reconsider family, loyalty, and everything she thought she understood about her world.
Beth Revis is a smart recommendation for readers who want more YA science fiction with mystery, strong atmosphere, and ethical questions. Like Johnston, Revis often uses speculative settings to examine isolation, belonging, and the pressures placed on young people inside tightly controlled systems.
Across the Universe begins with a girl awakened early from cryogenic sleep aboard a generation ship, only to discover that something is deeply wrong. It combines suspense, romance, and claustrophobic sci-fi intrigue in a very readable package.
Justina Ireland writes sharp, energetic fiction that blends action with social critique. Readers who value Johnston’s thoughtful handling of systems, community, and personal courage may find a lot to admire in Ireland’s work, especially her willingness to confront history and injustice directly.
Dread Nation is her most widely recommended novel and with good reason. Set in an alternate post–Civil War America overrun by the undead, it combines horror, alternate history, and biting commentary with a memorable heroine.
Zoraida Córdova is a great fit for readers who enjoy fantasy shaped by family, heritage, and self-discovery. Her books often draw from folklore and cultural tradition, creating magical stories that feel personal as well as expansive. That blend of intimacy and wonder will resonate with many Johnston fans.
Labyrinth Lost is a strong starting point. It follows a young bruja whose attempt to reject her power goes terribly wrong, leading to a story full of vivid magic, family bonds, and questions about accepting who you are.
Margaret Rogerson writes lush, accessible fantasy with strong atmosphere and an emphasis on craft, beauty, and dangerous magic. Readers who like Johnston’s emotional sincerity and carefully drawn protagonists may enjoy Rogerson’s balance of romantic tension, enchanting settings, and clear storytelling.
An Enchantment of Ravens is an inviting introduction to her work. Centered on an artist drawn into perilous faerie politics, it offers vivid imagery, a strong sense of enchantment, and a heroine whose talent matters as much as her courage.
