Jessica Khoury writes imaginative young adult adventures that blend science fiction, fantasy, and high-stakes mystery. In Origin, she pairs genetic experimentation with a fast-moving story that feels both eerie and exciting.
If you enjoy Jessica Khoury’s mix of bold ideas, vivid settings, and adventurous heroines, you may also like the following authors:
Laini Taylor is known for lush fantasy, lyrical prose, and unforgettable world-building. Her stories often explore longing, identity, and the uneasy space between monsters and heroes.
If you want something atmospheric and emotionally rich, try Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It’s packed with mystery, romance, and strikingly original characters.
Leigh Bardugo builds layered fantasy worlds populated by morally complicated characters who feel instantly real. Her novels combine danger, sharp dialogue, and emotional depth, often with strong themes of loyalty and self-discovery.
Six of Crows is an excellent place to start—a tense, clever fantasy heist about a group of outcasts taking on an impossible mission.
Sarah J. Maas writes sweeping fantasy with fierce heroines, quick pacing, and intense emotional stakes. Her books blend romance, danger, and magical conflict in a way that makes them easy to race through.
Try Throne of Glass if you’re in the mood for an expansive, thrilling story centered on a deadly young woman fighting for freedom and a future of her own.
Sabaa Tahir writes urgent, emotionally charged fantasy that digs into oppression, sacrifice, and impossible choices. Her work has a gripping intensity that keeps the focus firmly on what her characters stand to lose.
An Ember in the Ashes is a strong starting point, set in a brutal empire where two young people become entangled in a dangerous fight for freedom.
Marie Lu specializes in fast-paced, high-concept stories set in vividly imagined worlds. Her novels often tackle identity, loyalty, and political corruption through characters who are easy to root for.
Check out Legend, a gripping dystopian thriller about two teenagers from opposite sides of society who uncover unsettling truths about the world around them.
Amie Kaufman writes adventurous, suspenseful fiction filled with survival, unlikely alliances, and moral complexity. Her stories are especially appealing if you enjoy science fiction that still feels grounded in character.
In These Broken Stars, two survivors crash-land on an unfamiliar planet and must rely on each other to stay alive. If Khoury’s blend of adventure, romance, and strange new settings works for you, Kaufman is well worth picking up next.
Jay Kristoff delivers dark, propulsive stories full of danger, sharp humor, and relentless momentum. His protagonists are often thrown into harsh worlds that demand both grit and intelligence.
In Nevernight, readers meet Mia Corvere, a driven young woman training to become an assassin. Like Khoury, Kristoff has a talent for creating distinctive worlds that keep you fully absorbed.
Roshani Chokshi blends mythology, magic, and lush imagery into stories that feel dreamlike and immersive. Her work often centers on heritage, destiny, and the search for self.
The Star-Touched Queen is a beautiful mix of fantasy and romance inspired by Indian mythology. Readers who love Jessica Khoury’s vivid settings and themes of personal discovery may find a lot to admire here.
Renée Ahdieh writes lush, romantic fantasy with rich atmosphere and strong cultural texture. Her books shine through vivid settings, layered relationships, and plots threaded with intrigue.
In The Wrath & the Dawn, she offers a captivating reimagining of Arabian Nights, weaving romance, suspense, and mystery into an elegant story. If you enjoy Khoury’s thoughtful characters and immersive worlds, Ahdieh is a natural choice.
Victoria Aveyard writes dramatic fantasy driven by power struggles, betrayals, and high emotional stakes. Her stories move quickly while still giving plenty of attention to character and shifting alliances.
In Red Queen, she imagines a society divided by blood, where magic and status determine everything. If the suspense and strong plotting in Jessica Khoury’s books appeal to you, Aveyard is a solid next pick.
Hafsah Faizal combines evocative world-building with emotionally resonant characters and a strong sense of adventure. Her work often explores identity, destiny, and the bonds that form under pressure.
Her standout novel, We Hunt the Flame, follows Zafira, a skilled hunter who disguises herself as a boy and ventures into a cursed forest to help save her people.
Margaret Rogerson writes charming fantasy filled with magic, danger, and memorable character dynamics. Her style is accessible and engaging, often pairing romantic tension with themes of courage, trust, and self-discovery.
You might especially enjoy Sorcery of Thorns, about Elisabeth, a young woman determined to protect magical books from dark forces.
Susan Dennard excels at writing energetic fantasy adventures with friendship at their core. Her books balance action and character growth well, with recurring themes of loyalty, family, and inner strength.
A great place to begin is Truthwitch, the first in a fantasy series about two best friends whose magical gifts place them at the center of dangerous events.
Kendare Blake writes dark, suspenseful fantasy with strong tension and a knack for complicated relationships. Her stories often revolve around ambition, power, and characters forced into impossible rivalries.
Her novel Three Dark Crowns introduces three sisters destined to face one another in a deadly contest for the throne.
Alison Goodman creates immersive historical fantasy featuring determined protagonists and richly developed settings. Her novels explore identity, duty, honor, and the pressures placed on those expected to shape the future.
Readers may especially enjoy Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, in which a teenager disguises herself as a boy to learn dragon magic and help save an empire.
