Laurie Forest is best known for her gripping young adult fantasy novels. Her bestselling series, The Black Witch Chronicles, begins with The Black Witch, drawing readers into a world of magic, political tension, prejudice, and unforgettable characters.
If you enjoy Laurie Forest’s blend of high-stakes fantasy, emotional growth, and layered world-building, these authors are well worth exploring:
Sarah J. Maas writes sweeping fantasy packed with danger, romance, and characters who are easy to become invested in. Her stories often center on formidable young women forced to navigate brutal choices and transformative journeys.
Laurie Forest fans will likely enjoy Maas’s Throne of Glass, a fast-moving and emotionally charged series about a gifted assassin offered a chance at freedom if she can survive a deadly competition in a corrupt kingdom.
Leigh Bardugo creates richly layered fantasy worlds shaped by distinctive cultures, dangerous power struggles, and morally complicated characters. Like Laurie Forest, she digs into themes of identity, power, and what it costs to do the right thing.
Her novel Shadow and Bone follows a young woman who discovers a rare ability that could change the fate of her kingdom, setting off a story filled with magic, intrigue, and looming darkness.
Sabaa Tahir delivers intense, emotionally powerful fantasy that blends danger, romance, and unforgettable heroes and villains. Her books, much like Laurie Forest’s, often focus on oppression, rebellion, and the courage it takes to resist injustice.
In An Ember in the Ashes, Tahir builds a brutal world where a slave and a soldier become entangled in a fight for freedom under a ruthless empire.
Jennifer L. Armentrout writes addictive fantasy that mixes romance, suspense, and vivid magical settings. Her heroines are often bold, emotionally relatable, and pushed into situations that challenge everything they believe.
Readers who enjoy Laurie Forest’s combination of fantasy, self-discovery, and romantic tension should find plenty to like in From Blood and Ash, where a sheltered young woman begins to uncover hidden truths about her world and her own power.
Holly Black is known for dark, stylish fantasy that brings together cruelty, beauty, and political intrigue. Like Laurie Forest, she explores shifting loyalties, morally gray characters, and the consequences of ambition.
Her novel The Cruel Prince follows a mortal girl trying to survive and gain power in the treacherous world of the faerie courts, where romance and betrayal often go hand in hand.
If you love Laurie Forest’s immersive settings, magical conflict, and emotionally driven characters, Cassandra Clare is a natural next pick. Her books offer expansive fantasy worlds, memorable ensembles, and plenty of dramatic twists.
Her series opener, City of Bones, introduces the Shadowhunters, a secretive group of demon-fighting warriors, through a story packed with danger, hidden histories, and tangled relationships.
Susan Dennard combines adventurous pacing with strong character chemistry and layered political tension. Much like Laurie Forest, she balances magical conflict with meaningful friendships and personal stakes.
Her series beginning with Truthwitch offers elemental magic, uneasy alliances, betrayals, and a vibrant fantasy world that quickly pulls readers in.
Readers drawn to Laurie Forest’s themes of prejudice, oppression, and resistance may find Tomi Adeyemi especially compelling. Her work is bold, fast-paced, and emotionally charged.
In her debut Children of Blood and Bone, Adeyemi delivers a powerful story inspired by West African mythology, as young heroes fight tyranny, reclaim stolen magic, and risk everything for justice.
V.E. Schwab is a great fit for readers who enjoy immersive fantasy with morally complex characters and inventive world-building. Her stories often examine identity, power, and the blurry line between heroism and selfishness.
In A Darker Shade of Magic, Schwab introduces parallel versions of London, each with its own relationship to magic, creating a sharp, imaginative setting full of danger and possibility.
Margaret Rogerson writes enchanting fantasy centered on art, magic, and determined heroines. Her stories share Laurie Forest’s interest in capable protagonists, romantic tension, and magical worlds with a sense of wonder and danger.
Her book An Enchantment of Ravens explores faerie lore, creativity, and the complications that arise when mortal and immortal lives become deeply entwined.
Garth Nix builds imaginative fantasy worlds filled with peril, mystery, and resilient characters. His books often balance darkness with hope, highlighting courage, duty, and growth under pressure.
Sabriel, one of his best-known novels, follows a young woman who ventures into dangerous territory while learning to master necromantic magic. Readers who enjoy Laurie Forest’s strong female leads and rich world-building should feel right at home.
Laini Taylor writes lyrical fantasy filled with striking imagery, romance, and imaginative mythologies. Her work often explores love, grief, and the complicated space between enemies and allies.
Her book Daughter of Smoke and Bone introduces Karou, an art student with a mysterious past whose hidden life draws her into an epic and tragic conflict.
Fans of Laurie Forest’s emotional depth and intricate relationships will likely appreciate the same richness in Taylor’s novels.
C. L. Wilson writes lush fantasy romance filled with sweeping emotion, magical beings, and high-stakes conflict. Her stories blend adventure and passion in a way that will appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy with a strong romantic thread.
Lord of the Fading Lands tells the story of two lovers whose bond may either save their people or destroy them. If Laurie Forest’s romantic arcs and magical settings are what keep you reading, Wilson is a strong choice.
Grace Draven is known for immersive fantasy romance featuring layered characters and carefully built worlds. Her books tend to pair emotional maturity with imaginative premises and deeply satisfying character dynamics.
Her novel Radiance centers on a marriage of convenience between two people from very different species, exploring acceptance, alliance, and a love that grows in unexpected ways.
Readers who value the emotional realism and strong relationships in Laurie Forest’s fiction may find Draven especially rewarding.
Jeffe Kennedy writes vivid fantasy romance marked by detailed world-building, imaginative magic, and ambitious heroines. Her protagonists are often determined women trying to claim agency in difficult and dangerous circumstances.
Her novel The Mark of the Tala takes readers into a kingdom shaped by hidden magic, political tension, and intense romance. Like Laurie Forest, Kennedy combines compelling fantasy elements with strong emotional stakes.
