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Quick answer: If you loved Cinder, read Marissa Meyer's Scarlet, Heartless and Renegades, then Illuminae, Skyward, The Hunger Games and Six of Crows. All are fast young adult adventures with strong heroines, romance and inventive worlds.
Marissa Meyer's 2012 novel retells Cinderella in a futuristic New Beijing, where Cinder is a cyborg mechanic who becomes entangled with a prince and a plague. It is the first of the Lunar Chronicles. The books below offer similar fairy-tale retellings, science fiction and teen romance.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet | Marissa Meyer | Teen | the next book |
| Heartless | Marissa Meyer | 13+ | readers who like villain origin stories |
| Renegades | Marissa Meyer | 13+ | readers who like superheroes |
| Illuminae | Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | 14+ | readers who like unusual formats |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | 13+ | fans of space adventure |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | teens who want action |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Adult | heist crew |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | Grishaverse |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | older teens who like fantasy romance |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | Teen | class and power |
| Legend | Marie Lu | Teen | two-hero stories |
| Warcross | Marie Lu | 13+ | readers who like cyberpunk |
| Uglies | Scott Westerfeld | 12+ | readers who like social critique |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| Ella Enchanted | Gail Carson Levine | Ages 9-13 | fairy-tale heroine |
1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Red Riding Hood meets a street fighter as Cinder escapes. Fast and romantic.
Best for: the next book.
2. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
The Queen of Hearts' backstory in a Wonderland retelling. Sweet and tragic.
Best for: readers who like villain origin stories.
3. Renegades by Marissa Meyer
Nova, a girl with powers, joins the heroes to take them down from the inside. A superhero story with twists.
Best for: readers who like superheroes.
4. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A space colony is attacked, and the story is told through files, chats and logs. Fast and visual.
Best for: readers who like unusual formats.
5. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet from alien attackers, despite her father's shameful past. Humor and action.
Best for: fans of space adventure.
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for her sister in a deadly televised contest. Fast, tense and thoughtful about power and survival.
Best for: teens who want action.
7. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A criminal mastermind assembles a crew for an impossible job. Sharp, witty and layered.
Best for: heist crew.
8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers she can summon light in a world at war. Rich Russian-inspired world.
Best for: Grishaverse.
9. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien, an assassin, is offered freedom if she wins a competition to be the king's champion. Romance, mystery and magic.
Best for: older teens who like fantasy romance.
10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare, a Red-blooded girl, finds she has a power that Silvers fear. Fast and full of betrayals.
Best for: class and power.
11. Legend by Marie Lu
A prodigy soldier hunts a street-wise criminal in a divided Los Angeles. Dual points of view and twists.
Best for: two-hero stories.
12. Warcross by Marie Lu
Emika Chen, a bounty hunter, hacks the world's biggest virtual game. Neon, fast and twisty.
Best for: readers who like cyberpunk.
13. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Tally lives in a world where everyone is made pretty at 16. Fast and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who like social critique.
14. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world without death, teens are trained to kill. Smart and dark.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
15. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
A girl cursed with obedience fights to be free. Funny and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale heroine.
How to Choose
To continue the series read Scarlet, Cress and Winter. For more Meyer choose Heartless or Renegades. For space adventures pick Illuminae, Skyward or Scythe. For fantasy romance read Six of Crows, Shadow and Bone or Throne of Glass. For gentler retellings try Ella Enchanted. Cinder is quick and fun, so these picks suit readers who love fairy tales with a twist. The Lunar Chronicles has four main books, with spin-offs such as Fairest and Stars Above. The series is complete, so you can read it all in order.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cinder about?
A cyborg mechanic in New Beijing is drawn into a royal plot in a Cinderella retelling.
Who wrote it?
Marissa Meyer.
When was it published?
2012.
How many books are in the series?
Four main books, plus related stories.
Is it a retelling?
Yes, of Cinderella.
What age is it for?
Teens, usually 12 and up.
Is there romance?
Yes, a slow-burn one.
What should I read next?
Try Scarlet.
Which book here is best for readers who like unusual formats?
Try Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, which suits readers looking for readers who like unusual formats.
Which book here is best for heist crew?
Try Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, which suits readers looking for heist crew.
Which book here is best for class and power?
Try Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, which suits readers looking for class and power.
Which book here is best for readers who like social critique?
Try Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, which suits readers looking for readers who like social critique.