Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you loved Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, try Powerless by Lauren Roberts, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.
Red Queen is set in a kingdom where people with silver blood have powers and those with red blood serve them. Mare Barrow, a Red thief, discovers she has a power of her own and is forced into the royal court as a fake princess. With two princes, a rebellion and a famous line, anyone can betray anyone, it became a YA hit. The picks below share its divided worlds, hidden powers, palace schemes and love triangles. Most are YA and suit teens 13 and up.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Red Queen
Readers love Red Queen because nobody can be trusted. Victoria Aveyard puts Mare in a court full of masks, where every smile might hide a knife, and the twist at the end of the first book is still discussed. The blood-based class system is simple but powerful, and Mare’s lightning power is exciting to read. The tension between Cal and Maven, two very different princes, keeps romance fans hooked through the series.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Red Queen: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerless | Lauren Roberts | YA romantasy | Powers and a forbidden prince |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | YA fantasy | A rare power and a dark court |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | YA fantasy | Rebels and soldiers |
| The Selection | Kiera Cass | YA dystopia | Palace romance |
| Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi | YA fantasy | Magic and oppression |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | YA fantasy | A dangerous heroine |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | YA fantasy | Scheming royals |
| Glass Sword | Victoria Aveyard | YA fantasy | Continuing the series |
| Graceling | Kristin Cashore | YA fantasy | Gifted heroines |
| The Wrath and the Dawn | Renée Ahdieh | YA fantasy | Royal romance |
| Legend | Marie Lu | YA dystopia | Opposite sides |
| A Reaper at the Gates | Sabaa Tahir | YA fantasy | Continuing Ember |
| Furyborn | Claire Legrand | YA fantasy | Two queens and prophecy |
| The Hazel Wood | Melissa Albert | YA fantasy | Dark fairy tales |
| The Girl of Fire and Thorns | Rae Carson | YA fantasy | Unlikely heroines |
1. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
In a kingdom where the powerless are hunted, Paedyn fakes having abilities and is thrown into deadly trials beside the prince. It’s often called the next Red Queen.
2. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers she can summon light and is taken to the palace of the mysterious Darkling. Its court intrigue and twist echo Red Queen.
3. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A slave spying for the rebels and an elite soldier meet in a brutal empire inspired by ancient Rome. It’s intense and romantic.
4. The Selection by Kiera Cass
America competes for a prince’s heart in a caste-based kingdom while rebels attack the palace. It’s lighter and swoony.
5. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie fights to bring magic back to a land where her people have been oppressed. It’s inspired by West African mythology.
6. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes to become the king’s champion while rivals die around her. The series grows darker and bigger.
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, a human raised in Faerie, plots her way into power. It’s full of betrayal, like Red Queen at its best.
8. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
If you haven’t read the sequel, Mare goes on the run and recruits others like her. It sets up the rest of the series.
9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa is born with a gift for killing and serves her cruel uncle until she meets a mysterious prince. It’s a YA classic.
10. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
Shahrzad volunteers to marry a murderous caliph to avenge her friend. It’s a lush retelling of A Thousand and One Nights.
11. Legend by Marie Lu
A rebel and a soldier uncover their republic’s lies. It shares Red Queen’s class divide and twisty politics.
12. A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
The third Ember in the Ashes book raises the stakes and adds more magic. Start the series from the beginning.
13. Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Two women, a thousand years apart, are linked by a prophecy. It has big powers and epic battles.
14. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Alice’s grandmother wrote dark fairy tales, and now they’re coming true. It’s atmospheric and twisty.
15. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
A princess with a magical gem in her navel is married off and pulled into war. Elisa grows from a shy girl into a leader.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Red Queen
- Want the closest match? Powerless and Shadow and Bone.
- Want rebels? An Ember in the Ashes and Children of Blood and Bone.
- Want palace romance? The Selection and The Wrath and the Dawn.
- Loved the betrayals? The Cruel Prince.
- Want a strong heroine? Throne of Glass and Graceling.
- Finish the series first. Many readers think King’s Cage is the best book.
Red Queen Reading Order
The main series is Red Queen, Glass Sword, King’s Cage and War Storm. Cruel Crown collects two prequel novellas, and Broken Throne adds short stories and extras set after the series. Aveyard’s later Realm Breaker series is a separate epic fantasy for readers who want more of her writing.
Related: what age Red Queen is appropriate for and books like Divergent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Red Queen?
Powerless by Lauren Roberts is the closest match, followed by Shadow and Bone and An Ember in the Ashes.
Is Red Queen appropriate for 12-year-olds?
It has violence and some romance but nothing explicit. It’s usually recommended for 13 and up.
How many Red Queen books are there?
Four main novels plus Cruel Crown and Broken Throne.