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 Skyward, read Starsight, Ender's Game, Red Rising and Scythe. All follow young heroes who fight to prove themselves in dangerous worlds with fast, thrilling action.
Brandon Sanderson's Skyward follows Spensa, a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot to defend her planet and clear her family's name. It is fast, funny and full of aerial combat, with a satisfying mystery at its centre. The books below share its space combat, underdog hero and big ideas.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starsight | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | the sequel |
| Cytonic | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | the third book |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Teen | military science fiction |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | brutal dystopia |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| Legend | Marie Lu | Teen | dystopian chase |
| These Broken Stars | Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner | Teen | stranded survival |
| Across the Universe | Beth Revis | Teen | spaceship mystery |
| Defy the Stars | Claudia Gray | Teen | human and machine |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | Teen | fairy-tale science fiction |
| Uglies | Scott Westerfeld | Teen | rebellious teens |
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | Adult | gaming adventure |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | epic fantasy |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | Teen | survival |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | epic science fiction |
1. Starsight by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa goes undercover among the enemy. The second Skyward book expands the world.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson
Spensa travels to the Nowhere and learns more about her powers. Another strong entry in the series.
Best for: the third book.
3. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Young Ender Wiggin is trained to fight an alien enemy. Classic, tense and thoughtful.
Best for: military science fiction.
4. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow, a miner on Mars, joins the elite to topple them. Violent, fast and full of twists.
Best for: brutal dystopia.
5. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world without death, teens are trained to kill. Smart, dark and original.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
6. Legend by Marie Lu
A prodigy soldier and a wanted criminal meet in a divided Los Angeles. Fast and emotional.
Best for: dystopian chase.
7. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Two teens survive a spaceship crash and trek across a mysterious planet. Romantic and atmospheric.
Best for: stranded survival.
8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
A girl wakes from cryosleep on a generation ship and finds a murder. Gripping and eerie.
Best for: spaceship mystery.
9. Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
A soldier and a robot team up to save their planet. Emotional and action-packed.
Best for: human and machine.
10. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A cyborg mechanic is drawn into a royal plot. Fast, romantic and inventive.
Best for: fairy-tale science fiction.
11. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
A girl who is about to be made pretty discovers the truth about her society. Smart and fast-paced.
Best for: rebellious teens.
12. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A teenager searches a virtual world for hidden treasure. Packed with pop culture and puzzles.
Best for: gaming adventure.
13. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a crew to topple an immortal ruler. Tight plot and an original magic system.
Best for: epic fantasy.
14. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a deadly televised contest. The classic young-adult dystopia.
Best for: survival.
15. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes control of a desert planet. Dense, influential and thrilling.
Best for: epic science fiction.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Skyward: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Skyward continue with Starsight and Cytonic. For military science fiction choose Ender's Game or Defy the Stars. For brutal, high-stakes dystopia read Red Rising or The Hunger Games. For romantic space adventure try These Broken Stars. For adult epic fantasy by the same author pick Mistborn. If you read on audio, the Skyward books have strong narration. Younger teens may want to begin with The Hunger Games, Legend or Cinder, which have a similar pace but fewer complex ideas. Adult readers can head straight to Red Rising, Mistborn or Dune. If you enjoyed the humour in Skyward, M-Bot is the character to remember, and robots and sidekicks appear in Defy the Stars as well. Many of these also exist as audiobooks, which suit long journeys.
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 Skyward about?
A girl named Spensa trains to become a pilot to defend her planet from alien attackers.
Who wrote it?
Brandon Sanderson.
When was it published?
2018.
What age is it for?
Teens and adults, usually ages 12 and up.
How many books are in the series?
Check current listings for the latest count.
Is it connected to Sanderson's other books?
Yes, through the shared universe known as the Cosmere.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The pace is quick and the action is clear.
What should I read next?
Starsight, then try Ender's Game.
Who is M-Bot?
A damaged AI ship that Spensa finds and befriends, and one of the funniest characters in the book.
Is it for adults too?
Yes. Many adults enjoy it for the quick pace and tight plotting.
Is Skyward good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The short chapters and strong humour keep the pace quick.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes, and the series is well narrated.