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Quick answer: If you loved Tamora Pierce, read Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Fire, then Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass, then J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, and Christopher Paolini's Eragon and Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns. All are fantasy adventures with brave heroines.
Tamora Pierce writes fantasy for young readers, including the Song of the Lioness quartet. These picks share her strong heroines.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graceling | Kristin Cashore | 13+ | readers who like independent heroines |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | older teens who like fantasy romance |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | 9-14 | a classic dragon story |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | 12+ | older readers ready for long epics |
| The Girl of Fire and Thorns | Rae Carson | Teen | coming-of-age fantasy |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | 13+ | fans of a girl chosen for a destiny |
| The Ruins of Gorlan | John Flanagan | Teen/Adult | the first book |
| Dragon Slippers | Jessica Day George | 10-14 | readers who like clever girls and fairy tales |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | 14+ | readers who like court intrigue |
| Fire | Kristin Cashore | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | 14+ | older teens who like high-stakes fantasy |
| Truthwitch | Susan Dennard | Teen | friend-focused fantasy |
| Dragon Rider | Cornelia Funke | 8-12 | readers who love a quest |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | 12+ | fairy-tale and sci-fi fans |
| The Wolves of Willoughby Chase | Joan Aiken | 9-12 | readers who like adventure |
1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa is born with a Grace that makes her a deadly fighter, and she works for her king until she meets a prince who changes her view. Strong heroine, quiet romance.
Best for: readers who like independent heroines.
2. 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.
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable hole to join thirteen dwarves and the wizard Gandalf in reclaiming treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug. The original dragon quest and a good read-aloud.
Best for: a classic dragon story.
4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
A farm boy finds a blue stone that hatches into the dragon Saphira and becomes a Dragon Rider in a war-torn land. It is longer and more serious, with a strong human-dragon bond.
Best for: older readers ready for long epics.
5. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
A princess with a hidden power marries a king. Gritty and coming-of-age.
Best for: coming-of-age fantasy.
6. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina Starkov discovers a power that could free her war-torn land from the Fold, a belt of darkness. The Russian-inspired setting and the Grisha magic system give it a fresh feel.
Best for: fans of a girl chosen for a destiny.
7. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
The first Ranger's Apprentice book. Will trains as a Ranger and faces dark forces. Start here if you are new.
Best for: the first book.
8. Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Creel, a poor seamstress, is sent to be a dragon's prize and ends up wearing magical slippers that change her fate. Clever heroine, fairy-tale feel and dragons with personality.
Best for: readers who like clever girls and fairy tales.
9. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare, a Red girl with a Silver power, is forced into a deadly court. Fast and twisty.
Best for: readers who like court intrigue.
10. Fire by Kristin Cashore
A woman with powers of mind control in a kingdom of colorful monsters is feared and desired. A companion to Graceling.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
11. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier, face a brutal empire modeled on ancient Rome. Dark and intense, with two points of view.
Best for: older teens who like high-stakes fantasy.
12. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Two friends with magical gifts flee a political plot. Fast, with banter and a strong friendship.
Best for: friend-focused fantasy.
13. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
Firedrake the silver dragon, a brownie and a boy named Ben travel to find the legendary Rim of Heaven, a safe home for the last dragons. Funke builds a vivid world with real stakes.
Best for: readers who love a quest.
14. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, is drawn into a royal plot in a futuristic Cinderella story. Quick and inventive, with sequels.
Best for: fairy-tale and sci-fi fans.
15. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Two cousins face a cruel governess and wolves in an alternate Victorian England. Classic adventure.
Best for: readers who like adventure.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Tamora Pierce: 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.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Tamora Pierce. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For similar heroines, read Graceling or Throne of Glass. For classic fantasy, try The Hobbit. For adventures, pick Eragon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tamora Pierce?
An American fantasy author.
What is her best-known series?
Song of the Lioness.
Where do I start?
With Alanna: The First Adventure.