Looking for good books to read? Like many readers, my to-be-read list may be long, but I always love adding books to it anyway! To help with that, I put together a list of must read dystopian fantasy books for you to enjoy.
1. The Selection – Kiera Cass
She’s happy with her simple life, but the prince seems to have different plans. When she’s taken to the castle to compete with thirty-five girls for the prince’s heart, she sees it as a problem. Everything changes when she meets the charming prince. Now she’s not sure where her heart truly belongs.
Buy The Selection here
2. Shatter Me – Tahereh Mafi
Her touch can kill. After her frightened parents sent her to an institution to die, only destiny can give her a new chance. She never expects that chance to come in the form of a boy she used to know. But now they have an even bigger enemy to escape.
Buy Shatter Me here
3. Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard
She may be a lowly member of society, but when the king tells her to pretend to be a member of aristocracy, she doesn’t have much of a choice. Mare Barrow’s life is forever changed when she realizes she has fantastical powers that shouldn’t come from someone with her blood.
Buy Red Queen here
4. An Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir
Laia is a slave and Elias is a soldier. When their worlds collide, they can’t decide whose side they’re really on. At every moment, their lives are on the line.
Buy An Ember in the Ashes here
5.The Testing – Joelle Charbonneau
Sixteen-year-old graduate Malencia Vale desperately hopes that she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a government program that selects the brightest new graduates to become leaders of the post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father warns her to trust no one as she heads off to Tosu City. Far away from friends and family, danger, romance, and terror await her.
Buy The Testing here
6. Truth Seer – Kay L Moody
In the year 2121, Imara is a human lie detector, both dangerous and valuable. When her sister is taken hostage into the depths of Egyptian catacombs, Imara leads a rescue mission to find her and the other hostages.
Buy Truth Seer here
7. Angelfall – Susan Ee
Angels of the apocalypse have descended to demolish the world. When they fly away with a helpless little girl, her sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. In the process, she ends up making a deal with an injured enemy angel named Raffe. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco. There, Penryn will risk everything to rescue her sister and Raffe will fight for the chance to be made whole again.
Buy Angelfall here
8. The Darkest Minds – Alexandra Bracken
At ten years old, Ruby was sent to Thurmond, a government “rehabilitation camp”. As one of the few children to have survived a mysterious disease, she and the others emerged with frightening abilities that they could not control. Now, at sixteen, Ruby is incredibly dangerous. When the truth of her abilities comes out, she barely escapes with her life. On the run, she joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. As they journey to find the one safe haven left for them, they must escape their determined pursuers who will stop at nothing to capture Ruby.
Buy The Darkest Minds here
9. Scythe – Neal Shusterman
Humanity has conquered hunger, disease, war, and death. Due to the need to keep the population under control, Scythes are the only ones who can end life. Rowan and Citra are unwillingly apprenticed to a Scythe. If they fail or back out, they will lose their lives.
Buy Scythe here
10. Legend – Marie Lu
The United States is now the Republic and is constantly at war. June is a talented fifteen-year-old, groomed for success in the highest military circles of the Republic. In the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is a wanted criminal whose motives are not as malicious as they seem. In a shocking turn of events, June and Day meet each other and uncover truths that their country will go to great lengths to keep secret.
Buy Legend here
Bonus Dystopian Fantasy Books
The Amber Project – J.N. Chaney
Continuing our list of dystopian fantasy books, we highly recommend The Amber Project. In 2157, a gas called Variant spreads across earth, killing and mutating most organic life. Consequently, the humans who survive take refuge in an underground city, hoping to discover a way that they can return home again. After years of failed attempts, hope is found in genetically engineered children that are both Variant and human. As one of those children, Terry is modified and trained to endure the harsh conditions of the planet. However, reality is far different and much stranger than anything he had imagined – and what he will become is even more dangerous.
Buy The Amber Project here
The Maze Runner – James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up, all he can remember is his name. He is surrounded by strangers – boys who have also lost their memories. Outside the stone walls is an ever-changing, limitless maze. It is the only way out. Unfortunately, no one has ever made it through alive. Then a girl arrives with a terrifying message: Remember. Survive. Run.
Buy The Maze Runner here
The 5th Wave – Rick Yancey
After the 1st wave, darkness remains. Once the 2nd passes, only the lucky are able to escape. After the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. And after the 4th wave, one rule applies: trust no one.
At the dawn of the 5th wave, Cassie runs from Them. Beings who look human and roam the countryside killing everyone they see. Cassie believes that staying alone will keep her alive, until she meets Evan Walker. He may be her only hope for rescuing her brother and saving herself.
Buy The 5th Wave here.
The Seclusion – Jacqui Castle
It’s the year 2090, and America has walled itself off from the rest of the world. While on an assignment, Patch and her best friend, Rexx, discover dangerous items – books that were printed before the Seclusion. The texts spark a thirst for truth that eventually leads to the arrest of Patch’s father. Patch and Rexx manage to evade arrest, and set out across the United States. As they travel, they learn how their country came to be the way it is, but this dangerous knowledge could lead to their own demise.
Buy The Seclusion here.
The Elements of the Crown – Kay L Moody
This book is more epic fantasy than dystopian, but it definitely has dystopian vibes. In this series, the empire of Kamdaria is divided into three rings. The outer ring is where the lowliest citizens live. It’s dangerous, desperate, and full of sorrow.
The middle ring is where the middle-class citizens live. They have enough to survive, but not much else. The inner ring is where the richest citizens live, including the emperor. Most of them are unaware of how desperate the rest of the empire is. Talise is from the frightening outer ring. She has one chance to escape it, and it depends on her ability to manipulate the elements.
Buy The Elements of the Crown here.
That concludes my list of dystopian fantasy books! Let me know which books you are reading or plan to read!
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