5 Female Sci-Fi & Fantasy Authors Whose Books You Should Read ASAP

Mary Shelley kicked off the science fiction genre with Frankenstein, and since then, women have been at the forefront of developing the genre, along with fantasy. As an aspiring novelist and sci-fi writer, I read all the time and have discovered numerous women writers who are breaking boundaries and contributing to the genre’s evolution. Here are five women writing groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy novels you should add to your reading list.

1. V.E. Schwab

At thirty-one years old, V.E. Schwab has become a frontrunner of this generation of. With more than a dozen books published, she’s a New York Times bestseller. When I picked up my first Schwab book—A Darker Shade of Magic, the first in a trilogy—I had no clue what I was getting into. I was instantly hooked from the first line. After speeding through the three books, I tried reading another author, but found myself stuck in her world. The next step? Reading her other books. I found that every story she writes has the same sharp skill and masterful style. She changes genres and age ranges, writing middle grade, young adult, and adult. Her most recent novel, Vengeful, is a sequel to her 2013 book, Vicious, and draws inspiration from classic hero and villain rivalries. Part of the reason I love Schwab is her honesty. She’s open about her struggles with anxiety and depression, showing us that even the most successful people deal with ordinary struggles.

2. Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater is my favorite author across any genre, and the only writer to leave me speechless (literally—when I met her in 2016, I forgot everything I wanted to say to her as she signed my book). With a variety of hobbies that include horse racing, cars, metalworking and ancient history, she includes her interests in every novel. Her work is often set in our world, but adds magic and oddities that sets her in the fantasy genre. The first series I read by her was The Raven Cycle, four books about forbidden love and quests for dead kings, and it inspired me to write again. Her most recent work, All the Crooked Saints, is an allegorical and magical representation of her experiences with OCD and how she ultimately overcame it. Like most Stiefvater novels, it’s odd, full of quirky yet believable characters, and heart-wrenching. More than anything, reading Stiefvater is an exercise in trust: no matter how hard I try, I can’t give a full summary of any of her works. This is rewarded, though, because the readers end up feeling trusted with an important story.

3. Marie Lu

As someone who loves series, Marie Lu is one of my go-to writers, as she’s flexible and consistent. Going in, you know you’re going to get a quality story, but her writing is never boring. Her novels are screen-ready, with powerful female characters and interesting plots. Her second trilogy, The Young Elites, appeals to readers who love magic, complicated family relationships and morally gray heroines. Those who prefer science fiction should look to her newest duology, which includes Warcross and Wildcard. The protagonist, hacker and orphan Emika Chen, is thrust into the world of high-stakes professional gaming when she agrees to be a spy in a worldwide tournament for a virtual reality game. Lu took inspiration from her time working as an artist for Disney in the video game industry, and her passion for it comes through on the page. Did I mention she owns dogs who make cameos in the book?

4. Leigh Bardugo

There are two books I’ve ever read in one sitting: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, which was a hefty 546 pages. It was that good. Since her 2012 debut, Bardugo has built a universe in which all her novels are set. Her duology, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, has redefined the young adult fantasy genre since its 2015 publication, bringing the ensemble cast and heist plot into the spotlight. Six of Crows is the perfect place to start with Bardugo’s work, especially for fans of action and loveable criminals. The protagonist, Kaz Brekker, is brilliantly immoral, but you can’t help but root for him. Personally, my favorite character within the universe Nina Zenik, a fat girl who was never ostracized for her weight, but was instead allowed to be an unapologetically powerful magician. As someone who has struggled with body image issues, seeing her in action in the duology made me beyond happy.

5. Tomi Adeyem

In third grade, I’d sneak books into my desk and read when I wasn’t supposed to. Twenty-three-year-old Tomi Adeyemi’s fantasy debut, Children of Blood and Bone, made me feel like a third grader again. With only fifty pages left, I had to go to class, so I brought it with me to finish during lecture. I literally couldn’t put it down. Set in a West African-inspired world, Adeyemi’s novel grapples with issues many African-Americans face today, but in a fantasy setting. To me, it’s the perfect novel, and the world agrees. After a reported seven-figure deal for publishing and film rights, COBAB has spent 45 weeks on The New York Times’ bestseller list and was the inaugural pick of Jimmy Fallon’s book club. It’s also a major success for the #OwnVoices movement in publishing, which encourages writers from marginalized groups to tell stories from their unique perspectives. Adeyemi’s parents emigrated from Nigeria, and she is a first-generation American. The sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, comes out June 4.  Of course, there are more talented women out there writing science fiction and fantasy.

Following authors on social media is a good way to find more to read. A great resource to find more authors to read is Goodreads, where you can interact with other readers and view books similar to those you like.

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