IGN Women's Top 20 Female Authors

As Women's History Month unfolds across the U.S., we're turning the spotlight on the brilliant women authors who inspire our IGN team. Last year, we shared our top gaming and entertainment picks – this time, we're diving into books!

When we asked our female colleagues "Who are your favorite women writers?" – no simple question for passionate readers – their responses created a vibrant literary mosaic spanning genres and eras. Join us in celebrating both the women of IGN and their favorite women authors!

Sharon Creech

A master storyteller whose works explore love, loss, and the complexity of human relationships with profound emotional depth. –Marhyan Franzen

Essential reading: Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird

Walk Two Moons

Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech crafts a poignant dual narrative that blends humor and heartbreak, creating an unforgettable meditation on grief and self-discovery.
$9.99 (30% off, now $6.95 at Amazon)

Kelly Sue DeConnick

A trailblazer who reshaped Marvel's comic landscape by reinventing Captain Marvel for Carol Danvers – a legacy that carried into the MCU films where she served as consultant. Beyond superheroes, her creator-owned works like feminist sci-fi series Bitch Planet continue pushing boundaries.

Must-read works: Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman Historia, Pretty Deadly

Captain Marvel Omnibus

The definitive collection of DeConnick's groundbreaking run that propelled Carol Danvers to new heights as Earth's Mightiest Hero.
$125.00 (46% off, now $68.02 at Amazon)

Sarah Rose Etter

Etter's surreal yet startlingly relatable novels speak to readers who crave unconventional storytelling. Her latest, Ripe, offers a razor-sharp critique of Silicon Valley culture through the eyes of a tech worker haunted by existential dread.

Recommended titles: Ripe, The Book of X

Ripe: A Novel

A propulsive literary horror story about ambition and alienation in modern America.
$18.00 (12% off, now $15.81 at Amazon)

N.K. Jemisin

The first author to win three consecutive Hugo Awards for her revolutionary Broken Earth trilogy redefined fantasy storytelling. Her works blend seismic worldbuilding with searing social commentary.

Start with: The Fifth Season (Book 1 of Broken Earth trilogy)

The Broken Earth Trilogy Set

This collector's edition contains Jemisin's complete Hugo-winning masterpiece about survival amid apocalyptic geological upheaval.
$49.99 (45% off, now $27.49 at Amazon)

Sarah J. Maas

The reigning queen of fantasy romance crafts immersive worlds brimming with complex characters and heart-pounding adventures. Her Court of Thorns and Roses series particularly shines with its masterful blend of mythology, romance, and feminist themes.

Signature series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Maas' breakout novel introduces readers to Prythian's dazzling faerie courts through a Beauty-and-the-Beast inspired romance.
$19.00 (42% off, now $10.95 at Amazon)

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A literary chameleon equally at home writing Gothic horror (Mexican Gothic), noir fantasy (Gods of Jade and Shadow), and unconventional romance. Her Mexican-inspired settings offer fresh perspectives rarely seen in speculative fiction.

Diverse selections: Mexican Gothic, Certain Dark Things

Mexican Gothic

A chilling haunted house tale set in 1950s Mexico with feminist undertones.
$17.00 (43% off, now $9.73 at Amazon)

Samantha Shannon

The British wunderkind behind the sprawling Roots of Chaos epic fantasy series delivers intricate worldbuilding and dragon-laden adventures perfect for Game of Thrones fans awaiting Winds of Winter.

Epic beginnings: The Priory of the Orange Tree

The Priory of the Orange Tree

An 800+ page standalone fantasy about warring dragonriders and courtly intrigue.
$10.92 at Amazon

Rebecca Yarros

The Empyrean series' dragonriding academy setting combines brutal military training with swoon-worthy romance – think Hogwarts meets Top Gun with scaly co-pilots.

Current obsession: Fourth Wing (Empyrean Book 1)

Empyrean Series Bundle

Collects Yarros' first three dragonrider novels including latest release Onyx Storm.
$91.29 at Amazon

Looking for more bookish adventures? Check out Humble Bundle's Women's History Month partnership with CARE – 5% of membership purchases support women's empowerment initiatives worldwide.

Humble Heroines Bundle

Features female-led games including Control: Ultimate Edition and Darksiders 3.
See it at Humble Bundle