Unveiling the Best of Dystopia: 10 Must-Read Series and Books for YA Romance and Adventure Lovers

Dystopia is probably, by far one of the most popular genres among young adults/teenagers genres. This is ironic in a way because Dystopia provides the worst worlds and scenarios, but we love them because they also give the absolute best romance and story in general. So below is a list of my absolute, top 10 favourite Dystopian Series/Books.

Table of Contents

Under the Never Sky Series By Veronica Rossi

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she’s never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He’s searching for someone too. He’s also wild – a savage – but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other’s best hope for finding answers.

This was my first dystopian series and by far my favourite. I especially suggest this book to anyone who loves a good hate-love relationship, and a slight Romeo and Juliet plot line. Aria is from the Reverie and Perry is a savage. The Reveries are living within the wall with modern city life and technologies etc, while the savages lived outside of the wall with horrible conditions and are forced to live in ‘tribes’. They are two worlds living under the same sky, and they both despise each other. So when Aria was banished to the outer rim because of her accused murder, she meets Perry, the future leader-of-a-tribe-and-super-hot savage. They first hate each other even though Perry saved her life, with Aria calling him a savage and him calling her a mole, etc. But of course, they fell in love and you get a perfect show of the tribe totally HATING that idea of them being together and nope I’m not going to spoil it anymore, you have to read it. Anyway, I suggest this to all dystopian lovers, so go check it out!

The Selection Series By Keira Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon.

Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagine.

If I get a dollar every time I mentioned this series in my blog I’ll…have ten dollars. But seriously guys if you haven’t checked out this series yet go check it out now! Do not be lazy and just say ‘oh I don’t have time’ or ‘Oh I’ll read it later’. You go and read it So for newcomers who had never read my blog before here is my opinion of this series, and it’s perfect for romance lovers, prince-and-commoner cliche. Oh and there’s competition and royalty too, in a dystopian world. So if any word I had just mentioned catches your eye, go check it out now!

Legend by Marie Lu

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

To all HEA lovers: You will love this book, and then you will burn this book.

Red Queen By Victoria Aveyard

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

For all its flaws, the ‘hierarchy by blood’ is a genius was a pretty cool idea. And it’s done quite well (at least earlier in the series) I’ve seen many authors trying to make ‘original’ worlds in their dystopian worlds, but sometimes, it just doesn’t work out like they wanted it to. Even though the romantic relationship I’m only okay with it, the world-building is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Though the series had a… lacklustre ending to say the very least. Be warned.

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It’s there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she’s never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

This book has a pretty good twist at the end, and its overall plot line is pretty well done. I also have to give a shout-out to the author that the idea of hierarchy by language is very creative. In some ways (some people might not agree with this) it’s similar to Red Queen. Because firstly both ideas are very creative in a good way, and secondly the hierarchy system in the worlds are kind of similar (that is also debatable). So give it a shot, especially if you’re a red queen book lover, and tell me if you agree or not.

The Giver By Lois Lowry

They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now.

Now everything has changed. Now I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

The Giver may not be based romanced like I usually preferred, but it’s perfect in every single other way, so it basically makes up for it. The world-building is perfect, and the characters are extremely well-developed. I mean, there’s a reason many schools choose this book for their required reading book in English classes. Most importantly, so many of the dystopian books I’ve read are based on the plot line of the giver: Matched, Delirium, and many others. So before you deem this book boring and dull, please at least give it a shot!

Ash by Leia Stone and Jaymin Eve

Are you an Ash?

*Increased stamina

*Lack of appetite

*Anger outbursts

*Insatiable thirst

*Beauty & Strength

*Male

Call the hotline if these symptoms come on suddenly!

Turns out Charlie Bennet was all of those things except the last. Don’t let the name fool you, Charlie was all woman and she wanted nothing to do with the ash … until the day she found out she was one.

It all started when infected bats bit a small group of humans and created what are now called vampires. Then, the male vampires knocked up some female humans and the result was a gorgeous race of all male ash. Superhuman freaks that had looks to kill.

Charlie is the first female ash, aka unicorn of the Hive – the gated compound in Portland that the humans have designated to isolate vampires and ash from society.

Problem? The Hive is full and only a select few will be allowed to live there. To live at all, really. If Charlie wants to earn the right to become a citizen of the Hive, she will have to survive the culling – a series of fights to the death. And guess what? Just because she’s a girl doesn’t mean she’ll get special treatment.

Good thing there’s Ryder, the mysterious lead ash enforcer, who seems to always have her back. But when secrets bubble to the surface, it will take more than one guy to save her.

Okay, I have to admit there are many areas this book could improve in, but it is pretty entertaining and relaxing, especially when you just want to read a funny and stupid book. The book has some explicit language, but overall it’s acceptable and pretty entertaining. So go check it out if you want a stupid, funny, and romance with some kick-ass scenes book for a vacation and relaxation.

The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.

Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him…

This is a pretty popular dystopian young adult book, and many people had suggested it. The setting and world-building are very simple, however, the character developments are pretty well written. The author was able to improve and strengthen Ivy’s character without changing many of her original factors, basically just strengthening and improving them. However, I personally don’t believe this is a book you can read a lot of times, so you should just borrow it from a friend or from the library, or simply read it online.

Delirium By Lauren Oliver