Are There Books Similar To Starstruck: The Luckless, The Abandoned And Forsaked?

If you loved 'Scavenge the Stars' for its revenge plot and rich, atmospheric world-building, you might dive into 'The Shadows Between Us' by Tricia Levenseller. It’s got that same delicious mix of cunning protagonists and morally gray choices, wrapped up in a lush, fantasy setting. The main character, Alessandra, is just as determined and sharp as Amaya, and the romantic tension is equally addictive. Another gem is 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo. The heist elements and ensemble cast of flawed but fascinating characters will scratch that itch for intricate schemes and high stakes. Plus, the way Bardugo weaves together personal vendettas and larger political games feels very much in the same vein as Tara Sim’s work. For something with a darker, more Gothic twist, 'And I Darken' by Kiersten White offers a brutal, gender-bent take on revenge—think Dracula meets Machiavelli, but with way more dagger-sharp wit.

If you're into the wild, raunchy space opera vibes of 'Star Whores: The Forced Awakening,' you might dig 'The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams. It’s not as explicit, but the absurd humor and cosmic chaos are on point. Another one is 'John Dies at the End' by David Wong—it’s got that same blend of crude humor and mind-bending sci-fi. For something darker but still packed with weirdness, 'Naked Lunch' by William S. Burroughs might scratch that itch. If you want more adult-oriented content, 'Kushiel’s Dart' by Jacqueline Carey mixes erotic themes with high fantasy, though it’s less sci-fi. Or check out 'The Stars Are Legion' by Kameron Hurley—it’s gritty, body-horror-infused space adventure with plenty of unconventional relationships. Honestly, finding exact matches is tough, but these all share that unhinged, boundary-pushing energy.

If you loved 'Ruin of Stars' for its gritty, morally complex assassin protagonist and political intrigue, you might dive into 'Nevernight' by Jay Kristoff. It’s got that same dark, visceral vibe—Mia Corvere’s journey is bloody, personal, and full of razor-sharp wit. The world-building is lush but brutal, like a darker 'Harry Potter' if the Sorting Hat sent kids to assassin school. For something with more queerness woven into the narrative, 'The Unbroken' by C.L. Clark tackles colonialism and rebellion with a sapphic romance at its core. It’s less about lone wolves like Sal and more about collective struggle, but the emotional weight and tactical violence hit similar notes. Also, don’t sleep on 'And I Darken'—Lada Dracul makes Sal look almost polite.

I adored 'Stars Collide' for its blend of emotional depth and sparkling chemistry—it reminded me of those rare romance novels that balance heart and humor so effortlessly. If you loved the Hollywood-meets-personal-growth vibe, you might enjoy 'The Love Interest' by Cale Dietrich. It’s got that same mix of glamour and genuine character arcs, though with a spy twist that keeps things fresh. Another gem is 'Waiting for Tom Hanks' by Kerry Winfrey, which nails the celeb romance trope but with a cozy, small-town feel. Both books share that irresistible tension between public personas and private vulnerabilities. For something with more dramatic stakes, 'Seven Days in June' by Tia Williams has the electric connection and career-driven protagonists, but it delves deeper into past traumas and second chances. The writing crackles with the same energy as 'Stars Collide,' though it’s decidedly more mature in tone. And if you’re craving lighter fare, 'The Ex Talk' by Rachel Lynn Solomon offers banter and workplace rivalry with a podcasting backdrop—perfect for fans of witty, career-centric love stories. Honestly, half the fun is discovering how these books twist familiar tropes into something new.

If you loved 'Sky Without Stars' for its blend of sci-fi and dystopian drama, you might enjoy 'These Broken Stars' by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. It has that same mix of star-crossed romance and high-stakes survival against a sprawling galactic backdrop. The world-building is lush, and the tension between the protagonists feels just as electric. Another deep cut I’d recommend is 'Illuminae' by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman—it’s got the epistolary format, which makes it super immersive, and the political intrigue is next-level. Plus, the AI antagonist is eerily compelling. If you’re into the rebellion themes of 'Sky Without Stars,' maybe try 'Red Rising' by Pierce Brown for its brutal, class-driven warfare and emotional punches.

If you loved 'The Blighted Stars' for its mix of sci-fi intrigue and survivalist tension, you might want to check out 'The Vanished Birds' by Simon Jimenez. It’s got that same melancholic, atmospheric vibe where the universe feels vast and lonely, but the characters are so compelling you can’t look away. The way Jimenez weaves time dilation and personal sacrifice into the narrative reminded me of how 'The Blighted Stars' balances big ideas with emotional depth. Another title that scratched a similar itch for me was 'Dead Silence' by S.A. Barnes. It’s more horror-leaning, but the claustrophobic setting and unraveling mystery hit some of the same notes. Plus, the corporate greed angle feels eerily familiar. If you’re after something with heavier action, maybe 'Gideon the Ninth'—though it’s campier, the necromancy-in-space premise has that same bold originality.

If you loved 'Fated for Starfall' for its blend of cosmic destiny and emotional depth, you're in for a treat with a few other gems that hit similar notes. One that immediately comes to mind is 'The Starless Sea' by Erin Morgenstern. It’s got that same enchanting, almost dreamlike quality where the universe feels like it’s weaving itself around the characters. The prose is lush, and the story layers mythology with personal journeys in a way that reminded me of 'Fated for Starfall'. Another standout is 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. It’s a shorter read, but every sentence packs a punch—epistolary, poetic, and brimming with a love story that feels fated in the most literal sense. The cosmic scale and intimate emotions are perfectly balanced, just like in 'Starfall'. For something with a bit more action but still that grand, destiny-driven narrative, 'Gideon the Ninth' by Tamsyn Muir might scratch the itch. It’s got necromancers in space, which sounds wild (and it is), but at its core, it’s about bonds that feel written in the stars. The humor is sharper, but the emotional undertones are just as resonant. If you’re after another standalone with a quieter, more reflective vibe, 'The Ten Thousand Doors of January' by Alix E. Harrow is fantastic. It explores how doors to other worlds—and the choices we make—shape our destinies, with a lyrical style that’s hard to put down. Honestly, any of these could fill that 'Starfall'-shaped hole while offering something fresh to fall in love with.

If you loved 'The Last Fallen Star' for its blend of Korean mythology and modern adventure, you might dive into 'Dragon Pearl' by Yoon Ha Lee. It's a sci-fi twist on Korean folklore, following a girl who searches for her missing brother in a galaxy filled with shape-shifting spirits. The world-building is just as rich, but with spaceships and interstellar politics! Another gem is 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea' by Axie Oh—a gorgeously written retelling of the Korean folktale 'Shim Cheong,' complete with vengeful spirits and underwater kingdoms. Both books share that magical mix of cultural depth and page-turning stakes, though 'Dragon Pearl' leans more sci-fi while 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea' stays lyrical and mythical. Honestly, I couldn’t put either down!

If you loved 'These Broken Stars' for its blend of sci-fi and romance, you’re in for a treat with similar titles. 'The Loneliest Girl in the Universe' by Lauren James is a fantastic pick—it’s got that same isolated, survival-in-space vibe with a slow-burn emotional core. The protagonist’s loneliness feels palpable, and the twists keep you hooked. Another gem is 'Defy the Stars' by Claudia Gray, which pairs a human heroine with an AI companion in a star-crossed dynamic that’s both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. For something with more political intrigue but still that starry romance, 'Ignite the Stars' by Maura Milan is a wild ride. The fierce female lead and the enemies-to-lovers tension reminded me of Lilac and Tarver’s dynamic. And if you’re craving more survival elements, 'Contagion' by Erin Bowman nails the eerie, stranded-on-a-deadly-planet feel. Honestly, any of these could fill that 'These Broken Stars'-shaped hole with their mix of adventure and feels.

If you loved 'Beautiful Star' by Yukio Mishima for its blend of existential philosophy, cosmic themes, and family drama wrapped in a quietly surreal package, you might find 'The Memory Police' by Yoko Ogawara similarly haunting. Both books explore the fragility of human existence against larger, uncontrollable forces—whether it's extraterrestrial destiny or state-enforced erasure. Ogawara's prose has that same delicate, almost dreamlike quality Mishima employs, though her focus leans more toward loss and memory. Another recommendation would be 'Solaris' by Stanislaw Lem. It’s sci-fi, but the philosophical weight and the way it confronts humanity’s smallness in the universe echo 'Beautiful Star.' Lem’s ocean planet feels as enigmatic as Mishima’s UFO-obsessed family, and both leave you with that lingering, unshakable question: What does it mean to be human? For something more grounded but equally poetic, try Kobo Abe’s 'The Woman in the Dunes.' It’s a claustrophobic, allegorical masterpiece about a man trapped in a sand pit, and like 'Beautiful Star,' it forces characters (and readers) to confront absurdity and purpose. Abe’s writing is more physically oppressive than Mishima’s, but the existential dread is familiar. Lastly, if you’re drawn to Mishima’s stylistic elegance, Yasunari Kawabata’s 'Snow Country' might appeal—less cosmic, but equally concerned with beauty, transience, and the quiet tragedies of ordinary lives. Mishima and Kawabata were contemporaries, and you can feel their shared preoccupation with aesthetics and impermanence, though Kawabata’s touch is gentler.