Kiersten White

Kiersten White is an American author known for writing across multiple genres including fantasy, historical fiction, paranormal, and horror. Since her debut in 2009, she has established herself as a versatile writer crafting stories for middle grade, young adult, and adult audiences. Her debut novel "Paranormalcy" reached #7 on the New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Chapter Books and earned the Young Adult book award from the Utah Book Awards in 2011. White's work has continued to gain recognition, with "The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein" winning the 2018 Bram Stoker Award in the Young Adult category. Born in Utah in 1983, White graduated from Brigham Young University with an English degree in 2004. She currently resides in San Diego, California, where she continues to produce works spanning various age groups and genres. The author has demonstrated particular success in reimagining classic stories and historical figures through a contemporary lens. Her ability to blend genres and create complex narratives has established her as a significant voice in contemporary young adult literature.

Reader reviews highlight White's skill at reimagining familiar stories with fresh perspectives. Her writing style receives frequent mentions for being fast-paced and engaging. What readers liked: - Character development, particularly complex female protagonists - Creative plot twists on classic tales - Dark, gothic atmosphere in works like "The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein" - Accessibility of writing style for teen readers What readers disliked: - Pacing issues in some books, particularly series endings - Romance subplots sometimes feel forced - Some readers find the writing style too simple - Historical accuracy concerns in period pieces Ratings across platforms: Goodreads averages: - And I Darken: 3.9/5 (47,000+ ratings) - Paranormalcy: 3.8/5 (76,000+ ratings) - The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein: 4.0/5 (21,000+ ratings) Amazon averages typically range from 4.0-4.4 stars. Common reader quote: "White excels at taking familiar stories and making them feel completely new without losing what made the originals special."

Paranormalcy - A teenage girl who works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency discovers a conspiracy that threatens both human and paranormal worlds.

Mind Games - Two sisters with extraordinary abilities navigate a dangerous world of manipulation at a school that trains young women to be weapons.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein - A reimagining of Frankenstein told from Elizabeth's perspective as she fights to survive in Victor Frankenstein's dangerous world.

And I Darken - A gender-bent historical retelling follows a female version of Vlad the Impaler in the Ottoman Empire.

Slayer - Set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe, a teen discovers she's the last Slayer after magic has been cut off from Earth.

Hide - Fourteen contestants enter a deadly hide-and-seek competition at an abandoned amusement park with a dark history.

Camelot Rising trilogy - A reimagining of Arthurian legend focusing on Guinevere as she arrives in Camelot posing as a future queen but secretly serving as a protective witch.

Sinister Summer - A middle-grade novel about siblings who spend their summer with an aunt at a suspiciously cheerful beach town.

The Excalibur Curse - The conclusion to the Camelot Rising trilogy follows Guinevere as she makes final choices about magic, power, and love.

Wretched Waterpark - Three siblings face supernatural challenges at a mysterious water park during their summer vacation.

Leigh Bardugo writes fantasy with similar dark undertones and complex world-building across YA and adult categories. She excels at reimagining familiar elements through fresh perspectives, as seen in her Grishaverse series and Ninth House.

Holly Black crafts dark fantasy narratives that blend contemporary settings with dangerous magical elements. Her work focuses on morally complex characters and explores similar themes of power and identity that appear in White's books.

Marie Lu combines historical elements with fantasy while maintaining fast-paced plotting across multiple age categories. She creates strong character dynamics and explores themes of power and destiny in ways that mirror White's approach.

Nova Ren Suma writes stories that blend horror and supernatural elements with psychological depth. Her narrative style focuses on unreliable narrators and dark themes that would appeal to readers of White's more gothic works.

Katherine Arden incorporates historical settings with supernatural elements and feminist themes. Her work reimagines folklore and historical periods in ways similar to White's approach to retelling classic stories.