📖 Overview
Alexa Donne is a young adult science fiction and contemporary author known for reimagining classic literature in futuristic settings. Her debut novel "Brightly Burning" (2018) is a space-based retelling of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
Beyond her published works, Donne has established herself as an authority on writing craft and the publishing industry through her YouTube channel and online presence. She regularly produces educational content about the traditional publishing process, writing techniques, and the realities of author life.
Her other novels include "The Stars We Steal" (2020), a science fiction adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, and "I Killed Zoe Spanos" (2020), a contemporary murder mystery inspired by Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. Donne's more recent work includes "Pretty Dead Queens" (2022), a contemporary young adult thriller.
Prior to becoming a published author, Donne worked in entertainment marketing and publicity in Los Angeles, experience she draws upon in her industry-focused educational content. She continues to work in tech marketing while pursuing her writing career.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Donne's fresh takes on classic literature, particularly her sci-fi reteltellings. Many reviews highlight her world-building in "Brightly Burning" and "The Stars We Steal," with several readers noting how the space settings enhance rather than overshadow the original stories.
Readers praise:
- Clear, accessible writing style
- Complex female protagonists
- Plot pacing in mystery novels
- Integration of social commentary without being heavy-handed
Common criticisms:
- Some find the romance plots predictable
- Characters occasionally read as younger than their stated age
- Plot twists in mysteries described as "telegraphed too early"
Average ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- Brightly Burning: 3.8/5 (9,000+ ratings)
- The Stars We Steal: 3.7/5 (3,000+ ratings)
- I Killed Zoe Spanos: 3.9/5 (4,000+ ratings)
- Pretty Dead Queens: 3.8/5 (2,000+ ratings)
Amazon ratings average 4.3/5 across all titles, with "I Killed Zoe Spanos" receiving the highest average at 4.5/5.
📚 Books by Alexa Donne
Brightly Burning (2018)
A sci-fi retelling of Jane Eyre set aboard a spaceship, following a young teacher who accepts a position tutoring the mysterious captain's ward.
The Stars We Steal (2020) A space-based reimagining of Jane Austen's Persuasion where a princess must find a wealthy suitor aboard a luxury space vessel to save her family from bankruptcy.
I Killed Zoe Spanos (2020) A contemporary murder mystery about a teenage nanny who confesses to killing a local girl despite having no memory of the crime, drawing inspiration from Rebecca.
Pretty Dead Queens (2022) A young adult thriller about a teen who investigates her small town's history of murdered homecoming queens while living with her sheriff grandmother.
The Ivies (2021) A thriller set at an elite prep school where five girls will do anything to get into Ivy League colleges, including murder.
The Stars We Steal (2020) A space-based reimagining of Jane Austen's Persuasion where a princess must find a wealthy suitor aboard a luxury space vessel to save her family from bankruptcy.
I Killed Zoe Spanos (2020) A contemporary murder mystery about a teenage nanny who confesses to killing a local girl despite having no memory of the crime, drawing inspiration from Rebecca.
Pretty Dead Queens (2022) A young adult thriller about a teen who investigates her small town's history of murdered homecoming queens while living with her sheriff grandmother.
The Ivies (2021) A thriller set at an elite prep school where five girls will do anything to get into Ivy League colleges, including murder.
👥 Similar authors
Beth Revis creates science fiction young adult novels set in space, including the Across the Universe series featuring a generation ship. She combines romance and mystery elements with sci-fi worldbuilding in ways that mirror Donne's approach to genre fusion.
Tess Sharpe writes young adult thrillers and mysteries with complex female protagonists investigating deaths in small towns. Her narrative style in works like "Far From You" shares similar DNA with Donne's contemporary mysteries.
Marissa Meyer specializes in science fiction retellings of classic stories, particularly with her Lunar Chronicles series. Her work demonstrates the same interest in reimagining classical literature through a sci-fi lens that Donne exhibits.
Diana Peterfreund wrote "For Darkness Shows the Stars," a post-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Her approach to adapting classic literature into speculative fiction settings mirrors Donne's methodology.
Karen M. McManus writes contemporary young adult mysteries featuring murder investigations and complex relationships. Her plotting style and focus on teenage protagonists solving crimes aligns with Donne's thriller works like "Pretty Dead Queens."
Tess Sharpe writes young adult thrillers and mysteries with complex female protagonists investigating deaths in small towns. Her narrative style in works like "Far From You" shares similar DNA with Donne's contemporary mysteries.
Marissa Meyer specializes in science fiction retellings of classic stories, particularly with her Lunar Chronicles series. Her work demonstrates the same interest in reimagining classical literature through a sci-fi lens that Donne exhibits.
Diana Peterfreund wrote "For Darkness Shows the Stars," a post-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Her approach to adapting classic literature into speculative fiction settings mirrors Donne's methodology.
Karen M. McManus writes contemporary young adult mysteries featuring murder investigations and complex relationships. Her plotting style and focus on teenage protagonists solving crimes aligns with Donne's thriller works like "Pretty Dead Queens."