If You’re Ready to Try Sci Fi

Let’s be real, romantasy is everywhere right now. It’s all over TikTok, it’s all my friends are talking about, and it’s probably what’s been topping your TBR. But lately, I’ve been noticing a shift. Readers who first got hooked by ACOTAR or Fourth Wing are starting to feel a little... romantasy’d out. They’re craving something fresh, something just a bit different.

So, why not dip your toes into Sci-Fi?

I get it, Sci-Fi can feel overwhelming. It’s a big genre with a lot of subgenres: space operas, cyberpunk, dystopian futures, time travel tales, military missions—you name it. It’s a galaxy of possibilities (pun intended), and it can be hard to know where to start.

Especially if you’re someone who still wants compelling characters, swoon-worthy romance, and maybe even a little spice.

That’s where I come in. Let me help you find your perfect Sci-Fi gateway book.

You’ve probably heard of Brandon Sanderson, he’s the king of epic fantasy, with over 70 books under his belt. But did you know he’s also written a killer YA sci-fi series? Let me introduce you to Skyward.

Skyward is a four-book YA sci-fi series with three companion novellas woven in. The story is set on the planet Detritus, a world under that has been under near constant siege by alien forces, for, well, for as long as anyone can remember.

At the heart of it is Spensa, a fierce and determined heroine who dreams of becoming a pilot and defending her home. But there’s a catch: her father was branded a deserter, and that stain on his legacy follows her everywhere. To most, she’s just a coward’s daughter, definitely not flight school material.

That all changes when Spensa stumbles upon a mysterious, long-abandoned spacecraft hidden deep in a cave. What she finds inside rewrites everything she thought she knew, about her world, her family, and herself.

This series is the perfect gateway into sci-fi. It’s fast-paced, easy to dive into, has a subtle enemies-to-lovers arc, and features the kind of strong female lead fans of romantasy will absolutely love.

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, chances are you’ve heard of the Red Rising series. Even Brandon Sanderson has sung its praises on his own page, and that’s saying something.

I think this series is this generation’s Hunger Games. Red Rising follows Darrow, a “Red”—a member of the lowest caste in a rigid, color-coded society. He believes he's helping terraform Mars for future generations, but soon learns a brutal truth: the surface is already inhabited by the elite, living in luxury while Reds like him are kept in the dark—literally and figuratively—as slaves.

Fueled by rage and purpose, Darrow infiltrates the upper class to spark a revolution from within.

This series is a fast-paced, heart-pounding thrill ride packed with brutal twists, high-stakes strategy, and deadly games. Once you start, it won’t let you go.

While Red Rising and Skyward will keep you busy for a while, I have to mention one of my all-time favorite sci-fi series: The Expanse. It’s a bit more advanced in terms of worldbuilding and politics, but totally worth the dive.

The story follows Holden, an idealistic Earther who finds himself at the center of an interplanetary conflict between Earth, Mars, and the Belt. As tensions rise between the factions, a mysterious alien threat emerges—one that could change everything.

It’s smart, intense, and deeply human, with just the right balance of politics, action, and existential dread. If you're ready to level up your sci-fi game, The Expanse is the way to go.

And finally, one last honorable mention: Infinity Gate. This book has everything you could want in a great sci-fi read, and honestly, in any book. There's high-concept science, a twist on time travel (kind of), and yes, even a bit of spice for those who like their sci-fi with a little heat.