Hunger Games Holidays: Dystopian books to buy for 'The Hunger Games' fans

What do you get the Hunger Games fan who doesn't know what to read next? Why not introduce them to some new dystopian fiction! Dystopia has been around in fiction for a long time, but it's been experiencing a renaissance of sorts lately -- thanks, in part at least, to the success of The Hunger Games.

Here's a look at some of the best in recent dystopian YA releases that might appeal to fans of The Hunger Games. Consider these as holiday gifts, or add them to your own holiday wishlist!

View slideshow: Books for fans of 'The Hunger Games'

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Sure, the paperback version featuring my blurb from a guest blog on Hollywood Crush comes out in January. But why wait, when you can snap up the gorgeous hardback cover of the book I said might actually be better than The Hunger Games itself. Saba, the heroine of this series, will give Katniss a run for her money on the badass-ness scale -- and the book is chock full of plenty of pulse-pounding action. And with two more books on the way, this will certainly give fans something to chew over for the next couple of years.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Another one of 2011's best debuts, Divergent is another dystopian with a kick-ass heroine and plenty of action. But Roth has certainly created something new and unique in her series, which lives up to the hype it's been getting this year. It's also the first of a trilogy, with book two set for release in Spring 2012 -- and Summit Entertainment has already started early work on a potential film adaptation. (Be sure to check out the Divergent Examiner to stay up to date on all things related to this series!)

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Though not strictly dystopian (this book is more of a unique blend of dystopian, fantasy, and fairy tale), The Pledge certainly has all the earmarks that fans of The Hunger Games will enjoy. Derting has created truly one of the most original stories I've seen hit the YA shelves in a long time -- crafting her own genre out of existing themes, and weaving together a story that will keep you up late into the night reading. She does a great job of wrapping up the story in this first volume, while setting the stage nicely for books two and three in her planned trilogy.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Reminscent in many ways of Stephen King's The Stand, Ashes is part survival story, part zombie story -- but it certainly has the qualities of a dystopian novel that fans of The Hunger Games will love, not the least of which is the main character. She's tough, resourceful, but vulnerable -- and facing one of the most bizarre and crazy situations I've read about in a long time. Hold on for a wild ride: Ashes will definitely shock you at every turn, right up to the very last cliff-hanging sentence that sets the stage for book 2.

Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James

Though really more science fiction than dystopian, Nick James' Skyship Academy bears all the earmarks of a dystopian world. It takes place in a futuristic, environmentally-ravaged United States. In the book, the Unified Party -- which rules the U.S. on the surface -- battles with Skyship, a group of renegades who live in ships above the earth -- for control of Pearls, mysterious orbs that fall from space and can power an entire city for weeks. The book follows two teen boys -- one from each group -- as they come together under unexpected circumstances with major consequences for their entire world. The book is chock-full of action that will surely hook fans of The Hunger Games, while offering a more sci-fi focused twist to the dystopian theme.

Wither by Lauren deStefano

Certainly one of this year's most unique dystopian offerings, Wither takes place in a world where girls only live to age 20 and boys only live to age 25. This short-lived generation has led to a society in which polygamous marriages are not uncommon, and where teen girls are bought and sold into such unions for the sole purpose of procreation. It's a disturbing premise, and DeStefano delivers it handily. Plus, the paperback edition comes out December 6th, just in time for Christmas. Fever, the second book in this series, comes out in February 2012.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeffrey Hirsch

This book was blurbed by none other than Hunger Games scribe herself, Suzanne Collins. She wrote: "The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home ... An excellent, taut debut novel." If that isn't convincing enough, what is?

The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner

The third and final book was released just recently, so there's no better time to discover this series than now -- since there will be no waiting between books. With the release of the third book, this series also landed neatly on the New York Times best seller list for children's book series -- nestled comfortably alongside The Hunger Games series.

Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

With Lionsgate set to produce a film adaptation of this series as well as The Hunger Games, there's never been a better time to dive into Ness's unique and award-winning series.

The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld

Though not brand new, per se, the Uglies series recently got a makeover in the form of gorgeous new covers. The stark white covers with surgically-based imagery is perfect for this series about a dystopian futuristic society that thrives on physical perfection. In fact, some of the extremes the "Pretties" go to in order to stay on top of trends will remind readers of the bizarre fashion trends in the Capitol of Panem in The Hunger Games.

More Dystopian Titles to Check Out:

If those aren't enough books for you to consider, here's a list of a few more recent YA dystopian releases to check out: