This post was originally published in August 2020. It has been updated since to share the most recent YA fantasy books that you absolutely must read.

I often find that adults dismiss fantasy books so quickly without giving them a try. That’s why I’m sharing over 30 recommendations that you’ll want to read right now.
Fantasy has always been my favorite genre. It all began when I read The Chronicles of Narnia with my family at six years old. I was immediately hooked on the world-building, the creatures, and the way that it allowed me to escape the mundane of everyday life and explore new places. There’s a quote that says, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, the man who never reads lives only one.” I believe this to be incredibly accurate, and thanks to fantasy books, I have not only lived a thousand lives, but I’ve traveled to a thousand far-away places without ever leaving the comfort of my room.
Honestly, talking about fantasy books gets me seriously pumped up. So I wanted to share the best of the best when it comes to what I’ve read over the years. There will be familiar names on this list, but I’m also hopeful that it will also introduce you to new and unique (and often underrated) stories that I highly recommend.
Below, you’ll find a list of series and standalone fantasy books. Let’s be honest – I think you should read them all!
The Best Fantasy Books to Read When You Need an Escape
You can find synopses for the books below, along with links to buy a copy for yourself! Make sure to follow me on The StoryGraph to read my reviews and bookstagram to see my aesthetic photos of these titles and more.



The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (series)
This series begins with The Magician’s Nephew:
The secret passage to the house next door leads to a fascinating adventure
NARNIA…where the woods are thick and cold, where Talking Beasts are called to life…a new world where the adventure begins.
Digory and Polly meet and become friends one cold, wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory’s Uncle Andrew, who thinks he is a magician, sends them hurtling to…somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lion’s song, and encounter the evil sorceress Jadis before they finally return home.
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Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (duology)
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
Welcome to Weep.
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All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace (duology)
Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice.
She will reign.
As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder — and more peril — than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.
I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
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Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (series)
When kingdom come, there will be one.
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
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The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (series)
This series begins with Cinder:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.
She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
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The Last Finestra by Emily Thiede (series in progress)
This series begins with This Vicious Grace:
Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches.
Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her.
Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?
Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!
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Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (series)
Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty – especially if they learn of her Sight – and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.
But it’s too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.
Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr’s stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.
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The Curious Realities by Sara Ella (series in progress)
This series starts with The Wonderland Trials:
All Alice Liddell wants is to escape her Normal life in Oxford and find the parents who abandoned her ten years ago. But she gets more than she bargained for when her older sister Charlotte is arrested for having the infamous Wonder Gene—the key to unlocking the curious Wonderland Reality.
Soon, Alice receives a rather cryptic invitation to play for Team Heart in this year’s annual—and often deadly—Wonderland Trials. Now she has less than twenty-four hours to find her way into Wonderland where nothing is impossible… or what it seems.
The stakes are raised when she discovers players go missing during the Trials each year. Will she and her team solve the clues and find the missing players? Or will betrayal and distrust win, leaving Alice alone in a world of her own? Follow the White Rabbit into this topsy-turvy fantasy where players become prey, a sip of the wrong tea might as well be poison, and a queen’s ways do not always lead one where they ought to go.
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Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer (duology)
Echo Alkaev’s safe and carefully structured world falls apart when her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf—the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an ultimatum: If she lives with him for one year, he will ensure her father makes it home safely. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.
In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, each room must be sewn together to keep the home from unraveling, and something new and dark and strange lies behind every door. When centuries-old secrets unfold, Echo discovers a magical library full of books-turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them. As the year ticks by, the rooms begin to disappear, and Echo must solve the mystery of the wolf’s enchantment before her time is up, otherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.
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Caraval by Stephanie Garber (trilogy)
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic.
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The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater (series)
This series begins with Shiver:
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
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Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer (series in progress)
From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.
The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.
King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion–it’s the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.
Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it’s still not enough.
As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King’s Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it’s even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.
Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer’s captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.
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Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (series in progress)
From the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens comes an “enthralling adventure” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an apprentice at a magical library who must battle a powerful sorcerer to save her kingdom.
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery–magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather.
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire, and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught–about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
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The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni (trilogy)
Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.
When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.
Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.
But no one has ever survived.
With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun.
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The Falconer by Elizabeth May (trilogy)
One girl’s nightmare is this girl’s faery tale
She’s a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.
She’s a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. she’s leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.
She’s a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.
She’s a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother’s murder—but she’ll have to save the world first.
The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller combines romance and action, steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read.
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Bone Grace by Kathryn Purdie (duology)
This duology starts with Bone Crier’s Moon:
Bone Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.
Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.
Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.
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Belladonna by Adalyn Grace (series in progress)
A girl confronts Death—and her own deathly powers—in this Gothic-infused, romantic young adult fantasy.
Nineteen-year-old Signa Farrow, orphaned as a baby, has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her last remaining relatives are the Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at the glittering and gloomy estate of Thorn Grove. Thorn Grove’s patriarch, Elijah, mourns his late wife, Lillian, through wild parties and drink, while eldest son Percy grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and daughter Blythe suffers from the same mysterious illness that killed her mother. And when Lillian’s spirit confronts Signa and claims she was poisoned, Signa realizes that Blythe could be next to die.
Signa’s best chance of uncovering the culprit and solving Lillian’s murder is an alliance with Death himself—the very man she hates most. And Death, that fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side, shows her that their connection may be more powerful than she ever dared imagine.
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Cursebreakers by Brigid Kemmerer (trilogy)
This trilogy starts with A Curse So Dark and Lonely:
Fall in love, break the curse.
Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.
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Heartless by Marissa Meyer (standalone)
Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.
Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
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Sands of Arawiya by Hafsah Faizal (duology)
This series begins with We Hunt the Flame:
People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya–but neither wants to be.
War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds–and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, Hafsah Faizal’s We Hunt the Flame–first in the Sands of Arawiya duology–is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.
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Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer (standalone)
The forest is a dangerous place, where siren song lures men and women to their deaths. For centuries, a witch has harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow her domain.
When Owen Merrick is lured into the witch’s wood, one of her tree-siren daughters, Seren, saves his life instead of ending it. Every night, he climbs over the garden wall to see her, and every night her longing to become human deepens. But a shift in the stars foretells a dangerous curse, and Seren’s quest to become human will lead them into an ancient war raging between the witch and the king who is trying to stop her.
Epic, heartbreaking, and darkly atmospheric, Into the Heartless Wood is the story of impossible love between a monstrous tree siren and a boy who lives at the edge of her wood.
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A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A Brown (duology)
For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.
But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.
When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?
The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.
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Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly (standalone)
Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe … which is now filling with blood.
When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.
Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.
Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
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The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (stand-alone)
Seventeen-year-old Aderyn (“Ryn”) only cares about two things: her family, and her family’s graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote Welsh village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to fae creatures known as the Otherfolk. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don’t always stay dead.
The risen corpses are known as “bone houses,” and legend says that they’re the result of a decades-old curse. Ryn has always been quick to deal with this inconvenience whenever they wander too close to her graveyard, but when Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with renewed purpose. What is it about Ellis that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they stop them for good?
Together, Ellis and Ryn embark on a quest that will bring them deep into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and long-hidden truths about themselves. Equal parts classic horror novel and original fairy-tale, The Bone Houses will have you spellbound from the very first page.
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Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (duology)
A princess in exile, the boy she left at the altar, six enchanted cranes, and a dragon from the deepest sea… From the author of Spin the Dawn comes a breathtakingly original fantasy inspired by East Asian folklore and perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo or Tomi Adeyemi.
Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.
Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne–a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama’s betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to contain–no matter what it costs her.
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The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin (stand-alone)
Practical Magic meets Twister in this debut contemporary fantasy standalone about heartbreaking power, the terror of our collapsing atmosphere, and the ways we unknowingly change our fate.
For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara Densmore, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It’s wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.
In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she’s the only one who can make a difference.
In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she’s terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.
In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves…before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.
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The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater (trilogy)
This series begins with Call Down the Hawk (but is a spin-off of The Raven Cycle):
The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.
And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.
Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.
Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it.
Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . .
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Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (series in progress)
A trans boy determined to prove his gender to his traditional Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas’s paranormal YA debut Cemetery Boys, described by Entertainment Weekly as “groundbreaking.”
Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.
However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (series)
Could you survive on your own in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.
Buy the books: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble
The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo (series)
This series starts with Shadow and Bone (and continues with Six of Crows and King of Scars duologies):
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Buy the books: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble
related posts
Immersive Stand-Alone Fantasy Books You Need to Read// 6 Magical Books to Read When You Need an Escape // Gripping Trilogies Every Reader Will Enjoy

What are your favorite fantasy books?
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Shirsha says
Wowwwwwwww! That’s a long, long list of books. I’ll admit, I haven’t read a whole lot of fantasy books, but whatever I’ve read so far, I’ve loved. The Starless See has been on a TBR for ages now.
Stephanie Whitman says
If you’re considering reading The Starless Sea, I highly recommend the audiobook. It’s another level of story-telling with a full cast and beautiful narration! You’ll love getting swept away into the tale.
Venus says
Fantasy is my favorite books to read. Its so amazing how the worlds ( in the books) are so magical. Loving the sea and all the weird things that it has. The book Deep Blue is something that I would be interested in.
Stephanie Whitman says
The Waterfire Saga (which is the series that Deep Blue is from) is a really excellent collection of mermaid stories! If you like those kinds of books, you’ll love the Waterfire Saga. Jennifer Donnelly (the author) is one of my favorites. You’ll notice her books are all throughout this post!
Lizzie says
I love fantasy books! It’s been so long since I read them though. These sound like some really great options!! Aalwayss love your recommendations!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I don’t think I could go more than a week or so without a good fantasy book. They’re really my favorite. I guess that’s why I’ve read more of them than any other genre!
Rach says
It has been awhile since I’ve read a fantasy book but I am definitely looking for a good one! The ones you have listed sounded really and will definitely be checking them out!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you’re able to find at least one you can enjoy out of the 90+ I listed here 😉 Whether that’s a series or a standalone, I truly believe there’s something for everyone!
REBECCA says
JUST PINNED THIS POST TO COME BACK TO LATER!! LOVE ME SOME FANTASY AND ALWAYS NEED GOOD RECS.
XX REBECCA // http://WWW.REBECCAPIERSOL.ME
Stephanie Whitman says
Oh thank you so much for pinning! I love hearing that 🙂 I truly hope you find a new favorite from this post!
Jen says
I absolutely love the twisted tales books I think its so fascinating to learn about the different sides of the famous Disney stories! Than you so much for sharing this list!
Stephanie Whitman says
They’re really fun! I’ve only read a handful of them, but the Belle and Mulan books were definitely my favorites. They’re just so unique!
Raji says
Love this post! I’ve been reading YA fantasy for over fifteen years now, and I find that the genre can still surprise me with something new. So many of these are amongst my favourites too – Cassandra Clare especially is one of my favourite YA authors. Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m only just now getting into her books, and she is super talented at world-building. The Infernal Devices have been fun to read! I’m sure once I finish them, I’ll begin diving into the rest of her work!
Neely Moldovan says
I am not a big fantasy reader, but I will def check some of these out!
Stephanie Whitman says
A lot of people aren’t as keen on it, but I do think it’s a genre that at least merits checking out – especially for the not-as-hyped works (which I’ve listed plenty of here). I sure do hope you give a few of these a go to see if they can interest you more than you think!
Kileen says
I’ve never dove too much into fantasy fiction but these books sound amazing! I would love to expand my usual reading niche with something like these. Thanks for sharing these!!
Kileen
cute & little
Charity says
These all sound like some great fantasy novels. Thanks for sharing this list!
Stephanie Whitman says
Absolutely! It’s really fun to talk about the topics I’m passionate about, and I could honestly chat about fantasy novels all day haha!
Jennifer Prince says
Ah! I don’t read fantasy much. I think I read the Maze Runner series and The Hunger Games series, but I normally just go for a page-turner/love story kind of book. So generic, I know! I definitely need to branch out more, and you make such great recommendations!
Stephanie Whitman says
And I wouldn’t even consider those fantasy so much as dystopian or even, to some degree, sci-fi! But they’re also excellent books, and The Hunger Games is very special to me. However, I believe that fantasy is the best for when you’re looking for true escape. Don’t get me wrong, I love my rom-coms and contemporary, but fantasy is just so FUN.
Melissa Junker says
Yes! Some great picks here! I need a new series to read, I just finished the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
Stephanie Whitman says
I’ve heard about his work a lot but have yet to read any of it. I’ll have to make that a priority sometime soon!
Rachel says
I don’t think I’ve ever read a fantasy series before but for years, people have been telling me to read Harry Potter! It might be time to give it a try 😉
Rachel
http://www.hello-her.com
Stephanie Whitman says
Well, that’s definitely a good place to start 😉 But I also highly, highly suggest some of the less hyped books because then your expectations are lower as you’re starting out!
Jamaria Johnson says
This is a great list and I am going to pass it on to my husband! I admit, I’m not too much into fantasy books, but he definitely is so thanks for this list! xo
Stephanie Whitman says
A lot of people dismiss the genre – especially women – and that makes me sad, because they don’t know how good it actually is. Clearly, if I’ve read so many in the last 20 years, there must be something special about it 😉 But I do hope your husband can enjoy some of them. Most of the choices I added here have female protagonists, but if he doesn’t mind that, then, by all means, have fun reading!
Adaleta Avdic says
I love books for the fact that they are an escape from whatever we’ve got going on in our day to day. It really does get my mind off a lot of the craziness in the world!
Stephanie Whitman says
Yep, that’s a huge part of why I read. I also love learning and growing my vocabulary and learning how to write a little bit better as well! Reading is phenomenal for a plethora of reasons, that’s for sure.
Sarah Lindner says
What an impressive list! Think this might help make quarantine life go a little easier for Fantasy lovers! xoxo, Sarah
Stephanie Whitman says
I could see that being a possibility, for sure. Reading has certainly helped me through lockdown.
jenyscloset says
I have never read fantasy book before, but after reading these I would like to give it a try. Thank you for suggesting.
Stephanie Whitman says
Hopefully, this will give you a good launching point! Fantasy is such an amazing genre, and I wish it got the love it deserves.
Jenny in Neverland says
This was such an incredible list! I will admit that Fantasy isn’t my favourite genre. I’ve tried plenty but I just struggle with it a bit. But every now and again, I read an incredible Fantasy novel!
Stephanie Whitman says
To each their own, of course 🙂 I just find it to be the most appealing because it’s so far from what real life is like – yet, there are still opportunities to learn from it!
Helena Marz says
I never read fantasy books because I was not a big fan of them. But these list you have sound interesting and I should check them out to see what interests me:)
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you do. This list includes some of my favorite books of all time!
Alex says
I do love a good YA book! I honestly never finished the Harry Potter series, and have been thinking about starting it over this year, with all the extra time spent at home.
Alex | adoredbyalex.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I know you’re into thrillers, so if you’re looking for something more suspenseful or dramatic I recommend the Three Dark Crowns series or The Arc of the Scythe trilogy. They both have some excellent murders (haha – that shows how little I read thrillers, I know, but hopefully it’ll help to some degree).
Lauryn Hock says
I’ll be honest: young adult books are my guilty pleasure! They’re so consumable as a reader. Thanks for these recs
Stephanie Whitman says
Ah – it shouldn’t be a guilty thing at all. Young adult books are excellent. They’re often more relatable and they’re frequently more unique than adult fiction (especially when it comes to fantasy). I’m glad you enjoy them 🙂
Carrington | Chaos and Coffee says
These look like such good reads! I definitely will be adding some of these to my reading list. Xx.
Lindsey says
When I was younger, there was a series I was hooked on called “So You Want To Be A Wizard”. It’s been a while since I picked up a Fantasy book, I’m definitely going to read some that you suggested.
Nailil says
I love fantasy stories. Can’t say that I’ve read any fantasy books recently, probably pick up one soon.
Xx, Nailil
https://thirtyminusone.com
Tanvi Rastogi says
I read all genres but some how I have never read a fantasy. I will have to check out one of your recommendations.
❥ tanvii.com
Greta says
I haven’t been doing a lot of YA or fantasy reading lately. But these are great recommendations I’m sure!
Deborah says
GREAT picks! This isn’t YA necessarily but one fantasy series I’ve really been enjoying is the Witcher series (it’s what the Netflix show is based on). It’s so good!
Molly says
Oh man, it’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a new fantasy novel, but they really are great for when you need to escape the real world. I have a feeling I’ll be adding a few of these to my Goodreads list!
Alice says
Hearltess was SO SO SO good!! I also am such a big fan of anything by Sarah J. Maas. Saving some of these recs for cozy fall reads!
xo, Alice
Tiffany McCullough - Metaphysical Mama says
I love fantasy!! Thank you so much for sharing your picks. I am always looking for something new to read and these sound great!
Stephanie Whitman says
Fantasy is just my favorite genre of all time. There are so many incredible stories! I hope you get inspired to read a few of these 🙂
Cristina Rosano says
I love fantasy books and you have so many great recommendations! Added quite a lot to my never-ending TBR as usual! I love the Shiver series, I think it’s so underrated and The Chronicles of Narnia was one of the books that truly swept me away! Thank you for sharing x
Stephanie Whitman says
Oh, that’s fantastic to hear! I love being able to introduce people to new favorites. The Wolves of Mercy Falls is SO underrated. People tend to immediately think of The Raven Cycle instead when they hear Stiefvater’s name, but I just love my wolf boys haha.
Sarah says
I love a good fantasy book list. Fantasy is absolutely one of my favorite genres to read because you get to explore so many different worlds, magic systems, and humanoid races in each story. I’ve read a couple of books and series from this list, most I loved but a few I didn’t, but that’s all part of being a book lover, you won’t enjoy every book but they are all worth checking out. I will have to make room on my TBR for some of these books because they sound like stories I would really enjoy.
Stephanie Whitman says
Those are all reasons why I love the genre as well. It truly is a real escape – and that’s a big part of why I enjoy reading so much! It takes me to a new place and really cultivates my imagination.
Lee says
Wow what a roundup! I love a lot of these (sucker for twilight) I have to say though – I actually hated the lord of the rings! I feel like that’s sacrilegious to say, but I just never got into it!
Stephanie Whitman says
I don’t think I even included LoTR! Not because I don’t like it, since I do, but because it’s just not on the top of my favorites list. I actually prefer the movies over the books! I certainly don’t judge people for their book preferences. We’re all different! 🙂
Mykki says
Wicked Fox is an incredible tale and I can’t recommend it enough. If anyone was on the fence about it, here’s a second endorsement. Everyone should read it!
Stephanie Whitman says
It’s awesome! I definitely preferred the first book over the second, but the whole story was well done, to be sure. I’m glad you liked it as well 🙂
Luke Slater says
I’m so glad you put Narnia at the top, although I’ve only watched the films, I would love to read the books. You’ve got some good choices on here and I will certainly look out for them 😁
Stephanie Whitman says
Oh, please do read the books! They’re phenomenal and far superior to the films. In fact, the only film I think worth noting was The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The others made me cringe as someone who grew up loving Narnia haha!
Merry Sari says
FAB! Such a looong list you have here, Steph! I’ve been a fan of fantasy books since I read Harry Potter and Narnia years ago! There are so many fantasy books I want to read on my list this year but for the last months I tend to go to read standalone books – I have to check if I haven’t added your recommendations x
Stephanie Whitman says
I definitely do have quite the list, because it’s my favorite genre. And of course, this isn’t including every fantasy book I’ve ever read or anything. Just the ones I consider the best 🙂 If you’re looking for standalone fantasy, please oh pretty please read Into the Heartless Wood!
Amanda says
Wow, such a fab list! I haven’t read many fantasy books in recent years (I did read the Twilight series years ago!) & may need to give this genre a chance. Will definitely be referring to this list!
Stephanie Whitman says
I think it doesn’t get enough love as a genre, especially in adult women. However, these are really some of the best books. They’re so well-written and they allow you to fully escape to another world!
Jessica Khater says
I never liked fantasy. However, when I was a teenager I read all of the Twilight saga and I remember that I enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll give fantasy another shot.
Stephanie Whitman says
That’s a huge bummer! I think fantasy gets a bad rap and it makes me so sad. It’s such a fantastic genre and deserves way more attention and appreciation.
Kelly Diane says
You’ve included so many great suggestions. I loved reading The Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger and would love to read them again.
Stephanie Whitman says
They might be even better as an adult. I started them back up again over Christmas and I’m slowly squeezing them in over time. It’s so much fun to go back to that world again and I can appreciate so much more now.
Monique | Paperweirdo says
So many books on here that are high on my to read list! And I always love a list that includes The Night Circus!
Stephanie Whitman says
Absolutely! It’s a great book! I definitely enjoyed The Starless Sea more – and I think they’re both better as audiobooks – but I really liked the almost “bedtime story” style of writing!
Anika says
I’m not much of a fantasy reader, funnily I don’t always enjoy the plots. I think the only books from this list I’ve enjoyed are Ready Player One, The Hunger Games and Erin Morgenstern’s books. So I’m definitely gonna take a few recs from here to look into and add to my list. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I know it’s not everyone’s favorite genre, and that’s okay. To each their own! That’s what’s fun about being a bookworm, right? We’re all unique but books bring us together! But I would love if you were able to find a new favorite based on my suggestions 🙂
Hayley says
Oh my goodness, I had forgotten all about my childhood love for the Chronicles of Narnia! I don’t gravitate towards fantasy books as much as I’d like but Scythe and The Starless Sea are on my TBR! 🙂
Stephanie Whitman says
The first Scythe book is especially intriguing and I highly, HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobook for The Starless Sea as it’s sooo much better than trying to read it. I hope you enjoy them both!
Anna English says
This is such a great list. A lot of them I’d never heard of before!
Melissa says
This is an amazing list! The Chronicles of Narnia is a classic and everyone should at least read the first book. I loved it! Also, I totally forgot I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater when it just came out years ago. I don’t even remember if I read all of them. I think I stopped after the second for some reason. Now I want to re read the whole series again!
Lizzie says
I LOVE the Chronicles of Narnia!! One of my very favorites!! Loved The Hunger Games too. Not sure if they would be considered fantasy but I love Alice an Wonderland and the like. My brother is a huge fantasy fan! Will have to send this to him when he gets to A school.
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
I'm All Booked Up says
The Infernal Devices is our favorite fantasy series of all time. Thanks for sharing your other recommendations.
Sarah Lindner says
That’s an impressive list! Looks like plenty of solid picks! xoxo, Sarah
Deborah says
Yaas to this list! I love fantasy novels and I hate any kind of elitism when it comes to literature. People can like what they like and thinking someone is beneath them because they like fantasy is so ridiculous!
I love the list you put together and I also got hooked on fantasy since Chronicles of Narnia that turned into an obsession with Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter!
Raji says
Thanks for sharing this amazing list, so many of my favourites are here! Fantasy has been my go to genre since I was around 12, and I honestly don’t think I’ll ever outgrow it – there are just so many books to try.
Jenny in Neverland says
Apart from Twilight and The Hunger Games, I’ve read literally none of these. I struggle with Fantasy sometimes but I do really enjoy it. I watch a lot of Sci-Fi type shows / films, particularly dystopian too. But with books I just struggle and actively shy away from them. But I’d like to expand my reading a bit more so might have to give some of these a try!
Katie says
I LOVE fantasy novels, they’re hands down my go to genre! so thanks so much for this roundup… so many new books to get!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
Sydney says
Into The Heartless Wood sounds like it’s a great book for me. I love that it gives off the sense of an old, ethereal, eldritch fairy tale. I will definitely be on the lookout for that book! Thanks for sharing your picks!
xoxo,
Sydney
http://www.thelotuslist.com