
I hear adults dismiss fantasy (especially YA) so quickly, without giving them a try. That’s why I’m sharing over 90 recommendations.
(This post was originally published in August 2020) 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 also, thanks to fantasy novels, 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 novels. 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 Goodreads 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.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (duology)
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way aroundβand Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old heβs 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 mysteriesβincluding the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazloβs 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.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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 β the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, itβs never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchyβs dangerous soul magic.
When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: heβll help her prove sheβs fit to rule, if sheβll help him reclaim his stolen magic.
But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder β and more peril β than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, sheβll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expectedβ¦ 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.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



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 bornβthree 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 isnβt solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And itβs not just a game of win or loseβ¦itβs life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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 Earthβs fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.
Sheβs a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsisterβs illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kaiβs, 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 worldβs future.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (series)
This is a world divided by bloodβred or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous danceβReds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



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 β 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.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab (trilogy)
This series starts with A Darker Shade of Magic:
Kell is one of the last Antariβmagicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.
Kell was raised in ArnesβRed Londonβand officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.
Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.
After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.
Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive.
Buy the trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer (duology in progress)
Echo Alkaevβs 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 wolfβthe 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 wolfβs enchantment before her time is up, otherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



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 Scarlettβs father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caravalβthe faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the showβare over.
But this year, Scarlettβs 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 Caravalβs mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this seasonβs 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.
Buy the trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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 wolfβher wolfβis 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 humanβor risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer (series)
About three things I was absolutely positive.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of himβand I didn’t know how dominant that part might beβthat thirsted for my blood.
And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight is a love story with bite.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare (trilogy)
This series starts with Clockwork Angel:
In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into Londonβs dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhuntersβincluding Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them…
Buy the trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Gumiho by Kat Cho (duology)
This duology starts with Wicked Fox:
A fresh and addictive fantasy-romance set in modern-day Seoul.
Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret–she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.
But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead–her gumiho soul–in the process.
Jihoon knows Miyoung is more than just a beautiful girl–he saw her nine tails the night she saved his life. His grandmother used to tell him stories of the gumiho, of their power and the danger they pose to humans. He’s drawn to her anyway.
With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon’s.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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 titleβand 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 sΓ¬thΓcheanβthe faery race obsessed with slaughtering humansβand, 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 weaponsβfrom flying machines to detonators to lightning pistolsβruthless 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 murderβbut 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.
Buy the series: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Bone Grace by Kathryn Purdie (duology)
This duology starts with Bone Crier’s Moon:
Bone βCriers 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 Elaraβs Night Heavens or Tyrusβs Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criersβ 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 sheβs also destined to love.
Bastienβs father was slain by a Bone Crier and heβs been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesseβs ritual has begun and now their fates are entwinedβin life and in death.
Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criersβ 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 traditionsβand their matriarchβto break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Blood of Stars by Elizabeth Lim (duology)
This duology starts with Spin the Dawn:
Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.
Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.
Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman (trilogy)
This trilogy starts with Scythe:
Thou shalt kill.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end lifeβand they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scytheβa role that neither wants. These teens must master the βartβ of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Buy the trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Heartless by Marissa Meyer (standalone)
Long before she was the terror of Wonderlandβthe infamous Queen of Heartsβshe 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.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (standalone)
Far beneath the surface of the earth, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories. The entryways that lead to this sanctuary are often hidden, sometimes on forest floors, sometimes in private homes, sometimes in plain sight. But those who seek will find. Their doors have been waiting for them.
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is searching for his door, though he does not know it. He follows a silent siren song, an inexplicable knowledge that he is meant for another place. When he discovers a mysterious book in the stacks of his campus library he begins to read, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, lost cities, and nameless acolytes. Suddenly a turn of the page brings Zachary to a story from his own childhood impossibly written in this book that is older than he is.
A bee, a key, and a sword emblazoned on the book lead Zachary to two people who will change the course of his life: Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired painter, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances. These strangers guide Zachary through masquerade party dances and whispered back room stories to the headquarters of a secret society where doorknobs hang from ribbons, and finally through a door conjured from paint to the place he has always yearned for. Amid twisting tunnels filled with books, gilded ballrooms, and wine-dark shores Zachary falls into an intoxicating world soaked in romance and mystery. But a battle is raging over the fate of this place and though there are those who would willingly sacrifice everything to protect it, there are just as many intent on its destruction. As Zachary, Mirabel, and Dorian venture deeper into the space and its histories and myths, searching for answers and each other, a timeless love story unspools, casting a spell of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a Starless Sea.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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 witchβs 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 Serenβs 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.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (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 Malikβs younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal dealβkill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadiaβs 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.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly (standalone)
Isabelle should be blissfully happy β sheβs about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isnβt the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the princeβs heart. Sheβs the ugly stepsister whoβs cut off her toes to fit into Cinderellaβs shoe … which is now filling with blood.
When the prince discovers Isabelleβs deception, she is turned away in shame. Itβs 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 motherβs 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 doesnβt 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.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout (trilogy)
This trilogy starts with The Darkest Star:
When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…
Buy the trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Ready Player One (duology)
IN THE YEAR 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to winβand confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Beneath the Haunting Sea by Joanna Ruth Meyer (duology)
Sixteen-year-old Talia was born to a life of certainty and luxury, destined to become Empress of half the world. But when an ambitious rival seizes power, she and her mother are banished to a nowhere province on the far edge of the Northern Sea.
It is here, in the drafty halls of the Ruen-Dahr, that Talia discovers family secrets, a melancholy boy with a troubling vision of her future, and a relic that holds the power of an ancient Star. On these shores, the eerie melody of the sea is stronger than ever, revealing long-forgotten tales of the Goddess Rahn. The more dark truths that Talia unravels about the gods’ history–and her own–the more the waves call to her, and it may be her destiny to answer.
Buy the duology: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (standalone)
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des RΓͺves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underwayβa duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into loveβa deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Renegades by Marissa Meyer (trilogy)
Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.
The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies β humans with extraordinary abilities β who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone… except the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice β and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.
Buy the trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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 beforeβand 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 trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo (trilogy)
This trilogy starts with Shadow and Bone:
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 lifeβa 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 trilogy: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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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 π 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 π 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 π
Rachel
http://www.hello-her.com
Stephanie Whitman says
Well, that’s definitely a good place to start π 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 π 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 π 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 π
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. Canβt say that Iβve 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.
β₯ 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, itβs been a long time since Iβve picked up a new fantasy novel, but they really are great for when you need to escape the real world. I have a feeling Iβll 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 π
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 thatβs 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! π
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 π
Luke Slater says
Iβm so glad you put Narnia at the top, although Iβve only watched the films, I would love to read the books. Youβve got some good choices on here and I will certainly look out for them π
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 π If you’re looking for standalone fantasy, please oh pretty please read Into the Heartless Wood!
Amanda says
Wow, such a fab list! I havenβt 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! π
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 π
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! π
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