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36 of the best fantasy books everyone should read

Are you looking for your next fantasy must-read? From wizards and werewolves to weird happenings underground, we've pulled together some of the WIRED team's favourite fantasy series. Some are set in strange and fantastic worlds, while others start a little closer to home. And, if you'd like more reading ideas, try our guide to the best sci-fi books or our picks of the best books on Audible .

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Piranesi is a wondrous, genre-defying book, but if it had to fit somewhere, 'fantasy' would be the label we'd give it. The less you know about Piranesi , the better, but as a taster, it follows the life of a man who lives within the spectacular, statue-filled halls of a vast, labyrinthine house. Waves roll into the halls, birds and sea creatures come and go, but he has no idea why he's there or how he got there. He's more concerned with writing journal entries and documenting things he encounters.

It's a twisting novel that's both beautiful and deeply unsettling. It's one you could read in a single sitting because the narrator seems so unnervingly naive, and the more you discover, the more you itch for what secrets are hiding beneath the surface. Released in 2021, Piranesi was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and won a massive amount of critical acclaim for author Susanna Clarke. If her name rings a bell, it's because she's already well-known for her first novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell , which was published in 2004 and adapted into a TV series.

Price: £7.50 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible trial

Described as Game of Thrones meets Ocean’s Eleven , Six of Crows is set in the Grishaverse – like the award-winning Shadow and Bone trilogy, which is now a major Netflix show. In fact, the show might be called Shadow and Bone , but it draws from the cast of characters in Six of Crows , too. Six of Crows begins in Ketterdam, a raucous, busy hub of trade with an underbelly of crime. Kaz Brekker is a criminal mastermind who’s offered the chance to carry out a risky heist with a considerable reward. He handpicks a team to help, including a convict, excellent sharpshooter, and a spy – six outcasts in total, all trying to pull off the ultimate heist. Bardugo is brilliant at world-building, which is a treat if you’re entering the Grishaverse for the first time and a welcome return for anyone who’s read the Shadow and Bone trilogy or her latest duology set in the same universe, King of Scars . Yes, Six of Crows and the other Grishaverse books are technically YA, but don’t let that put you off.

If anyone deserves to be on this list twice, it’s Neil Gaiman. Stardust is a magical fantasy novel that’s a delight to read at any age. It’s about a young man called Tristran Thorn, who vows to find a star for the woman he loves after they see it fall from the night sky.

What follows is a fairy tale that weaves in stories, characters and settings that are already embedded in our cultural make-up, like pirates, spells, curses, witches, power struggles, falling stars, otherworldly beings and much more. Gaiman said: “I wanted to write a story that would feel, to the reader, like something he or she had always known” – and that’s the enduring appeal of Stardust. The book was adapted into a movie in 2007 with a star-studded cast, including Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Claire Danes. Once you’ve read the book, you should find it on your go-to streaming service, as it does Neil Gaiman’s original tale justice.

Price: £9 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible trial

Another award-winning entry, Jade City bagged The World Fantasy Award in 2018 and was shortlisted for many others, including the Nebula Awards and the Locus Awards. It’s an epic story that many have said is reminiscent of classic Hong Kong gangster movies. However, the twist here is that it’s set in Janloon, a fantastical metropolis that Lee describes incredibly vividly.

The central premise of Jade City is, as you might guess, all about Jade. This is a stone that’s the lifeblood of the city and has magical properties as it can enhance a person’s natural abilities. That’s why it’s so precious and controlled by two warring families. But when a new drug emerges that gives anyone the power to take advantage of the mystical energies of Jade, tension rises, and violence ensues. It’s stylish, full of beautiful, gritty descriptions and, despite being a fantasy book, touches on all kinds of relatable themes, like family honour and tradition.

Price: £8 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible trial

Considered one of the best fantasy books ever written, The Last Unicorn is a magical story about a unicorn living in a forest. One day, hunters arrive in the forest and believe it must contain a unicorn because of the magic protecting the creatures there. One of the hunters shouts a warning to the unicorn that she might be the last of her kind, which urges her to embark on a quest to find more unicorns – or learn what’s happened to them.

What comes next is full of sadness, adventure and wonder, with talking animals, witches, a harpy, spells, a magician, and much, much more. It’s another book that’s a trip back into the world of magic and fairy tales for adults, but a firm favourite for children of all ages, too. The Last Unicorn has since been adapted for the screen. In 1982, it was made into a movie featuring the voices of Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, and Christopher Lee.

Price: £16 | Amazon | Waterstones

Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor (2018)

Written by award-winning science-fiction and fantasy writer Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death is set in Sudan in a far off, nuclear holocaust-ravaged future. There’s genocide and suffering between two warring tribes and, amidst this immense pain and violence, Onyesonwu is born – her name means “who fears death?” in an ancient language. Onyesonwu is special, displaying all manner of magical powers from an early age. This book is a mesmerising blend of magic, folk tradition, love and spirituality. But read it soon before it hits your TV screen if you’re a book-before-adaptation kind of person. Who Fears Death is being made into a TV series for HBO and George R. R. Martin is set to be an executive producer.

Price: £9 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible

A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas (2020)

Imagine Beauty and the Beast but ramp up the romance and fantasy even more, transform Beauty into a huntress and Beast into some kind of fantastical faerie lord and that’s A Court of Thorns and Roses . Sara J. Maas might have used the classic fairytale as a starting pont for this epic fantasical romance, but it’s a brilliant story in its own right. So much so that it’s the first in a best-selling series of the same name. A Court of Thorns and Roses begins with Feyre, a huntress who kills a wolf to feed her family. But this was no ordinary wolf. In fact, it wasn’t a wolf at all and Feyre has to face the consequences of her violent actions. This is, technically, a YA (young adult) novel, but don’t let that put you off, it has a huge adult fanbase.

Price: £7 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible

The Power, by Naomi Alderman (2017)

The Power could also be classed as science-fiction, but we’re including it in our fantasy recommendations because what’s more fantastical than every woman in the land suddenly being able to electrocute men Palpatine-style with their fingertips? That’s the searingly smart and brilliantly-explored premise of The Power , which allows us to imagine what would happen if the present balance in the world – or, more rightly so, imbalance, – was reversed in favour of women. Would we be living in a calm utopia within a fortnight? Would we face the same problems we always have? Or would there be a whole host of new challenges to contend with?

The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin (2016)

It doesn’t feel like there’s a right way to begin explaining the truly monumental premise and proportions of The Fifth Season , so let’s just dive in. This book takes place on a planet with one massive supercontinent called Stillness. Every few hundred years the ‘fifth season’ occurs – a period of catastrophic climate change. The world-building prowess of Jemisin’s The Fifth Season is epic, there are different ethnicities, species, areas and castes with all kinds of powers and conflicts, and plenty of other details that won’t make sense until you read the book – be prepared to be a little overwhelmed when you’re first introduced to this new universe. This award-winning tome is the first in the Broken Earth series, with later books also scooping up prestigious Hugo Awards in their own right.

Riot Baby, by Tochi Onyebuchi (2020)

Set in the near future, Riot Baby might be a story with fantastical elements weaved throughout it, but it explores very real, pertinent and important issues of race and bias algorithms. The riot baby in this book is Kev, a young Black man who’s in prison. His sister, Ella, has a number of special powers – like being able to see into the future. Riot Baby is novella length (perfect for anyone whose concentration span isn’t what it used to be) and written in a fast-paced style that makes us, as readers, feel as if we’re witnessing flashes of memories in a manner that’s wedded to some of the central themes of anger and injustice.

Price: £14 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible

Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler (2018)

Some might say Octavia E. Butler’s fantastic Kindred is a work of science-fiction or speculative fiction, but it’s in our list because Butler herself called it “a kind of grim fantasy”. This is a time travel narrative, but we’d bet it’s quite unlike any you’ve read before. Kindred follows the story of a woman called Dana who’s transported from 1976 Los Angeles to a Maryland plantation in 1815, where she’s assumed to be a slave. Like all good fantasy and science-fiction, the magical, surreal, time-travelling elements act as a way into a raw exploration of race, power and gender that’s as relevant and urgent now as it was when Butler first published it in 1979.

Price: £7.50 | Amazon | Waterstones | Audible

The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch (2006)

Renaissance Venice meets fantasy meets the twists and turns of a well crafted crime novel. Scott Lynch builds a fascinating fantasy city with real detail and real grit. No shining heroes and wistful princesses here. Instead criminal gangs, corrupt officials and the high likelihood of being mugged in a back alley. There is almost a sense of Oceans 11 meets venetian masquerade, blink and you’ll miss the sleight of hand! Fantasy is almost an afterthought in this novel and it is really about the character building and storytelling. Sure there are shark matadors and alchemical alcoholic fruits, not to mention the mysterious Elderglass, but these are more a backdrop rather than plot driving and all combine to make, subtle and intriguing read. There are plenty of twists and turns as Locke navigates the underworld of Camorr, but it’s unlikely you’ll see all of them coming!? This is the first book of a trilogy and although it stands alone you’ll want to read the other two to see what happens next in Red Seas Under Red Skies and A Republic of Thieves .

Earthlings, by Sayaka Murata (2020)

Not one for the faint hearted, this dark fantasy comedy from the author of Convenience Store Woman is tricky to pin down into any one category and the final pages will probably leave you gobsmacked. Natsuki and Yuu are cousins who have long prepared to be abducted back to their home planet. So far, so childhood but then they grow up and the plan persists. In the meantime they have to try to function in regular society, securing partners and jobs and not drawing attention to themselves. No taboo is left unturned with Earthlings encouraging minor acts of rebellion from what 'society' tells us we have to do.

Price: £10.50 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

Circe, by Madeline Miller (2018)

Circe, daughter of Titan sun god Helios, finds herself overshadowed in the halls of the gods until she discovers her own, different power: witchcraft. Banished to a deserted island for abusing her magic, and repeatedly let down by the men she puts her trust in, Circe must forge her own path: as a goddess, a witch, and a woman. Miller’s novel offers a new perspective on tales of Greek myth, with Circe’s centuries-long story seeing her appear at the birth of the Minotaur, face off with goddess of war Athena, and host hero Odysseus on his long return from Troy. An accessible read with larger-than-life characters and an adventurous plot, Circe is mythology as you’ve never known it before.

Price: £7 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, by Tad Williams (1988 to 1993)

The three books in this trilogy, The Dragonbone Chair , Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower , are beautifully crafted fantasies that deftly interweave almost comically simple tropes with a rewarding complexity and depth. Game of Thrones fans will find much to enjoy – George R. R. Martin readily admits they were a big inspiration for him – as Williams takes a similarly methodical approach to creating the fictional continent Osten Ard and the races that inhabit it. His tales of the humble kitchen scullion who has great things ahead of him are full of joyful and sorrowful moments that will have you laughing and crying, making them a delightful diversion from life's ups and downs.

Price: £6 | Amazon | Abe Books | 30-day Audible trial

Malazan Book of the Fallen series, by Steven Erikson (1999 to 2011)

Spanning 10 books and over 9,000 pages of brutal, beautiful and complex fantasy writing, Steven Erikson's series delivers world building on a larger scale than Tolkien and Jordan put together. Erikson will have you laughing and crying as you follow the lives of disparate heroes and anti-heroes across a sweeping vista of worlds peopled by a unique set of races and animals. You will fall in love with his characters and you will hate them, either way you will want to know what happens next. Beginning with the Gardens of the Moon , Erikson’s ability to write epic convergence is unparalleled and will leave you unable to stand the tension leading up to the major events he depicts.

The First Law Trilogy, by Joe Abercrombie (2006 to 2008)

Joe Abercrombie writes brilliant characters. Be it the story of an ageing berserker, a crippled torturer or a pompous noble, his The First Law Trilogy immerses you in a bloody mire of violent, visceral and gritty adventures. You will see the glory of battle in all its bowel spilling ineptitude and hopelessness, but there is always someone to root for even if it is not the god blessed heroes and heroines you might usually expect. As an added bonus there are also three standalone books and a collection of short stories that revisit some of the First Law characters and world, something you will be eager to devour once you’ve read the first trilogy.

Price: £17 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

The Golem and the Djinni, by Helene Wecker (2013)

Helene Wecker's debut novel is an eerie tale of two magical creatures set loose in 19th century New York. A golem – a mythical creature of Jewish lore – awakens during a sea voyage, and is taught to pass as human among the diverse groups of people living in the city. At the same time, a tinsmith in New York accidentally frees a genie from a flask after centuries of imprisonment, but he's trapped in human form seeking a way to return to his full power. The pair meet and become friends, and must team up to counter an evil sorcerer who wants to enslave them both.

Price: £10 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

Dune, by Frank Herbert (1965)

Welcome to a desert planet where water is more precious than gold, everyone wears moisture-preserving jumpsuits and giant worm creatures can come out of the earth's floor that can kill you at any moment. This is Dune, a stark wasteland where warring houses scheme against each other in bloody battles that can alter the course of human history. Although it's science-fiction on the surface, Frank Herbert's epic tome features the fantasy tropes of betrayal, redemption and freedom in spades, and is rightly considered one of the most important of the genre. Herbert's masterpiece not only helped to inspire Star Wars – it still resonates today, tackling environmental concerns, the rise of superpowers and rebellion of people exploited on their own land.

The Dark Tower series, by Stephen King (1998)

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." This iconic line kicks off Stephen King's iconic The Dark Tower, which mashes together fantasy, westerns and elements of science fiction. The first of seven books follows gunslinger Roland as he pursues a mysterious, malevolent presence across a strange world that's linked to our own. From there, it sprawls into a rambling epic that highlight's King's imagination as well as his touch for horror.

Price: £9 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin (1996)

Fans of the television series have been distancing themselves from Game of Thrones in droves since that disastrous final season, but George R.R. Martin's books remain relatively untainted. A Game of Thrones , the first in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series, sets the tone – with violence and adult themes rarely seen in a lot of mainstream fantasy up to that point. Each chapter follows an individual character's point of view, and although the series does becomes slightly bogged down in later entries, it is gripping – and the ending is still to come.

Price: £8.50 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (1990)

Both Pratchett and Gaiman feature in their own right on this list and Good Omens , composed in part over answerphone messages three decades ago, delivers on the promise of a fantasy literature titan team up. It's the extremely silly story of an angel, Aziraphale, and a demon, Crowley, played with glee by Michael Sheen and David Tennant in this year's Amazon Prime Video series, trying to stop Armageddon. Most fantasy books ask for a serious commitment but Good Omens is a fully formed, read-in-an-afternoon treat.

Rivers of London series, by Ben Aaronovitch (2011)

Set in a lovingly described version of present-day London, the Rivers of London series charts the adventures of Detective Constable Peter Grant, one of two wizards in the Metropolitan Police. It grounds its fantastical elements in the scientific method, and the mixture of flying spells and police jargon gives the ongoing series a unique and enjoyable tone. The first book, Rivers of London describes an encounter with a malevolent spirit that draws Grant into the capital's magical underworld.

Price: £8 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

The Wheel of Time series, by Robert Jordan (1990-2007)

An epic fourteen novel saga, (as well as a prequel novel and two companion books), the author James Oliver Rigney Jr. (pen name Robert Jordan), published the first entry in 1990 and was still writing on his death in 2007. Too vast to summarise, the fantasy world – actually a distant version of Earth – is epic and magical, with a gigantic cast of characters. The series has spawned a video game, a roleplaying game, a soundtrack album and a forthcoming TV series, and the books have sold more than 80 million copies, making it one of the bestselling fantasy series since Lord of the Rings .

Price: £20 | Amazon | Blackwells | 30-day Audible trial

The Gormenghast series, by Mervyn Peake (1946-56)

The first instalment of Mervyn Peake’s epic fantasy series, which features three books and a novella, was published in 1946. It follows the residents of Castle Gormenghast – a giant, gothic castle. In the first book, we meet title character Titus Groan, who stands to inherit the castle and its kingdom. Populated with a host of fantastical creatures, Gormenghast is like a Lord of the Rings that didn’t blow up. Unlike much of the fantasy genre gets high praise in literary circles too: Harold Bloom called the series best fantasy novels of the twentieth century.

Price: £20 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman (1995)

Phillip Pullman’s Northern Lights is a children’s book with a depth and complexity that can satisfy adults. We follow Lyra Belacqua and Pantalaimon, her daemon – her inner self given animal form – as she investigates rumours of children being separated from their own spiritual companions. Over the three-book series, this transitions into a battle between humanity and heaven. It functions in part as a retelling and inversion of John Milton's epic Paradise Lost . The second entry of a three-part sequel trilogy was published in late 2019.

The Book of Dust, by Philip Pullman (2018)

Philip Pullman has returned with a follow-up to the His Dark Materials trilogy. The Book of Dust is a second trilogy set in the world of Lyra Belacqua and her inner self in animal form, Pantalaimon. At the point of writing two of the trilogy have been released: La Belle Sauvage (2018) and The Secret Commonwealth (2019). The first of these is set before the tumultuous events of His Dark Materials. But the second fast forwards to a decade after their conclusion. There's espionage, spies and frantic attempts to stop the world from vanishing into darkness.

Price: £7.50 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher (2000)

Harry Dresden is a professional wizard in a version of modern-day Chicago where fantastical creatures lurk just underneath the surface. He makes his living as a private detective, solving cases that bridge the worlds of the real and the uncanny. In Storm Front , the first book in long-running series The Dresden Files, he finds himself duelling with vampires, werewolves, and the mob.

Price: £40 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

Perdido Street Station, by China Miéville (2000)

China Miéville's work falls more accurately under the banner of Weird Fiction, an amalgamation of fantasy and horror pioneered by HP Lovecraft. This work, one in a series of books set in the world of Bas-Lag, lies closer to the fantasy genre. As Mieville describes it "it's basically a secondary world fantasy with Victorian-era technology. So rather than being a feudal world, it's an early industrial capitalist world of a fairly grubby, police statey kind”.

Price: £11 | Amazon | Waterstones | 30-day Audible trial

American Gods, by Neil Gaiman (2001)

The Amazon Prime series failed to spark, but Neil Gaiman's richly described novel is well worth a read. American Gods pits the abandoned folk deities of the old world against the modern idols we worship now. It follows Shadow Moon, a convict who finds out – days before his release – that his wife has died in a car accident, and falls into the surreal orbit of Mr Wednesday (Odin) and a looming showdown between the old gods and the new.

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula Le Guin (1968)

Ursula Le Guin is one of the titans of fantasy and sci-fi – her books explore political and feminist themes in fantastical settings. The Left Hand of Darkness focuses on an androgynous civilisation, and The Dispossessed is set in anarchist Utopia. The Earthsea series is more traditional but still brilliant – we follow Ged, a teenager at magic school, who causes a disaster dabbling in the dark arts. Readers have pointed to the similarities between Ged’s school and Hogwarts.

The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobbs (1995-1997)

Robin Hobbs' epic fantasy series hero follows FitzChivalry Farseer, or Fitz for short, the bastard son of the crown prince. Raised in a stable and trained as an assassin, the story charts his adventures through the kingdom of The Six Duchies: magic, murder, and political intrigue abound, as well as a zombie curse. Sound familiar? Definitely a good choice for those suffering from Game of Thrones withdrawal symptoms.

Price: £9 | Amazon | Waterstones | start a 30-day Audible trial

The Accursed Kings, by Maurice Druon (1955-77)

A curveball: not fantasy (the books cover the French monarchy in the 14th century), but a book for fans of fantasy. Its author Maurice Druon is the hero of George RR Martin, who penned the series that became Game of Thrones . As Martin wrote in the Guardian: “ The Accursed Kings has it all: iron kings and strangled queens, battles and betrayals, lies and lust, deception, family rivalries, the curse of the Templars, babies switched at birth, she-wolves, sin and swords, the doom of a great dynasty and all of it (or most of it) straight from the pages of history."

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke (2004)

One of the more recent publications on this list, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is set in 19th-century England around the time of the Napoleonic Wars. The book’s premise is that magic has returned: two men, Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange, wield it. Written in a comedy of manners, Jane Austen style, it took its author British writer Susanna Clarke (see Piranesi above) ten years to write and was widely acclaimed on its release in 2004.

Price: £11 | Amazon | Waterstones | start a 30-day Audible trial

Mort, by Terry Pratchett (1987)

One of the best entries in Terry Pratchett’s inimitable Discworld series, Mort focuses on a teenager who is taken under the apprenticeship of Death. Appearing in nearly every one of the Discworld books, Pratchett’s Death is one of the author’s greatest creations, and the source of some of the series’ most famous quotes ("Don’t think of it as dying, just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush.”) It’s in Mort that Death grows into a sympathetic and likeable character, who loves cats and curry and is continuously baffled by the irrationally of humans.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James (2019)

Marlon James, who won the Booker prize for A Brief History of Seven Killings , is not traditionally a fantasy writer, but he dubbed his latest book the African Game of Thrones . (Although he later revealed the comparison was a joke). This book focuses on the political tensions between warring states, in a world populated by a host of magical creatures: cannibals, vampires, witches, ghosts and sorcerers.

This article was originally published by WIRED UK

Writing Advice & Epic Fiction

The 29 Best Fantasy Books of 2023

Looking for a truly magical story? The best Fantasy books of 2023 are right here.

Let your troubles melt away and be whisked off your feet to explore dazzling new lives full of drama, magic, terror, and—sometimes—fiery passion or sweetest victory. 

This year, both romance and war are in the air, as monsters and dragons alike begin to wake. With riveting new mysteries from best-selling authors like Leigh Bardugo, to indie-published epics with glowing reviews and 100,000+ devoted readers, this list will let you glimpse into the greatest fantasy books of 2023. 

Featuring new adventures, romances, and mystical tales of dark, burning dedication from authors including Chloe Gong, Martha Wells, Brandon Sanderson, keep reading, and you will escape between the pages of your new, favorite fantasy book. 

1. Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2)

Alex Stern is going to rescue Darlington from purgatory by breaking into the underworld, even if it costs her future at Lethe and Yale. Unable to call upon her old allies, she must form an unlikely team to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts, to open a portal to the underworld—and to save a soul. But the hand of death follows too close, and Alex is forced to reckon with monsters of her past and the darkness built into the university’s walls. Violent magic, gut-wrenching twists, and a world steeped in history make for a story you can’t put down.

Genres: Urban Fantasy (set in a University), Adult, Thrilling Mystery

2. Immortal Longings

In this adult epic fantasy, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, the games are about to begin in the kingdom of Talin. Each year, the palace hosts a deadly competition for unimaginable riches. Princess Calla Tuoleimi is in hiding after a massacre she committed. Damned and alone, she plots her revenge against the Kingdom that cursed her. Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat, enters the games in a desperate attempt to save his childhood love. The two team up, finding an unexpected ally in King Kasa’s own adopted son. Calla must choose between love, survival, and loyalty to her own monarchy before the games come to a close.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fantasy, Adult

3. The Tyranny of Faith (Empire of the Wolf #2)

In the second book of the trilogy, Sir Konrad, a powerful and magical Justice of the Empire, returns to a city on the brink of rebellion. Rumors of the Magistratum’s weakening authority and growing unrest in the Senate put the Empire’s future at risk. But when the Emperor’s grandson is kidnapped, Konrad must put aside politics to rescue the missing prince. Alongside allies Helena, Bressinger, and Sir Radomir, he sets out on a perilous quest that leads them to the southern frontier where they confront the puritanical templar knights … and a more sinister power, besides.

Genres: Grimdark Mystery, High Fantasy, and the Judicious Use of Necromancy

4. Divine Rivals

In a world where the gods are at war, 18-year-old Iris Winnow struggles to hold her family together amidst her mother’s addiction and her brother’s absence on the front lines. Desperate for stability, Iris competes for a promotion at the Oath Gazette, but her letters to her missing brother are intercepted by her rival, Roman Kitt. As they begin to anonymously correspond, they develop an unexpected connection that leads them to the front lines of the war, where they face the ultimate test of love and loyalty. This epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy, filled with magic and heartbreak, is a must-read for fantasy readers who know that love must conquer all.

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fantasy, Enemies-to-Lovers

5. Witch King

Kai is a powerful mage, and a born killer. So, when he’s assassinated—and finds himself curiously reawakened—he returns with a vengeance. But in his absence, the world has forever changed. The old rules are gone, and new powers gather. With the help of his allies and a unique brand of magic based on pain, Kai must unravel the mysteries of his own death, and confront the harsh truth of this new life. But every answer will come at a high cost. This epic adventure is brimming with friendship, lies, and betrayal. If you love dry wit, dark humor, and chaotic relationships, you won’t want to stop reading. 

Genres: Adult Fantasy, Witches and Pain-Based Magic, High Fantasy, Reincarnation

6. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

After her infamous career as an Indian Ocean pirate, Amina al-Sirafi is content with her new, quiet life of piety and motherhood. But when she is offered a job to retrieve a kidnapped girl for an obscenely wealthy mother, she cannot resist the chance to have one last adventure with her crew and win a fortune to secure her family’s future. Only, there is more to the girl’s disappearance than she was led to believe. Enter a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas, ruled by pirates and sorcerers who will find one last chance at glory.

Genres: Pirate Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adventure

7. Victory City  

14th-century Southern India: a divine encounter sets a young girl’s unique destiny into motion. Pampa becomes a vessel for a goddess who foretells the rise of a great city called Bisnaga, the wonder of the world. Over two hundred and fifty years, Pampa’s life becomes interwoven with Bisnaga’s as she works to give women equal agency in a patriarchal society. But as rulers come and go, battles are won and lost, and allegiances shift, Bisnaga’s fate remains uncertain. This epic tale of history, power, and the struggle for equality is a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

Genres: Magical Realism, Historical Fantasy, Mythology

8. The Stolen Heir

In the first book of a new duology, a runaway queen and a reluctant prince are thrown together on a quest that could destroy them both. Atop the Ice Needle Citadel, Lady Nore uses an ancient relic to create monsters, while Suren, the child queen of the Court of Teeth, lives feral in the woods, haunted by her past. When Prince Oak appears, seeking her help, Suren must confront the horrors she left behind and guard her heart against the boy she once knew. A tale of magic, betrayal, and love in the opulent world of Elfhame.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy Romance, Fae & Magic

9. Song of Silver, Flame like Night

Discover the secrets of a fallen kingdom in this epic fantasy series inspired by ancient Chinese mythology and folklore:

Lan, a songgirl in the conquered city of Haak’gong, carries a mysterious mark on her arm that no one but her can see, let alone decipher. But when a practitioner named Zen notices her mark—and recognizes her hidden power—they set out to uncover the truth deep within the Last Kingdom’s pine forests and misty mountains. With the conqueror’s regime on their heels, Lan and Zen must keep their secrets as they climb toward destiny. Will they liberate their land … or destroy it? 

Genres: Young Adult, Dragons, Mythology, Romance

10. Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress lives a blissfully simple life on a secluded island where her days are spent collecting cups gifted by passing sailors and listening to stories spun by her friend Charlie. However, when Charlie sets sail with his father on a perilous journey to find a bride, tragedy strikes. Forced to leave behind her idyllic existence, Tress must take matters into her own hands and embark on a treacherous voyage to find the fabled Sorceress of the Midnight Sea. But in a world of deadly spore oceans and cutthroat pirates, can Tress summon the courage to navigate this perilous path and forge a new destiny for herself? The fate of her entire world rests on her journey – and every single drop of water could spell her demise. Perfect for fans of The Princess Bride, this epic tale is a must-read for anyone who loves swashbuckling adventure and epic fantasy.

Genres: High Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

11. Chain of Thorns (The Last Hours #3)

From her father’s murder, to a crumbling marriage, to being bound by an ancient demon, Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything. Hoping to forget her sorrows, she flees to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, but a new threat arises with Tatiana Blackthorn’s escape and London’s danger from the Prince of Hell, Belial. Cordelia returns to a London in chaos, and the revelation that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather puts the ones she loves in mortal peril. Facing Belial’s deadly army, Cordelia and her friends must muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust each other again to save their city and families.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fantasy

12. A Day of Fallen Night 

Take a new journey back to the enchanting world of Priory of the Orange Tree. Four women’s lives are intertwined, and their actions shape their world for generations. Tunuva Melim is a warrior of the Priory, training for fifty years to slay wyrms … that may never appear. Sabran the Ambitious hopes to save two realms from destruction with her marriage, while her daughter Glorian follows in the shadows. And Dumai has spent her life trying to wake the gods from their slumber, but when the Dreadmount erupts, must unite with the others to protect humankind from a terrifying threat.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult Romance, LGBT, Dragons

13. Godkiller

As a godkiller, Kissen loves her job … until she encounters Skediceth, the god of white lies, who Kissen can’t kill because of the god’s connection to a certain noble girl. Meanwhile, Elogast, a former warrior in the god war, is summoned back to the city he helped purge of a thousand shrines. As he travels, he meets a godkiller, a little girl, and a tiny god, who must not discover the true purpose of his journey. This self-contained epic fantasy is an impressive debut with a golden heart. 

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Adult, Mythology, Myth-Killers

14. Time Trials

Gifted linguist and former Egyptology scholar, Marty Cohen, leads a content life running a woodworking shop, far from academic strife, until mysterious visions disrupt his sleep, and beckon him back to Egypt. An off-the-grid dig has unearthed ancient texts of immense significance, promising a handsome reward for Marty’s expertise. Despite leaving academia, he can’t resist the temptation—or the money. As he delves into the texts, his visions intensify, leading him and a group of archaeologists on an astonishing journey to a protohistoric North Africa, which is rampant with monstrous adversaries. Here, they must become champions of Earth in a life-or-death struggle for humanity’s survival.

Genres: Egyptian Myth & Monsters, Time Travel, Monster Hunting Fantasy

15. The Will of the Many

A fugitive pretends to be an orphan, and lies his way into Catenan Academy. His mission: to solve a murder, find an ancient weapon, and unearth secrets with the power to fracture the Catenan Republic. Determined not to surrender to the oppressive Hierarchy, the fugitive must ascend the Academy’s ranks, maintaining a facade while battling those who seek to control or eliminate him. He must not let anyone know his true identity…

Genres: Epic Fantasy Mystery, Magical School, Underdog Fantasy

16. Defiant (Songs of Chaos #3)

Holt and his blind dragon, Ash, are summoned by Elder Dragon of Life, and must embark on a dangerous mission. Through steamy jungles and scorching islands, they encounter ancient magical secrets and dragons that challenge the historical separation of dragons and men. 

The Red Queen must keep pirates and mercenaries from closing in on her land. With her empire in turmoil, she must decide whether to unleash her devastating powers against mortal enemies or witness her people suffer. Osric seeks solace alongside his newly-bonded black dragon, healing internal wounds along the frontier. But inner peace still eludes him.

Dark powers creep across the lands, ignored while the clash between Elders and Paragons threatens kingdoms. The dragon riders must unite, or see their world fall into ruin. 

Genres: Dragon Riders, Progression Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

17. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries

Professor Emily Wilde is a brilliant scholar of faerie lore, but struggles with social situations (you might call her a curmudgeon) and prefers the company of books and the Fair Folk to people. When she arrives in the village of Hrafnsvik to study the elusive Hidden Ones, she has no interest in making friends with the gruff locals … or her new academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, who is both (insufferably) handsome and great at charming the locals. Yet, as she delves deeper into the faerie secrets of the forest, she finds herself perplexed by another mystery: who is Wendell Bambleby, really? In this charming and enchanting tale, Emily must navigate both the world of faeries and the complexities of human emotions.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Historical Fantasy

18. The Foxglove King

When she was 13, Lore escaped a death magic cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire, but her power keeps her tethered here. Now, she runs a poison business, but when her magic is revealed during a job, she’s taken by Presque Mort, a group working for the Sainted King. The king wants Lore to use her power to investigate strange deaths in villages, or face death. Lore enters the king’s court, where politics, religion, lies, and romance tangle her path. As she navigates the glittering society, her past in the catacombs—and her oldest enemies—draw near.

Genres: Adult Fantasy, Romance, Courtly Intrigue

19. Lost in the Moment Found (Wayward Children #8, Standalone)

In this standalone addition to the Wayward Children series, Antoinette discovers a shop where lost things go. That sock? Your missing headphones? You’ll find them here. Desperate to find her missing father, Antoinette embarks on a journey through infinite worlds, each with its own unique magic and danger. But as Antoinette moves further away from the shop, she realizes that leaving behind her childhood and innocence comes at a cost. Lost in the Moment and Found is a heartwarming and bittersweet tale about the power of love and the pain of growing up.

Genres: Young Adult, Portal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Novella

20. Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns #1.5)  

Elisabeth and Nathaniel are finally enjoying their new life together, when something strange happens at Thorn Manor. The estate’s wards, meant to keep them safe, are acting up and trapping the occupants inside. Elisabeth suspects it’s not a coincidence. With no way to contact the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas – along with their new maid Mercy – must work together to unravel the source of the malfunctioning wards before the Midwinter Ball. But with unexpected secrets lurking in the house, and their growing desire for each other causing, ahem, distractions , this proves no easy task. The house, it seems, requires a price. 

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy Romance, Cozy Fantasy

21. Untethered Sky

A thrilling epic fantasy fable about a daughter’s unwavering obsession to avenge her family’s death at the hands of manticores. In her quest, Ester joins the King’s Royal Mews, where she pairs with a fledgling, cold-hearted roc named Zahra to hunt the deadly monsters. Together, they embark on the empire’s most perilous manticore hunt, leading Ester to a journey of perseverance and acceptance that will forever change her life.

Genres: High Fantasy, Epic Adult Fantasy, Novella

22. Portal to Nova Roma: The Rhine (Portal to Nova Roma #3)

After conquering Carthage, Alexander struggles with the aftermath of war. He’s mentally exhausted and demonically corrupted. In his desperation, he turns to a mysterious, enigmatic prisoner who offers him a unique, risky form of power that could help him further his goals. On a journey to secure trade routes for Venice before the pirate threat returns, Alexander must confront his inner demons and find a way to heal his mind and body. Can he overcome the challenges ahead and claim the resources of the frontier?

Genres: Portal Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Adventure & Magic, Self-Published

23. Bloodcrete (The Weirkey Chronicles #6)

Reborn after a murderous betrayal, Theo is given a second chance at life—and a second chance to enter the Nine Worlds. Armed with the knowledge of his past life, he sets out to unravel the deception that cost him everything. As he climbs the ranks to Authority, Theo must navigate old rivalries, impending war, and a dangerous new material created by the Asplundat Movement: bloodcrete. No one truly knows how its use will change the worlds.

Genres: Reincarnation Fantasy, Progression Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

24. Cassiel’s Servant (Kushiel’s Legacy #1.5)

Return to the realm of Terre d’Ange in Cassiel’s Servant, a retelling of Kushiel’s Dart from the perspective of Joscelin, a warrior-priest and protector of Phèdre nó Delaunay. When both are betrayed, they must rely on each other to survive as they journey together to avert the conquest of Terre D’Ange. Joscelin’s journey shatters his body and mind but also brings him an impossible love that he will do anything to keep, even if it means breaking all vows and losing his soul. This epic hero’s journey is a must-read for fans of Kushiel’s Dart and new readers alike.

Genres: Adult Fantasy, Adult Romance, LGBT

25. A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2)  

In a kingdom held hostage by a cruel king, Keera, the king’s most trusted Blade, must navigate a world of political scheming and backstabbing as she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow to take down the oppressive regime from within. But with secrets and enemies lurking around every corner, Keera finds herself in more danger than she ever thought possible. As she battles her own grief and navigates the complexities of love, Keera must decide what she’s willing to risk in order to save her kingdom and those she loves. Will she be able to survive the high stakes of rebellion, or will she lose everything she’s fighting for?

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Fae

26. Clytemnestra

In Ancient Greece, a queen knows that she is either hated or forgotten. Born to a king but married to a tyrant, she has suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of her husband, including the sacrifice of their child. As she watches him wage war, she plots her revenge. But when her husband returns in triumph, she must become a woman of unparalleled strength and cunning to get what she wants. Full of power and prophecy, love and hatred, this novel blazes with passion, and thrilling retribution.

Genres: Mythology, Historical Fantasy

27. Of War and Ruin (The Bound and Broken #3)

An epic tale of sacrifice, courage, and resilience, written for fans of dark fantasy and bloody adventure. 

The city of Kingspass burns, but Calen refuses to give up hope. With a new ally at his side, he must fight his own demons and find the strength to lead those who need him most. Meanwhile, Ella struggles to understand the power that flows through her veins and the changes it brings. The Blood Moon rises, the balance of power shifts, and Epheria will never be the same. 

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Adult Fantasy, Dragons, Self-Published

28. A Thousand Li: The Third Realm (Book #8)

As Wu Ying, a cultivator on a journey to grow his god-like powers and reach the heights of the Heavens, ventures beyond the kingdom of Shen, he discovers that not all the governors and sects of the Middle Kingdom exist in harmony. As Wu Ying chases the traces of the Heaven’s Wind, grasping at the truth it so elusively dangles before him, he must also contend with his own place under the Heavens … or among them.

Genres: Cultivation, Xianxia Fantasy, Progession Fantasy, Indie-Published

29. Aiduel’s Sin (The Illborn Saga #2) 

The medieval nations of Angall are on the brink of a Holy War, and the four Illborn face massive challenges as they try to understand their growing powers and their true, supernatural identities. Arion and Allana find themselves on opposing sides, while Leanna becomes a target of the Holy Church (and the killers are already closing in). Corin must face a deadly new peril while coping with the aftermath of an attack on his wife. With mysteries still to unravel, the Illborn must navigate their choices and actions to shape their destinies.

Genres: High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Adult, Indie-Published

Find Your New Favorite Fantasy Book in 2023

This year is already bursting with wondrous tales, dazzling characters, and jaw-dropping worlds. Whether you’re looking for a new romantic thrill, stories of war-torn empires, or a curious, mystical mystery, read this list, and I think you’ll find something to love or inspire or help you live a new, magical life somewhere far away.

If I missed one of your favorite new fantasy books, let me know in the comments below. 

Happy reading 🙂

Recommended:

• Best Science Fiction Books | 2023
• Best Fantasy Books | 2022

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We’ve run through our favorite games , movies , and TV shows of 2022, and now it’s time to talk about our favorite science fiction and fantasy books of the year.

2022’s best SFF books feel like an apt reflection of the past few years, as so much has changed. It may come as no surprise that this year ushered in a tidal wave of terrifying gothics and hauntings — books where protagonists were trapped in by the spaces around them. Science fiction gave us visions of the future, from white flight and space exploration to hopeful philosophical ramblings about the nature of being alive to post-pandemic technofuturism. At the same time, much of this year’s best fantasy looked backward, retelling mythologies and critiquing institutions of power.

This list has a range of titles from beloved authors, impressive debuts, and short-story collections, that all share one thing in common: We absolutely loved the time we spent with them. And we hope you do too. The list is in reverse chronological order of release, so the most recently released books will be at the top — with honorable mentions at the end.

Africa Risen edited by Sheree Renée Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, and Zelda Knight

Africa Risen showcases some of the most talented contemporary speculative writers — ranging from established writers to debut authors — whose works are set in Africa and across the African diaspora. This large volume reimagines fantasy and science fiction with stories about capturing lost memories and minds, those of climate crisis, and interpretations of folklore and myth. Stories range from whimsical and imaginative to hefty and contemplative, and each is the perfect size to read over a morning commute or before bed (which is how I have been slowly savoring this book). The breadth of this anthology harkens back to the seminal Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction From the African Diaspora . Africa Risen ’s editors take care, in their introduction, to mention numerous other publishers and collections of short speculative fiction set in the African diaspora and written by Black authors — including independent presses, zines, and other short-story collections. As the editors write in their introduction: “Africa isn’t rising — it’s already here.” — Nicole Clark

Heart of the Sun Warrior (The Celestial Kingdom #2) by Sue Lynn Tan

Sue Lynn Tan’s debut, Daughter of the Moon Goddess , took the world by storm earlier this year. And she published the second in the duology this year as well, gifting us with a short wait and another romance- and action-packed adventure. In the first book, Xingyin, daughter of the moon goddess Chang’e, worked her way into the palace’s army in order to ensure her family’s survival — falling for Liwei the prince, son of the Celestial Emperor, in the process.

Heart of the Sun Warrior picks up right where the previous book left off, throwing Xingyin back into action. The Celestial Emperor once again found reason to punish the moon goddess and her daughter, forcing them to flee for their lives. Wenzhi attempts to curry Xingyin’s favor, even after his betrayals. It is unwise to attempt to outsmart the gods, but this is once again the choice our heroine is given. This sequel packs an impressive, near-breathless amount of plot into its pages, telling a tale of love for one’s family, and the quiet dignity of never giving up. — NC

The World We Make (Great Cities #2) by N.K. Jemisin

New York City may be the fifth character in Sex and the City , but it’s all six main characters in The World We Make . The conclusion to Jemisin’s Great Cities duology finds five of the city’s avatars still struggling to figure out how to stop the R’lyeh — a feat made more difficult without the aid of Staten Island, who remains allied with the enemy despite idly watching her borough’s boroughness be leached out of existence. The rest of the city is similarly threatened by a popular mayoral candidate whose campaign built on hateful rhetoric and gentrification threatens the very fabric — and existence — of the city. The battle for New York is thus fought across two planes in The World We Make , with some of the avatars focusing on the multidimensional fight for survival against an eldritch terror, and others standing off against Proud Men chanting “Make New York great again.” Subtle, this book is not. Though not as strong as the first installment in the duology, The World We Make still has enough grit, heart, and humor to propel you through to the very end. Though maybe I’m biased. I am a New Yorker, after all. — Sadie Gennis

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Bliss Montage is a departure from Ling Ma’s bestselling debut, Severance , in the best of ways. I was sucked into this collection of short stories from the very first page as Ma melds the fantastical with reality, serving it all in a witty deadpan. The opening paragraph from “Los Angeles” immediately sets the tone:

The house in which we live has three wings. The west wing is where the Husband and I live. The east wing is where the children and their attending au pairs live. And lastly, the largest but ugliest wing, extending behind the house like a gnarled, broken arm, is where my 100 ex-boyfriends live. We live in L.A.

Stories deftly blur the lines between reality and satire, borrowing from speculative fiction conventions to create something entirely new and satisfyingly odd. It is a must-read. — NC

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

The Spear Cuts Through Water is many things. At its core, it’s the tale of Jun and Keema, two strangers who help a fallen god escape her captivity at the hands of her cruel husband, the emperor, and their sons, aptly dubbed the Three Terrors. But Jun and Keema’s adventure is actually being acted out in a magical theater in another dimension hundreds of years later, with the book’s narrative winds between Jun and Keema’s story, the performance of it, and the experience of one man watching from the audience — though he’s fated to forget what he’s witnessed as soon as he leaves the theater.

The Spear Cuts Through Water recalls Gabriel García Márquez with its surreal fluidity, though the way Jimenez weaves together first-, second-, and third-person perspectives creates an immersive style just his own. And his decision to consistently disrupt the primary story with the flowing thoughts of surrounding characters gives you the sense that you’re floating through this world, both tethered to and set free by Jimenez’s mesmerizing prose.

So, as I said, The Spear Cuts Through Water is many, many things. It’s a spellbinding tribute to oral storytelling and folklore. It’s a thoughtful exploration of identity and family. But more than anything, The Spear Cuts Through Water is a love story, and one unlike anything you’ve read before. — SG

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

While the first Burning Kingdoms book was a beautifully lush piece of world-building and slow-burn romance, The Oleander Sword is a brutal epic that relentlessly builds toward utter devastation. The Jasmine Throne ends with Malini’s and Priya’s paths diverging, as Malini wages her vengeful war against her brother to claim the throne and Priya steps into her role as an Elder of Ahiranya. But when the two women see an opportunity to come together to help each of their people, the lovestruck pair leap at the chance to reunite and end Parijatdvipa’s reign. Malini’s brother is not the only threat facing the kingdom, though. The rot continues to spread throughout the kingdom, and new revelations about the Yaska leave Priya and Bhumika reevaluating their people’s history and relationship to their faith. A series already beloved for its thorniness, Suri muddies the dynamics further in The Oleander Sword as political plots, romantic desires, and religious beliefs intertwine and clash in in engrossing and often heartbreaking ways. — SG

Babel: Or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution by R.F. Kuang

In this masterful, lengthy book, R.F. Kuang sharply critiques British imperialism and the bureaucratic institutions that hold it up — particularly academic scholarship and monarchy. Historical fiction intertwines with fantasy, as a cohort of four students pursue translation studies at Oxford’s Babel. The end goal of their academic pursuits is to make magic-imbued silver for the crown. These magical silver bars are created through a process of translation — namely, that bit of meaning that’s lost between words in different languages, or as they’ve evolved over time.

One such example comes early in the book: the gulf between triacle and treacle , the former from Old French and Middle English with herbalist connotations of curing poisons and ailments. The contemporary in English is a kind of sweet and bitter syrup. This creates a silver bar with the power to heal, and that leaves a sweet aftertaste in the mouth. It is also the bar that Professor Lovell uses to save Robin Swift (this is the English name the boy chooses) from cholera in 1828, before whisking him from his home in Canton.

While studying at Babel, Robin and his cohort are given access to abundant resources they could have never dreamed of. At the same time, they see the ugly agenda of Oxford, and how even their mother tongues become tools of British imperialism. Their professors and classmates see the value in the silver they may produce, with their knowledge of such “exotic” languages, but view those who live in foreign countries as less than human and ultimately expendable. Robin and his friends must choose between two paths set before them: comfort and wealth in the bosom of the crown, or simply burning it all down. — NC

Shutter by Ramona Emerson

The National Book Award-winning novel follows a forensic photographer who — unfortunately for her — can see ghosts. The traumatized spirits haunt Rita at all hours, refusing to let her sleep and purposefully sabotaging her life. These hauntings are also what pushed her out of the Navajo reservation she grew up on, where even discussing death was seen as taboo. But no ghost has given her as much trouble as an alleged suicide victim, whose crime scene Rita is sent to photograph at the start of the novel. The rageful ghost is insistent that she was murdered and won’t stop terrorizing Ramona until her case is solved. Soon, Rita is in deep over her head as she finds herself immersed in a web of crime and corruption involving one of New Mexico’s top cartels.

A thrilling yet melancholy read, Shutter delivers on all levels. But be warned: If you can’t stomach too much gore, you might need to skim through the crime scene descriptions where Emerson’s own experience as a forensic photographer shines through in her grisly prose. — SG

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s newest novel is a retelling of the 1896 classic by H.G. Wells. But Moreno-Garcia sets it in 1871 in Yucatán, during the Caste War — a time when the Mayan people fought back against their Mexican and European oppressors.

As in her other works, this Gothic tale is told through the perspective of the young woman at its center. Sequestered in her father’s estate in the Yucatán Peninsula, Carlota Moreau lives alongside hybrid creatures, formed of animal and human DNA. She grows up alongside these hybrids, treating them as siblings, though the outside world would see them otherwise. She has long suffered from a “disease of the blood” that her father has treated with a regular injection of jaguar “gemmules.” To keep their work private, her father claims that he runs a sanatorium — attempting to hide the Lovecraftian horrors that lie within.

Carlota loves her home, and feels as if no other place would contain such natural beauty — though she begins to suspect all is not well. When Eduardo Lizalde, son of the doctor’s benefactor, visits the estate, her doubts only intensify. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau explores themes of colonization, class, and what it means to be human, all while being a suspenseful page turner. — NC

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Becky Chambers’ newest installment of her Monk and Robot series follows Sibling Dex and Splendid Speckled Mosscap’s journey through the wilds of future human civilization. A Psalm for the Wild-Built , the first in the series, details the context of this world. In the future, AI has gained sentience — and in response, humans decided to let them form agency and leave to build their own civilization in the wilderness.

Sibling Dex had been a Tea Monk, a profession that led them to human settlements; they would prepare tea and chat or offer guidance to those who sought their various brews. But one day the monk chose to eschew this path, leaving behind their profession to wander in the wilderness — where they stumbled upon Mosscap, a robot on a quest to learn about humans and their needs. In the first book, the two wander through uninhabited lands, discussing philosophical questions about the nature of being alive. In this second slim volume, the two finally enter a settlement of humans.

Chambers builds an alternate, gentler world than the one we live in — though it has its fair share of melancholy, sorrow, and prejudice. Through their questions back and forth, Dex and Mosscap get closer to the tender marrow of what keeps them going, and what their friendship might look like once their “quests” have come to a close. Chambers’ work has been called “hopepunk” by various critics, and this small novel continues on this theme. — NC

Speaking Bones by Ken Liu

I was dreading having to write this blurb because it’s incredibly intimidating — and I think, frankly, impossible — to do justice to Speaking Bones in a few hundred words or less. Though, my struggle is thematically aligned with one of the Dandelion Dynasty series’ larger points: that people’s truths are too complicated and contradictory to ever be fully captured. Often, the intricacies of people’s hearts, minds, and relationships become stripped of context, simplified, misinterpreted, or erased until what’s left is a cohesive, neatly wrapped-up history that’s easy to digest. But even within these stories, there’s truth and there’s power. And learning how to wield the power of storytelling is just as important in Speaking Bones as the ability to wield a sword, the might of a garinafin, or the grace of kings.

Speaking Bones is a detail-rich, multigenerational saga with a scope and ambition that would be unwieldy if not helmed by someone of Liu’s masterful talent. There are gods and war, political cunning and philosophical debates, pages upon pages of technical specifications for inventions, and dialogue that reads more like poetry. The questions the book raises and the empathy it extols are not things easily forgotten. But what has stayed with me the most is the gap between the characters’ stories that I read and the ways those stories get retold — within the book, but also outside it, as I try to share my love for this story with others. There’s so much that gets lost in that translation, but it doesn’t make either version any less true. — SG

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

This epic fantasy remixes tropes to create something entirely new and impossible to put down. As in other dystopias, society is separated by a strict class system — this time by blood color. Embers have red blood, which affords them the powers and privileges of blood magic. Dusters, the middle classes, have blue blood, while Ghostings, the servant class who are maimed at birth, have transparent blood.

Sylah was raised as a Duster and trained to overthrow the Embers by winning the Wardens’ annual trials. But when the rebellion was quashed — killing her family, or so she believed — she coped by turning to other vices, hoping to vanish into the background. All of this changes when she sneaks into an Ember princess’s quarters and gets roped right back in. The Final Strife sets its bureaucratic squabbles and a gripping love triangle against the backdrop of a deadly competition. It’s thrilling and entertaining from start to finish. — NC

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

If you loved Mexican Gothic , then The Hacienda will be right up your (haunted) alley. This Gothic is set at the lavish Hacienda San Isidro, in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence. Beatriz faces dire prospects — her father had been executed, and she and her mother are near penniless. When Don Rodolfo Solórzano proposes marriage, she feels as if her problems have been solved. She’ll turn Hacienda San Isidro into the home she and her mother have long craved, with bright windows and beautiful gardens.

But the Hacienda is not what it first appears. It is profoundly haunted, projecting visions of blood-soaked floors and walls caved in, blacking out the lights and rattling doors. In this tale, the monster is in the house — but the monster also is the house. Beatriz is abandoned without allies: Rodolfo has left on a business trip and his sister, who lives at the estate, turns her nose at Beatriz at every turn. Who will save her from this house? And who will give her and her mother a place to live if she cannot make this work? Only Padre Andrés, the young priest — with other secrets of his own — is there to help. — NC

Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Architects, an alien species of moon-sized planet destroyers, are back, and the one thing that used to ward them off is no longer effective. So, how does humanity respond? With infighting, power grabs, and petty squabbles. At the center of all this is Idris Tellemier, the only person to ever communicate with an Architect, who spends the majority of Eyes of the Void being bargained over, used, and kidnapped for political gain and protection. But while Idris is the one burdened with saving the world, his friends on the Vulture God are tasked with saving Idris. Eyes of the Void finds Solace, Kris, Kit, and Ollie (who rightfully gets her own POV chapters this time around) navigating the tense political atmosphere and facing down enemies ranging from the Architects to cultists to their own people in order to protect their unusual family.

Adrian Tchaikovsky has built a dizzyingly complicated narrative, and his inventive world-building gets a chance to shine in Eyes of the Void, as the Vulture God crew becomes further entangled with new characters, species, and cultures — most of whom the crew finds various ways to piss off. And though the book raises more questions than answers, the compounding mysteries raise the stakes to heart-pounding heights as Idris’ quest to learn how to stop the Architects unravels startling truths about the very makeup of the universe. — SG

The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne

In its second outing, The Bloodsworn Saga remains a merciless and brutal series filled with graphic action, impeccable world-building, and an ever-growing ensemble of characters who straddle the lines of morality. Only now, it’s no longer just about mortals fighting for power, revenge, or family. Gods have returned to Vigrið, throwing the balance of society into chaos. As many scramble to find footholds of power in the shifting world order, our original protagonists — Okra, Elvar, and Varg — continue resolutely down their paths to rescue and avenge those taken from them, even if that means fighting (or enslaving) a god. While characters’ storylines were largely separate in the first novel, here they weave in and out of each other’s lives as fate and (mis)fortune reveal how intricately their paths intertwined. Tightly paced and with invigorating action throughout, The Hunger of the Gods is the epic payoff to the foundation Gwynne meticulously laid down in The Shadow of the Gods and a thrilling setup for the series conclusion. — SG

The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

Like A Visit From the Goon Squad before it, The Candy House , the newest novel from Jennifer Egan, is written in the mode of its subject matter. While the 2010 outing’s connected-yet-discrete short stories functioned much like a mixtape, or an experimental album from a band that had gotten sick of releasing catchy singles, The Candy House functions more like the omniscient, hyper-reactive style of communication that defines social media, and the internet writ large.

Following ancillary characters from Goon Squad , the sort-of sequel focuses on a groundbreaking consciousness-sharing app, its celebrity creator, and the multifarious cast that gave rise to its existence. As in Goon Squad, and even Manhattan Beach , Egan is above deploying the ramifications of such a godlike technology for soapbox diatribes — instead, she explores her own winding maze of characters and conflicting interests with disgust, empathy, and some of the year’s best prose: ”My problem is the same one had by everyone who gathers information: What to do with it? How to sort and shape and use it? How to keep from drowning in it? Not every story needs to be told.”

Above all, The Candy House explores both the danger and the sublime in humans’ compulsion to share their lives with others. Weaving stories from dozens of points of view in New York, the redwood forests, and the deserts of the American Southwest, among many others, it’s a sobering reminder that the connective technology — the “social media” — that could either save or ruin us is already here. — Mike Mahardy

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Emily St. John Mandel has demonstrated her talent for penning interlacing stories, with both Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel introducing their casts in piecemeal fashion, slowly revealing how each of these characters know each other. Sea of Tranquility is even more sprawling, stretching from the 1910s and into the further future, a time when people live in moon colonies. The book also creates an official Mandel multiverse , if that’s your thing, with characters from The Glass Hotel serving as some of the novel’s primary focuses.

My favorite part of Sea of Tranquility is its wholesale embrace of one of my favorite science fiction tropes. It’s a time travel story with a number of well-plotted turns, all in Mandel’s fluid, introspective writing style. It’s a great read for anyone who loves The Matrix movies or enjoyed Disney’s Loki (but maybe wished it stuck the landing a bit better). — NC

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke

Budapest is where Csilla’s family has lived for hundreds of years. It’s also where they died. In 1956, seven years after her parents were executed by the Soviet police, Jewish newspaper typist Csilla and her aunt are preparing to flee to Israel. But after chance encounters with a student revolutionary and an angel of death, Csilla begins questioning what means more to her: fighting to survive or fighting for a better life.

With its richly drawn characters and gutting depictions of post-Holocaust trauma and antisemitism, This Rebel Heart is a grounded, often heartbreaking account of Jewish life under Russian occupation. As Csilla finds herself on the forefront of the Hungarian revolution, she navigates the dueling realities that have shaped her — remembering and forgetting, survival and freedom, and loving a city that has never loved her back. Elegantly blending history with magical realism and Jewish folklore, Katherine Locke has created a profound tribute to those willing to risk everything for hope. — SG

The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories edited and collected by Yu Chen and Regina Kanyu Wang

Chinese science fiction has become increasingly popular in the United States, as Ken Liu (an accomplished author in his own right) translated Liu Cixin’s groundbreaking Three-Body Problem into English. Since then, Chinese speculative fiction has gained popularity, making way for other literary talent.

The Way Spring Arrives is a collection of 17 Chinese science fiction and fantasy stories — and all of them have been written, translated, and edited entirely by women and nonbinary writers. Curated by Yu Chen and Regina Kanyu Wang, the excellent collection spans topics and tropes. — NC

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi

In the near future, a mass white flight to space colonies has left the largely poor, BIPOC population to eke out an existence on Earth, which has become uninhabitable after ecological and human-made disasters. But though the powerful and privileged abandoned the planet, the system they profit off of remains intact. Now, years later, the space colonists have begun to return — some to gentrify the neighborhoods their ancestors deserted and others as trauma tourists seeking to gawk at those who’d been left behind. A nonlinear series of vignettes, Goliath switches between several characters’ perspectives, but the main focus is on a group of stackers, a Black and brown crew of workers who scrape by salvaging bricks from demolished buildings to send to the colonies. With no hope of circumstances improving, they’ve long ago come to accept that grief will be the primary constant in their inevitably short lives — if the cancerous air doesn’t kill them, the automated drone police will. But while so much of their lives are defined by pain, the stackers keep moving forward, searching for meaning and fleeting moments of joy in a world designed to destroy them.

Impressive in its scale, ambition, and range of voice, Goliath is a shattering work that is so much more than the sum of its parts. In addition to the stackers, Tochi Onyebuchi weaves in tales of a gay white couple leaving the colonies to play pioneer on Earth, a journalist hoping to tell the stackers’ story (but really, hoping to assuage her white guilt), an incarcerated Yale grad who becomes a negotiator in a prison protest, and a Black marshal dragging a slaver across the West to retrieve the body of a murdered boy. Goliath is simultaneously sprawling and intimate, exploring racism, classism, gentrification, the prison system, and the climate crisis through brief moments in these largely disconnected lives. But taken together, these small moments add up to a powerful look at America’s broken system and the harrowing trajectory we find ourselves on. — SG

Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor

If the first two installments in The Nsibidi Scripts series were about Sunny discovering and exploring her identity, Akata Woman is about her defining it. The inventive, adventurous novel follows Sunny during a period of great growth as she and Chichi are forced to uphold their bargain with the giant spider Udide to return her stolen ghazal. With Orlu and Sasha tagging along, the coven’s treacherous journey to retrieve the ancient scroll leads them to discover breathtaking new worlds and the increasing limits of their juju abilities. But as Sunny strains to keep up with her rapidly evolving powers, she must also face the growing fracture in her relationship with her spirit face, Anyanwu.

Being doubled and being a free agent both carry heavy burdens in Leopard culture, but throughout Akata Woman , Sunny discovers a strength and comfort in who she is and what she can do. It’s yet another beautiful leg in Sunny’s coming-of-age journey, made all the more impactful by Nnedi Okorafor’s rhythmic prose. — SG

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Sequoia Nagamatsu’s How High We Go in the Dark is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year so far — and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s my absolute favorite by the end of the year. Tender and dystopian, the pandemic novel is told in a series of vignettes, each exposing a different pocket of future society — and eventually connecting through characters and circumstances.

Nagamatsu sharply paints a picture of society inevitably building industry out of grief, as people fight for basic human dignity and struggle to hold onto memories of loved ones. It’s an ambitious critique of late-stage capitalism, wrapped up in a series of family dramas that sound wild out of context: a robo-dog toy that contains recordings of a deceased mother’s lullabies, a euthanasia state park for children whose parents want them to have happy final memories, and tech-bro-created funereal currencies are just a few of the scenarios. — NC

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

This heartfelt, lyrical fantasy follows Xingyin, a young immortal raised in secret by her mother Chang’e, the moon goddess exiled to a life of solitude by the cruel Celestial Emperor. But when Xingyin’s existence is discovered, she must flee the only home she’s ever known and carve a new path for herself while hiding the truth of who she is.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess sweeps through the years of Xinglin’s journey with efficient, effortless speed, chronicling her evolution from a sheltered child to the Celestial prince’s unlikely but dearest companion and a decorated archer serving the very emperor she despises. All the while, Xingyin must juggle the desires and duties she develops in her new life with her long-held determination to free her mother from under the emperor’s thumb. A story about how far we go for love and the painful choices we must make along the way, Daughter of the Moon Goddess weaves together Chinese mythology, court intrigue, romance, action, and betrayal into one of the year’s most exciting debuts. –SG

Runners-up:

• House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
• The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang
• The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid
• What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
• Fruiting Bodies: Stories by Kathryn Harlan
• Walk the Vanished Earth by Erin Swan
• Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky #2) by Rebecca Roanhorse
• The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe
• Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
• Scattered All Over the Earth by Yōko Tawada, translated by Margaret Mitsutani
• Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
• The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Beyond the Bookends

A Book Blog for Women and Moms who Love to Read

Ultimate List of Best Adult Fantasy Novels to Read in 2024

Fantasy novels have always been my favorite type of books to read. YA fantasy books have taken the world by storm in recent years. But what if YA fantasy feels too young? We made a list of the best adult fantasy novels.

Even though fantasy may not be for everyone all the time, some of our fantasy picks are so brilliant and readable, I think this list has something for everyone. What are the best adult fantasy novels? We will let you decide!

*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.

Table of Contents

Best Adult Fantasy Books to Read Now

Best of 2024 // best of 2023 // fantasy romance // witch books // vampire // historical fantasy // mermaid // greek mythology // magical realism // circus // adult dystopian // paranormal // pirate // diverse // fantasy series // dark academia, best fantasy books of 2024.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) by Heather Fawcett

The first book in this series was one of my favorites of the year last year and I had high hopes for this book. It did not disappoint!

Emily Wilde is an expert in faerie folklore and has written an encyclopedia on the subject. Now, she is trying to make a map of the realms of faerie in the hope of finding a door to their land.

Brambleby, her colleague turned boyfriend who also happens to be the banished faerie king, is accompanying her on her quest. The only problem is that he is on the run from assassins sent by his mother and Emily cannot understand why now.

Why I Love It: This is a historical fantasy that has the feel of fiction and would be perfect for someone new to the fantasy realm. However, die-hard fantasy lovers will also adore this book. This book has the feel of a historical fiction with the perfect touch of magic. I recommend this book for anyone who loves Alice Hoffman’s book Magic Lessons (the prequel to Practical Magic) #gifted

Find This Book In: Best New Fantasy Books 2024

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Misery Lark is the daughter of a Vampyre councilman who is being forced into marriage with their mortal enemy (the Weres) to form a peace treaty between the two species. She has been living with humans and trying to live her life under the radar.

Now, she must move into Were territory with her husband, Lowe Moreland, the Alpha of the Weres. She also has her reasons for going into Were territory and as long as she can stay under the radar, she should be able to stay alive. After all, the last Vampyre/ Were marriage ended in a deadly and bloody battle. This paranormal romance is SPICY. If Ali Hazelwood’s last books made you blush, this one will give your face a sunburn.

Find this book In: Ali Hazelwood Books / Adult Fantasy Books / New Romance Books 2024 / Best New Fantasy Books

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

I love Greek mythology retellings and recently have started reading mythology retellings from other cultures too! Outside of Marvel’s Thor movies, I don’t know much about Norse mythology, so I was particularly eager to dive into this book.

The first in a trilogy, the story follows Freya, who goes from being a fishwife to the kingmaker after her goddess blood is discovered. Sworn in oath to one man; but burning with passion for another, Freya is one of the fiercest heroines I’ve ever read.

Why I Love It: This STEAMY romantasy is filled with blood lust, battle scenes, and world-building. I was transfixed by Jensen’s ability to weave such a mythical world. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, especially after the way this one ended!!

Find this book in Fantasy Books / Books set in Winter / Best New Fantasy Books 2024

Best Fantasy Books for Adults 2023

Fourth Wing (Empyrean Series Book #1) by Rebecca Yarros

If you have not heard of this book and love fantasy, this is the book for you. Don’t be intimidated by the length of this dragon book for adults, I started and finished this 528-page bad boy in a day and a half. I cannot remember the last time I did that!

Violet Sorrengail had spent her life studying to be a scribe until her father died and her mother, the commanding general, ordered her to join the dragon riders. Violet will become one of the hundreds of candidates who fight to the death to be a part of this elite group.

Unlike the other candidates who have worked towards this their whole lives, Violet is small and brittle and never meant for this to be her path. And other candidates do not have the children of rebel leaders waiting to take revenge.

This adult fantasy book has everything and I loved every second. It lives up to the hype and then some. There are some very spicy parts of this romance toward the end so I would agree with the adult rating on this book!

Find this book in Adult Fantasy Books / Fourth Wing Series in Order / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing / Grumpy Sunshine Romance

Starling House for Alix E. Harrow

October 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

I read this book from the New York Times best-selling author of Ten Thousand Doors of January and I absolutely loved every minute of it. Opal is a high school dropout who would do anything for her brother Jasper. She is determined to get him out of Eden Kentucky- the small town that is plagued with bad luck.

When Opal finds a job working at Starling House, the home of E. Starling, the author of The Underland who disappeared more than one hundred years ago, it seems too good to be true. The house is steeped in rumors of hauntings and strange things happening. And many of these rumors surround the house’s mysterious owner Arthur Starling.

This is an adult fantasy book that has a little bit of everything. It is part haunted house book, part fairy tale, part love story, and entirely a fast-paced, page-turning delight.

Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel by Brandon Sanderson

If you love fantasy books of any kind, stop now and make time to read this fantastic book. This is the book that you would get if The Princess Bride had a book baby that empowered women everywhere to be the heroes in their own story, seek out adventure, and be brave enough to become who they were intended to be.

Tress has grown up on her tiny island with her one friend Charlie, who is also the Duke’s son, to keep her company. When the Duke takes Charlie away and he doesn’t return, Tress sets off to rescue him from the Sorceress who lives on the deadly Midnight Sea. She will encounter pirates, talking rats, betrayal, love, and friendship on her voyage.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. All the stars to this cozy book. While technically this is a fantasy book for adults, it is appropriate for a young adult or teen audience as well.

Find this book in Pirate Books / YA Fantasy / Best of 2023

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

I loved this vampire book. It was an absolute delight to read and very steamy in parts which I was not expecting. This book was so charming, funny, and such a nice change from the usual vampire/ human trope. This adult fantasy novel was a fun and quick read and is a perfect book for fall.

When …. needs a place to live and finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment, she has no choice but to take it. The only other choice is to move into her best friend’s couch. Soon, she discovers that her new roommate is a vampire who needs someone to teach him how to blend in with the 21st century. #gifted

The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Clementine has had her heart broken one too many times. She has inherited her beloved aunt’s apartment and is constantly mourning her loss. When she comes home one day and finds a man sitting there, she realizes that he exists seven years in the past.

And, the more time they spend together, the more she realizes she is falling for him. But she can never figure out when their paths will collide! This is a fantastic pick if you are looking for romantic comedy books.

Dead Romantics ( GMA Book Club Pick July 2022 ) was one of my favorite books last year and this book did not disappoint! This is such an adorable time travel romance book and is perfect for our ultimate beach reads 2023. I needed to include it in our list of adult fantasy novels as well! And if you are not a fantasy lover, you can definitely call this a magical realism book!

Adult Fantasy Romances Novels

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

What started as a TikTok series, ultimately turned into this unique fantasy romance novel. It’s all about Evie, a down-on-her-luck peasant who stumbles upon the village villain and ultimately becomes his assistant.

Soon, she’s managing the Villain’s day and trying not to fall in love with him as she steps over dead bodies and creepy critters. It’s the ultimate grumpy-sunshine romance that will have you rooting for the bad guys for once!

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne

I read this adult fantasy novel just after Halloween and I rather wish I had started it a few days before the holiday. It’s truly a perfect Halloween book !

It’s also a classic retelling as we get to see the story of Dr. Frankenstein with a twist. This story has his younger sister, Angelika, at the heart of the story as she improves upon his creature with an invention of her own.

The problem is that she has fallen for her monster! Will their love be able to survive?

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

This is the most charming Halloween romance book about witches EVER. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it, but it’s perfect for the spooky season and a perfect book for fall.

Nine years ago Rhys Penhallow broke Viviane Jones’ heart and so she cursed him. Now he’s back in the town his family founded to infuse magic back into the ley lines but everything goes wrong!

As his curse takes over the town, Rhys and Vivi have to work to end the curse and restore the right magic back to the town…if they can keep their rekindled romance at bay long enough!

This is one of the most fun urban fantasy romance books on this list. This is one of the adult fantasy novels you will not want to miss. If you love second chance romance books, this is such a great pick.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

This book has a cult-like following for a reason. The first book in the series is a loose fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in the world of Prythian. Magical creatures, humans, and fae are all prominent in the book.

When Feyre kills a wolf in the words, a creature arrives to her house to drag her to a magical land that she has only heard about in stories told to terrify children. Now, she is to remain a captor of Tamlin, a fae, as retribution.

This is a fast-paced, addicting, fantasy romance series with a love triangle that develops by the end of the novel. Book two is jaw-dropping! This series is on its way to becoming a classic that you will want to binge in one week.

While this book is technically a YA fantasy series, the books become very steamy and we see this as one of the best fantasy books for adults as well. We are so excited this is going to be one of the Hulu book adaptations.

Find this book in Books Like ACOTAR / Sarah J. Maas Books / Enemies-to-Lovers / YA Fantasy / Best Romance Novels of all Tim e .

Ultimate List of YA Fantasy

If fantasy books are your favorite books, then these are the perfect book lists for you. We carefully divided them into sub-genres.

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Witch Books for Adults

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness

Diana Bishop is a witch who accidentally recovers an ancient book that has been missing for hundreds of years. In doing so, she triggers her long-forgotten magic and opens the door for vampires, witches, and demons to search out Diana and the book.

This urban fantasy book about secret societies, witches, vampires, and more is a blend of heart-pounding action, historical fiction, and romance with the perfect mix of fantasy as well.

Why We Love This Book: If you love the witch aspect of Harry Potter, Vampires, fantasy books, or time travel books then you will love The All Souls trilogy. This adult fantasy novel explores the history of witches, demons, and vampires. This series reads like a historical fiction and we are obsessed. Find this book in Books Like A Discovery of Witches / Best Fantasy Books for Adults / Books About Witches / Adult Books Similar to Harry Potter / Books About Libraries

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

This book for fall is definitely a feel-good book of the season. Mika Moon knows that she must hide her magic and stay away from other witches so their powers do not draw the attention of other people. She also knows that witches are destined to be orphans, a very lonely existence.

When she is asked to come and teach magic to three young witches, she finds the life that she had always dreamed of, even if it is temporary. But, does it have to be? Can she find the life she always wanted?

I listened to this charming witch book in one day and loved it. This adult fantasy book is a delightful pick from our list of ultimate beach reads 2023 and if you were waiting to read this one, it is a great book for fall.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

For years, the Owens women have known that their bad luck is because of a curse. This book is the first book in the Practical Magic series. I just adore this tale of magic, family, and sisterhood. At this point, this is one of the best urban fantasy books and it is truly iconic.

Gillian and Sally are sisters who have been raised by their two aunts. They both want to leave their small Massachusetts town. But, when Gillian gets into trouble, she runs to Sally for help.

The trouble comes back to haunt them and when a hunky police chief comes to town, the sisters try hard to cover up their family secrets. The powerful bond between the Owens sisters brings this story to life and is a must for a list of books about sisters. This is the first published book in the Practical Magic series and the one I recommend you read first.

If you love adult fantasy books, check out: Practical Magic Books in Order and More Witchy Books for 2023 . This is a must-read if you love witch books and my favorite of all the Alice Hoffman Books .

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This is a fairy tale retelling of the story of King Arthur, featuring the Lady of the Lake, Paganism vs. Christianity, and an epic struggle for power.

Merlin and the Lady of the Lake practice pagan witchcraft, as they try to keep the old ways alive against the new religion gaining popularity, the choices they make for Arthur’s kingdom inspire the tale we know so well.

Why I Loved it: This was my first high fantasy book series, which I routinely think about. I read it in middle school (which I absolutely shouldn’t have) and devoured this tome in days. It captivated my imagination unlike anything I had ever read before.

The mini-series adaptation of this adult fantasy book is wonderful too and well worth the watch! It’s perfect for our list of Cornwall Books. If you love witch books, you will love this pick.

Find this book in Cornwall Books / Fairy Tale Retellings / Lake Books / Adult Fantasy Novels / Witch Books

Weyward by Emilia Hart

This is such a well-thought-out book and one of the best witch books I have read in a while. This adult fantasy book follows three Weyward women. In 2017, Kate is fleeing an abusive partner to her great-aunt’s cottage. In 1619, Altha is awaiting her own witch trial and in 1942 we meet Violet whose father keeps her trapped in her house because she cannot fit into what society expects of her.

Each of these women finds themselves and who they are as the story progresses and I found myself completely sucked in. I loved this debut urban fantasy novel and I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author. It is also a perfect book to read if you love the Practical Magic Series or the All Souls Trilogy . If fantasy books are your favorite, you will love this pick from ultimate beach reads 2023.

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

I am a huge fan of Ms. Marais’ writing. I read her previous two books and was so excited to read this adult fantasy book because fantasy is my favorite genre. This book did not disappoint. The writing is beautiful and very much Marais’ style and the witches in this book are hilarious. They are witty and funny and there is never a dull moment in the Manor.

The magic in this book is woven seamlessly into the story that has non-stop surprises. The book begins with the people of the town descending onto the manor with a wrecking ball to destroy it and the distillery and leave the witches homeless. They are left with less than two weeks to save their house but in order to do so, they must reveal long-kept secrets.

I do not want to give anything away. This family drama book made me laugh out loud often and shed a few tears as well. I absolutely loved this witch book and it is a definite must-read from our list of adult fantasy novels.

For more adult fantasy books like these, check out our list of Witch Books

Vampire Novels for Adults

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

I do not usually like horror but I love thrillers, book clubs, and vampires so I decided to read this urban fantasy book. I absolutely loved every minute- even when I was completely scared out of my wits. This vampire book will have you on your toes.

This book really is Steel Magnolias meets Dracula. Patricia is a housewife with two kids who don’t appreciate her and a husband who travels a lot. She spends a lot of her time caring for her senile mother-in-law who lives with them. When her elderly neighbor attacks her one night, James comes to the rescue. James seems well-read and well-traveled but Patricia is convinced he is a monster in disguise.

Patricia knows what she sees but nobody else agrees with her. The psychological warfare in this adult fantasy book is next-level creepy – it definitely earns its spot on our best books of 2020 list and is one of the best urban fantasy books I have read! Be warned that this pick from adult fantasy novels is scary and creepy but is one of the best books for fall!

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1) by Charlaine Harris

I watched this show before I knew that it was an adult fantasy book series and then I obviously had to read these vampire books as well. Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress at a bar in her small town in Louisiana. She is quiet and keeps to herself except for the fact that she can read people’s minds.

When Bill Compton comes into the bar one night, Sookie cannot hear anything he is thinking and she is quickly infatuated. The feeling is mutual. But when murders start taking place and the two suspects are Bill and Sookie’s womanizing brother, Sookie starts to question her choices. There is nothing PG about this steamy urban fantasy romance series.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

A friend who is an avid fantasy reader recommended this book to me. I had never heard of this series before but, I really enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read the next one in the series. This is the first book in the 17-book series, The Dresden Files.

Wizards, Vampires, and warlocks are all a part of this book in which Harry Dresden is consulting with the Chicago PD on a homicide committed with magic. This is a dark urban fantasy series that will keep you turning pages. If you love vampires, this is one of the fantasy books for adults that is a must-read.

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice

This is the story of a 200-year-old vampire named Louis who is telling the story of his life to a reporter. He tells the tale of his life with the Vampire Lestat who was his maker.

Louis’s life has been filled with turmoil as he tries to come to terms with who he is and what he must do to survive. His story is a story of loss, love, and danger. This vampire book is a classic story for a reason. Anne Rice is the queen of adult fantasy books with this book.

For more books like these, check out our list of Vampire Books

Best Adult Historical Fantasy Novels

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #1)

How do we love Outlander? We cannot count the ways. There is a reason this is one of my favorite books of all time .

This epic story begins in 1945 when Claire Randall and her husband take a second honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands to celebrate being reunited after the war. When Claire touches one of the standing stones, she is transported to 1743.

This is when the real story begins. In order to stay safe as an English woman in Scotland, she must depend on Jamie Frasier for protection. This book is definitely at the top of our list of best romance novels of all time but you will love it equally if you love historical fiction , magical realism , romance , or witches . This is one of the iconic and epic time travel romance books that has it all and is perfect for a list of books like A Discovery of Witches . It was easy to include this on the best fantasy books for adults as well.

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

I was so excited about this new book written by the author of The Lost Apothecary, a book on our Ultimate List of Best Historical Fiction Books , and this newest book did not disappoint!

In 1873, The Seance Society is looking for answers about the death of their leader and turned to a renowned spiritualist for help. Out of loyalty and obligation, she leaves Paris and returns to London with her trainee, a woman seeking answers about her dead sister.

If you love magical realism books, this book is a perfect pick. The story takes twists and turns and kept me turning the pages. It was just too good not to include it in our list of best fantasy books for adults as well. If you are looking for a great fall read, this one is for you.

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman

During WWII, in Germany, Hanni Kohn knows that she must do something to save her daughter from the Nazis  In desperation, she seeks out someone who can make a Golem take her daughter to safety. 

Instead of the Rabbi, it is his daughter Ettie who helps and creates Ava. The life of the three women is forever intertwined. This beautiful story about love, life, and friendship is more than I could have hoped for.

I love Alice Hoffman books and for me, this was her best book yet.  Every time I read a book, it becomes my new favorite. If you love fantasies and are looking for historical fiction, this pick from fantasy books for adults is an amazing book. The fact that it is also a book about WWII makes it that much better!

Darker Shade of Magic: A Novel (Shades of Magic Book 1) by V.E Schwab

In this historical fantasy, travel between parallel Londons is possible by powerful magicians known as Antari. Kell is one of the last Antari who lives in Red London and who serves as an ambassador. He is also a smuggler.

When Kell is robbed by Delilah, a pickpocket and petty thief, he is forced to bring her on an adventure she always dreamed of despite the life of deadly peril.

This is London like you have never imagined it before. The characters, while flat at first, begin to have more depth as the story continues. I think this adult fantasy novel is slowly becoming a classic.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

Rebecca Ross’s historical fantasy books are sweeping magical stories. This particular one is about the island of Cadence and its warring inhabitants. It’s also a love story between Jack, a bard who can sing to the elements, and Adaira, the heiress of the East.

The story slowly builds but ends on a cliffhanger, which concludes in the second book of the duology. The story is perfect for fans of books like Outlander because it’s inspired by Scotland. This is one of our favorite books on the list of adult fantasy novels and books set in Scotland.

For more books like these, check out our list of Historical Fantasy Books to Capture your Imagination .

Mermaid Books for Adults

Hex for Danger (An Enchanted Bay Mystery #2) by Esme Addison

I did not read the first book in this series but now I want to go back and read it. It was not necessary to understand and enjoy this cozy mystery that is also an adult fantasy novel.

Aleksandra runs an herbal apothecary with her family in the hall town of Bellamy Bay. Other than the fact that Alex and her family are descendants of mermaids and they can do a little magic, Bellamy Bay is a perfectly ordinary town.

When the town arranges for a well-known artist to paint a mural for the town’s annual mermaid festival and she turns up dead, secrets threaten to spill.

The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

Flora and her brother are pirates on the Dove. In order to protect her identity, she has become Florian and is tasked with protecting Lady Evelyn on the ship until the time she can be sold.

Flora does not intend to fall in love with Evelyn and when the two free a captured mermaid, they change the fate of more than just her.

I am so glad that someone recommended this adult fantasy book to me. It is one of those books that really did not get the visibility that it should have. This book is so well written and is filled with magic while also exploring the power of love.

Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Coralie Sardien spends her days in a Coney Island freak show called the Museum of Extraordinary Things. There, appears as the mermaid in the museum run by her father. She is one of many attractions in the show.

One night, Coralie meets Eddie Cohen who has run away from his Orthodox community. What follows is a love story during tumultuous times in New York history.

This historical fiction carnival book is a must-read and one of the best books set in New York I have read. Alice Hoffman writes some of the best adult fantasy novels on this list. This is one of my favorite Alice Hoffman books .

The Mermaid’s Daughter by Anne Claycomb 

Kathleen has always suffered horrible stabbing pain in her feet. There is no explanation for her constant pain. Both her mother and grandmother committed suicide and a young age and now, at 25 with a promising career ahead of her, her girlfriend Harry is worried about her.

This modern retelling of Hand Christian Andersen’s story the Little Mermaid is a powerful adult fantasy novel that you will not want to put down.

Best Greek Mythology Novels

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

I’m such a huge fan of historical fantasy stories about the Greek Gods. I find the mythology to be captivating, so it’s not a surprise that I loved Saint’s take on Ariadne’s story.

Ariadne is the child of the king of Crete who goes on to become the wife of the god, Dionysus. The story tells her story, as well as the stories of Theseus, the Minotaur, and Phaedra, all big names in mythology.

If you loved The Odyssey or A Thousand Ships, pick up this pick from adult fantasy novels!

Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe, the nymph who is a footnote in mythology and gets overshadowed in The Odyssey. I was fascinating to see this goddess get her own moment in the sun. I can’t believe I knew so little about her before this story.

Why I Love it: The Odyssey is one of my all-time favorite books and I think I read Du’Laires Book of Greek Myths more than any other book when I was in middle school. I ADORED Circe because it has all my favorite things about Greek mythology but for adults!

Find this book in Greek Mythology / Books Set at the Beach / Classic Book Retellings / Best Books 2018

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

I absolutely loved this take on the traditional Greek stories surrounding the Trojan War. They are all told by the women in the mythology which is certainly a perspective that doesn’t get much play.

Penelope’s chapters in particular had me laughing out loud. I highly recommend this classic retelling to Greek mythology lovers and lovers of adult fantasy books.

The Odyssey by Homer

There is a reason this boat book is one of my favorite books of all time. I find this classic tale to be so entertaining. This is one of the OG adult fantasy novels.

My 11th grade english teacher taught it to us then had our class act it out and shoot it as a movie. As a result,   I adored the story so much that I used to reread it every summer. It’s a classic for a reason. Odysseus’s struggle to get home to his family is truly epic. Those Greeks sure knew what they were doing.

I’m constantly picking up something new and reading it along with A Thousand Ships and The Lost Sisterhood gave me so much to think about.

Find this book in Literary Classics / Long Books / Boat Books

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

I was expecting a modern retelling of Hades and Persephone’s love story from the description – I was not expecting a book like Fifty Shades of Grey!

WHEW… this was one STEAMY story! I wasn’t quite prepared for how devious Hades was in this version. I did love seeing Olympus in a modern setting and I really enjoyed how Hades and Persephone outwitted the rest of the 13 in this grumpy sunshine romance.

While I liked the story a great deal, if you aren’t into erotica, you won’t want to pick up this adult fantasy novel. This is the first in a series of Greek mythology retellings and is a great urban fantasy romance book.

Adult Circus Fantasy Novels

The Inheritance of Orquidé Divine by Zoraida Córoda

I do not know how to begin to describe this wonderful and complex adult fantasy. The characters are deep and the magic from this story seeps from the pages

The Montoya family are summoned to their grandmother’s house to collect their inheritance. They are hoping to obtain answers from her before she dies. They are used to living with secrets and unexplained phenomenon.

But when Orquidea Divina is transformed into a tree before their eyes, they must seek the answers themselves.

Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwall

Rosie and Ivory have grown up in their mother circus and are returning to Port’s End. It is a place closest to any home after years traveling. As the circus prepares for opening night, fundamentalists seek to stop the show for continuing.But, as the show begins, a massive fire strikes the tent and that is only the beginning.

This book is a queer re-telling of Snow White and Rose Red (not to be confused with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). It has been thoroughly reimagined and transformed in this book.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Every word captivated me from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. The story was magical- both literally and figuratively and the descriptions are so vivid.

The stage has been set for a magical competition between the pupils of two very powerful magicians. The stage: the night circus. The pupils, a man and a woman, are unsure of the rules, unsure how to win or when the competition will end. As the competition continues, the opponents fall in love- a situation that only complicates their predicament.

This is magic in a way that I never imagined it before. The story has twists and surprises that left me wondering how I didn’t see what was right there all along.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

Have you ever loved a book so much that you couldn’t put it down but also didn’t want it to end? That is how I felt about book! ⁣In 2004 Lara Barnes’s fiancé disappears on their wedding day. As Lara searches for answers, she starts to unravel a family mystery that goes back to 1925. ⁣This book has everything. It’s a dark fantasy filled with mystery, disappearances, and magic. I don’t want to give more detail because I don’t want to spoil any part of this book- it is my favorite fantasy of 2021 so far!⁣

For more books like these, check out our list of Circus and Carnival Books .

Magical Realism Books for Adults

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I loved Matt Haig’s last book and was so excited to read this one. I loved it even more- it is definitely one of my favorite books of the year and my favorites on this list of adult fantasy novels.   

This is a library that has books filled with the infinite possibilities of the lives not lived.  Have you ever wondered about a choice, or a path not taken? When Nora finds herself in the library she is forced to face the choices that she made in her life- relationships, education, profession…This is a magical book and I loved every minute of it

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

I absolutely loved this book and it was one of the first reviews we ever did on the blog. I love the way this book examined the underground railroad with a touch of magical realism.

The story is about Cora and Caesar, two run-away slaves in the south who run away to the underground railroad which, in this book, is an actual railroad.

Each stop along the way is reminiscent of a different place in history and it is interlaced with actual ads placed for runaway slaves. This book is profound and beautiful and a must read.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

To say that I was excited about Erin Morgenstern‘s new book might be the understatement of the year.  How to describe this book that is an ode to storytelling…..it’s a love story to books, a fantasy within a love story within a fairy tale.

The writing is beautiful- Erin’s signature style of vivid imagery left me completely captivated. I listened with Libro.fm and I read it as well. I truly loved every minute of this novel. It was pointless to predict the story. So, I let it take me away with the lyrical prose. I adored it and recommend it for anyone that loved The Night Circus.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix. E Harrow

I’ve never read a book quite like this and I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised. The writing is subtle, the plot is driven by character and intrigue rather than action-packed suspense.  It has a feel of historical fiction about it that lovers of this genre may love this book as well. 

When January is seven years old, she stumbles upon a door that leads her to a different place.  When she is reprimanded for lying about the door, she eventually forgets about it until she finds the book “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” years later.  January becomes intrigued and the real story begins. 

The story alternates between the story of January and the book.  The concept is such a fun way to narrate the plot. At times, the plot moved a little bit slowly as one storyline stopped and another began in the alternating chapters.  This is such a unique and wonderful book.

Love Magical Realism? We do too! That’s why we created the Ultimate List Magical Realism !

Adult Dystopian Novels

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

In 2045, most people spent their days in the OASIS, a virtual reality world. When the elusive creator of the OASIS dies and leaves clues behind, the first person to solve the riddles will be in control of the entire OASIS and a massive fortune.

When Wade Watts solves the first clue, he might fight for his survival to win along with his group of misfit friends. Love, a fight for survival, and a group of loyal friends all give me Lunar Chronicle vibes.

Find this book in YA Dystopian Books / Best Sci-Fi Books / Books Like the Hunger Games / Puzzle Books for Adults

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

March 2021 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

I’m not usually a sci-fi girl, but this book was just so special. It’s told from the perspective of Klara, an artificial friend who starts the story waiting to be purchased.

We see Klara’s life in the store as she waits for a friend, and then what her life is like when she’s chosen to be a companion for a young girl with a mysterious illness.

Klara draws her power from the sun, and so she believes she can use the sun’s healing rays to save her friend too.

Why We Love This Book: This moving story had me caring for a robot in a way I knew would have thought possible. It is definitely on my list of best sci-fi books of all time. Find This Book In Best Sci-Fi Novels / Popular Dystopian Novels / Good Morning America Book Club

Vox by Christina Dalcher

Once I got into this is a sci-fi/ fantasy novel, I could not put down. The story takes place in the United States when a fundamentalist has become the president. Slowly, he has removed all rights from women, included the right to speech.

Every woman is given 100 words a day and a bracelet with a counter to ensure to compliance. This book was so well written and creepy. I loved it although I have to say that it was a little close to how I feel these days

Paranormal Fantasy Novels for Adults

Under the Whispering Door by T.J Klune

How many stars can I give? T.J Klune has done it again with the wonderful novel. House on the Cerulean Sea was my favorite book last year and I am not sure that anything will top it. I read it in a day and loved every minute of this wonderful book.

Wallace is dead. When the reaper collects him at his funeral and brings him to a strange tea shop, Hugo is waiting with the promise of helping him cross over. This light fantasy will make you smile until the last page.

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

This book is an award winner and the writing is undeniably wonderful.  The story itself has elements of magic that added to the difficult subject matter.  The story deals with drugs, violence, and poverty- all of which are completely relevant in today’s society. 

The characters did not develop throughout the story as much as I would have liked but, when added with the wonderful writing, this book is a worthwhile read.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Strange, but probably one of the most imaginative novels I have ever experienced. It’s about the night that Abraham Lincoln buried this son and takes place entirely in the cemetery.

I  listened via Audible  which was great because they used 166 voices including David Sedaris, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Kat Dennings and Don Cheadle among others.

Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu

This book was incredibly well-written, utterly captivating, and rather depressing. Kazu is dead, but he can’t find peace in the afterlife so he haunts Tokyo’s Ueno Station.

We learn about his life, his family, and how they faired during some of Japan’s most important moments in modern history from the Tokyo Olympics to the recent tsunami.

The Best Pirate Fantasy Books

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

A historical fantasy romance about pirate assassins with magical powers? SIGN ME UP!

I gravitated toward this story because of the gorgeous cover, but I was hooked from the first page. I loved all the women in The Wisteria Society. I loved how they could fly around their homes like ships, how they stole and plundered with abandon, and how they did it all while making sure they were the picture of polite womanhood.

The love story was charming, but it was the antics of Cecilia and her quest to save her fellow society members that kept me turning the pages.

Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan by Liz Michalski

This classic fairy tale retelling of Peter Pan is anything but innocent and whimsical. In this adult fantasy novel, Holly Darling, the Granddaughter of Wendy, runs a very successful skincare company. She is a single parent to Jack after a terrible accident killed her husband and Jack’s twin.

When she gets a call that her daughter Eden is missing from the home where she has been hidden away in a coma for a decade, she knows that Peter Pan is the one responsible.

Peter Pan is dark, sinister and grown-up. Holly must get Christopher Cooke to help her find her daughter and defeat Peter. Like all retellings of classic novels, this story is different from the original!

Diverse Adult Fantasy Novels

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

June 2021 gma book club pick.

Wow. I’m still processing this genre-defying novel. It’s a social commentary and a thriller all in one. It makes me want to sit down and discuss it with everyone.

Nella is the only black girl at her publishing house until Hazel is hired. Thinking she’s found an ally, instead, she begins to wonder if Hazel might be an enemy instead.

As Hazel’s career soars, Nella is left questioning her identity, her ideals, and what it means to be a black woman in the business world, while trying to uncover who is behind the scary notes she keeps receiving.

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

I have so many thoughts about Exit West by Mohsin Hamid but, I am not sure how to express them all. I am not even sure that I can express them coherently.  

This is not a long book but it doesn’t need to be to make a profound statement about the world that we live in.  Part love story, part melancholy of a war-torn world, and part magical realism, this story will carry the reader through a rainbow of emotions before the end.

Best Fantasy Book Series for Adults

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

House of Earth and Blood is the first in a new series by Sarah J. Maas, of ACOTAR fame . It’s an urban fantasy – which is new to me. 

There were skyscrapers, cellphones, and video surveillance, but also fairies, werewolves, angels, demons, and witches with history and power.⁣ It was a wild ride.

My initial turn off of too many names/places/tribes/species types was quickly overcome by the insane world-building. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

A Game of Thrones: Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin

This is a book that I learned about after I watched the series on HBO. In my case, watching the show first helped me remember (and put a face to) the plethora of characters within this series.

Truth be told, I still needed reminders now and then. Winter is coming. The House of Stark is preparing for winter after a centuries long summer. They must prepare to defend themselves from the creatures behind the wall.

There is no way to briefly summarize this epic world building historical fantasy with powerful women and an intricate, captivating story.

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkein

It is hard to believe that this trilogy was published in 1954. This epic fantasy has definitely withstood the test of time. Hobbits and elves, humans and wizards join together in Middle-Earth to destroy a ring.

This is the ultimate story of the fight between good and evil and the fight to overcome the evil within.

If you love fantasy and have not read this book, it is an absolute must.

Dark Academia Novels

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

There are so many twist and turns to this dark academia fantasy, I am not sure where to begin. I do know that I will be reading the next book!

The alexandrian Society are the guardians of knowledge from the greatest civilizations that have ever existed. Six of the most brilliant magical academicians are chosen every decade. Five will go on the secure a life filled with all the wealth and power they could dream of.

When the candidates of this decade are chosen, they each have powerful and abilities that could lead to greatness or destruction. When the society may not be everything it appears, will they have to knowledge and the ability to recognize it before it is too late?

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Alex Stearn is the sole survivor from a horrible homicide. While recovering in the hospital, she is offered a chance to go to Yale on a full scholarship. What she finds are the Secret Societies of Yale that each practice a unique type of magic. Can anyone say Hogwarts University?

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Quentin Coldwater is a high school student obsessed with the made up world of Fillory.  He finds himself admitted to a magical college that is both secret and elite. If you are looking for books set in college, this one has an almost cult-like following.

The best way I can describe this series is if Harry Potter was admitted to Hogwarts in College.  It has a different, darker feel but it is fun, imaginative, and entertaining. The magic in this school is definitely a little bit dark and steamy and for this reason, is perfect for a list of dark academia novels. If you love urban fantasy books, you must read this series of books like Harry Potter. This is a witch book unlike any other.

For more books like these, check out our complete list of Dark Academia Books

What is your favorite on this list of adult fantasy novels.

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The Best Fantasy Novels of 2022

From dark academia to epic journeys, the best fantasy of the year comes in all shapes and sizes..

If, in the year of our Lord 2022, the phrase fantasy books evokes nothing but decades-old series of thousand-page sword-and-sorcery door stoppers set in slightly altered versions of medieval Europe, well, we’re thrilled to tell you that you have some catching up to do. Today’s fantasy fiction refuses to be constrained by the dominant cultural stereotype. There’s room for door stoppers, to be sure, but there’s so much more out there. The books on this list are the cream of this year’s crop, from dark academia to mythological retellings to epic journeys, set in alternate versions of our reality and in worlds completely foreign to us.

In the interest of covering the widest variety of books and authors, we’re not including sequels or series entries here, but 2022 was a rich year for those, too. Don’t miss A.K. Larkwood’s The Thousand Eyes (the second entry in her Serpent Gates series), N.K. Jemisin’s The World We Make (the second and final book in her Great Cities duology), Naomi Novik’s The Golden Enclaves (the final book of the Scholomance trilogy), and Tamsyn Muir’s Nona the Ninth (third in the Locked Tomb series).

10. The Atlas Six , Olivie Blake

Olivie Blake’s runaway self-published #BookTok sensation turned traditionally published No. 1 New York Times best seller is the real deal. Equal parts Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History , the novel follows six magical adepts (called “medeians”) who have been chosen to compete for a spot in the ultra-elite, ultrasecretive Alexandrian Society, whose members are caretakers of the world’s lost knowledge. Five will be admitted, and the sixth — well, don’t worry too much about the sixth. The joy here is in sinking fully into these characters’ personalities, powers, quirks, foibles, assignations, and betrayals as they maneuver their way toward a place in the group. (Plus, we’re always a sucker for a good fantasy library.) It’s an immensely satisfying read, and if you love it, the sequel came out in October.

9. The Book Eaters, Sunyi Dean

A reclusive family lives in self-imposed isolation on the Yorkshire moors: They are Book Eaters who live on pages and the stories they contain. But the Book Eaters are a dying breed, and their daughters are forced into arranged marriages in the interest of furthering the population. When Devon gives birth to a son, Cai, with a rare mutation — he eats not books but minds — she finds herself on the run from her controlling relatives, driven at all costs to protect her child and find a way to make a life for herself in the human world. This fantastical, often horrifying premise sets the scene for a remarkably nuanced exploration of the triumphs and sacrifices of motherhood (Devon must procure victims for Cai to subsist on even as she searches for a fabled drug that will allow him to live something closer to a normal life) and an affirming, if difficult, journey of self-determination as Devon comes into her own sexuality and agency.

8. Nettle & Bone , T. Kingfisher

For those of us who grew up on a diet of a certain kind of ’80s and ’90s fantasy (think Patricia C. Wrede, Tamora Pierce, Terry Pratchett), tucking into a T. Kingfisher book feels a bit like coming home to a house you’ve long loved only to find that some industrious, careful soul has dismantled the building board by board, removed the dry rot and plugged the leaks, and reconstructed the pieces into something familiar, spectacular, and utterly surprising. This is the key, though: The  feeling  is the same. You already know all the individual components of  Nettle & Bone : a plucky heroine whose family is in danger, an evil prince, a helpful(ish) witch, a fairy godmother, a disgraced knight, three impossible tasks, and not one but  two  delightful enchanted animals. But this isn’t a retelling; this is someone with a deep love for fantasy, folklore, and fairy tales picking the best parts from a smorgasbord of story elements and stitching them into something sparklingly original. Morbid but funny, cozy but with real danger at its heart,  Nettle & Bone  is the fairy tale this year needed.

7. Saturnalia , Stephanie Feldman

A fascinating, genre-bending dystopian fantasy-thriller-ecohorror hybrid, Stephanie Feldman’s Saturnalia imagines a magical near-future Philadelphia studded with mysterious, mythologically connected secret societies and a populace that has bent back toward paganism as the world burns. On the feast of Saturnalia each year, debauched revelry is the order of the day. Nina, a fortune teller who removed herself from the elite ranks of the Saturn Club three years prior, undertakes a heist for a friend during the festival but finds herself drawn into a much darker, more dangerous plot before night’s end. Feldman builds an engrossing, upsetting vision of the future that’s at once grim and wondrous — a magical feat in and of itself.

6. Spear , Nicola Griffith

Inclusive retellings of misunderstood figures of myth and folklore are very much in vogue right now, but vanishingly few of them are written by authors as talented as Nicola Griffith. She has been writing singular queer speculative fiction for 30 years now (when Ursula K. Le Guin says your debut novel has a “very interesting take on gender,” you’ve planted your flag early), and this short novel is as strong as anything she has written. Spear reimagines the legend of Percival, the Welsh Grail knight later supplanted by Sir Galahad, as the story of a nameless girl raised in isolation but called to adventure, romance, and glory. The book is steeped in research (but never weighed down by it) and told in prose as incisive and devastatingly beautiful as any we’ve read this year.

5. The Spear Cuts Through Water , Simon Jimenez

Formally ambitious and imaginatively rich beyond wonder, Simon Jimenez’s sophomore novel is a marvel. On the surface, this is the story of two soldiers shepherding a dying goddess across a landscape populated by miracles, oddities, and monsters to bring down a tyrannical emperor. That alone would be enough, but Jimenez’s command of prose and playfulness of thought is used to incredible effect to show how oral traditions can transform a tale. The frame narrative (calling it a frame narrative is reductive, but it works for simplicity’s sake) is set generations later than the main story and shifts from recounted myth to immersive storytelling by way of a theater accessed through dreams; it’s a timeline that intersects with the main story in unexpected and magical ways. This book must be read to be believed.

4. The Women Could Fly , Megan Giddings

Megan Giddings’s remarkable second novel takes place in an oppressively racist and misogynist totalitarian version of the United States that simultaneously fears, covets, and punishes women’s power. Witches are real, and any woman not married by 30 will have her autonomy curtailed by force under suspicion of witchcraft, especially if she’s not white. Jo — Black, bisexual, and 28— is at a crossroads. She’s staring down the deadline for marriage (to a man, of course) and haunted by the disappearance of her mother (a suspected witch), which happened when Jo was a teenager. But when new clues about her mother’s fate arise, Jo finds herself in the midst of a community unlike any she has ever experienced. It’s a harrowing and beautiful book, and Giddings never lets the immediacy of her subject matter overbalance her graceful storytelling and the deep humanity of her characters.

3. The Ballad of Perilous Graves, Alex Jennings

Some of the best fantasy starts from a place of metaphor made literal. A visitor to New Orleans in our reality may observe that music seems to be the city’s lifeblood; in Alex Jennings’s exceptional urban-fantasy debut, the magic of song is quite literally the engine that keeps the phantasmagorical city of Nola alive. But some of the songs that form its foundation have escaped from the piano of Doctor Professor, Nola’s “haint” musician emeritus, and it’s up to a plucky and powerful set of young characters to track them down before the city crumbles around them. Just as Nola overflows with personified song, vivid art, zombie cabs, talkative nutria, sky trolleys, and floating graffiti, Perilous Graves is full to bursting with surreal ideas, gloriously unique characters, unapologetic Blackness, and a soul-deep love for New Orleans and its people.

2. Babel, or the Necessity of Violence , R.F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang’s Poppy War trilogy made her an instant name in the fantasy world, and her first stand-alone novel once again shows us why. In Babel , the work of translation is the source of magic, which is in turn the source of the British Empire’s power. At Oxford, a team of young translators finds “match-pairs,” or words and phrases translated from one language to another. The gap in meaning or connotation between the two holds immense power, and the empire uses that power to maintain its stranglehold on the rest of the world. The protagonists are young people snatched from their homelands (China, Haiti, India) who were raised to support Britain but are coming into their own awareness about imperialism, academia, racism, and what revolutionary decolonization could look like in practice. Babel is not an easy read — Kuang isn’t here to hold your hand through your feelings about colonialism, and she doesn’t shy away from the ugliest pieces of imperialist history. Rather, she challenges us to actively engage with the story in a way that more casual readers may not be used to. But it’s worth it: Babel is a monumental work that rewards the effort you put into it.

1. Siren Queen , Nghi Vo

In an alternate version of pre-Code Hollywood where aspiring actors often meet their end as fodder for the sinister ritual magic that powers the studio system, Luli Wei is determined to be a star. The odds, of course, are stacked against her as she’s a gay Chinese American woman, but driven by her ambition and willingness to play the studio heads’ dark game, she finds her breakout role: not as a heroine but a monster. Yet as she sinks further into the murk of the industry, risking her own soul in the process, Luli finds love — and a greater purpose if she can muster the strength to see it through. Coming hot on the heels of last year’s The Chosen and the Beautiful , a queer, immigrant reimagining of The Great Gatsby , Siren Queen establishes Vo as an uncommonly talented new voice in fantasy, one who writes from a place of anger, insight, and deep compassion.

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The Best Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books of 2024, So Far

Yearning for a new world? New stories from Heather Fawcett, Nisi Shawl, Danielle L. Jensen, Sofia Samatar, and more can get you there.

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The books that got me into books were fantasies. There was never a time in my life—post-infantile amnesia, I suppose—when I wasn’t reading a fantasy, being read a fantasy, or trying to write one myself. (Usually all three.) The same goes for science fiction: These were the types of stories that made reading feel limitless, thrilling, like peeking through a keyhole to a vaster (if not necessarily kinder) universe. As I’ve grown older, my reading habits have expanded, my understanding of genre widened, but well-executed fantasy and sci-fi remains my deepest source of literary joy. So it’s a pleasure to present ELLE’s picks for the best of those genres in 2024—through May, for now.

For the purposes of this list, speculative stories will be considered science fiction, while fairy tales, folktales, and mythological retellings will fall under the vast and complicated banner of “fantasy.” Romantasys will fall into this category as well. (You can find our other romance recommendations here .) There’s plenty of genre overlap ahead, but that’s the joy of these books—there’s always something (seemingly) contradictory to explore within them.

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Within moments of cracking open the cover to Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland , I was sold. She has followed up her 2020 novel Parakeet with a landmark work of literary science-fiction, set in the crosshairs of “two celestially significant events occurring simultaneously: The departure of Voyager 1 and the arrival of Adina Giorno, early and yellowed like old newspaper,” the author writes. As the Voyager 1 space probe sets its sights on the final frontier, so does the child Adina make a home for herself on Earth. But she is, in many ways, no less foreign to the planet than Voyager 1 is to the outer galaxy: Adina discovers that she’s been sent by her extraterrestrial relatives to report back her earthly findings, all via fax machine. (“Upon encountering real problems, human beings compare their lives to riding a roller coaster, even though they invented roller coasters to be fun things to do on their days off,” Adina notes in one such missive.) This is a wonder of science fiction: as tender and intimate as it is conceptually courageous.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

The eagerly awaited follow-up to Heather Fawcett’s first title in the popular Emily Wilde series, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a winsome tale of fairies and academia, an ideal pick for fans of cozy fantasy. Set in 1910, the story follows the titular Emily, a faerie scholar who’s completed an encyclopedia of Fair Folk and is working next on a map of the creatures’ realms. But her relationship with the exiled faerie king Wendell Bambleby promises to complicate much more than her research, particularly as she and Bambleby hunt for the door back to his kingdom—and attempt to dodge his family’s assassination attempts. Clever, immersive, yet approachable for more casual readers, Map of the Otherlands is a genre-blending joy.

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

An inventive, vivid take on the Chosen One narrative, Kamilah Cole’s So Let Them Burn is the sort of young-adult fantasy novel both teenage and maturer readers will enjoy—particularly given Cole’s knack for juggling action-heavy dual perspectives. The premise involves 17-year-old Falon, whose ability to wield the power of the gods provides the strength she’ll need to liberate the island of San Irie from the colonizing forces of the Langlish. But her sister has unexpectedly bonded with a dragon from the Langley Empire, and when those dragons turn feral, the gods inform Falon she must eradicate them—and those bonded to them. Desperate to save each other, Falon and Elara flesh out this tale from alternating third-person perspectives in Cole’s exhilarating first entry in a promised series.

Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

In Tlotlo Tsamaase’s future Botswana, consciousness can be delivered from body to body, making the life of protagonist Nelah possible. Her body used to belong to a criminal, which means the government has her microchipped: Her husband can control her, and the government can watch and assess her every move. Nelah is waiting for her child—gestating in an artificial womb—to arrive, but before that can happen, she and the man she’s in love with (a man who’s very much not her husband) commit a dangerous crime. The resulting fallout haunts Nelah (sometimes literally) in this sci-fi horror novel’s resolute skewering of misogyny.

Kinning by Nisi Shawl

The next entry in Nisi Shawl’s anti-colonial alternative history series, the second after Everfair , Kinning is a profoundly well-realized feat of world-building. Sprawling in its characters and themes, vaguely reminiscent of Game of Thrones’ political dramas, Shawl’s afrofuturist sequel explores the aftermath of Everfair’s Great War, the country having successfully pushed Europe out of the territory. Citizens plan to spread further peace via a fungus that generates empathy in those who interact with its spores, even as Everfair itself remains threatened from outside and within its borders. This is a complex, challenging story, but without question an impressive one.

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Faebound —with its simply stunning cover—takes place in a world where elves, humans, and fae once co-existed, but now only elves remain, and they’re eternally at war. Sisters Yeeran and Lettle soon find their lives bifurcated by the fighting: Yeeran is exiled outside the Elven Lands, and Lettle must pair up with one of Yeeran’s soldiers, Rayan, to find her lost sibling. Only then do they each discover that the fae are alive and well, and that the magic in store for them is well beyond what they’d once expected. This is a passionate and intriguing—but accessible—beginning to a planned Sapphic romantasy trilogy.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Tainted Cup is the beginning chapter of Robert Jackson Bennett’s Shadow of the Leviathan series, and it imbues elements from myriad genres—primarily fantasy, sci-fi, and mysteries—to create a delicious detective story set in an equally unforgettable magical world. In Bennett’s Khanum, where massive leviathans threaten the world outside the empire’s walls, an imperial officer is murdered in an aristocrat’s summer home. Two detectives, Ana and Din, must tackle this mystery. Together, they make something of an odd couple: Ana’s brilliance rivals that of Sherlock Holmes himself, while Din is a magically enhanced “engraver,” one with a perfect memory. These lead protagonists’ platonic partnership, and Bennett’s remarkable imagination, make this book a strange and singular thrill.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

There’s an intentional silliness to Ali Hazelwood’s paranormal romance Bride , in which the vampires are “Vampyres,” the werewolves are “Weres,” the protagonist is named Misery, and her marriage of convenience to a “very powerful and dangerous Were” might actually be...something more? But this on-the-nose humor, a signature in Hazelwood’s work, only serves to underscore the shameless indulgence of Misery’s story. Bride will certainly not enrapture all fantasy readers (particularly those wishing to avoid sex scenes), but for Hazelwood’s many existing fans, this surprise genre twist from the contemporary romance author has plenty of winks to impart.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

Heartless Hunter , an instant New York Times bestseller, has already amassed a sizable (and passionate) audience, but it’s certainly not too late to pick up this addictive romantasy, which tracks the love affair between a persecuted witch and a witch hunter. Protagonist Rune comes from privilege, but after a revolution seizes power from the once-ruling witches, she’s now hiding in plain sight: socialite by day, witch vigilante by night. (Alias: The Crimson Moth.) Working to protect her people from witch hunters, she decides to court one of them; he, in return, agrees to the relationship to gain intel about her operations. But just as their fake relationship blooms into something deeper, their political ties could easily break them apart. Relentlessly trope-y? Sure. But this is a satisfying binge-read nonetheless.

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

Hannah Kaner follows up the first book in her Fallen Gods series, Godkiller , with Sunbringer , set immediately after the events of its predecessor. Brilliant mythology-inspired world-building paves the foundation for Kaner’s fantasy adventure, but it’s the fully realized ensemble cast that, ultimately, makes the series so memorable. In Sunbringer , Kissen, Inara, Skediceth, Elogast, and King Arren trade third-person perspectives as a war between gods and humans bubbles into the foreground in Middren, seeding fertile ground for an epic showdown to come.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

“Foxes, people say, are wicked women,” Yangsze Choo writes in her historical fantasy The Fox Wife , set in early-1900s Manchuria as the Qing dynasty wanes. Choo (author of The Ghost Bride and The Night Tiger ) introduces readers to Snow, a fox spirit who can shapeshift into a woman, and Detective Bao, who believes Snow is connected to a murder. But Snow, living as a human and working as a maidservant, has her own mission in mind: She wants revenge against the photographer who paid a hunter to murder her daughter. Folklore and mystery converge in Choo’s alluring, atmospheric tale.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

I know better than to buy a book based solely on its character art, but there’s no denying the cover of Danielle L. Jensen’s A Fate Inked In Blood (illustrated by Eleonor Piteira) merits the attention. Blessedly, the book’s inside contents are just as richly rendered. The latest story from fantasy stalwart Jensen ( The Bridge Kingdom series, The Dark Shores series), Fate centers on Freya, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage—loveless enough that her husband betrays her, setting off a series of events that culminates in a shocking reveal: The blood of a goddess runs in Freya’s veins. That blood makes her powerful, but it also makes her a target for Skaland’s jarl, who believes his fate is tied to Freya’s. Still, it’s this jarl’s son, Bjorn, who will prove the most complicating factor in Freya’s fight for survival. This is an absorbing viking romantasy steeped in Norse mythology, and the start to a series with real momentum.

The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed

“They locked him up while his leg grew back.” So begins The Siege of Burning Grass , Premee Mohamed’s ferocious story of violence and resistance in a world of wound-healing wasps and floating cities. Protagonist Alefret is a peacemaker—or, anyway, he’s trying to be—but he’s since been targeted and imprisoned by his own government, then ordered to go undercover in the rival empire of Med’ariz. There, he’s tasked with seeding an anti-war effort amongst the people, an effort which Alefret’s government aims to capitalize on—and claim victory at last. But revolutions are costly in more ways than one, and Mohamed navigates these nuances with empathy and righteous verve.

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black

As a childhood enthusiast of The Spiderwick Chronicles , I’ve loved watching Holly Black’s fantasy career evolve, and her conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology, The Prisoner’s Throne , is a treat for old fans and newcomers alike. In the fairy world of Elfhame, Black has created a entertaining tableau of political intrigue and romance—most notably between High King Cardan and High Queen Jude (iykyk). And as war beckons in The Prisoner’s Throne , the imprisoned Prince Oak finds his loyalties (and his love) stretched to the brink.

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

One of my most anticipated reads of the spring, Sierra Greer’s feminist sci-fi Annie Bot is much as I’d hoped it would be: frightening but measured, referential but fresh. The titular Annie is indeed a robot—a Stella model coded as a Cuddle Bunny, to be exact—designed for use by Doug, who’s customized her into a near-mirror image of his ex. She does housework; she does...other things. She can set her internal body temperature and read Doug’s annoyance rankings. He can set her libido levels. (“A four’s good,” he says. “She’s, like, ready at a four, but not actively assertive.”) As Annie notes early in the novel, “I only exist because I’m wanted.” These themes are certainly not new, but it’s how Greer writes this mash-up of Ex Machina , Her , Westworld , and The Stepford Wives that makes its tension resonate so loudly, even if it’s meant more as an allegory of women’s liberation than a treatise on the threats of AI. A quick read, but one you won’t soon wipe from memory.

Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

Although set in the same universe as her debut, The Space Between Worlds , Micaiah Johnson’s Those Beyond the Wall is set 10 years after the events of the former, and can be read as a standalone. (But you should definitely read The Space Between Worlds .) This clear-eyed, undaunted sci-fi saga introduces readers to a woman who goes by the name of Mr. Scales, a street-savvy “runner” living outside the walls of the gleaming Wiley City, in a far poorer desert community known as Ashtown. After she witnesses a friend’s gruesome death, she follows the breadcrumb trail to the multiverse-hopping technology residing inside Wiley City. But to stop this tech (and its users) from destroying the people of Ashtown, she’ll need to rely on more than her own wits. Gritty and raw, this is a fine work of dystopian fiction, one sure to chafe and unsettle as much as it thrills.

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

To start, what an absolutely fabulous title. Peace Like A River author Leif Enger’s latest is so much more than its cheeky cover; in fact, it might be one of the most optimistic post-apocalyptic novels you’ll ever read, if also one of the more unusual. In Enger’s imagined near-future America, the president is proudly illiterate, pandemics and wildfires are growing by the hour, and an entirely new class of billionaires known as “astronauts” are happy to watch from above as the plebs flee their now-closed schools for solace in drugs and government labor. But protagonist Rainey does not see the end of the world as a black hole, especially when he looks to his wife, Lark, who runs a bookstore in spite of the enormous risk inherent in doing so. It is his unflappable faith in goodness that leads him, much like Orpheus, to sail Lake Superior in search of Lark when a visitor unexpectedly tears them apart. This is a triumphant, generous work of art—neither cloying nor nihilist.

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House, Hell Bent, and Six of Crows author Leigh Bardugo steps into the Spanish Golden Age for a fantasy remarkably unlike her previous works. The Familiar is a stunning accomplishment, set in 16th-century Madrid, where the Inquisition haunts Luzia Cotado, an orphaned “not quite Spanish” scullion with a hidden talent for magic—and Jewish blood that puts her at imminent risk. When her mistress discovers Luzia’s unique skillset, she puts them to use, attracting the attention of the king’s secretary and his familiar, the immortal Guillén Santángel. With Santángel’s help, Luzia might just be able to survive—or even thrive—but, as any fantasy reader can tell you, power always has its consequences.

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

A Sweet Sting of Salt is an altogether entrancing retelling of the traditional folktale “The Selkie Wife,” in which a man steals a selkie’s skin and forces her to become his wife. (Selkies, as a refresher, are mythological creatures who take the form of seals in the ocean and humans on land.) In Sting , the selkie in question is discovered by midwife Jean Langille on the coast of 19th century Nova Scotia, where she’s wracked with birthing pains. Jean helps deliver the woman’s child, and soon surmises this mysterious stranger is Muirin, the wife of her fisherman neighbor, Tobias. But Tobias and Muirin are clearly hiding some sort of secret, and as Jean slowly realizes she’s falling in love with Muirin, so too must she face the danger that threatens them both should their relationship continue. A beautifully written Sapphic fantasy, Sutherland’s debut announces her as a writer to watch.

The Jinn Daughter by Rania Hanna

Rania Hanna’s debut novel The Jinn Daughter is a lush and mesmerizing story of motherhood and magic, its influences pulled from Middle Eastern mythology. Protagonist Nadine has a daughter, Layala, whom she’ll do anything to protect. But Nadine is also a jinn, one who tells the stories of the dead through the pomegranate seeds she collects each morning. Soon, Death herself arrives on Nadine’s doorstep—she has come for Nadine’s half-jinn daughter Layala, whom Death wants to replace her as the underworld’s ruler. This is not a fate Nadine can accept for Layala, and so a fight for her daughter’s life commences. This is a short but sweeping story of a mother’s unrelenting devotion.

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• Fantasy Books

75 Best New Fantasy Books of 2023

This year's best new fantasy books will fill your days with magic.

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

Sometimes, it can feel like the real world is too much to handle. Fortunately, there are plenty of choices for escapism in 2023, with a slew of phenomenal new fantasy books to transport you to worlds of myth and magic.

This year's fantasy books offer plenty to choose from. Long-running stories are finally coming to epic conclusions, with authors like Cassandra Clare wrapping up series this year. There are also new stories from beloved authors like Rebecca Yarros, Claire Legrand, Andrea Stewart, Alexandra Bracken, Tahereh Mafi, Shannon Chakraborty, Caroline Peckham, and Susanne Valenti, plus fresh voices introducing us to their creative, fantastical new worlds full of mystery and romance.

No matter what fantasy style you enjoy most, there's sure to be something you'll love among this year's best new fantasy reads. Some releases take inspiration from folklore worldwide, with exciting and creative twists on all the creatures, stories, and tropes you love in your favourite fantasy fiction. There's never been a better time to get swept away in the magic and adventure of a really great fantasy book. As a bonus, many of these books are perfect for filling several of the prompts from the 2023 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge ! Check out what's coming out when, and happy reading!

1 "Playing the Witch Card" by KJ Dell'Antonia

If you prefer your fantasy books on the cosy side, check out " Playing the Witch Card " by KJ Dell'Antonia. When Flair returns to her hometown to take over her late grandmother's bakery, she swears to avoid any and all of the magic that runs in the family. Unfortunately, fate seems to have other plans. A batch of Tarot-themed cookies unwittingly unleashes magic on the town, while also summoning Flair's flighty mother, intriguing her daughter, and bringing her first love and her cheating ex both back into her life. There are bigger forces at play than she realises, and she'll have to come to terms with her magic to put things right.

Release date: Sept. 12

2 "Fall of Ruin and Wrath" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout launches a new fantasy series with " Fall of Ruin and Wrath ." In a world after a divine apocalypse, nine cities remain, each watched over by a royal "guardian." Calista, born with unerring intuitions, serves as an informant and courtesan for a powerful nobleman. After she saves a travelling prince, fated to be both her joy and her doom, she becomes his companion in turn. But there's rebellion afoot, schemes around every corner, and dangers she hasn't even begun to imagine. For the first time, Calista's intuition might not be enough to keep her safe from what's next.

3 "Cursebreakers" by Madeleine Nakamura

" Cursebreakers " by Madeleine Nakamura centres on a magical city, a disgraced professor, and a secret plot. In the city of Astrum, people are suffering from magical comas, and Adrien, an ex-professor, is determined to find out why. Alongside a chaotic young soldier and a talented healer, Adrien sets out to find out the truth and put a stop to the curse before it destroys everything. He'll have to learn to manage his own faltering mental health and self-destructive habits — and overcome a particularly dangerous unrequited love — in order to save the city and everyone who lives in it.

4 "A Market of Dreams and Destiny" by Trip Galey

Beneath Covent Garden in 19th-century London lies the setting of " A Market of Dreams and Destiny " by Trip Galey. The magical market sells all manner of things seen and unseen — for the right price. Deri, a young man who has lived in servitude since childhood, sees a chance to buy freedom and his own place in the market when a runaway princess asks to sell her destiny. When news of the princess spreads, however, Deri will have to contend with powerful forces (including the manipulative masters of Owain, the man Deri has fallen in love with) in order to secure his place in the world.

5 "The Hexologists" by Josiah Bancroft

Looking for fantasy with a mystery twist? Try " The Hexologists " by Josiah Bancroft. This new series follows the adventures of Iz and Warren Wilby, the "hexologists" of the title who specialise in using hexes, charms, and relics to help solve the strangest cases brought to their doorstep. Then, the royal secretary arrives with news of a bizarre request from the king himself. To solve their most challenging case yet, the Wilbies will have to go up against anti-monarchists, alchemists, and mysterious creatures from all sorts of magical dimensions. It will take all their skills and every artifact they possess to get answers this time.

Release date: Sept. 26

6 "The Fragile Threads of Power" by V.E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab returns with a new fantasy series, set in her "Shades of Magic" universe, with " The Fragile Threads of Power ." It's been seven years since anyone has seen the last magicians with the power to open the doors between worlds. Now, a new leader, Kosika, has appeared in White London, determined to take power and feed her city and her religious fervour no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Rhy, the king of Red London faces a rebellion determined to do away with the throne altogether. As royals struggle for power, a mysterious girl named Tes arrives with the power to unite the worlds, or destroy them all.

7 "The Witches of Bone Hill" by Ava Morgyn

Family secrets abound in Ava Morgyn's " The Witches of Bone Hill ." Two very different sisters, Cordelia and Eustace, are summoned to a small town in Connecticut to handle the estate of the great-aunt they never met. They get much more than just a house, though: they find themselves entangled in the mysterious and supernatural history of their family. Add in a family crypt, a mysterious groundskeeper, and the truth about what happened to their mother, and the two sisters have to completely rethink what they know about themselves and their family. Plus, there's the small matter of a powerful enemy who's been stalking the family for generations...

8 "This Dark Descent" by Kalyn Josephson

Inspired by Jewish folklore, " This Dark Descent " by Kalyn Josephson brings together the daughter of magical horse breeders, an enchanter who operates in secret, and an heir embroiled in a succession battle. Mikira's family is famed for breeding horses for the deadly dangerous horse race, but with debts piling up, Mikira decides to enter the race herself, despite the peril. She allies with Arielle, a black-market enchanter who creates golems, and Damien, a lord battling for his succession. All three have their own secrets to keep and wrongs to avenge, but the only way they'll survive is to find a way to work together.

9 "Medusa's Sisters" by Lauren J. A. Bear

Lauren J. A. Bear puts a new twist on Greek mythology with " Medusa's Sisters ." Sisters Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale ventured into the human world in search of understanding, belonging, and even love, but they quickly learned just how tempestuous and deadly the "love" of the gods can be. After seeing Medusa's fate, Stheno and Euryale — now the reviled Gorgons — are the survivors, and the only ones left who can tell the story of how three sisters who loved one another so much could wind up tangled in a doomed story of divine rivalries, curses, and twisted versions of the truth.

Release date: Aug. 8

10 "Labyrinth's Heart" by M. A. Carrick

M. A. Carrick wraps up the "Rook & Rose" trilogy with this final instalment, " Labyrinth's Heart ." Ren's plan to collect a fortune for her and her sister has worked a little too well. She's successfully posed as the lost heir to the Traementis noble house, and she's now known as Renata. Those aren't the only identities she must balance: she's also Arenza, a notorious rebel, and the Black Rose, a legendary vigilante partnered with the equally-famed Rook. Even with the help of her closest allies, Ren finds herself overwhelmed by wearing so many masks, and when it all comes tumbling down, the entire city is in danger.

Release date: Aug. 15

11 "Thornhedge" by T. Kingfisher

You've never read a "Sleeping Beauty" retelling quite like " Thornhedge " by T. Kingfisher. As a baby, Toadling was kidnapped from her human family and raised in the land of the faeries, where she grows up safe and loved. Once she's an adult, the fae ask Toadling to return to the land of the humans and bestow a blessing on a newborn child, but things unfold in unexpected and dangerous ways. Centuries later, a knight arrives at a wall of thorny brambles, determined to hack his way through and break a curse — the same curse Toadling will do anything in her power to uphold.

12 "The Water Outlaws" by S. L. Huang

Get swept up in a vibrant, epic fantasy with " The Water Outlaws " by S. L. Huang. Inspired by a 14th-century Chinese classic, the story centres on Lin Chong, an expert commissioned to train the Emperor's finest soldiers on how to use every weapon at their disposal. She's not a rebel by any means, but when her carefully planned life is torn away from her by a man out for revenge, she's forced to disappear. In disguise and on the run, she's recruited by the Bandits of Liangshan, vigilantes determined to see justice done — and, in the process, they might take down an empire.

Release date: Aug. 22

13 "The Midnight Kingdom" by Tara Sim

The second instalment in Tara Sim's "The Dark Gods" series, " The Midnight Kingdom " picks up with the four heirs to the four noble houses scattered across the realms after a devastating battle. The rebellious Taesia and the soldier Nikolas have been cast into the realm of night, accompanied by the god of light determined to bring down the dark realm. Peaceful necromancer Risha lands in the realm of death, but she struggles to help the trapped spirits and to get her and her friend home before they're trapped forever. Only Angelica remains in the city of Nexus, trying to keep it from unraveling as all four heirs fight to find their way home.

14 "House of Odysseus" by Claire North

Claire North returns to Greek mythology with " House of Odysseus ," another mythological retelling that centres the women of the legends. The world where the whims of gods can doom or uplift men is a dangerous one, and the queen, Penelope, works hard to try to keep Ithaca safe after her husband Odysseus fails to return. The fragile balance is shattered with the arrival of Orestes, King of Mycenae, brought to Ithaca by his sister Elektra after he killed his mother Clytemnestra. His violent uncle Menelaus longs to take his throne, and Penelope — and her kingdom — are now caught in the middle of this deadly family feud, even as the goddess Aphrodite watches and makes her own plans.

15 "He Who Drowned the World" by Shelley Parker-Chan

" He Who Drowned the World ," Shelley Parker-Chan's much-anticipated sequel to "She Who Became the Sun," is finally here. In the conclusion to the duology, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is fresh off a victory over the Mongols. Now, she's searching for an even greater ambition: to sit on the imperial throne. Meanwhile, the courtesan Madam Zhang is likewise scheming to secure the throne for her husband (and herself), and vengeful scholar Wang Baoxiang has ingratiated himself into a position of power to carry out his own plans. None of the would-be rulers are willing to bend, so someone will have to break.

16 "The Phoenix King" by Aparna Verma

Aparna Verma launches a new trilogy with " The Phoenix King ," an epic fantasy drawing on Hindu mythology. In the kingdom of Ravani, fire is power, and three very different people will face the whims of the Phoenix. Elena is a queen-in-waiting struggling to harness the power of the Eternal Flame. Leo, the king, is not quite ready to give up his crown, not until he can feel that his kingdom and family will be safe — but hanging onto power comes at a price. Then, there's Yassen, a former assassin looking for redemption, even if it means serving the royals he once set out to eliminate.

Release date: Aug. 29

17 "Assistant to the Villain" by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

If your fantasy tastes run more to the quirky and comic side, you might like " Assistant to the Villain " by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. When the notorious Villain needs some administrative help, Evie signs right up, desperate for a job to support her family. It takes some getting used to, but she starts to be pretty good at her job (even if she does develop an inconvenient crush on the Villain himself). When a nefarious plot to take out the Villain begins to reveal itself, Evie might be the only one who can solve it — or she might find herself in the crossfire.

18 "The Carnivale of Curiosities" by Amiee Gibbs

If you love star-crossed romance, Faustian deals, and the glamour and mystery of the circus, then " The Carnivale of Curiosities " by Amiee Gibbs should definitely be on your TBR list! In a strange circus in Victorian London, rumours spread that the proprietor, Aurelius Ashe, has the ability to make any dream come true — for a price, of course. The circus is also home to Lucien, a boy with the ability to conjure fire, and Charlotte, Ashe's ward. When one of the most dangerous men in London blackmails Ashe, the proprietor is left with no choice but to make a devastating deal that unearths secrets and puts everyone's lives in peril.

Release date: July 11

19 "The Saint of Bright Doors" by Vajra Chandrasekera

In " The Saint of Bright Doors " by Vajra Chandrasekera, the ordinary world comes up against the magic of mysterious portals and vicious antigods. Raised from childhood as an assassin against the sainted — his own father included — Fetter escapes his small town and moves to a city where "divine destinies" are everywhere. Revolutionary sentiments lurk under the guise of innocuous group therapy, the arrival of a god is portended via spam emails, and strange portals lurk behind plenty of doors. As Fetter unpacks the realities of his own dangerous past, his journey of self-discovery could wind up changing the entire world.

20 "Ebony Gate" by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle

Described as a women-driven "John Wick" set in San Francisco's Chinatown and featuring dragons, "Ebony Gate" by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle combines epic magic with sharp urban fantasy. Emiko Soong, known as the Blade of the Soong Clan, never needed magic, despite belonging to one of the eight most powerful magical families in the world. Then, a devastating battle sends her into hiding, living a quiet life as an antique dealer. When a shinigami, a god of death, calls in her family's blood debt, she must take up her blade again and recover the gate that holds back an army of the underworld, or her own soul is forfeit.

21 "The Judas Blossom" by Stephen Aryan

Set in a fantastical version of the Mongol Empire, " The Judas Blossom " by Stephen Aryan reimagines the 13th-century Mongol invasion of Persia through the eyes of four key figures. Hulagu Khan, grandson of the legendary Genghis Khan, insists that war and violence are the only ways to expand their empire further. Temujin Khan, his youngest son, may not be a warrior, but he may have other gifts that surprise them all. Kokochin, a princess and the last of her people, is one of Hulagu's many wives, but she's determined to make a difference. And Kaivon, a Persian rebel out for revenge, is biding his time until he can strike at the very heart of the empire that attacked his people.

22 "Dark Water Daughter" by H.M. Long

For an epic fantasy crossed with pirate adventure, pick up H.M. Long's " Dark Water Daughter ." Mary, a stormsinger, has the power to control the tempestuous seas, but even her powers cannot save her from servitude to the pirate lord Lirr. To save herself, she bargains with his nemesis: her skills at his service in exchange for his help destroying Lirr. Samuel, a disgraced former naval officer, is out for his own revenge against Lirr, and he's also in search of a talisman — stolen by Mary — that keeps his own demons at bay. Pushed to the ends of the Earth (literally), Mary and Samuel will have to make the hard choices to conquer forces beyond their reckoning.

Release date: July 18

23 "The Third Daughter" by Adrienne Tooley

In Adrienne Tooley's " The Third Daughter ," the people of Velle have waited for their prophesied heroine to arrive, the third daughter of a third daughter. When the queen gives birth to the long-awaited New Maiden, everyone is delighted — except Elodie, her eldest daughter, who has just lost her inheritance and her future crown. She seeks the aid of a magical apothecary, Sabine, but accidentally gives her new sister Brianne a vial of sadness, not a harmless sleeping potion. When Brianne slips into an enchanted slumber, Elodie and Sabine must work together to revive the New Maiden, even as an attraction between the two young women grows hard to ignore.

24 "The Jasad Heir" by Sara Hashem

Inspired by Egyptian lore and history, Sara Hashem's " The Jasad Heir " features everything you love about epic fantasy: complex world building, dangerous politics, a lost heir in hiding, slow-burn romance, and more. A decade ago, the kingdom of Jasad was destroyed along with its royal family — except for Sylvia, the lost heir who hides in the shadows and hopes never to be found. When she accidentally displays her magic in front of Arin, the prince of the empire who destroyed her home, she's forced to make a deal to help him find Jasadi rebels in order to save herself. As an unexpected connection forms between them, Sylvia must choose between the role she once had and the future she could build.

25 "The Weaver and the Witch Queen" by Genevieve Gornichec

Viking history and Norse mythology collide in " The Weaver and the Witch Queen " by Genevieve Gornichec. In 10th-century Norway, ambitious Gunnhild and quiet Oddny become fast friends, along with Oddny's sister Signy. A wise woman's prophecy spooks the girls and leads them to take a blood oath to protect each other always. When Signy is kidnapped and the family farm destroyed by Viking raiders, Oddny is determined to rescue her sister — even as she finds herself drawn to one of the raiding party. Meanwhile, Gunnhild, now learning witchcraft in the remote north, learns that her own story is inextricably bound with the king, Erik. The women's journeys intersect as they strive to keep their long-ago oath, no matter the cost.

26 "The Sun and the Void" by Gabriela Romero Lacruz

Gabriela Romero Lacruz builds a vibrant, complicated world of determined women, dangerous magic, and whispering gods based on South American folklore in " The Sun and the Void ." When Reina, an outcast, journeys to her grandmother in search of aid, she is set upon by deadly creatures. Her grandmother saves her life, revealing herself to be a powerful sorceress who now demands Reina's loyalty — as does an ancient god. Eva, meanwhile, is a young woman who seems to be perfect in every way, but she too holds a secret: magic calls to her. When she answers its siren call, she'll become something she never thought possible.

Release date: July 25

27 "Immortal Longings" by Chloe Gong

Chloe Gong draws inspiration from Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" for " Immortal Longings ." An annual tournament of dangerous games draws competitors who hope to use the ability to jump between bodies as a chance to win unthinkable riches. Princess Calla Tuoleimi joins the games in hopes of having the chance to kill her uncle, the king and the last survivor of the monarchy she's trying to destroy. She finds unexpected allies in Anton, an exiled aristocrat trying to keep his comatose childhood love alive, and August, the earnest adopted son of the king. As their relationships grow more tangled and the games more dangerous, Calla finds herself faced with a familiar dilemma: love or power.

28 "Shadows of the Lost" by Maxym M. Martineau

Maxym M. Martineau's " Shadows of the Lost " is the first instalment in a new fantasy series set in a world of mysterious beasts, immortals, and forbidden love. When he was first alive, Gaige was a Charmer, with the power to bond with magical beasts. Then, he suddenly died and was reborn as one of the immortal assassins of Cruor, with more power than he ever dreamed of — and a darkness waiting to claim him. Kost, the leader of the assassins, bears the heavy burden of guilt over Gaige's fate, but that guilt is mixed with a powerful longing between the two of them — if they can learn to trust again.

Release date: June 6

29 "Secret of the Moon Conch" by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall

" Secret of the Moon Conch " by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall toggles between modern-day Mexico and 1521 Tenochtitlan, where two people are bonded by a mystical conch shell. After her abuela's death, Sitlali is targeted by a gang and plans to flee to America to find her father, taking the conch as a memento of home. In 1521, Calizto is trapped in Tenochtitlan as it is besieged by the Spanish, and he uses his mother's conch to plead with the gods for aid. Somehow, the shell allows the two to connect across centuries, even as the dangers in their own times increase every day.

30 "Ruling Destiny" by Alyson Noël

Alyson Noël continues the Stealing Infinity series with " Ruling Destiny ." At a magical academy, Natasha finds herself thrown through time, with her mysterious power to "Trip" from era to era at a glance. Torn between loyal Killian and charming yet untrustworthy Braxton, she's on a mission to figure out the truth behind her strange abilities, all while investigating mysterious disappearances and webs of lies on top of lies. The eccentric billionaire who runs the school has an ambitious agenda that spells danger for them all, and if Natasha's suspicions are right, it's not just the school in danger — it's all of time.

31 "The First Bright Thing" by J.R. Dawson

The mystery and magic of the circus has inspired plenty of fantasy stories, and " The First Bright Thing " by J.R. Dawson is the latest to take advantage of this atmospheric setting. In the years after World War I, time traveller Rin and her trapeze-artist wife, Odette, lead a circus that serves as a safe haven for magical, mystical misfits. As the Circus of the Fantasticals brings magic to every town it visits, darkness threatens to catch up with them. Rin's past is about to catch up with all of them, along with a vicious rival ringmaster who rules his circus with dark power and won't stop until he gets what he wants.

Release date: June 13

32 "Savage Crowns" by Matt Wallace

Matt Wallace wraps up his Savage Rebellion trilogy with " Savage Crowns ." Evie, the Sparrow General, has been captured by Skrian, Crache's vicious army, and is being brought back to the Capitol to be punished, but she hasn't been left all alone. Dyeawan, the former street urchin turned power broker, has found herself in the highest seat of power in the land. But whispers of rebellion are growing louder, and word of a martyr could lead to a coup that would end her rule before it has even begun. Evie and Dyeawan must face one another and either find a shared vision for the future of Crache or launch one final battle.

33 "Psyche and Eros" by Luna McNamara

If mythological romances are your style, then pick up " Psyche and Eros " by Luna McNamara. Psyche, a princess of Mycenae, is prophesied to defeat a monster that even the gods fear, and she spends her early life training as a warrior to meet her destiny. When Psyche angers Aphrodite, the goddess sends Eros, god of desire, to enact a terrible curse. Instead, Eros pricks himself with the arrow meant for Psyche, dooming himself to yearn for a woman he cannot have. Together, the pair will face seemingly insurmountable challenges, and the looming Trojan War could tear them apart before they have the chance to find out what they could be if they were free.

34 "The Shadow Cabinet" by Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson's " The Shadow Cabinet " picks up right where "Her Majesty's Royal Coven" left off, with the witch Niamh dead and her chaotic, vengeful twin, Ciara, masquerading as her. As Ciara struggles with amnesia and works to fool even Niamh's nearest and dearest, she also slowly comes to discover how the world remembers her after all these years. Meanwhile, the witches are in search of Dabney Hale, a renegade warlock seeking a dark means of gaining unlimited power, and a "Shadow Cabinet" of ordinary humans grows more and more suspicious. If the witches don't get answers soon, all of witch-kind — and all of humanity — could pay the price.

Release date: June 20

35 "Gods of the Wyrdwood" by RJ Barker

RJ Barker launches a new fantasy trilogy with " Gods of the Wyrdwood ." Cahan du Nahare is an expert forester, able to navigate the dangers of the Deepforest like few others can. He has a secret, though: long ago, he served a god of fire. When Udinny, who serves the goddess of the lost, needs help finding a lost child in the Deepforest, Cahan becomes her guide to the risky territory. Soon, however, their quest becomes part of a greater battle that pits the servants of one god against those of another, and Cahan will have to choose where his loyalties truly lie.

Release date: June 27

36 "A Crown of Ivy and Glass" by Claire Legrand

Claire Legrand launches a new trilogy with " A Crown of Ivy and Glass ," set in a world of gods-blessed nobility, blood feuds, and mysterious magic. Gemma is the only member of her noble, magical family who cannot do magic, which leaves her constantly ill and on the sidelines. When she meets Talan, the lone survivor of a disgraced family, they strike a deal to restore his place in society and help her halt a blood feud. Nothing goes to plan, however, and attacks on a source of magic threaten them all, even as Gemma draws closer to Talan and learns more about her own potential power.

37 "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros

"The Magicians" meets "Game of Thrones" in " Fourth Wing ," the new fantasy epic by Rebecca Yarros. Twenty-year-old Violet survived a near-deadly illness when she was younger, and she now looks forward to a quiet, studious life in the Scribe Quadrant of the kingdom. Her imperious mother, general of the army, has other plans, and Violet is forced to join the brutal, often-deadly college that trains elite dragon riders instead. Violet will need every bit of her courage, plus some allies, to survive the dangers posed both by the dragons themselves and by her classmates — including the children of former rebels who would rather see her dead.

Release date: May 2

38 "A Shadow Crown" by Melissa Blair

" A Shadow Crown " by Melissa Blair is the second book in the Halfling Saga, picking up right where "A Broken Blade" left off. Keera lives a double life: in public, as the king's most feared and deadly assassin; in private, as an ally to Prince Killian and the Fae Riven, who together plot to kill the tyrannical king. Keera, a halfling, longs for acceptance and a place where she belongs, but even in the idyllic city of Myrelinth, where fae, elves, and halflings live in peace, Keera cannot escape her past. Even as she struggles to overcome past betrayals, a traitor lurks in their midst, and Keera herself becomes the prime suspect.

Release date: May 9

39 "To Shape a Dragon's Breath" by Moniquill Blackgoose

Moniquill Blackgoose combines dragon mythology with sharp commentary on colonization and the struggles of indigenous populations in " To Shape a Dragon's Breath ." When the teenage Anequs finds a dragon egg and bonds with the newly-hatched beast, her people celebrate her and recall the days when their people lived in harmony with dragons. However, the conquerors of her people's land have a very different perspective, and they believe Anequs is not fit to raise and bond with a dragon. Finally, they come to a reluctant agreement. Anequs must enroll in one of their academies and conform to their ways, and if she fails, her dragon will be killed.

40 "Bound by Sword and Spirit" by Andrea Robertson

Andrea Robertsons's "Loresmith" trilogy comes to a conclusion with " Bound by Sword and Spirit ." The evil Vokkans are descending on the world that our heroine Ara is desperate to protect, and she and her companions find themselves separated at the worst time. Teth has been betrayed by his supposed friend Eamon and must contend with a dark secret from the past, while Eamon struggles with his own plan to help his sister and redeem himself, if that's possible. Ara and her Loreknights could be the only thing standing between their world and utter destruction, and they'll need all the help they can get to succeed.

Release date: May 16

41 "Of Light and Shadow" by Tanaz Bhathena

Tanaz Bhathena creates a fantasy universe inspired by Indian mythology in " Of Light and Shadow ." Orphaned at birth and adopted by the king of bandits, Roshan now leads a clan of farmers-turned-bandits whose lives have been ruined by the corrupt government. She's out for revenge for her adopted father and justice for her people. When her Shadow Clan captures Prince Navin, the second son of the king, he hopes that he can get close to Roshan and escape. Instead, he learns more than he ever imagined about the corruption at the heart of the government and even his own family, and the duo's burgeoning attraction may or may not be enough to get past their mutual distrust.

Release date: May 23

42 "The Will of the Many" by James Islington

James Islington launches a new fantasy series with " The Will of the Many ," inspired by tales of ancient Rome. The Catenan Republic is ruled by the Hierarchy, which puts down rebellion without a second thought and drains the strength of the ordinary people in order to support those "higher up." A young fugitive, going by the name of Vis, enters an elite academy with a tale of being orphaned young and a promise to offer his strength (his Will) to add to the power of those on top. In reality, he's at the academy with a purpose: to solve a murder, find a weapon, and uncover the secrets that could tear apart the empire that destroyed his family.

43 "Perilous Times" by Thomas D. Lee

Thomas D. Lee puts a new spin on the classic myths of King Arthur and the Round Table with " Perilous Times ." Centuries and centuries ago, Sir Kay was a hero of Camelot, riding alongside his brother Arthur and the other Knights. He's also an immortal, having seen the great battles of human history and watched empires rise, fall, and reshape. Now, he finds himself in a nearly unrecognisable world, ravaged by climate change and transformed into a militarized dystopia. Marian, an ordinary woman struggling against a broken system, hopes Kay can help uncover and defeat an apocalyptic plot, but even an ancient knight may not be a match for the dangers of this future.

44 "Threads That Bind" by Kika Hatzopoulou

Kika Hatzopoulou puts a new and thrilling spin on Greek mythology with " Threads That Bind ." In this world, the children of Greek gods inherit their parents' powers, and the world they inhabit resembles a fantasy noir setting, full of dangers and corruption. The Ora sisters are, like all descendants of the Fates, born in threes, and the youngest, Io, works as a private investigator in a half-sunken city. Then, she uncovers a conspiracy: someone is maiming women's life-threads and setting loose deadly wraiths in the city. She'll have to work with Edei, the boy with whom she shares a fate thread, and find out what's really happening, even as those closest to her prove they can't be trusted.

Release date: May 30

45 "Witch King" by Martha Wells

Kai, the protagonist of Martha Wells's " Witch King ," doesn't quite seem like your typical fantasy hero at first. He's a demon — or, perhaps, he was a demon. After being assassinated, Kai's consciousness remains, floating in some in-between space until he is awakened by a lesser mage hoping to channel Kai's power for his own ends. Now, Kai must try to figure out what happened to get him murdered in the first place, how much has changed in the time that has passed since then, and why a mysterious, shady council is growing in power. It will take a lot of magic, and some useful allies, to uncover the truth in time.

46 "Silver in the Bone" by Alexandra Bracken

Alexandra Bracken, best known for "Lore," returns with " Silver in the Bone ," a new fantasy that puts a twist on Arthurian legends. Tamsin has no magic of her own, but when her foster father disappears without a trace, she dives headfirst into the pursuit of enchanted relics to provide for herself and her brother. A decade later, rumours swirl that her disappeared guardian had found a ring with roots in Arthurian lore — a ring that could free her brother from a dangerous curse. With powerful sorcerers closing in, Tamsin reluctantly teams up with her rival, Emrys, hoping to uncover the secrets of the past and find the ring before her hopes are dashed forever.

Release date: April 4

47 "Blood Debts" by Terry J. Benton-Walker

Terry J. Benton-Walker transforms modern-day New Orleans into the site of generations of magical feuds in " Blood Debts ." Thirty years ago, a magical family were dethroned and massacred, and today, the would-be heirs are Clement and Cristina Trudeau, 16-year-old twins who have a complicated relationship with their magic and each other. Cristina has given up magic after a spell gone wrong led to tragedy, while Clement tries to lose himself in the magic to avoid his pent-up anger and pain. The siblings will have to put their own tensions aside to team up and figure out who's coming after their family again. If they can't, they're not the only ones in danger, and both the magical and nonmagical communities could pay the price.

48 "Divine Rivals" by Rebecca Ross

Magical letters and a mysterious war between gods create the atmosphere of " Divine Rivals " by Rebecca Ross. Long after the gods were supposedly bested and put into a permanent slumber, a violent god has risen again, and he and his rival are both calling to mortals to fight for them. Iris, a young journalist, struggles to compete for a columnist role against her all-too-perfect rival, Roman, but finds solace in a blossoming closeness with a magical pen pal she discovers when trying to write to her brother, who's away at war. What she doesn't know is that the man on the other side of the correspondence is Roman, and both of them are about to be plunged straight into a battle neither of them could imagine.

49 "Wings Once Cursed & Bound" by Piper J. Drake

" Wings Once Cursed & Bound " by Piper J. Drake combines familiar fantasy elements with Thai mythology. Peeraphan lives a seemingly normal life in Seattle, unaware that she's actually a Thai bird princess of legend. When she's attacked, she's rescued by vampire Bennett Andrews, but not in time to prevent her from falling victim to a curse. The pair venture deep into the magical underworld in search of a solution before the curse can progress any further, even as Peeraphan's powers develop in unexpected ways. Even if she can break the curse, she's not sure she can ever return to the life she knew before.

Release date: April 11

50 "The Haunting of Alejandra" by V. Castro

V. Castro's " The Haunting of Alejandra " weaves together Mexican folklore, fantasy, and a touch of horror in its tale of demons and curses. On the outside, Alejandra seems like a perfectly normal wife and mother. But on the inside, she's haunted by ghostly visions of La Llorona, a vengeful spirit of Mexican legend. As she looks for answers, diving into her family history, Alejandra soon learns that the women in her family have a history with the spirit; she is not the first to see it, nor to be tempted by its call. She will have to summon the strength of generations to banish La Llorona forever — or be lost to its darkness.

Release date: April 18

51 "The Bone Shard War" by Andrea Stewart

Andrea Stewart brings her Drowning Empire trilogy to an end with " The Bone Shard War ." Lin Sukai has survived — and won — her first battle as Emperor, but the fate of the Phoenix Empire is far from certain. She'll need plenty of allies to hold on to her victory, but she seems to be running low on those, too. Her governors conspire against her, rebellions brew, and old enemies seem to be gaining strength at every turn. To turn the tide in her favour, she sets out on one more quest: to find seven mythical swords forged in past eras. If she can't reach them in time, though, her empire may fall.

52 "A Sleight of Shadows" by Kat Howard

New York City is home to an underworld of powerful magicians in " A Sleight of Shadows ," Kat Howard's second book in her "Unseen World" series. Sydney has successfully destroyed the source corrupting the Unseen World, but it's come at a price: her powers are almost entirely drained. It couldn't happen at a worse time, as the deadly House of Shadows is slowly rebuilding itself and the magic of the Unseen World is behaving strangely. She's determined to keep the House of Shadows from returning, but powerful forces are fighting against her, and this time, her determination and courage might not be enough.

Release date: April 25

53 "That Self-Same Metal" by Brittany N. Williams

Brittany N. Williams crafts an epic fantasy with a Shakespearean backdrop in " That Self-Same Metal ." At the age of 16, Joan is a talented enough craftswoman to be entrusted with making and maintaining all the blades for Shakespeare's plays. Her talent comes from her magical ability to control metal, and her entire family is Orisha-blessed. The other side of her family's powers is the ability to sense the presence of the Fae among humans, and when it seems like there is a sudden uptick in violent Fae attacks, Joan finds herself right in the middle of a potential war that bridges two worlds.

54 "A Game of Malice and Greed" by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

From Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, authors of the BookTok-beloved Zodiac Academy series, comes " A Game of Malice and Greed ," the first book in a new fantasy saga. The new series puts a fresh spin on fairy tales and fae mythology for an adventure full of romance, mystery, and, of course, plenty of magic. It's packed to the brim with twists on the classic elements that you know and love from the fantasy genre: a competition for the hand of a princess, a cursed kingdom, a forbidden love with devastating consequences, and tales of monsters, gods, and immortals all woven together.

Release date: March 3

55 "The Faithless" by C.L. Clark

C.L. Clark continues her Magic of the Lost saga with " The Faithless ," the second book in the series. After a successful rebellion, princess Luca returns home to claim her throne, but her uncle refuses to let go of power without a fight. She'll need allies, and they're fast disappearing, so she turns again to Touraine, the soldier who saw her through her first adventures. Touraine is trying to help her land recover from the ravages of the empire but struggles to find ways to lead in a time of peace. If Luca isn't on the throne, or can't convince her uncle to ratify a peace treaty, all their battles could be for nothing.

Release date: March 7

56 "Weyward" by Emilia Hart

For a subtler take on the fantasy genre, pick up Emilia Hart's " Weyward ." The story alternates between three women in the same family, separated by centuries, and all of whom have a powerful connection to the natural world. In 1619, Altha writes her memoirs as she awaits her trial for witchcraft. During World War II, Violet struggles against the limits placed on her because of her gender and tries to learn the truth about what happened to her mother. In 2019, Kate flees an abusive relationship to a cottage inherited from her great-aunt, where she begins to uncover the secrets of her family — and potentially her own power, too.

57 "The Foxglove King" by Hannah Whitten

Hannah Whitten launches a new fantasy series with " The Foxglove King ," centreed on Lore, a girl with death magic. She's been living underground (literally) since she escaped a cult at age 13, working as a poisons runner to earn food and shelter. When one run goes wrong, her highly prized — and highly dangerous — power is revealed, and she's taken by an order of warrior monks who are permitted to use death magic in service to the king. Instead of being executed or imprisoned, Lore is brought into the court, guarded by a noble-turned-monk, and wary of the king's heir. She's soon sent on a misson: to find out why entire villages have been dying and to pinpoint who's responsible, all while navigating the power plays at this treacherous court.

58 "Arca" by G.R. Macallister

G.R. Macallister continues her epic Five Queendoms series with " Arca ," the second book in a planned series of five. The Drought of Girls has ended, but its ramifications are still causing upheaval throughout the Five Queendoms. In Paxim, Queen Heliane plans to make her son the first-ever male ruler, causing dissent at every level. Arca's succession crisis has left a young, uncertain queen on the throne, and she struggles to find her footing, while the army of Scorpica, their warrior-culture neighbours, lurk at their borders. Elsewhere, hidden heirs and magical beings wait in the shadows for their time to come. It's "Game of Thrones" without dragons but with a matriarchal society packed with power plays and epic battles.

59 "The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" by Shannon Chakraborty

" The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi " brings "The City of Brass" author Shannon Chakraborty into adult fantasy with a vibrant new adventure. Amina al-Sarafi, who has spent years becoming one of the Indian Ocean's most notorious pirates, retires to a lifetime of peace and satisfaction — or so she thinks. She's pulled out of retirement when the wealthy mother of a former crewman offers her an enormous reward to rescue her old colleague's kidnapped daughter. Tempted by the reward and the possibility of one last adventure with her crew, Amina agrees. She soon realises, however, that there's much more behind the kidnapping, and there are supernatural plots afoot.

60 "The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill" by Rowenna Miller

For anyone who loves faerie mythology but is looking for something more "cosy" than "epic," check out " The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill " by Rowenna Miller. Generations ago, the farmers and villagers of Prospect Hill learned to barter with the Fae who live on the other side of the veil, but that knowledge was lost with the dawn of industrialization. Today, Alaine's family still hold onto some of the old superstitions. When her sister Delphine confides that her intended husband is not who he seems to be, Alaine will stop at nothing to help her break free, even if it means calling upon the magic that hasn't been touched in centuries.

Release date: March 28

61 "Chaos & Flame" by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

" Chaos & Flame " is the first in a planned duology from Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland. Darling, an orphan girl, sets out to save her adoptive father, who has been captured by House Dragon, the faction that killed her birth family. Talon, a prince and younger brother of the ruling House Dragon prince, grows frustrated with his brother's cruel and erratic rule. When their paths cross, Darling and Talon become unlikely allies — and possibly more — as they work to unravel what the High Prince Regent is doing, but even their newfound alliance might not be able to withstand the devastation about to be unleashed on their world.

62 "Wildblood" by Lauren Blackwood

Lauren Blackwood's eerie fantasy novels draw loosely upon classic Gothic literature, and her latest, " Wildblood ," is like an anticolonialist take on "Heart of Darkness." Deep in a haunted Jamaican jungle, Victoria is pressed into service to use her magic to protect tourists who want to explore the wilderness. When she's passed over for a promotion, she is determined to prove herself on the next expedition, where Thorn, a gold miner, seeks a legendary treasure. Thorn is nothing like the men (and women) Victoria has worked for before, but the dangers that lurk in the jungle make no exceptions for love, and she soon must decide whether to forge her own path or stick to the life she knows.

Release date: Feb. 7

63 "The Last Tale of the Flower Bride" by Roshani Chokshi

If you like your fantasy a little more horror-tinged, pick up Roshani Chokshi's " The Last Tale of the Flower Bride ," an eerily Gothic story about the dark side of fairy tales. A scholar of myth and fairy tale marries a beautiful, wealthy, and mysterious heiress named Indigo. All seems well, except for one promise she demands of her new husband: never ask about her past. When the couple returns to Indigo's childhood home to care for her ailing aunt, he cannot resist exploring the secrets lurking in the manor's crumbling, haunted rooms. Soon, he uncovers another mystery: what really happened to Azure, Indigo's childhood friend who disappeared under strange circumstances.

Release date: Feb. 14

64 "These Infinite Threads" by Tahereh Mafi

" These Infinite Threads " picks up where Mafi's "This Woven Kingdom" leaves off, with star-crossed lovers Alizeh and Kamran struggling with their shared attraction amid a brewing conflict between their people. Alizeh is the heir to the Jinn throne, destined to free her people from the oppression they have suffered at the hands of humans, and now she is the captive of Cyrus, king of a neighbouring kingdom. He plans to marry her and help her restore her throne — with some benefits to him, of course — but she wants no part of his plot and seeks another way to save her people. Kamran's grandfather lies dead at Cyrus's hands, and Kamran knows he is obligated to exact revenge, but he's more concerned about finding Alizeh before it's too late.

65 "Seven Faceless Saints" by M.K. Lobb

Powerful saints and their disciples rule the city of Ombrazia in " Seven Faceless Saints " by M.K. Lobb, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable to their whims. After her father's murder by the Ombrazian military, Rossana embraces her own powers as a disciple, joins the rebellion, and tries to forget the boy who broke her heart: Damian, the youngest captain in history, who nevertheless can't help questioning the things he's supposed to believe in. When a serial killer strikes down a disciple as its latest victim, Damian and Rossana must team up to solve the case and protect their people, but their investigations uncover something darker than they imagined.

66 "Immortality: A Love Story" by Dana Schwartz

Dana Schwartz follows up her haunted romance "Anatomy" with a sequel, " Immortality: A Love Story ." In Regency-era London, Hazel, a young physician, tries to recover from the past year's events, in which she uncovered a plot, fell in love, discovered the existence of immortality, and seemingly lost her true love. After being arrested for a medical intervention gone wrong, Hazel is instead personally requested by the king to tend to his sickly and precious heir, Princess Charlotte. As Hazel learns more about the secrets kept at court — particularly a mysterious society — she is reunited with Jack, her lost love who is now searching for a cure to his immortality. Their search will put them in danger's way because behind the glamour of the monarchy hides something dark.

Release date: Feb. 28

67 "The Wicked Bargain" by Gabe Cole Novoa

Swashbuckling pirate adventure meets haunted Latinx queer YA fantasy in " The Wicked Bargain " by Gabe Cole Novoa. Mar, a transmasculine nonbinary young pirate, is hiding their magical ability to manipulate fire and ice, but their powers aren't enough when el Diablo comes to collect on a bargain made by Mar's father, costing the souls of everyone on the ship. A pirate crew miraculously rescues Mar, but el Diablo returns and tracks them down, issuing an ultimatum: Mar can sacrifice their own soul to save their father, or never see him again. Outmatched and desperate, Mar turns to a team of unexpected and mysterious allies in hopes of finally gaining the strength to harness their magic — if it's not too late.

68 "A Day of Fallen Night" by Samantha Shannon

" A Day of Fallen Night " takes place in the same universe as Shannon's bestseller "The Priory of the Orange Tree." A prequel that delves further into that book's rich mythology and world building, the story follows the intersecting lives and fates of four women: Tunuva, a sister of the Priory during a time when some question the need for its existence; Sabran, a queen who marries to save her kingdom; Glorian, her daughter who watches from the shadows; and Dumai, who has spent her life trying to wake the gods. When the Dreadmount erupts, chaos and violence follow, and these four women will be pivotal in ensuring that humankind survives.

69 "The Magician's Daughter" by H.G. Parry

" The Magician's Daughter " by H.G. Parry takes readers to a magically hidden island off the coast of early-1900s Ireland, where a girl named Biddy lives with her guardian, the magician Rowan. When Rowan fails to return one night, Biddy decides to venture into the outside world for the first time in hopes of finding him. What she doesn't know, however, is just how many enemies Rowan has and how they've been hoarding the world's magic for themselves. Biddy could be the one person who can stop them, but there's a lot she has to learn about herself and about the world first.

70 "The Stolen Heir" by Holly Black

Bestselling fantasy author Holly Black launches a new duology with " The Stolen Heir ." Set in the world of Elfhame, which was first introduced in the Folk of the Air trilogy, the story picks up eight years after the great Battle of the Serpent. In the Court of Teeth in the North, Lady Nore has taken power and uses an ancient relic to build an army to do her bidding. Meanwhile, Suren, the rightful young queen of the court, has fled to exile in the human world. When she is rescued from a frightening pursuit by Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame and her onetime betrothed, their lives and the fate of the North are changed forever.

Release date: Jan.3

71 "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night" by Amélie Wen Zhao

Weaving together inspiration from Chinese folklore and mythology with a brand-new fantasy tale, Amélie Wen Zhao's " Song of Silver, Flame Like Night " creates a rich world in a tale of a people rising up against oppressive conquerors. When outsiders stormed in and conquered her kingdom, Lan lost everything: her name was changed, her magic was banned, and her mother was killed — but not before branding Lan with a mysterious mark as her last act. Now, Lan scavenges to get by and seeks answers about the mark. One night, Zen, one of the last magicians in existence, saves her life and recognises the mark as designating her as a practioner with immense magic. Together, they'll journey through the kingdom to find a group of surviving magicians, who have their own plans to overthrow the invaders.

Release date: Jan. 3

72 "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" by Heather Fawcett

Heather Fawcett puts a heartwarming spin on fantasy lore with " Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries ." Emily Wilde is a talented professor who is compiling the first-ever encyclopedia of faerie lore, but the one thing she's terrible at is interacting with her fellow human beings. When she arrives in a small town to pursue more of her faerie studies, she doesn't plan on connecting with the townspeople — or her academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who also shows up in the same town. As Emily pursues a breakthrough in her research, she's also faced with figuring out what Wendell is up to and what she herself really wants out of her future.

Release date: Jan. 10

73 "The Daughters of Izdihar" by Hadeer Elsbai

" The Daughters of Izdihar " launches Hadeer Elsbai's new duology, drawing inspiration from modern Egyptian history. Nehal is a waterweaver who desperately wants to attend an academy and join the first all-women military regiment. Unfortunately, her family can't afford to send her, instead marrying her off to a wealthy but indifferent merchant, Nico, who is already in love with Giorgina, a seemingly ordinary bookseller. Giorgina has a secret, though: she's an earthweaver with strong, unpredictable powers and an affiliation with a radical women's rights group. Nehal, Nico, and Giorgina's lives intersect thanks to this cause, but a threat from a foreign enemy could end weavers altogether.

74 "Hell Bent" by Leigh Bardugo

" Hell Bent ," Bardugo's sequel to "Ninth House," takes readers on a journey from academia to hell and beyond. Alex, a scholarship student at Yale with supernatural powers, is on a quest: open a portal to hell and rescue her former mentor from the underworld. Without official backup, she and her allies will have to form a team of misfits in order to navigate a mysterious and dangerous mission. When faculty members start dying under strange circumstances, Alex knows that the seemingly random deaths must be connected to the supernatural secrets that lurk all around them.

75 "Chain of Thorns" by Cassandra Clare

The Last Hours trilogy, the most recent series in Clare's sprawling Shadowhunter universe, wraps up with " Chain of Thorns ." After losing her family, her marriage to James Herondale, her best friend, her Shadowhunter powers, and everything she holds dear — not to mention being bound to the ancient demon Lilith — Cordelia Carstairs flees to Paris with Matthew Fairchild. Then devastating news breaks: London is under attack by the prince of Hell, who has a devastating connection to the Herondale line. With secrets tearing friends and allies apart, Cordelia, James, and their friends will need all their strength and faith in each other to fight off this new evil once and for all.

Release date: Jan. 31

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Blog – Posted on Friday, Sep 04

A guide to new adult books: 20 titles to get you started.

In 2009, St. Martin’s Press announced a contest for “new adult” manuscripts — cutting-edge stories that take college-age protagonists and walk them through the gauntlet of growing up. The resulting submissions read like young adult , but aged up: hotter romances, grittier plot-lines, characters grappling with college stress, career transitions, and all manner of first times. And thus, a new genre was born.

Like YA, new adult (or NA) is fundamentally about coming of age, though it looks at what happens after the messiness of adolescence. Unlike their young adult counterparts, NA protagonists have left childhood in the rearview mirror. But that doesn’t mean they feel like full-fledged grownups just yet. As NA writer Cora Carmack puts it, “ New adult is the ‘I’m officially an adult, now what?’ phase. ”

Carmack and her fellow genre superstars tend to pen sleek, steamy collegiate romances that feel destined for the big screen. Cardigan-clad ingenues fall for tattooed heartthrobs over econ problem sets or dorm-room shenanigans — you can practically hear the TSwift-forward soundtrack.

But NA isn’t all about coed love stories. Within this vibrant genre, you’ll find edgy urban fantasies , heart-wrenching historical fiction , and soft-focus magical realism. And the books that do play the “college girl meets college boy” trope straight will make the formula feel exciting again with their compelling characters — not to mention a few love scenes guaranteed to make your blood run hot.

Feeling intrigued? Then let’s get started with these 20 wildly popular new adult books.

1. All of You by Christina Lee

Avery Michaels has never been interested in dating — which makes sense, given her mom’s string of terrible ex-boyfriends. Instead of love, she’s focused on her nursing studies, with the occasional hookup when she wants to have a little fun. But all that changes when she meets Bennett. He’s hot, tattooed — and a virgin. Unfortunately for Avery, he’s not interested in changing that last part unless she’s willing to try something truly brazen: a relationship. With steamy love scenes and likeable reads, All of You is a delectable, escapist treat.

2. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Originally a self-published hit , Beautiful Disaster wound up in Simon & Schuster’s catalogue after a stint on the New York Times Best Seller list. At its center is Abby Abernathy, a once-troubled teen hoping for a fresh start in college. Unfortunately, resident bad-boy Travis Maddox won’t make it easy for her. With his streetwise charisma and breathtaking looks, Travis threatens to tempt Abby off the virtuous path of chastity and cardigans. Will she end up falling for him, against her own better judgment?

3. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

This gripping World War II novel kicks off when a young British spy crash-lands right in the middle of enemy territory. When “Verity’s” plane goes down over Nazi-occupied France, her pilot — and best friend — Maddie manages to escape. But Verity isn’t so lucky: she ends up a prisoner of the Gestapo. Held in an abandoned hotel, she’s forced to write a confession detailing her part in the Allied war effort. As rigorously researched as it is emotionally devastating, Code Name Verity is a historical tour de force.

4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

When savvy readers think “new adult fantasy,” A Court of Thorns and Roses might just be the first book that comes to mind. This darkly sexy tale, which remixes “Beauty and the Beast” with the Scottish legend of Tam Lin, introduces us to the teenage huntress Feyre Acheron. After killing a wolf that turns out to be a faerie in disguise, she winds up as a prisoner of the High Lord Tamlin, a bestial figure who hides his green-eyed countenance behind a mask. In true fairy tale form, Feyre’s resentment of her captor warps into something like love. But before they can have their happily ever after, she must dispel that curse that shadows Tamlin and his court.

5. The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham make an odd pair. She’s a snarky bookworm who's never been in love, and he’s a puck-shooting bad boy who never sleeps alone. They’ve only come together thanks to a cold-blooded transaction: Hannah will tutor Garrett so he can skate by academically, moving on from studies he doesn’t care about to his pro hockey career. In exchange, he’ll make her crush jealous with a carefully calculated fake dating gambit. It’s a clear-cut, mutually beneficial deal… until an unexpected kiss changes everything.

6. Easy by Tammara Webber

This steamy collegiate romance helped define NA’s penchant for tortured protagonists, rollercoaster relationships, and grown-up grit. Easy ’s narrator, Jacqueline, has always been willing to sacrifice for her relationship — she even set aside her music school dreams to join her high-school boyfriend at an in-state college. Of course, he decides he wants to see other people. Heartbroken, Jackie can’t bring herself to go to the econ class she’s taking with her ex. Then a quiet classmate saves her from a sexual assault. A brooding figure with a deceptively sharp mind, Lucas is nothing like Jackie’s ex. With him by her side, can she find the strength to stand on her own?

7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Identical twins Cath and Wren grew up together in the Simon Snow fandom — reading and rereading the series, writing fanfiction, donning elaborate costumes for midnight premieres. But now that they’re heading off to college, Wren is ready to put her fangirl days behind her in favor of new friends and college parties. That leaves Cath alone with her social anxiety — prompting a deeper retreat into the Simon Snow universe. Written by the author of Eleanor and Park , Fangirl is a charming, relatable look at mental health, family bonds, and the magic of fandom.

8. The Impact of You by Kendall Ryan

This sexy bestseller helped cement Kendall Ryan’s reputation as a NA superstar, a collegiate romance maven with a legion of devoted fans. The sizzling chemistry in The Impact of You will show you exactly why she enjoys so much hype. At first glance, Avery and Jase seem like a classic case of “opposites attract”. She’s a quiet virgin who keeps to herself, and he’s a hard-living staple of the frat party scene. But they’re bound together by the darkness of their pasts — for better or worse. You see, Avery has striven to leave her painful history behind. But Jase decides he’d rather help her through her trauma than confront his own.

9. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

As far as NA hits go, Lily and the Octopus is a bit of an outlier. For one thing, the relationship at its heart isn’t a torrid romance between a cardigan-clad freshman and her sexy tattooed beau. Instead, this quirky, magical realist confection of a novel centers on the love between man and man’s best friend. Writer Ted Flask and his dachshund Lily have done everything together for the past twelve years. But now, she has a brain tumor, an “octopus” clinging to the back of her eye. Based on Steven Rowley’s own bond with his beloved dog, this unconventional love story is a triumph of emotional modulation, at once riotously funny and deeply sad.

10. Losing It by Cora Carmack

Bliss Edwards might have seven semesters of drama school under her belt, but she’s never had sex. That’s why she’s committed to finally “losing it” in the most efficient way possible. Unfortunately, her first one-night stand doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. When she shows up for class on the first day of her senior spring, Bliss is horrified to recognize her professor: the last time she saw him, he was naked in her bed. As her beloved Shakespeare would say, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

11. One and Only by Viv Daniels

YA stalwart Diana Peterfreund also writes sexy collegiate romances under a pen name. One and Only opens her popular Canton series, which offers all the sweeping intensity fans expect from the Viv Daniels brand. When Tess McMann earns a scholarship to the prestigious Canton College, it seems like the perfect opportunity to escape her troubled past. There, she reunites with Dylan Kingsley, an old summer love whose keen wit and smoldering grin still make her heart beat fast. There’s just one problem: Dylan has a girlfriend now. What’s worse, she happens to be Tess’s half-sister — the cherished daughter of a father who won’t give Tess the time of day.

12. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This witty LGBT romance takes new relationship shenanigans to the world stage. The White House’s resident prince, Alex Claremont-Diaz, hasn’t always gotten along with Henry Mountchristen-Windsor, the actual prince he tussled with at a paparazzi-plagued royal wedding. That’s why he’s been forced to make nice with Henry for the cameras. But as Alex and Henry play up their “bond” in front of an adoring press, their staged friendship turns into real passion. As far as inventive NA love stories go, Red, White & Royal Blue takes the crown.

13. Slammed by Colleen Hoover

In this heart-wrenching romance, poetry slams offer Layken Cohen a refuge from her less-than-perfect senior year: she’s starting over in a whole new state after her father’s death. Luckily, her cute new neighbor Will is there to show her everything Ypsilanti, Michigan has to offer. Before long, they’re going out to poetry clubs, unable to deny their mutual attraction. When the school year starts, though, Layken is “slammed” by a nasty surprise: she walks into class only to lock eyes with her new poetry teacher — Will.

14. Social Skills by Sara Alva

Social Skills is an understated love story with nuanced characterization and a subtle, elegant literary voice. Its protagonist, Connor Owens, has a tendency to get tongue-tied, especially around cute boys. What he lacks in social skills, though, he makes up for in musical virtuosity: his violin says everything he can’t manage to express in words. That starts to change when he meets Jared, a smooth-talking football player who gets under Connor’s skin. Can things really work out between two people so different — especially if neither of them is exactly out yet?

15. Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danier

This gorgeously written bestseller was one of 2016’s most anticipated titles. Sweetbitter mixes a heart-rending bildungsroman with a richly textured look at New York’s Michelin-starred restaurant scene. The result? A culinary coming-of-age tale that’s sure to hit the spot. It’s narrated by twenty-two year old Tess, who harbored dreams of New York long before she arrived from Ohio. She’s got no connections and no credentials to her name, but she manages to snag a backwaiter gig at a glitzy Manhattan restaurant. There, Tess gets a hands-on education in fine dining, unrequited love, and other rarefied tastes.

16. The Sound of Us by Ash Poston

If you like your new adult fiction with more spunk than grit, add The Sound of Us to your TBR. This spun-sugar romance is the perfect way to while away a lazy afternoon. When Junie Baltimore learns that Roman Holiday is breaking up, she couldn’t care less: pop fans throughout the country might be crying their eyes out, but she’s always been more of a rock-n-roll girl. When she runs into the band’s former lead singer on the beach, though, they turn out to have more in common than she ever expected. Now, if only the paparazzi would leave them alone…

17. Sunshine by Robin McKinley

For fans of children’s fantasy , Robin McKinley is just about a household name. In Sunshine , though, she tackles more grown-up fare, to spellbinding — and sometimes blood-draining — effect. Set in an alternate universe plagued by black magic, this darkly fascinating story centers on Rae Seddon, a pastry chef with long-submerged supernatural abilities. Unfortunately for her, tapping into those powers now is kind of do-or-die: she’s just been kidnapped by vampires . Imprisoned in an abandoned manor, Rae is forced to work with her fellow abductee, a vampire from a rival gang with a strange allure.

18. Unteachable by Leah Raeder

When Maise O’Malley meets a cute stranger at a summer carnival, she’s not looking for anything but a night of fun. Still, there’s something about Evan that she just can’t stop thinking about: it’s like he saw right through her tough-talking facade. In true NA romance fashion, the start of the school year brings a nasty shock — guess who’s teaching her film class? Maise and Evan — or rather, Mr. Wilke — have no choice but to stay away from each other. But not even saintly self-control can stop the rumors from spreading. Passionate and provocative, Unteachable offers a no-holds-barred look at a relationship with soaring highs and catastrophic lows.

19. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

Any Shakespeare fans here? What about 10 Things I Hate about You ? Either way, Vinegar Girl is for you — this witty romcom reimagines The Taming of the Shrew . College dropout Kate Battista finds herself facing a challenge she never anticipated: an arranged marriage. On the verge of a major breakthrough, her biochemist father has encountered a setback: his Russian lab assistant, Pyotr, is running out of time on his student visa. To keep him in the country, Dr. Battista devises a madcap scheme: a sham marriage between his protégé and his daughter. Kate is less than thrilled with this plan, at least at first. But something about the quietly brilliant Pyotr tugs at her heartstrings. Maybe it’s the fact that he has no interest in “taming” her at all.

20. Wait for You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

One of new adult’s biggest and most versatile talents, Jennifer L. Armentrout has topped bestseller lists with her fantasy and contemporary romances alike. Wait for It falls squarely into the latter category: it’s a collegiate love story with swoon-worthy leads, whip-smart banter, and a fast-moving, thriller-inflected plot. When college freshman Avery Morgansten starts to fall for local heartthrob Cameron Hamilton, she knows she’s in trouble. She’s still haunted by a traumatic Halloween party from five years ago, and blue-eyed, dimpled distractions like Cam make it hard to keep it together. That’s before you add in the threatening phone calls she’s been fielding… Will the two keep bonding over astronomy class, or will Avery’s past keep them apart?

Have you developed a taste for swoonworthy love stories? Why not check out our roundup of the 25 hottest romance authors and their steamiest works ?

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The 13 Best Fantasy Books for Adults, Ranked

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Wizards, dragons, and elves aren't just for kids. If you're a fan of Game of Thrones or The Lord of the Rings , you already know how easy it is to get immersed in fantastical realms for the mature.

The truth is, fantasy is a genre that's even better for adults than kids. As we get older, we tend to neglect our inner child, we forget how to imagine, and we lose our sense of wonder.

Adult fantasy books help us to re-establish those important aspects that lay dormant within us. More than that, adult fantasy books reinvigorate us while providing an escape from mundane life.

Not to mention all the different kinds of fantasy subgenres ! It's not all magic and rainbows; in fact, there's plenty of dark fantasy with heavy subjects that can make even the most adult readers grimace.

Ready to dive into new fantastical worlds that'll whisk you away and fill you with magical excitement? Here are our picks for the best fantasy books for adults that'll suck you right in!

13. Wizard's First Rule

Authored by Terry Goodkind

First published in 1994

836 pages — 4.12 on Goodreads

Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule introduces a world that's separated by magical borders. Richard Cypher, a woods guide in Westland, loses his father to a mysterious murder.

He takes to the forest in search of clues, only to stumble upon Kahlan Amnell, a woman who's being hunted by assassins. Richard soon learns that Kahlan needs more than protection: she needs help to prevent a great evil from taking over the world.

Wizard's First Rule is the first in the Sword of Truth saga. While the series has its issues—it's derivative, it's politically preachy, it's dated in its tropes—this first book is still a fun and solid read for adults.

12. Ninth House

Authored by Leigh Bardugo

First published in 2019

461 pages — 4.04 on Goodreads

Galaxy "Alex" Stern is a freshman at Yale University, but she doesn't really fit in because she's a high school dropout who prefers to spend her time on other activities than pursuing academic excellence.

At least, that what it seems like on the surface. The truth is actually much darker than that: Galaxy is the only survivor of a mysterious series of homicides and she can see ghosts.

While in the hospital, she's mysteriously offered a cost-free enrollment at Yale. Why her? Why now? She'll soon discover that there are dark, secret societies that put her whole life into perspective.

11. The Fifth Season

Authored by N. K. Jemisin

First published in 2015

468 pages — 4.31 on Goodreads

Essun lives in a small town and her life is more or less mundane. One day she comes home to discover the violent death of her son and the kidnapping of her daughter—at the hands of their own father.

While this personal tragedy unravels, the empire collapses and the sky is soon covered in ashes.

Essun must now find her daughter, who might be lost forever. With her world physically collapsing, without drinkable water, with so many dangers ahead, she faces the impossible to save her child.

The Fifth Season is a science fantasy book that takes place on a completely different planet and introduces us to the world of the Broken Earth series, one of the best fantasy trilogies of the last decade.

10. The Lies of Locke Lamora

Authored by Scott Lynch

First published in 2006

752 pages — 4.30 on Goodreads

The Lies of Locke Lamora takes place on the island city of Camorr. The protagonist is the young orphan Locke Lamora, who manages to survive the harsh streets by thieving.

But Locke Lamora is more than just a thief. He grows to become the leader of the Gentleman Bastards—an entire band of thieves and con artists—who are prominent in the criminal undercity.

Locke thrives by building a reputation for himself, but soon a new player emerges—one who's even more dangerous than he is. To save everything he holds dear, Locke will need to face this mysterious enemy and try to not die in the process.

9. American Gods

Authored by Neil Gaiman

First published in 2001

635 pages — 4.11 on Goodreads

Shadow Moon is about to be released from prison when he learns that his wife Laura has died in a car crash. On his way home, he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who's escaping from a faraway war.

Mr. Wednesday claims to be a former god of America—and not just a former god, but the leader of the Old Gods. His war is one against the New Gods, who have overtaken America as the people of the land have shifted in what they worship.

American Gods is a fascinating blend of different mythologies with modern fantasy, and it remains one of Neil Gaiman's best books.

8. The Starless Sea

Authored by Erin Morgenstern

498 pages — 3.86 on Goodreads

One day, Zachary Ezra Rawlins finds a mysterious book that he decides to read. While reading, he realizes that this book tells the story of Zachary's own childhood. But how could that be?

Following some clues, he soon discovers what's at the root of this strange phenomenon—yet the answer doesn't put his mind at ease. Instead, it launches him into a series of adventures taken with several companions and allies he encounters along the way.

The Starless Sea is like a narrative collage: there are many different stories, accounts, and folk tales woven together into one larger depiction of Zachary's life and purpose. It's one of the best examples of a standalone fantasy book that gets it right.

7. The Poppy War

Authored by R. F. Kuang

First published in 2018

545 pages — 4.17 on Goodreads

When we think of fantasy books, we often think straight to a medieval European setting with knights, knaves, and kings. But there are so many other kinds of fantasy settings!

One of my own favorites is the Asian-inspired setting of The Poppy War , an epic historical military fantasy book that tells a story that was heavily inspired by real-life events in 20th century China.

Follow the adventures of Rin, who discovers her shamanic power and must embrace those powers to face her destiny. She's the only one who can save her people from the schemes of long-forgotten gods.

6. The Blade Itself

Authored by Joe Abercrombie

515 pages — 4.20 on Goodreads

The Blade Itself features the intertwining stories of several intriguing characters.

Not only will you meet a barbarian named Logen Ninefingers, but you'll also encounter a crippled torturer, a hot-headed wizard, and a narcissistic nobleman.

All of these quirky characters combined with a murderous, action-packed plot make this a must-read for fantasy fans.

5. Assassin's Apprentice

Authored by Robin Hobb

First published in 1995

435 pages — 4.17 on Goodreads

Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice follows FitzChivalry Farseer (known as Fitz), the illegitimate child of Prince Chivalry. Fitz is raised by his father's stableman and remains isolated from royalty.

Although he has a lonely childhood, he possesses the Wit, a shunned ability that allows him to form friendships with animals.

When King Shrewd hires Fitz, Fitz must give up his Wit and learn the ways of the assassin instead.

Assassin's Apprentice is a fantasy classic that was first published in 1995. As an older novel, it helped establish some of the popular tropes that have come to dominate fantasy stories with assassin protagonists.

4. Mistborn: The Final Empire

Authored by Brandon Sanderson

537 pages — 4.47 on Goodreads

The Final Empire is the first entry in Sanderson's Mistborn series, and it'll have you hooked. It's set in Scadrial, a place where ash always rains from the sky. The oppressed Skaa people lead miserable lives under the tyrannical rule of the Lord Ruler.

When Kelsier, the half-Skaa prisoner, finds out that has the powers of a Mistborn, he manages to escape the Pits of Hathsin. Kelsier is determined to take down the Lord Ruler, and he'll tempt fate with the help of the best allomancers and criminals.

3. The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher

Authored by Andrzej Sapkowski

First published in 1993

400 pages — 4.14 on Goodreads

The Witcher may have its own video game franchise and Netflix original series, but it's important to know that it all started with a book.

The Last Wish is the first in Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher collection, and was originally written only in Polish. The anthology contains six short stories, all of which connect to Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter.

As an injured Geralt rests in the Temple of Melitele, he has a series of flashbacks that comprise each story in the book.

2. The Name of the Wind

Authored by Patrick Rothfuss

First published in 2007

662 pages — 4.52 on Goodreads

The Name of the Wind follows the epic story of Kvothe, a young man who becomes one of the world's most well-known wizards.

He relays his past to a Chronicler, starting from his childhood that he spends as a traveling performer, to his experience as an orphan in the slums of a dangerous city.

With no funds but tons of motivation to expand his knowledge, Kvothe becomes a student at a famous magic university.

The Name of the Wind will have you spellbound—you'll feel one with Kvothe as he retells the entrancing story of his life.

1. Gardens of the Moon

Authored by Steven Erikson

First published in 1999

657 pages — 3.91 on Goodreads

Gardens of the Moon is the first book in Steven Erikson's acclaimed 10-book series Malazan Book of the Fallen .

From the very first page, Gardens of the Moon throws you into the deep end. The Malazan Empire is actively waging war across the continent of Genabackis with various factions struggling against them.

This is an epic-scale fantasy series unlike any other, with hundreds of characters that each feel uniquely their own, fleshed out with backstories and relationships that feel tangibly real.

Gardens of the Moon is the weakest entry, yet it's already a deeper and more complex story than most fantasy books out there. There's so much to wrestle with here—and if you're willing to put in the effort, no other fantasy series will be as rewarding as this one.

Without question, without competition, Malazan Book of the Fallen contains many of the best fantasy books for adults, period.

• Science Fiction & Fantasy

The 50 best fantasy books of all time

Check out our picks of the most exciting new fantasy novels of 2024, the best of 2023, as well as the top fantasy books of all time..

Fantasy books offer readers the perfect escape into another world. Here we share some of the top fantasy books to give you some inspiration for your literary bucket list. From Megan Giddings dystopian The Women Could Fly , to the magical multi-dimensional universe of Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library, and the dark academia world of The Atlas Six – if you’re a fantasy fiction fan we’ve got you covered.

The best fantasy books of 2024

Can’t spell treason without tea, by rebecca thorne.

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is a cosy sapphic fantasy story of following your heart and building a community of found family. Tired of their high-stakes existence in the cruel Queen’s kingdom, bodyguard Reyna her partner, and powerful mage Kianthe, embark on a new adventure: to open a bookshop and teahouse together. As the pair flee to Tawney, a snow-covered town in the heart of dragon country, they discover a whole new world of adventure. As Reyna and Kianthe encounter mishaps and mysteries along the way, their love for each other is put to its greatest test yet. 

The Ashes and the Star Cursed King

Full of twists, intrigue and bloodthirsty romance, The Ashes and the Star Cursed King is the second book in Carissa Broadbent’s vampiric fantasy Crowns of Nyaxia series . A prisoner in her own kingdom, Oraya finds herself fighting for freedom and forced to enter into a secret alliance with Raihn, the vampire who betrayed her. With the rival Houses threatening to wage warfare against one another, and Oraya’s only hope of reclaiming her kingdom at the hands of her enemies, will she reclaim the throne or will her heart lead her astray? 

The Atlas Complex

By olivie blake.

In The Atlas Complex Olivie Blake offers a riveting conclusion to the internationally acclaimed The Atlas Six trilogy. Following a dramatic incident at the library, the Alexandrians must navigate their dangerous recruitment terms. With alliances crumbling and ethical dilemmas concerning their exceptional abilities, the initiates are split. Meanwhile, global forces are plotting their downfall, and Atlas Blakely, their Caretaker, might be planning something catastrophic. As they face decisions about power and betrayal, everyone is in a desperate race for survival.

by TJ Klune

Heartsong , the third book in the Green Creek series, is a queer, paranormal romance set in Oregon's enchanting wilderness. Robbie Fontaine, having moved from pack to pack following his mother's death, yearns for a place to belong. His journey brings him to Caswell, Maine, where he experiences pack life as Michelle Hughes's trusted deputy. But when a mission incites doubt about his place and exposes whispers of treachery and magic, Robbie seeks answers, especially concerning Kelly Bennett, a wolf he believes may be his mate, and a rumored traitor. With the inevitable revelation of truth, everything stands to fall apart.

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A complete guide to TJ Klune's books

A tempest of tea, by hafsah faizal.

Vampires. Secrets. Tea. What more do you want?! Already causing a ruckus on TikTok, in  A Tempest of Tea , Hafsah Faizal takes us to Arthie Casimir's prestigious tea establishment in the city of White Roaring. Tearoom by day, illegal bloodhouse by night, Arthie caters to both humans and vampires – but this arrangement is under threat, and Arthie can't save it alone. . .

by Lucy Jane Wood

Such is the excitement around YouTube star Lucy Jane Wood's cosy fantasy, that when she announced it, it flew to number one on the Amazon book chart on pre-orders alone. Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books and concealing her witchcraft from the non-witches around her has left Belle burnt out. But when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriating) watchman who’s sworn to protect her.

by Genevieve Cogman

Daring, adventurous, and elusive, for Eleanor life as a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel is never boring. As the League travels through revolutionary France rescuing vampires and aristocrats from the revolting masses, they learn that Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, a notorious French diplomat, has gone missing and offer their services to find him. Learning that de Talleyrand’s disappearance is part of a bigger plot, Eleanor must take matters into her own hands. From Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library series , comes the second novel in her thrilling fantasy retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel .

The best fantasy books of 2023

Sword catcher, by cassandra clare.

Two outcasts find themselves at the centre of world-altering change in the start of an epic fantasy series from author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles. In Castellane, Kel is stolen to become Prince Conor Aurelian’s body-double. As his ‘Sword Catcher', Kel lives for one purpose: to die for Conor. Lin Caster is an Ashkar physician, part of a community ostracised for its rare magical abilities. But events pull her and Kel together and into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King who rules Castellane’s criminal underworld. Together, they’ll discover an extraordinary conspiracy. But can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night

By carissa broadbent.

In Carissa Broadbent's series opener, a human-vampire survival game akin to The Hunger Games, unfolds. Oraya, an adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, battles for more than mere survival in the Kejari, a legendary contest run by the goddess of death. To win, Oraya must ally with perilous Raihn, a deadly vampire and fierce competitor. Despite being an enemy to her father's reign, Oraya is irresistibly drawn to Raihn. In the merciless Kejari, compassion is scarce, and love could prove fatal.

Bookshops & Bonedust

By travis baldree.

From cosy fantasy author Travis Baldree comes the prequel to BookTok sensation Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust. Wounded while hunting a necromancer, Viv, from Rackam's Ravens mercenary company, is sent against her will to recover in the remote beach town of Murk. Who would think she'd end up in a struggling bookshop with a grumpy proprietor as her main company? Despite the seclusion, adventure lurks close with strange visitors, a resentful gnome, a summer romance, and countless skeletons, making Murk more eventful than Viv expected.

Starling House

By alix e. harrow.

Nobody in Eden remembers when Starling House was built – stories of the house’s bad luck have been passed down the generations. Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses, or brooding men. But when an opportunity to work there arises, the money might get her brother out of Eden. Starling House is uncanny and full of secrets – just like Arthur, its heir. Sinister forces converge on Eden – and Opal realizes that if she wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it, even if it involves digging up her family’s ugly past. This is a romantic and spellbinding Gothic fairytale from Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award-shortlisted Alix E. Harrow.

Set in the dreamy backwoods of Oregon, Ravensong is the second book in TJ Klune’s beloved Green Creek series. Gordo Livingstone, scarred by past betrayals, isolates himself from his wolf pack in a mountain town. However, when the wolves return, he teams up with Mark Bennett to face a common enemy and emerges victorious. A year later, Gordo becomes the witch of the Bennett pack, battling his feelings for Mark and a mysterious impending threat. As Green Creek settles, internal turmoil arises. Unbreakable bonds may prove fragile as danger looms.

Stone Blind

By natalie haynes.

The sole mortal raised in a family of gods, Medusa lives with an urgency that her family will never know, and is alone in her ability to experience change and to be hurt. Then, when the sea god Poseidon commits an unforgivable act in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can. Writhing snakes replace her hair, and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. Unable to control her new power, she is condemned to a life of shadows and darkness. Until Perseus embarks upon a quest. Shorlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, this retelling of the famed myth of Medusa asks who the real monsters are, after all.

A guide to Natalie Haynes' books

He who drowned the world, by shelley parker-chan.

He Who Drowned the World  is the sequel to the  Sunday Times  bestseller  She Who Became the Sun. After triumphing over the Mongol rulers, Zhu Yuanzhang aspires to become emperor. However, her ambitions are challenged by Madam Zhang, who seeks the throne for her husband, and Wang Baoxiang, a scorned scholar craving revenge. To secure her position, Zhu forms a risky alliance with the unstable eunuch general, Ouyang, while all contenders push their limits for power. As desire and ambition clash, the question remains whether even the most ruthless heart can bear the steep price of their pursuits. 

Masters of Death

This book is about an estate agent. Only she’s a vampire, the house on sale is haunted, and its ghost was murdered. When Viola Marek hires Fox D’Mora to deal with her ghost-infested mansion, she expects a competent medium. But unbeknownst to Viola, Fox is a fraud – despite being the godson of Death. As the mystery unfolds, Viola and Fox are drawn into a quest that neither wants nor expects. And they'll need the help of a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel and a love-stricken reaper. And it transpires that the difference between a mysterious lost love and a dead body isn’t nearly as distinct as you’d hope.

A Power Unbound

By freya marske.

Set in an alternative Edwardian England,  A Power Unbound  is the third book in The Last Binding trilogy. Start the series with   A Marvellous Light  and  A Restless Truth . Jack Alston seeks a peaceful life after his twin sister's death forced him to abandon magic. However, a perilous ritual threatens British magicians, forcing Jack back into the magical world. In a London townhouse he joins the owner to find the Last Contract's final piece, enlisting the help of Alan Ross, a money-driven writer and thief. But the alliance will become entangled in a night of secrets and bloody sacrifice as the foundations of magic in Britain risk being torn up. 

Spirits Abroad

Drawing inspiration from Asian myth and folklore, Zen Cho's short story collection combines magic, joy, humour and tenderness. We’ll meet an elderly ex-member of parliament, who recalls her youthful romance with an orang bunian. Then a teenage vampire struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love . . . and eating people. A mischievous matriarch returns from the dead to disrupt her own funeral rites and Chang E, the Chinese moon goddess, spins off into outer space – the ultimate metaphor for diaspora. Enjoy this journey into magical new worlds, each with its own meaning. 

The First Bright Thing

By j. r. dawson.

Ringmaster, or Rin for short, can jump to different moments in time. With the scars of World War I feeling more distant as the years pass, Rin is focusing on the brighter things in life, like the circus she’s built and the magical misfits and outcasts. But while the present is bright, threats come at Rin from the past as a malevolent shadow looms, and from the future with an impending war on the horizon. The First Bright Thing  by J. R. Dawson is a spellbinding debut for fantasy fans that also asks the difficult question – if you knew how dark tomorrow would be, what would you do with today?

Fall of Ruin and Wrath

By jennifer l. armentrout.

From the author of  From Blood and Ash,   Fall of Ruin and Wrath  is a scorching romance with high stakes, breathtaking magic and a searing enemies-to-lovers romance. In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by vengeful gods, nine surviving cities thrive under pleasure-seeking rulers. Calista, possessing infallible intuition, hides as a courtesan. She rescues a prince, triggering warnings of joy and doom. As the prince and her protector vie for power, she navigates rebellion, danger, and desire, torn between intuition's safety and heart's risk. Fall of Ruin and Wrath  is a captivating romantic fantasy from a mega bestselling author and global sensation.

The Thousand Eyes

By a. k. larkwood.

The epic sequel to The Unspoken Name – could you sacrifice your dreams to escape a nightmare? Csorwe, Shuthmili and Tal survey abandoned Echentyr worlds to make a living. The empire’s ruins seem harmless but fascinating. Yet disaster strikes when they stumble upon ancient magic during a routine expedition. This revives a warrior who’d slept for an age, reigniting a conflict thousands of years old. And the soldier binds Csorwe to her cause. Shuthmili is desperate to protect the woman she loves. However, as events escalate, she’s torn. Can she help Csorwe by clinging to her own humanity or by embracing her eldritch powers? 

One For My Enemy

In New York City, two rival witch families fight for the upper hand in Olivie Blake's new fantasy fiction. The Antonova sisters and their mother, Baba Yaga, are the elusive supplier of premium intoxicants while the Fedorov brothers and their crime boss father, Koschei the Deathless, dominate the shadows of magical Manhattan. For twelve years, the two families have been in stalemate, but that is about to change. While fate draws together a brother and sister from either side, the siblings still struggle for power, and internal conflicts could destroy each family from within. 

A guide to The Atlas Six and Olivie Blake's books

Revolutionary France is no place to be, especially for aristocrat vampires facing the guillotine. But the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are determined to rescue them. And they have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor, a lowly maid from an English estate with a striking resemblance to French royalty. For Eleanor, the League and their legendary deeds are little more than rumour – until she’s drawn into their most dangerous plot yet. Revolution's a bloodthirsty business . . .  Scarlet  is a thrilling reinvention of the tale of  The Scarlet Pimpernel  with the addition of magic and even more mayhem.

A Taste of Gold and Iron

By alexandra rowland.

Kadou, the modest prince of Arasht, has no plans to wrestle for imperial control with his sister, the queen. Yet he is in conflict with the father of queen's new child, who is a powerful ambassador at the court. Then a hunting expedition goes badly wrong, and Kadou finds himself accused of murder. This sensual tale of courtly intrigue, backstabbing politics and romance set against the backdrop of an Ottoman Empire-inspired world, is a must-read.

The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle

By t. l. huchu.

Ghostalker Ropa Moyo and her rag-tag team of magicians are back in The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, the third book in the spellbinding Edinburgh Nights series. Ropa Moyo is no stranger to magic or mysteries. But she’s still stuck in an irksomely unpaid internship. So she’s thrilled to attend a magical convention at Dunvegan Castle, on the Isle of Skye, where she’ll rub elbows with eminent magicians. For Ropa, it’s the perfect opportunity to finally prove her worth. Then a librarian is murdered and a precious scroll stolen. Suddenly, every magician is a suspect, and Ropa and her allies investigate.

Fourth Wing

By rebecca yarros.

Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . . Violet, destined for a quiet life among books, is forced by her commanding mother to become a dragon rider, despite her fragility. With dragons rarely bonding with humans like her, danger looms. Amidst a deadly war and failing protective wards, she suspects a dark secret among the leadership. Forming alliances and facing treacherous foes, Violet fights for survival. Romance and betrayals intertwine as she navigates this perilous path. Graduation or death awaits in the world of dragon riders. 

Immortal Longings

By chloe gong.

In the kingdom of Talin, the deadly games held in the capital twin cities of San-Er attract thousands, offering unimaginable riches to those skilled enough to jump between bodies and enter the fight to the death. Princess Calla Tuoleimi seeks to take down her tyrannical uncle, King Kasa. To achieve her goal, she must win the games, where Anton Makusa, desperate to save his comatose childhood love, enters to secure the prize money. An unexpected alliance between Calla and Anton forms, leading to a consuming partnership. As the games near their end, Calla faces a crucial choice: her lover or her kingdom.

by Frances Hardinge

In a world where anyone can cast a life-destroying curse, only one person has the power to unravel them. Kellen does not fully understand his unique gift, but helps those who are cursed, like his friend Nettle who was trapped in the body of a bird for years. She is now Kellen's constant companion and his closest ally. But the Unraveller carries a curse himself and, unless he and Nettle can remove it, Kellen is a danger to everything – and everyone – around him . . .

The Women Could Fly

By megan giddings.

Part fantasy, part dystopia,  The Women Could Fly  is a powerful novel that speaks to our times. In a world where witches are real and unmarried women over the age of thirty must be monitored by the state, Josephine Thomas is twenty-eight, ambivalent about marriage and on the cusp of losing autonomy over her own life. It's been fourteen years since her mother's disappearance, and Jo has heard ever possible explanation from kidnapping to murder . . . to witchcraft; but all these years later, she feels she's never understood her mother more. So when she's offered an opportunity to honour one last request from her mother's will, she takes it . . .

When Ox Matheson was twelve his father taught him that he was worthless, destined to be misunderstood, and then he left him. Four years later, the energetic Bennett family moved in next door, harbouring a secret that would change his life forever: they are shapeshifters, and can transform into wolves at will. Drawn into an unimaginable new world, Ox found a friend in Joe, the youngest Bennett brother, but when the pack was pulled apart by tragedy and murder, Joe left town . But now, he has returned, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.

Origins of The Wheel of Time

By michael livingston.

This companion to Robert Jordan's internationally bestselling series, The Wheel of Time, will delve into the creation of a masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was (including a chapter that is the very first published biography of the author), how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature.

The best fantasy books of all time

The atlas six.

Dark-academia fantasy novel  The Atlas Six  was originally self-published by Olivie Blake, and was then snapped up for re-publication after it shot to fame on TikTok. The story follows six young magical practitioners as they compete to join the secretive Alexandrian Society, whose custodians guard lost knowledge from ancient civilizations. Yet each decade, only six practitioners are invited – to fill five places. Following recruitment by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they travel to the Society’s London headquarters. Here, each must study and innovate within esoteric subject areas. And if they can prove themselves, over the course of a year, they’ll survive. Most of them.

Legends & Lattes

After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually  is . But old rivals and new stand in the way of success, and Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more. If you've already read Legends & Lattes then Bookshops & Bonedust , the highly anticipated prequel, is available to pre-order now. 

The Invisible Library

The Invisible Library is the astounding debut fantasy book by Genevieve Cogman, and the first novel in The Invisible Library series. Professional spy Irene works for the mysterious Library, along with her enigmatic assistant Kai. Their mission is to steal a dangerous book from an alternative London. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. And to make things more complicated, this alternative world is infested with chaos, full of supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic.

The Invisible Library books in order

A marvellous light.

For fans of Bridgerton who'd like to welcome magic into their lives. Set in an alternative Edwardian England, this is a comedy of manners, manor houses, and hedge mazes: including a magic-infused murder mystery and a delightful queer romance. Young baronet Robin Blyth thought he was taking up a minor governmental post. However, he's actually been appointed parliamentary liaison to a secret magical society, and he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey, his adversarial magical-society counterpart, as together they discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles.

Empire in Black and Gold

By adrian tchaikovsky.

This epic fantasy novel is the first book in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s critically acclaimed fantasy series The Shadows of the Apt. The Lowlands have lived in peace and prosperity for decades, but now an ancient Empire is conquering city after city, and the Lowlands are next . . . Stenwold Maker, spymaster, artificer and statesman, sees the threat, but can he convince his people of the danger that is coming? 

Adrian Tchaikovsky's books in order

Blood of an exile, by brian naslund.

In Brian Naslund's must-read debut fantasy novel we meet Bershad, an adventurer sentenced to kill dragons for a living after being caught trying to assassinate a fellow noble. When the king who sentenced Bershad offers him a way out of his forced occupation and exile, Bershad sees a way to earn redemption, but it won't be easy.  Blood of an Exile , the first book in the Dragons of Terra series is packed with adventure and of course, lots of dragons.

The Lord of the Rings

By j. r. r. tolkien.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy is a classic of fantasy fiction and is a must-read for all fantasy fans. The story of the hobbit Frodo and his epic quest to reach Mount Doom and defeat the Dark Lord, Sauron, by destroying the One Ring, Tolkien’s epic fantasy was adapted into three of the most popular films of the 2000s. One of the best fantasy books ever written. 

by Susan Dennard

The brilliantly imagined coming-of-age fantasy series, Witchlands, continues with  Bloodwitch . The Bloodwitch Aeduan and Iseult the Threadwitch race for safety, desperate to evade the Raider King. His attempts to subdue the Witchlands are gaining momentum, as his forces sow terror in the mountains, slaughtering innocents. Despite differing goals, Aeduan and Iseult have grown to trust one another in the fight to survive. Yet trust is a tenuous bond . . .

Witchshadow

Susan Dennard’s  New York Times  bestselling fantasy series continues – with the story of Iseult, the Threadwitch. The Witchlands have been on the brink of war, and in the fourth book in this epic fantasy series, it arrives. Iseult has found her heartsister Safi at last, but their reunion is brief. For Iseult to stay alive, she must flee Cartorra while Safi remains. As villains from legend reawaken across the Witchlands, only the mythical Cahr Awen can stop the gathering war. Iseult could embrace this power and heal the land, but first she must choose on which side of the shadows her destiny will lie.

The Witchlands series books in order

By lucy holland.

This folklore-inspired tale of betrayal, magic and murder is a 2022 must read. King Cador’s children inherit a land abandoned by the Romans, torn by warring tribes. Riva can cure others, but can’t heal her own scars. Keyne battles to be seen as the king’s son, although born a daughter. And Sinne dreams of love, longing for adventure. All three fear a life confined within the hold, protected from Saxon invaders. But when Myrdhin, meddler and magician, arrives, the siblings discover the power within themselves and the land.  

Fury of a Demon

The third and final instalment in Brian Naslund's Dragons of Terra trilogy has come to paperback this year. Osyrus Ward has subdued most of Terra, but to finish the job and annihilate the dragons he must add to his huge army of skyships and create a machine that possesses unheard-of power. Rebels Bershad and Ashlyn are doing every everything they can to prevent this, but they have been captured in Dainwood by Ward's mercenaries. Ashlyn employs her dark magic against the terrifying forces massing around them, and Bershad summons his history of victory in battle. But will their combined energies be enough to save the world?

The Empire's Ruin

By brian staveley.

In the first book in Brian Staveley's epic fantasy trilogy, Ashes of the Unhewn, the great Annurian Empire is on its last legs, and its elite soldiers – the Kettral – are dwindling. Kettral soldier Gwenna Sharpe is given a quest, in order to restore the hawk-riding battalion. She must travel beyond the known world, to the place where the mighty war hawks nest. She will face obstacles along the way, from poisoned land to a monk turned conman to sinister forces massing against the empire. Gwenna's quest to save it is fraught with danger, but full of potential for recovery and renewal.

by Neil Gaiman

In the tiny town of Wall, young Tristan Thorn is madly in love with the beautiful Victoria Forrester. When she agrees to marry him if he retrieves a fallen star he doesn’t hesitate. But to find the fallen star he’ll need to cross the ancient wall which the town is named for, into a world of magic and danger. This charming fairytale fantasy will delight fans of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Spinning Silver . 

The Colour of Magic

By terry pratchett.

Terry Pratchett’s wonderfully inventive fantasy fiction series Discworld begins with  The Colour of Magic . Set in a flat world resting on the back of four elephants who are balanced on the shell of a giant turtle, this is a parallel time and place full of magic. When the first-ever tourist arrives, their survival is charged to a comically inept wizard who must face robbers, mercenaries and Death himself. Terry Pratchett is the author of some of the most-loved fantasy books of all-time.  

The Star-Touched Queen

By roshani chokshi.

Maya's world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges her marriage for political advantage. She becomes the Queen of Akaran and the wife of Amar despite a horoscope that promised a marriage of death and destruction. As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire. But Akaran has its own secrets. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger, but who besides her husband can she trust? Steeped in Indian folklore and mythology The Star-Touched Queen is an enthralling fantasy read.

A Game of Thrones

By george r.r. martin.

No list of the best fantasy fiction is complete without George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy fiction series, universally acknowledged to be some of the best fantasy books of all time. The first book in the series gave its name to the TV series that became one of the most talked-about in history. In a world where summers span decades and winter can last a lifetime, the battle for the Iron Throne has begun. The breakout success of A Game of Thrones means the series will feature on best fantasy books lists for years to come.

Books series to read if you love Game of Thrones

The fifth season, by n. k. jemisin.

The Fifth Season is the first fantasy novel in N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy. In a far-future Earth, a continent known as the Stillness is plagued by apocalyptic natural disasters known as Seasons, that can last for generations. Book one follows the story of Essun, a woman living an unremarkable life in a quiet town until three tragedies strike in one day. Her husband murders their beloved son in cold blood and kidnaps their daughter, a world-spanning empire falls, and a great rift has been torn into the Stillness throwing ash into the sky and blocking the sun's light for years to come. And so Essun's fight to save her daughters in this dying land, begins . . .

Sorcerer to the Crown

Sorcerer to the Crown is the first book in Hugo Award-winning author Zen Cho’s fantasy series. In Regency London, Zacharias Wythe is England's first African Sorcerer Royal. He leads the Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, whose duty it is to keep the levels of magic stable   – but they're failing. The supply of magic is being disrupted by the Fairy Court, and war with France means the government wants to drain this scarce resource even further. When Zacharias meets ambitious orphan Prunella Gentleman they find that her recent magical discovery might just change the nature of sorcery forever.  

by John Gwynne

Malice is the first book in John Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen series , from bestselling author Conn Iggulden. Set in the Banished Lands where armies of men and giants clash in battle, Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.

The Ruin of Kings

By jenn lyons.

The hugely anticipated debut by Jenn Lyons is the first fantasy book in the A Chorus of Dragons series. Brim-full of big ideas – body-swapping, prophecy, rich worldbuilding and grim commentaries on many aspects of empire – to name but a few, this is the tale of Kihrin, a young prince cursed with bad luck and worse prophecy.  The Ruin of Kings  is a fantastically complex and multi-layered fantasy book, and characters like Doc and Galen, alongside Kihrin's own well-balanced set of talents and flaws make this a promising new fantasy series. 

Children of Blood and Bone

By tomi adeyemi.

Tomi Adeyemi’s YA fantasy book is the first in her West African-inspired fantasy fiction series Legacy of Orisha. Zélie remembers when Orisha was full of magic. When different clans ruled with unique powers, including her Reaper mother who could summon forth souls. But everything changed when the ruthless king had anyone with powers killed. Now only a few people still have the power to use magic, and they must stay hidden. Zélie is one of those people, but now she has the chance to bring magic back to her people and strike against the monarchy . . . Tomi Adeyemi is the author of some on the best fantasy books for YA readers in recent years.

She Who Became the Sun

A Number One  Sunday Times  Bestseller, this absorbing historical fantasy novel from Shelley Parker-Chan reimagines the rise to power of the Ming Dynasty’s founding emperor. In 1345, China lies restless under harsh Mongol rule, and when a bandit raid wipes out her home and her brother perishes, Zhu resolves to overcome her destiny by taking her dead brother’s identity. Can Zhu escape what’s written in the stars, as rebellion sweeps the land? Or can she claim her brother’s greatness – and rise as high as she can dream?

Black Leopard, Red Wolf

By marlon james.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf  is the first fantasy novel in Marlon James's Dark Star Trilogy. A New York Times bestseller, National Book Award finalist and Ray Bradbury Prize winner, it's no stranger to accolades. Set in an African-inspired fantasy world, the first book in the series follows Tracker, a mercenary with an extraordinary ability to follow scents, as he hunts down a missing boy. On his journey Tracker's crosses paths with strange companions, from shapeshifters to giants, who seek the same child and hide their own secrets . . .

We Hunt the Flame

A TikTok sensation, We Hunt the Flame  is a brilliant YA fantasy debut about exploration and claiming your own identity. Zafira is a Hunter, who disguises herself as a man to try to provide for her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, a notorious assassin in thrall to his sultan father. Both are reluctant legends, and both are on dangerous missions. As they embark on these perilous tasks, a long buried evil begins to stir. We Free the Stars is the epic sequel in Hafsah Faizal's duology.

The Buried Giant

By kazuo ishiguro.

Booker Prize-winning author Kazou Ishiguro does not disappoint in his first fantasy book, The Buried Giant . The book begins as a couple, Axl and Beatrice, set off across a troubled land of mist and rain in the hope of finding a son they have not seen for years. They expect to face many hazards - some strange and other-worldly - but they cannot yet foresee how their journey will reveal to them dark and forgotten corners of their love for one another. Sometimes savage, often intensely moving, this is a novel about lost memories, love, revenge and war.

Howl's Moving Castle

By diana wynne jones.

Now also a movie from Studio Ghibli, this beloved modern classic follows Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary as she catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell. Deciding she has nothing more to lose, Sophie makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above her town, Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl, whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls . . . 

Northern Lights

By philip pullman.

First published in 1995, and acclaimed as a modern masterpiece, this first book in the Hid Dark Materials series is a must-read for all fantasy fans. Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight. Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world. 

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April is the Coolest Month: 10 New SFF Books Out April 2024

Liberty Hardy

Liberty Hardy is an unrepentant velocireader, writer, bitey mad lady, and tattoo canvas. Turn-ons include books, books and books. Her favorite exclamation is “Holy cats!” Liberty reads more than should be legal, sleeps very little, frequently writes on her belly with Sharpie markers, and when she dies, she’s leaving her body to library science. Until then, she lives with her three cats, Millay, Farrokh, and Zevon, in Maine. She is also right behind you. Just kidding! She’s too busy reading. Twitter: @MissLiberty

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This SFF round-up checks all the boxes. Dragons? Check. Space opera? Check? Fairy tale? Check. Body modifications? Check! There’s something for everyone. You’ll find an author’s first-time fantasy novel for grown-ups all about dragons; a Renaissance historical fantasy from one of the most famous authors to put pen to paper (or maybe fingers to keyboard?); a collection of science fiction stories from a multi-award winning writer; a sapphic YA retelling of the Snow White and Red Rose fairy tale; a Korean space opera that kicks off the launch of Emmy Award—winner Lena Waithe’s imprint; and lots more!

Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction by Ann Leckie (Orbit, April 2)

You may recognize Ann Leckie’s name: she’s the author of the multi-award-winning Imperial Radch trilogy. (It seems impossible that Ancillary Justice has already been out for over ten years!) Now, for fans of brilliant science fiction, all of her short fiction has been collected in one book, including a brand-new novelette called “Lake of Souls.” These stories will return readers to familiar worlds from Leckie’s novels, including the trilogy and The Raven Tower .

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (DAW, April 2)

Love means never having to say sorry…for wanting to lay your eggs in someone. This is a dark fantasy debut giving off weird and wonderful vibes. It’s about an (egg-laying) shapeshifter named Shesheshen, who is wounded as she runs from hunters intent on her demise. Shesheshen is rescued by a kind human named Homily, who mistakes the form Shesheshen took to flee for a fellow human being. As Shesheshen recovers and begins to think of fondly of Homily, and considers telling her the truth about herself, she learns a terrible truth. Homily is in the woods looking for the shapeshifting monster who cursed her family…

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (Flatiron Books, April 9)

April brings us one of the most highly anticipated novels of 2024. Leigh Bardugo is known for the Shadow and Bone YA trilogy, the (not-yet-completed) Ninth House trilogy for adults, and more. This is an adult historical fantasy about magic and miracles set during the Spanish Golden Age. Luzia Cotado is a servant with a talent for small miracles whose abilities are discovered and exploited by the Madrid nobility and royalty. You don’t really need to know anything more to want to read a new Bardugo, but I will add that it has picked up starred reviews from all the big publications.

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang (Del Rey, April 16)

And speaking of magic, this magical debut deals with matters of life and death. Ruying is of a people who once possessed magic but were ruined by beings from the heavens. Ruying herself was given the ability to remove the life force from people by Death, but she prefers to keep a low profile. Ruying’s only goal in life is to keep her family safe from the invaders. But when an enemy prince discovers her ability, Ruying agrees to help him destroy his enemies in return for the safety and good fortune of her family.

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar (Tor.com, (April 16)

This is a novella set among the stars from award-wining author Sofia Samatar. An unnamed boy who works in the bowels of a spaceship is given a chance to advance his position in life in a carceral state. Enrolled in the ship’s university, he forms a friendship with a woman known as “the professor,” who is disillusioned with her place in the universe as well.

Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho (Hillman Grad Books, April 23)

Emmy-award winner Lena Waithe chose this exciting Korean space opera to launch her new imprint! Ocean Yoon is a disgraced space pilot who is not welcome at the Academy any longer because of a mission mishap. But when her best friend is framed for murdering his family, Ocean rallies her crew into action to save her friend and prove she’s still a captain of the stars.

Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu (Harper Voyager, April 23)

Taran Matharu, known for many YA fantasy novels, is joining the ranks of adult fantasy authors with this debut about, well, dragon riders. Jai is an imprisoned orphan, imprisoned by the enemies who killed his father, the mastermind of a failed rebellion. When the betrothed of his enemy’s son brings dragons to the kingdom as her dowry, Jai uses the opportunity to plan a successful escape, with a dragon hatchling in tow. But with the soldiers on his trail, and a dragon that he doesn’t know how to train, will he survive to taste freedom?

The Wings Upon Her Back by Samantha Mills (Tachyon Publications, April 23)

Calling all mecha fans: This novella is about a teenager named Zenya, who ran away to join her city’s mechanically-modified warriors. Now she’s an adult, growing unhappier with the state she serves and the tasks she is asked to perform. When she commits an act that causes her to be exiled, Zenya realizes she is actually seeing the true nature of the world for the first time.

SFF New Releases for Kids and Teens

Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo (Page Street YA, April 2)

This is a sapphic retelling of Snow White and Rose Red ! Ro is a young girl who lives in the western woods with her sister and stepmother, clinging to the memories she has of her dead father. One day, when she saves a fox from a bear, she witnesses the bear turn into a boy after being struck with an arrow. The boy is confused about who he is but adamant that he must kill the fox, and Ro is determined to keep it safe. As Ro tries to untangle the curse that seems to surround them all, she spends more and more time falling under the spell of a girl from the village.

The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo and Rachel Sanson (Candlewick, April 23)

Felix doesn’t really believe in wishes, but he throws a penny in the wishing fountain anyway. Not only does his wish come true, but he meets a man who claims to be the fountain’s wishkeeper. He’s named Mr. Beewinkle, and he’s in need of an apprentice. And Felix accepts! He soon learns that being the apprentice wishkeeper is exciting. But it also comes along with danger, in the form of a wolf-like creature from Felix’s dreams, who is a growing threat to everyone in their town.

Bonus mentions: Because I can’t just stop at ten books, in April, be sure to watch for the sequels Court of Wanderers (Silver Under Nightfall 2) by Rin Chupeco and The Hemlock Queen (The Nightshade Crown Book 2) by Hannah Whitten.

And there are a TON of amazing SFF titles out in paperback, including The Stone Road by Trent Jamieson, Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark, The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas, and Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh.

If you want to learn about more sci-fi and fantasy books, check out  8 of the Best Sci-Fi Novellas To Read In One Sitting and  12 Perfect Dragon Books to Read During the Year of the Dragon , and be sure to sign up for our SFF newsletter,  Swords and Spaceships , and listen to our SFF podcast,  SFF Yeah !

Finally, you can also find a full list of new releases in the magical  New Release Index , carefully curated by your favorite Book Riot editors, organized by genre and release date.

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Best fantasy books for adults: Top novels to read from Impossible Creatures to Jonathan Strange

A s fully grown adults who pay taxes and shop for our own groceries, heading into the fantasy section of our local bookshop can feel like a thankless task. Instead of thick volumes of leather-bound literature, we’re met with poorly designed covers featuring anthropomorphic fantastical creatures romantically intertwined with one another.

Since the Twilight craze of the early 2000s, the realm of fantasy writing has been monopolised by pseudo-erotica. While we’re certainly not judging the rise of fantastical love stories featuring elves, ghouls, vampires and werewolves (and have been known to indulge in a few ourselves from time to time) – some of us also crave the brilliant stories and masterful world-building of the novels that we read as children.

From Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to Neil Gaiman’s Stardust , finding the same fabled magic and parabolic lessons in today’s fantasy literature isn’t easy.

This is especially the case if you don’t know where to look, as you’ll likely find yourself accidentally browsing the YA fiction section and awkwardly coming home with a surprisingly smutty series. Yet contrary to popular belief, the community of fantasy lovers stretches far beyond the realms of teenage bloodsuckers and Tolkienites.

After sultry vampires in the early 2000s came dystopian fiction throughout the 2010s, but more recently we’ve seen a resurgence in the classic fantasy novels beloved by both adults and children alike. Now more than ever, it seems as though grown-ups at all stages in life are craving the escape offered by the fantasy genre.

Fantasy novels have also been known to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood in beautiful ways, offering different meanings when read, or re-read at different stages of life. For instance, literary classics such as Le Petit Prince, Alice in Wonderland, Narnia , and Coraline which were read to us as children can offer invaluable insight into the virtues and lessons that we should carry with us as we tackle each new year of life.

Universal truths subtly delivered through a wonderful sense of escapism? Sign us up. From age-old classics to new-wave fantasy novels, we’ve rounded up some of the best of all time. Keep scrolling to escape the monotony of daily life and enter into the realm of mystery.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundel

A masterful builder of fantasy realms, Rundel’s brand-new novel has already been earmarked by reviewers as a classic in the making. Though technically a children’s book, just like many other age-old classics, Impossible Creatures has received rave reviews from adults since its release.

Whether read with children or independently, fans of the first of Rundel’s trilogy will be introduced to the cluster of magical islands known as Archipelago, where mythological creatures have roamed free and undiscovered for centuries. As the magical barrier which protects these creatures begins to wear thin, the young Christopher and Mal must work together to solve the mystery of the Archipelago and save both the human and mythical worlds in one fell swoop.

Buy now £14.99, Foyles

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

You may have already come across the wave of promotions for the latest film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ iconic dystopian series. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes serves as a prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy and offers insight into the early life of Panem’s tyrannical leader, President Snow.

This fantastic novel delves into the history of the Hunger Games and the civil war to which the annual death matches were offered as a preventative solution. Collins also weaves through experiences and challenges Coriolanus Snow faced from early childhood and beyond which slowly turned him into the monstrous rose-touting being we know him to be by the time Katniss Everdeen enters the infamous arena.

Buy now £8.99, Foyles

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Before we explain the wonders of Susanna Clarke’s hefty debut novel, we highly suggest diving into the critically acclaimed Piranesi. More of a Novella, the 272-page book will familiarise you with Clarke’s masterful, almost surrealist style and get you excited about retroactively discovering her earlier works.

Now that we’ve got that out the way, Neil Gaiman himself declared Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell to be “unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years”. The 782-page novel isn’t exactly a light read, but it’s one that won’t leave your consciousness for years to come. The story follows the adventures of two 19th-century magicians who find themselves in fierce and decidedly dangerous competition with one another. Think: Christopher Nolan’s Prestige but if it were written by Charles Dickens.

Buy now £10.99, Amazon

Babel by R.F. Kuang

If you’ve ever found yourself enraptured by the mythological concept of the Library of Alexandria, then R.F. Kuang’s Babel is for you. The capital of all knowledge and progress in the world is an alternate, mythical re-imagining of Oxford, England. At its centre lies the Royal Institute of Translation (nicknamed Babel), and our orphaned protagonist Robin Swift can think of no better location to spend his days. Following themes of the power of language and imperialism, Swift quickly discovers he must do all he can to battle the systemic injustice brought about by the world's most prestigious institutions.

Buy now £14.07, Amazon

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

While Pullman’s beloved trilogy has since been brought to the silver screen, we highly recommend delving into the original masterfully crafted fantasy world before watching the acclaimed adaptation. Hailed as a modern classic, His Dark Materials follows the journey of an orphan called Lyra who inhabits a magical realm where science, theology and the preternatural overlap in wondrous ways. Throughout the trilogy, we follow Lyra on her hunt for a missing friend as she uncovers a dark conspiracy which plagues both her world and countless others.

Buy now £14.99, Amazon

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Yet another beloved fantasy novel which has been adapted for the silver screen, Gaiman’s Stardust remains a classic piece of escapist literature for adults and children alike. When speaking of his inspiration for Stardust , Gaiman stated “I wanted to write a story that would feel, to the reader, like something he or she had always known.” Indeed, the mythology which Gaiman builds feels like the type shared between childhood friends at the bottom of imagined fairy gardens.

Protagonist Tristan Thorn falls in love with a local girl called Victoria Forester and, in an attempt to win her love, vows to bring her a star from the night sky. Crossing over his town’s ancient border, Thorn finds himself in the Faerie realm – a dangerous land which is unfit for an ignorant human. We follow along as Thorn attempts to keep his promise to Forester in this devourable read.

Buy now £9.99, Waterstones

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Vampires, ghouls and werewolves have truly never been more appealing - and we don’t mean in the romantic sense. In the Black Leopard, Red Wolf trilogy, Marlon James breathes new life into the otherwise tired fantasy tropes by drawing on African history, mythology and his own unfathomable imagination. One of Time’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, James’ story follows a mercenary who is hired to find a missing child, as he travels through the thirteen kingdoms with a band of dangerous companions – including a witch and a shape-shifting leopard.

Buy now £21.14, Amazon

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A ferociously passionate fantasy tale which follows an enemies-to-lovers trope taking place within the mythical lands of Prythian, where faeries and humans live in violent opposition.

Whether you’ve come across A Court of Thorns and Roses via social media platforms such as TikTok, or are simply in the market for a new erotic fantasy series to devour, you’re in the right place. The first of Sarah J Maas’ five-book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses follows the plight of a huntress named Feyre who kills a wolf in an act of survival to feed her family. However, the wolf that Feyre killed was not what it appeared, and her violent act had untold consequences for the young huntress and her people.

For her actions, Feyre is kidnapped and taken away from her family. While held captive by the masked Tamlin, Feyre’s feelings become complex – turning from hatred to lust, as the two lovers attempt to navigate the bloody consequences of their relationship and fight to break an ancient curse.

Buy now £7.00, Amazon

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The 30 best fantasy book series for escaping to another realm

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Fantasy novels transport readers across magical lands, introduce them to mystical creatures, and take them on mythical adventures. It can be hard to contain a great fantasy story in one novel, so book series let readers revisit their favorite characters and worlds as they take on new enemies, discover new powers, and even fall in love. 

The recommendations on this list aren't just amazing novels — they also make great gifts for the fantasy reader in your life. Many of them come in stunning box sets and gifting the whole series means they can pick up the next book as soon as they close the last. 

Whether the reader in your life loves classic fantasy tales or gripping new fantasy adventures, here are the best fantasy series to gift in 2022.

An enthralling dystopian fantasy series

"The Legend" trilogy by Marie Lu, available on Amazon and Target .

"Legend," the first book in the series, available at Amazon .

In this dystopian fantasy series set in a future Los Angeles now known as the Republic, 15-year-olds June and Day may never have crossed paths, as she is a prodigy groomed for success and he is the country's most wanted criminal. But when June's brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect, the two are set on a collision path toward each other until the truth of what really brought them together is revealed.

A dark academia fantasy trilogy

"The Scholomance" series by Naomi Novik, available on Amazon .

"A Deadly Education," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble .

This series kicks off with "A Deadly Education" where readers are introduced to Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted that students can't leave unless they graduate or die. Full of monsters, magic, and creepy dangers, this trilogy follows El as she navigates her dark powers, finds allies, and tries to survive.

A fantasy series well-known for its TV adaptation

"Game of Thrones" series by George R.R. Martin, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"A Song of Ice and Fire," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Now wildly famous after the hit HBO series of the same name, George R.R. Martin's high fantasy series of dragons, seven kingdoms, and deadly winters began with the first novel — "A Song of Ice and Fire" — published in 1996. In this series, families are in a centuries-long power struggle for control of the Iron Throne while protecting the kingdoms from the supernatural creatures that lay beyond the Wall.

A delightfully witchy YA trilogy

"Serpent & Dove" trilogy by Shelby Mahurin, available on Amazon .

"Serpent & Dove," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble .

"Serpent & Dove" is a young adult fantasy trilogy about Louise le Blanc, a witch that fled her coven, abandoned her magic, and settled in Cesarine, a town where witches are feared and burned if discovered. But when Louise is forced into a marriage with a witch hunter from the Church, she must choose to face her enemies, her true feelings, and her magic if she hopes to live.

This fantasy series that ties in epic science fiction elements

"The Broken Earth" series by N.K. Jemisin, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Fifth Season," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Broken Earth" series debuted with the Hugo Award-winning novel "The Fifth Season," titled after the apocalyptic-level climate change endured every few centuries. In the first novel — known for its intense plot twists — Essun is on a mission to track down her husband who killed her son and kidnapped her daughter as the world deteriorates into devastation.

A fantasy series of magical parallel Londons

"Shades of Magic" series by V.E. Schwab, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"A Darker Shade of Magic," the first book in the series, available on Amazon .

V.E. Schwab is a renowned fantasy writer, most well-known for her "Shades of Magic" series, where readers cross parallel universes with varying degrees of magic alongside a talented smuggler and a cunning thief. The series begins with "A Darker Shade of Magic," where readers inevitably fall in love with the story of Kell and Lila, two brilliant heroes who must save the worlds from a dangerous rise of magical power.

A seven-book childrens' fantasy series

"The Chronicles of Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Chronicles of Narnia" is a seven-book fantasy series first published in 1956 that begins with a young girl named Lucy discovering a magical, wintry world in the back of a wardrobe in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Trapped under a spell from the evil White Witch, Lucy and her siblings team up with a magical lion to free Narnia from the curse in this series that's been loved by children and adults for nearly 70 years. 

A historical, military fantasy series

"The Poppy War" series by R.F. Kuang, available on Amazon .

"The Poppy War," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Poppy War" is the first novel in this historical military fantasy series inspired by the second Sino-Japanese War in 20th-century China. When Rin aces the test to attend the Empire's prestigious military school, she thinks defying everyone's expectations is the last of her problems. While trying to survive at the academy, Rin finds she holds the magical and spiritual gift of shamanism — the ability to interact with spirits — and discovers a Third Poppy War may be closer than they imagined.

An adrenaline-inducing fantasy series

"Blood and Ash" series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, available on Kindle .

"From Blood and Ash," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

The "Blood and Ash" series has captured readers' hearts since the first book, which has over 150,000 five-star ratings on Goodreads. In "From Blood and Ash," readers meet Poppy whose upcoming Ascension means the future of her kingdom rests on her shoulders — until a stunning guard named Hawke makes her question what she thought was her destiny. Readers love this series for its action-packed plot, strong heroine, and cliffhanger endings that force them to immediately grab the next book.  

An engrossing fantasy series from Stephen King

"The Dark Tower" series by Stephen King, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Gunslinger," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

In this primarily dark fantasy series, Stephen King blends magical storytelling with elements of westerns, science fiction, and horror in this eight-book story which follows Roland of Gilead, the final gunslinger, on his mission to reach the Dark Tower and save the universe. Though King is mostly known for suspenseful horror, this fantasy series has proven a gripping must-read from "The Gunslinger" through the final installment, "The Dark Tower."

An emotional fantasy novella series

"Binti" series by Nnedi Okorafor, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"Binti," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, "Binti" is the first in a series of fantasy novellas featuring earthling Binti, who's been offered a place at the finest university in the galaxy. She must travel through space to reach the school, surviving a furious alien race during her emotional journey.

A fantasy series that began as a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling

"A Court of Thorns and Roses" series by Sarah J. Maas, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"A Court of Thorns and Roses," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Sarah J. Maas is adored for her many sexy and action-packed fantasy series, including "A Court of Thorns and Roses," a bestselling young adult fantasy series that began as a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling. Feyre is a hunter dragged into a magical kingdom, accused of murdering a faerie. Closely guarded, she begins to discover the secrets of this dangerous land, her mysterious captor, and an ancient curse. 

An epic and beloved fantasy series

"The Lord of the Rings" series by J.R.R. Tolkien, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Fellowship of the Ring," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Although "The Lord of the Rings" series begins chronologically with " The Hobbit ," "The Fellowship of the Ring" kicks off this epic, high-fantasy adventure with young hobbit Frodo Baggins and his journey across Middle-Earth. Entrusted with the task to destroy a powerful ring, Frodo, along with his hobbit, elf, and wizard companions, sets out to reach the Cracks of Doom and thwart the rise of the Dark Lord.

A dystopian urban fantasy series

"The Bone Season" series by Samantha Shannon, available on Kindle .

"The Bone Season," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Chosen as the first-ever TODAY Book Club pick, "The Bone Season" transports readers to 2059 where dreamwalker Paige Mahoney is scouting the criminal underworld for information by effectively intruding on people's minds. When she's kidnapped and taken to Oxford, a secret city ruled by a race of beings from another world, she must fight to regain her freedom in this original dystopian fantasy brought to life with elements of science fiction.

A captivating high-fantasy series

"An Ember in the Ashes" series by Sabaa Tahir, available on Kindle .

"An Ember in the Ashes," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"An Ember in the Ashes" is a four-book dystopian fantasy series where Laia is a slave in a brutal and tyrannically ruled world under the Martial Empire, living in constant fear. When Laia's brother is arrested, she hatches a plan to rescue him by attending the Empire's military academy and teaming up with Elias, a soldier desperate to be free.

A classic young adult fantasy series

"Earthsea Cycle" series by Ursula K. Le Guin available on Amazon .

"A Wizard of Earthsea," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"Earthsea Cycle" is a high-fantasy series of six books and nine short stories beginning with "A Wizard of Earthsea," where readers meet Ged, now the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea but once known as Sparrowhawk in his youth. In the first novel, readers follow Sparrowhawk's story of accidentally releasing a shadow over the world and his journey to right his mistake. 

A historical, magical, and whimsical fantasy series

"The Daevabad Trilogy" by S.A. Chakraborty, available on Kindle .

"The City of Brass," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Set in 18th century Cairo, Nahri is a con woman who gets by on what seems like magic, though she's never believed any of it to be real. When she accidentally summons a mysterious warrior during a con, Nahri becomes bound to a legendary city laced with enchantments — and her schemes could leave her facing deadly consequences.

A dramatic fantasy series set in an Asia-inspired metropolis

"Green Bone Saga" series by Fonda Lee, available on Kindle .

"Jade City," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Winner of the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, Fonda Lee's "Jade City" is the first in an urban fantasy trilogy about the Green Bone warriors who use jade to enhance their magic and defend the island of Kekon. Four siblings of the Kaul family battle rival clans as a powerful new drug emerges, allowing anyone to wield the coveted jade and resulting in a violent (and lethal) clan war.

A magical and romantic fantasy series

"Earthsinger Chronicles" series by L. Penelope, available on Kindle .

"Song of Blood & Stone," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Selected as one of "TIME Magazine's Best Fantasy Books of All Time, " "Song of Blood & Stone" is a romantic fantasy novel where a crack in a magical vial threatens to tear two kingdoms apart. Jasminda and her Earthsong gift seem to be the only hope to heal the nation and prevent a rising war.

A mythological fantasy series

"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series by Rick Riordan, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Lightning Thief," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

In "The Lightning Thief," fantasy lovers meet Percy Jackson, a young boy who learns he's a demigod and the son of Poseidon. He sets out with the daughter of Athena across the United States to catch the thief who stole Zeus' lightning bolt and prevent a war between the gods. The Percy Jackson mythological fantasy series has thoroughly engrossed readers of all ages across its five books.

A series of witches, wizards, and romance

"The Kingston Cycle" series by C. L. Polk, available on Kindle .

"Witchmark," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Kingston Cycle" is an award-winning queer fantasy romance series starring Miles Singer, who tried to escape his troubled past and darkly destined future by joining the war efforts, faking his death, and reinventing himself as a doctor. When a tragedy forces Miles to expose his magical healing powers, he risks his freedom to investigate the murder in this series of magical battles, betrayals, and heartwarming romance.

An intense fantasy faerie series

"The Folk of the Air" series by Holly Black, available on Amazon .

"The Cruel Prince," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"The Folk of the Air" series begins with "The Cruel Prince," where human Jude and her sisters live amongst the fey in the High Court of Faerie, taken against their will to live there after their parents' murders. Desperate to be one of the fey regardless of her mortality and their hatred of humans, Jude attempts to live among them, navigating their violence — and her complicated feelings for their prince.

A gripping fantasy series about demon hunters

"The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"City of Bones," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" series kicked off with the bestselling "City of Bones" in 2007, a paranormal fantasy novel where 15-year-old Clary Fray meets the Shadowhunters, a group of warriors who purge demons from the Earth. There are six books and three companions to the series through which readers experience dramatic betrayals, unsuspected evil, and exhilarating love.

A fantasy series set in a Dungeons & Dragons realm

"The Legend of Drizzt" series by R.A. Salvatore, available on Kindle .

"Homeland," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

Drizzt Do'Urden is a dark elf who is destined to defend the world after emerging from an Underdark where his family wants him dead in this epic fantasy series with over 50 novels, companions, and short story compilations. This series takes place in the Forgotten Realm, a dimension in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, making this series a perfect collection for any high fantasy fan.

A fantasy series of good vs evil

"Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind, available on Amazon .

"Wizard's First Rule," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

In this 21-book epic adventure fantasy series, each novel can act as a stand-alone book, but reading them in order takes readers on an epic high fantasy adventure that begins after Richard Cypher sets out to investigate his father's murder. As he navigates the woods, he meets Kahlan Amnell, who is being hunted by assassins. Together, they embark on a dangerous and magical journey of destiny, nightmarish creatures, and bending morality.

A destined faerie fantasy series

"The Iron Fey" series by Julie Kagawa, available on Kindle .

"The Iron King," the first book in the series, available on Amazon  and Bookshop .

In "The Iron Fey" series, Meghan is living a seemingly normal life until a dark stranger unveils a twisted secret: That she is the daughter of a faery king and a pawn in their deadly war. Action-packed and gripping from the start, this faerie series is full of romance, mystery, humor, and features characters from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

A paranormal fantasy series with angels and vampires

"Guild Hunter" series by Nalini Singh, available on Kindle .

"Angel's Blood," the first book in the series, available on Amazon .

With 12 books, four novellas, and 13 short stories published since the series launched in 2009, the "Guild Hunter" books are set in a world where angels rule over humans and vampires. When vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the powerful archangel Raphael, she's tasked to find an archangel gone rogue. Though the mission is dangerous and potentially impossible, Elena knows failure is not an option in this inaugural book of a gripping urban/paranormal fantasy series. With 12 books, four novellas, and 13 short stories published since the series launched in 2009, the "Guild Hunter" books are set in a world where angels rule over humans and vampires. When vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the powerful archangel Raphael, she's tasked to find an archangel gone rogue. Though the mission is dangerous and potentially impossible, Elena knows failure is not an option in this inaugural book of a gripping urban/paranormal fantasy series.

A post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy series

"Penryn & the End of Days" series by Susan Ee, available on Kindle .

"Angelfall," the first book in the series, available on Amazon  and Bookshop .

In 2020, "Angelfall" — the first book in the "Penryn & the End of Days" series- ranked as one of " TIME Magazine's" Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time . In this paranormal and post-apocalyptic fantasy series, Penryn is 17 when the angels of the apocalypse descend upon the earth and capture her little sister. She teams up with a wounded enemy angel — her only hope for survival and finding her sister.

A romantic historical fantasy series

"The Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon, available on Amazon .

"Outlander," the first book in the series, available on  Amazon  and  Bookshop .

The "Outlander" series was originally a practice novel for Diana Gabaldon in the 1980s, yet quickly became a bestselling historical fantasy series, with the ninth book due to be published later this year. It's about a woman named Clare who, while on a romantic trip with her husband after World War II, accidentally time travels to Scotland in 1743 where she embarks on an unprecedented journey and falls in love with a Highland warrior. 

A fantasy series with an elaborate and dangerous heist

"Mistborn" series by Brandon Sanderson, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

"Mistborn: The Final Empire," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop .

The "Mistborn" saga is a high fantasy series made up of the original trilogy, a four-book additional series set 300 years later, and a third trilogy comprising books 8-10 which is currently in the works. The series' first book is "Mistborn: The Final Empire," where readers are introduced to the land of Scadrial, ruled by an immortal and unyielding Lord Ruler. Kelsier is a famous thief who leads an elaborate heist with a team of rebels to overthrow the emperor.

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18 High Fantasy Books That'll Be Your Next Obsession

Your high fantasy reading shouldn't stop at Tolkien.

For an immersive escape, there's no better place to turn than the world of high fantasy. Popularized by works like The Lord of the Rings trilogy , the sub-genre features several defining characteristics that set it apart from low fantasy (although, keep in mind that these "rules" are pretty flexible). Most commonly, a high fantasy novel takes place in a completely original universe—one that makes sense within its own context and operates by its own laws. The central character lives within this universe, usually beginning in a place of disadvantage before taking up a good vs. evil quest that turns them into a revered hero or heroine. Along the way, they might also get a little help from a talented mentor, use some magic, and encounter a variety of fantastical creatures.

The following high fantasy books hit some, or all, of these marks. From a saga about a mute's journey across a land of wights and faeries to a series revolving around a young assassin with magical powers, they tell stories so epic—set in worlds so painstakingly developed—that you'll almost forget they're fictional.

The Way of Kings

By Brandon Sanderson

Wracked by near-constant storms, the landscape, wildlife, and human inhabitants of Roshar lead sheltered lives to survive such harsh conditions. But this hostile world also comes with an extraordinary history of mystery and magic: The orders of the Knights Radiant vanished long ago—though their performance-enhancing weapons still remain. While people like Kaladin battle for ownership of such weapons in countless wars, some chase after other phenomena connected to the Knights Radiant. When Brightlord Dalinar Kholin develops an obsession with one of their ancient texts, he experiences worrisome visions of the past. And then there's Shallan, a scheming young woman studying under Dalinar's niece, whose research also points her towards the secrets of the legendary military organization. Their narratives, plus several others, come together to form the first high fantasy tale in Sanderson's wildly popular series, The Stormlight Archive .  

Read Free Online: Prologue of Brandon Sanderson's Knights of Wind and Truth (Stormlight Archive, Book 5)

By Garth Nix

When it comes to creating richly-realized, immersive fantasy worlds, Garth Nix is in a tier all his own. The Way of Kings author Brandon Sanderson even dubbed Nix "one of the best worldbuilders in fantasy.” Nix is perhaps best known for his award-winning Old Kingdom Chronicles, a dark young adult fantasy set in an alternate historical England called Ancelstierre. And now, Nix lends his creative vision to an adult standalone fantasy, Angel Mage , which features a brand-new world of celestial beings and manipulated mortals. 

Over one century ago, Liliath—an angel magic practitioner—took shelter in Saint Marguerite’s sarcophagus to survive the Ash Blood plague and violent Fall of Ystara. Now reawakened after one hundred years, Liliath is hungry to be reunited with her long-lost lover, the archangel Palleniel. But the world has changed during her slumber, and Liliath finds angel magic is more taboo than ever. Moved by her own desires, she uses her powers to coerce four young humans—a healer, a treasure-seeker, a fortune-teller, and a scholar—into being pawns in her secret game.

The Bitterbynde Trilogy

By Cecilia Dart-Thornton

Often hailed as Australia's answer to The Lord of the Rings , The Bitterbynde Trilogy follows the epic adventures of Imrhien—a reviled and physically scarred mute—as she travels across a world full of dangerous creatures, formidable warriors, and even more formidable villains. Her story begins in The Ill-Made Mute : Confined to a tower and with no memory of her past (or even that she’s a woman), she longs to explore Erith, cure her facial deformities, and find her true purpose in life. Imrhien gets her first taste of freedom after boldly stealing onto a flying Windship, which leads her to encounters with evil wights, a magical healer, friendship, and even romance. Imrhien returns in The Lady of Sorrows and The Battle of Everynight —this time with different names, a scar-free face and a returning memory, an enigmatic lover, and a desire to unlock the only remaining gate into the faerie realm.

10 Fantasy Books No Reader Should Miss 

By Christopher Paolini

When 15-year-old Eragon discovers what appears to be a shining blue stone, he is shocked to discover that it is really a dragon egg. His humble life as a farmer's adopted son is flipped upside down when the egg hatches and the dragon inside bonds with him, making him the first new Dragon Rider in many years.

This makes Eragon the target of the evil King Galbatorix, who wants to either recruit Eragon or kill him before he can become a threat. In his quest to find safety and, in time, challenge Galbatorix, Eragon explores the vast world of Alagaësia, learns to control his burgeoning powers, and becomes a hero.

The Name of the Wind

By Patrick Rothfuss

Kvothe has many names—Kingkiller, the Bloodless, the Arcane—but right now, he’s keeping a low profile as an innkeeper. After saving the Chronicler, a traveling scribe besieged by creepy creatures, he's inspired to call upon his memories and tell his story over the course of three days. Just one-third of Kvothe’s tale—the timeframe of The Name of the Wind —is enough to fill a lifetime: The son of actor parents, he led a happy childhood full of performing and training under their friend, a magic-wielding scholar. Tragedy left Kvothe without his mother and father, forcing him to fend for himself in the dog-eat-dog world of the slums. But despite years of hardship, he eventually got the opportunity to study at the University, where his summoning of the wind—considered a demonic power—paved the way for the events he describes in the next two novels . 

Epic Books Like The Name of the Wind  

The Legends of Camber of Culdi Trilogy

By Katherine Kurtz

The Holy Church, monarchy, and feudal government of Katherine Kurtz’s Gwynedd may be modeled after historical Great Britain—but her universe has rules all its own. Normal humans and members of the magical Deryni race live side by side, though their strained relationship frequently incites major religious and political conflicts. One of the most famous Deryni is Camber MacRorie, whose bravery in the face of tyrannical rulers and Deryni-haters earns him as many admirers as it does foes. From usurping evil kings in Camber of Culdi to guarding the throne in Saint Camber and protecting Gwynedd itself in Camber of the Heretic , Kurtz’s hero is one every high fantasy reader ought to get to know.

A Gifted Scholar Fights for His Kingdom in Katherine Kurtz's Medieval Fantasy 

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Gardens of the Moon

By Steven Erikson

Malazan Book of the Fallen is a fantasy lover's kind of series. Rich with world-building and compelling characters, the intricate nature of Steven Erikson's storytelling is apparent from the earliest pages of Gardens of the Moon . Twisting from one point of view to the next, Book 1 centers around Genabackis —an alliance of free cities that work against the overreach of the Malazan Empire. From Commander Dujek to the shapeshifting Anomander Rake, the cold-blooded killer called Sorry, and the mage Tattersail, Gardens of the Moon has no shortage of powers and personalities. 

Hrolf Kraki's Saga

By Poul Anderson

In this British Fantasy Award winner, Poul Anderson reimagines the legend of a Viking king, drawing from Norse lore to create a biographical fantasy tale. Born into a royal family with a tumultuous history, Hrolf Kraki was a mighty ruler and fighter who earned the respect of his subjects. But while he was unbeatable on the battlefield, this ruthless warrior would one day meet an enemy he couldn't defeat: his own obsession with his father's murder. Anderson writes from the perspective of a female storyteller in a royal court, describing the events before Hrolf's birth, his rise to power, his fall from grace—and all the magic, monsters, and witches in between.

50 of the Best Fantasy Books Ever  

Witch World: High Hallack Cycle

By Andre Norton

Witch World is over four decades in the making and features a revolutionary blend of sci-fi, sword and sorcery, and high fantasy. The series is made up of three major “cycles”—including High Hallack, which refers to one of the six countries in Norton's parallel universe. Divided into Dales and bordered by the desolate land of the Waste, High Hallack is a place of heroes and heroines, magical artifacts, strange creatures, and animal companions. This particular collection contains five of the cycle’s 11 novels— following royal heirs, highborn ladies, determined lovers, and more as they fight evil throughout the land.

10 Andre Norton Books Everyone Should Read 

Assassin's Apprentice

By Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb’s fantasy universe features a two-part magic system—the Wit, a telepathic bond between humans and animals; and the Skill, which gives its wielders the ability to share their knowledge and strengths. FitzChivalry, the abandoned bastard of a prince and the hero of the Farseer Trilogy, eventually masters both. As a little boy, he forges a strong relationship with a dog named Nosy—his only friend, save for the gruff stableman who’s charged with his upbringing. And as a servant to his royal grandfather, King Shrewd, he comes to better understand the ways of the Skill. But Fitz is also fluent in the art of murder, having secretly trained under a notorious assassin at Buckkeep Castle. While these gifts help him during his dangerous missions on Shrewd’s behalf, they also earn him many enemies—including his power-hungry Uncle Regal.

The Way of Shadows

By Brent Weeks

If you liked The Assassin's Apprentice , then the Night Angel Trilogy ought to be right up your alley. Durzo Blint is the city's most feared assassin. His new apprentice, a young boy called Kylar Stern, thought that his past as a guild rat, growing up in the slums, taught him what he needed to know about survival. But this new world of shadows presents more dangers than he could have imagined, and Kylar must learn to navigate the dangerous politics and strange magics of assassins. 

A Wizard of Earthsea

By Ursula K. Le Guin

Le Guin’s award-winning The Earthsea Cycle has been incredibly influential on modern fantasy fiction. Comprised of six books and several short stories, the cycle explores the world of Earthsea, an archipelagic realm within a mysterious ocean. Magic is an important and accepted way of life for almost all of the islands within Earthsea. Those who are born with particularly strong innate magical powers are sent to train on the island of Roke, where the most successful among them will eventually become wizards. The first book in the series, A Wizard of Earthsea , follows young Ged as he leaves his home island of Gont to train on Roke. 

Throughout, Le Guin uses the Earthsea magic system as a way to explore humanity’s relationship with forces that are outside of our control, such as nature and mortality. Her worldbuiling was also noteworthy for its inclusivity; although adaptations of Earthsea have whitewashed its characters, Le Guin intentionally wrote that many of the series' characters, including Ged, have brown skin. 

RELATED: 5 Things Every Fantasy Writer Can Learn from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin  

8 Fantasy Romance Books That Are Sure to Satisfy 

A Man of His Word

By Dave Duncan

This high fantasy series from Dave Duncan is a mix of action, adventure, magic, and romance. Consisting of four spellbinding novels, the series follows Inos and Rap, two childhood friends who fall for each other as they mature. Despite the inseparable bond these two share, Inos is a princess whose life is already planned out for her by members of the royal family. Meanwhile Rap, a simple stable boy, is left yearning for Inos and awaiting the day she casts everything aside to be with him. But when Inos is abducted through a magic casement, she ends up in the strange land of Zark, while Rap is stuck in Faerie searching for a way to save her. Inos, however, isn’t your stereotypical damsel in distress. Rather than wait for Rap to rescue her, she tries to utilize the magic she knows as a means of freeing herself, and reclaiming her kingdom and rightful place on the throne.

By Jo Clayton

This first novel in Jo Clayton’s Duel of Sorcery trilogy is truly high fantasy at its finest. The novel centers around Serroi, a green-skinned “misborn” who was treated as an outcast in her own world. Despite her small-frame, Serroi is brought up to become a meie warrior, a cold, calculating, and fearless soldier who will protect her realm. Although Serroi exhibits incredible talent in fighting, she finds herself constantly plagued by dark memories surrounding the wizards of Nor who specialize in evil magic. Early on in the novel, Serroi has an encounter with one of these foes who forces her to abandon her shieldmate Tayan. As she’s fleeing the fight, Serroi experiences a vision that shows her the birth of a terrifying force that threatens her world. The monster plans on plaguing Serroi’s land during the night of the Moongather, an evening where demons roam free and unleash whatever chaos they can. Being the only person who knows of this prophecy, it’s up to Serroi to figure out a way to stop this creature before it can destroy everything and everyone she knows. 

RELATED: 9 Action-Packed Sword and Sorcery Books  

29 Must-Read Fantasy Book Series 

The Eye of the World

By Robert Jordan

As the series title “The Wheel of Time” implies, history always repeats itself in Robert Jordan’s high fantasy world. The crux of his series is a rivalry between the Dark One and the Dragon—a rare male magic-wielder who is continually reborn—that, as a result of time’s cyclical nature, occurs again and again. When The Eye of the World opens, a consequence borne from one of their battles can still be felt: Only women can practice the powers of the Aes Sedai, leaving any male practitioners at the mercy of violent persecutors...

When Trollocs attack the village of Emond’s Field, friends Rand, Mat, and Perrin must accept the fact that the stories of the Dark One may be true after all. The subsequent arrival of a woman of the Aes Sedai, and the protector to whom she’s magically bonded, further opens their eyes to their true destinies. So begins an adventure that continues in 13 other very long novels —so you'll have at least a year's worth of reading material.

RELATED: 8 Young Adult Fantasy Books to Cast a Spell on Readers of All Ages  

A Court of Thorns and Roses

By Sarah J. Maas

If you’re looking for a high fantasy series that’s full of adventure, settings you’ll long to step into, and romance, then you might become obsessed with Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses. 

The first book in the series, also titled A Court of Thorns and Roses , introduces Feyre, a 19-year-old mortal forced to hunt in the woods to feed her sister and father. When Feyre accidentally kills a male faerie while hunting, she's taken across the wall and imprisoned in the faerie realm of Prythian. A loose adaptation of Beauty and the Beast , A Court of Thorns and Roses follows Feyre as she learns that Tamlin, the bestial faerie High Lord holding her captive, is more complex than he first seemed. 

Although the first book in the series is addictive, the world only becomes more rich in its subsequent novels, as Feyre subverts reader’s expectations for her and the relationship between faeries and mortals grows more complex. Currently, there are three books in the series and one novella with more on the way.

5 Spicy Fantasy Romance Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses

By Heather Terrell

This dystopian, high-fantasy hybrid novel follows Eva, a girl who carries on her twin brother’s legacy after he falls to his death. In life, Eamon trained to become a Testor, a warrior who searches for powerful magical relics in the frozen, post-apocalyptic world outside of the kingdom of Aerie. When Eva—a maiden destined for embroidery classes and marriage—steps in to take over his position, she undergoes rigorous training that pushes her body to its absolute limits. Eva succeeds in becoming a Testor, and is immediately sent off into the icy Boundary Lands in search of relics. When she is out in the wilderness, Eva puts her training to the test, but its not without a few setbacks. Despite a handful of obstacles in her path, Eva overcomes the trials and discovers a powerful relic that will affect the future of Aerie, and the rest of the world. 

A Game of Thrones

By George R.R. Martin

It's hardly an under-the-radar series, but no list of high fantasy would be complete without George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. From unlikely heroes to world-threatening forces like The Others, detailed histories and fictional lands, A Song of Ice and Fire has everything you look for in high fantasy.

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Talking to Leigh Bardugo, Fantasy Superstar

The best-selling author of dark fantasy novels for y.a. and adult audiences discusses her career and her stand-alone new historical fantasy, “the familiar.”.

Hosted by Gilbert Cruz

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In the world of fantasy fiction, Leigh Bardugo is royalty: Her Grishaverse novels are mainstays on the young adult best-seller list, her “Shadow and Bone” trilogy has been adapted for a Netflix series and her adult novels “Ninth House” and “Hell Bent” established her as a force to reckon with in the subgenre known as dark academia.

Now Bardugo is back with a new fantasy novel, “The Familiar,” and it’s also her first work of historical fiction: Set during the Inquisition in 16th-century Spain, it deals with literal royalty (King Philip II of Spain and Queen Elizabeth of England) through the story of a young scullery maid who happens to possess some magical abilities. This week on the podcast, Gilbert Cruz talks with Bardugo about her career, her writing process and her decision to write a historical novel.

“Yes, there is magic in this book,” Bardugo says. “But the magic is small, and the magic is frequently unrecognized or viewed as fraud. I wanted to see it through the lens of the church of the time. So when I approached this, my first task was to understand the Inquisition. … I wanted the threat of the Inquisition to be pitted against this young woman’s ambition. But I also found this very real historical scandal that had surrounded King Philip and his secretary, Antonio Pérez, who is thought to possibly be the inspiration for one of the characters in Shakespeare’s ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost,’ and this was a murder that Perez orchestrated, and that the king was implicated in. That felt like a really great court scandal to then thrust my heroine into.”

We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review’s podcast in general. You can send them to [email protected] .

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More From Forbes

The 30 greatest young adult (ya) novels.

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The cast of "The Hate U Give" at the Atlanta Red Carpet Screening at Regal Atlantic Station.

Young adult (YA) books offer some of the most beautiful, resonant and relevant writing being produced today. You can find YA books/novels dating back to before the 1960s, though the genre has become much more popular in the past two decades. Make no mistake, while young adult books/novels are aimed at young people as their primary audience, they also are fantastic reads for more mature readers. Anyone of any age can read a YA book and enjoy it. This list includes the best/greatest YA novels of all time, including some of the most well-known older novels as well as recent gems that have flown under the radar.

Top YA Novels

Young adult literature includes books for people ages 12-18. They explore coming-of-age themes reflecting the universal experience of teenagers, always with an imaginative twist. Some of the most popular and well-known YA books include Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give , Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street , and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye .

Some of the top YA authors include Judy Blume , Nicola Yoon, Marie Lu, Cynthia Voigt, Suzanne Collins, Elizabeth Acevedo and Karen M. McManus . They all write in different genres, including young adult/YA mystery books and young adult/YA dystopian novels. These rankings are based on popularity of the books, critical acclaim, awards and impact.

30. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (2015)

Twins Noah and Jude have always been close, but the death of their mother, Noah’s struggle with his sexuality, and a traumatic event for Jude have torn them apart. This gorgeously written Stonewall Honor novel is told from two perspectives in different time periods.

This book is best for anyone who appreciates beautiful prose or is looking for a gay coming-of-age story. Jandy Nelson ’s I'll Give You the Sun is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

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Trump prosecutor fani willis easily wins her democratic primary while judge in georgia case reelected, google chrome under attack do this one thing now, 29. felix ever after by kacen callender (2020).

Equal parts love story and journey of gender discovery, Felix Ever After follows transgender teen Felix, who begins receiving transphobic messages from an anonymous classmate. But even as he seeks revenge, he begins to find some redeeming qualities in his tormentor, which confuses him as he continues to question his gender identity.

This book is best for anyone who loves YA romance books. Lambda Literary Award winner Kacen Callender ’s Felix Ever After is available from publisher HarperCollins .

28. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)

Yet another dystopian novel, this is set in a future where the totalitarian nation of Panem holds an annual Hunger Games. Two children from each district are pitted against each other in a televised fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen volunteers so her little sister doesn’t have to go and changes the Games forever.

This book is best for anyone who loved the hit Hunger Games movies or likes dystopian literature. Suzanne Collins ’s The Hunger Games is available from publisher Scholastic .

Actors Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks and Jennifer Lawrence on the set of the film "The Hunger ... [+] Games: Catching Fire."

27. A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman (2015)

Veda’s entire life is her passion for dancing. After her legs are amputated below the knee following an accident, she struggles to adjust to using prosthetics. She refuses to stop dancing, though, and rediscovers what movement means to her as she also pursues a relationship with Govinda, who finds dance a spiritual experience.

This book is best for those who want to read about Indian culture or are looking for disability representation. Padma Venkatraman ’s A Time to Dance is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

26. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (2020)

The first volume in this bestselling young adult book series introduces Avery Grambs , a whip-smart but troubled teen pulled into a world of puzzles, games and intrigue when she is named in the will of a mysterious billionaire. She alternately bonds and spars with the billionaire’s grandchildren.

This book is best for fans of The Westing Game and other clever mysteries. Jennifer Lynn Barnes ’s The Inheritance Games is available from publisher Little, Brown .

25. A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich by Alice Childress (1973)

Novelist and playwright Alica Childress’s acclaimed novel, which was later turned into a film, tells the story of 13-year-old Benjie, who has a heroin addiction but sees little reason to treat it and focus on school. The innovative story is told by different people in Benjie’s life, including his mom, drug dealer and teachers.

This book is best for those interested in older YA novels. Alice Childress’s A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

Playwright Alice Childress photographed with the stars of her interracial love story "Wedding Band", ... [+] Ruby Dee and James Broderick, in August 1972.

24. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (1981)

Cynthia Voigt won the Newberry Medal for her series about the Tillermans, four children who’ve been abandoned by their mother and walk across Connecticut to seek out a distant relative. The harrowing journey proves their resilience but also tells a sad story about bouncing back from abandonment.

This book is best for those looking for a more grown-up Boxcar Children. Cynthia Voigt ’s Homecoming is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

23. The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan (2019)

Muslim teenager Rukhsana keeps her sexuality, and her girlfriend, a secret from her conservative parents. But just weeks before leaving for college, the two are caught by her family, who send Rukhsana to stay with relatives in Bangladesh. There, she learns more about intolerance and how to advocate for yourself.

This book is best for fans of forbidden romance. Sabina Khan ’s The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali is available from publisher Scholastic .

22. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (2014)

Kwame Alexander’s Newberry Medal-winning book-in-verse, which also earned the Coretta Scott King Honor Award, follows twins Josh and Jordan, 12-year-old basketball prodigies who discover the terrible consequences of breaking the rules. The book earned year-end “best of” recognition from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly and School Library Journal.

This book is best for basketball lovers and fans of books in verse or rap. Kwame Alexander ’s The Crossover is available from publisher Scholastic .

Author Kwame Alexander attends the Miami Book Fair at Miami Dade College Wolfson-Chapman Conference ... [+] Center.

21. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (2020)

Nishat is closeted to her family, but she might risk coming out when she reconnects with her childhood best friend, Flávia. However, the two end up on opposite sides of a school competition that pits their talents as henna artists against each other. The Henna Wars received a Kirkus starred review.

This book is best for those who enjoy stories about artists. Adiba Jaigirdar ’s The Henna Wars is available from publisher Macmillan .

20. Legend by Marie Lu (2013)

One of the most popular and acclaimed fantasy-dystopian YA novels, Legend combines action, adventure and romance. June, a teenage military prodigy, becomes enmeshed with Day, a criminal accused of murdering June’s brother. When they discover the truth of that crime, they realize the corruption in their post-U.S. country is far beyond what they’d imagined.

This book is best for fans of dystopian novels. Marie Lu ’s Legend is available from publisher Scholastic .

19. Yolk Mary H. K. Choi (2021)

Estranged sisters and Korean immigrants June and Jayne are thrust back together after older sis June becomes ill with cancer. Jayne tries to help her sibling but refuses to admit that she, too, has an illness—and it’s just as capable of harming her. The haunting prose makes this a standout story.

This book is best for older readers and those seeking realistic portrayals of eating disorders. Mary H. K. Choi ’s Yolk is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

18. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (2013)

The first in the bestselling YA fantasy trilogy, Shadow and Bone follows soldier Alina Starkov, who learns she has unanticipated magical powers while trekking through the Shadow Fold, a world of monsters. Her country’s elite become convinced Alina can destroy the Shadow Fold using her powers. The book became a Netflix series .

This book is best for fantasy fans. Leigh Bardugo ’s Shadow and Bone is available from publisher Macmillan .

Author Leigh Bardugo signs copies of her debut novel "Shadow And Bone" at Skylight Books in Los ... [+] Angeles, California.

17. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (2013)

This World War II historical fiction novel follows two British girls spying on Nazi Germany who crash-land their plane. When “Verity” is captured by the Nazis, she is forced to confess, but she tries to find a way to spare her pilot, Maddie. The book won the Michael L. Printz Award.

This book is best for historical fiction and World War II drama fans. Elizabeth Wein ’s Code Name Verity is available from publisher Little, Brown .

16. We Are Not Free by Traci Chee (2020)

Prinz Honor-winning book and National Book Award finalist We Are Not Free follows 14 second-generation Japanese-American teenagers who grow up in San Francisco and whose lives are changed when people of their heritage are forced into internment camps. Will they come together or fall apart?

This historical fiction book is best for those interested in World War II and who may not have learned much about internment camps in American schools. Traci Chee ’s We Are Not Free is available from publisher HarperCollins .

15. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus (2017)

Karen M. McManus sparked a boom in YA mystery novels with this well-told tale of four disparate teens who come under suspicion for murder when they end up in study hall with someone who dies—and it begins to look like a murder. The book sparked two sequels and stayed a bestseller for years.

This book is best for mystery fans or those who liked the Peacock series. Karen M. McManus ’s One of Us Is Lying is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

"One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus is one of the top YA novels.

14. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (1999)

Everyone hates Melinda Sordino for calling the cops to a house party. That makes for a lonely school year—but her ex-friends and the others who are mad don’t know why she did it. Melinda stops talking to anyone, which means she can’t get help for what happened in this National Book Award finalist.

This book is best for those looking for books with nuanced depictions of sexual assault. Laurie Halse Anderson ’s Speak is available from publisher Macmillan .

13. The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed (2020)

This New York Times bestseller and William C. Morris Award finalist explores race relations through the lens of the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Ashley is enjoying senior year with her friends until the verdict in the King case, after which the Black teen begins questioning who her friends and family really are.

This book is best for anyone who loved The Hate U Give . Christina Hammonds Reed ’s The Black Kids is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

12. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (2014)

Angry Aristotle and academic Dante could not be more different, but when fate and geography smash them together for the summer, they slowly build a friendship that turns into something more. The Printz Honor book was made into a movie and spawned a sequel.

This book is best for fans of slow-burn friends-to-lovers romances. Benjamin Alire Sáenz ’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

11. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)

A staple on ninth-grade reading lists, The Giver presents a society that appears utopian but is later revealed as dystopian after eliminating any possibilities of variance or difference. Twelve-year-old Jonas is selected Keeper of the Memory, but he struggles with the emotions it entails. The book won the Newberry Medal.

This book is best for dystopian fiction fans and those who like to ask the big questions. Lois Lowry ’s The Giver is available from publisher HarperCollins .

Author Lois Lowry, who wrote top YA dystopian novel "The Giver," attends the Miami Book Fair.

10. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (2020)

The murder of popular high schooler Andie Bell still haunts Pip’s hometown. Pip starts a podcast to determine if Sal Singh, the accused murderer who then killed himself, actually did it. Pip teams with Sal’s brother, Ravi, to find answers. The bestseller spawned two sequels and an upcoming Netflix series.

This book is best for mystery fans. Holly Jackson ’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

9. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (2016)

Simon knows he’s gay and thinks his family would accept him if he came out—but he’s reluctant to upset the happy balances in his life. He begins a covert correspondence with another closeted classmate, and Simon begins to think coming out may be worth it to be with him. Also a great movie.

This book is best for romance and gay coming-of-age stories. Becky Albertalli ’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is available from publisher HarperCollins .

8. Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (2021)

Winner of the Printz Medal, Morris Award and American Indian Youth Literature Award, Firekeeper’s Daughter follows Daunis Fontaine, an Ojibwe teenager who dreams of finding her place at college after years of feeling out of place. Her plans are derailed after she witnesses a murder and becomes entangled in an FBI investigation.

This book is best for anyone who wants to learn more about Native culture or who loves a great mystery. Angeline Boulley ’s Firekeeper’s Daughter is available from publisher Macmillan .

7. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (2017)

Teenager Maddy’s extreme allergies keep her indoors and away from everyone except her mom and her nurse—until Olly moves in next door, and the two improbably fall in love. The creative novel is told through diary entries, drawings and vignettes.

This book is best for fans of The Fault in Our Stars -style doomed teen romances or Colleen Hoover novels . Nicola Yoon ’s Everything, Everything is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

6. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy (2015)

Willowdean Dixon is loud and proud of her bigger body, even if her former beauty queen mom is always trying to get her to lose weight. When Willowdean develops a crush on a fellow employee who seems to like her back, she loses some self-confidence—but gains it back by entering a local beauty pageant.

This book is best for anyone who loved the Netflix movie adaptation or wants a book about positive self-image. Julie Murphy ’s Dumplin’ is available from publisher HarperCollins .

Jennifer Aniston and Danielle MacDonald pose at the after party for the premiere of Netflix's ... [+] "Dumplin'."

5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)

Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest young adult books of all time, The Catcher in the Rye follows disaffected 16-year-old Holden Caulfield as he journeys home from his Pennsylvania prep school to his dysfunctional family in New York. The classic novel has sold millions of copies.

This book is best for anyone interested in one of the first YA novels. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is available from publisher Little, Brown .

4. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret . by Judy Blume (1970)

New kid Margaret is eager to fit in with the other middle schoolers, but her lack of religious identity becomes a stumbling block. As Margaret grows up and she and her friends navigate puberty, her private conversations with god become her own touchpoint. The bestselling book received a movie adaptation in 2023.

This book is best for anyone who’s struggled to fit in or grow up. Judy Blume ’s Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

3. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (2018)

Told in lyrical style, this National Book Award winner follows Afro-Latina teen Xiomara, who struggles to stay out of trouble and hide her growing feelings for a boy at school from her religious family. She begins surreptitiously attending her school’s slam poetry club to let out her feelings.

This book is best for fans of books-in-verse. Elizabeth Acevedo ’s Poet X is available from publisher HarperCollins .

2. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (1991)

The international bestseller follows Esperanza Cordero in a story told via vignettes as she enters adolescence in her Chicago neighborhood. Esparanza is at once proud of her background and struggles with others’ perception of her. It is based on Cisneros’ own upbringing.

This book is best for those looking for stories about early adolescence. Sandra Cisneros ’s The House on Mango Street is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

Sandra Cisneros penned top YA novel "The House on Mango Street."

1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017)

Angie Thomas’ first novel was famously inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It chronicles what happens after Starr witnesses the unjust police shooting of childhood friend Khalil, who was unarmed. The 16-year-old has to decide whether to come forward and expose the shooting for what it was.

This book is best for anyone looking for a contemporary take on an important issue. Angie Thomas ’s The Hate U Give is available from publisher HarperCollins .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are good ya romance novels.

Good YA romance novels include books where the would-be lovers face long odds to be together. They often overcome opposition from their families to be together. 

Some of the best young adult romances include: 

John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (2012), a bestseller later adapted into a movie that follows two teens with cancer who fall in love. 

Casey McQuiston’s I Kissed Shara Wheeler (2022), about two driven teens whose academic rivalry turns into a romance—with a side of mystery. 

Ali Hazelwood’s Check & Mate (2023), in which rival chess players hope to win each other’s heart.

What Are Good YA Fantasy Books?

Good YA fantasy books feature a teen protagonist with a seemingly impossible quest or mission to save the world, often supported by close friends who show the true value of believing in each other. 

Some of the best young adult fantasy books include: 

Lauren Roberts’ Powerless (2023), a trilogy about a teen who poses as a psychic and is thrust into a brutal competition where she doesn’t actually have the powers to compete. 

Tahereh Mafi’s This Woven Kingdom (2022), a trilogy inspired by Persian mythology about a young servant who takes down a prince’s world, according to prophecy—but also wins his heart.

Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone (2018), a trilogy inspired by Nigerian myth and history about a young woman who tries to restore magic to her kingdom. 

What Are Good YA Book Series?

The best YA book series develop cohesive storylines and well-drawn characters who carry from book to book. Each installment delivers a satisfactory ending while also building toward a greater conclusion of the overarching questions in the series, usually related to family or identity. 

Some of the best YA book series include: 

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series begins with The Lightning Thief (2005). The series follows Percy as he discovers he’s the son of a god and must prevent the Titans from destroying the Earth. 

Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series begins with Throne of Glass (2012). It follows a teenage assassin fighting for justice in the kingdom of a corrupt ruler. 

Veronica Roth’s Divergent series begins with Divergent (2011). It follows a teenage girl separated from her family in a dystopian future because of her powers. 

What Are Good YA Mystery Books?

The best YA mystery books tie the unease and excitement of growing up with a bigger mystery. They often rely on driven but otherwise regular teens to solve the mystery. 

Some of the best YA mystery books include: 

Maureen Johnson ’s Truly, Devious (2018), which follows teen Stevie Bell as she tries to solve a mystery at her private boarding school that has stymied more experienced detectives for decades. 

Courtney Summers’s Sadie (2018), following young misfit Sadie’s attempt to solve the mystery after her older sister is murdered—and a podcaster picks up their story.

Kara Thomas’ The Cheerleaders (2018), about a group of cheerleaders who died years ago and the little sister who becomes embroiled in their enduring mystery. 

What Are Good YA Dystopian Books?

Good YA dystopian books depict a bleak future where self-preservation is necessary, but standing out from the crowd can endanger you. The strong protagonists of these books push for change and improvements in bleak situations. 

Some of the best YA dystopian books include: 

Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End (2017), about a future where everyone knows when they will die and can find a new friend on their final day. 

Marissa Meyer’s Cinder (2012), a retelling of Cinderella in a dystopian future where the main character, Cinder, is a cyborg mechanic. 

Samira Ahmed’s Internment (2019), which imagines a near-future United States where Muslim families are forced into internment camps. 

Bottom Line

Young adult books run the gamut from fantasies to mysteries to romances. What each shares is the coming-of-age perspective unique to those early to late teen years, which everyone can relate to. Readers of all ages can appreciate and learn from YA novels.

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How old feyre is in the court of thorns & roses books (& how long she can live).

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10 Books To Read If You Love A Court Of Thorns & Roses

All 5 court of thorns & roses books, ranked from worst to best, invincible season 3 has a serious challenge after the success of another animated superhero show.

• Feyre is 19 at the start of the ACOTAR series, appealing to young and new adult readers with her age and journey of self-discovery.
• Over the course of the books, Feyre ages into her early 20s, and she can now live as long as other High Fae like Rhysand and Tamlin.
• While her newfound immortality will slow her aging process, it'll be interesting to follow Feyre's journey into adulthood in future ACOTAR novels.

A Court of Thorns & Roses follows Feyre Archeron as she is pulled into the world of Prythian, but readers may be wondering how old Sarah J. Maas' heroine is throughout her ACOTAR journey — and how long she can live now that she's one of the High Fae. The first Court of Thorns & Roses book opens with Feyre being taken to the Spring Court after she inadvertently kills one of the Fae. While there, she falls in love with the High Lord, Tamlin, and winds up saving his life — though it nearly comes at the price of her own.

It's only thanks to the mercy of the High Fae that Feyre survives A Court of Thorns & Roses, as they turn her into one of them at the ending of the book. Her story unravels from there, taking her through tumultuous relationship changes and politically charged conflicts. Because of these developments, it's easy to imagine Feyre's older than she is . However, she's fairly young throughout Maas' fantasy series . And given the impact that becoming a High Fae has on her lifespan, she'll remain that way longer than ordinary humans.

Those who love Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns & Roses books may be looking for something similar, especially while they wait for new content.

Feyre Is 19 Years Old When A Court Of Thorns & Roses Begins

Her age allows the series to straddle the line between young & new adult.

Feyre is slightly older than the average YA protagonist when A Court of Thorns & Roses opens , and that's fitting given how the books straddle the line between young and new adult. When Feyre first kills the Fae wolf in the woods, she's 19 years old. That makes her enough of an adult to be held accountable for her actions, and thus, be taken to the Spring Court as " justice. " However, Feyre's young enough for Maas' intended audience to relate to, and she's the right age to still be finding herself, especially after growing up focused primarily on survival.

Even if Feyre's age works for her journey of self-discovery, it's somewhat surprising she's so young, especially when one considers her arc in the later ACOTAR books. The series' heroine accomplishes many impressive feats for a young adult still finding her place in the world. She also moves fairly quickly through her relationship with Rhysand, even if she's slightly older when they get together. With time passing over the course of the Court of Thorns & Roses books, Feyre ages — though her newfound immortality likely makes it less noticeable.

How Old Feyre Is Throughout Sarah J. Maas ACOTAR Book Series

She goes from being 19 to in her early 20s.

Three years pass between A Court of Thorns & Roses and the A Court of Frost & Starlight novella . This means that Feyre is around 21 years old when the conflict of the first three books comes to a close. Feyre's birthday takes place on the Winter Solstice in A Court of Mist & Fury, so she's 20 for the majority of the second installment. With her turning 21 in ACOFAS, Feyre is still 20 in A Court of Wings & Ruin. This makes sense given how quickly everything happens during ACOMAF and ACOWAR.

Feyre's age in A Court of Silver Flames isn't explicitly stated, but one can assume she isn't much older than 21 in the spinoff novel. She and Rhysand decide to have a baby at the end of ACOFAS, when she's 21 years old. Since it takes a while for Feyre to get pregnant — and she gives birth to her child at the end of A Court of Silver Flames — readers can assume she's around 23 during Nesta and Cassian's story . Depending on how many more ACOTAR novels there are, readers could follow Feyre even further into adulthood.

How Long Feyre Can Live Now That She's High Fae

She could live as long as rhysand or tamlin.

Although Feyre ages over the course of A Court of Thorns & Roses — or at least acknowledges her birthdays — she's essentially immortal after the first book. When Feyre becomes High Fae, she gets everything that comes with that magic. This includes the lifespan, which the Bone Carver reveals is long enough to be considered immortal. Rhysand is more than 500 years old in ACOTAR, and Tamlin is around that age as well. Assuming Feyre doesn't lose her life in battle or because of other unnatural circumstances, she could live just as long.

It seems that Fae age normally in the beginning, so Feyre may not be feeling her lengthy lifespan just yet . However, once she's middle-aged, her progression will slow down, emphasizing the difference between herself and a human. Even so, the fact that her husband and many of her friends are immortal means she likely won't have any reason to fret over it. It'll be interesting to see how A Court of Thorns & Roses handles aging as the series continues.

• A Court of Thorns and Roses - Franchise