Classic and contemporary reads for fantasy lovers!
Find the perfect YA fantasy that will capture any imagination.
Getting lost in a great YA fantasy is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and thanks to crowd-pleasers like JK Rowling and Sarah J. Maas, the number of titles in the young adult fantasy category has exploded over the last 20 years! There are so many options available, from lighter fare to intense world-building tomes or series, that beginners and established fantasy readers alike can all find something that will capture their imaginations.
Fantasy authors have found their way into our collective hearts, crafting fantastic stories that keep us hooked and begging for the next book in the series. In some of the books, ordinary kids or teenagers are called upon to save their world. In others, kings and queens do battle with well-known (or brand new!) mythological creatures. No matter your reading preferences, we all long to escape reality once in a while, and this list contains the best of the best when it comes to classic or contemporary picks lodged firmly in this genre.
We are highlighting a diverse selection of titles that reflects a wide variety of experiences. This list (which is in no particular order) has a little bit of everything, from titles for younger readers to books that contain more content and appeal to a more mature audience. The genre might be targeted for readers aged 12-18, but many of the titles on this list have crossover appeals for adults as well.
Common themes include first love, friendship, and loyalty, and we can all get behind those, regardless of our age. And while a large majority of YA readers are young women, plenty of titles on our list are perfect for the male fantasy fans in your life. Readers are sure to devour every book on the list, so grab a blanket, a hot beverage, and a pet, and get swept into a new world!
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Volume 1 by J K Rowling
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
The Hobbit: 75th Anniversary Edition by J R R Tolkien
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman
Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
A Wizard of Earthsea, 1 by Ursula K Le Guin
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising) by Susan Cooper
The Eye of the World: Book One of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Eragon: Book I by Christopher Paolini
Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (Book 1) by Philip Pullman
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (Illustrated by Keith Thompson)
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
It’s almost impossible to pick the ultimate YA fantasy novels because there are just so many incredible reads to be found in this genre. This list is by no means comprehensive, and we know that we’ve only scratched the surface with our top 25. Have we missed any of your well-known (or underrated) must-read fantasy favorites? Whether you are an established YA fantasy fan or just getting into the groove, drop your favorites in the comments below so we can add them to our TBR pile. And be sure to let us know about any upcoming titles that you are excited about. Happy reading!