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Who doesn’t love a good fantasy? YA books are packed with magic, mystery, and all kinds of fun!
Whether you’re into kick-butt heroines, surprising plot twists, or finding love in the most unexpected places, these books have something for everyone.
Think epic battles, hidden talents, and adventures that’ll make your heart race.
Perfect for anyone who loves a little magic in their life, these YA fantasy books will have you turning pages faster than you can say “enchanted”!
1. The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
Nannerl Mozart has a gift for music, but in 18th-century Europe, her dreams of being a composer seem impossible.
With her younger brother, Wolfgang, quickly surpassing her, she feels like she’s fading into the background.
Then a mysterious stranger offers her a chance to make her wish come true, but his help comes with a dangerous price.
This lyrical historical fantasy blends music, magic, and the complex bond between siblings—will Nannerl risk it all for a dream that could cost her everything?
2. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
Simi, a mermaid known as Mami Wata, has long served the gods, collecting the souls of those lost at sea.
But when she saves the life of a living boy—an act that defies the gods’ decree—she sets off a dangerous journey to make things right.
With the boy hiding secrets and dark forces closing in, Simi must face vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and creatures beyond her imagination.
If she fails, she risks everything—not just for herself, but for the world.
3. Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
Miyoung is a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox hiding in the bustling streets of Seoul, hunting bad men to survive.
But when she saves a boy named Jihoon from a goblin’s attack, she makes an impulsive choice that could cost her immortality.
Jihoon knows more than he should, and soon a dangerous bond forms between them.
With enemies lurking in the shadows, Miyoung is forced to choose between love and survival in this thrilling fantasy-romance.
4. Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
Annie and Lee were orphaned by the brutal revolution that reshaped their world, and now, as dragonriders in the new regime, they are rivals for the top position in the fleet.
But when survivors of the old regime rise up, everything changes.
As war looms, Lee must choose between betraying his beliefs or saving the only family he has left.
Now, Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves or step up as the leader her city needs.
5. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Annaleigh’s family is haunted by death, with her twelve sisters cursed and only eight remaining.
When she starts seeing ghostly visions and uncovers secrets about her sisters’ mysterious deaths, she’s pulled into a world of glittering balls and forbidden magic.
As she gets closer to a stranger who knows more than he’s letting on, Annaleigh races against time to uncover the dark truth before it claims her life too.
6. A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
The Martial Empire is on the brink of collapse, and Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, will do anything to protect her sister and her empire.
Meanwhile, Laia of Serra is facing the Nightbringer, the one who could destroy the world, while Elias Veturius is caught between duty and love as the Soul Catcher.
In a world where betrayal runs deep, these three must navigate impossible choices and dangerous enemies, all while facing the dark forces threatening everything they hold dear.
7. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Deka’s blood runs gold, a mark of impurity in her village.
On the day of the blood ceremony, she expects to be cast out, but instead, a mysterious woman offers her a chance to join an army of near-immortal girls who are the only ones strong enough to stop the empire’s greatest threat.
As Deka trains for the battle ahead, she uncovers dark secrets about herself, her world, and the enemies she must face.
Will she be ready to fight for her future, or will everything she’s known be destroyed?
8. Beasts of Prey by Ayana Grey
In a city where magic has faded, Koffi, a girl indentured to the Night Zoo, accidentally unleashes a power she doesn’t fully understand.
Ekon, the son of a hero, is destined to become an elite warrior, but when he encounters Koffi and a deadly Shetani monster, his plans are thrown into chaos.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, they journey into the Greater Jungle to hunt the beast—but their quest quickly turns into a dangerous battle for survival.
With enemies closing in, they may discover that their greatest danger is each other.
9. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Sunny, an albino girl living in Nigeria, just wants to live a normal life, but when she befriends Orlu and Chichi, she’s introduced to the world of the Leopard People.
Here, your greatest flaws become your greatest strengths.
Together with her new friends, Sunny is thrust into a mission to stop the dangerous Black Hat Otokoto.
Will Sunny’s newfound powers be enough to defeat him, or will her own insecurities prove to be her downfall?
10. The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz
Caledon Holt, the Kingdom of Renovia’s deadliest assassin, has a mission: find the missing Deian Scrolls, a source of magical power.
Shadow, a fierce young woman training to become an assassin, is thrust into his world when they are forced to team up after an attack on the kingdom.
As the two uncover dangerous secrets and fight to protect their world, they find themselves tangled in a web of lies, forbidden love, and a deadly conspiracy.
Will they be able to survive long enough to save the kingdom?
11. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret: forbidden magic runs through her veins.
On the day of her betrothal, she loses control, and her stepmother, Raikama, banishes her and turns her brothers into cranes.
To save them, Shiori can’t speak a word—each one she says will cost a brother’s life.
Now, voiceless and alone, she must trust a paper bird, a tricky dragon, and even the boy she was supposed to marry to stop a dark conspiracy and save her kingdom.
But embracing her magic could come with a cost she’s not ready to pay.
12. Half Bad by Sally Green
Nathan’s life has always been a mess.
His dad is the most powerful and cruel witch around, and with no mom to protect him, Nathan is stuck between two warring witch factions.
On his seventeenth birthday, he’ll either come into his full power—or die.
With his every move tracked, and no one to trust, not even the girl he loves, Nathan has to figure out how to escape this nightmare, find his dad, and survive whatever horrors come his way.
13. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Iris Hollow has always been different.
When she and her sisters were little, something strange happened to them, leaving them with matching half-moon scars and weird memories they can’t quite remember.
Things get even crazier when Iris’s older sister, Grey, disappears.
As Iris follows a bizarre trail to find her, she starts remembering more—and it’s clear that the truth is darker than she ever imagined.
Can she unravel the mystery of her past before it’s too late?
14. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
In a brutal empire inspired by ancient Rome, Laia’s life is a struggle just to survive.
When her brother is arrested for treason, she has no choice but to spy for the rebels inside the Empire’s military academy.
That’s where she meets Elias, the top soldier who hates the Empire as much as she does.
As their fates become tied together, they must decide whether they can break free from the system that controls them or let it destroy everything they love.
15. The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
After everything that happened in The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is cursed, and life as he knew it is forever changed.
With the treaty between immortals on the brink of collapse, Sébastien’s love for Celine could destroy everything.
Meanwhile, Celine is having strange dreams and remembering things she’d rather forget.
As they uncover dangerous secrets, Sébastien and Celine will have to face the consequences of their love—and the dark truths that come with it.
16. Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
Hava, Queen Bitterblue’s spy and secret half-sister, gets her own story in this thrilling Graceling Realm book.
After the chaos of Winterkeep, Bitterblue and her crew are on their way home, carrying dangerous secrets.
But a shipwreck sends them off course, and they’re stranded on icy land.
While Bitterblue faces a world-altering decision, Hava is forced to confront her past and figure out what role she’ll play in the new world Bitterblue is trying to build.
The future of the kingdom is in their hands.
There you go—your ultimate list of young adult fantasy books that are totally worth the read!
And hey, if you’ve got some YA fantasy recommendations of your own, feel free to share them with me in the comments—I’m always looking for new stories to get hooked on!
