Want to Read YA Fantasy? Here's Where to Start
- Allison Alexander
- Mar 20
- 10 min read
Interested in reading young adult fantasy novels but not sure where to begin (or you’re an avid reader and want suggestions for more, more, MORE)? Here are some recommendations listed in order of publication date.
I personally picked all of these titles and had so much fun doing so! Fantasy is the genre I read the most. Many of these are my absolute favourites, while some are not necessarily for me but have a beloved following; I wanted to include a lot of different types of fantasy, since the genre and its subgenres are so varied.
COMING OF AGE CLASSICS
Date Published: 1964
Series: The Chronicles of Prydain #1
Number of Books in Series: 5
Summary: This is the story of an Assistant Pig-Keeper who longs to be a hero and the quest he goes on to retrieve a runaway oracular pig. This is only the beginning of the story, and the books get better and better, and Taran gets older and wiser, as the story unfolds throughout its five installments. It's got an enchanter, a retired warrior, a stubborn princess, a curmudgeonly dwarf, a bard prone to exaggeration, a curious creature, a sorceress, a giant cat, and more, and it's just delightful. The Disney movie The Black Cauldron is loosely based on the first two books of this series.
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Date Published: 1976
Series: Harper Hall of Pern #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: Forbidden to seek her dream of becoming a Harper despite being musically gifted, 15-year-old Menolly runs away from home and befriends nine mini dragons. I particularly like that she's not a warrior or a princess—just a character who wants to find happiness doing what she loves.
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Date Published: 1982
Series: Damar #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: After years of feeling like she doesn't belong because she's tall, awkward, and headstrong, a young woman named Harry is kidnaped by the magical king of the Hillfolk and becomes involved in a war with a terrifying horde of creatures from the north. Set in a desert country, it has horses and cats, romance, friendship, heroes, and magic.
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Date Published: 1982
Series: Pit Dragon Chronicles #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: Jakkin, a 15-year-old slave who works at a dragon nursery, steals a baby dragon in the hopes he can train it to fight in the pits and earn him enough money to buy his freedom. Akki, a girl who also works at the nursery, helps him as they attempt to prepare the dragon for its first fight. Cue adventure and dragon bonding!
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Date Published: 1982
Series: The Belgariad #1
Number of Books in Series: 5
Summary: This is your classic farm-boy-learns-he-has-magic-and-goes-on-a-quest tale.
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Date Published: 1982
Series: The Riftwar Saga #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: An orphan named Pug becomes an apprentice to a temperamental magician in a world of humans, elves, dwarves, and fae. As he tries to understand magic, Pug realizes his abilities are different, which might just be important since the world is being invaded by powerful beings from another dimension. The story splits into multiple points of view to show how various characters deal with the invasion.
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Date Published: 1983
Series: Song of the Lioness #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: It's difficult to find a fantasy fan who does not love this series. Alanna, who wants to be a warrior despite girls not being allowed, switches places with her twin brother and trains to become a knight. It has found family, a love triangle, sorcerers, sword fights, and magic.
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Date Published: 1988
Summary: Peri, a 15-year-old girl from a small seaside village, loses her father to the sea, and her mother can only stare out at the water mourning his loss. In anger, Peri curses the sea, which brings a dragon, a prince, a magician, and an old mystery to her door. It's a beautiful story of love, loss, and letting go.
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Date Published: 1990
Series: Enchanted Forest Chronicles #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: A tomboyish princess, tired of learning dance and needlepoint, runs away to live with a dragon in this playful story for young readers.
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Date Published: 2003
Series: Discworld #30 / Tiffany Aching #1
Number of Books in Series: 5
Summary: Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is much beloved as a classic YA character. In this book, she ventures into Fairyland to find her kidnapped brother, allying herself with a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding blue men to navigate the strange world and confront the Queen of the Elves. Tiffany starts out as a young girl and grows into a teenager throughout the five books. Since the "series within a series" thing can be confusing, the five Tiffany Aching Books within the Discworld series are: The Wee Free Men (Discworld #30), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld #32), Wintersmith (Discworld #35), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld #38), and The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld #41).
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YA BOOM BOOKS
Date Published: 2005
Series: Poison Study #1
Number of Books in Series: 6
Summary: Yelena is supposed to be executed for murder, so when she's offered the opportunity to become food taster for the Commander of Ixia instead, she takes it. She finds herself fighting for survival in a world of politics and poisons.
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Date Published: 2005
Series: The Twilight Saga #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: Whatever your feelings about this franchise, the story of a girl falling in love with a vampire certainly took over the world for a while there.
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Date Published: 2007
Series: The Mortal Instruments #1
Number of Books in Series: 6
Summary: 15-year-old Clary witnesses three tattooed teenagers killing a demon and is pulled into the world of Shadowhunters. This series is classic urban fantasy, with vampires, werewolves, demons, angels, fairies, action, and drama.
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Date Published: 2008
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: 16-year-old Katniss takes her sister's place in the Reaping, a battle to the death between twelve teenagers. The characters, worldbuilding, and story are riveting. I've re-read this several times, and it really holds up.
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Date Published: 2008
Series: Graceling Realm #1
Number of Books in Series: 5
Summary: Katsa, who has the magical ability to kill, works for her uncle the king, punishing those who defy him. Everyone thinks she's a monster, including her. She falls in love with a prince, discovers a secret behind her power, and goes on an adventure where she decides who she gets to be.
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Date Published: 2009
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: I mean, if you like wolves and romance, this one's for you.
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Date Published: 2012
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Number of Books in Series: 7
Summary: If assassin Calaena can defeat twenty-three warriors, she'll win her freedom and serve as the king's champion—the trick is surviving long enough when something evil is also out to destroy her. This story tackles a heroine dealing with deep trauma. It's got adventure, duels, a love triangle, mystery, and drama.
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Date Published: 2015
Series: Six of Crows #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: This is one of my favourite YA books of all time. It's about a cast of emotionally damaged, compelling characters who set out to accomplish an impossible heist. The magic system and worldbuilding are really great, too.
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Date Published: 2015
Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1
Number of Books in Series: 4
Summary: This is a solid YA fantasy. Its themes are nothing new—rebelling against an oppressive Empire, a tortured slave whose family was murdered, a royal who doesn't want the weight of leadership—but it's told so well, with riveting scenes and characters, that it kept me turning pages until the end. I especially appreciated Laia, because she isn't particularly talented or badass; she's just a scared girl who is incredibly brave and wants to save her brother.
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Date Published: 2015
Series: Shades of Magic #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: The worldbuilding in this series is fascinating, with alternate versions of London and a magical artifact that shouldn't exist. It's got a large cast of characters, political drama, adventure, mages who can travel between parallel universes, and secrets.
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MODERN GEMS
Date Published: 2017
Series: Iskari #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: This is a really solid fantasy romance—with dragons! The protagonist, Asha, is a a dragon slayer betrothed to a cruel commandant. She's offered her freedom if she can kill the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, so she sets out to do just that, and adventure ensues.
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Date Published: 2018
Series: Legacy of Orïsha #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: Zélie is determined to bring magic back to the world after all the maji were rounded up and slaughtered by the king. This is West-African inspired story about oppression, beautifully written.
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Date Published: 2019
Summary: It's hard not to like a book set in a library. In this one, magical grimoires are alive and can turn into monsters if you're not careful. As a foundling of one of Austermeer's Great Libraries, Elisabeth hopes to become a warden of the books, but she's implicated when one of the most dangerous books escapes. She goes after it with the help of her sworn enemy, Nathaniel (he's a sorcerer and all sorcerers are evil). Cue romance! Secrets! Adventure!
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Date Published: 2019
Series: The Blood Stars #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: I love a YA story about a competition. A fight to the death? A magical exam? The hunt for an ancient object? I'm in! I was not prepared to be so engrossed by a competition about... sewing. But here I am. Maia poses as her brother in this "Mulan meets Project Runway" story about a competition to become the imperial tailor. It's cutthroat. There's a sorcerer who can see through her disguise. There's a challenge to sew three dangerously beautiful gowns. It's all good stuff.
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Date Published: 2020
Series: Cemetery Boys #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: Yadriel is a 16-year-old gay Latinx trans boy who's determined to prove to his family that he's a brujo (not a bruja). He attempts a ritual but accidentally summons the ghost of the school's resident bad boy and agrees to help solve his murder. This is a story of identity, a slow burn M/M romance, blood magic, and friendship.
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Date Published: 2020
Series: Raybearer #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: Tarisai's mother sends her to compete with other children to become one of the crown prince's chosen council. She's also magically compelled her daughter to kill the prince one she's gained his trust. Tarisai struggles with a mission she doesn't understand, especially once she becomes close friends with the prince. The worldbuilding, inspired by West Africa, is stunning. The magic system is fascinating. It's full of myth, song, and hope.
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Date Published: 2020
Series: The Legendborn Cycle #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: Bree infiltrates a magic society of demon hunters in order to solve the mystery of why her mother was murdered, unwittingly involving herself in an upcoming magical war. Black girl magic + King Arthur mythology.
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Date Published: 2023
Series: Nampeshiweisit #1
Number of Books in Series: 2
Summary: Though a dragon hasn't been seen on her remote island in years,15-year-old Anequs bonds with one and is forced to attend a colonizer-run dragon academy, where they don't respect her traditions or her non-Anglish upbringing. This has queer, poly, indigenous and disability rep, plus DRAGONS!
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Date Published: 2023
Series: Waxways #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: This is a YA fantasy thriller (not a genre blend you see every day), where six teenaged wizards are stranded in the wilderness and have to find their way home. It has a very cool magic system, where energy to cast spells is stored in items, and, of course, the rich have access to much more energy than the poor do. The wilderness survival with a dash of horror is riveting, too.
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Date Published: 2023
Series: The Spice Road Trilogy #1
Number of Books in Series: 3
Summary: In an Arabian-inspired setting, 17-year-old Imani sets off to find her brother, who has betrayed her people by stealing their nation's coveted spice. There's a love triangle, ancient monsters, betrayal, a roguish djinni, an arrogant beastseer, and secrets to be revealed.
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