15 New Must-Read Fantasy Books for Teens
The best fantasy books for teens are the ones that captivate readers with their magic, mystery, and monsters. From classic teen fantasy book series like Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling or Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan to The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare or Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, anyone can enjoy teen-centered fantasy books. Here are some must-read fantasy books for teenagers that will take you away to new imaginative worlds!
What is Young Adult Fantasy?
The best fantasy books for teens are the ones that are written for them! Young Adult Fantasy is a relatively new genre that combines young adult literature with fantasy and is the perfect genre for fantasy-loving teenagers. Young Adult Fantasy books feature themes relevant to teenagers such as first romances, identity, friendships, grief, and independence, and combine them with common fantasy features like magic, mythical creatures, and mythology. There are also many subgenres from the fantasy genre that can be incorporated into teen fantasy books, like dark fantasy, epic fantasy, high fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal fantasy, and so much more, the possibilities are endless! Check out these 15 new must-read fantasy books for teens today.
1. Lore
by Alexandra Bracken
#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkest Minds, Alexandra Bracken, delivers a young adult fantasy inspired by Greek mythology. Nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals as punished for a past rebellion. These gods are hunted by an ancient bloodline seeking to seize their immortality. Lore Perseous fled that world after her family was murdered by another rival family. She had turned away from seeking revenge against the now immortal man who is responsible for her family’s demise, until two new hunters seek her out: Castor, a childhood friend, and Athena, one of the last of the original gods.
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2. Dark Deeds (The Andovia Chronicles)
by Tiffany Shand
The prequel novel to the bestselling young adult fantasy series, The Andovia Chronicles. Nyx Ashwood is a fae outcast living with humans and working as a thief, while also struggling to control her powers to hear people’s thoughts and influence them. Darius Valeran is sent on a mission to find Nyx soon before their world falls into darkness. Can they work together before it’s too late?
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3. Fable
by Adrienne Young
A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club YA Pick and book 1 of a New York Times Bestselling Duology! Fable is the seventeen-year-old daughter of the most powerful trader of Narrows. It’s been four years since she watched her mother drown and her father abandon her on an island full of thieves and sparse resources. Fable’s learned to trust no one and rely on herself to survive, with the goal to one day find her father and take her rightful place beside him and his ship crew. Join Fable on her adventure now!
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by Rainbow Rowell
Named a Best Book of 2015 by Time Magazine, School Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, NPR, PopSugar, The Millions, and The News & Observer! Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One ever, according to his evil vampire roommate Baz. And Baz is most likely right, because Simon either can’t get his wand to work properly or he sets something on fire! Follow along on one of the best young adult fantasy books of 2015 by New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell!
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5. The Alchemyst
by Michael Scott
The first book in the New York Times Bestselling Series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, and is perfect for fans of Harry Potter! Nicholas Flamel’s tomb is empty, even though records show that he died in 1418. What if he’s actually been successfully making the elixir of life for centuries? He also protects the Book of Abraham the Mage, the most powerful book that has ever existed, and it’s up to Sophie and Josh Newman to fulfill a prophecy to save the world when the Book of Abraham the Mage falls into the wrong hands. Start this adventure today!
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by Sarah Henning
The first book of the bestselling The Kingdoms of Sand & Sky Trilogy is perfect for fans of The Princess Bride! Princess Amarande is forced to either marry into a neighboring kingdom or lose her crown and life after her father dies. On top of that, the stableboy she loves, Luca is kidnapped. But Amarande refuses to be a sacrifice and will stop at nothing to save her true love!
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7. Rock Heaven (Doormaker)
by Jamie Thornton
From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jamie Thornton comes the first book in the exciting Doormaker Series! Three worlds are falling apart, and making portals is forbidden. Can an untrained Doormaker save the worlds and her family in time?
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by Tracy Deonn
An instant New York Times bestselling book and winner of the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award! This contemporary ya fantasy has a rich magic system perfect for fans of the City of Bones. A program at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect opportunity for sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews to escape her childhood home, until she witnesses a magical attack on her first night on campus. Follow along with Bree and her new friend Nick as they uncover the secrets of the Legendborns.
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by Elizabeth Lim
A breathtaking New York Times Bestselling East Asian Folklore-inspired young adult fantasy. Shiori’anma is a princess in exile after her stepmother has banished her from her kingdom and turned her six brothers into cranes. Follow along with Shiori’anma on her quest to embrace her magic, heal her family, and retake her kingdom!
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10. Enchanted (Curse Breaker)
by Melinda Kucsera
Sam is a mage with a power he can’t control, and all he wants is to be like everyone else in a country run by a group that wants to destroy all magic. To save him home, Sam must uncover a dark conspiracy, or risk losing his son. Read this epic fantasy mystery today for free on Kindle Unlimited!
Buy on Amazon11. Air Awakens
by Elise Kova
The first book to the Air Awakens series by USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Elise Kova, a must-read romantic fantasy [hyperlink to Teisha’s article] author! Vhalla is a library girl with a secret. When she meets the dark and fiery Crown Prince Aldrik, he awakens her magic, and there’s no going back for them or The Solaris Empire. Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.
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12. Realm of Knights (Knights of the Realm)
by Jennifer Anne Davis
The first book in the bestselling and award-winning Knights of the Realm series that’s perfect for fans of Graceling and King’s Cage! Reid has been pretending to be a man her entire life so she can inherit her father’s estate. But when her secret is threatened, she ends up on an adventure of a lifetime and learns to fight like a woman!
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13. This Poison Heart
by Kalynn Bayron
A new contemporary fantasy perfect for teens by the bestselling author of Cinderella is Dead, perfect for fans of Poison Ivy or readers who enjoyed Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn! Briseis has the gift to make plants grow with just the touch of her hand. After her aunt dies, Briseis visits her aunt’s upstate New York estate and her parents hope it’s the perfect opportunity for her to finally control her powers. But sinister darkness within the estate’s gardens provides a mystery for Briseis she could have never imagined…
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by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The start of the New York Times Bestselling Harbinger Series! Trinity Marrow is going blind, but she can communicate with ghosts and spirits. She’s been hidden and protected by shapeshifters from demons for years. Trinity is forced to trust a shapeshifter named Zayne when demons attack and learn about Trinity’s powers. Can they survive when a war erupts within the supernatural world?
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15. Shifter In The Swamp (Academy of Necessary Magic)
by Martha Carr and Michael Anderle
Amanda Coulier is a teenage shifter and the responsibility of Johnny Walker, one of the greatest bounty hunters of all time. Unable to handle Amanda’s fur and fangs, he enrolls her in the Academy of Necessary Magic to train her to be a bounty hunter!
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We hope you enjoy these must-read fantasy books for teens! For more young adult fantasy recommendations, sign up for Freebooksy’s newsletter here!