The Nora Theory

Young Adult fantasies are how so many romance readers got their start, and there are some truly gorgeous books representing this genre. These books are not just for kids. They have serious themes, with marvelous characters and world-building that can rival if not surpass a great many adult fantasies. There are so, so many spectacular books in the YA space, and this least is by no means exhaustive, but here are some of my all-time favorite YA fantasies.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Shadow and Bone trilogy is arguably Leigh Bardugo‘s most famous work. It’s been turned into a TV show on Netflix and amassed a voracious fandom of both teenage and adult readers alike. It features a tough but relatable heroine and a perilous love story that is exciting to read but still appropriate for kids.

This is not a romance, the relationships between the characters are secondary to the plot, and the other relationships they build with the world around them. Speaking of which, the world-building here is so extensive, and so detailed, that while reading you truly feel transported to a whole different realm. As an added bonus, this series is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The Six of Crows duology was the first Leigh Bardugo series I ever read, and it was instant love. I actually prefer this spin-off series to the original. It’s a little moodier, a little more angsty, and endlessly entertaining. While this book has an incredible plot, set in the same universe as Shadow and Bone, what really makes it shine is the characters and the found family themes.

Each character is so memorable and so engaging. The entire group of thieves and misfits is so wonderful to follow and root for. I read these books in my early 20’s and they still are fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. When my sister read them recently she had the same reaction I did. Six of Crows is the perfect example of books great for both teenage and adult fantasy readers.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

This book is a Reese’s Bookclub Pick and a New York Times Bestseller — and for good reason. Within These Wicked Walls is unlike any other fantasy out there, no matter the age group. This is such a unique and powerful story, with a darkly funny heroine and an eccentric yet handsome young heir with a cursed house who hires her to fix the problem.

Andromeda cleanses houses of the Evil Eye, but when her mentor abandons her, she has to find a wealthy patron to ensure steady work. When Magnus hires her, she takes the job, but what awaits her within his house is nothing she could have prepared for. This book is romantic and heartfelt, with ferocious danger that will keep anyone desperate to read just one more chapter.

The Folk of the Air by Holly Black

This trilogy is a little bit closer to the adult side of young adult, but still perfectly appropriate for teenagers and adults alike. The Folk of the Air series is an enemies-to-lovers romantasy following Jude, a badass heroine who was kidnapped as a child and brought to Faerie to be raised in the household of the King’s most vicious general.

Because she’s human, Jude has to train harder than everyone else not only for her own safety, but to prove herself to her foster father and everyone around them. Cardan is a prince, a member of a cruel and intrigue-filled royal court. He’s beautiful and wicked, and Jude’s nemesis. Jude ends up plunged into dangerous alliances to save her family and the land of Faerie itself. These books are fantasy classics for a reason, and so much fun to read.

Legacy of Orisha by Tomi Adeyemi

Legacy of Orisha is a trilogy of West-African inspired fantasy novels that have won all of the awards, for good reason. Named one of Time magazines best YA fantasies of all time, these books follow Zélie Adebola in her journey to reclaim her power in a world where magic has disappeared. The cruel and ruthless king ordered all the maji in Orïsha killed, including Zélie’s mother. Now it is time for her people to rise, and they have one chance to restore magic and bring down the evil monarchy.

This series is action-packed, intense, and a true epic fantasy the likes of which is rarely matched. The third book in the series, Children of Anguish and Anarchy, is releasing June 25.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

This series is on the younger side of young adult, featuring a twelve-year-old heroine. Sophie has never quite fit in at school. She’s super smart and has skipped several grades, but she’s always felt like an outsider at school and at home. Maybe because she can read minds. When she meets Fitz, a mysterious and adorable boy with the same ability, she finds out she’s never felt like she belonged, because she doesn’t. She is forced to leave her family behind and enter a whole new world where her memories are the key to uncovering a dangerous truth.

Keeper of the Lost Cities is a ten book series. Admittedly I haven’t read the whole thing, only the first three. But my sisters have, and they are known for their impeccable taste so I trust it.

Lightlark by Alex Aster

Lightlark gives readers some of the most beautiful and creative world building of any of the stories on this list. Isla is the Wildling ruler, and the Centennial is approaching. Every one hundred years, the six rulers of the realm are summoned to Lightlark, and island that only appears every hundred years for a hundred days, to play a game to fulfill a prophecy and attempt to break the curse placed upon upon them. This is the fifth Centennial, and the stakes of the game are higher than ever before.

This story is so twisty and suspenseful. Isla is a perfect fantasy heroine with vulnerabilities that she overcomes with strength of character. There is the perfect amount of romance for a YA fantasy, and readers of every age will appreciate the tension the author builds in these pages.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

A princess in exile sets out on a dangerous journey to reclaim her rightful throne. She is a relatable princess who loves books, and wields the power of the Tearling sapphire, a necklace with immense magic. She and her queens guard fight their way through the kingdom, dodging enemies at every turn, working to reclaim the throne and save the Kingdom from the Red Queen, an evil sorceress from the neighboring kingdom using the darkest kind of magic.

The Queen of the Tearling is exciting, with a heroine who is both relatable and strong. This series will stick with you long after you turn the last page. I read this series nearly a decade ago, and still think of it often. It’s a three book series with a prequel and is available on Kindle Unlimited.

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