Action Fantasy Books: Best Reads

97

City of Bones

By Cassandra Clare

Rated 4.06 out of 5 stars, based on 2,186,694 reviews. 4.06 · 2,186,694 reviews

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare introduces Clary Fray, a fifteen-year-old who discovers that New York City hides a secret world of demons, vampires, and other supernatural beings. After witnessing an apparently impossible killing in a nightclub and…

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare introduces Clary Fray, a fifteen-year-old who discovers that New York City hides a secret world of demons, vampires, and other supernatural beings. After witnessing an apparently impossible killing in a nightclub and realizing only she can see the attackers, Clary is drawn into the society of the Shadowhunters, tattooed warriors who police this hidden urban landscape. When her mother vanishes and a demon targets her at home, Clary must navigate dangerous alliances, unravel her own mysterious connection to magic, and confront unsettling truths about her past. Blending urban fantasy, action, and young adult romance, the novel follows a strong female lead forced to redefine what is ordinary and what is monstrous.

Book 1 of The Mortal Instruments series

Fantasy Magic Action Demons Romance Urban Fantasy Young Adult Supernatural Vampires Paranormal Female Protagonist Strong Female Lead

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98

Infinity

By Sherrilyn Kenyon

Rated 4.05 out of 5 stars, based on 43,994 reviews. 4.05 · 43,994 reviews

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon introduces Nick Gautier, a fourteen-year-old from the wrong side of New Orleans who discovers that his sarcastic, streetwise outlook has not prepared him for the supernatural reality around him. After surviving an attack…

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon introduces Nick Gautier, a fourteen-year-old from the wrong side of New Orleans who discovers that his sarcastic, streetwise outlook has not prepared him for the supernatural reality around him. After surviving an attack by his own friends, he is drawn into the world of Dark-Hunters, immortal warriors who hunt vampires and other paranormal threats. As Nick navigates high school, he must also deal with werewolves on the football team, a crush who hunts the undead, and classmates turning into zombies. Balancing demons, monsters, and a protective mother, this young adult urban fantasy blends action, dark humor, and hints of romance while following a strong male protagonist facing impossible choices.

Book 1 of Chronicles of Nick series

Fantasy Action Humor Demons Romance Urban Fantasy Young Adult Supernatural Vampires Paranormal Zombies Strong Protagonist Male Protagonist

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99

Dead Witch Walking

By Kim Harrison

Rated 4.04 out of 5 stars, based on 129,743 reviews. 4.04 · 129,743 reviews

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison introduces Rachel Morgan, a witch and bounty hunter working the dangerous supernatural beat in Cincinnati’s paranormal district known as the Hollows. Tasked with policing vampires, witches, and other magical beings,…

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison introduces Rachel Morgan, a witch and bounty hunter working the dangerous supernatural beat in Cincinnati’s paranormal district known as the Hollows. Tasked with policing vampires, witches, and other magical beings, Rachel navigates a city where predators dominate the night and the line between law and chaos is thin. As she pursues fugitives who may be dead, alive, or something in between, her work pulls her deeper into vampire politics and supernatural power struggles. Blending urban fantasy, magic, and hints of romance, the novel builds a gritty, modern world where paranormal communities coexist uneasily with human society.

Book 1 of The Hollows series

Action Romance Urban Fantasy Supernatural Vampires Witches Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist

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100

The Last Magician

By Lisa Maxwell

Rated 4.04 out of 5 stars, based on 23,633 reviews. 4.04 · 23,633 reviews

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell follows Esta, a young time-manipulating thief trained to steal powerful artifacts from a secretive organization known as the Order. In a version of modern New York where magic has been nearly eradicated and remaining…

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell follows Esta, a young time-manipulating thief trained to steal powerful artifacts from a secretive organization known as the Order. In a version of modern New York where magic has been nearly eradicated and remaining Mageus are trapped on Manhattan by a lethal barrier called the Brink, Esta is sent back to 1902 to retrieve a book that holds the key to that prison. Old New York, thick with gangs, hidden societies, and volatile magic, forces her to navigate shifting alliances and political schemes. As she closes in on the Magician and the truth behind the Order, Esta must weigh loyalty, rebellion, and sacrifice in a world where every choice can alter the future.

Book 1 of The Last Magician series

Fantasy Magic Action Time Travel Urban Fantasy Young Adult Historical Fiction Rebellion Political Intrigue Female Protagonist Strong Female Lead

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101

Midnight's Daughter

By Karen Chance

Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 20,304 reviews. 4.03 · 20,304 reviews

Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance introduces Dorina Basarab, a dhampir whose half-human, half-vampire nature leaves her prone to lethal rages and a life steeped in violence. She survives by directing her fury toward dangerous supernatural targets,…

Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance introduces Dorina Basarab, a dhampir whose half-human, half-vampire nature leaves her prone to lethal rages and a life steeped in violence. She survives by directing her fury toward dangerous supernatural targets, until her estranged vampire father demands her help recapturing her uncle, the notorious Dracula, who has broken free. Forced into an uneasy partnership with master vampire Louis-Cesare, Dorina must confront both her ingrained distrust of vampires and the one foe she truly fears. Set in an urban fantasy world of vampires, fae, and dark magic, the novel blends action, paranormal politics, and adult romance.

Book 1 of Dorina Basarab series

Adventure Action Romance Monsters War Vampires Fae Female Protagonist

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102

Bitten

By Kelley Armstrong

Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 106,106 reviews. 4.03 · 106,106 reviews

In Bitten, Kelley Armstrong introduces Elena Michaels, the only known female werewolf, who is determined to reclaim an ordinary human existence in Toronto. After years enforcing Pack law and tracking dangerous rogues, she has walked away from their v…

In Bitten, Kelley Armstrong introduces Elena Michaels, the only known female werewolf, who is determined to reclaim an ordinary human existence in Toronto. After years enforcing Pack law and tracking dangerous rogues, she has walked away from their violent world and built a fragile new life among humans and a human partner. When the Pack’s leader summons her to confront a surge of hostile werewolves threatening their territory, Elena reluctantly returns, intending it to be a final obligation. The novel blends urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and shapeshifter politics as Elena is forced to weigh loyalty, identity, and the possibility that her wolf nature may be more than a curse.

Book 1 of Women of the Otherworld series

Action Romance Urban Fantasy Shapeshifters War Supernatural Werewolves Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist

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Light Novels, Comics & Manga

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Protagonist

City of Bones

Infinity

Dead Witch Walking

The Last Magician

Midnight's Daughter

Bitten