Young Adult Fantasy Books: Best Reads

Young adult fantasy focuses on teenage characters navigating magic, identity, and first big choices. Stories often mix school life, quests, and romance for YA fans.

Curated by Fabled Tome

106 Books in subgenre
Apr 13, 2026 Last updated
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97 The Last Magician

The Last Magician

By

Rated 4.04 out of 5 stars, based on 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…

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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98 Sandry's Book

Sandry's Book

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Rated 4.04 out of 5 stars, based on 45,198 reviews.

Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce introduces four young mages whose unusual talents set them apart from the world around them. Noble-born Sandry, whose magic works through thread and light, is taken to Winding Circle, a temple community where she is pla…

Book 1 of Circle of Magic series

Fantasy Adventure Magic High Fantasy Young Adult Childrens Coming Of Age Female Protagonist Strong Female Lead
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99 Akata Witch

Akata Witch

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Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 38,700 reviews.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor follows twelve-year-old Sunny, an American-born girl living in Aba, Nigeria, who struggles with albinism, bullying at school, and feeling out of place. Her life changes when she befriends Orlu and Chichi and discovers sh…

Book 1 of The Nsibidi Scripts series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Urban Fantasy Young Adult Childrens Witches Coming Of Age Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist
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100 The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass

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Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 1,628,061 reviews.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman follows Lyra Belacqua, a sharp and headstrong girl growing up in an alternate Oxford where science, theology, and magic intersect. When children begin disappearing, including her friend Roger, Lyra travels to the…

Book 1 of His Dark Materials series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Science Fiction Young Adult War Classics Childrens Witches Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist Steampunk
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101 The Summoning

The Summoning

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Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 176,952 reviews.

In The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong introduces Chloe Saunders, a teenager whose ordinary life unravels the day she begins seeing ghosts. After a disturbing incident at school, she is sent to a group home for troubled teens, where the residents and sta…

Book 1 of Darkest Powers series

Fantasy Magic Romance Urban Fantasy Young Adult Mystery Supernatural Paranormal Werewolves Female Protagonist Ghosts Suspense Strong Female Lead
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102 Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted

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Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 425,242 reviews.

In Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine reimagines the Cinderella story as a young adult fantasy about autonomy, courage, and choice. Cursed at birth by the fairy Lucinda to obey any direct command, Ella grows into a sharp-witted, strong-willed girl de…

Book 1 of Ella Enchanted series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Romance Young Adult Classics Childrens Female Protagonist Heroic Fantasy Fairy Tales Strong Female Lead
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103 Nightshade

Nightshade

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Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 84,636 reviews.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer introduces Calla Tor, a young alpha werewolf raised to believe her future is fixed: she will lead alongside Ren Laroche and serve the powerful Keepers who control their world. After she secretly rescues a human boy in the…

Book 1 of Nightshade series

Magic Harem Romance Young Adult Supernatural Werewolves Ruling Class Female Protagonist
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104 A Winter's Promise

A Winter's Promise

By ,

Rated 4.01 out of 5 stars, based on 126,101 reviews.

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serle, introduces Ophelia, a reserved young woman whose talent for reading the past of objects and traveling through mirrors sets her apart on the ark of Anima. When she is forced into…

Book 1 of La Passe-Miroir series

Fantasy Magic Romance High Fantasy Young Adult Ruling Class Political Intrigue Female Protagonist Steampunk Suspense Strong Female Lead
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105 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

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Rated 4.00 out of 5 stars, based on 517,386 reviews.

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum and illustrator W. W. Denslow introduce Dorothy, a Kansas farm girl swept by a tornado into a vividly imagined magical land. Guided by the Good Witch of the North, she follows the yellow brick road toward…

Book 1 of Oz series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Young Adult Classics Childrens Witches Portal Fantasy Non-human Protagonist Female Protagonist
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106 The Cruel Prince

The Cruel Prince

By

Rated 4.00 out of 5 stars, based on 1,780,644 reviews.

In The Cruel Prince, Holly Black introduces Jude, a mortal girl raised in the High Court of Faerie after witnessing her parents’ murder as a child. Now a teenager, she is determined to secure power and status among the immortal fae who scorn her, esp…

Book 1 of The Folk of the Air series

Fantasy Magic Romance Young Adult Fae Enemies To Lovers Ruling Class Political Intrigue Female Protagonist Violence Strong Female Lead
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