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 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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98 Sandry's Book

Sandry's Book

By

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 placed with Briar, a streetwise plant mage, Daja, a trader girl skilled with metal, and Tris, a weather mage feared for her volatile power. As these reluctant companions train in their crafts, they must overcome mistrust, loneliness, and the weight of their pasts. When a devastating natural disaster threatens Winding Circle, Sandry discovers that their survival may depend on whether she can literally and figuratively weave their distinct magics into something stronger.

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

By

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 she is part of the Leopard People, a hidden magical community that values the very traits she thought were flaws. As Sunny trains in this new world and joins Orlu, Chichi, and Sasha to form the youngest Oha Coven, she must balance everyday concerns like sports and school with dangerous magical responsibilities. Their task to stop Black Hat Otokoto, a criminal targeting children, pushes Sunny into a high-stakes coming-of-age test of courage and power.

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

By

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 frozen North, a landscape of witch clans, armored bears, and experimental horrors. Guided by a mysterious truth-telling instrument and accompanied by her shape-shifting dæmon, she becomes entangled in Lord Asriel’s dangerous research into parallel worlds and cosmic forces. As war looms, Lyra must decide where her loyalties lie, knowing that saving one person she loves may mean betraying another.

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

By

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 staff seem to be hiding more than personal problems. As Chloe navigates this confined urban setting, she uncovers secrets about the institution, her own emerging supernatural abilities, and the other teens who may also possess paranormal gifts. Blending young adult urban fantasy with elements of mystery, romance, and suspense, the novel follows a strong female protagonist confronting both dangerous magic and the fear that she might be losing her sanity.

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

By

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 determined to resist the dangers her “gift” creates. After her mother’s death and the arrival of a greedy father, cruel stepfamily, and mounting threats from humans and magical creatures alike, she sets out to find Lucinda and free herself from the spell. Along the way, Ella encounters ogres, elves, and a thoughtful prince, and must decide how much she is willing to risk to claim her own future.

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

By

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 mountains, her act of defiance exposes forbidden knowledge about magic, sacred territories, and the rigid hierarchy that governs her pack. As Calla becomes entangled with the human she saved, she is forced to weigh loyalty against desire, and tradition against self-determination. This young adult urban fantasy blends supernatural politics, werewolf lore, and romance in a setting where every choice carries dangerous consequences.

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 an arranged marriage with Thorn of the influential Dragon clan, she is uprooted to the distant, politically charged ark of the Pole, where court factions and ancestral powers shape every interaction. As Ophelia navigates this rigid, often hostile ruling class, she must conceal her abilities and identity while uncovering why she has been selected for this alliance. The novel blends high fantasy worldbuilding, subtle steampunk elements, and slow-building romance with an undercurrent of suspense and intricate political intrigue.

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

By ,

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 the Emerald City, hoping the mysterious Wizard can send her home. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, each seeking something they believe they lack. This classic work of children’s fantasy blends witches, enchanted creatures, and perilous encounters into an adventure that has become a cornerstone of portal fantasy and young adult literature.

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, especially the cruel and magnetic Prince Cardan. As Jude navigates court politics, shifting alliances, and an enemies-to-lovers tension with Cardan, she learns to wield deception and violence as her own weapons. The novel blends young adult fantasy, dark romance, and political intrigue as Jude risks everything to protect her sisters and influence the fate of a dangerous ruling class.

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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