Best Fantasy Books for Teens

Six of Crows Series

The Six of Crows duology is an epic magical adventure series set in the fantasy world of the Grishaverse, a world in which magic and science collide. The adventures start with The Shadow and Bone trilogy (previously known as the Grisha trilogy) and continue with the Six of Crows and King of Scars duologies. Each series follows a different set of characters from the same fantasy universe. 

Tales of the Otori Series

Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series is a beautiful and lyrical YA historical fantasy set in Japan during its years as a feudal system. The series has also expanded into a sequel series, Children of the Otori, and has sold millions of copies. Told in a first-person narrative, the books follow the life of a young warrior named Takeo, spanning about 40 years of Japanese history. Takeo's main goal is to avenge his biological father, and along his journey, he frees himself from his adoptive father, falls in love and comes face to face with dangerous clan lords. 

The Mortal Instruments Series

The Mortal Instruments books are a favourite amongst young adult readers, for their compelling and mysterious plots, dynamic characters and passionate love story. Searching for her missing mother, Clary Fray is pulled into an alternate New York – Downworld is filled with mysterious faeries, partying warlocks, vampires who aren’t what they seem, an army of werewolves and the demons who want to destroy it all. In book one, Clary meets Jace and discovers that, like him, she is a Shadowhunter, a human-angel hybrid who hunts down demons. This startling discovery triggers a series of action-filled adventures and romance. 

Lord of the Rings Series

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien is the fantasy series to stand the test of time, enchanting readers across generations and a firm maker of the high fantasy genre. In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit, Frodo, is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across the magical world of Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power — the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord's evil dominion. Over the course of Frodo's journey, the books explore themes of friendship, found family, love, morality and courage and almost a century later these themes still resonate deeply with readers. 

The Folk of the Air Series

The Folk of the Air is a spellbinding YA fantasy series following the story of Jude Duarte, a mortal girl who is thrust into the world of the Faerie when her parents are murdered. Delivered to Faerie court by their assassin, Jude and her sisters are tormented and mocked by the Faerie royalty. As Jude grows older, she realises that she will need to take part in the dangerous deceptions of the fae to ever truly belong. But the stairway to power is fraught with shadows and betrayal. And looming over all is the infuriating, arrogant and charismatic Prince Cardan... Jude and Carden’s story is one of magic, power, drama and romance that spans three books, and is best for ages 13+. 

Gender Game Series

The-seven book Gender Game series is set in the lands of Matrus and Patrus – a world divided by gender. Women rule the East, men rule the West and a river divides them. Nineteen year old Violet Bates is a rebel and a criminal. As she finds herself sentenced to death for her crimes, there is only one thing that can save her life – entering the kingdom of Patrus, where men rule and women submit. But will Violet be able to obey the rules of the forbidden kingdom, even when she faces more danger than she could have foreseen? In a world divided by gender, only the strongest survive... 

Harley Merlin Series

Harley Merlin is a supernatural adventure series of nine books, that is perfect for YA fantasy fans. The series is set in a hidden world of mystery, magic and monsters. Harley Merlin is nineteen and can read people’s feelings. Abandoned at a young age to live in care, all that remains from her parents is a cryptic note from her father, but when Harley witnesses a vicious monster attack she is thrust into the world of magicals, beasts and covens and starts a journey to trace the source of her own powers. Helped by the charismatic young warlock Wade Crowley, she sets out to trace her magical heritage.

Geomancer Series

It's no secret we're big-time fans of the brilliant award-winning Kiran Millwood Hargrave here at Toppsta, and this upper middle-grade series is a treat for fantasy lovers. This is a series that Kiran Millwood Hargrave had wanted to write for years: it's deeply personal and draws from her mixed heritage roots. It follows a young girl, Ysolda, whose sister has gone missing after a mysterious earthquake. Finding her sister becomes her mission, but it's no easy task. She must strike a bargain with the Wolf Queen, embark on an epic quest to save her sister and unlock the earth's most powerful magic... This series is full of incredible twists and turns, characters that leap off the page and so much more. 

Red Queen Series

Set in a magical world, the Red Queen books are sweeping stories of power, intrigue and betrayal for readers 13+ Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red but a twist of fate takes her from poverty-stricken pickpocket to working in the Silver Palace. But when Mare discovers she has an ability of her own, she is forced to play the role of a Silver princess. Betrothed to the prince and living the life of a Silver, Mare risks everything to help the Red rebellion. Failure means certain death and success betraying her own heart. We love this fantasy thrilller series with a brilliant, strong female protagonist. 

Power of Five Series

From the author of the Alex Rider series, The Power of Five series is a YA fantasy full of adventure, action, superpowers and BIG revelations. From the first page we're introduced to Matt Freeman, a young thirteen-year-old who has always known he has unusual powers. And when he is sent to a rehabilitation programme in Yorkshire, he discovers it's not just him who has something otherworldly inside. There are in fact other teenagers like him, and their job is to protect the world from the 'Old Ones', beings banished long ago. So he meets Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett throughout the books, and they must work together if they want to save the world from evil forces. 

Gilded Series

The Gilded Ones is a YA West African-inspired fantasy series set in an ancient kingdom, where one young women steps into her power. The books follow sixteen-year-old Deka, who lives in a patriarchal kingdom called Otera. In this society, a woman's worth is tied to her purity, and she must bleed red to prove it. But when Deka bleeds gold – the colour of impurity, of a demon – her life is doomed. Her only escape from sure death is following the mysterious woman who tells Deka she is actually an Alaki, a near-immortal with exceptional gifts. Soon Deka will discover that much greater things await, like freeing goddesses held captive, stopping a dark force growing in her kingdom, and saving Otera altogether. The books are so fast-paced, thrilling and powerful, it will be difficult to stop reading!

The Old Kingdom Series

Welcome to The Old Kingdom, a magical land set in an alternate England of the past. Here, a young student called Sabriel discovers her father and protector of the kingdom is in danger and, together with a magical cat, sets out to rescue him. There is so much to love about this series, starting with its intricate magic system of free and chartered magic, fantastical locations, nuanced politics and takes on good and evil. While the first book follows Sabriel, the following titles will all have different protagonists within this world, and they are mostly strong female leads, which was rarely seen in the first years these books published. 

The Mirrorworld Series Series

From the bestselling author of the Inkheart books, we also highly recommend the Mirrorworld series for readers aged 13 and up who love magic, hidden realms and deadly curses...

This series takes you to a world hidden behind magical mirrors. In this land, the stories of wondrous fairy tales we grew up with are real history, and fairies, ogres, dwarves, enchanted objects and anything else you can imagine are real. Usually this world and ours remain separate, but it all changes when two brothers discover one of the magical mirrors that lead to this realm... In these four books, you will befriend a shapeshifting girl (who often appears as a fox), embark on a perilous journey to seek precious treasures, come face to face with terrifying beasts, but more importantly learn the true meaning of being siblings.

The House of the Dead Duology Series

The House of the Dead duology is a dark YA fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince. The protagonist Wren is a bonesmith who, after disappointing her family, is banished to the Border Wall. She is destined to be nothing other than a valkyr – a ghost-fighting warrior. But determined to reclaim her family's respect, Wren sets out to save the House of Gold prince, who has been kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To do so, she's forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers, a fierce ironsmith called Julian. As they travel, Wren and Julian will discover there's more behind the kidnapping than either of them knew, they'll need to work together to combat the real danger: a dark alliance that is brewing between the living and the undead.

Arc of a Scythe Series

The Arc of a Scythe is a chilling YA dystopian series by National Book Award-winning author, Neal Shusterman. The books are set in a world without hunger, disease or war, in a future where humanity has even conquered death. The Scythes are the only ones who can end a life and are tasked with controlling the size of the population. But for Citra and Rowan - two teens apprenticed to be scythes against their will - this perfect world comes with a heavy price, as they have to master the art of killing. Only one will be chosen as the Scythe, and the other will face execution from his or her opponent. 

The Torch Trilogy Series

Here is a series for the dystopian YA lovers: The Torch trilogy by award-winning and internationally acclaimed screenwriter Moira Buffini touches on themes of identity, politics, heartbreak and self-acceptance. Don't be deceived by Northaven's prettiness, by its white-wash houses and sea views. Many of its townsfolk are hunters. They revile those who have developed songlight, the ability to connect telepathically with others. So, Lark has lived in grave danger ever since her own songlight emerged. But then she forms a bond with a young woman from a faraway city, who is also in peril, and together they must find a way to survive in a ruthless world. 

Ember Quartet Series

Inspired by Ancient Rome and its power dynamics, these books are set in a Martial Empire, where any form of defiance is met with death. The series kicks off with protagonist Laia, whose grandparents are brutally murdered and her brother arrested for treason by the empire. The only people she has left to turn to are the rebels. But in exchange for their help in saving her brother, they demand that Laia spy on the ruthless Commandant of Blackcliff, the Empire's greatest military academy. Should she fail it's more than her brother's freedom at risk ... Laia's very life is at stake. There, she meets Elias, the academy's finest soldier. But Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he's being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined - and that their choices...