While I like to think there’s no genre that I wouldn’t give a chance to, Fantasy has always been my bread and butter.
From the early days with Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale books, to the hard hitting Twilight induced vampire craze, to now the boom of ‘Romantasy’ - there hasn’t been a fantasy world I haven’t loved.
But let’s be honest - it’s quite easy to feel like you’re seeing the same titles over and over again. Not only that, but if something hasn’t been newly released in the last two years, it seems to disappear from book rec content on the apps.
So here is a list of ten fantasy reads that I am OBSESSED with, and I think should be on your radar:
1. Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau
Truly one of the greatest underrated Romantasy trilogies I’ve EVER encountered. If you’re in need of a fantasy world with elements of ones you’ve loved before, but completely it’s own with a romantic entanglement front and center - I’m begging you to pick up Kingdom of Exiles.
Our FMC is a fantasy-world version of a Pokemon trainer, who has a bounty on her head. The shadowy, undead assassins sent to kill her (important note - they’re hot), end up striking a deal instead of taking her down.
Thus begins a trilogy of adventure, magical creatures, secret identities and the overthrowing of unjust rulers!
More about the author: https://maxymmartineau.com/
2. The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
I beg of you to not let the page count intimidate you - I found every single moment to be well worth the time investment (and it totally flew by, not once did it feel drug out). A Venice-like city full of canals, a society that operates at Bridgerton level gossip and politics, a con-woman invading the wealthy to steal a fortune and run, a magical system like none you’ve seen, and a mythical figure who protects the poor and teases the rich.
I was so deeply invested in this trilogy, and it has solidified itself as one of my all time favorite series. The characters completely drove the plot, but the world itself felt like its own being. The magic could be so subtle and woven into the world, but we get these epic fight sequences that play like the craziest special effects movie scene.
10/10 would recommend the audiobook if you are of the auditory persuasion for consuming stories - the narrator played with the various accents MASTERFULLY, particularly when our FMC is utilizing her various disguises.
More about the authors: https://www.macarrick.com/
3. Kill the Beast by Serra Swift
I was pulled into this book by the antics of our heroine (dropping a troll’s head on a plate of the wealthy man who hired her to kill said troll but shorted her the pay) and was continuously hooked by the supporting cast, and the emotional turmoil of a life-long revenge that could have led to ultimate satisfaction or complete devastation.
As far as my research shows, this is a fantasy standalone which honestly makes me love it even more. The fact that I can be this deeply in love with these characters and world and it was all wrapped beautifully in one sitting? Deeply impressed.
Our heroine has echoes of The Witcher in that she is the grumpy, sword wielding faerie hunter who takes a job from an eccentric, shopping loving gentleman, where they realize they’ve been seeking revenge on the same faerie monster. Maybe I was just too narrow focused while reading, but the plot twist got me BAD on this one, and it took me out like a physical blow.
More about the author: https://www.serraswift.com/
4. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
I stand by that this is a completely slept-on fantasy trilogy, and stands as a fully Epic Fantasy with the characters, the world, and the plot to overthrow a corrupt system. In a world divided by a caste system, the Moon Caste - fully demon beings - rule, and the Moon Emperor takes a harem of girls from the lowest class - those that are completely human.
Our FMC is chosen to be a part of the latest harem, and finds herself in a world she never wanted, but full of unlikely allies in her fellow Paper Girls. Feelings bloom, but our FMC uncovers everything that is wrong with her world, and may or may not involve herself in the underground movement to take the Emperor down.
While I recommend this trilogy with my whole chest, I always want to give a note of caution to carefully consider trigger warnings within this series. SA takes place in book one, and the aftermath of it echoes through the series, and tackles various characters' coping and healing. I think Natasha Ngan handles these discussions with absolute grace and perspective, but nonetheless - if these themes are too heavy, please take care of yourself.
More about the author: http://natashangan.com/
5. A Taste of Iron and Gold by Alexandra Rowland
Another standalone that had me in a total chokehold. The yearning and will-they-won’t-they of it all was just too delicious! This book is something I would consider to be ‘Fantasy-light’, as we have a world where people can have magical traits and abilities, but we’re not hurling spells or riding dragons.
A Taste of Iron also contains my favorite trope of all time - the bodyguard and the royal. IT’S DELICIOUS. In this specific set up, we have the quite overwhelmed and anxious prince of a realm, whose sister is the reigning Sultana. Our prince is assigned a new bodyguard after his romantic entanglements with his former may or may not have started pretty bad infighting. This new guard? Grumpy as all get out and convinced that the man he’s assigned to guard is nothing but a useless royal.
The two begrudgingly spend all hours of the day together, while the prince begins to suss out a possible threat to the throne that no one is deeming worthy of attention. The tension builds, the attraction grows and we may or may not have to make out in an alleyway in order to not get caught spying.
More about the author: https://www.alexandrarowland.net/
6. The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill
To my fans of Lila Bard from A Dark Shade of Magic, and anyone who’s watched and loved Enola Holmes - do I have the book for you. This novel sat on my TBR for YEARS after buying just from the cover alone, and I was so mad when I finally read it and realized it was totally slept on.
Our FMC is captain of a ship in service to the crown, as she possesses the magic to move the ship into impossible waters at impossible speeds. When the latest threat to the crown sends her on a mission to rescue a captured spy for the queen, she is paired with a nobleman who she views as a total deadweight.
Thus starts an adventure across seas, inside ballrooms, running from murderers at a garden party, and an unlikely entanglement that confuses both the FMC and MMC. There is a sequel, and I am eagerly awaiting what comes next for our heroine!
More about the author: http://www.chloeneill.com/
7. The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi
I have never made it quiet on my bookstagram that I am obsessed with anything and everything from Roshani Chokshi - her latest YA release was no exception. Everything I love about YA fantasy with the razor sharp edge of a Grimm’s fairytale.
A young woman who’s the daughter of a swan and an evil sorcerer, runs away from home when she unveils her father’s latest plot. She finds herself at the doors of the castle where the prince of the land is holding a competition for his hand in marriage.
In this world, regents are routinely unalived by their spouses in order to gain power, and so the prince enlists the help of the swan’s daughter to know who in the competition is looking to take him out. People turn into animals, houses are sentient, rocks have feelings, and everything has an edge of fairytale impossibilities. I had such fun with this story, and fell in love with YA Fantasy all over again between its pages.
More about the author: https://www.roshanichokshi.com/
8. Cinnamon Rolls & Villainy by Chante A. Campbell
Truly I don’t think I will ever shut up about this story from Campbell because this book and its sequel are two of the most addicting books I’ve ever consumed. A high fantasy adventure with political intrigue, trials to become the next regent, and a found family storyline that had me kicking my feet and tearing up in equal measure.
Our MMC was captured as a boy by the morally grey queen, and has grown up working as the official baker of the castle. The daughter of said queen is just as morally wobbly, and our MMC is convinced she is his greatest adversary. When the throne becomes up for grabs, a set of deadly trials is put underway that tests the limits of our characters and the world they wish to build.
The tension is delicious, the found family is heart wrenching, and the desire to build a world better than the one you are raised in has my little queer heart all in a tizzy. There’s truly a little bit of everything wrapped into an epic fantasy world, and I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author!
More about the author: https://www.instagram.com/cacampbellwriter/?hl=en
9. Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
A world where vampires roam, a masked figure rules the city and a young woman far from her homeland runs an underground operation that makes her a target to them both. This heist driven adventure has found family, forgery and of course - blood sucking.
Our FMC found herself in a strange world after her island home was colonized, and finds an unlikely ally in a boy from a burning building. They have built themselves an underground empire, and are asked to take on a dangerous job that just may involve completely derailing a corrupt system.
This duology was full of all my favorite things, and our heroine is the exact type of always-one-step-ahead leader that I love to read, especially when she’s masterminding a heist. By the end of the second installment I may or may not have fully screamed, and my emotional investment in this world was at an all time high.
More about the author: https://www.hafsahfaizal.com/
10. Straw & Gold by Chelsey Ann Tompkins
Let me have the absolute pleasure of turning you on to author Chelsey Ann Tompkins and her absolute art of fairytale retellings inside less than 200 pages. I swear it’s witchcraft because I was just as invested in the characters and world as I am with full length novels.
Straw & Gold takes on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin through a whole new Romantasy lens, where a woman marries a King through familial obligation, only to learn he is cursed for no one to know his true name. Our FMC must unravel his curse in a specific window of time, or risk total disaster for them all.
The marriage of convenience trope as its finest, with all the twists of a high fantasy and a romantic entanglement that will tease you to the fullest, while carrying some incredible, spicy pay off. The best part? There’s two other retellings in the same style from the same author, so even if you devour Straw & Gold as quickly as I did, there’s plenty more to explore!
More about the author: https://chelseyanntompkins.com/
And there you have it - ten Fantasy reads that I have thoroughly enjoyed and think would be worthy of adding to any avid readers TBR!
Happy reading!
Xoxo
Jenna
