Fantasy (YA)

The books in this list are primarily about worlds that are imagined (or a slightly wonky reality) -- think magic, elves, faeries, and quests in a universe that's not quite our own!

If you're also interested in fantasy creatures inhabiting a real work, be sure to check out our Supernatural and Urban Fantasy list!

Updated June 19, 2024
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Wellington City Libraries Youth team at Wellington City Libraries
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Fantasy (YA)

The books in this list are primarily about worlds that are imagined (or a slightly wonky reality) -- think magic, elves, faeries, and quests in a universe that's not quite our own!

If you're also interested in fantasy creatures inhabiting a real work, be sure to check out our Supernatural and Urban Fantasy list!

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Half a king
Abercrombie, Joe
Paper Book
A classic coming-of-age tale set in a vivid and richly-imagined world from Sunday Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie. 'A fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page one and refused to let go' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN Prince Yarvi has vowed to...
Children of blood and bone
Adeyemi, Tomi
Paper Book
Soon to be a major movie starring Wicked's Cynthia Erivo, Amandla Stenberg, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Enter Tomi Adeyemi's stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy...
Shadow and bone
Bardugo, Leigh
Paper Book
See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone - Season 2 streaming now! Enter the Grishaverse with book one of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by number one New York Times-bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo. Perfect for...
The cruel prince
Black, Holly
Paper Book
By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue. Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will...
The gilded wolves
Chokshi, Roshani
Paper Book
*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* First in a "wildly inventive and wildly representative" (The New York Times Book Review) historical fantasy series, Roshani Chokshi's The Gilded Wolves follows the exploits of a found family--six societal outcasts...
The Scapegracers
Clarke, Hannah Abigail
Paper Book
An Indie Bestseller! 2021 Locus Award Finalist for Best Young Adult Novel 2021 Dragon Award Finalist for Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel "As tender and intimate as it is ferocious and volatile, Scapegracers deserves to be this generation's go-to grimoire...
A wizard of Earthsea
Le Guin, Ursula K.
Paper Book
The first book of Earthsea is a tale of wizards, dragons and terrifying shadows. The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. Of these, some say the greatest - and surely the greatest voyager - is the man called Sparrowhawk. As a reckless, awkward boy, he discovered the great power...
Assassin's apprentice
Hobb, Robin.
Paper Book
Fitz starts life as a royal bastard on the streets, but soon he will hold the power over life and death in his hands as the Assassin's apprentice.
The fifth season
Jemisin, N. K
Paper Book
At the end of the world, a woman must hide her secret power and find her kidnapped daughter in this "intricate and extraordinary" Hugo Award winning novel of power, oppression, and revolution. (The New York Times) This is the way the world ends. . .for the last time. ...
The eye of the world
Jordan, Robert
Paper Book
Soon to be an original series starring Rosamund Pike as Moiraine! The first novel in Robert Jordan's #1New York Times bestselling epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time®. The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become...
Serpent & dove
Mahurin, Shelby
Paper Book
An Amazon Best Book of 2019 * New York Times Bestseller * B&N's YA Book Club Pick * Indiebound Bestseller * #6 on the 2019 Kids' Indie Next List "A brilliant debut, full of everything I love: a sparkling and fully realized heroine, an intricate and...
Mask of shadows
Miller, Linsey
Paper Book
"I love every aspect of this amazing book--a genderfluid hero, a deadly contest, and vicious courtly intrigue. Get! Read! Now!" --Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author I needed to win. They needed to die. Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid...
The left-handed booksellers of London
Nix, Garth
Paper Book
This ABIA award-winning fantasy set in 1980s London follows one girl's quest to find her father, leading her to a secret society of magical fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World when it disastrously intrudes into the modern world. For anyone who likes light-hearted adventure and...
Sabriel
Nix, Garth
Paper Book
Game of Thrones fans will love the New York Times bestselling Abhorsen series. Sabriel, the first installment in the trilogy, launched critically acclaimed author Garth Nix onto the fantasy scene as a rising star. Dark Secrets, Deep Love, and Dangerous Magic Sent...
A deadly education : a novel
Novik, Naomi
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * From the author of Uprooted and Spinning Silver comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic. FINALIST FOR THE LODESTAR AWARD * "The dark...
Dorothy must die
Paige, D. M.
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling first book in a dark new series that reimagines the Oz saga, from debut author Danielle Paige. I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado--taking you with it--you have...
Tempests and slaughter : a Tortall legend
Pierce, Tamora
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * This must-read fantasy from an author who is legend herself--TAMORA PIERCE--is one Bustle calls "the perfect book for die-hard Pierce fans and newcomers alike." "Tamora Pierce's books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a...
The colour of magic
Pratchett, Terry
Paper Book
On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There's an avaricious buy inept wizard, a naïve tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist ifyou believe in them, and of course THE...
Carry on
Rowell, Rainbow
Paper Book
Simon Snow just wants to relax and savour his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he'll be safe. Simon can't even enjoy the fact that...
The thief
Turner, Megan Whalen
Paper Book
I can steal anything. ''Vivid, immersive, heartbreaking fantasy that will leave you desperate to return to Attolia again and again' Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Six of Crows
Find this list online: https://librarian.syndetics.com/syndeticsunbound/lp/1918.2384/list/3450

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