As a YA writer, I am also a huge YA reader. So the following is a list of my favorite fantasy series, three of them technically are not in the YA genre but are awesome books and totally worth the mention in my humble opinion. (Side note: Yes, I loved LOTR & HP too, but they get enough love as it is!)
1. Graceling Series by Kristin Cashore – The first book I read was Graceling and Katsa is everything one could want in a kick-butt female heroine. In Bitterblue, the heroine is strong and interesting in a more cerebral way. The books Fire & Winterkeep round out the series. Each is a standalone book with a different principal character but all the stories overlap with favorites making appearances in other stories.
2. The Remnant Chronicles Series by Mary E Pearson – The first book, The Kiss of Deception, has a jilted prince and an assassin both after the heroine, Lia. But which one is which? Pearson keeps you guessing with that one for a good while. After that, you have romance, betrayal, an evil kingdom, gift of sight and a lot more guessing until the very end.
3. And I Darken Series by Kiersten White – Lada, a female version of Vlad Dracul, is the ambiguous and aggressive heroine of this series. A sweeping story it follows her and her brother, Radu sent from their homeland Wallachia to the Ottoman Empire where they befriend the Sultan’s son, Mehmed. A love triangle, betrayals and countless battles test the loyalty of the three. I defy anyone to read this series and not adore Radu by the end.
4. The Riyria Revelations Series by Michael J Sullivan – the first of my technically not YA series, but definitely readable for older readers in the genre – this trilogy features not one but two swoon-worthy “heroes” who are actually skilled thieves and mercenaries (hard to pick one as a favorite but Hadrian has such a LOTR Strider vibe). In the first book, they are framed for murder and sentenced to death and adventure ensues. Outstanding characters, unexpected twist, magical creatures and a surprise ending make this one of my all-time favorite series.
5. Blood of Gods and Monsters Series by Eleanor Herman – This four book series begins with Kat and Jacob, friends on the cusp of becoming lovers, leave their small village and become squarely involved in the kingdom of Prince Alexander- destined to be Alexander the Great. The series combines mythology and blood magic seamlessly with the internal struggles and choices of the characters, whose fates do not turn out as expected.
6. Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes – A six-book series with a host of interesting characters where who is good and who is evil depends largely on how you look at things. My favorite character is Magnus (who I pictured as Kylo Ren-like) and his story arc. Dark magic, treachery, romance and sacrifice fill this gripping saga.
7. The Daevabad Trilogy by SA Chakraborty – Magic cities, forgotten legends, summoned banished warriors and power struggles – yes, please! A breathtaking trilogy provides a strong heroine, Nahri, a mysterious dinjinn, Dara, and a conflicted prince, Alizayd. Their journeys take them on far different paths than they ever imagined. Technically not YA, but again, I feel YA Fantasy lovers would fully appreciate it.
8. Snow Like Ashes Series by Sara Raasch – This series is great to introduce YA Fantasy to younger YA readers. Meira, the feisty heroine, is a refuge from the overthrown Kingdom of Winter. Overlooked by the leaders of her group she is eager to prove herself. Her adventures take her on a roller coaster of adventures through Kingdoms of Primoria. With an evil antagonist bent on covering the world with darkness, a lost heir and a hidden magical chasm, this series hits all the marks of great YA Fantasay.
9. A Clash of Kingdoms Series by Erin Summerill – The first two books of the series center on Britta, a very Katniss Everdeen-like heroine. When her father is murdered, his former apprentice and Britta’s lost love, Cohen, is accused. Sure of his innocence, she sets out to find the truth. Along the way, her path becomes entwined with the young King Aodren, who seems mad. Discovering her magical abilities puts her in great danger as she tries to find the true killer. Action packed, this series does not disappoint.
10. The Faithful and The Fallen Series by John Gwynne – My last pick is technically not YA but will appeal to older readers in the genre. A Game of Thrones like epic, I absolutely devoured this four book series. Surprises abound in this riveting story where a leader of light and a leader of darkness will emerge and fight for the fate of the world. There are a lot of gory battle scenes so if that is not your thing, be forewarned. But overall, a captivating series of complex characters (Veradis is my favorite) in a well-built world of with mythical creatures, magical treasures and demons waiting to be unleashed.
So there you have my Top Ten Favorite YA Fantasy(ish) Series. I would love to connect with you and hear your thoughts on these and on your favorite series I may have missed.
Excerpt - Prologue:
The pains came more frequently now. Even with the help of Edwina, it was a struggle to run. In the cramped darkness of the tunnel, she tried to maintain her footing, an impossible task with the burgeoning weight of her belly. Time was of the essence. They must not be caught, but the spasms were nearly unbearable.
“I can't go on,” she gasped, a sharp pang taking her breath away.
“Just a little bit further, Your Highness,” the enchantress coaxed.
Every step down the seemingly endless passageway was sheer torment. Queen Ivy willed herself to continue. She was the last hope for her people, and she must not fail.
Edwina stopped so abruptly; the queen stumbled into her back. The enchantress pulled the weakened monarch through a narrow gap in the wall. They crossed the threshold of a doorway into the depths underneath the forest. A tangle of tree roots filled the cavern, their sinuous forms dwarfing the fairies. A robust scent infused the air with bark, stone, and earth.
Queen Ivy, a Volant used to the skies, reeled at the unfamiliar smells and fell to her knees.
The enchantress, more experienced with Groundling habitats, remained unaffected and surveyed the area. She assisted the queen in a nook hidden between the sides of two large tree roots, which soared overhead out of sight to meet the tree's trunk somewhere way above.
“Wait here,” she instructed, a moot directive to her incapacitated companion.
While Edwina disappeared the way they came, Ivy settled down her awkward frame. How had it come to this? The past few months had turned her world upside down. Having one's sister hunt you like prey was horrifying enough, but targeting her baby for death rocked her to her very core. Instinctively, her hand flew to her stomach, the muscles again tightening with the tremors of labor.
Her friend returned, hair disheveled, wings drooping, and announced, “As far as I can tell, we may have lost them in the maze of tunnels. I have used cloaking measures along the way and put a spell on the door to keep others out. But your sister's powers are strong. If she were to find us…”
“She will find us. It is only a matter of time,” the queen declared. Dahlia learned enough in dark magic to track even a covered trail.
“Well, it is time for this baby, so here must do.”
Queen Ivy sighed, resigned to the situation. When she discovered she was with child all those months ago, she had not envisioned giving birth in a dark hole underground. The enchantress spread a blanket on the earth for the queen to lie down. She checked the progress of the baby and nodded.“It is time. You need to push.”
Above all, the baby must survive. Otherwise, the prophecy would remain unfulfilled, and the kingdom would never be restored. The monarch braced herself against one sturdy root; the surface felt surprisingly warm and smooth. Under the calm direction of her lifelong friend, she delivered the child.
Edwina laid the baby girl into her arms. Ivy admired the feathery blond hair and the round little nose. Tears welled in her eyes at the sheer perfection of the infant. The enchantress finished tending to the mother and turned her attention to the newborn. After a quick examination, she ripped a length of fabric off Ivy's skirt to wrap her. “You could not have asked for a healthier daughter. Now, what shall her name be?”
“Her name?” the queen pondered. "I’ve not thought of one. All I have thought of is her safety.”
Before Edwina responded, they heard it—the rattle of armor. Soldier’s footsteps approached, their faint clinking unmistakable. Both women froze in terror.
“She has found us,” Ivy whispered in dread, her arms tightening around the baby.
“Perhaps not. Perhaps it is King Theros on his way to tell us he defeated Dahlia.”
The footsteps grew louder.
“No,” the queen affirmed. “It is my sister. I feel her presence. You must take the baby to the other world and keep her safe until the time is right. Dahlia cannot follow you there.”
The soldier’s armor rang loudly in their ears. They came to a halt right outside the doorway.
“Come then,” the enchantress conceded, holding out a hand to help her friend rise.
“No. I must stay and try to defeat Dahlia. Take her.” She thrust the infant into Edwina’s arms. “Go now.”
Loud hammering filled the air with the enemy’s attempt to break the door down.
“But My Queen, she will show you no mercy. I will not leave you here to die.”
Queen Ivy leaned forward and placed her hands on her friend’s, which cradled the child. She slipped the crystal-bound amulet inside the swaddling. “Yes, Edwina, you must. I command it. Take her now and keep her safe.”
The enchantress desperately tried to think of another way. Axes and spears crashed upon the door, weakening her spell with every stroke. Sadly, she stepped back and conjured the words to transport her between the worlds, a power only she possessed in the entire kingdom.
The new mother watched the toss of the seeds, and Edwina’s frantically whispered spell. A cloud of dust encircled her friend and her baby. Too weak to even stand, she blinked through her tears. Just before the two vanished, she said, “Lina. I want her to be named Lina.”
Edwina nodded, the final wish heard, and with a poof, they were gone.
The door finally gave way, a multitude of soldiers pouring in, their armor dark as night. Queen Ivy turned to see her sister step through the broken threshold. Dahlia scrutinized the scene, the queen’s deflated belly and the cloud of dust on the ground. Her eyes narrowed in malice. The baby was beyond her reach—for now. She met Queen Ivy’s eyes and despised the look of triumph in them.
“Kill her,” Dahlia ordered.
The queen whispered one last anguished prayer for her daughter before an arrow pierced her heart.
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