Fellow bookworms, booktok girlies and fantasy lovers assemble! We have been on the hunt for the most popular and loved fantasy book series in the world of modern literature. After a lot of research, here is our top list of the most enjoyed and recommended fantasy books and series of the year.
The Empyrean series – Rebecca Yarros
The Empyrean series surrounds twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail who was ordered to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter– Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. This series, being a fantasy romance, can easily be enjoyed by young adults who predominantly enjoy dystopian fiction, action, and romance. There are two books in the series so far, “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame,” with the release date for the third of the series “Onyx Storm,” being January 2025. So if you want to start reading the series and get the third book just in time, you might have to start: 2025 is less than two months away!
A Court of Thorns and Roses series – Sarah J. Maas
This series follows Feyre Archeron, a nineteen-year-old huntress, who is kidnapped and brought to the faerie lands of Prythian after she kills a faerie wolf. Her kidnapper is Tamlin, a High Fae and one of the seven High Lords of Prythian. As Feyre spends time in the world of the fae and discovers that everything she thought she knew about faeries is absolutely wrong. A court of thorns and roses is a fantasy romance series with five books. This series is targeted at those who love fantasy, romance, and gore. It is recommended for those who are sixteen-years-old or older because of the mature themes.
Caraval series – Stephanie Garber
The Caraval series follows two sisters, Scarlett and Tella Dragna, who have never left their tiny home island where their father not only governs the people, but his two daughters with a heavy hand. Faced with an upcoming arranged marriage, the eldest, Scarlett attempts to write to a traveling show. On the show, if one solves all the clues they are granted one wish by the show’s organizer, Legend. Unlike all their other attempts, this time Legend writes back and sends three tickets for them to join. This sets the two sisters forth on an exciting and dangerous adventure. This series is mainly for young adults that enjoy fantasy, romance, gore with a sprinkle of mystery.
Once Upon a Broken Heart series – Stephanie Garber
This series mainly surrounds Evangeline Fox who believes in true love and happy endings, until she learns that the love of her life will marry another. Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. Fans claim this series is “an excellent mix of fantasy and romance.” This series is perfect for young adults who adore a good fantasy romance. Interestingly enough, this series takes place right after Caraval ends. It may not affect your experience if you read it out of order but if you want to read it in the exact order, read the Caraval series first, and then Once Upon A Broken Heart; you’ll see that it finally makes sense!
The Red Queen series- Victoria Aveyard
This book series is about the different types of blood, and how the world is separated into two, one being red and the other silver. The red blooded are dominated by the silver blooded, powerful individuals possessing magical abilities. This book is about the life of Mare, who was born as a red blooded girl but ends up finding a power of her own and taking on a dangerous mission. This series, consisting of six books, is a beautiful mixture of dystopian fiction, fantasy and romance, making this series one that is highly enjoyed by young adult readers.
The Grisha series – Leigh Bardugo
This series tells the story of Alina Starkov, a soldier in the kingdom of Ravka who discovers she possesses magical abilities. Training with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite, Alina falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes she is the only one with the power to defeat the forces threatening the kingdom- forces that will test old alliances and challenge the very limits of magic, one that will forge a leader from a frightened girl. This series consists of three books; “Shadow and Bone,” “Siege and Storm,” and “Run and Rising.” This is a fantasy young adult novel with a hint of romance that balances the serious issues present in the plot.
Six of Crows series – Leigh Bardugo
This book series is about teenage criminals who were hired to undertake a dangerous heist while searching for love and redemption. In a group of six; Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper and Wylan Van Eck, pull off an impossible heist, face the ghosts of their dark pasts, and find unlikely love and connections with each other. This series is a fantasy with a hint of romance here and there. This series would give most young adult readers a break from romance as it is mostly fantasy and dystopian fiction. This is also a complete series which may appeal to some readers as they might prefer a completed narrative. It is recommended to read the Grisha series before this as it’s written by the same author and can provide additional insight into the world.
The Folk of the Air series – Holly Black
This series is in the point of view of Jude Duarte, a mortal girl who gets tangled in palace intrigues while trying to win a place in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. The series follows the journey of Jude Duarte, and the faerie prince, Cardan Greenbriar, as they navigate the world of hate, betrayal, and contempt along with feelings for each other. This series would definitely satisfy young adult readers who love political fantasies with a romantic subplot. And if you love a good enemies-to-lovers plot, you might want to try this series…
Shatter Me Series – Taherah Mafi
This series introduces us to Juliette, a teenage girl with a deadly touch. It’s this lethal ability that has her locked away by The Reestablishment, a harsh dictatorship ruling over a dystopian world. The Reestablishment wants to use her as a weapon but Juliette has other plans. After a lifetime without freedom, she’s finally discovered the strength to fight back – and to find a future with the one person she thought she’d lost forever. This is a young adult dystopian romantic series, highly enjoyed by many readers around the world. If you are a person who loves books that keep you at the edge of your seat with insane plot twists and cliffhangers, this series is just for you! If you’re a fast reader and also want to read the spin off series coming out in April 2025, start reading!
Powerless series – Lauren Roberts
A lethal plague swept through the Kingdom of Ilya, leaving behind those with powers and some without. They are known as the Elite and the Ordinaries. After the danger of the Plague, the king of Ilya ordered the Ordinaries to be banished or killed in order to preserve his elite Society. This series follows Paedyn, an Ordinary who pretends to be an Elite, posing as a psychic so that her true identity is not exposed. But when Paedyn saves Prince Kai she finds herself thrown into the purging trials, a deadly competition held to showcase the elites’ powers – the one thing Paedyn lacks. This series is a young adult fantasy romance that follows the forbidden love between an ordinary girl and an elite prince. Moreover, there will soon be a new addition to the series. Who doesn’t love forbidden love, right?
Throne of Glass series – Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass follows Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin attempting to free herself from the shackles of slavery. Following her imprisonment in the Salt Mines of Endovier, she is offered the chance of freedom by Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard. The only catch being that she must compete in a dangerous competition to become the King’s personal assassin. Her stay at the glass castle in Rifthold leads her to develop unexpected friendships and draws her into a dark and menacing power struggle within the castle’s walls. This series is a high fantasy young adult with a romantic subplot. The first few books might seem tame enough, but there are mature themes later on in the series.
Letters of Enchantment series – Rebecca Ross
This duology is about eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow who just wants to hold her family together. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish – into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love. This series consists of “Divine Rivals” and “Ruthless Vows” and is a young adult fantasy with a romantic subplot. Who doesn’t like good-old enemies-to lovers?
Get ready to get lost in the magic of new worlds. Enjoy the adventure – happy reading everyone!
