A Beginner's Guide to YA Fantasy

A Beginner's Guide to YA Fantasy

At Hodderscape, we love young adult fiction, a genre that allows you to travel to magical realms, explore difficult themes as well as share in unforgettable friendships. But we know that it can feel like too large of a genre to even know where to start, so we’ve compiled some of the best YA Fantasy around for you to dive into, and don't miss our separate YA Fantasy Romance list as well!

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

The Scarlet Alchemist is a dark fantasy duology set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

Alchemy is rife: the rich and royal rely on eating alchemical gold to stay young and healthy, but another, illegal kind of alchemy is resurrecting the dead. Zilan can do the second for a price that she uses to support her family, but she dreams of becoming a royal alchemist. She travels to the capital to compete with other alchemists for that spot, but the tasks are difficult and deadly. The Prince hears of her skills in raising the dead and enlists her help. As Zilan attempts to keep the secrets of her past hidden, she becomes entangled in dangerous games of politics and royalty.

Tackling issues of privilege and wealth as it enthralls us into the world of Zilan and the Prince, The Scarlet Alchemist will sweep you away.

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Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Only a Monster’s Joan experiences everything a normal sixteen-year-old does: weird family, cute crush ... family actually secretly being monsters?

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Sixteen-year-old Joan is staying with her eccentric family in England and is enjoying getting to know her charming co-worker Nick. She’s happy. Until she learns the truth: her family aren’t just strange, they’re actually powerful monsters. Nick isn’t just her almost-boyfriend, he’s a monster slayer on a mission to destroy her family. Joan must save her family and embrace her truth: maybe, just maybe, she’s not the hero in this tale.

Blurring the lines between heroes and monsters, Only a Monster is sure to entertain.

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The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

First in The Queen’s Thief series and well-loved since the nineties, The Thief is beautiful and immersive.  

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

There is an ancient treasure that a magus wants to find for his King. He can’t get it alone, however, so enlists the help of a skilled thief named Gen, who is currently in the King’s prison. They embark on a dangerous journey to find the treasure and uncover secrets about themselves and their world along the way.

A quest fantasy for readers young and old, The Thief is a masterclass in the genre.

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The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

The Gilded Wolves is a political fantasy with a bit of The Da Vinci Code peppered in.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Set in 1889 Paris, this book doesn’t shy away from that time’s culture: the book features a real-life world fair that had a ‘human zoo’ as one of its attractions – a place where white attendees could come and observe Black and Brown people in enclosures or performances. Paired with critique of colonial history, The Gilded Wolves also challenges the reader with puzzles and mysteries that the main character, a thief named Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, must solve to find the Horus Eye in order join the Order of Babel.

This is a sharply clever YA fantasy brimming with diverse and lovable characters, that – despite its serious undertones – will delight and charm the socks off you.

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The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Meet wily, brave and talentted Kiva Meridan in The Prison Healer.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Kiva Meridan is a healer in the deadly prison of Zalindov. When the infamous Rebel Queen is imprisoned, despite being on death’s door, and Kiva receives a mysterious message telling her she must keep the Rebel Queen alive and that they both will be rescued, Kiva’s world is upturned. The queen has been sentenced to the most ardous punishment: Trial by Ordeal, challenges involving air, fire, water and earth. Kiva knows the queen will not surive these challenges – in fact, no one has – but she knows she must rely on the queen surviving if Kiva will have the chance to be free. So Kiva does the only thing she can think of: she volunteers to face the challenges in the queen’s place.

Slow-burn and twisty, The Prison Healer will have you on the edge of your seat.

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Caraval by Stephanie Garber

If you haven’t read any Garber yet, we’re sure Caraval will become your next obsession.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Sisters Scarlett and Tella long for freedom from the isle of Trisda, and from their abusive father. They yearn to visit Caraval, a week-long magical performance that involves the audience. When they finally get the chance to attend Caraval, they are overjoyed. That is until Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mysterious showrunner Legend – either as part of the Caraval theatrics, or for nefarious purposes. In a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak, Scarlett has a week to find and save her sister.

Darkly magical and utterly enchanting, Caraval is unmissable.

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City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer

Our most horror-filled YA is City of Nightmares.

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer

Nineteen-year-old Ness lives in Newham, a city that is crawling with corruption and fear. Newham citizens take drugs to keep them perpetually awake because if they fall asleep, they will become living Nightmares. When her sister becomes a giant murderous spider, Ness knows she must find a way to escape the perils of Newham. The Friends of the Restful Soul – which may or may not be a cult – offer her safety… if she does one simple task for them. After an explosive mishap, Ness meets a Nightmare boy named Cy, who might just work with her to uncover the horrifying truths of Newham.

Chaotic and darkly comic, City of Nightmares will take you on a wild journey through nightmares and plots.

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Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Fancy espionage and assassins? Foul Lady Fortune will delight you.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Shanghai, 1931. Spy Rosalind Lang survives an experiment that gives her new abilities and strengths. A string of murders leaves members of the advancing Japanese Imperial Army under suspicion. Rosalind’s cover story to infiltrate and uncover the culprits is a fake marriage to another spy, Orion Hong. Rosalind finds Orion aggravating but knows they must work together to stop the terror plot – even if they’re both keeping secrets.

Blending a fake-marriage plot with a political thriller, this first in a YA duology will keep you guessing.

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The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

A beautifully captivating story of love and family, and how much we are willing to sacrifice. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a gorgeous feminist retelling of an ancient Korean legend.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Mina’s homeland is cursed by a Sea God who was once their protector. To appease him, someone is thrown in the ocean each year hoping that the Sea God will choose a bride and cease his violence. When Mina’s brother’s beloved is chosen, Mina goes in her place. Instead of certain death she finds the Spirit Realm where the Sea God is in an enchanted sleep. Working with a group of demons, gods, and spirits – and the mysterious and charming Shin – Mina attempts to free the Sea God from his slumber before it is too late, before those who are keeping the Sea God in his sleep find her.

Twisty and charming, and with a quirky cast of characters The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a must-read.

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