I absolutely love reading at any time of year, but there’s something special about reading in the fall. Maybe it’s the cozy blankets or the darker evenings, but whatever it is, I love it! Looking for some good YA fantasy books to read? Lucky for you, I’ve done the homework and compiled a list of 12 books for you to get lost in! Check out my list for some great ideas and let me know in the comments what you’ll be reading!
1. The Elements of the Crown by Kay L. Moody
“You’ll change Kamdaria for the better, my dear. I’m sure of it.”
Kay L Moody, The Elements of the Crown
To start off this list of good YA fantasy books, I recommend my book, The Elements of the Crown!
The competition could save her, but she has to win.
After ten years of training at an elite academy, Talise clearly has a gift for manipulating the elements of water, air, earth, and fire. But only one student from her class can ascend to become the Master Shaper—an honored position in the palace court and military and Talise’s ticket to a better future.
If she fails, Talise will return to her dog-eat-dog existence in the outer ring.
But she has competition. Aaden, a handsome student from the privileged inner ring might steal the chance away from her.
The emperor is impressed by the great skill Talise and Aaden possess. He offers them a chance to prove their skill in a set of trials.
But the palace holds dangers that make Talise’s rough upbringing in the outer ring seem like child’s play.
In this unfamiliar world of intrigue and lies, Talise must decide who to trust. Will her gift save her or betray her?
Get The Elements of the Crown here
2. A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”
Brigid Kemmerer, A Curse So Dark And Lonely
Next, I recommend A Curse So Dark and Lonely! It has amazing reviews on goodreads.
In this gorgeous fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Prince Rhen of the kingdom of Emberfall has been cursed by a powerful enchantress. He is cursed to repeat the autumn of the year he turns eighteen over and over, and can only be saved if a girl falls for him. Initially it seems easy, but he comes to find out that at the end of each autumn, he will turn into a vicious beast. The destruction caused by the beast banishes every last shred of his hope.
In Washington, DC., Harper lives a difficult life. Her mother is dying, her father is gone, and she is struggling with cerebral palsy. She has learned to be tough. However, when she tries to save someone on the streets of her city, she is sucked into Rhen’s world.
Harper doesn’t know where she is or who to believe, but as she begins to spend time with Rhen she comes to understand the severity of what is at stake. As he gets to know Harper, Rhen’s hope begins to come back. However, powerful forces are combined against Emberfall. Can Harper and Rhen save the people from ruin?
Can’t get enough of good YA fantasy books? Find A Curse So Dark And Lonely here
3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
“I would have come for you. And if I couldn’t walk, I’d crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we’d fight our way out together – knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that’s what we do. We never stop fighting.”
Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
A convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a Heartrender, a thief. These dangerous outcasts make up Kaz Brekker’s crew, there to help him on a dangerous heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams and possibly make a stand between the world and destruction.
From bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo, comes a beautiful addition to the Grishaverse that you won’t be able to put down!
Find Six Of Crows here
4. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
“‘You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable,’ she pleaded, ‘Something beautiful and full of monsters.’
‘Beautiful and full of monsters?’
‘All the best stories are.'”
Laini Taylor, Strange the Dreamer
Since the age of five, Lazlo Strange has been obsessed with the lost city of Weep. When the opportunity comes to cross half the world in search for it, he jumps at the chance to follow his dream and discover what happened to the mythical lost city. In this beautiful novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, the past and present come together to create a mythical world of love and war, beautiful dreams and terrifying nightmares, and wonder beyond your wildest dreams.
This book is full of beautiful writing that will sweep your imagination away to places it has never been! I honestly can’t recommend it enough. It’s a good YA fantasy book almost anyone can enjoy!
Find Strange The Dreamer here
5. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
“She wasn’t a wielder of chains, but a breaker of them. The library’s will made flesh.”
Margaret Rogerson, Sorcery of Thorns
As long as she has known anything, Elisabeth has known that all sorcerers are evil. She has lived her whole life around the very tools of sorcery – grimoires that are chained with iron and whisper on the shelves of the library. Grimoires transform into grotesque monsters if provoked, and Elisabeth hopes to protect the kingdom from them and their power.
When an act of sabotage releases the most dangerous grimoire, Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. The only one she can turn to is her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Elisabeth soon finds herself swept up in a deep conspiracy, set to send the Libraries up in flames and the world along with them.
As Elisabeth is forced to question everything she has been taught, she soon comes to find that she has both power and a future she never could have imagined.
Known for its dark and luscious storytelling, you won’t be able to put this book down!
Find Sorcery of Thorns here
6. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength.”
Sabaa Tahir, An Ember In the Ashes
One of the best fantasy books I can recommend is An Ember in the Ashes. It’s not just a good YA fantasy book, it’s great!
In the backstreets of the brutal Marshal Empire, Laia lives with her older brother and grandparents. They’ve seen what happens to those who challenge the Empire, so they are content to live a quiet existence in poverty. But Laia is forced to make a decision when her brother is arrested for treason and her grandparents are killed.
In exchange for promised help from rebels, she agrees to spy for them in the Empire’s military academy, Blackcliff. While there, she meets Elias, a top student at the academy whose deepest desire is to be free of the tyranny of the Empire. As Laia and Elias grow closer, they soon come to realize that their desires and choices have the potential to change even the Empire itself.
Find An Ember In The Ashes here
7. We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
“We hunt the flame, the light in the darkness, the good this world deserves.”
Hafsah Faizal, We Hunt the Flame
People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.
In the kingdom of Arawiya, Zafira and Nasir are legends. Disguising herself as a man, Zafira is the Hunter. In order to feed her people, she travels through the cursed forest of the Arz to find food. If she is exposed as a girl, she will be rejected. Assassinating anyone stupid enough to defy the sultan, Nasir is the Prince of Death. Showing his compassion would earn him a brutal punishment. Neither Zafira or Nasir want to be legends.
But the Arz is coming closer each day, throwing the land into shadow. War is on the horizon. While Zafira embarks on a quest to retrieve a lost artifact that would bring magic and healing to her world, Nasir is sent to kill the Hunter and find the same artifact. What both of them do not know is that the prize they so desperately seek could bring a threat more serious than either of them can imagine.
This incredible fantasy debut is a YA book you won’t want to miss!
Find We Hunt The Flame here
8. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
“You crushed us to build your monarchy on the backs of our blood and bone. Your mistake wasn’t keeping us alive. It was thinking we’d never fight back.”
Tomi Adeyemi, Children Of Blood And Bone
They killed my mother.
Took our magic.
Tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zelie Adebola vividly remembers the night magic disappeared. Her mother and all the other maji were killed under the orders of a ruthless and bloodthirsty king.
Given a rare opportunity, Zelie has the chance to strike back against the monarchy and restore magic. She is in danger however, for she must run from the crown prince who is determined to destroy magic for good. With the help of her brother and unexpected assistance from a princess, Zelie sets out to bring back magic and help her people rise once again.
Out of all of the YA books I have read over the last year, this is one of my favorites! If you haven’t picked it up yet, you’re missing out on a real treat. Definitely add it to your list of good YA fantasy books!
Find Children of Blood and Bone here
9. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
“Nice things don’t happen in storybooks. Or when they do happen, something bad happens next. Because otherwise the story would be boring, and no one would read it.”
Holly Black, The Cruel Prince
From bestselling author Holly Black comes the story of Jude, a mortal girl who has been stolen away to the High Court of Faerie. Despite the fact that many of the fey despise mortals, Jude wants so badly to belong. The one who despises her the most however, is Prince Cardan, the most wicked son of the High King.
In order for her to win a place at court, she must defy Prince Cardan. However, civil war threatens and Jude will have to risk her life to save not only her sisters, but Faerie itself.
For those of you interested in a gorgeous and gritty read, this YA fantasy book is for you!
Find The Cruel Prince here
10. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
“Whatever you’ve heard about Caraval, it doesn’t compare to the reality. It’s more than just a game or performance. It’s the closest you’ll ever find yourself magic in this world.”
Stephanie Garber, Caraval
Welcome, welcome to Caraval.
Scarlett and her sister, Tella, live on a tiny island with their cruel father. Scarlett dreams of seeing Caraval, a once-a-year performance where audience members participate in the show. Her dreams are dashed when her father arranges a marriage for her.
However, Scarlett is surprised to find that her long-awaited invitation to Caraval has arrived! She and Tella escape their father and travel to the show, with the help of a mysterious sailor. But upon arrival, Tella is kidnapped. As Scarlet searches for her sister, she is informed that this particular Caraval revolves around Tella. Whoever finds her first wins the game.
Become enthralled in a game of magic, love, and heartbreak as Scarlett plays to find her sister and win. Scarlett must be careful though, careful of being swept too far away…
Another one of my favorites, Caraval is sure to sweep you off your feet and keep you reading late into the night!
Find Caraval here
11. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
“Tell me that and we’ll go. Right now. Save ourselves and leave this place to burn. Tell me that’s how you want your story to go and we’ll write it straight across the sand.”
Alwyn Hamilton, Rebel of the Sands
Amani would give anything to get her way out of Dustwalk, the town where she is destined to be married. Not even her skills with a gun can earn her passage to freedom. But when she meets a foreigner named Jin, everything changes and the perfect escape is made clear. What she doesn’t know is that she will soon become swept up in a deadly battle that will bring everything she thought she knew into question. Can she survive and save those she loves?
Creative, spunky, and innovative, this is one of the good YA fantasy books you don’t want to miss!
Find Rebel of the Sands here
12. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
“The truth is what I make it. I could set this world on fire and call it rain.”
Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard comes a story about a world divided by blood.
Red blood serves the elite: Silver-blooded individuals who have superhuman abilities.
Mare Barrow is a Red, barely making it by in a poor village as a thief. A twist of fate brings her in front of the Silver court, where she discovers the impossible: she has a special ability of her own. In order to cover this up, the King forces her to pretend that she is a lost Silver princess. As she is drawn into the world of the Silver, Mare makes the choice to risk everything and use her position to help a Red rebellion.
In this dangerous game, one wrong move can cause her death.
I saved one of the best YA fantasy books for last on our list! Complex, interesting, and beautifully written, Red Queen is well worth your time to read!
Find Red Queen here
That concludes my list of good YA fantasy books for you to read this fall! Let me know which ones are your favorites. Happy reading!
Thanks for this complications. I m new to this genre. Picking up six of crows for a start. What do you suggest?
Six of Crows is a great one! I also suggest The Lunar Chronicles and the Graceling series.