Teen Fantasy Worth Reading (Part One)

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If there's anything that the publishing market is saturated with, it's fantasy. With so many stories available, how do you sort out the mediocre from the truly great? With patience.

As a fantasy bookworm, I've had my share of badly written fantasies. But fortunately, there's always gems, and I've been lucky to find several excellent fantasy books (and series!) that I'm sure you all will appreciate.

Photo by Ricardo Cruz on Unsplash


1. Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

A historical speculative fiction set during the reign of King James the First of England, Fawkes explores family, faith, and race in a thought provoking, honest, and sometimes emotional look at the Gunpowder Plot and those who took part in it. 

Thomas Fawkes is dying. Soon, the Stone Plague in his eye will spread, and he will be nothing but a statue. Without his Color Mask, he's helpless, and so he travels to London to find his father, Guy Fawkes. Through him, Thomas is soon tangled in a plot to blow up Parliament - and the king with it.

2. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

In an alternate history world in which the United States is an archipelago and chalk drawings hold special powers, Joel is more than ordinary. Though he has studied the ancient art of Rithmatics for years, he himself is not gifted with the ability to bring chalk drawings to life. But when a series of disappearances forces Joel into the service of the eccentric Professor Fitch, Rithmatics has just become a lot more dangerous -- and much more mysterious than anyone realizes. 

This novel is slow to start, but has a deep and complex storyworld and interesting characters. The action picks up later, and by the last third, becomes an unputdownable page turner. The mystery will leave you guessing right up to the reveal. However, prepare for an unresolved cliffhanger. 

3. Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Johnathan Auxier

This is technically a middle grade novel, but it was such a well-written story I feel the need to mention it. It is a sequel to Auxier's Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, but reading it is not necessary to understanding the story in Sophie Quire. 
Sophie is the daughter of a book shop owner, and she's always had a love of stories. But one book she discovers might contain more than she bargained for... 
The plot and characterization were excellent, and the whimsical storyworld helped bind the tale together in a fun and unique way. The prose is smooth and excellent for reading aloud. 

4. The Books of the Infinite Series by R.J. Larson

Biblical fantasy in a compelling storyworld. When Ela Roe of Parne is called to be the Infinite's prophet, she must face the fact that she will die young. Her acceptance of the role forces her into new and strange territory, makes her a number of powerful enemies, and sets her course on a harrowing adventure.  

With loveable characters, interesting themes, and an honest look at Biblical times through a fantasy lens, Books of the Infinite is a series about faith, trust, family and friendship not to be missed. 

5. By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson's debut epic fantasy novel absolutely blew me away. With mystery, telepathic magic known as "blood-voicing", and strong POV characters, this is not a book to be missed. 

Achan Cham is a stray -- a slave, lowest of low, forced to drink a foul potion every morning by his master. But when Achan becomes a squire to a retired knight known as the Whitewolf, he discovers that he has powers many have only dreamed of -- that he is a blood-voicer. 

The series continues in To Darkness Fled and From Darkness Won, but neither of these books compare to the first. 


That's all for now! I intend to create more lists as I discover more fantasy books worth reading. 

What about you? Have you read any of the books on this list? Are there any teen fantasy novels you would recommend? 



  

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