That’s strange to think about: the fantasy worlds we’re used to reading about are filled with dangerous enemies, life-or-death risks, and betrayals from people we thought we could trust more. now, in our own world, we are faced with something unlike anything we have ever seen. there is no way to fight this, and social distancing is all we can do to responsibly help the most vulnerable around us. no wonder disappearing into worlds with clear lines drawn between good and evil is an escape we’re taking.
You are reading: Books about fantasy worlds
These fantasy worlds range from inspired by fairy tales to filled with witches, magic and dragons. some are reflections of us and others are entirely new creations. whatever kind of world you’re looking to disappear into for a while, we hope to have one for you.
so you can disappear for a while
1. the war of the town criers by nina varela
It’s rare to see a fantasy world blend itself with advanced technologies, but Crier’s War ups the stakes by questioning what it means to be human in a world in which humans aren’t in charge. 
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will.
Now Ayla, a human servant rising through the ranks in the sovereign’s household, dreams of avenging the death of her family…by killing the sovereign’s daughter, the lady crier.
crier was created to be beautiful, flawless and carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she found out her father was not the benevolent king she once admired, and more importantly, before she met Ayla.
Now, with growing human unrest across the country, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Town Crier and Ayla discover there can be only one path to love: war.
- buy the criers war now!
2. the viewer by anna bright
“Once upon a time began on nights like tonight,” this story begins, set in an alternate historical world with flairs of magical fairy tale embellishments. 
Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match.
but after a terrifying public rebuff, selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: selah must sail across the atlantic to visit a series of potential suitors, and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t be coming home in absolute. .
From the gardens of england to the fjords of norge, the search for selah will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s plans aren’t the only secrets lurking below deck…and the stakes on her journey may be higher than any happy ending.
- buy the viewer now!
3. we hunt the llama by hafsah faizal
The odds of survival are often stacked against our favorite characters in this brutal world, but this story’s heart, humor, and humanity shine above all. 
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.
both are legends in the kingdom of arawiya, but neither wants to be.
The war is coming and the arz is getting closer with each passing day, enveloping the land in shadows. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, the King sends Nasir on a similar quest: retrieve the artifact and kill the hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds, and the prize they seek may pose a greater threat than anyone can imagine.
- buy we hunt the llama now!
4. before it lights up by jodi meadows
For those still mourning the loss of the Mother of Dragons, this tale—starring one of fantasy’s realest depictions of anxiety in a leading lady—is the smoldering new adventure for you. 
Mira has always been a symbol of hope for the Fallen Isles, perfect and beautiful—or at least that’s how she’s forced to appear. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret, Mira is betrayed by those closest to her and sentenced to the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles.
except look he’s not a pawn anymore. Fighting to survive against external threats and the internal demons of mental illness, Mira must find the fire within him and the searing truth about her own endangered magic, before his world comes crashing down. >
and that’s it before it turns on.
- buy before it goes on now!
5. ryan daydream the room
This fantasy tale is unapologetic in its charisma and magical energy, and what more could you want than an evil drag queen sorceress? 
All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different.
As Kane pieces together clues, three near-strangers claim to be his friends and the only people who can really tell him what’s going on. But as he and the others are drawn into unimaginable worlds that materialize out of thin air (the gym becomes an underground temple, a nearby historic home blossoms into a Victorian romance riddled with scandal and witchcraft), Kane realizes that nothing in your life is an accident. . And when a sinister force threatens to alter reality forever, they’ll have to do everything they can to stop it before it undoes everything they know.
- shop dream now!
6. fire and paper girls by natasha ngan
Lei’s story is not always one that’s easy to get through, but Natasha Ngan isn’t afraid to confront the most vulnerable aspects of power dynamics unfortunately common in our own society. But a stunningly realized world (complete with a demon-based societal hierarchy) will keep you enraptured—as well as, you know, the rebellion. 
Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It’s the highest honor they could hope for…and the most demeaning. This year, there’s a ninth. And instead of paper, she’s made of fire.
In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper Caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. she lives in a remote village with her father, where she is still haunted by the trauma of a decade of seeing her mother kidnapped by royal guards to an unknown fate. Now the guards are back, and this time it’s Lei they’re after, the girl with the golden eyes whose beauty is rumored to have piqued the king’s interest.
During weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm befitting a king’s consort. there, she does the unthinkable: she falls in love with her. Her forbidden romance is entangled in an explosive plot that threatens the entire way of life in her world. Still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, Lei must decide how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.
- buy fire and paper girls now!
7. Damsel Elana K. arnold
This book will make you think, it will make you uncomfortable, but it will also open your eyes to the raw emotional tale of tropes we’ve grown too familiar with. 
The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: When the king dies, his son the prince must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.
When Ama wakes up in Prince Emory’s arms, she knows nothing of this. she doesn’t remember what happened before the dragon captured her or the horrors she faced in her lair. she only knows this handsome young man, the story he tells of her rescue and her destiny to sit on a throne beside her. everything is like a dream, like something out of a fairy tale.
As Ama follows Emory to Harding’s kingdom, however, she discovers that all is not as it seems. There is more to the legends of dragons and maidens than anyone knows, and the greatest threats may not be behind her, but around her, now, and closing in.
- shop damsel now!
8. the town crier moon by kathryn purdie
Nature- and animal-based magic supplement a story bound in the blending of romance and revenge, and we know you’ll fall for Ailesse and Bastien as their fates keep you on the edge of your seat. 
Bone Criers are the last descendants of an ancient famille charged with using the magic they draw from animal bones to shepherd the dead into the afterlife—lest they drain the light from the living.
ailesse has been groomed since birth to become her matriarch, but first she must complete her rite of passage: kill the boy she is destined to love.
Bastien’s father was killed by a bone weeper and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. now his revenge must wait, for the ritual of ailesse has begun and his destinies are intertwined, in life and in death.
- buy bone criers moon now!
9. spellhacker from m.k. england
This heist is more fun than it has any business being, so come along for the ride if you’re in for some lighthearted fare. But don’t underestimate it—real stakes and emotional depth will hit you when you’re least expecting it! 
In Kyrkarta, magic—known as maz—was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that’s tightly controlled—and, of course, outrageously expensive.
That’s why Diz and her three best friends have a lucrative, illegal side job of Maz Siphoning. her next job is supposed to be her last heist.
But when their plan reveals a powerful new variety of corn that (literally) blows up in their faces, they’re forced to unravel a conspiracy at the very center of the spell plague and possibly save the world.
> >
no pressure.
- buy spellhacker now!
10. born of fury by claire legrand
The worlds of Rielle and Eliana, although technically the same, are realized so fully as their own that you’ll lose yourself in both between chapters. From Rielle’s royal duties to Eliana’a revolution-tinged adventure, this epic is one of YA’s best two-for-ones. 
When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one of a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light, and a queen of blood. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven elemental magic trials. If she fails, she will be executed…unless the trials kill her first.
a thousand years later, the legend of queen rielle is a fairy tale for eliana ferracora. A bounty hunter for the Eternal Empire, Eliana believes herself to be untouchable, until her mother goes missing. To find her, Eliana teams up with a rebel captain and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.
As Rielle and Eliana fight a cosmic war spanning millennia, their stories intersect and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world and each other.
- buy furyborn now!
11. mage angel by garth nix
garth nix established himself as a master of fantasy with his old kingdom series, but angel mage is his own tour de force. With a sprawling, centuries-long narrative arc and characters that jump off the page all tied together in a stand-alone read, this is a read guaranteed to keep you spellbound.
More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara.
It’s a seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic that ever lived, summoning angels and forcing them to do her bidding. Four young men hold her interest: Simeon, a scholarly doctoral student; henri, a dedicated fortune hunter; agnez, a musketeer in search of glory; and Dorotea, iconography and scholar of angelic magic.
The four feel a strange kinship from the moment they meet but do not suspect its importance. And none of them know how Liliath plans to use them, as mere pawns in her plan, no matter the cost to everyone else. . .
- buy magician angel now!
12. diamond city by francesca flores
Like its heroine, this book is rudimentary and intriguing. the gritty magical trade in this world, and the guilds that rule the city, will have you hooked from the start.
Fierce and ambitious, Aina Solís as sharp as her blade and as mysterious as the blood magic she protects. After the murder of her parents, Aina takes a job as an assassin to survive and finds a new family in those like her: the unwanted and forgotten.
Your boss is brutal and cold, with a questionable sense of morality, but he provides a place for people who have nowhere else to go. and he makes sure they stay there.
Diamond City: Built by magic, ruled by tyrants, and in desperate need of saving. it’s a world filled with dark forces and hidden agendas, old rivalries, and deadly new enemies.
To claim a future for herself in a world that doesn’t want her to survive, Aina will have to win a game of assassination and conspiracy, and risk losing everything.
- buy diamond city now!
13. such a dark and lonely curse by bridget kemmerer
This series starter is a *book shimmy* award winner for a reason. its exuberant writing fits with the fairy tale story it is inspired by, and the characters are brought to life in a way that will make you need to read the sequel right away.
Fall in love, break the curse.
Cursed by a powerful sorceress to repeat the fall of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, thought he could easily be saved if a girl fell in love with him. but that was before he became a ferocious beast bent on destruction. before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
nothing has ever been easy for harper. With her father long dead, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her due to her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be strong enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she finds herself drawn into a magical world.
break the curse, save the kingdom.
harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? a curse? a monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand the stakes. And when Rhen realizes that Harper isn’t just another girl to charm, her hope returns. but powerful forces oppose the embers. . . And it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and their people from total ruin.
- buy such a dark and lonely curse now!
14. snake & pigeon by shelby mahurin
This book’s enemies-to-lovers story between a witch and a hunter is one of the funniest things in the book, but I’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how much it made us laugh, the French-inspired world, and the third act. twists that literally made us gasp as we read it.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
See Also: G.M. Malliet – Book Series In Order
As a church hunter, reid diggory has lived his life by one principle: you will not allow a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked trick, the two are forced into an impossible situation: marriage.
Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, but unable to change who she is, must make a decision. and love makes fools of us all.
- buy snake & dove now!
15. realm of souls by rena barron
if you prefer your fantasy tales full of dark magic and high stakes, let us introduce you to a world where our main character trades years of his life for access to magic, only to discover something worse that shocks him…
Heir to two lines of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. Yet she fails at bone magic, fails to call upon her ancestors, and fails to live up to her family’s legacy. Under the disapproving eye of her mother, the Kingdom’s most powerful priestess and seer, she fears she may never be good enough.
But when the children of the kingdom begin to disappear, Arrah is desperate enough to resort to a dangerous and forbidden ritual. if she doesn’t have magic of her own, she will have to buy it by trading years of her own life.
arrah’s borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal and, right after, a rising tide of darkness that threatens to consume her and everyone she loves. She must race to unravel a twisted and deadly plan…before the fight costs more than she can pay.
- buy the realm of souls now!
16. continues by rainbow rowell
if you keep coming back to harry potter, may we suggest this hilarious but incredibly emotional takedown of the chosen trope?
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.
That’s what his roommate says, baz. and baz may be evil, a vampire, and a complete asshole, but he’s probably right.
Half the time, Simon can’t even get his wand to work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. his mentor is avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around with simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all of this, if he were here: It’s his senior year at Watford School of Magic, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.
- buy hand luggage now!
17. infinite son by adam silvera
don’t you like high fantasy? Let’s visit a New York where mythical creatures roam and super-powered vigilantes and villains are at war. At heart, though, this is a book of brothers, of love and ambition, and a whirlwind of fun reading for any X-Men fan.
Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.
brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. emil just wants the fight to stop. the cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it more difficult for anyone with power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters have grown bolder by the day.
Then, in a fight after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own, one that puts him right at the center of the conflict and makes him the heroic spellwalker Brighton always wanted to be.
>
brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be tested, and no one will come out of the fight unscathed.
- buy infinity son now!
18. the world that never bends over chupeco rin
Want something even bigger in scope? Set on a planet that’s half mad max and half frozen, this story takes you on an adventure with twin goddesses determined to heal their world.
Generations of twin goddesses have long ruled Aeon—until one sister’s betrayal split their world in two. A Great Abyss now divides two realms: one cloaked in eternal night, the other scorched beneath an ever-burning sun.
While one sister rules the frozen fortress of Aranth, her twin rules the golden city surrounded by sand, each with a daughter by her side. now those young goddesses must go on separate and equally dangerous journeys in hopes of healing their broken world. no matter what sacrifice she demands.
- buy the world that never tips now!
19. crown of oblivion by julie eshbaugh
Relive the high stakes and drama of your races with an added caveat: In this race, you can’t even take your memories with you. the world is brutal, the story twists are unpredictable, and you’ll find yourself running (please forgive us) to see how it ends.
In Lanoria, Outsiders, who don’t have magic, are inferior to Enchanteds, who do. That’s just a fact for Astrid, an Outsider who is indentured to pay off her family’s debts. She serves as the surrogate for the princess—if Renya steps out of line, Astrid is the one who bears the punishment for it.
but there is a way out: the life and death race of oblivion. first, the runners are given a dose of the forgetfulness drug, which erases their memories. then, when they wake up in the middle of nowhere, only cryptic clues, and a sheer will to live, will lead them through treacherous terrain filled with opponents who wouldn’t think twice about killing each other to get ahead. /p>
But what amazes her most is what she never expected to find in this race. a familiar face he can’t identify. secret powers she shouldn’t have. and a confused memory of the past that, if real, could mean the ruin of the entire social structure that has kept her a slave all her life.
competing could mean death… but it could also mean freedom.
- buy the crown of oblivion now!
20. the beauties of dhonielle clayton
Looking for something beautiful with a hint of something wicked underneath? the belles is as decadent as it is dark and begs the question: is beauty really more than skin deep?
Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.
but it’s not enough that camellia is just a beauty. she wants to be the favourite, the beauty chosen by the queen of orléans to live in the royal palace, serve the royal family and her court, be recognized as the most talented beauty in the country. But once Camelia and her beautiful sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being her favorite isn’t all she always dreamed it would be. Behind the golden walls of the palace live dark secrets, and Camellia soon discovers that the very essence of her existence is a lie, that her powers are far greater and could be more dangerous than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camelia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using beauty powers in unintended ways, Camelia now faces an impossible decision.
with the future of orléans and its people at stake, camellia must decide: save herself, her sisters and the path of the beauties, or resurrect the princess, risk her own life and change the ways of her world forever.
- shop the beauties now!
21. the selection of kiera cass
Everyone knows this series for its sparkling romance, and rightfully so, but the world of selection is just as intriguing. the threats of rebellion underline the caste-based world, so you’ll get a touch of revolution along with one of the best love stories in you!
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.
Then America meets Prince Maxon and realizes that the life he’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future he never imagined.
- shop the selection now!
22. Kingdom of the Flaming Phoenix by Julie C. dao
A companion to one of our favorite villain tales, this novel, in the style of Snow White’s post-evil queen, returns to Feng Lu through the eyes of Princess Jade. The East Asian inspired fantasy world is awesome!
Princess Jade has grown up in exile, hidden away in a monastery while her stepmother, the ruthless Xifeng, rules as empress of Feng Lu. But the empire is in distress and its people are sinking into poverty and despair.
Even though Jade doesn’t want the crown, she knows she’s the only one who can dethrone the empress and set the world right. Ready to claim her place as rightful heir, Jade embarks on a quest to raise the Dragon Lords and defeat Xifeng and the Serpent God once and for all.
but will the same darkness that took xifeng take jade as well? Or will she find the inner strength to save herself, her friends, and her empire?
- buy the kingdom of the flaming phoenix now!
23. truth witch by susan dennard
If you want to truly immerse yourself in a world of fantasy, look no further. The Adriatic-inspired world of the Witchlands is so fleshed out and feels so real that you’ll imagine yourself among the characters as you read. you’ll also fall head over heels for aeduan, but that’s just a bonus.
In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.
safiya is a truth witch, capable of discerning truth from lies. It is a powerful magic that many would kill to have on her side, especially among the nobility into which Safi was born. so safi must keep her gift hidden, so that she won’t be used as a pawn in the fight between empires.
iseult, a sorceress, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her, but she cannot see the ties that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from a life as an outcast to one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool and cautious balance to Safi’s brash impulsiveness.
safi and iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the lands of the witches. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a wind warlock and sea captain) and the hindrance of a blood warlock hell-bent on revenge, the friends must battle emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to put down their fate. his hands on a sorcerer of truth.
- buy truth witch now!
24. snow like ashes by sara raasch
This remains one of our favorite fantasy trilogies for a reason: we found ourselves rooting for meira and her quest to reclaim the realm of winter magic from the very beginning. The political intrigue and the magical world that surrounds it are developed and described in such an exuberant way that they will seize her imagination and not let go!
Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
meira, orphaned as a child during the defeat of winter, has lived her entire life as a refugee. her training to be a warrior, and desperately in love with her best friend, the future king of winter, she would do anything to help winter return to power.
So, when explorers discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore the magic of winter, Meira decides to go after it herself, only to find herself in a world of evil magic and dangerous politics, ultimately realizing that their destiny is not, never has been, their own.
- buy snow as ashes now!
25. an ember in the ashes by sabaa tahir
These books are brutal, in the best way. inspired by ancient rome and tinged with middle eastern mythology, the martial empire is terrifyingly complex and fleshed out, and the way laia, elias and helena are so richly drawn and thrown into their ever-changing milieu… you won’t be able to put it aside. the look.
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. the family barely survives in the impoverished alleys of the empire. they do not challenge the empire. they’ve seen what happens to those who do.
but when laia’s brother is arrested for treason, laia is forced to make a choice. In exchange for the help of the rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy on them from within the largest military academy in the empire.
There, Laia meets Elias, the best soldier in the school and secretly the most reluctant. Elijah just wants to be free from the tyranny he is being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined and that their decisions will change the fate of the empire itself.
- buy an ember in the ashes now!
26. miss the dreamer by laini taylor
This isn’t just a fantasy novel—it’s a fantasy novel written in the most poetic, dreamy prose you can imagine. Laini Taylor’s wistful writing complements her otherworldly story so well that it seems like just another character on the page. 
the dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around- and lazlo stranger, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared his dream would choose poorly. since he was five years old he has been obsessed with the mythical lost city of tears. Then an amazing opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
what happened in lloro two hundred years ago to isolate it from the rest of the world? And who is the blue-skinned goddess that appears in Lazlo’s dreams?
In this sweeping and impressive novel from National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts that haunt the citadel of the slain gods. falls into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage. answers wait in tears.
- buy strange the dreamer now!
27. blood heir by amélie wen zhao
This fantasy novel, set in a brutal kingdom, deals with human trafficking, so know that it’s not for lighthearted people. but the writing and action sequences are so absorbing, and the characters so complex, that if you’re not avoiding serious topics, this book is a must-read.
In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.
See Also: About William Golding – William Golding
When ana’s father, the emperor, is assassinated, her world is shattered. accused of being his murderer, ana must flee the palace to save her life. and to clear her name, she must find her father’s killer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is very different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is afoot, one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there’s only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to the heart of it: Ramson Quicktongue.
A cunning crime lord of the Cyrillic underworld, Ramson has sinister plans, though he might have found his match in Ana. because in this story, the princess could be the most dangerous player of all.
- buy blood heir now!
28. heart of thorns by bree barton
Witches get a different outfit in this clever fantasy series, and the main character, Mia Rose, is equal parts confident, inquisitive, and hilarious. if you have read snake & dove and you’re looking to fill that fascinating void in her tbr, add this to the list stat.
In the ancient river kingdom, where touch is a battlefield and bodies the instruments of war, Mia Rose has pledged her life to hunting Gwyrach: women who can manipulate flesh, bones, breath, and blood. The same women who killed her mother without a single scratch.
but when mia’s father announces an alliance with the royal family, she is forced to trade her knives and pants for a sumptuous silk dress. Determined to forge her own path forward, Ella Mia plans a daring escape, but she could never predict the greatest betrayal of all: her own body. she mine possesses the same magic that she has sworn to destroy.
Now, as she unravels the secrets of her past, Mia must learn to trust her heart…even if it kills her.
- buy heart of thorns now!
29. don’t call the wolf by aleksandra ross
Enter a dark forest besieged by monsters, a world of shapeshifters and dragons and more. We devour this fairytale-style fantasy, and we know you’ll also adore her wild queen and her broken promises.
A fierce young queen, neither human nor lynx, who fights to protect a forest humans have long abandoned.
an exhausted young soldier, last of his name, searching for the brother who disappeared under those trees without a trace.
a golden dragon, fearsome and vengeful, whose wings haunt his nightmares and his steps.
When these three paths cross on the brink of a war between monster and man, the shapeshifting queen and the reluctant hero strike a deal that may finally turn the tide against the growing hordes of darkness. Ren will help Lukasz find his brother…if Lukasz promises to kill the dragon.
but promises are broken too easily.
- buy don’t call the wolf now!
30. the tiger at midnight by swati teerdhala
Get ready for the best romantic tension ever. In a world inspired by ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology, a game of cat and mouse between a loyal soldier and a renowned assassin is riddled with conspiracies, betrayals, and forces bigger and more powerful than anyone realizes.
Esha lost everything in the royal coup—and as the legendary rebel known as the Viper, she’s made the guilty pay. Now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.
kunal has been a soldier since childhood. His uncle, the General, has made sure that Kunal never strays from the path, even as a part of Kunal yearns to join the outside world, which he has only become more volatile.
When esha and kunal’s paths cross one fateful night, an impossible chain of events unfolds. Both the snake and the soldier think they’re in control, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces.
As the ties that keep their land in order are broken and the sins of the past find the promise of a new future, soldier and rebel alike must decide where their allegiance lies: with the lives they have killed to keep. about or with the love that has made them dream of something else.
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31. the rise of the queen by rebecca ross
This beautiful story about destiny, freedom and love is a slow burn story and its setting is inspired by Renaissance France. What more could you want? The brienna and cartier story is compelling, and the writing is lush and just as beautiful!
Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions—art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge—Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true: she is left without a patron.
Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her his patronage. Suspicious of her intent, she reluctantly agrees. But there is much more to her story, as there is a dangerous plot to overthrow the king of Maevana, Valenia’s rival kingdom, and restore the rightful queen, and her magic from her, to the throne.
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32. the midnight lie of marie rutkoski
if you’ve read the winner trilogy, you know marie rutkoski has a way of slowly twisting a plot until your brain explodes with brilliance. Set in the same world, this impressively unique story manages to do the same. add mysterious magic, a romance between the two female leads, and a mind-blowing narrative, and you won’t be able to put this down.
Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.
nirrim keeps his head down and a dangerous secret close to his chest.
but then he meets sid, a rogue traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the high caste possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic herself. but to do that, nirrim must give up her old life. she must place her trust in this cunning stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.
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33. the golden wolves of roshani chokshi
Set in magical Paris at the end of the 19th century, The Golden Wolves is a found family heist drama that will not only tug at your heartstrings, but maybe (maybe!) tear them to shreds. . plus, the supremely founded magical system and order of babel are *chef’s kiss* delightfully menacing, dark, shiny, and deadly.
It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To hunt down the ancient artifact the order seeks, Severin turns to a group of unlikely experts: an engineer with a debt to pay. a historian banished from his house. a dancer with a sinister past. and a brother in arms if not by blood.
Together, they will join Séverin in his exploration of the dark and bright heart of Paris. what they find could change the course of history, but only if they can stay alive.
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34. zoraida córdova arsonist
assassin’s creed fans, assemble! incendiary is a completely unique fantasy, an evil, twist-filled, inspired by the Spanish Inquisition era, that will blow your mind. we would say more, but it is better to leave some secrets to surprise you.
Renata Convida was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King’s Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a Robari, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata’s ability to steal memories from royal enemies enabled the King’s Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.
Renata is now one of the whispers, rogue spies who work against the crown and help the remaining Moria escape from the kingdom bent on its destruction. The whispers may have rescued Renata from the palace years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred, nor the overwhelming memories of the hundreds of souls she turned “hollows” during her time in the palace.
When Dez, her unit commander, is taken captive by the notorious Bleeding Prince, Renata will do anything to save the boy whose love makes her place among the whispers bearable. But a disastrous rescue attempt means Renata must return to the palace under cover and complete Dez’s top-secret mission. Can Renata convince his former captors that he remains loyal, even as he burns for revenge against the brutal and enigmatic prince? his life and the fate of moria depend on it.
But returning to the palace awakens long-locked childhood memories. As Renata becomes increasingly involved in the politics of the royal court, she discovers a secret from his past that could change the entire destiny of the kingdom and end the war that has cost her everything.
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35. the shadows between us by tricia levenseller
a dark combination of romance, betrayal and power…welcome to the shadowy world between us. Alessandra, the main character, stands out in this book. she herself is unapologetic, ruthless and kind all at once, and she drives the narrative in directions that will leave you screaming “yeah!” happy reading.
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:
1) Court the king of shadows. 2) marry him. 3) kill him and take the kingdom from her for her.
No one knows the extent of the newly crowned Shadow King’s power. some say that he can command the shadows that swarm around him to do his bidding. others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves and will do anything in her power to get it.
but alessandra is not the only one trying to kill the king. as they try to end her life, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen, all the while fighting not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a shadow king than a cunning, evil queen?
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36. victoria aveyard red queen
If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for? intrigue, power, betrayal, maven! the vibes of the x-men in a game of thrones-style dystopia should be all you need to know, but what we love most about this series is how the world becomes more complex and intelligently done as you go. the books go on. besides, evangeline!
Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.
To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As the mare ventures deeper into the silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard, a growing red rebellion, even as her heart pulls her in an impossible direction.
one false move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
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37. cinda williams chima’s flamethrower
flamecaster is the first book in the shattered kingdoms, a series that returns to the world of the seven kingdoms. Cinda Williams Chima is a brilliant fantasy writer, and her impressive world of dark magic is further strengthened by interwoven stories and brutal stakes.
Adrian sul’Han, known as Ash, is a trained healer with a powerful gift of magic—and a thirst for revenge. Ash is forced into hiding after a series of murders throws the queendom into chaos. Now he’s closer than ever to killing the man responsible, the cruel king of Arden. Can Ash use his powers not to save a life but to take it?
abandoned at birth, jenna bandelow was told the magical mark on the back of her neck would make her a target. But when the King’s Guard begins a relentless search for a girl with a mark like hers, Jenna assumes she has more to do with her role as saboteur than any curse based on her birth. Eventually, Ash and Jenna’s paths will collide. United by chance and united by their hatred of the ruthless king, they will come to each other’s rescue in ways they cannot yet imagine.
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38. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. mass
We would be remiss if we didn’t include this epic. What begins as a killer’s fight for survival turns into a global war between fairies and witches, humans and demons. celaena is hilarious, dorian is perfect, rowan is bae, and manon is iconic. it might be time to embark on this adventure!
When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the King’s Champion and be released from prison.
her name is celaena sardothien.
The crown prince will provoke her. the captain of the guard will protect her.
and a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing celaena never thought she’d have again: a friend.
But something evil dwells in the castle, and it’s there to kill. As her competitors begin to die horribly one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival and a desperate quest to eradicate the source of evil before it destroys her world. /p>
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What fantasy book are you diving into right now? tell us in the comments!
See Also: How to read Kindle Books with Kindle Cloud Reader