Best YA Fantasy Books 2025: Top 6 Must-Reads Reviewed
Looking for the best ya fantasy books? We’ve read and laughed through tons. Here’s our top picks every new fan should try!
Let’s be honest, picking the best ya fantasy books feels a bit like trying to choose your favorite snack at a sleepover – impossible, but way too fun to turn down. When we set out to make our list, we looked for ya fantasy books packed with wild adventure, clever twists, and magic that makes you wish you had powers of your own. We wanted stories with main characters you would totally want to text at 2 a.m., worlds you can get lost in, and tales that even the most distracted reader (no judgement here) will stick with until the last page. Whether you like clever heists, deadly magic, or star-crossed lovers, we promise there’s something here to get you hooked.
On this list:
6 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
We put this one on the list because it has a wild crew of misfit teens, a heist bigger than any snack run we’ve tried, and magic that causes more headaches than caffeine withdrawal. ‘Six of Crows’ has sharp wit, cool banter, and enough twists to keep us from snoozing. While some parts get dark, the story stays fast and fun. If you like ya fantasy books that don’t take themselves too seriously, grab this one.
5 An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
This book punches ya fantasy books in the face with high stakes, big feels, and people running for their lives (which is pretty much us running from spoilers). We love the two main characters—one a soldier, one a slave—with both plotting their own escapes. There’s action, star-crossed romance, and a few plot twists that made us drop our snacks. Only downside? You’ll want the sequel right away.
4 Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
We really got hooked on the witchy nonsense in ‘Serpent & Dove’. It’s the enemies-to-lovers story that comes with magic, sarcasm, and a fake marriage. Sound wild? It is. The world-building is easy to get into, and the banter made us cackle. Some romance bits get cheesy, but hey, that’s part of the fun. If you like your ya fantasy books spicy and dramatic, this one rules.
3 Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
We added ‘Legendborn’ because mixing King Arthur legend with secret societies and a fierce heroine is just smart business. There’s mystery, magic, and real talk about loss and finding where you belong. We got more sucked in than we’d admit. The pacing sometimes wobbles, but the story shines. If you want ya fantasy books that mix old legends with new vibes, bump this up your list.
2 The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
We could not stop guessing with this one. Picture this: a broke teen suddenly inherits a billionaire’s fortune. But, plot twist—she has to solve bonkers puzzles and outwit a suspicious (and cute) family. It’s less ‘magic’ and more ‘mind games’, but trust us, it’s worthy of all ya fantasy books lists. The twists are bananas, the pace is speedy, and we kept arguing over who the villain was. The only snag? Be ready for cliffhangers!
1 A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
We choose ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ as the best because it’s basically the pizza of ya fantasy books—everyone loves it, and it hits the spot every time. Feyre, a huntress with brains and guts, gets pulled from her not-so-fun life into a fae kingdom with more drama than a group chat gone wrong. The magic? Big and bold. The romance? Spicy (okay, sometimes cheesy). Our friends kept arguing over who the best character is, which is the sign of a good book. It’s the gateway for anyone new to ya fantasy books. The only con is you’ll want to read all the sequels (and there are a lot). But hey, if you’re gonna get lost in a fantasy world, it might as well be with Maas’s wild crew.
