10 Best YA Fantasy Novel Series to Read in 2025
Looking for an epic ya fantasy novel series? We share our favorites that kept us up all night, laughing and gasping together.
Looking for the perfect ya fantasy novel series? We know how tough it can be to pick the right fantasy adventure when so many are out there promising magic, mayhem, and mysterious plots. When picking our top 10 ya fantasy novel series, we focus on stories with real heart, unforgettable worlds, and characters you’d want as friends (or maybe enemies, if that’s your thing). Whether you crave epic quests, magical schools, or rebellions against evil, we’ve found the best of the best for you—and threw in a little bit of humor because we can’t help ourselves. Grab your bookmark, friends. You’re about to find your next obsession!
On this list:
10 Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan
This ya fantasy novel series is a wild ride of gods, monsters, and enough ADHD jokes to keep us entertained! We love the twists, the friendships (shoutout to Annabeth!), and how it kept us up past our bedtime. It’s easy to read and packed with action, though at times Percy’s sarcasm made us want to hand him a Snickers.
9 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
You say ya fantasy novel series, we say Katniss with a bow! This one keeps the pace so fast we nearly spilled our popcorn. It’s gritty and real, but sometimes the love triangle drama had us rolling our eyes faster than Peeta could bake bread.
8 Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo
With shadow monsters and a magic system that could use an instruction manual, this ya fantasy novel series took us by surprise. We enjoyed the Russian-inspired world but wished the main character, Alina, had more sense of humor. Still, the Darkling is top-tier villain material.
7 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Assassins, magic, and enough plot twists to make our heads spin! We rooted for Celaena even when she was full of herself. The romance sometimes took over, but the epic battles and crazy magic made this ya fantasy novel series a must-read.
6 The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
Angels, demons, and lots of awkward love triangles. This ya fantasy novel series has more plot twists than a pretzel factory. We enjoyed the witty banter, but sometimes the world-building got so thick we almost needed a map (wait, no, there is a map!).
5 Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Powerful people with superpowers and a regular girl who’s not so regular anymore – classic ya fantasy novel series drama! We loved the betrayals and the sparkly world, but Mare’s indecision made us want to shake her. Bonus points for cool lightning powers.
4 An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
With a Roman-inspired empire and plenty of backstabbing, this ya fantasy novel series kept us on edge. We loved the strong characters and the suspense, but sometimes the heartbreaks left us needing a tissue box…and some ice cream.
3 Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Witches and witch-hunters forced to marry? This ya fantasy novel series is both spicy and funny. We laughed at Lou’s attitude and gasped at all the secrets. It’s not for everyone—lots of romance—but the magic and sass sold us.
2 The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Psychics and weird dystopian London. This ya fantasy novel series is full of cool magic, mysterious enemies, and a lead who just wants to survive. Sometimes the lore gets heavy, but it’s so unique we had to include it.
1 Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Okay, it’s the classic ya fantasy novel series, and you knew it would be at the top. Why? Because we’ve read it so many times we can quote half the spells. Hogwarts feels like home, and the magic, humor, and friends keep us coming back. Sure, it gets dark and the main trio make some silly moves (looking at you, Philosopher’s Stone chess game), but the series is a perfect gateway to fantasy. New readers will find adventure, friendship, and a welcoming world that’s easy to get lost in. Plus, there’s enough weird candy and flying broomsticks to keep everyone happy. It’s not flawless—sometimes the rules of magic are a bit wobbly—but it’s pure, fun magic, and that’s what counts.
