9 Best YA Fantasy Series to Read in 2025
Looking for the best ya fantasy series? We’ve tried them all with friends. Here are our top picks for new fans.
Finding the best ya fantasy series is like trying to pick the tastiest donut at a bakery—lots of sweet choices and everyone has a favorite. We focus on wild adventures, memorable characters, and worlds that are just weird enough to make us wish our homework was magic too. Our picks have plot twists, laughs, and sometimes a little romance, because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a dramactic magical love triangle? Whether you’re new to ya fantasy series or just looking for your next reading binge, we’ve picked the ones that kept us up way past our bedtime. Prepare for danger, monsters, and the kind of friendships that might just save the world (or ruin your sleep schedule).
On this list:
9 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
We picked this because it’s about a group of wild teens trying to pull off an impossible heist. It’s got magic, drama, and characters who are more complicated than my relationship with caffeine. Plus, the banter is sharp and the pacing doesn’t drag. If you want to start a ya fantasy series with fast friendships—and faster betrayals—this is your jam.
8 An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia and Elias have worse luck than us on a group project, but they fight on in a brutal world. This ya fantasy series has ancient Rome vibes and the stakes are high enough to make us nervous. Each book ends with a cliffhanger, so prepare some snacks to get you through the night.
7 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
We stuck with Celaena Sardothien all the way from assassin to queen because it’s like Game of Thrones but with more teenage sass. This ya fantasy series has swords, monsters, and plot twists so wild we once texted each other in all caps. There’s romance, danger, and way too many late nights.
6 Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
This ya fantasy series set us up with an underdog heroine, shadow monsters, and magic so cool we still try (and fail) to do it at home. The world-building is rich and makes our own lives seem very boring in comparison. Plus, there’s a love triangle that kept us arguing for weeks.
5 A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
We call this the ultimate fairy remix. This ya fantasy series starts with a Beauty and the Beast vibe, then flips into a wild ride of magic and romance. Our group debates about Team Tamlin or Team Rhysand got heated enough for popcorn. Warning: Some spicy parts, so maybe don’t read it aloud with grandma.
4 Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
This ya fantasy series has a witch and witch hunter forced into marriage. It’s a slow-burn romance with sassy moments and danger lurking around every page. Our group laughed, rolled our eyes, and couldn’t stop reading, even when our snacks ran out.
3 The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
We included this ya fantasy series because we wanted something different. It’s got psychic powers and a city more confusing than a group text after midnight. The world-building is dense but worth it. If you stick around, you’ll get great pay-offs and a heroine who doesn’t always make the best choices—relatable!
2 Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
This ya fantasy series mixes magic clubs and secret societies at a university, making us wish our school had more than just a chess club. Bree is a strong lead, the plot keeps twisting, and there’s a big mystery at the center. Plus, lots of snacks and group theories.
1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
We had to pick this as our best ya fantasy series. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s magic, humor, real friendships, and a school we all wanted to go to. The story grows up with you, and there’s always something new to spot whenever we reread. Plus, we made lifelong friends by fighting about which house we’d be in. Sure, there are slow parts—book one’s first few chapters can drag, and not everyone loves the epilogue (we’ll whisper about that). But nothing tops the mix of mystery, adventure, and feeling like you could be part of the world. Other series copied it, but none caught the same spark. This is the ya fantasy series that sets the bar.
