Ya Fantasy reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 146 Reddit reviews across 6 subreddits and 18 posts to rank the best Ya Fantasy brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Fantasy, r/YAlit, r/suggestmeabook, r/writers, r/fantasyromance. Top-rated brands include Julie Kagawa (4.6/5), Samantha Shannon (4.9/5), Brandon Sanderson (5.0/5).
Stats
Reviews146
Subreddits6
Posts18
Brands86
Products98
146 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Julie Kagawa
4.6
(8)
"The Talon Saga by Julie Kagawa"
"The Iron Fae series by Julie Kagawa"
"The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa."
"The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa is a great series."
"The Iron Fey series - Julie Kagawa."
"Shadow of the Fox (trilogy) - Julie Kagawa"
"Seconding The Shadow of the Fox (set in Japan) trilogy and Vespertine!"
"Seconding The Shadow of the Fox trilogy and Vespertine!"
#2
Samantha Shannon
4.9
(7)
"Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon"
"The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (duology)"
"The lesbian trilogy- Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon"
"The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon"
"Priory of the Orange Tree blew my fucking mind with the incredible writing and depth of characters, and so much thought and detail into world building."
"Priory of the Orange Tree is beautifully written retelling of Saint George and the Dragon (but make it female), and the central romance is one of my favorite in recent reads."
"The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon has an ensemble cast with POC and LGBTQ main characters"
#3
Brandon Sanderson
5.0
(5)
"There is always Mistborne or the Stormlight archives of you want to get into Sanderson."
"The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson. Has queerness, mental health, Magic, swords, armies and religion all in an absolute banger of a story."
"The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson"
"Really great magic system."
"Mistborn is a standout. The world building is stellar and the magic system is interesting without getting too crazy."
#4
Ilona Andrews
4.5
(4)
"So these are fantasy but worth the read promise kate daniels series by ilona andrews"
"Kate Daniel s series by Ilona Andrews is one of my all time favorites."
"The Kate Daniels series is dystopian, but in a way I've never read before."
"The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews (the first book is the weakest but the setting is very fun and the characters are really well written)"
#5
Naomi Novik
4.5
(4)
"Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik is split between 3 female leads who are all strong women in beautifully different ways, and two have romance as part of their story."
"Naomi Novik's Temeraire series might also be what you're looking for- they're about dragon riders in an alternate history Napoleonic War."
"I am also currently reading the Temeraire Series by Naomi Novik and I have been enjoying it."
"Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik."
#6
Brian Jacques
5.0
(3)
"The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques"
"The Redwall series is the greatest example of what OP is looking for. Loved those when I was youngerand kept reading them when they were coming out and I was in highschool and college."
"Redwall by Brian Jacques. The entire series."
#7
Pierce Brown
5.0
(3)
"The Red Rising book series by Pierce Brown. Checks off a ton of those parameters."
"It sounds like you would enjoy the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. Absolutely stunning."
"Red Rising series by Pierce Brown... the 1st book is a little YA/ Hunger Games but it gets beyond epic."
#8
Sarah J. Maas
5.0
(3)
"The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas (last few books not suitable for younger readers, I'd say good read at 17)"
"Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas"
"The villain has the most interesting and well executed redemption arch I’ve ever read."
#9
David Clement-Davies
5.0
(3)
"The other is about a wolf pack in Romania being hunted by a wolf who possesses magic."
"Fire Bringer and The Sight by David Clement-Davies. The first is about a red elk in Scotland who is born the night his father is murdered (strong chosen one/prophecy vibes -- absolutely loved this story)."
"The Sight by David Clement-Davis which involves wolves. My favorite xenofiction novel besides Watership Down."
#10
Leigh Bardugo
4.7
(3)
"Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo!"
"Leigh Bardugo is absolutely my top choice."
"Six of Crows (not by a POC author but has POC main characters and everything else you’re looking for)"
#11
Tracy Deonn
4.3
(3)
"Legendborn by Tracy Deonn are the best books I read last year."
"The Legendborn Cycle - Tracy Deonn"
"Legendborn black main character"
#12
Ursula K. Le Guin
4.3
(3)
"Seconding Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea."
"Check out A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin."
"The Earthsea books (3 Decent, but very short books)"
#13
Alan Dean Foster
5.0
(2)
"The Spellsinger series has all kinds of anthropomorphic animals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects-in an adult setting with plenty of sex, violence, and rock & roll. Spellsinger is one of my favorite series of all time."
"The Spellsinger series by Alan Dean Foster follows a human from our world summoned to a world inhabited by humans and anthropomorphic animals."
#14
ML Wang
5.0
(2)
"Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang (standalone)"
"Sword of Kaigen! A book that shows the full strength and human experience of a woman in every conceivable way"
#15
Marissa Meyer
5.0
(2)
"The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer"
"Have you read Cinder by Marissa Meyer? My daughter's both loved that one (and it's sequels)"
#16
Robin Hobb
5.0
(2)
"So far I really like Robin Hobb's world"
"Robin Hobb, Robin Hobb, Robin Hobb. Her writing is brilliantly skilled."
#17
Hafsah Faizal
5.0
(2)
"I loved it!"
"I haven't read The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood yet, but that one also has vampires and it looks promising."
#18
Lloyd Alexander
5.0
(2)
"I recommend Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. Definitely has the scope of LOTR, and it's very much a classic good vs. evil story."
"Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series, Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, and Alan Garner's Weirdstone of Brisingamen et al are all classics for a reason."
#19
Jim Butcher
5.0
(2)
"Dresden files"
"I second the Dresden Files and highly recommend His Dark Materials/ The Golden Compass trilogy."
#20
Tamora Pierce
5.0
(2)
"Seconding Tamora Pierce! Love both the Tortall & the Circle series universes."
"Tamora Pierce--The Tortall series and Circle of Magic series would both work"
#21
Laini Taylor
5.0
(2)
"I highly recommend."
"Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor."
#22
Diana Wynne Jones
5.0
(2)
"Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones! It's the one I recommend to everyone nonstop."
"Diana Wynne Jones *Howl's Moving Castle*"
#23
Jacqueline Carey
4.5
(2)
"Carey’s Kushiel series. They are phenomenal books."
"Jacqueline Carey s Kushiel series is really good - great world-building, interesting characters including a strong female lead, twisty political plot lines, and definitely not YA."
#24
Renee Ahdieh
4.5
(2)
"The Wrath and the Dawn Series by Renee Ahdieh."
"The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh."
#25
John Flanagan
4.5
(2)
"Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan"
"The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan might work for you! It's aimed at YA readers, and just a good fun adventure series."
#26
Anne McCaffrey
4.5
(2)
"Anne McCaffrey Harper Hall trilogy (part of the larger Pern universe but good YA mini-series)"
"Anne’s RESTOREE fits your bill perfectly"
#27
Diane Duane
4.5
(2)
"Diane Duane Young Wizards series"
"Diane Duane's The Book of Night With Moon - because ... it has wizard ... cats."
#28
Mercedes Lackey
4.5
(2)
"Mercedes Lackey is one of the first fantasy authors I remember who had gay characters in her three Last Herald Mage books."
"Check out the Valedemar books by Mercedes Lackey."
#29
Sharon Shinn
4.5
(2)
"The Elemental Blessings Series and The Twelve Houses Series by Sharon Shinn (all of her series are fantastic, but these are my two favorites)"
"The Samaria series by Sharon Shinn"
#30
Robin McKinley
4.5
(2)
"“The Blue Sword” and sequels by Robin McKinley. You might like her standalone novels too."
"Chalice by Robin McKinley might be a good fit. The main character, Mirasol, is inexperienced for her position, but I remember her as being a grown ass adult who knows her own business."
#31
Tomi Adeyemi
4.0
(2)
"Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi"
"Not directly in enemies to lovers but very close is "Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeyemi."
#32
Danielle L. Jensen
4.0
(2)
"The Bridge Kingdom (The Bridge Kingdom, #1) by Danielle L. Jensen."
"{The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen} is pretty good."
#33
Jordan Ifueko
4.0
(2)
"Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko"
"The ‘Raybearer’ duology by Jordan Ifueko"
#34
Daniel Polansky
4.0
(2)
"The Builders, Daniel Polansky"
"Daniel Polansky's The Builders. Pretty short, but loved it nonetheless"
#35
Judy Lim
4.0
(2)
"Seconding A Magic Steeped in Poison"
"‘A Magic Steeped In Posion’ duology by Judy Lim"
#37
Christopher Paolini
5.0
(1)
"The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini"
#38
F.C. Yee
5.0
(1)
"They're exactly what they sound like, a YA duology about Kyoshi from the Avatar universe, and they're extremely fun and very approachable reads."
#39
Patricia Briggs
5.0
(1)
"So these are fantasy but worth the read promise ... mercy Thompson series by patricia briggs"
#40
Cinda Williams Chima
5.0
(1)
"The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima"
#41
Emily Tesh
5.0
(1)
"I would recommend "some desperate glory" from Emily Tesh. Its sci fi and her debut, and she won the Hugo Award with it last year."
#42
Terry Pratchett
5.0
(1)
"Terry Pratchett - The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. It's about a community of talking rats and a talking cat who are trying to find a place in the human world."
#43
Katherine Kerr
5.0
(1)
"Fantastic series, the final book Mistress of the Empire will forever be one of my top favourite reads. Love how everything tied together and the pay off"
#44
Simon Jimenez
5.0
(1)
"The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is excellent."
#45
C.S. Lewis
5.0
(1)
"Read the Chronicles of Narnia books by CS Lewis. There are talking animals all over in those books."
#46
Susan Cooper
5.0
(1)
"Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series, Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, and Alan Garner's Weirdstone of Brisingamen et al are all classics for a reason."
#47
S.M. Wilson
5.0
(1)
"The Extinction Trials by S.M. Wilson"
#48
Seanan McGuire
5.0
(1)
"Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire has multiple queer leads."
#49
Susan Dennard
5.0
(1)
"The Witchlands by Susan Dennard is written by a white author but it has everything you're looking for. The world building is AMAZING. The plot too! I love all the characters and their arcs."
#50
James Islington
5.0
(1)
"The Will of the Many by James Islington"
#51
Robert Jordan
5.0
(1)
"The Wheel of Time can seem very intimidating judging by the length of the books and series over all. But it’s very readable and very well written."
#52
Janny Wurts
5.0
(1)
"The Wars of Light and Shadow is brilliant. Janny Wurts did such a great job."
#53
K.D. Edwards
5.0
(1)
"The Tarot Sequence: The Last Sun, The Hanged Man, The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards"
#54
Harper A. Burge
5.0
(1)
"Super fun and fast paced ya fantasy with romance"
#55
Megan Whalen Turner
5.0
(1)
"The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (and the rest of the series. It is excellent)"
#56
R.F. Kuang
5.0
(1)
"R.F. Kuang's Poppy Wars trilogy might fit the bill."
#57
Tamsyn Muir
5.0
(1)
"I’d highly recommend The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir."
#58
SJ Kincaid
5.0
(1)
"The Diabolic by SJ Kincaid. It’s more sci-fi than fantasy, but it’s so good!"
#59
Ken Liu
5.0
(1)
"I think you might like The Dandelion Dynasty series by Ken Liu."
#60
Ada Palmer
5.0
(1)
"Terra Ignota - Ada Palmer. Fits pretty much all your requirements"
#61
Derek Landy
5.0
(1)
"Skuldugery Pleasant by Derek Landy is one of my all time favorites"
#62
Juliet Marillier
5.0
(1)
"Juliet Mariler s Sevenwaters books."
#63
Michael J. Sullivan
5.0
(1)
"Totally seconding Michael J. Sullivan’s books, specifically the Riyria Revelations series. They’re very fun to read, have great characters and are meaty enough to be satisfying while being simple enough to not require a great deal in mental investment."
#64
Susanna Clarke
5.0
(1)
"You absolutely must read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke."
#65
Morgan Rhodes
4.0
(1)
"You might try Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes (6 books)"
#66
Alice Ivinya
4.0
(1)
"Kingdom of Birds and Beasts by Alice Ivinya"
#67
Sky Lansing
4.0
(1)
"Honor’s Path series by Sky Lansing"
#68
Travis M. Riddle
4.0
(1)
"Flesh Eater by Travis M. Riddle. They even have spider jockeys!"
#69
Meredith Ann Pierce
4.0
(1)
"Firebringer series by Meredith Ann Pierce - main characters are unicorns and there's some other mythical creatures"
#70
Andre Norton
4.0
(1)
"A Breed to Come by Andre Norton is a story based in the future with evolved cats as the main characters."
#71
Iron Prince
4.0
(1)
"Iron Prince has YA feel to it. A story about a group of friends at a military academy trying to get stronger. The combat is the best part of the book to me."
#72
Garth Nix
4.0
(1)
"Sabriel by Garth Nix."
#73
Rick Riordan
4.0
(1)
"Try the Percy Jackson series."
#74
T. Kingfisher
4.0
(1)
"If you like it a little more offbeat/weird, T. Kingfisher's fantasy books (Nettle & Bone, the Paladin se"
#75
Ryan Cahill
4.0
(1)
"Ryan Cahill’s Of Blood and Fire is basically Earagon 2.0. It’s a really addictive story about a young dragon rider."
#76
Alison Croggon
4.0
(1)
"Based on your liking of Hobbit and the movies of LOTR, you might check out Alison Croggon's Pellinor series."
#77
Alice Oseman
4.0
(1)
"Frances has been a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand"
#78
Neal Shusterman
4.0
(1)
"The Scythe trilogy by Neal Schusterman was pretty good."
#79
Joe Abercrombie
4.0
(1)
"Check out the Shattered Sea by Joe Abercrombie. I really enjoyed it, it’s a very cohesive and interesting world with powerful characters."
#80
Michael R. Miller
4.0
(1)
"It's not YA really, but Michael R Miller's Songs of Chaos is a good fit for what you're looking for. Nice and approachable, but with enough depth to keep it interesting."
#81
Dhonielle Clayton
4.0
(1)
"The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (2 books so far)"
#82
Martha Wells
4.0
(1)
"Book of the Raksura by Martha Wells - flying lizard/monkey type creatures"
#83
Yahtzee Croshaw
4.0
(1)
"Yahtzee Croshaw, funny author with great characters. Differently Morphus and Existentially Challenged - Governmental agency involved in the regulation of magic and extra dimensional beings."
#84
Lyndsey Hall
4.0
(1)
"The Fair Chronicles by Lyndsey Hall"
#85
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
4.0
(1)
"Dragonlance series"
#86
Holly Black
4.0
(1)
"Folk of the Air (trilogy) - Holly Black"
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