If there’s one thing I love, it’s a book that yanks me straight into another world like it has zero regard for my to-do list. Give me magic. Give me danger. Give me the kind of quest where a kid with more heart than experience has to figure out who they are before the world explodes — or, you know, before a wyvern eats them. These are the stories that invite us to step through the door, face the darkness and come out a little braver on the other side.
So, if you’re craving fantasy that hits with emotion, adventure and a whole lot of “oh no, I cannot possibly put this down,” here are seven books ready to sweep you away.
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
Kelly Link is the master of bending reality just enough to make it feel like a dream you’re only half awake for. In The Book of Love, several teens return from the dead for reasons they can barely understand, thrown into a world where logic takes a backseat to strangeness and wonder. They’re tasked with missions that seem impossible, navigating a reality that refuses to behave. It’s funny, surreal and heartbreaking all at once, and it asks big questions about who we are and who we become when the impossible knocks. If you love your fantasy twisted, sly and a little mind-bending, this one will grab you from page one.
Journey to the Land of Integrity by Bruce Beck
Isaiah is not your typical chosen one. He’s a kid haunted by a past he barely understands, who ends up in a realm where truth is slippery and danger travels in packs. Under the guidance of Iswa, a mentor with patience like a mountain and secrets tucked deep inside, Isaiah learns what it means to walk a path that will test him to his core. With Ohtara, a legend in her own right, at his side, he faces moral crossroads, long-buried truths and a kind of courage that actually costs something. This is portal fantasy at its best — heartfelt, risky and impossible to put down.
Tales of Witches and Wyverns by S. Ramsey
Enid’s best friend is kidnapped into a world bursting with magic and she charges straight after him. From enchanted forests to ruthless courts to skies crawling with wyverns, her journey is full of danger and wonder in equal measure. Ramsey delivers a fantasy world that feels vivid, alive and anchored by a heroine whose determination could literally bulldoze mountains. It’s high adventure, fast-paced and perfect for anyone who thrives on magical rescues and creatures that make your heart race.
The Misewa Saga: The World’s End by David A. Robertson
Robertson’s work has always been rich with emotional depth, but this installment pushes everything further. Returning to a world steeped in Indigenous storytelling, the young heroes face a threat that mirrors their own personal fractures. The story is about courage under pressure, found family and making the hard choices that test your very soul. The worldbuilding is stunning, but it’s the heart — those small, raw human moments — that keeps you utterly engrossed.
Brimstone by Callie Hart
Hart goes full dark fantasy here, crafting a world brimming with danger, prophecy and characters who refuse to quit even when everything is stacked against them. It’s a story that starts with a spark and escalates into full inferno — monsters stalking the shadows, powers waking up angry and a heroine running from a fate that won’t let her go. Sharp, addictive, impossibly tense … get ready for a book that keeps you on edge while delivering a world you can’t stop thinking about.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
Take Arthurian legend, turn it upside down and hand the sword to someone completely unprepared. That’s the magic Grossman delivers. He builds a world of broken myths and flawed heroes, dropping a young knight-in-training into the middle of it all with barely a clue. What unfolds is a quest that is both epic and deeply human, packed with emotional stakes, humor and moments that hit surprisingly close to home. Perfect for anyone who wants classic myths with a fresh, modern pulse.
The Iron Trial (Magisterium #1) by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Callum Hunt doesn’t want anything to do with magic but avoiding it is harder than he ever imagined. Failing the test to stay away lands him in a secret school where every corridor hides secrets and every friend might not be what they seem. Black and Clare take the familiar magic-school formula and sharpen it into something darker, smarter and far more compelling. This is a series opener that sticks with you long after the last page.
