Here are some of the most incredible fantasy books out there right now.
For the Wolf – Hannah Whitten
The first daughter is for the throne, the second is for the wolf.
As the only second-born royal daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose – to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Woods in the hope that he’ll return the world’s capture gods. As Red heads into the Wilderwood, she finds that the wolf is not a monster but a man.
This adult fantasy is a retelling that has elements of both Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast.
Thornhedge – T. Kingfisher
On the day she’s born, Toadling was stolen away from her family by the fairies but grew up happy and loved. As an adult, she’s asked to return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection on a newborn child.
Centuries later, there’s a princess trapped in a tower and a knight approaches a tower where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He’s heard that there’s a curse that needs breaking, but Toadling will do anything to uphold it.
This is a short and magical fantasy book that reads like a fairytale.
A Thousand Heartbeats – Kiera Cass
Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort but she’s about to be forced into a loveless political marriage. Miles away, Lennox has grown up in a world with little luxury and devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day reclaim the throne that was stolen from them.
Annika and Lennox are natural enemies, but when she’s kidnapped by his people, they realise they have a connection that neither can ignore.
This is a standalone enemies to lovers young adult fantasy.
Immortal Longings – Chloe Gong
Every year thousands of people flock to San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. Those confident enough will use their ability to jump between bodies to fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.
5 years ago, Princess Calla killed her parents and she’s determined to take down her uncle, the king, so she enters the games hoping for the opportunity to kill him if she wins. Anton is an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love lies in a coma and the only way he can keep her alive is to win the money. Though they have different goals, they find an unexpected alliance in one another.
This is the first in a fantasy series and a retelling of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.
The Surviving Sky – Kritika H. Rao
High above a jungle planet the last of humanity survives on plant made civilisations held together by architects. Architects are revered above anyone else – if not for their psychic ability to manipluate plants the cities would plunge into the devastating storms below.
Ahilya is married to such an architect and believes there is another way to live without being so reliant on the architects. She desperately wants to see their society change and this has caused problems within their marriage.
But when her husband is accused of pushing his abilities to forbidden limits, he must work with Ahilya to clear his name and save their world.
This is the first book in a unique new fantasy/science fiction series.
Gwen and Art Are Not in Love – Lex Croucher
Hundreds of years after King Arthur ruled, his descendant, Art, and the princess of England, Gwen, are betrothed to be married. But there are two problems: they kind of can’t stand each other and they’re both gay.
Gwen is quickly falling for the kingdom’s only lady knight and Art has taken an interest in Gwen’s brother, the heir to the throne.
This is a fun, standalone medieval, romantic comedy.
Beasts of Prey – Ayana Gray
Koffi is indentured to the notorious Night Zoo where she cares for magical and dangerous creatures to pay off her family’s debts. But on the night the safety of her family is threatened, she unleashes a dangerous power.
Ekon is an elite warrior desperate to uphold his family legacy, but on the night of his final rite of passage he encounters the Shetani – a vicious monster that’s plagued the city for nearly a century. Koffi’s powers end up saving Ekon’s life but his decision to let her flee dooms his hopes of becoming a warrior.
Ekon vows to hunt down the Shetani to redeem himself and Koffi wants to find and sell it to settle her debts. Together they enter the Greater Jungle to hunt the deadly creature.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab
In a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain that will allow her to live forever but to be forgetting by everyone she meets.
We follow Addie over centuries as everyone forgets her, until one day, 300 years after she makes the deal, a young boy in a bookstore remembers her name.
This standalone fantasy is set over centuries as we follow Addie as she develops a relationship with the terrifying creature she made a deal with.
Serpent and Dove – Shelby Mahurin
Two years ago, Louise Le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, all witches are hunted and burned,
A wicked stunt forces her into marriage with a witch hunter but she is unable to ignore her growing feelings for her.
This is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy with a marriage of convenience, secret identities and enemies to lovers.
An Enchantment of Ravens – Margaret Rogerson
Isobel creates stunning portraits for the dangerous fair folk. They crave human craft and are willing to trade valuable enchantments of Isobel’s paintings. One day she receives her first royal patron and makes a deadly mistake – she paints mortal sorry in his eyes, a weakness that could cost him his throne and his life.
He whisks her away to his kingdom to stand trial for her crime but on the way they’re forced to rely on each other as they’re attacked on every side.
This is a standalone fantasy romance with an enemies to lovers romance and fae.