Books I’ve Enjoyed This Year
Looking for some clean fantasy books? Then keep reading!
In my previous post, I discussed whether teens should read young adult or adult fiction. While it’s up to your preference, it’s important to be discerning about which books you read in either genre to avoid books with harmful content. If you’re looking for some recommendations, here are a few clean young adult fantasy and adult fantasy books I’ve enjoyed within the last year (in the order I read them).
The Elven Alliance by Tara Grayce
Find The Elven Alliance on Amazon (affiliate link)
Books to date: Fierce Heart, War Bound, Death Wind, Troll Queen
This is the book series that converted me to e-reading because after I read the sample, I couldn’t wait for a print book to come in the mail to keep reading. This is a clean, sweet romance in a rich fantasy setting that pairs magical elves with quasi-steampunk humans. The characters are the gem of this series, embodying wonderful truths such as the importance of choosing your thoughts deliberately and that love is a choice.
Influent by Ariel Avelar
Find Influent on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Novella
This holds a special place in my heart since I had the privilege of beta reading it for a dear friend. It’s an action-packed quick read with a lot of heart. Again, the characters take center stage in wrestling with tough conflicts like weighing the value of truth versus their own needs. You can find more details and an interview here.
The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble
Find The Mermaid’s Sister on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
With the feel of a fairy tale, this delightful story features a heroine with strong convictions about what is right and was so refreshing in a book market saturated with bad compromises. Read a deeper review and interview here.
Lost in Averell by Tara Grayce
Find Lost in Averell on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Portal Fantasy
For awhile I wouldn’t touch any books that looked like they might have a scene where characters could have a conversation in front of a locker because those stories seemed so overdone, but this isn’t a typical high school novel. The balance between our world and a parallel fantasy realm was explored in a unique and humorous manner in this book, which distinguishes it from many others in the genre. Want to know more? Review here and interview here.
Beggar Magic by H.L. Burke
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Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
With a special twist on music as a magical force, a bit of a steampunk flair, and a great friendship component, this book really stands out from crowd. It also had a heart-melting romantic subplot with a wonderful love interest. Plus, I got it for free on the author’s website, which was a nice perk!
Ashen by H.L. Burke
Find Ashen on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
As mentioned in my review and author interview, this is the most unique Cinderella retelling I’ve seen that manages to pull off a totally new story while nodding to the key elements of the original.
The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin
Find The Story Peddler on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
For those of you who love unique magic, this book will be a treat. Storytelling, art, and music all have a special way of shaping the world—but remain highly regulated powers under the fist of a deceptive regime. The quest for truth in this story is very compelling.
Ice and Fate Duology by H.L. Burke
Find Ice and Fate Duology on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Books: Daughter of Sun Bride of Ice, Prince of Stars Son of Fate
Talk about fascinating worlds—in one where the sun never sleeps on one side and never shines on the other and people wield special magic of fire and the stars, there comes this story about a young woman brave enough to fulfill a prophecy to save a foreign land by accepting an arranged marriage but falls for her escort along the way. If you were wondering at this point, no, I do not seek out romantic books on purpose, but I certainly appreciate it when this element is well-done! And boy, it definitely is in this one!
Castle in the Wilde by Sharon Rose
Find Castle in the Wilde on Amazon (affiliate link)
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Books I’ve read: A Castle Awakened, A Castle Contended
For those of you who love old-timey type stories with elegant language and courtly manners that aren’t overdone, definitely check this out. There’s a special sweetness to this story of a mysterious woman rescued by a lord reclaiming an abandoned castle in a dangerous land.
Book Recommendations
So there you have it! I’ve read quite a few other books this year that I’ve enjoyed, but these take the first place. Hopefully you’ll enjoy some of them, too.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
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