Fantasy is my favorite genre to read. I can still remember my first foray into another world, slipping through an enchanted wardrobe and experiencing the breathtaking adventure beyond. Fantasy books bring the imagination to life and allow the impossible to occur. The sheer joy of escaping reality and letting go of expectations is enough to bring me back to the genre again and again.
Recently, I’ve started reading some fantasy novels to my kids. While they’re still a bit too young for most fantasy books, I’m collecting my all-time favorites now so we can read them together later.
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His Dark Materials Series
Buy from:A city hidden in the Northern Lights and the mystery of disappearing children make His Dark Materials an engrossing series. This complex, layered fantasy pulls you into a universe (or several) beyond your imagination.
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Seraphina Series
Buy from:Fantasy lovers everywhere are going crazy for this series in which dragons are brilliant, logical thinkers. When a human prince is murdered and dragons are blamed, the relationship between the two species is stretched to its limits.
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5 Book Paperback Boxed Set (w/ poster)
Buy from:The Percy Jackson series has been a fan favorite for over 20 years and has expanded to include several spinoff series and other stories set in the same universe. Tweens and teens who love action-packed plots, engaging characters, magic, and plenty of monsters will devour every volume of this beloved series.
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The Hobbit
Buy from:The Hobbit is one of my favorite books. Although it sets the stage for the Lord of the Rings series, it stands on its own as an epic magical adventure. It has kept me turning pages long into the night on many occasions.
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Beasts of Prey Series
Buy from:Pulled straight from pan-African myth and full of adventure, YA readers will love every minute of this fantastical series. Ekon and Koffi are two Black teens whose lives collide when Koffi discovers she has magical powers. Both of them must leave their expected paths behind and set off together into the Greater Jungle and hunt a terrifying monster to save themselves and the people they love.
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Impossible Creatures
Buy from:Mythological creatures, a hidden island, and two kids who will do anything to save them make this book an instant classic amongst young readers. While the series isn’t complete yet, scores of tweens have fallen in love with this captivating and magical story.
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The Inheritance Cycle Series
Buy from:When young Eragon discovers a dragon hatchling, his world changes forever. Readers of all ages love this story of a boy and his dragon. It's got all the spell casting, dragon riding, and sword fighting you can handle.
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The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series
Buy from:Twins Sophie and Josh find themselves swept into the bizarre and magical world of 700-year-old Nicholas Flamel. Immortality, legends, and a book with the power to destroy the world — this story hooks you from the very first page.
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Tristan Strong Series
Buy from:When Tristan Strong accidentally creates a hole to another dimension, he finds himself in the midst of an ancient battle. Tristan quickly gets swept into the fray alongside African American folk heroes, West African gods, and monsters. This bestselling and award-winning epic fantasy series keeps tween readers hooked from cover to cover.
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Six Crimson Cranes Series
Buy from:Shiori is a princess who must embrace her hidden powers to protect her family and save herself. A blend of several stories from Eastern and Western cultures, this is a must-read for fairy tale lovers.
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Furthermore
Buy from:This bestselling and award-winning magical adventure will appeal to fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland. Three years after her father disappears, Alice sets out to find him. She makes her way through the mythical land of Furthermore, where nothing is as it seems. To succeed, she must keep her wits sharp and her courage strong.
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Legends of Lor'yan 4-Book Boxed Set
Buy from:YA readers of all ages have fallen in love with Elizabeth Lim’s immersive storytelling. She blends Asian folklore with Western fairy tales to create breathtaking stories that whisk readers into worlds filled with magic, romance, and adventure.
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The Storm Runner Series
Buy from:Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology. When a plane driven by a pilot demon crashes right by Zane, he finds himself thrown into a new and unknown world and a prophecy he doesn’t want to be a part of.
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Ranger’s Apprentice Series
Buy from:When 15-year-old Will gets chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice, he doesn’t know much about the mysterious group of magicians. Soon, he discovers that the Rangers are highly trained warriors tasked with protecting the kingdom. With a new threat looming, Will has no choice but to join the action. If you loved The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein or Eragon by Christopher Paolini, read this internationally bestselling series next.
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The Brotherband Chronicles
Buy from:If you can’t get enough of the Ranger’s Apprentice series, you should pick up this companion series. Three outcasts band together against their opponents in an epic race on the sea. Set in the world of the Ranger’s Apprentice, this spinoff series will sweep you into a breathtaking adventure.
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Blood at the Root
Buy from:This series has quickly become an all-time favorite for fans of magical boarding school stories. It follows Malik as he attends Caiman University, uncovers magical abilities, digs up family secrets, and finds a tight-knit community to rely on.
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The Last Kids on Earth Series
Buy from:I can’t resist a book that successfully combines humor, action, and fantasy elements. This wildly popular series has over 5 million copies in print and even has an animated Netflix adaptation. The action-packed story and plentiful illustrations make this series one of my all-time favorite fantasy books for tweens.
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Skyward 4-Book Boxed Set
Buy from:Spensa is the daughter of a traitor who dreams of becoming a fighter pilot. When she discovers an abandoned and broken spaceship, she finds a way to literally reach the stars. This immersive and captivating science fiction series keeps YA readers spellbound from beginning to end.
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Redwall Series
Buy from:As one of the most iconic fantasy series for kids, Redwall continues to be an all-time favorite for fantasy lovers. When war threatens a group of peaceful mice, the young apprentice Matthias must find a weapon that can save them. With humor and adventure, this story has captivated readers for decades. And with a whopping 22 books in the series, your child will have plenty of books to feed their obsession.
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An Ember in the Ashes Series
Buy from:In a fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome, two teens find their destinies inextricably entwined. One is a slave and the other a soldier, and they both risk everything to fight against an oppressive tyranny. For fans of The Hunger Games, this thrilling fantasy series is a must-read.
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The Gilded Ones
Buy from:This instant New York Times bestseller was named one of the best books of the year by Teen Vogue and has enthralled YA readers since its publication. This three-book series follows a near-immortal teenage girl as she becomes an outcast in her village, joins the emperor’s personal army, and saves her kingdom from looming threats.
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Falling Kingdoms Series
Buy from:Romance, magic, and a power struggle combine into an unputdownable story that will keep you glued to the page. With royals fighting for the throne and threats of revolution looming, a terrifying form of magic arises. Four teens will struggle against the odds in this epic fantasy series.
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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Buy from:Monsters, time travel, and a deserted island — it doesn’t get better than this. When Jacob’s grandfather dies, he leaves him with nothing but a cryptic message and mountains of questions. Looking for answers, Jacob and his father head to a remote island. There, they discover a crumbling mansion that used to house magical and possibly dangerous children.
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Vampire Academy
Buy from:This six-book, internationally bestselling series is an all-time favorite for vampire fans and was even adapted into a streaming television show on Peacock. It follows a vampire royal and her half-human bodyguard as they navigate the class politics, romance, and magical societies at their boarding school.
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The Trickster’s Duet
Buy from:Set in the fantasy world of Tortall, this duet introduces readers to Alanna’s daughter Aly, who has a talent for espionage. If you like stories about deceptive gods, spies, rebellion, and prophecies, this duology will become one of your all-time favorite fantasy books.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2026.