So, you love epic adventures, magical worlds, or mystical creatures that are often found in fantasies, but maybe you can’t commit to a full series right now, or perhaps you loathe cliffhangers. Or maybe you simply adore fantasy stories in any form and are eager to add more to your TBR list. Regardless of why you have a desire for fantastical standalones, this list is full of enticing reads just waiting to be read by you!
Here is a compilation of 42 YA fantasy standalone novels* for you to get lost in. Each book has at least three-and-a-half stars on Goodreads—included are the ratings as they stand during the time of this article’s conception—and they’re sorted by category.
*Please note: This list is not exhaustive.
High Fantasy
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson—3.65 (Fairies)
Angel Mage by Garth Nix—3.64 (Angels)
Descendant of the Crane by Joan He—3.65 (Chinese-Inspired)
Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas—3.64 (Royalty)
Master of One by Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett—3.75 (Fae)
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson—4.09 (Sorcerers)
Soulswift by Megan Bannen—4.04 (Gods)
The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana—3.56 (Royalty)
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller—3.93 (Royalty)
Historical Fantasy
A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly—3.53 (Magic)
Burn by Patrick Ness—3.79 (Dragons)
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd Jones—4.02 (Paranormal)
Mythological
Lore by Alexandra Bracken—3.88 (Greek Gods)
Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani—3.65 (Japanese Mythology)
Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross—4.10 (Greek and Roman Mythology)
The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White—3.59 Egyptian Mythology
The Siren by Kiera Cass—3.74 (Sirens)
Fairytales/Retellings
Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston—3.83 (Fairytale inspired)
Ash by Malinda Lo—3.63 (Cinderella)
Brightly Burning by Alex Donne—3.72 (Jane Eyre)
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge—3.64 (Little Red Riding hood)
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge—3.68 (Beauty and the Beast)
Don’t Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross—3.75 (Polish Folklore)
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao—3.72 (East Asian reimagining of The Evil Queen).
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust—3.73 (Persian mythology + Sleeping Beauty)
Heartless by Marissa Meyer—4.04 (Queen of Hearts prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig—3.93 (The Twelve Dancing Princesses)
Lost in the Neverwoods by Aiden Thomas—3.78 (Peter Pan)
Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold—3.50 (Little Red Riding Hood)
Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson— 3.94 (Phantom of the Opera).
The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury—4.00 (Aladdin)
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo—3.88 (The Little Mermaid)
Uprooted by Naomi Novik—4.04 (Eastern Europe Mythology)
Science Fiction
Spellhacker by M.K. England—3.60 (Magic)
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett—4.15 (Dystopian)
The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow—3.92 (Aliens)
Contemporary/Urban Fantasy
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow—3.82 (Siren)
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova—3.73 (Witches)
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black—3.86 (Faeries)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern—4.03 (Magical Realism)
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson—3.75 (Witches)
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie LcLemore—3.93 (Witches)
Have you read any? Let us know in the comments which books are your favorites. Hopefully, you’ve found some new ones for your TBR. Joyous reading!
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