10 Best YA Fantasy Books of 2026
Young adult fantasy has never been busier, and that is exactly why picking your next quest can feel impossible. Every shelf promises a chosen one, a cursed prince, a deadly tournament or a heroine who is secretly the villain.
This ranking counts down ten of the best YA fantasy books of 2026 from #10 to #1, so you can skip the scrolling and find a world worth getting lost in. Each entry explains the premise, the main characters, what reviewers have said, who it suits and where to buy it. We checked publishers, release dates and age guidance for every title, so you know what you are getting before you order.
The list is deliberately varied. You will find a dragon tournament where the contestants are hunting for hidden monsters among themselves, a theatre of immortal Players, a thief searching underground tunnels for her missing sister, a prince who may turn into a tree, an elf hiding forbidden magic in a royal court, and a bride who meets a starmaker in an ice castle. Some are dark, some are funny and some are quietly romantic.
We judged each book on four things. First, how original the world is and how well the author makes you believe in it. Second, how strong the characters are when the magic is stripped away. Third, the quality of the writing and the pacing. Fourth, whether the story stays with you after you have closed the book. Fantasy readers forgive a lot, but they do not forgive a world that feels thin, so we rewarded books that built something real.
A few themes run through the list. Many of the heroines are told what they are by someone else, whether that is a savior, a villain or a curse, and the best books are about refusing that label. Others look at power and who gets to hold it. And romance is never far away, though it rarely gets in the way of the plot.
A note on dates. We rank from #10 to #1, so our favourite is waiting at the end. Most of these books were published between January and June 2026, but two sit outside that window. Thorn Season came out on 2 September 2025, and Mortal Things is published on 27 October 2026, so it is a pre-order. We flag the date in each entry so you know what you can read today.
If you are planning a cosy autumn of magic, shopping for a teenage fantasy fan or just need a world to disappear into, this list is for you. Let’s start 👇
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10. Mortal Things by Marie Lu
Rose Lin Fairchild is a Harbinger, a servant to Raven, the god of Death, a role that ties her to death itself. Her path crosses with Étienne Beauchard, a rival who is determined to beat her, and the book follows the rivalry between two people who both think they deserve the same prize. Because Mortal Things is not published until 27 October 2026, this entry is based on the publisher’s description rather than a finished copy, so treat it as a promising pre-order.
Marie Lu is the author of the Legend series and Warcross, which makes her one of the best-known names in YA, and a new fantasy from her is always an event. The book runs to 368 pages from Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers and is recommended for readers aged 14 to 18.
Why it ranks here: It earns a place because Marie Lu has a proven record of fast, vivid, high-concept YA, and a heroine who works for the god of Death is a hook that sells itself. It opens the countdown at #10 only because it is not out yet, and we cannot rank an unread book above the ones we know hold up.
Who should read it: Readers aged 14 and up who love rivalries, death gods and high-concept fantasy, and fans of Marie Lu’s earlier series.
Where to buy: Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers on 27 October 2026, available to pre-order. Pre-order Mortal Things on Amazon or ask your local bookshop to reserve a copy.
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9. Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova
Isola Thaz lives in Vinguard, a walled fortress beyond the Nightgale Mountains, and she has been told all her life that she is the reincarnated savior of the city. Vinguard fears dragons, and among its citizens hide the dragon cursed, people who may turn into winged beasts at any moment. To prove who is loyal, eighteen-year-olds enter the Tribunal, a brutal contest of unarmed trials. Isola joins it and forms an alliance with Lucan, the son of the leader of the city’s ruling Creed.
Kirkus calls it “a freewheeling, action-packed fantasy with a dash of romance”, which is a fair summary of the pace. The Tribunal’s trials include fire-breathing automatons, starvation and encounters with real dragons, and the book runs to 448 pages. Publishers Weekly lists it for readers aged 16 and up.
Why it ranks here: It is fast, inventive and full of set pieces, and the tournament structure gives every chapter a clear goal. It lands at #9 because the action leaves the romance and the politics a little thinner than the books above it.
Who should read it: Readers aged 16 and up who love tournament plots, dragons and action-first fantasy with a touch of romance.
Where to buy: Published by Mayhem, an imprint of Entangled, on 6 January 2026. Find Dragon Cursed on Amazon or borrow it from your library.
8. Thorn Season by Kiera Azar
Alissa Paine is eighteen years old and a Wielder, someone with powers that make her valuable and dangerous in equal measure. Her world is one of cruelty and politics, and she soon finds herself caught between a brutal prince and a foreign ambassador who each want something from her. The book follows Alissa as she tries to survive a court that treats people like her as tools, and as she works out who she can trust and what she is prepared to do to protect herself.
Thorn Season is Kiera Azar’s debut, and it runs to 464 pages from Storytide, an imprint of HarperCollins. It was published on 2 September 2025, so it is a late-2025 release that readers are still discovering in 2026. It is a good pick for readers who like a long, slow-building fantasy with high stakes.
Why it ranks here: It is ambitious for a debut, with a heroine who has real power and real constraints, and the political tension keeps you reading. It sits at #8 because it is a long book from a first-time author, and the books above it are tighter and more distinctive in voice.
Who should read it: Readers who love court intrigue, dangerous princes and heroines with powers they cannot afford to show.
Where to buy: Published by Storytide (HarperCollins) on 2 September 2025. Find Thorn Season on Amazon or reserve it at your local library.
7. Forgive-Me-Not by Mari Costa
Aisling is a changeling, a faerie child left behind in the human world, and she has never quite fitted in anywhere. Forgive-Me-Not is the true princess, raised in Faerie in the place Aisling was meant to have. When their paths cross, the two are set up as enemies, each carrying a grudge about a life the other seems to have stolen. The story follows what happens when that rivalry turns into something neither of them expected, and whether two girls on opposite sides of an old wrong can learn to trust each other.
The enemies-to-lovers structure gives the story plenty of tension, and the changeling idea is a clever way to talk about belonging and swapped lives. First Second, the publisher, is best known for its graphic storytelling, and the book runs to 320 pages. It is recommended for readers aged 12 to 18.
Why it ranks here: It is imaginative, romantic and easy to love, and the premise is one of the most memorable on the list. It sits at #7 because the fairytale world is lightly sketched compared with the denser, more detailed settings above it.
Who should read it: Readers aged 12 to 18 who love fairytale twists, changelings and enemies-to-lovers stories.
Where to buy: Published by First Second in April 2026. Find Forgive-Me-Not on Amazon or borrow it from your library.
6. The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham
Corin is an eighteen-year-old thief who goes underground to search for her missing twelve-year-old sister, Elly. In the dark tunnels beneath the city she finds something she did not expect: a cursed sleeping princess. The princess is Briar Rose, and with her comes a nonbinary demon named Malicine. Corin has to decide whether to trust them, whether the curse can be broken and what she is willing to risk to find her sister. It is a sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a thief at its centre.
Kirkus describes the book in just two words as “somberly beautiful”, and the verdict suits a story that mixes fairytale imagery with real danger and grief. It is published by Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House, on 2 June 2026.
Why it ranks here: It takes a familiar fairytale and gives it a thief, a missing sibling and a demon with real personality. It lands at #6 because its tone is sombre, and the books above it have a bigger sense of adventure or a stronger central romance.
Who should read it: Readers who love fairytale retellings, sapphic romance, underground settings and stories about siblings.
Where to buy: Published by Kokila (Penguin Random House) on 2 June 2026. Find The Secret World of Briar Rose on Amazon or ask your local bookshop to order it.
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5. A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann
Riven Hesper is eighteen and cursed by a Player from the Playhouse, a place where immortal performers keep the world’s stories alive. The only way to break the curse is to win a competition and steal a Player’s immortality. Riven throws herself into the contest, and finds herself drawn towards Jude, the Lead Player, who is a very dangerous person to get close to. The longer she plays, the more she begins to suspect that in this story she may not be the hero, but the villain.
The theatre setting gives the book a theatrical, high-drama feel, and the idea of a heroine who might be the villain of her own story is a strong hook. It is published by Mayhem Books, an imprint of Entangled, in 2026. We could not confirm an exact publication date, so check the retailer listing before you order.
Why it ranks here: It has a brilliant premise, a vivid setting and a heroine who is morally grey in an interesting way. It sits at #5 because the exact release details are less certain than the titles above it, and because the world has more to explore than one book can show.
Who should read it: Readers who love theatre settings, morally grey heroines, villain origin stories and dangerous romance.
Where to buy: Published by Entangled: Mayhem Books in 2026, hardback edition. Find A Stage Set for Villains on Amazon or ask your library to reserve a copy.
4. The Ruins Beneath Us by Sasha Sloan
In a land where magic is forbidden, an elf named Lyria hides the one thing that could get her killed. When she uses her forbidden magic to save the life of the crown prince, her secret nearly comes out, and instead of punishing her the palace gives her a place at his side as his apothecary. Lyria now has to keep her magic hidden in a court that fears people like her, while the bond between her and the prince grows into something that could cost them both everything.
Publishers Weekly picks out the book’s interest in “self-discovery, oppression, loyalty, and consent”, which tells you this is a fantasy with real themes under the courtly surface. It runs to 368 pages from Disney Hyperion and is recommended for readers aged 13 and up.
Why it ranks here: It is a satisfying forbidden-magic fantasy with a heroine who has to make hard choices, and it treats power and consent with more care than many palace stories do. It lands at #4 because the court setting will feel familiar to romantasy readers, but its focus on character keeps it ahead of the books below it.
Who should read it: Readers aged 13 and up who love forbidden magic, court intrigue and heroines with dangerous secrets.
Where to buy: Published by Disney Hyperion in March 2026, a 368-page edition. Find The Ruins Beneath Us on Amazon or reserve it at your local library.
3. The Swan’s Daughter: A Possibly Doomed Love Story by Roshani Chokshi
Prince Arris has an unusual problem. He is cursed, and unless he finds true love he will turn into a sentient tree, just like the rulers before him. His parents announce a tournament to choose a bride, and Arris enlists Demelza, a truth-telling swan woman, to help him spot genuine affection among the contestants. As they move through elaborate castle events, the pair uncover dangerous intentions and begin to see that two outsiders need more than luck to survive: they need the courage to build a life worth living.
This is a romantic fantasy that blends dark fairytale touches with a warm love story, and the subtitle tells you not to expect a simple happily-ever-after. Roshani Chokshi is also the author of the Aru Shah series and The Star-Touched Queen, so she knows how to make mythology feel fresh. The publisher recommends it for ages 13 to 18.
Why it ranks here: It is inventive, funny and tender, and the tree curse is a premise you will remember. It takes #3 because it combines a memorable world, a lovable pair of leads and a sharp sense of humour, but it just misses the top two for its lighter stakes.
Who should read it: Readers aged 13 to 18 who love fairytale retellings, tournament plots and slow-burn romance between two outsiders.
Where to buy: Published by Wednesday Books on 6 January 2026, in a 400-page edition. Find The Swan’s Daughter on Amazon or reserve it at your local library.
2. Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
Anabelle Gage is desperate. In her world the magical elite buy designer bodies, and hers is rotting from the inside out. After failing her academy entrance exam, she steals a healthy body and is caught by the headmaster, who gives her an ultimatum: become his mercenary or face execution. She chooses to live, and she is thrown into a conflict between the wealthy and the underground rebels. Working alongside a dangerous team of fighters and assassins, she has to decide where her loyalties really lie.
This is a dark academia fantasy, and Petra Lord’s debut has earned strong early praise. The Nerd Daily gave it 10 out of 10 and called it “one of the most exciting YA fantasy debuts” the reviewer had read, praising Ana as a protagonist and the way the book unpicks the Chosen One trope. The same review says it “does not pull its punches”.
Why it ranks here: It has a brilliant hook, a fast pace and real stakes, and a body-swap economy is a clever way to talk about money and power. It takes #2 because the world and the heroine are more original than almost anything else on the list, and it stays just behind #1 for its smaller emotional range.
Who should read it: Readers aged 14 and up who love dark academies, assassin plots and morally grey heroines.
Where to buy: Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on 3 February 2026. Find Queen of Faces on Amazon or look for the paperback at your local library.
🎧 Before we reveal our No. 1 pick…
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1. The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin
Aurora Finch meets the Starmaker on her wedding day, and the encounter changes everything. She is drawn into an ice castle in the Lost Range, a place of frost and endless winter, where the line between captivity and choice keeps shifting. The story follows Aurora as she tries to work out what the Starmaker wants and what she wants in return. Griffin builds the romance slowly, letting the cold, glittering setting do as much of the work as the dialogue does.
Rachel Griffin also wrote The Nature of Witches, and this book carries the same love of weather and season as storytelling. It reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list, which shows how many readers have already taken it to heart. The edition we link to is the deluxe edition, published by Sourcebooks.
Why it ranks here: It takes the top spot because it has the most complete world on the list: a setting you can feel, a heroine whose choices matter and a romance that grows out of the place rather than despite it. It is the book we would most like to hand to someone who says they do not read fantasy.
Who should read it: Readers who love atmospheric fantasy, winter settings and slow-burn love stories, and fans of The Nature of Witches.
Where to buy: Published by Sourcebooks on 17 February 2026. Find The Sun and the Starmaker on Amazon or ask your local bookshop to order it.
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The Best YA Fantasy Books of 2026: Final Thoughts
What connects the strongest books here is that each one builds a world with its own rules and then lets the heroine push against them. The Sun and the Starmaker turns a frozen castle into a character, Queen of Faces turns a body-swap economy into a comment on money, and The Ruins Beneath Us turns a palace into a place where a secret can be fatal.
The list also shows how wide the genre has become. The Swan’s Daughter is warm and funny, Dragon Cursed is all trials and dragons, The Secret World of Briar Rose gives a fairytale a thief and a demon, and A Stage Set for Villains asks what happens when the heroine is the problem. Mortal Things and Thorn Season show how much more is arriving or still being discovered.
The Sun and the Starmaker finished first because it does the one thing fantasy must do above all else: it makes you want to stay in its world. It is also a reminder that a good fantasy does not need a huge battle, only a place you believe in and a character who matters. If you are not sure where to begin, choose by mood: dark, funny, romantic or strange.
Now we would love to hear from you. Which fantasy is your favourite, how would you rank the list, and which 2026 YA fantasy do you think we missed? Tell us in the comments and share this list with a friend who always has a dragon on their bookshelf.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Best YA Fantasy Books of 2026
What is the best YA fantasy book of 2026?
Our No. 1 pick is The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin, a fantasy about Aurora Finch, who meets the Starmaker on her wedding day and is drawn into an ice castle in the Lost Range. It was published by Sourcebooks on 17 February 2026 and reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
Which YA fantasy has the best world-building?
Queen of Faces by Petra Lord and The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin are the strongest on world-building. The first imagines a society where the magical elite buy designer bodies, and the second builds a whole winter kingdom around a castle made of ice.
Which YA fantasy is best for fans of fairytale retellings?
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi, The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham and Forgive-Me-Not by Mari Costa are the three fairytale picks. The first is a cursed-prince romance, the second is a sapphic Sleeping Beauty retelling, and the third reimagines the changeling myth as an enemies-to-lovers story.
Which YA fantasy has the best action?
Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova is the action pick. Kirkus calls it a freewheeling, action-packed fantasy with a dash of romance, and its Tribunal trials include fire-breathing automatons and encounters with real dragons. It was published on 6 January 2026 and is listed for readers aged 16 and up.
Which YA fantasy has a morally grey heroine?
A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann and Queen of Faces by Petra Lord both feature heroines who are not simply good. Riven suspects she may be the villain of her own story, and Anabelle has to choose between a mercenary’s life and execution.
Which YA fantasy is best for younger teens?
Forgive-Me-Not is listed for readers aged 12 to 18, and The Swan’s Daughter for 13 to 18. The Ruins Beneath Us is recommended for ages 13 and up. Dragon Cursed is listed for readers aged 16 and up. Always check the publisher’s age guidance and content notes before you buy for a younger reader.
Which YA fantasy books are not out yet?
Mortal Things by Marie Lu is published on 27 October 2026 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, so it is available to pre-order. Everything else on the list has already been published, although the exact date for A Stage Set for Villains is unconfirmed.
Were all of these books published in 2026?
Not all of them. Thorn Season by Kiera Azar was published on 2 September 2025, so it is a late-2025 release that is still being discovered in 2026, and Mortal Things is due on 27 October 2026. The rest were published in 2026, from The Swan’s Daughter and Dragon Cursed on 6 January to The Secret World of Briar Rose on 2 June.
Which YA fantasy has a queer love story?
The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham is a sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty, and Forgive-Me-Not by Mari Costa follows two girls who start as enemies. Both are good starting points for readers who want queer romance with a fantasy setting.
How do I choose the right YA fantasy for me?
Start with your mood. Pick Dragon Cursed or Queen of Faces for action and danger, The Swan’s Daughter for humour and romance, The Ruins Beneath Us or Thorn Season for court intrigue, and The Sun and the Starmaker when you want a world to live in. If you read with a teen, check the age guidance and content notes first.
More Places to Find Great YA Fantasy
Want to keep exploring new releases? These trusted sites cover young adult publishing all year round.
Kirkus Reviews: independent book reviews with a strong young adult section.
Publishers Weekly: trade news, cover reveals and bestseller coverage for upcoming YA books.
Book Riot: the best YA books of 2026 so far, picked by its editors.
ReadBrightly: the Penguin Random House guide to young adult books of 2026.
Bookshop.org: an online bookshop that supports independent bookstores.
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