It’s been a while since I did a recommendation list based off of my entirely biased opinion, so I thought I do one on my favourite genre (in fact, pretty much the only one I read).

They aren’t in order of preference, just in order of when they popped into my brain.

Any of the ones I have live reviews of on the blog, I have linked, so peruse there for more in-depth reviews.

1. The Abhorsen Series – Garth Nix

This will forever be the fantasy series that made me fall in love with the genre.

The first book begins with Sabriel’s journey, her father, the Abhorsen disappears mysteriously. Someone must step into the role of Abhorsen, the Old kingdom relies on him to keep the dead from rising and to put the dead back to rest. When she crosses back into the country of her birth and into her birthright.

Soon she discovers there are dark forces at work in the Old Kingdom and her father is somehow tied up in it all.

The rest of the book are set ten years after the events in Sabriel. Later Garth Nix released two prequel books, Goldenhand and Clariel.

2. The ACOTAR Series – Sarah J Maas

Also known by its full name: A Court of Thorns and Roses. I read this series last year and reignited a real passion for fantasy books.

The first book in the series begins when Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, who turns out to be a Fae. When huge fae male comes to take Feyre to atone for the murder, it soon becomes clear that there’s more behind the reason she was taken. There’s a mysterious blight or curse upon the land and it’s people and somehow it seems to involve her.

The rest of the series follows the fallout from the events in the first book and burgeoning war. It has amazing romances and interesting magical world setting.

3. Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo

I mean, I would recommend pretty much any books in the Grishaverse but I loved Six of Crows above all.

This book follows the Crows on a heist in the ice court’s of Fjerda, which quickly gets out of hand and becomes much bigger than a heist to get some extra Kruge.

It has excellent romances, fun shenanigans, found family, magic and gangs, it has the best of everything!

4. Skulduggery Pleasant – Derek Landy

This series rocketed straight to one of my all time favourites, I’d happily re-read them over and over, if it wasn’t 15 books long.

This series follow the adventures of Skulduggery Pleasant, the skeleton detective and Valkyrie Cain, a 12 year old that gets roped into the world of sorcerers after the mysterious death of her Uncle, where he leaves his entire estate to her. She soon discovers the whole hidden world of magic and can’t let it go, convincing Skulduggery to let her work alongside him solving crimes and saving the world.

5. The Five Crowns of Okrith series – A.K. Mulford

This is an indie turned trad published author I found through my podcast and Tiktok. For all the books so far in this series I found myself staying up super late into the night to read them. They have fantastic romances, great world building and awesome diversity.

This series open with Remy in hiding as a red witch, when she is discovered by a handsome fae male and his warriors, they convince her to help hunt down a missing artefact that belonged to the, now destroyed, High Mountain Court. Remy finds herself drawn to the handsome prince but she must overcome the secrets of her past before they can begin to help the kingdom’s recover from the tyrant rule of the Northern Court.

6. Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas

I read this series mainly because I enjoyed ACOTAR and the memes about it were excellent. It’s 8 books that are fairly chonky so it was quite the commitment but it was so worth it!

Throne of Glass follows Caleana’s journey, when she is taken from the slave mines in Endovier, where she had been sentenced for being the infamous assassin of Ardarlan. Prince Dorian and Chaol, his captain of the guard, offer her a deal; win the competition to be the King’s champion, in exchange for her eventual freedom. We soon discover that there is more to Calaena than anyone thought, she must face her past, her heritage and her magic, in order to help free their continent from the tyranny of Ardarlan’s rule and reunite her people.

Such a rich world, great found family, awesome romances!

7. Zodiac Academy – Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Now, I won’t claim that this series is high quality writing but oh wow were they an enjoyable read! I powered through all of them in the space of two weeks.

This series starts with Vega twins being discovered in the mortal world and returned to the Fae realm, where they are shocked to discover that they are the lost royals. They are even more shocked to find that they are now in competition for a throne they never wanted, with the heirs to the celestial council who’ve been ruling in the royal family’s stead in their absence. The series follows them coming into their powers and their inheritance, as they discover that there is a bigger enemy after them than the celestial heirs.

8. An Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir

I loved this series and have since re-listened to the all as audio books.

When Laia’s grandparents are murdered and her brother arrested by the Empire, she has no choice but to turn to the rebels. In order to free her brother she takes the dangerous assignment undercover in the general’s household. There she is surprised to befriend a Martial in training, and the son of the general, Elias. The mission soon becomes bigger than just rescuing her brother. The rest of the books follow the fall out that comes from her befriending Elias and then have chance to do more than just free her brother, they could free the Empire.

9. The Infernal Devices – Cassandra Clare

I love all the books set in the shadow hunter universe (even Mortal Instruments with all its flaws).

This series follows Tessa as she arrives in London in search of her brother, whose her only family after the death of her Aunt. She’s quickly pulled into the shadow world when the she’s trapped by the people her brother was last seen with and is rescued by two dashing Shadowhunter boys. They quickly discover her brother has become involved in an underground group determined to rule over humans and shadow hunters alike.

It has great romances, cute found family and all the cool word building of the shadow hunter world.

10. Discworld Series – Terry Pratchett

The ultimate classic fantasy series and probably the author I can ultimately credit for my love of fantasy.

There are multiple series set within the Discworld Universe, a flat land sat on the back of four elephants, stood on the back of flying space turtle. From witches, to death, to wizards, to Gods, these books cover a little bit of everything and I would highly recommend them if you love the genre.

It’s exhausting doing ones I’ve actually read because I have to use my brain, I hope you guys appreciate!

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