I did an English and Creative Writing degree and something about having to read a set list of books and there being this notion about the ‘right’ kind of books to read, which were decidedly not fantasy, really kicked me right into a slump.
Here’s some books/ series that helped me re-discover my love of the genre.
(if there’s any book-ish terms you don’t know, check out the glossary linked in the menu)
My reviews of each series’ are linked in the header.
1. Six of Crows duology – Leigh Bardugo
A heist? With magic!? Well done slow burn romance? Queer and neurodivergent coded characters?
This series is *chefs kiss*
2. The Infernal Devices – Cassandra Clare
Maybe you read The Mortal Instruments back in the day? This series is set in the same universe but it’s my favourite of all the series’s set in this world.
More slow burn romance, a love triangle, magic, Victorian era demon hunters and a lot more books to get your teeth into if you want to keep reading.
3. Skulduggery Pleasant – Derek Landy
I won’t lie, this is a huge series but the books start out quite small. This book follows a skeleton detective and 12 year old Stephanie Edgely After her uncle’s death in mysterious circumstances, Stephanie inherits his house and all the secrets he kept in it and quickly gets drawn into the world of sorcery.
These books follow Stephanie from age 12 all the way through to her late 20’s and they are still going. The series is split into trilogies, so you only need to read as far as you feel like. Be warned, this author doesn’t hold back with his characters. These books are funny and silly but also quite often poignant and heart breaking.
4. Blood and Ash – Jennifer L Armentrout
Now, let me be honest… the books in this series are still coming out and they are getting progressively… shitter but the first two are really enjoyable to read! It’s a little cheesy but sometimes you need a little cheese with your fantasy. It’s ‘enemies’ to lovers, some relatively questionable magic systems, it has spicy scenes, vampires and shifters.
5. High Mountain Court – Five Crowns of Okrith – A.K.Mulford
This series has fae, witches, magic, diverse characters, LGBTQ+ rep and neurodivergent coded characters. Every book the characters have fantastic journey arcs and the author plays with all of your favourite book tropes.
Literally, cannot recommend them enough.
6. ACOTAR – Sarah J Maas
It’s Fae, it’s spicy, it’s a little cheesy is some places and the characters go on journeys that genuinely helped through an incredibly rough time when I was reading them.
These books are far from perfect but they genuinely re-ignited my enjoyment of reading and the fantasy (or romantasy) genre.
7. Zodiac Academy – Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
Once again, it’s fae, it’s spicy, it’s funny, it’s a little cheesy in places and a little sad in others. The author’s are absolutely brutal to their characters later in the books but it takes a while for you to get there, you’ll be in fun, goofy town for quite a few books.
8. Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas
This is a big series I won’t lie but it is a JOURNEY. They are so good, it’s epic fantasy without a lot of droning on, the main character is a bad ass assassin, it has fairies and cool magic systems.
9. Carve the Mark – Veronica Roth
I loved this duology, it’s a bit sci-fi-y as well as fantasy, has one of the most interesting magic systems I’ve read in a while. I love the main characters and their relationship.
10. Ember in the Ashes Quadrilogy – Sabaa Tahir
These books use different myths and supernatural beings to western fantasy stories, there’s a tyrannical empire and two main characters from each side of the fence.
Got anything to add to the list? Comment below
Antonia Bernardin 
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