20 Should-Learn YA Fantasy Standalones

We completely get it. You’re keen on your epic YA fantasy sequence, however typically you are feeling a bit like a commitmentphobe. Beginning a sequence can take time and a few severe funding. The excellent news? We’ve bought a lineup of 20 nice YA fantasy standalones that shine all on their very own. When you’re on the lookout for your subsequent YA fantasy learn however don’t need to decide to a sequence, try a few of these nice standalone titles.

The Chicken and the Blade by Megan Bannon

A retelling of the opera “Turandot” set throughout the Mongol Empire in the course of the 13th century, The Chicken and the Blade is a gut-wrenching historic fantasy that may doubtless rip your coronary heart out. Jinghua has misplaced her dwelling, her household, and her freedom. However when her kingdom is conquered, Jinghua finds herself an unlikely conspirator within the escape of the prince and his father.

4 Useless Queens by Astrid Scholte

A homicide thriller fantasy with stunning twists and turns, homicide, and mayhem? Signal us proper up! Keralie makes her dwelling as a pickpocket, and he or she steals a mysterious video from the messenger, Varin Bollt. The video exhibits the 4 queens of the dominion being murdered, and abruptly Keralie’s life is turned the other way up. She groups up with Varin, who’s preserving secrets and techniques of his personal, and collectively they attempt to uncover the assassin of the 4 useless queens.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Set in a fictional kingdom impressed by China, Descendant of the Crane is stuffed with lush world-building and even lusher characters. Princess Hesina has at all times been wanting to draw back from her obligations to the crown. However when her father is killed, abruptly the facility is all hers. Determined to seek out her father’s killer and restore stability to her unstable kingdom, Hesina turns to a soothsayer. Besides that magic was outlawed in her kingdom centuries in the past, and Hesina isn’t certain who she will be able to belief. Can she discover justice for her father? Or will the associated fee be too excessive?

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Daughter of the Burning Metropolis By Amanda Foody

Depraved, depraved to the core. The town will burn forevermore. In a touring carnival stuffed with debauchery, Sorina is an illusion-worker. She will be able to create lifelike illusions that may be seen, felt, and even touched. Her creations are her household, they usually make up the carnival’s Freak Present. However her illusions are simply lifelike figments of her creativeness…or so she thought. However then considered one of them is murdered, and Sorina wants to determine who the killer is and the way they killed somebody who doesn’t truly exist.

Women Made from Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

A darkish feminist fantasy tackle Snow White. Sure, please! Mina is motherless, and her father is a magician. Unbeknownst to her, her father has lower out Mina’s coronary heart and changed it with considered one of glass. She units out for the citadel with the goal of profitable the king’s coronary heart. The catch? She’ll must turn out to be a stepmother.

Lynet seems identical to her late mom the queen. The truth is, she was created out of snow in her picture, by order of her father. When the king makes Lynet queen over the southern territories, she displaces her stepmother Mina. Can Lynet and Mina reshape their very own story earlier than they lose every part?

Sorcery of Thrones By Margaret Rogerson

After studying Margaret Rogerson’s An Enchantment of Ravens, we couldn’t wait to dive into her sophomore guide. Orphaned teen Elisabeth was raised in an excellent library and has identified that sorcerers are evil for so long as she will be able to bear in mind. The library she’s grown up in has one of many biggest instruments of sorcery: magical grimoires that remodel into monsters. When essentially the most harmful grimoires is launched from the library, the blame falls on Elisabeth, and he or she begins to query every part she’s been taught. And discovers better than she might have ever imagined.

The Grace 12 months by Kim Ligget

Women on the sting of womanhood are advised they’ve the facility to lure males from their beds and drive girls mad with jealousy. So they’re banished for his or her 16th 12 months to launch this magic into the wild and return purified and prepared for marriage. However not all the ladies will make it dwelling alive. The Handmaid’s Story meets Lord of the Flies on this darkly haunting modern fantasy.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

This wonderful fantasy is a little bit of an oldie, however a goodie! The Scorpio Races occur initially of November yearly. Riders attempt to hold management of their water horses lengthy sufficient to make it to the end line. However not everybody survives. Sean is the returning champion of the races. He retains his phrases shut and his secrets and techniques nearer. Puck, the primary lady to ever experience within the races, was by no means meant to take part. However destiny doesn’t give her a alternative.

Sawkill Women by Claire Legrand

On the island of Sawkill Rock, there may be rumored to be an insidious monster that preys on younger girls known as The Collector. Women have been disappearing for many years on the island, and nobody appears to have any concept why. Marion, Zoey, and Val’s fates come collectively as they have to work out what’s killing these ladies…and tips on how to cease it from taking place to them subsequent. This speculative horror truthfully made us lose some sleep!

To Greatest the Boys Mary Weber

Yearly, a mysterious invitation goes out, calling all of the boys of Pinsbury Port to compete for a scholarship to a prestigious college. Sixteen-year-old Rhen desires nothing extra to be a scientist. The one drawback is that girls are supposed to coach in wifely duties as a substitute. However when her mom succumbs to a mysterious illness, Rhen and her cousin Seleni take issues into their very own arms. Disguised, they enter the all-boys competitors. However not everybody survives the labyrinth.

Beneath the Citadel by Future Soria

Friendship dynamics, LGBTQ characters, prophecies, and political intrigue had us swooning over this story! Historic prophecies rule over the individuals of town of Eldra. These prophecies hold the excessive council in energy, however after the final prophecy involves move, a rebel rages for years. Cassa is the orphaned daughter of rebels and is set to battle in opposition to the excessive council. Collectively together with her buddies, Cassa struggles with the legacy of the rebel and to shoulder the burden of uncovering the thriller of the ultimate prophecy.

Promise of Shadows by Justina Eire

Zephyr Mourning is a daily teenaged lady…besides she’s solely half human. Zephyr is a Harpy, although she’d a lot relatively watch tv than learn to kill a person to be sincere, and he or she’s not that nice at wielding her magic. However when her sister is murdered, Zephyr used a darkish magic to save lots of herself. Now she’s on the run from a punishment worst than loss of life, and it appears that evidently she is destined for a destiny she by no means wished. Besides that she must learn to handle herself earlier than she will be able to save the remainder of the world.

A Historical past of Glitter and Blood By Hannah Moskowitz

When struggle breaks out in Ferrum, Beckan and her buddies are the one fairies courageous sufficient to stay round. However when they’re pressured into the gnome underworld to outlive, Beckan finds herself struggling between staying loyal to her buddies, her need for peace, and sudden love. A Historical past of Glitter and Blood is gorgeous and unapologetically queer fantasy that gave us all of the feels.

Huntress by Malindo Lo

Nature is out of stability, and unfamiliar beings have began to seem within the human kingdom. Kaede and Taisin are picked to go on a harmful quest to town of the Fairy Queen within the hopes of fixing this disaster. Alongside the best way, they face unearthly assaults and fairy methods and a love neither of them anticipated. Huntress is the prequel to Ash.

Forest of A Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

In mystical East Asian fantasy retelling of Snow White and the Huntsmen, peasant lady Xifeng is destined to be the Empress of Feng Lu. However to pay the worth for the throne, Xifeng should embrace the darkness inside her, spurn the person who loves her, and gas her sorcery by consuming the hearts of the just lately killed. When you’re on the lookout for a fancy antihero, that is one you received’t need to miss!

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean

In Honoku, as soon as a technology, a contest is held to seek out the following empress. All it takes is to outlive the enchanted rooms of Spring, Summer season, Fall, and Winter. Mari has spent her entire life coaching to turn out to be the empress however hides a harmful secret that, if came upon, not solely will disqualify her from the competition however can even get her killed.

The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana

It’s no secret that libraries are our jam right here at Ebook Riot. And the library in The Library of Fates is one which has the facility to alter fates. Princess Amrita has supplied herself up as a bride to the Emperor within the hopes to maintain her kingdom secure from his violent conquests. However when the palace comes underneath siege, Amrita finds herself alone and a fugitive. She units out to seek out the legendary Library of All Issues, the place possibly, simply possibly she might be able to reverse her destiny and the destiny of her kingdom earlier than all is misplaced.

Undead Woman Gang by Lily Anderson

Veronica Mars meets The Craft on this modern fantasy. Mila Flores is simply your common teenaged Wiccan with Doc Martens and an perspective. However when three classmates suspiciously die in an alleged suicide pact, Mila isn’t shopping for it. Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the reality: she brings the ladies again to life. The ladies have seven days till the spell wears off to resolve their murders…earlier than the killer strikes once more.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

A woman who dangers her life for books and an alien who loves forbidden pop music group as much as save the world. Swoon! A misunderstanding between Earth and the invading Ilori aliens killed off a 3rd of the world’s inhabitants. People have been deemed unstable, books, music, and artwork are unlawful, and 17-year-old Ellie carries a giant secret that could possibly be the grounds for her execution.

Labyrinth Misplaced by Zoraida Cordova

The Brooklyn Brujas sequence follows three witch sisters as they develop their powers and battle magic in their very own hometown and past! Every guide may be learn alone, however we positively couldn’t cease with simply the primary guide! Alex is essentially the most highly effective witch in her household, however she’s hated magic ever because it made her father disappear into skinny air. Alex performs a curse to attempt to rid herself of magic, however her household vanishes as a substitute and Alex absorbs her household’s energy. As Alex tries to convey her household again, she discovers greater than she ever thought attainable about herself, her magic, and her household.

What are a few of your favourite YA fantasy standalone titles?