Once Upon a Bibliophile

get you into fantasy!

I was recently asked by someone I know for book recommendations after saying I liked reading fantasy. This person hadn’t really read any fantasy novels before, and I just went completely blank.

I’m not the kind of person who can spring recommendations off the top of their head.

So I thought, what if I made a reading list curated to get someone into fantasy?

And here I am.

Also, please note that a large majority of these books are aimed at a young adult audience.

1. Amari and the Night Brothers and Amari and the Great Game. This duology, by B. B. Alston, is the perfect thing to start on. A blend of supernatural urban fantasy and academia, it’s a fairly easy read, but a very compelling one. Featuring themes of Black representation, family and friendship, this is an old favorite for me, and I’m confident it will soon be yours too.

2. The Letter for the King and The secrets of the Wild Wood by Tonke Dragt. Originally published in Dutch in the 60s, The Letter for the King- now a Netfix series you should never watch- is a classic coming of age story. Unlike Amari, this is a step up into high fantasy, which means much less modern refrences and more quests, knights, kings and swords. Again, it’s quite a nice read, and by nice I mean simple and not too long. The writing may seem a little old fashioned to begin with, but you’ll soon be lost in this tale of bravery and resilience. Also, this is a good way to get to know more about the medieval-inspired society lots of fantasies like to draw from.

3. Frogkisser! by Garth Nix. I threw this one in because it was pure fun. One lesson lots of people learn is that not all fantasy has to be serious. Ever heard of something called comedy fantasy? Frogkisser is a hilarious blend of fairy tales and talking dogs that you never knew you needed until now.

4. The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. We’re back into low fantasy for this one, so expect hidden powers, magical artifacts and lots of children with the fate of the world on their shoulders. The Dark is Rising is, at heart, a children’s story, but don’t be deceived by this. I’ve read this approximately 100 times and I still don’t understand some of it. Don’t take this the wrong way though-it’s a good kind of confusion. Based on Arthurian legends and an eternal fight of good vs. evil, these novels are ones of unexpected depth.

5. Eragon (but only the first book) by Christoper Paolini. I’m throwing you in the deep end a little here, but it’s worth it. Written when the author was just 15, the first novel in the Inheritance Cycle is another coming of age fantasy. Featuring dragons, destiny and danger, it isn’t one you want to miss. Eragon is a staple of young adult fantasy, but, like The Dark is Rising, there’s much more depth to them than expected. However, there’s a reason only the first book in one here. Paolini has a very unique writing style, and it’s a little like Marmite: you either love it, or you hate it. Also, if you think the Lord of the Rings is long and dense, you should see the later books in the Inheritance Cycle. Don’t let this put you off, but be aware that reading the whole series definitely takes commitment. If you want to know a little more about the IC, read my post about it here (and please forgive my blogging inexperience. It was the first thing I wrote).

And so there we are! Hopefully this quick little list will help open doors with your reading, and make you as obsessed with fantasy as I am.