For many booklovers, YA is a treasure chest of stories beyond simple entertainment. Some prefer standalones, others lean toward YA fantasy duologies or fantasy books, but I’ve always been obsessed with trilogies. There’s something about that “third time, charm” rhythm that makes a story feel complete. In genres like fantasy, sci-fi, or contemporary, the mix of magic, intrigue, and unforgettable characters always pulls me in.
Exploring young adult fantasy series showed me how vast the genre really is. Some series take you into magical worlds filled with romance and daring choices, while others focus on courtly politics or magical destinies. Thanks to bookstagram friends and shared recommendations, I discovered countless stories that became personal favorites.
What excites me most about fantasy series and young adult fantasy series is the way the plot deepens with each installment. These books challenge you to think, dream, and connect, while reminding us that the best journeys—fictional or real—are the ones we share together.
Quick Recommendation
The Serpent & Dove Series by Shelby Mahurin
In this YA fantasy trilogy, the story begins with Louise le Blanc, a girl who ran from her coven and found shelter in the city of Cesarine. She gave up magic to survive, living by stealing whatever she could. But life in Cesarine was dangerous—witches like Lou were hunted, feared, and even burned. Her path collides with Reid Diggory, a strict huntsman of the Church, who lives by one unbending principle: no witch should live. When Lou pulls a wicked stunt, it leads to an impossible situation—a forced marriage that changes everything.
As the story unfolds, Lou must face her own feelings, torn between being powerless to change what she is and making a choice that could cost her dearly. What makes this tale so engaging is how love grows in unexpected ways, showing that even the strongest rules can bend and that sometimes, fools are the bravest of all. I remember the first time I read this series—it felt daring, magical, and deeply human, making it a YA fantasy that lingers long after the final page.
The Cruel Prince – Holly Black
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black is a YA fantasy trilogy that mixes dark fairy tales, political intrigue, and morally gray characters into a truly addictive read. At its heart is Jude, a mortal girl raised in the land of the fae, where power decides your place in the world. Her clash with the cruel and arrogant Prince Cardan creates a story filled with backstabbing, deception, and even slow-burning romance. The stakes rise with every installment of The Folk of the Air trilogy, drawing you deeper into an enchanting fae world that feels both dangerous and unforgettable.
When I first picked up this book, I had some difficulty relating to Jude, but the series quickly grew on me. The writing is layered with transparency, showing why Holly is often called the Queen of Faerie. Each twist pulled me further in, and by the end, I realized this was more than just a fantasy tale—it was a sharp, daring look at ambition, trust, and survival that stayed with me long after the final page.
The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
In Ravka, a nation divided by the Shadow Fold, danger fills the darkness where monsters feed on human flesh, and the fate of the land seems fragile. The story follows Alina Starkov, a lonely refugee caught between enemies and the torn world around her. When her regiment faces the deadly Fold and her best friend is injured, she discovers a hidden power that saves his life and may be the key to freeing a war-ravaged country. Taken to the royal court, she enters the world of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling, and begins her journey as someone far greater than she ever imagined.
Yet, in this lavish but dangerous kingdom, nothing is simple. The weight of her untamed power leaves Alina struggling with her secrets and her heart, while the looming threat of the Fold grows. As she is trained and tested, the world around her depends on whether she can confront both the lies she’s been told and the truth about herself. Reading this part of the trilogy felt both haunting and inspiring for me—it shows how even the most dormant strength can rise when everything is at stake.
A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas
When I first picked up A Court of Thorns and Roses, I expected a simple fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. What I found was something far grander—a high fantasy romance that swept me into the faerie realm of Prythian. Feyre, a mortal huntress, begins her journey with the punishment for killing a wolf, but this tale quickly unfolds into a thrilling, action-packed series. The courts of Prythian hold secrets, and each page reveals change, magical battles, and steamy moments that make the story both heart-stopping and unforgettable. The way Maas blends fae lore with a mind-blowing retelling hooked me more than any other book 2 I had read before.
The deeper I went, the more I realized this series was not just about punishment and survival—it was about growth, power, and love that evolves beyond what a typical tale dares to explore. Feyre’s choices carry jaw-dropping consequences, and every chapter pulled me closer to a world that felt alive and dangerous. This romance-driven fantasy doesn’t just retell a classic; it reinvents it with layers of action, emotion, and magic that make it a must-read. By the end, I wasn’t just reading a story—I was living in the courts of Prythian, breathless for more.
The Nightmare-Verse Trilogy by L.L. McKinney
What drew me most into this YA fantasy trilogy was how Alice balances two very different lives. By day, she’s just a teenager in Atlanta with an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. By night, her full-time job is fighting Nightmares—monstrous creatures that slip out of the dark dream realm. She’s trained with magic weapons, pushing her hardcore fighting skills to the limit under the guidance of a handsome yet mysterious mentor. At times, it almost feels too real, like venturing into battles that could cost more than just her sanity.
The Wonderland we step into here isn’t the bright, curious place we imagine—it’s twisted, full of poisoned paths and antidotes, where warriors can lose their heads, literally. I found myself thinking about how Alice’s struggles mirror the battles many teens face: the pressure of curfew, juggling real-world responsibilities, and the fight to protect the people you love. Watching her venture deeper into this Wonderland, learning that worlds overlap in ways we don’t always see, left me both impressed and a little haunted. In the end, the trilogy shows that courage isn’t just about wielding weapons, but about facing the Nightmares of life head-on.
An Ember in the Ashes – Sabaa Tahir
In a brutal world shaped by the shadow of the Roman Empire, An Ember in the Ashes brings forward the story of Laia, a scholar whose family is torn apart by the ruthless Martial system. Desperate to save her brother, she infiltrates an elite military school, where she crosses paths with Elias, a soldier questioning everything he has been taught. This book is packed with intense action, gripping rebellion, and even a star-crossed romance that keeps the pages turning. Sabaa Tahir has built a fast-paced and emotional journey that feels unforgettable, not just as part of a larger series but as a story that hits directly at the heart.
Reading it, I felt the author stomp on every expectation, only to mend it and then destroy it again, yet somehow leaving me strangely happy with the experience. What makes this work stand out is how it balances rebellion with romance, and action with emotional depth, showing that fantasy doesn’t just have to be about battles—it can be about the struggle of the soul. For me, it remains an unforgettable reminder of how the right series can shape the way we see courage, sacrifice, and the bonds that hold us together.
The Shadow Players Trilogy by Heidi Heilig
What makes this YA fantasy trilogy stand out is how it weaves the journey of a young woman named Jetta, a smuggler with his own secrets, and a country torn between a colonial army, a feared rebel leader, and a terrifying tyrant. Jetta is famed for her skill and talent, leading a troupe of shadow players whose puppets seem to move without string or stick. Behind the scrim, she uses her dangerous power to bind souls of the recently departed with her blood, creating shows that feel alive without ever needing to tell or show the truth. Yet the old ways are forbidden since the colonizing army conquered the land, leaving her caught between merciless forces and her own power that she barely understands.
Her family’s fame and shadow plays earn them a chance to board the royal ship to Aquitan, where rumor spreads of a Mad King with a spring that cures his ills. The spirits she sees and the plagues that follow weigh heavily on her, but there is strength in never giving up—because even when everything feels forbidden or feared, she must move forward. Reading this trilogy, I found myself drawn not just to the secrets and rage of the world but also to the subtle ways the story shows how to earn hope, even when torn between danger and destiny. It’s a tale of power, truth, and survival that lingers long after the last page, proving why YA fantasy can feel both merciless and magical.
Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo
Reading Six of Crows was like stepping into the Grishaverse after first knowing the world of Shadow and Bone. What drew me in was how Leigh Bardugo took familiar tropes like found family, heist stories, and morally gray characters, then gave them new life through her book. At the center stands Kaz Brekker, a criminal mastermind who pulls together a team of outcasts for an impossible mission. Each character, with their own backstory and stakes, adds layers that make the story more engaging. The mix of action, humor, and emotional moments made the journey unpredictable, and I often found myself pausing to appreciate how cleverly the story balanced dark choices with glimpses of humanity.
By the time I reached the sequel, Crooked Kingdom, the hook was so strong that I couldn’t put the book down, almost glued to my hands. The stakes felt higher, the story more thrilling, and every character’s journey tied back to the idea of family built through trust in impossible times. From my own reading experience, this series is not just about a heist—it’s about how flawed people can become stronger together. In the end, the choice to follow this team through danger and humor was rewarding, leaving me convinced that few YA fantasy trilogies manage to blend gray morality, emotional depth, and action with such skill.
The Caraval Series by Stephanie Garber
The world of Caraval has always fascinated me, especially because Scarlett Dragna’s journey feels so real despite the layers of magic and elaborate illusions. Living on a tiny island with her sister Tella and their powerful yet cruel father, Scarlett’s life is arranged around duty and marriage rather than dreams. When the long-dreamt-of invitation to the once-a-year Caraval finally arrives, everything turns. With the help of a mysterious sailor, she is swept away into a faraway performance where the audience participates in the show, and what happens is never what it seems. I still remember the first time I read it—I felt enmeshed in the story as if I, too, had been told to step inside this game of love, heartbreak, and magic.
What makes this trilogy stand out is not only the performance itself but how each season revolves around secrets, illusions, and choices. When Tella is kidnapped by the mastermind organizer Legend, the stakes rise and whoever finds her becomes the winner. Nevertheless, beneath the shimmer of Caraval’s stage, it is a tale of sisters, survival, and courage. For me, the series showed how lives can change when hope finally arrives, even if the path away from fear is full of risks. In the end, it’s not just a game but a story about holding on to love and discovering freedom despite what has been arranged before.
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
What struck me most about this gritty and unique fantasy novel was how Fie, a brave member of the Crows, carried the weight of her caste with pride. In a rigid social hierarchy where her people are tasked to remove and burn plague victims’ bodies, survival feels like a test of wits, cunning, and magic. When Fie is forced into protecting a runaway prince, she faces ruthless enemies, yet the story never loses its heart. The way the book explores class struggles and the bonds of found family gave me a sense of love for underdog protagonists who fight against impossible odds.
As I read, I admired how this dark tale still offered a fresh and engaging system of world-building that felt rich and unforgettable. The novel pulled me in so deeply that I realized it was everything I didn’t know I needed. Every page reminded me how amazing YA fantasy can be when it balances danger, survival, and courage with compassion. In the end, The Merciful Crow is more than just a book—it is a story about resilience and hope in a broken world.
The Dark Stars Trilogy by Danielle Rollins
What I found so endearing about Danielle Rollins’ Stolen Time was how it mixed an exciting time-travel story with clever twists that kept me on the lookout for what would happen next. From Kendare Blake, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series, the praise alone made me curious. When I finally stepped into Seattle, 1913 through the pages, Dorothy’s life of learning the art of the con felt vivid and dangerous. Her choice to trust a stranger and go stowing away on his peculiar aircraft was the moment everything changed—she wakes in a chilling version of the world she left behind and realizes for the first time that she is in way over her head.
The shift to New Seattle, 2077 only raised the stakes. A girl in a wedding gown who snuck aboard Ash’s time machine becomes more than just trouble—she may hold the key to prevent his terrifying visions of the future from coming true. For me, the series blends the thrill of history with the suspense of what’s ahead, making the journey both rich and unforgettable. In the end, the Dark Stars trilogy is not only about survival but about finding hope in a world that keeps reshaping itself around you.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
When I first picked up this book, I didn’t expect the fantasy world inside to hit me like a storm, but the mix of dragons, deadly competition, and a slow-burn romance pulled me in right away. Fourth Wing follows Violet Sorrengail, who is forced into a brutal war college where every fight for life shapes her path to becoming a dragon rider. The intense training sequences, high stakes, and nonstop action made the story feel alive, while the world-building was so rich that I could almost hear the clash of blades and wings overhead.
What truly made the novel unforgettable for me was the electrifying enemies-to-lovers thread. It felt swoon-worthy in the best way—perfect for fans of The Hunger Games or A Court of Thorns and Roses. I found myself lost in the type of story that made sleep optional, the kind of reading experience that keeps you thinking long after the last page. In the end, this book absolutely delivered everything I wanted in YA fantasy and more.
The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black
What drew me first into this series was how beautiful and treacherous the High Court of Faerie felt, like blades forged in divine fire that could live forever. Jude, only seven when her parents were murdered and she and her sisters were stolen away, longs to belong in a world where mortality makes her an outsider. The fey despise humans, and none more than Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. I remember thinking how much I hated him at first, yet the way Jude dares to defy him and fight for a place at the Court made it impossible not to breathe in every detail of her journey.
As the story unfolds, Jude becomes deeply embroiled in palace intrigues, deceptions, and betrayal that threatens to drown the Courts in violence. She discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed, realizing that to save her sisters and Faerie itself, she must risk everything—even her own life—in a dangerous alliance. For me, that mix of hate, consequences, and the need to win felt more than fantasy; it was a reminder that sometimes we must face what we despise most to claim the place we want. In the end, The Folk of the Air proved to be not just about survival but about strength, belonging, and the price of power.
Fable – Adrienne Young
When I first picked up a ya fantasy trilogy, I was struck by how much weight small details could carry—how blades forged in fire and divine echoes could shape an entire world. In Fable – Adrienne Young, the sense of danger feels both beautiful and treacherous, reminding me of characters like Jude and Cardan from Faerie’s High Court. Their world of fey, humans, princes, and even the High King is not just about courts and palaces, but about mortality, betrayal, and the constant need to belong. Jude was only seven, stolen away with her two sisters after her parents were murdered, and ten years later she still fights to breathe in a place where she must defy the youngest, wickedest prince. I remember reading those scenes and feeling deeply embroiled, almost as though I too had to risk life in the midst of intrigues, deceptions, and trickery.
What makes stories like Fable and those within the courts of Faerie stand out is not just the danger, but how the characters discover their own capacity to face consequences. They are despised at times, sometimes hated by others, yet they forge alliances to save what matters most—family, belonging, and survival. As a reader, I could hardly look away despite the violence and bloodshed that threatens to drown everything. It reminded me that even when life feels stolen, when betrayal seems to be the rest of what we know, there is always more to uncover, and more to fight for. In the end, that’s why these tales live forever—it is not only about the prince, the king, or the courts themselves, but about the choice to risk it all, to belong, and to save what cannot be replaced.
Kingdom of the Wicked – Kerri Maniscalco
In Kingdom of the Wicked, the story begins with Emilia, a young witch caught in a dangerous web of secrets and magic after the brutal murder of her sister. Her search for truth leads her to summon Wrath, one of the Seven Princes of Hell, and soon the mysteries around her grow darker, filled with demons, witches, and the kind of gothic fantasy that feels both thrilling and addictive. As I read, I could almost feel the simmering tension rising with every page—the writing was atmospheric, engaging my senses so deeply that my head would spin at every twist. The mix of revenge, romance, and morally gray characters made it stand apart from the usual stories.
What struck me most was how this series balanced fun with danger, turning murder and mysteries into an enemies-to-lovers tale that kept me hooked. The characters carried a raw intensity that made the romance feel dangerous but unforgettable. I loved how the tension never let go, making it one of those reads that you can’t easily put down. In the end, Kingdom of the Wicked proves that a ya fantasy trilogy can be both dark and enchanting, leaving readers not only entertained but also craving more.
The Inheritance Games – Jennifer Lynn Barnes
In The Inheritance Games, Avery is an ordinary teenager whose life turns into a thrilling mix of fantasy, mystery, and even a touch of romance when she unexpectedly inherits a billionaire’s fortune. The catch is the condition that she must survive a series of riddles and puzzles left behind by the deceased. The Knives Out vibe of the story hooked me right away, with its compelling secrets, constant intrigue, and family drama that made every minute feel like a challenge. I remember laughing at myself more than once, questioning my intelligence as the riddles unfolded, yet loving how the story kept me on edge.
What makes this series stand out is how seamlessly it blends suspense with emotion. The intrigue is layered, the romance adds warmth, and the drama within the family feels real and sharp. I loved how the mysteries kept me hooked and how the writing made every twist feel earned rather than forced. By the end, it wasn’t just about the fortune but about how Avery survives the web of secrets and discovers her own strength. It’s one of those reads you love because it leaves you entertained, engaged, and eagerly waiting for more.
Secrets of the Heart of Thorns
Bree Barton’s Heart of Thorns trilogy drew me in because it doesn’t just tell a story, it uncovers secrets buried in the past. At the center is Mia, a girl who must decide who to trust when even her father and the royal family hide betrayal behind silk and gowns, knives and trousers. Her life shifts after a daring escape with Rose, forcing her to choose between an alliance or walking a lonely path forward. Every battlefield, every ancient river, and every body fallen in war shows how fragile trust can be when magic has the power to heal or destroy.
The most gripping part for me was how women like the Gwyrach manipulate flesh, bones, blood, and even breath with just a touch. Their power feels both beautiful and terrifying, like instruments of war that can scratch or soothe the heart. Mia’s journey—through betrayal, hunting enemies, and facing the truth about her mother—felt raw and real. It reminded me that moving past pain is never simple, but like her, we can carve a path through bodies of fear toward strength. In the end, the trilogy isn’t only about survival—it’s about choosing life, even when the past tries to kill it.
Secrets of the Heart of Thorns
Bree Barton’s Heart of Thorns trilogy drew me in because it doesn’t just tell a story, it uncovers secrets buried in the past. At the center is Mia, a girl who must decide who to trust when even her father and the royal family hide betrayal behind silk and gowns, knives and trousers. Her life shifts after a daring escape with Rose, forcing her to choose between an alliance or walking a lonely path forward. Every battlefield, every ancient river, and every body fallen in war shows how fragile trust can be when magic has the power to heal or destroy.
The most gripping part for me was how women like the Gwyrach manipulate flesh, bones, blood, and even breath with just a touch. Their power feels both beautiful and terrifying, like instruments of war that can scratch or soothe the heart. Mia’s journey—through betrayal, hunting enemies, and facing the truth about her mother—felt raw and real. It reminded me that moving past pain is never simple, but like her, we can carve a path through bodies of fear toward strength. In the end, the trilogy isn’t only about survival—it’s about choosing life, even when the past tries to kill it.
Letters of the Heart
Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series feels very different from the dark magic of Bree Barton’s Heart of Thorns trilogy, yet both share the power of secrets and the weight of the past. Where Mia must survive a battlefield filled with betrayal, magic, and even the threat to destroy her life, Lara Jean struggles with love letters that expose her heart. The contrast is striking: one heroine carries knives, wears silk and gowns, or even trousers while plotting a daring escape; the other hides her feelings until an unexpected path forward forces her to grow. Both stories show that whether in a royal family or a high school hallway, finding who to trust is never simple.
What I found most gripping is how these tales reflect real emotions through different worlds. Barton gives us women like the Gwyrach, able to manipulate flesh, bones, blood, and breath with just a touch, their power both beautiful and terrifying. Han, in contrast, shows how love can feel just as sharp as instruments of war, scratching at the heart, leaving us to soothe the pain of rejection or betrayal. Whether it’s Mia carving her journey through enemies and hunting for truth about her mother, or Lara Jean navigating crushes, both stories capture the raw and real struggle of vulnerability.
In the end, these series—though set in kingdoms, rivers, and ancient lands on one side, and modern suburbs on the other—both highlight survival of the spirit. They show us that moving through fear, pain, and the shadows of the past requires strength. Whether it is choosing life in a world of war, or risking love when it could kill your pride, the choice is always ours to make. That’s what makes both trilogies unforgettable in their own way.
Shadows of the Scythe
Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe series builds a world where hunger, disease, war, and misery have all been conquered by humanity, even death itself. But survival comes with a cost—only scythes are commanded to kill and keep the population under control. Into this setting step Citra and Rowan, two teens chosen to apprentice for a role that forces them to face the art of taking life, knowing that one failure could mean losing their own.
What I admire most about this trilogy is how it makes readers question the consequence of a perfect world. Watching Citra and Rowan struggle to master their training reminded me that power, no matter how carefully controlled, always comes with responsibility. The story isn’t only about survival—it’s about what choices we make when faced with duty, fear, and morality. In the end, the series left me thinking less about how death is avoided and more about how life should be lived.
The Tiger’s Path
Swati Teerdhala’s The Tiger at Midnight trilogy thrives on tension, built around a cat-and-mouse game between Esha, the legendary rebel known as the Viper, and Kunal, a disciplined soldier bound since childhood by the will of his uncle, the ruthless General Hotha. Their paths cross one fated night, setting off an impossible chain of events that slowly unfolds into shifting bonds, dangerous choices, and battles of the heart. The broken bond of a kingdom after a royal coup, a dying land, and the weight of the sins of the past add layers of intrigue that make this story feel alive.
I found it gripping how both players in this dangerous game believe they control the pieces, but neither truly does. Esha is tasked with a deadly mission, seeking to pay back the guilty, while Kunal questions the order he was sworn to protect in a volatile world. Their struggles reveal how loyalties can break, and how love can grow even in the shadow of bloodshed and lives killed for power. The promise of a future—one shaped by dream rather than destruction—drives their choices in ways that feel raw and real.
What makes this trilogy stand out for me is how it blends duty, love, and rebellion into a story that doesn’t shy away from sacrifice. The mission may begin in violence, but it grows into a journey of loyalties, love, and the strength to dream of something better. It reminded me that even in the hardest battles, when the land itself seems broken, there is always a path forward if we dare to take it.
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