Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read. Historical fantasy ultimately takes the cake! All of the recommendations below can be considered historical fantasy, for it is merely in a world without electricity. All except for one of these recommendations are young adult.

My first recommendation is THE STORM CROW by Kalyn Josephson. This duology is one of the best fantasies I’ve ever read! If you like fantasy that’s not too heavy or too dark, this is just the one for you.

The main character, Thia, and her betrothed, Ericen, are the embodiment of enemies-to-lovers. My friends, when I say they hate each other–they hate each other. This trope is one of my favorites and Josephson executes it exceedingly well. In addition, this story has a lot of representation! The concept of the crows and the world-building feels extremely original. It’s a wonderful read that I would do anything to experience for the first time again! Not to mention the cover is STUNNING.

The next recommendation is AN EMBER IN THE ASHES series by Sabaa Tahir. If you’ve known me for years, you’ll know that this series is the world to me!

I’m not a big re-reader; if I know what happens in a book, I can’t find the energy to finish it. However, I’ve read this book three times! Each time, I devoured it within a couple of days. The characters are realistic, the world is gripping, and the writing is beautifully simple. It includes the star-crossed lovers trope.

My third recommendation is THE CITY OF BRASS trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. This adult genre series follows Nahri, an African girl, as she ventures into a world of magical djinn. It’s an intriguing story that instantly pulls you in. It’s one of the few novels that make me feel all of the emotions.

The next is a classic retelling of 1,001 Arabian nights, THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renée Ahdieh. This duology is one of my all-time favorites. The writing is lyrical and stunning. The characters are complex. The world-building is beautiful. I would do anything to read this story for the first time again. Like THE STORM CROW, this book flawlessly executes the enemies-to-lovers trope. Quite literally. Shahrzad tries to kill him.

Finally, I recommend CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber. However, I don’t recommend the whole trilogy. I am obsessed with the first book–I’ve re-read it twice! The following books prioritize the main character’s sister, whom I vehemently dislike. But the first book is the epitome of a fairy tale! It executes the “bad boy x good girl” trope without making it predatory and abusive. Scarlett, the main character, reminds me of a Disney princess. The world is original and magical and is truly one of my favorites. I should inform you that the representation in this book is just about nonexistent. Nonetheless, it’s a great book.

What’s your favorite fantasy novel?