Magic and Mayhem: Our Favorite Recent YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels

This third and final book in T. J. Klune’s epic The Extraordinaries series brings readers back to Nova City with Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz for one last hurrah. Klune’s trademark humor and heart make this thrilling story feel like a warm hug in book form. 

Fans of These Hollow Vows will be stunned by this spellbinding conclusion to the fantasy-romance duology as Brie’s role in determining the fate of the magical realm becomes increasingly clear. And of course, there’s no shortage of romance in this twisty finale. 

Fans of All of Us Villains run—All of Our Demise is the thrilling conclusion to the duology that will answer all of your burning questions and rip your heart out in one fell swoop. 

Nightmare Before Christmas fans rejoice! Long Live the Pumpkin Queen picks up where the beloved film left off, with Sally in her new role as the Queen of Halloween Town. This delightful return to The Nightmare Before Christmas universe is sure to appeal to fans old and new. 

Releasing in paperback, this stunning sequel to Kingdom of the Wicked, takes Emilia on a journey to the Seven Circles as a part of her quest to avenge the death of her sister, Vittoria. Luxe world-building, dark magic, and twists and turns on every page make this follow-up just as enthralling as its predecessor. 

This staggering sequel to Beasts of Prey is just as enthralling as the first installment, with even more epic world-building, action, and betrayal as Koffi and Ekon fight to reunite. Readers will be left clamoring for the upcoming conclusion. 

Fans of The Hunger Games will love this fantasy full of romantic complications, curses, and a centennial competition with the six rulers to break the curses plaguing their realms. And with secrets, lies, and betrayal only further complicated by killer love, it’s a fight to survive. 

Fairytale lovers rejoice! Violet Made of Thorns is the dark, steamy fairytale you may or may not have known you needed. An unapologetically snarky protagonist, a forbidden romance, and a kingdom on the brink of destruction make this unforgettable debut stand out from the crowd. 

A dark fantasy debut full of complex characters, relationships you can’t help but root for, and vivid world-building, This Vicious Grace will keep readers captivated from start to finish. Alessa has a gift from the gods that’s supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, but instead it’s killing every suitor she touches, and with her island in danger and a powerful priest convincing her soldiers that her death is the island’s only hope, she hires Dante, a cynical outcast who could either help her or destroy her. 

Set in the same world as Emily Lloyd-Jones’ The Bone Houses, The Drowned Woods is an evocative dark fairy tale-like fantasy with roots in Welsh mythology that readers won’t want to miss. Oh, and did we mention that one of the best characters is a corgi? 

This high-stakes contemporary fantasy set in the Pacific Northwest follows teenage witch Iris Gray after she accidently casts a curse with potentially dire consequences for the region’s witches and non-witches alike. Wild is the Witch is an original tale that incorporates magic, wildlife, and of course, a bit of romance into one stunning story. 

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice gets freshly reimaged in this contemporary paranormal fantasy filled with magic, mystery, and murder that will captivate readers from the very first page.

Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, this epic fantasy will take readers on a journey among the dragons, making them navigate the intricate politics of both humans and dragons alike, and try to protect a pearl of drastic powers, ones that are at times helpful and at times harmful. A story of strength and determination, this fantasy is a must-read.  

The fantastic conclusion to the Book of Tea duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet will steep readers in its pages full of magic as the journey to save the kingdom of Dàxi amidst invaders and as visions of war and bloodshed fill Ning’s nightmares.