10 Fantasy Books to Read Before the End of the Year

Are you a fan of Legally Blonde? This medieval-inspired retelling has the same wit and charm as the beloved movie, but with a fun new twist. Everyone always said that Clía and Domhnall were an ideal match, as the prince and princess of neighboring kingdoms they were a union that surely the gods would even smile upon. Everything seems to be picture perfect until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose. Desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart, Clía follows him to his kingdom’s prestigious military academy. In doing so she meets Ronan, who swears to keep Clía at an arm’s length but can’t help but be intrigued by both her and her pet otter. As they train and spend more time together their feelings beginning to grow, but war is looming in more ways than one.

This exciting new novella is set in the same universe as The Priory of the Orange Tree, only a few years before the events of the first book. If you are a newer fan of Samantha Shannon or are intimidated by Priory, then this is a great starting point. Told from the perspectives of three different characters, we bear witness to the fall of the Kingdom of Yscalin. The Draconic army has been dormant for centuries, after almost extinguishing humanity but a new threat is on the rise. In Yscalin, Marosa Vetalda would do anything to escape her cold and controlling father King Sigoso, and unite with her betrothed Aubrecht Lievelyn in Mentadon. Estina Melaugo dreams of a better world she knows isn’t coming while continuing to slay Draconic beasts across the continent. Marosa snd Aubrecht indend to usher in a better world but when the great wyrm Fýredel starts to stir, the world erupts.

If you are a fan of knights and magic then this is the perfect book for you. Grey Flynn will do anything for her mage Kier, and has dedicated her life to protect him. On the battlefield she has sworn to be his healer and protector, allowing him to use the deep well of power inside of her. When the two learn of a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom, they are pulled deep into the war between the two kingdoms and have to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to keep their secret hidden. Grey isn’t an ordinary well of power, but the heir of the long lost island of Locke – the root of all power in the world and if Grey dies, all magic dies with her.

Are you a fan of cutthroat competitions and quests to uncover the truth? Then this is the book for you. In this exciting new epic fantasy we travel to the empire of Orrun where Bersun the Brusque must step down after twenty four years. Seven contenders are brought forward to compete for his replacement, all the best of the best, until one of them gets murdered. The one tasked with solving this murder before the end of the trials is none other than Neema Kraa, who is the emperor’s High Scholar. Neema must untangle dark webs of secrets that stretch back generations while simultaneously competing against six others with dark ambitions of their own. If she wins, she takes the throne. If she fails, then death awaits her but the Raven won’t stand for that.

Stephanie Garber’s debut into the New Adult genre follows Holland St. James as she tries to find the magical artifact known as the Alchemical Heart and stop her death. Holland has always believed that magic was real and when she finds a local legend known as the Watch Man who tells her she’s going to die in twenty four hours, her world gets tipped on its head. With the clock ticking to find this artifact, Holland is pulled deeper into the magic scene in Los Angeles and gravitated towards a mysterious stranger who promises to protect Holland and her sister. As the two race around to find clues and stories about the Heart’s whereabouts, Holland finds out that this dazzling new world and everyone around her are lying to her, and not even the Alchemical Heart can save her.