By Adèle Chastang
Young Adult fantasy books are all over bookstagram and the internet. There are so many books in that genre that it can feel overwhelming to pick up your first book. Let me tell you about my favorites that are wonderful books to enter the world of fantasy with!
A darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab : a young adult fantasy book for everyone to read
The protagonist Kell is one of the chosen one’s who can travel between four parallel Londons : Grey London, Red London, White London and Black London. This is thanks to his magical powers. After
meeting Lila in Grey London, Kell sees his world crumble when
an evil force threatens to destroy both their homes.
This book for me was a perfect mix between adventure, mystery, romance, friendships, and morally grey characters while being beautifully written. If that isn’t enough to convince you to read it, it takes place in four parallel Londons. Some are dominated by magic and some in which magic doesn’t
exist anymore.
For the first time in my bookish experience, I thought that a book was perfect! I loved the characters from page one and couldn’t put it down. The originality of the story and the details with which Schwab described the worlds made me want to travel with the protagonists. It made me cry with them and most importantly, it made me want to protect them with my life.
It is an intricate world that V.E. Schwab has created, but it’s not as confusing as it seems. I highly recommend checking it out if you like fantasy. The idea of four separate Londons is fascinating, and like all the best fantasies, this novel makes its system of magic seem absolutely plausible.
Rick Riordian on Goodreads
Clockwork Angel – The Shadowhunters Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
a book for lovers of supernatural worlds
Clockwork Angel is a prequel to The Mortal Instruments in the Shadowhunters chronicles by Cassandra Clare. It’s the first installment of a triology: Infernal Devices.
Tessa Gray, an ordinary girl from New York arrives in Victorian London to meet her brother without any knowledge that she will enter the shadow world and be chased by a mysterious man called the Magister. Forced to save
herself, she will side with the shadow hunters and meet Will
and Jem: two young men that seem to have many secrets.
This book was “it“ for me because it gave me everything I asked for in a fantasy book. I became extremely attached to the characters, specifically Will. To me, Will was a complex character and while one can perceive his pain and the surface of his secrets, it is impossible to fully grasp his character and understand him. This is one characteristic that will push you to keep reading the book. I believe that it is one book that you would hold close to your heart and love like one loves a rainy day in autumn.
If you love The Mortal Instruments, then you will surely love this book, maybe even more than the original series itself. And if you didn’t, well I honestly believe The Infernal Devices will succeed in what The Mortal Instruments failed to do.
Mikee on Goodreads
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
a young adult fantasy book for lovers of dragons, elves and adventures
Part one a four book series titled the Inheritance series, the book is about the adventures of Eragon in Alagaësia. Eragon discovers a dragon egg in a world where dragons are supposed to have been extinct for centuries. In order to protect the world and protect his dragon Saphira, he will have to fight those evil forces while facing his own feelings and challenges.
I have become Saphira’s biggest fan and I believe that she’s the best dragon out there (which I know is a weird thing to say). Eragon’s adventures amongst the elves and dwarves are well written, detailed, and entertaining. Paolini’s writing made me travel into this extraordinary world I built inside my head as I read the book.
It was the first fantasy book I ever fell in love with and I must say that it has a special place in my heart. It’s been ten years since I first read the book, but I still remember every detail. By itself, this tells you how good the book is.
A piece of advice : please do not watch the movie it is terrible!
Please, please do not judge a book by its movie. I read Eragon for the first time when I was 15 years old. I’ve re-read it 5 times since and have loved it the same.
Katerina on Goodreads
Adèle is a 19-year-old book lover and bookstragrammer from Paris. She loves rambling about her books and recommending them to friends. Follow her on Instagram