Underrated fantasy book picks for stories with a lasting impact. Fall in love with magical reads from portals to other worlds, books that open doors, and a dark fantasy world where poetry is quite literally magical.
Pro tip: clicking on the cover will take you to the book’s Goodreads page.
Havenfall by Sara Holland
Tucked high along the mountains of Colorado, the inn at Havenfall is a sanctuary with doorways connecting magical realms to our world. Fiordenkill is a land of ice and snow. Byrn swelters under the brutal heat of two suns, where most of the population shelters from magic gone awry in their last remaining city. And Solaria—well, it’s not polite to talk about the land of monsters.
Solaria’s door has been sealed for over a century, but it’s said the monsters still roam the other worlds, blending in among us. Maddie Morrow should know. She watched the shadows take her brother, leaving nothing but a smear of blood.
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
When a magical book that opens any door in the world falls into the hands of Cassie Andrews, the possibilities are endless. And so is the peril. Magic and power have a way of attracting dangerous individuals. Cassie is in for more than she bargained for with a book that will have her running for her life, making new friends, and maybe getting the chance to make the world a little safer.
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
Dark. A stark reminder of how much people have suffered historically. A beautifully written story that kept me coming back to see what happened next. The Poet Empress follows the daughter of a rice farmer in a famine-stricken land where written words are magic and women are forbidden to learn how to read and write.
I don’t always give content warnings, but this is not a light-hearted read. There’s no smut or foul language, but there’s a lot of death and a decent amount of gore. The story opens with the burial of an infant, so that should set the expectations for how dark this book is. It does end on a happier note, so don’t let the heavier parts keep you from picking this one up.
Themes: suffering as part of the human experience; the nature of power and how it corrupts.
I was not thinking of Prince Terren’s cruelty, of the flayings or slaughtered dogs or cut-off tongues.
I was thinking of full bellies, and nights on soft beds, and little sisters who did not have to be buried.—Shen Tao, The Poet Empress
Beyond the Water’s Edge by Janine Eaby
Beyond the Water’s Edge brings clean adventure back to YA fantasy. The book opens with a moody atmosphere for a mysterious first half that leads to an adventurous second half.
The first in a YA portal fantasy series. For fans of Shadow and Bone; it features emerging powers, hidden identity, and chosen-one tropes with a unique spin. Alaira stumbles across a path in the woods that leads to a world filled with dark secrets and a lost past. When a deadly hunter tracks her down, she must team up with an otherworldly traveler with secrets of his own if she has any hope of survival.
Dovan the book dragon’s quote of the week:
“The young have the loudest dreams,’ Drummond murmured, more to himself. ‘Unfettered by life and reality.’”
― Gareth Brown, The Book of Doors
Thanks for reading—stay inspired!
Janine Eaby is the author of Beyond the Water’s Edge—a Young adult fantasy book series influenced by her faith, love of nature, and desire for adventure. for fans of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Welcome to a community of readers and writers. Subscribe to get the latest posts.
Leave a Reply