Want to know the best fast paced ya fantasy books to binge read? Here are 15 page turning ya fantasy books you need to know about.
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There is something so magical about opening a new fantasy book and escaping the real world. But if you're anything like me, then sometimes ya fantasy books can take far too long to get into. Especially when you're lacking motivation to read. As a ya fantasy fan myself, I am giving you the best fast paced ya fantasy books that kept me hooked for hours.
You are going to learn all about the most fast paced ya fantasy books from standalones, book series, fantasy romance and enemies to lovers.
After learning about all these ya fantasy books, you are going to have so many new books on your tbr list and will be extra prepared on your next trip to the book store.
This post is all about fast paced ya fantasy books
What are the best fast paced ya fantasy books ?
1. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
One of the top ya fantasy books you should read is Legendborn. It's a fast paced ya fantasy book with an action packed plot and plenty of twists and turns.
Legendborn follows Bree Mathews. After the death of her mother, she wants to avoid family memories. So, she joins a residential program for gifted high school students.
But then she witnesses a magical attack on her first night. A flying demon feeding on human energy. A Mage tries to wipe her memory. But he fails. And instead Bree unlocks new memories of her mother’s death.
You should read this if you love a strong female lead, morally grey characters or the A Court of Thorns and Roses Trilogy. It also features great commentary on slavery and racism.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- dark academia books
- strong female leads
- friends to lovers romance
Good Reads Rating: 4.43
2. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
If you love a fast paced fantasy romance book or a twisty plot - then you absolutely need to read the Folk of Air Trilogy. Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.
The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters and is taken to live with the fae in the woods. She grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with.
There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers so if you're looking for a fantasy romance book then this is a great pick.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- books with fae
- strong female leads
- enemies to lovers romance
Good reads rating: 4.09
Related Post: 17 Insanely addictive ya fantasy enemies to lovers books you won't be able to put down
3. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
If we're talking about fast paced ya fantasy books then I can't not bring up Sarah J. Maas. Sarah J. Maas dominates the fantasy book world but for a good reason. Her books are seriously binge-worthy.
That said, sometimes her books dump a lot of world-building at the start. This can make it hard for some people to get into them. Throne of Glass starts with a bang and hooks you in instantly.
It follows Celaena Sardothien who is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. And one day she is summoned by the Prince to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.
If you're looking for a long fantasy book series to get into - then this is the book series for you. It features an incredible slow burn, enemies to lovers romance later in the series.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- assassins
- enemies to lovers
- books with fae
Good reads rating: 4.19
4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I am very passionate about this - please read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom!!
Six of Crows is like a fantasy version of Oceans Eleven. And there is so much to love about Six of Crows – magic found family and super sassy banter.
It six teenagers living in Ketterdam. Kaz Brekker, a criminal prodigy, is one of the teens. He is offered a deadly heist for a huge payout.
But it’s an impossible heist. And Kaz will need all the help he can get to pull it off. So he assembles five other teens to help him.
People rave about this fantasy duology online and it's for a good reason. It features a fast paced plot, a diverse cast and hilarious banter.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- A diverse cast
- enemies to lovers romance
- Witty banter
- Multiple POV
Good reads rating: 4.47
5. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Oh Ember in the Ashes is such an incredible ya fantasy book. And guess who was an emotional mess while reading this? ME!
An Ember in the Ashes opens with Laia. She has found an illegal sketchbook belonging to her brother. The empire comes and takes away her brother. So she must locate the resistance and go on a perilous mission to save him.
The book opens with a punch and it’s fast-paced throughout. The opening makes you really emotionally invested. Laia goes to extraordinary lengths and becomes a slave in order to save her brother. There is so much at stake that it leaves you on the edge of your seat.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- Epic/ brutal world building
- enemies to lovers romance
- Strong female lead
- ya dystopian books
Good reads rating: 4.27
6. Malice by Heather Walter
Let me tell you - Malice is one of the best books I have read this year. It was an instant 5 stars from me. You will absolutely love the dystopian world building, morally grey main character and grumpy/sunshine romance.
Malice is a Maleficent retelling. The book is set in a Kingdom called Briar. Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse.
The book follows Alyce – the dark grace. She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar.
Except for Princess Aurora who accepts her. And she encourages Alyce to accept herself.
This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae. The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- dystopian books
- grumpy/sunshine romance
- Morally grey main character
- fae
Good reads rating: 4.06
7. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
This book is so underrated! If you like Crescent City then you will be obsessed with the grumpy/sunshine wlw romance in this book.
A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans. Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.
The characters in this book are so well developed! Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Nausicaä and Arlo have such a perfect slow burn enemies to lovers vibe.
If you're looking for an audiobook then you should definitely give this one a listen. It features a full cast of narrators which make it so engrossing!
Perfect if you're looking for:
- Urban Fantasy
- grumpy/sunshine romance
- Morally grey main character
- Fae
Good reads rating: 3.83
8. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder is seriously one of the most unique retellings. It's a Cinderella retelling in a future dystopian society featuring an android It also mentions a deadly plague (sound familiar 
)
The main character Cinder is an android. She had an accident when she was younger. And she now has a cyborg hand and ankle. But the world she lives in shuns androids.
She meets and falls in love with the Prince. But she can’t tell him that she’s an android.
This one of the most fast paced ya fantasy books. It features so many intriguing elements: an enemies to lovers romance, androids, a deadly plague and an evil queen. You'll want to keep reading to find out what happens.
If you’re a fan of retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince or a Curse so Dark and Lonely – then you need to read this one.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- dystopian/sci fi books
- retellings
- memory loss
Good reads rating: 4.13
9. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Divergent is wildly popular, successful and slightly ridiculous. But it's so entertaining. And the plot is really fast paced. It's a book that you'll want to binge read in one sitting.
If you enjoy books like the Hunger Games chances are you’ll love this one. In Divergent the world is divided into 5 factions. Each faction is based on a personality trait which that faction embodies – Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery), Amity (peaceful), Erudite (intelligent) and abnegation (selfless).
Each sixteen year old must choose a faction. To help them decide, they take a test telling them which faction they belong to. Those who don’t fit into one faction are divergent.
Divergent seems to divide fans a lot. But it’s a fun premise and fast-paced book. Veronica Roth has a writing style that compells you to just keep reading. I would take this as a standalone. The rest of the series just isn’t as good as the original.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- dystopian/sci fi books
- unique concept
- slow burn
Good reads rating: 4.13
10. Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl
This is another seriously underrated ya fantasy book! You definitely need to read this. It features a diverse cast, plenty of fairy tale references and dark academia world-building.
The Grimrose Girls is a modern take on classic fairytales such as The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
The heroines of the stories are re-imagined as friends attending an elite boarding school. After their friend dies, the police rule the death as suicide. But they decide to investigate to find out what really happened.
Grimrose Girls is a unique concept and fantasy retelling. The mystery was really gripping and well-paced. And the story keeps mentioning tantalizing details that keep you engaged.
The story also uses the darker versions of the fairy tales. And this added to the dark academia, mysterious tone of the book. Some reviews do mention the lack of world-building, but I personally preferred this because it kept the plot fast-paced.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- fairytale retelling
- wlw characters
- murder mystery
Good reads rating: 3.66
11. Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
I am a HUGE fan of the found family trope and it was executed so perfectly in this book! The plot was also really action-packed and fast paced throughout. There were no lulls or sections that lost my attention.
It follows 16-year-old Deka. She lives in a village where all the girls undergo a blood ceremony. If their blood runs gold – they are impure.
Deka has lived in fear of this ceremony. And on the day – her blood runs gold. And Deka must face consequences worse than death.
But then a mysterious woman comes to her rescue. And offers her the chance to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her.
There is so much to love about this book. The found family trope works really well. There was so much diversity in the army of Alaki. The magic system was really intriguing and the world-building was excellent.
This book is not for everyone – it has a lot of violence. Please check the trigger warnings before reading.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- found family trope
- strong female main characters
- magic
- dystopian society
Good reads ratings: 4.04
12. Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Lore features Greek mythology, an urban setting and a strong female lead.
Every seven years Greek Gods are hunted by descendants of ancient bloodlines. If the hunters succeed they seize their immortality. It follows Lore Perseus who has turned her back on this world. But as the next hunt dawns, two participants seek out her help.
The plot of Lore is quite complex but it’s executed perfectly. Bracken did a great job of building the concept. I was intrigued and hooked from the first chapter.
It has a really great revenge storyline. So if you liked the revenge elements in Six of Crows then this is a great book to read.
Perfect if you're looking for:
13. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Curse so dark and Lonely has one of the most BADASS main characters! The main character has cerebral palsy but she is most definitely not in need of any sympathy. It also features an adorable enemies to lovers romance.
A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Prince Rhen is the Heir of Emberfall.
Emberfall is under a curse and the kingdom is enchanted into an everlasting winter. Prince Rhen needs to make a girl fall in love with him to break the curse.
Harper has cerebral palsy. And she struggles to look after her dying mother. She tries to save a stranger and is pulled into the world of Emberfall.
The plot is really well paced and keeps you engaged throughout. It also has the perfect slow burn romance. If you're a fan of The Cruel Prince or Sarah J. Maas then you should definitely read this fast paced fantasy book.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- retelling
- slow burn enemies to lovers
- curse
Good reads rating: 4.05
14. Bright and Pale by Jessica Rubinowski
I do not hear people talk about Bright & Pale enough. It deserves so much more hype. It's the perfect fast paced ya fantasy book for winter. It's great to curl up inside and read all day.
It follows 17-year-old Valeria. As a child, she lived near this magical mountain. One day, it unleashed a big freeze that trapped her family. Valeria is one of few survivors.
So she flees and joins the thieves guild. And she does odd jobs to get by with her best friend Alik. Until he is brutally murdered.
Or so she thinks. A year later, he turns up alive. And she is forced to lead a group on a dangerous quest back to the mountain in exchange for Alik.
The world-building was truly enchanting. It’s heavily inspired by Russian folklore. But the winter setting added another layer to it. The two gods concept was intriguing but also quite creepy.
Perfect if you're looking for:
Related Post: The 15 absolute best books to read in Spring
15. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson is an insanely popular series that got many bookworms into reading. And for good reason. It has a fast paced plot full of action and plot twists. The writing style is easy to read and you'll seriously want to stay in all day reading it.
The concept is that the Greek Gods are real. And they occasionally fall in love with mortals. They have children who become demigods.
The book follows Percy Jackson. He is having trouble focusing on his schoolwork. When one day his maths teacher turns into a monster.
And so mum decides it’s time to tell him the truth. His father is a Greek God. And she sends him to camp Half blood – a summer camp for demigods.
Greek Mythology is woven seamlessly into this book. And it balanced Greek Mythology with urban fantasy elements perfectly. Disney Plus are adapting this book series into a fantasy book series. So if you haven't read it - then you seriously should.
Perfect if you're looking for:
- Greek Mythology
- Adventure
- Urban Fantasy
Good reads rating: 4.28
This post was all about the best fast paced ya fantasy books that you won't be able to put down
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