15 Favorite Fantasy Reads 2025
The last days of 2025 have arrived, and it has been a beautiful and busy year! I’ll be back in a bit to talk about some of the highlights and lessons of 2025, but today is the day we reserve to talk all about READING. Specifically, my reading. Even more specifically, my Fifteen Favorite Fantasy Reads of 2025. AKA Jenelle realizes she didn’t write any book reviews this year (again!) and now has to hope she can remember what she liked about all the books she gave 4-and-5-stars to!
Now, in the past, I’ve tried to have some semblance of rules and regulations over this blog post, and I’ve never stuck to those rules very well… so this year, the only rule is that any book on this list has to have been NEW TO ME.
Yup.
Get ready for chaos.
(pssst: Clicking on any images will take you to that book’s Amazon page. These are affiliate links, which don’t cost you anything, but if you do choose to buy something, I get a small commission that helps keep me in chai lattes). grin
But first, some important STATS
As of the writing of this post, I have read 77 books this year (though it’s actually 78 since I did just do a beta-read of a book that is not yet on Goodreads), and am on track to complete 80 books before the bell tolls midnight on the first seconds of 2026.
I read 44 new-to-me Speculative Fiction books this year. A mixture of sci fi and fantasy, a little dystopia here and there, but mostly fantasy, as that is my happy place.
I have whittled those 44 spec fiction books down to 21 new favorites (yes, I know the title says 15… but if you’ve been around my blog for any amount of time, you know that my love of alliteration and my ability to stick to the number I said I was going to stick to are equal and opposite as defined by Newton’s Third Law).
Let’s start with an honorable mention….
Honorable Mention:
Escaping with a Supervillain by H.L. Burke
This is mostly an honorable mention because it isn’t published yet. Doesn’t even have a cover and what I read wasn’t the final version… but I still loved it so much it deserves to be mentioned. I don’t sign up to beta read very much anymore, mostly because I don’t have time, partially because I’m very picky about what I’m willing to beta read (it absolutely has to be an author I already know I like their stories and style), and partially because I feel like I am always giving more “line editing” notes and not as good at beta-reader notes. But this was one I absolutely couldn’t wait for. Also, it was Christmas break, I was sick, and my family let me sit on the couch and just read ALL DAY and it was GLORIOUS.
I’m not going to give any spoilers, but this next up-and-coming addition to the SVR series is EPIC and I loved it to pieces.
15
The Prophecy’s Chosen Heir by Trista Shaye
This was a fun middle-grade adventure that focuses on the best friend of “The Chosen One,” which was a unique twist. A great story for boys that doesn’t rely on crude humor is a rare find these days, and I was so pleased to find this one. There’s a quest, a baby dragon, a prophecy, and two young boys having the adventure of a lifetime. Super fun!
14
Superiors by Megan Caudill
I never thought I’d come to enjoy reading about superheroes so much, but in the past couple of years, I’ve really loved finding these books about non-Marvel and DC heroes and villains! Superiors is an action-packed look at what would happen if a meteorite hit the earth and suddenly granted super powers to various people.
The story follows Jaiden, who is a bit of a hot-head, but who can blame her? Her twin was killed on their 11th birthday by Equalists (people who hate Superiors). Years later, she is still torn on the concept of true justice, and filled with prejudice against anyone who sounds like an Equalist. But when her father is kidnapped, she will do anything to save him.
While “us vs them” is not my favorite superhero trope as I feel like X-Men overused and beat that particular storyline to death (then buried it, resurrected it, and beat it to death again….), I felt that Caudill handled the question well and showed both sides in a way that didn’t make me want to throw the book across the room.
I also appreciated that the romance was kept to minimal levels and focused more on the adventure and the action and superpowers!
13
Wingless by Catherine Witzaney
Another fun middle grade adventure (I read a lot of middle grade books this year!) Wingless soars into the world of sprites and follows the character Asher Songfeather, who not only has no wings, but is part Bat and part Feather sprite. This makes him a bit of an oddity in his community, but in a refreshing twist of storytelling, he is not an outcast in his village. He has a loving adoptive family and good friends. Though he does not qualify to join his village’s “guards” due to his inability to fly, this is not a prejudice thing, but more of a practical one.
The story centers around his attempts to find a cure for his adopted sister who is ill, and a grand adventure that shows him the world is a much bigger and more complicated place than he thought.
12
Water Horse by Katie Hanna
The Wild West, Irish mythology, flesh-eating horses, and magic all combined into one story? Yes, please!
Add in a love story reminiscent of Janette Oke’s “Love Comes Softly” series, and I was hooked.
It’s not every day you can describe a book as Cowboys Vs Aliens meets Janette Oke meets Sean Connery’s accent… but there you go. What more needs to be said?
11
The Burning Tree by Helen Dent
Dystopian fiction is often a hard sell to me, because everything, and I do mean everything, gets run through the filter of, “Is it as good as The Giver?”
And the answer is almost always a resounding, “No!”
And while I wouldn’t say that The Burning Tree is on par with the Giver… it did give me The Giver-like vibes, and that is exceptionally high praise coming from me. It also gave me massive “Eerie Indiana” and “Gortimer Gibbons’ Life on Normal Street” vibes as well, and I love both of those shows quite a lot.
The story follows Ellie, a young girl in a small town where life is anything but normal. Two families are caught in an ancient feud that has created a curse with palpable consequences: a scorch mark that appears on random doors that results in illness and death.
The mystery of the town kept me up way past my bedtime… and the payoff was worth staying up late for. Just enough spooky to give you a pleasant spine-tingle, but not enough to give you nightmares, this was a chilling and yet also hauntingly beautiful read.
10
Miss Georgiana and the Dragon by Maria Grace
I have been loving Maria Grace’s “Jane Austen’s Dragons” in audiobook form for over a year now. This year, I finally finished the 15th book… and I hope more are coming!
That said, I kind of went into this book with a little trepidation… because I actively disliked Georgiana from the previous books. She is a spoiled little brat. And I disliked her even more because I love her so much in the Kiera Knightley movie version of Pride and Prejudice that this version of Georgiana was almost loathsome to me. So… a whole book in her POV? I wasn’t excited.
Well.
Any book that can take a character I despised and turn her into one of my favorites is a GOOD book.
Georgiana’s redemption is slow and gradual, almost imperceptible… and then all of a sudden, I cared. I understood her. I sympathized with her perspective, while still rooting for her to change and grow… and she did not disappoint.
Maria Grace continues to weave a masterful story world set in the guidelines of Jane Austen’s works, but I’ve really enjoyed the series as it branches out beyond just retellings and has become its own story.
9
Dancing with Dragons by Maria Grace
Really enjoyed this one. Even though it was all-new-to-me characters, it was fun to finally get some Sense and Sensibility retelling (albeit from more of a "sequel" perspective than a true retelling) into this series! Also, Margaret is fantastic.
I love how Maria Grace writes spunky, capable heroines who don’t have to rely on brute strength to be strong. While Margaret is smart and independent, she also finds herself in a situation that she can only partially get herself out of, and I loved how she and her suitor complemented each other so well, not detracting from each other’s strengths in any way.
8
Mortal Queens / Lethal Kings by Victoria McCoombs
This was unlike just about anything I have ever read before, and I enjoyed the story quite a bit. The first book ends on a massive cliff-hanger, so I am combining the two stories as they are a true duology. I’m sure I would have been a bit upset had I read book 1 and then had to wait for book 2 to release. But since I didn’t… I was able to move seamlessly forward with the story.
We start out in a semi-dystopian sort of world, where each island has a specific talent or export and everyone on that island is expected to either go into that line of work or take a test to go elsewhere. And while this is a very typically dystopian set up, it never really makes any sort of logical sense. HOWEVER, we leave the mortal realm so quickly that it didn’t have time to annoy me. Because the other side of this world is the fae-realm, where a mortal is chosen every year to come be a queen of the fae, and our main character, Althea, is chosen.
We follow her into the much-lauded fae realm where all is beauty and luxury and glittering… but is it just a façade for a much darker realm of trickery and deceit and despair?
I really appreciated Althea as a main character. Usually, with these kinds of stories, I tend to dislike the main character, and that ruins the story for me. But Althea is surprisingly self-aware. She knows her own faults and flaws, but isn’t completely paralyzed by them, nor does she sink to Katniss-levels of self-loathing. She leans into her strengths, acknowledges her weaknesses, and determines to conquer this strange and tricksy realm she has been transplanted to. I love a story that requires the characters to be witty and resourceful and clever, and this story did all of that and more. I also appreciated how understated the romance angles were. This is the type of story that easily could have trod over into Romantasy, but while there is a love story in there, it never took over the plot or became the focus, it stayed more in the “fairy tale” levels of romance field, and I liked that.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, and it’s hard to talk about this story without giving any, but I will say that the ultimate ending is extremely satisfying.
7
Lord of Winter by Andrew Swearingen with Jill Williamson
Another book that kept me up past my bedtime this year. Though I’ve never read any of Jill Williamson’s other books (an oversight on my part, I know), I dove into this one and fell in love with it. A wintry, Viking-esque world with a lord returning from the wars and having to learn how to live at peace again? Bring it on! Eric Livna stole my heart with his gruff exterior and heart of gold.
The story itself wends along a bit on the slow side, but I enjoy a story that invites me in and lets me explore the world and the characters a bit before we dive into the action. And though the action takes a bit to get there, nothing about the beginning is boring!
6
Rogue Pursuit by B.L. Dean
I loved this! I'm not usually a huge fan of sci-fi in book form, though I love sci-fi movies and TV shows. This was such a fun adventure and while it had enough tech and space travel jargon to make it sci-fi, it didn't go over-the-top in the tech/jargon speak to a point where it bogged down the story (as sci-fi books can do).
The story plays out like a blend of Star Trek, Mission Impossible, and The Icarus Hunt. There are hidden identities, smuggling, space pirates, a mystery to solve, and a race across the galaxy that could lead to all the characters ending up in prison or saving the galaxy!
I enjoyed the story so much that I continued listening to the rest of the series and have enjoyed books 2 and 3 as well!
5
Mercury at Risk by Steve Rzasa
Mercury AT RISK is right! Wow, what a ride! I’ve been reading this series with my husband and really enjoying the adventure. Mercury Hale is part wizard, part smart-aleck teenager who never grew up, part superhero, part legend. I love his snark and his quippy comebacks as they are his coping mechanism for dealing with the fact that the world he lives in is NOT NORMAL.
Loved this installment. Enjoyed actually getting to meet Airfoil... he's an interesting guy... I'm curious to learn more about him.
Mercury continues to be the hero I am constantly hoping he will be. Despite his sarcasm and his issues with authority, when it counts, Mercury always comes through.
4
Exhumed by C. B. Arche
If you’re looking for a new series reminiscent of Keeper of the Lost Cities, this should be on your TBR.
Meet Experience “Exe” Parsell, a 15-year old girl with a secret: whenever she makes a wish, it comes true. Sounds great, right? Except she can’t control this power or the wishes, which is why she works so hard to never wish for anything. She only wants someone to help her control or get rid of these powers, so that she never hurts anyone again, especially not her wonderful adoptive family that she loves.
When she finds her own face on a strange “Wanted” poster, with the word “Dead” written on it… Exe goes hunting for more answers than she’s ever sought before. But she isn’t quite ready for the answers!
A magical, mysterious portal fantasy, this story stole my breath away and I cannot wait for the next installment!
3
Jake Rogers’ Planet by Phillip Wilder
This was a really fun and wild adventure. Kind of a sci-fi/fantasy version of Hatchet or other survival-type stories, with a really neat Christian message woven throughout in a very natural way.
When a typical backpacking trip ends with Jake falling through a portal into a strange and completely foreign land, he must find a courage he never believed he had to survive. Extraordinary predators stalk him, hunger is his constant companion, and the negative voices from his past mock him at every turn. But as Jake finds the will to survive, he not only discovers a courage, resourcefulness, and strength that comes from relying solely on a power outside himself. Though he blames God for letting him fall through the portal, his journey also brings him to a deeper understanding of God’s love and care for him.
An epic adventure peppered with Minecraft terms (as Jake is an avid video-gamer), this story will appeal to young men ages 10-16. The second I finished listening to the audiobook, I started re-listening to it with my kids, who were all hooked by the end of the first chapter.
2
The Of Magic Made series by E.J. Kitchens
And here we have the reason I’m not even trying to follow rules this year, because this WHOLE SERIES was up here near the top of my list. Yes, I am putting FIVE books in the number 2 slot… but the series flows together… I can’t just pick one.
One of my main reading goals in 2025 was to finish reading the Of Magic Made series. I had read Wrought of Silver and Ravens once before, back when it was the only book in the series yet published. I loved it back then (and I’m pretty sure it made my 15 Favs that year as well), but by the time the next book came out, I had too many things on my TBR and didn’t get back to the series until the entire series was finished… so I went back in January and started over).
And as you can see by its high placement on the list… I LOVED the entire series!
Wrought of Silver and Ravens
Absolutely loved this story the first time, and loved it even more on the re-read. There were so many subtle things I missed the first time through, and it was really fun to read it again and see all the various plot elements weaving together.
I still love all the characters dearly. I felt like I got to know more of the princesses on this read through. Strong, overprotective, headstrong, somewhat reckless Thea. Dear little Zoe. Sweet, innocent Ariadne. Ismene and Ismena and the way they are twins but also how they have such differences. Evadne I just want to shake. I only felt like I still didn't really get to know Khloe much... but with such a large cast of sisters, it's impressive they all got as much page-time as they did!
Galen is probably my favorite, with his fatherly vibes toward everyone. I love how he sees something in Athdar right away and immediately takes him under his wing. Even though Athdar doesn't immediately appreciate what is being done for him, the friendship between them is probably the most powerful thing in this story, and it is beautiful.
And I just love Murray a whole heap, okay? I didn't remember him well from the first read, but he is hilarious and I just want to hug him.
Wrought of Serpent and Snow
Heart-pumping action, a royal family that can't seem to catch a break (seriously, why is the world so against dear Giliosthay?!), a dangerous quest with high stakes/high reward, and a curse that is STILL lingering on the royal children. Ack, poor Thea and her sisters!
Thea wrestles with some PTSD after Prince Cerav's attacks in book 1, and feels a tension between falling in love with Athdar but also not fully trusting him because of his half-magic abilities. Unfortunately, she and Athdar can't work this out and learn to trust each other in person because Athdar and the Silver Guard have embarked on a quest to rescue Athdar's family, whom they have just learned may still be alive!
This was kind of a neat take on a kind of "get to know each other through letter-writing" as Thea has to learn about Athdar and his people from Murray (who is a dear) and Abi (whom I also love to pieces) while they are apart. Meanwhile, Athdar's esteem for Galen grows as the father-son relationship between them is strengthened on this quest, and he starts to make an actual friend in Katib (the young new apprentice to the Silver Guard).
I wasn't sure about Breccan at first, but I am coming to feel deeply for him. He's not quite the grump he'd like everyone to believe he is. And I'm excited to get to know him more in Wrought of Rings and Wrath, which I started immediately upon ending this book.
I also loved getting to know some of Thea's sisters a bit more, and really enjoyed the one chapter from Ismena's POV. It's hard to balance and handle such a large cast, but Kitchens makes it seem effortless.
This is probably a really disjointed feeling review, but I am loving this story so very much and I just want to leave myself notes so I remember what happened in each book later.
Wrought of Rings and Wrath
Loved reading about all the things Breccan had to deal with with Athdar was unconscious! I also just fell in love with Tovi, even though we didn't get a ton of time with her, I am very eager to see what happens next with her part of the story, and how she and Breccan will interact.
I loved Esme, little ray of sunshine who helped pierce through some of Breccan's tough, grumpy exterior. Fun to read a story that focuses on a cousin relationship!
Oof, dealing with treachery and parsing through what is good and what is evil and Breccan realizing that he had been taught very conflicting things by various people throughout his life was... intense. A lot of really good lessons and very relatable themes in this story. Can't wait to read the next one!
Wrought of Lions and Sand
Yet another thrilling installment in this series. Thea and Athdar and the Silver Guard continue to work together, and Athdar’s family and people work to fit in with his new family and allegiances. We get yet MORE world-building as E.J. Kitchens fleshes out the world and the magic system, slowly unveiling more secrets and more twists and turns in how the world and the politics of Gilliosthay are set up.
Athdar finds himself a bit caught between worlds, but he navigates them as best he can.
Thea learns to use her powers a bit more, but struggles with setbacks.
Xander struggles to accept his curse and his injuries that make him feel useless to those he loves.
And the fist of their enemy continues to tighten around them all….
Wrought of Sapphire and Sea
An epic and thrilling conclusion to the saga! So much adventure and danger and twists and turns…. I’m sure I can’t do the story justice in a review without giving spoilers, so I’ll just say that this final book was so epic and satisfying. It tied up so many threads and gave some POV and page time to characters that I had wondered about and it was satisfying and beautiful to see them grow along their arcs.
I absolutely loved everything about this final chapter in the series… except for the fact that it was the end. I never like saying goodbye… and these characters all reside in my heart now. I will definitely be re-reading this series again in the future, just so I can go on all these adventures again!
1
What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball by Elizabeth Aimee Brown
This was my absolute favorite book of all the books I read this past year. And I read a lot of good books, as evidenced by this list.
The unique and quirky voice of this story completely transported me to another world. I would say that it’s a little bit Robin McKinley’s “Beauty” meets Gail Carson Levine’s “Ella Enchanted” and Diana Wynn Jones’ “Howl’s Moving Castle” but… better. And that’s saying a LOT. Like.. wow. But I seriously mean it. This book… has won a top place in my heart.
Hester is an impetuous, spunky protagonist with trust issues. She has a good, if boring, life and job and is working to save up enough money to bring her parents to the city. However, she craves just a little bit of excitement, and decides to attend the commoner’s ball, despite her best friend warning her that they are TOO common to be allowed to attend the commoner’s ball. But Hester is not to be dissuaded. Mostly because she wants cheese. I’m not kidding. She goes to the ball for the food. Which is awesome.
Of course, nothing in a storybook can be simple, and Hester’s simple desire for some good cheese sends her life whirling into an out-of-control adventure that she never asked for. And yet… despite her staunch and adamant claims to want nothing more in life than to be a seamstress and bring her parents to the city… she can’t truly go back to enjoying her common life once all these UNcommon things start happening to her.
*hugs book forever*
I love this story so so SO much. Seriously, if you’re looking to just read something wholesome and epically FUN and humorous and beautiful…. drop everything you’re doing and read this book right now!
And thus concludes my annual 15 Favorite Fantasy Reads post. I hope you enjoyed it. Have you read any of the books on this list? Are there any that you are planning to read now that I’ve told you about them? What were YOUR favorite reads of 2025?
If you’d like to look back at my favorite reads of previous years, you can find them here:
Whew! I’ve been cataloguing my favorite reads of each year for a long time! Crazy! Note… I am not sure I have EVER been able to keep my number of favorites to 15……