The best YA fantasy novels that reveal a hero’s quest and journey through new or newly-perceived worlds

Although this wonderful series is classified as children’s literature rather than young adult, I am including it since it was my first “grown up” read. That is, a book I picked out rather than something recommended by an adult.

To be allowed to explore the stacks in the public library with my brand-new library card in hand… even years later, I recall the thrill of all those colorful bindings awaiting discovery.

The library followed the custom of turning out the occasional book to display the full cover. A white horse caught my eye (I was one of those horse-crazy little girls), and I was drawn to the Book of Three. From the first sentence, “Taran wanted to make a sword; but Coll, charged with the practical side of his education, decided on horseshoes…” I was swept into a story of magic, heroes, and wondrous creatures.

While I do read other genres, fantasy remains my favorite; particularly high and heroic fantasy. If the book includes a touch of humor or whimsy, even better (I never got over the assistant pig-keeper introduction to Taran).

From a reader’s perspective, it may seem a bit too easy at first glance (since the reading grade level is elementary), but the narrative and characters more than offset the simpler language.

As a fan of fantasy books about quests, I was familiar with Terry Brooks’ Shannara series.

Since I enjoyed his writing and his characters, I picked up this one on the assumption that it would be similar. Instead, I encountered a story about Ben Holiday, who purchased a magic kingdom from a fancy gift catalog and traveled to a new world where he became the ruler.

The characters appealed; especially Abernathy, the court scribe turned into a soft-coated, wheaten terrier by the wizard, Questor Thews.

Although a mature man, Ben’s trials upon obtaining the throne and adjusting to the magic of his new home support the theme of a hero’s coming-of-age story. With a few wrinkles and twists of magic, and a humorous overtone, I recommend this book as a nice change of pace from more serious fantasy tales.

As a “forever fan” of King Arthur, I have read many books pertaining to the Arthurian saga: serious fantasy, historical novels, and various stories from different characters’ points of view.

I’ll admit I approached this one with some trepidation. I was dubious about the concept (since I wasn’t sure just how my beloved king could morph successfully into a girl). However, I had enjoyed K.M. Shea’s retelling of classic fairy tales (her Timeless Fairy Tales series), so, based on her clever interpretations and delightful characters, I decided to take a chance and waded into the first book which is an interesting mix of magic and time travel.

My initial reaction was “Hmm, this works. Think I’ll read some more.” Britt, the young woman of the modern era chosen by Excalibur to take the real King Arthur’s place, is an appealing character who must navigate a new identity in the distant past.

This book (and the rest of the series) is an intriguing alternative to the usual Arthurian story. It has humor and enough twists and turns to change things up considerably.

While I still prefer my Arthur as a hero, rather than a heroine, this narrative retains the essence of why Arthur remains such a compelling figure even after so many versions have been written. I recommend it heartily to anyone who enjoys their time travel mixed with magic.

From the time of Anne McCaffrey and her Pern books, people riding dragons have been a popular trope.

Part of the appeal of this book is that it reads more like historical fiction (although in a different world) than fantasy or even science fiction. The authors don’t spend a lot of time world-building, but drop the reader straight into the narrative where Trysten, a young girl, wants to follow in her father’s footsteps. Unfortunately, he is a dragonrider and, in her society, women cannot and do not ride dragons.

There are a few subtle hints of magic, but it seems to be a natural presence of the environment than obvious sorcery at work. It is obvious that dragons are intelligent, but they also remain something of an enigma to both their riders and the reader. For example, there are no long telepathic conversations between rider and dragon as there are in other such books. Reference is made to an enemy and the need to prepare the dragon force to withstand it. However, this first book reveals very little with regard to who the enemy is and why there is conflict. These are revealed in later books.

The thing I enjoyed most was the detailed development of the main character. Trysten’s coming-of-age process unfolds more slowly than in most books, which enables the reader to really get to know her.

While an excellent read, I think it will appeal more to girls than boys, chiefly because, while there are male characters, the focus is on the female protagonist.

“A boy attends a special school as a legacy of his father’s position…” is a fairly standard trope in the realms of fantasy.

In this case, the boy in question is not some prince in disguise or teenager who suddenly discovers a gift for magic. In addition to dealing with the demands of his ranger’s camp, Lasgol must fight back against the hatred his instructors and fellow students demonstrate for his tainted heritage; that of a traitor’s son.

The various ranger disciplines, which take the place of a magic system, are well-defined and an interesting change of pace from more common spell casting.

While this book follows the usual path of introducing the protagonist to his first year of study, with descriptions of classes, his interaction with fellow students, and teachers, the author’s narrative style produces a refreshing take. The protagonist isn’t a wide-eyed, naïve waif or heart of gold character. He is filled with anger for his father’s legacy of betrayal. He is driven to prove himself against the odds.

What made this story so appealing for me was the inherent nobility of the teen. In spite of everything in his past and present circumstances, he shows a core of graceful strength so that the reader is soon on his side; rooting for him to beat the odds. There is a sense of realism as well because his failures are as frequent as his successes. He doesn’t win over everyone immediately; he does not suddenly find himself the popular kid at camp, nor do his burdens magically get all better. This is a true coming-of-age story, and it doesn’t happen to the character all at once.

The author does a good job of immersing the reader in the politics that are the driving force underscoring the narrative. Although this is not a fast read, I recommend it highly since it gives the reader a chance to explore and savor the characters.