Magic, Mystery, and Mythical Creatures: Fantasy Recommendations to Take You Out of This World

Featuring unicorn-adjacent creatures — The Flame of Olympus tells of a young girl thrust into the center of a battle to try to rescue the Olympian gods. After the sudden and unexpected arrival of Pegasus, Emily is forced to assemble a ragtag team to return the mythical beast to Olympus. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, this fantastic trilogy will keep readers on the edge of their seat.

Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Angie Thomas’s debut middle grade novel unveils a magical realm that exists alongside our mundane world. To save her dad, Nic Blake must go on an adventure to find a powerful enchanted tool he’s been wrongfully accused of stealing. The first in a series, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is an imaginative story packed with Black Southern culture, history, and folklore.

Once There Was… a thrilling fantasy perfect for animal lovers and full of twists and turns. When an Iranian American girl discovers her father’s secret vocation caring for mythical creatures, she steps into his shoes to heal the injured — all the while gaining clues about who might have killed him. Heartfelt and strikingly told, this debut explores grief and cultural identity while captivating readers with its majestic beasts.

The first book in this series took Harry Potter fans by storm, and we’re thrilled for the next part of the Witchlings story. Every four years, the Twelve Towns gather for a tournament, but when feats of magic go awry and people suspect the Witchlings, they must try to uncover the real culprit. Exciting and peculiar, The Golden Frog Games is a must-read novel full of mayhem and mystery.

Amari and the Night Brothers was our first ever Children’s and YA Book Awards Overall Winner, and with a story teeming with magicians, supernatural beings, and a fierce protagonist, it’s no wonder why. When Amari attends a summer program at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s determined to find out what happened to her brother, but she’s never felt more alone when her own powers make everyone think she’s an enemy. With its thrilling and fast-paced sequel, Amari and the Great Game, out now, it’s the perfect time to binge-read them both!

If you haven’t yet picked up Fireborn, one of our former Monthly Picks, then now is the perfect time — the sequel, Phoenix and the Frost Palace, hits shelves this month. This story of new powers and new responsibilities takes us on a quest to save Icegaard from an impending threat. The second novel in a planned trilogy, Aisling Fowler has provided fans with more of everything they love — a thrilling fantasy story with emotional depth and breathtaking action.

Keeper of the Lost Cities quickly became a beloved series, and this first book shows us exactly why. When a misfit Telepath finds someone similarly gifted, she realizes she must discover her true identity. This riveting series is perfect for fans of The School for Good and Evil and The Unwanteds, and its masterful storytelling will have young readers begging for a trip to pick up the next in the series. 

Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the magic institute in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world gather to trade, train in, and practice mystical arts. When her mentor disappears, she must team up with her friends and fellow oddballs to track him down and clear her family’s name. With book two coming in September, it’s a great time for fans of Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers to pick up this story.