The best series-starting fantasy books to transport you into a romantic fairy tale world

Why am I passionate about this?

As a life-long lover of fairy tales, I believe the reason these timeless stories resonate so deeply is because they speak to an unquenchable desire in the center of each of our souls: the hope for a grand romantic adventure that will change our lives from the inside out. As an author, I strive to create those kinds of soul-speaking stories, crafting characters my readers relate to as friends... and respect as heroes. When my readers adventure alongside these fictional friends, I hope they are encouraged to bravely face the real-life challenges of our modern world, while being emboldened toward acts of everyday and exceptional heroism.


I wrote...

The Ryn

By Serena Chase,

Book cover of The Ryn

What is my book about?

A centuries-old prophecy foretells of a young woman who will defeat E’veria’s ancient enemy, the Cobelds. But when the child is finally born, a curse accompanies her birth. Disguised and hidden away, the girl’s true name is a closely guarded secret—kept even from her—until a chance meeting with an injured knight reveals her identity and her prophetically-assigned task. For Rynnaia to succeed, she must come to terms with not only who she is, but for whom she must be willing to die. The kingdom’s survival depends on her.

The Ryn begins the first duology of the 4-book Eyes of E'veria series. This epic re-imagining of Grimm’s classic fairy tale Snow White & Rose Red concludes in Eyes of E'veria book two, The Remedy.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Half a Soul

Serena Chase Why did I love this book?

Olivia Atwater’s Half a Soul is an absolute delight that deserves much more attention than it has yet received. The story features Dora, a young, faerie-cursed woman who lost the half of her soul responsible for feelings like fear, sadness, and embarrassment. Without the ability to be embarrassed, Dora gets into quite a bit of trouble—especially verbally—as she tends to make some rather scandalous remarks. These idiosyncrasies cause significant distress for her mother, whose hope rests on Dora finding a husband during the London Season.  

Dora’s dry, matter-of-fact take on the world—and love—is one of the most unique character voices I’ve had the pleasure to encounter. I enthusiastically recommend this Regency-set story to all my friends who enjoy romantic fantasy or character-driven tales featuring faerie/fae mythology.

By Olivia Atwater,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Half a Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

“Whimsical, witty, and brimming over with charm” (India Holton), Olivia Atwater’s delightful debut will transport you to a magical version of Regency England, where the only thing more meddlesome than a fairy is a marriage-minded mother!

It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment—an unfortunate condition that leaves her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season—but when Elias Wilder, the strange, handsome,…


Book cover of Splintered

Serena Chase Why did I love this book?

A.G. Howard’s Splintered is one of my all-time favorite books to recommend. If words on a page could be blacklight-reactive, it would be those in Splintered, and its sequels. Never before or since have I come across such a harmoniously creepy juxtaposition of dark and bright within a fantasy world. 

While questioning her sanity, Alyssa adventures through a vividly reimagined Alice in Wonderland world that pits gorgeous neon emotions against oppressive and enticing darkness. The two love stories interwoven through the series are an atypical love triangle, but don’t let a prejudice against the love triangle trope stop you from reading this book. That triangle resolves in an unexpected and utterly satisfying way at the series’ conclusion. Fans of reimagined fairy tales or romantic horror fiction will adore this book.

By A. G. Howard,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Splintered as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

A descendant of Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 16-year-old Alyssa Gardner fears she is mentally ill like her mother and predecessors until she discovers that Wonderland is real and, if she passes a series of tests to fix Alice's mistakes, she may be able to save her family from their age-old curse.


Book cover of Wolves And Roses

Serena Chase Why did I love this book?

Wolves and Roses is a fun and snarky start to a big series in which humans exist in a modern world alongside shifters, witches, and fairies. Sounds fun, right?

Bryar Rose is expected to follow the Sleeping Beauty story template for her life. Unfortunately, something glitched in her personality, because no part of that story appeals to who she truly is, or what she wants out of life. When Bryar meets Knox, a powerful werewolf shifter in the midst of his own identity crisis, sparks fly.

If you enjoy strong, rebellious female leads and bad-boy heroes (yes, please!), this book has all those vibes, plus intrigue, witty banter (my fave), and action. Fans of alternate-history fantasy, paranormal romance, and modern-set fairy tale retellings should add this book to their TBR.

By Christina Bauer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Wolves And Roses as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

“Must read YA paranormal romance!” - USA Today

Seventeen-year-old Bryar Rose has a problem. She’s descended from one of the three magical races—shifters, fairies, or witches. That makes her one of the Magicorum, and Magicorum always follow a fairy tale life template. In Bryar’s case, that template should be Sleeping Beauty.

Should being the key word.

Trouble is, Bryar is nowhere near the sleeping beauty life template. Not even close. She doesn’t like birds or woodland creatures. She can’t sing. And she certainly can’t stand Prince Philpot, the so-called “His Highness of Hedge Funds” that her aunties want her to…


Book cover of The Princess Companion

Serena Chase Why did I love this book?

An unexpected detour lands Alyssa, the daughter of a woodcutter, in the royal family’s household. By accepting a position as companion to the king and queen’s rambunctious young daughters, she joins the family’s circle of trust.

When Alyssa witnesses a traitorous plot to overtake the kingdom, she’s forced to face her growing feelings for Max, the crown prince—which he reciprocates. But Max is duty-bound to marry for alliance instead of love.

With only mild fantasy elements, the story is driven by its romantic plot and the idea that true nobility resides in a person’s heart more than their bloodline. If you’re looking for a reimagined fairy tale that’s lighter on the fantasy elements, Melanie Cellier’s sweet retelling of The Princess and the Pea is the perfect choice.

By Melanie Cellier,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Princess Companion as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

Danger and romance await a woodcutter's daughter in a royal palace.

One dark and stormy night, lost and alone, Alyssa finds herself knocking on the door of a castle. After a lifetime spent in the deep forest, Alyssa has no idea what to expect on the other side.

What she finds is two unruly young princesses and one very handsome prince. When Alyssa accepts the job of Princess Companion she knows her life will change. What she doesn't know is that the royal family is about to be swept up in unexpected danger and intrigue, and that she just might…


Book cover of The Shadow Queen

Serena Chase Why did I love this book?

If you’re a fan of reimagined classic fairy tales, you’ll love C. J. Redwine’s Robin Hood-esque take on Snow White (with dragons!)

Unlike the classic Princess Snow White of old, Princess Lorelai is no simpering miss. She’s a powerful magic-wielder with a cause. As Lorelai learns to control and develop her magic, friends (and dragon-shifters!) join the quest to rid her kingdom—and the young shifter king she loves—from its menace: her wicked aunt, who used magic to take over the land.

With some imagery loosely borrowed—and creatively adjusted!—from the classic Snow White story, this new tale features a fresh heroine who doesn’t expect anyone to rescue her kingdom for her. The Shadow Queen is a romantic and epically-reimagined fairy tale with beautiful themes of sacrificial love.

By C. J. Redwine,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Shadow Queen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

PERFECT FOR FANS OF VICTORIA AVEYARD AND SARAH J. MAAS
Lorelai, crown princess and fugitive-at-large, has one mission: kill
the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the
life of her father. She'll have to be stronger, faster and master
more magical power than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire
has ever seen. When the queen's huntsman - a dragon-shifting
king - tracks down Lorelai, sparks fly between them. Can the king
overcome his predator side - and can Irina's dark magic be defeated?


You might also like...

Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time

By PJ Davis,

Book cover of Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time

PJ Davis

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Featured in "Best Middle Grade Fantasy Books" - Reedsy Discovery

"Fun & Fast Paced, This is Middle Grade Fantasy at its Best!" — Shaun Stevenson

"If you know any middle-grade readers who enjoy science fiction/fantasy with a mix of action, danger, and humor - recommend this book to them, or just go ahead and give them a copy." — The Fairview Review

“With elements of adventure, exploration, other worlds, and fantastical science, Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time is an exciting middle-grade novel with plenty of suspense… Behind the adventure are important messages about believing in oneself and finding inner strength.” — The Children's Book Review

"The plot of Nemesis and The Vault of Lost Time is a tapestry of surprises characterized by its unforeseen twists and turns. It’s this element of suspense that grips the readers, while the vivid descriptions create immersive visual experiences. Beyond its adventurous core, this mystery novel delves into themes of friendship and the nuanced dynamics of father-son relationships, offering a multi-layered reading experience." — The Literary Titan

Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time

By PJ Davis,

What is this book about?

Thirteen-year-old Max is a daydreamer. It gets him into trouble at school, but his restless curiosity really turns problematic when he runs into a mysterious professor at his uncle's bookstore.

The old man informs Max that time is being sucked out of the planet by invisible bandits, stolen from unsuspecting people one breath and one sneeze at a time, and is being stored in a central vault. Once full, the vault will fuel a hungry horde of invaders looking to cross into earth, and cross out all its people.

What's more, the professor claims he knew Max's missing scientist father.…


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