The best books to transport you into another world

By Jodi Meadows

Who am I?

I love books that take you to another world, stories that show you bits of our reality while exploring another. It’s thrilling to step into a world where anything can happen, where dragons exist, where our laws of nature may not apply. But also, I love seeing the familiar in fantastical places: love, friendship, and hope. Though the characters in books may inhabit worlds made mostly out of paper, ink, and imagination, their stories are universal.

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The books I picked & why

Hunted by the Sky

By Tanaz Bhathena,

Why did I love this book?

Filled with magic, prophecy, and ancient goddesses, Hunted By the Sky transports you to a world where a girl with a star-shaped birthmark seeks revenge for the murder of her parents, and a boy who is willing to do anything to save his father will soon meet. In this beautiful novel, you will find thoughtful worldbuilding and fantastical mirrors to our own reality, exploring identity, class, and love.

Hunted by the Sky

By Tanaz Bhathena,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hunted by the Sky as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Gul has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in her kingdom, marked girls are disappearing. Gul's mark caused her parents murder at the hands of the king's army, and forced her into hiding. When a group of rebel women rescue her to train her in warrior magic, Gul only wants one thing: revenge.

Cavas is ready to sign his life over to the king's army in exchange for money and medicine for his sick father. But when he meets Gul in the capital's bazaar, their chemistry grows, and he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance - and discovers…

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Dustborn

By Erin Bowman,

Why did I love this book?

A transporting and unforgettable blend of science fiction, dystopia, and Old West. The world of Dustborn is both familiar and unfamiliar at once, filled with tight-knit communities, dangerous villains, and maps to a better place. In these pages, you'll find a story of survival, family, and hope

Dustborn

By Erin Bowman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dustborn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Delta of Dead River sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator rising to power in the Wastes and discovers a secret that will reshape her world in this postapocalyptic Western mashup for fans of Mad Max and Gunslinger Girl.

Delta of Dead River has always been told to hide her back, where a map is branded on her skin to a rumored paradise called the Verdant. In a wasteland plagued by dust squalls, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares, many would kill for it—even if no one can read it. So when raiders sent by a man known…

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Travelers Along the Way

By Aminah Mae Safi,

Why did I love this book?

While this novel is not set in another world, it does show a side of our world and history too often ignored. Travelers Along the Way is a heartfelt and humorous take on the Robin Hood tale, brimming with sisterhood, cunning disguises, and dangerous heists. It transports through clever details and unforgettable characters.

Travelers Along the Way

By Aminah Mae Safi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Travelers Along the Way as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner of the 2022 Middle East Book Award in Youth Literature

A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena into the war over the Holy Land, but now that the Faranji invaders have gotten reinforcements from Richard the Lionheart, all she wants to do is get herself and her sister home alive.

But Zeena, a soldier of honor at heart, refuses…

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Crown of Feathers

By Nicki Pau Preto,

Why did I love this book?

A thoughtfully built world that includes people who ride into battle on the backs of phoenixes? Yes. Everyone needs this in their life. Sister queens, found family, and bonds with magical creatures -- Crown of Feathers is brimming with details that make this world feel real and lived in.

Crown of Feathers

By Nicki Pau Preto,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Crown of Feathers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders - legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire - until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders - even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs,…

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The Shadow Queen

By C. J. Redwine,

Why did I love this book?

Magic, dragons, and royalty in hiding. This is an epic fantasy novel and fairy tale retelling all tied up in one package, told in a way that takes you straight into the world of Ravenspire and doesn't let you out until the last page is finished. This is a different kind of Snow White story, filled with shapeshifting dragons, politics, and epic battles.

The Shadow Queen

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.

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?

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5 book lists we think you will like!

The best YA books with magical animals

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

The best fantasy adventures for the ages

The best young adult fairytale retellings

The best young adult books about secrets

Interested in the Crusades, revenge, and queens?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about the Crusades, revenge, and queens.

The Crusades Explore 51 books about the Crusades

Revenge Explore 88 books about revenge

Queens Explore 87 books about queens

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like Elatsoe, The Beast Player, and Half a Soul if you like this list.

Elatsoe

By Darcie Little Badger, Rovina Cai (illustrator),

From the list on LGBT+ reads for spooky season.

By Xan van Rooyen Author

Why did Xan love this book?

This YA novel is unquestionably one of my all time favourite reads. It’s about an asexual Apache girl with her ghost-dog sidekick in a world full of magic including faeries and vampires. The prose, the plot, the characters, the narrative structure—it was all brilliant and brought to life the story of a girl who can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill from her Lipan Apache family. A story that could’ve remained delightfully cute and sweet takes a decidedly darker turn when Elatsoe’s cousin is the picture-perfect town of Willowbee. As Elatsoe begins to investigate, she uncovers some seriously gruesome secrets in an alternate version of small-town America shaped by magic and monsters.

Elatsoe

By Darcie Little Badger, Rovina Cai (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Elatsoe as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.

There are some differences. This America been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down…

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The Beast Player

By Nahoko Uehashi, Cathy Hirano (translator),

From the list on readers seeking unique Asian fantasy.

By Henry Lien Author

Why did Henry love this book?

This wonderful Asian fantasy (the first of a duology) is about a young woman who has the rare ability to control flying wolf-like creatures. This ability plunges her into the middle of political intrigue as forces push her to weaponize this ability and use the beasts as battle mounts. The most unique thing about the book is how it questions the ethics of humans using animals for their purposes. Most fantasies unquestioningly use animal mounts as weapons/vehicles or at most use an animal’s death to trigger a cheap emotional response. This book puts the ethics of using magnificent creatures for human concerns at its very heart. It demonstrates a respect for the natural world that seems consistent with Shinto teaching and that I find too rare in fantasy.

The Beast Player

By Nahoko Uehashi, Cathy Hirano (translator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Beast Player as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Elin's family have an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the beasts mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath she manages to send her daughter to safety.

Alone, far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can talk to both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen. This skill gives her great powers, but it also involves her in deadly plots that could cost her life. Can she save herself and prevent her…

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Half a Soul

By Olivia Atwater,

From the list on transporting you into a romantic fairy tale world.

By Serena Chase Author

Why did Serena 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.

Half a Soul

By Olivia Atwater,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Half a Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

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,…

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Romance

The best books to transport you into another world

Who am I?

I wrote...

Nightrender

What is my book about?

The books I picked & why

Why did I love this book?

Why did I love this book?

Why did I love this book?

Why did I love this book?

Why did I love this book?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Crusades, revenge, and queens?

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

Who am I?

Xan's book list on LGBT+ reads for spooky season

Why did Xan love this book?

Who am I?

Henry's book list on readers seeking unique Asian fantasy

Why did Henry love this book?

Who am I?

Serena's book list on transporting you into a romantic fairy tale world

Why did Serena love this book?