YA FANTASY BOOKS THAT YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF - BUT YOU SHOULD READ
This list is entirely Pacific authors because they deserve more love and attention! If you like these I can do more xo
1. Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
This incredible trilogy is by Australian author Goodman who mashes demon/spirit hunting with high society regency England. Think Jane Austen/Bridgerton with underground societies crossed with fantasy and mystery. This is an incredible read, and genuinely one of the only series I’ve ever read that uses the love triangle trope in as a compelling plot device.
Description: 18 year old Lady Helen is eager to make a good impression at her presentation to the queen after rumours that her parents death’s were due to the being traitors to England and the British crown. All she wants is to prove she is not as reckless and untrustworthy as her beloved mother, however she cannot seem to quite fit in with society and has bursts of impulses that are borderline scandalous. After one of her maids goes missing and nobody seems to care about finding her, Helen secretly tries to find the girl. Helen begins to see strange changes in her life, such as seeing a blue light surrounding people, and one gentleman, who is rumoured to have killed his wife, can’t seem to leave her alone.
2. The Embrace Series by Jessica Shirvington
Also known as the Violet Eden Chapters, this 5-part book series also by and Australian author is an excellent read for those looking to get into YA and is highly suited for young teens. This series is urban fantasy/contemporary fantasy. I first read this when I was 14 and probably read it again once or twice a year, I love it. It may annoy older readers as the main character does make a lot of questionable choices but if you keep in mind she is supposed to be young and naive in the first book, and the fact that everyone around her is taking advantage of her without her realising it then it’s a great book. This was Shirvington’s first published series so you can really see her writing get better as the series goes on. Most of the world building happens in the second book, with the climax full of emotions, heartbreak, love and action happening in the 4th and 5th books which are amazing.
Description: Violet Eden just turned seventeen and got accepted into her dream art school. All she needs now is to get the boy - her older best friend and mentor who seems to be holding himself at arms length with her. As she tries to get closer to Lincoln she realises he’s keeping big secrets that threaten their friendship. Violet is thrust into a world where nightmares become reality - literally. Are angels and demons real? Was her mother trying to warn her of something more sinister in the last letter she left her before she died? And how does the dark, classy, doting boy she met in a club play into it? Can Violet forgive Lincoln for involving her in a dangerous and terrifying world?
3. The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier
This is an intriguing series that I haven’t finished myself yet so don’t kill me if it ends terribly! This is a series by New Zealand author Marillier, who also has another series that I’ve yet to pick up, so if you like her writing style there’s plenty to read!
Description: This series follows singer and musician Liobhan, and her equally musically talented twin brother. Both have an ambition to be trained on elite Swan Island, which trains warriors and spies. When asked to accompany Sean Island warriors on a trip as undercover travelling minstrels, Liobhan must make tough decisions to uncover the truth about an other dimension meddling in the affairs of their world, while trying to keep her kingdom safe from scheming political threats.
