10 Enchanting YA Fantasy Books About Fairies & Fae

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 28 May 2019

Literature is full of beloved fairies, from Shakespeare's Puck to J. M. Barrie's Tinkerbell. While many associate these creatures with childhood stories, there are plenty of talented authors who write books about fae for a young adult audience. If you love magic, intrigue, and dangerous quests, check out the wonderful works listed here. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Fairy Books for Young Adults: Our 10 Picks

Title Author
1. The Amulet Alison Pensy
2. Fairy Keeper Amy Bearce
3. The Blackwood Crusade Jo Danilo
4. The Faerie Guardian Rachel Morgan
5. Violet Wings Victoria Hanley
6. The Radiant Road Katherine Catmull
7. Silent Orchids Morgan Wylie
8. Shattered Blue Lauren Bird Horowitz
9. Out of the Shadows Ashlee Nicole Bye
10. Flicker Kaye Thornbrugh

8 Great Movies Featuring Fairies

  1. Hook (1991)
  2. Thumbelina (1994)
  3. The Fairy (2011)
  4. Tooth Fairy (2010)
  5. Ella Enchanted (2004)
  6. Maleficent (2014)
  7. FairyTale: A True Story (1997)
  8. Shrek 2 (2004)

Fun Activities For Fantasy Fans

Transforming Our Understanding of Fairy Tales

In Depth

There are many different takes on fairies in literature. Sometimes these creatures are the force that saves our world, and sometimes they're the ones trying to end it. From good to evil to everything in between, here, in no particular order, are ten enchanting young adult fantasy books about fairies and fae.

At #1 is "The Amulet" by Alison Pensy. The "Custodian Novel" series begins by introducing readers to Faedra, who learns on her eighteenth birthday that she's next in a line of Custodians, humans with strong magical powers. It's their responsibility to protect the amulet, which controls the weather on different worlds. Faedra must follow in her deceased mother's footsteps and prevent the amulet from falling into the wrong hands.

#2 on our list is "Fairy Keeper" by Amy Bearce, which is the first book of the "World of Aluvia" series. In this world, fairies are like bees, and their nectar is a powerful drug. Sierra is forced to care for a hive and help in her father's shady business dealings. But when their hive dies of an unknown cause, Sierra's little sister is put at risk. The only way to save her is to find the missing fairy queens, a task that may prove deadly.

The only way to save her is to find the missing fairy queens, a task that may prove deadly.

Book #3 is "The Blackwood Crusade" by Jo Danilo. Christina doesn't know faeries exist. That is, until she opens a chest that belonged to her dead stepmother and learns that she must continue the family's ongoing quest to eliminate them from the world. After learning how dangerous these creatures are, she teams up with three friends to fulfill her destiny.

#4 on our list is "The Faerie Guardian" by Rachel Morgan. Violet Fairdale wants to be the best guardian there is, but her entire career may be at stake when a human sees through her glamour and follows her into the Fae realm. To repent for her crime, Violet must take the boy home. But getting back proves dangerous, and Violet's growing romantic feelings for Nate are inconvenient, to say the least.

At #5 is "Violet Wings" by Victoria Hanley. Zaria Tourmaline lost her mother and brother three years ago and is living with a guardian until she can finish school. Her lonely life changes when she finds a spellbook her mother wrote. Humans aren't supposed to know about magic, but when a powerful fairy will stop at nothing to get the spellbook, will Zaria be able to keep everything secret?

Her lonely life changes when she finds a spellbook her mother wrote.

Next, at #6 is "The Radiant Road" by Katherine Catmull. Clare Macleod's mother used to tell her tales of fairies. Living in America, Clare has learned to suppress what she knows and pretend the supernatural doesn't exist. But when her father moves them back to her childhood home in Ireland, she sees magic everywhere she looks. Soon, Clare's visions can no longer be ignored. The world is in danger, and she must save it.

#7 is "Silent Orchids" by Morgan Wylie. The first book in the "Age of Alandria" series introduces readers to a realm that is dying after evil has been unleashed upon it. Daegan belongs to a warrior tribe that he isn't sure he can trust. He has questions about his newest mission and is determined to find answers. Kaeleigh was found abandoned as a child, but she's sure her family is out there somewhere. The two must work through the motives and secrets of those around them in order to find their own truths.

Our #8 pick is "Shattered Blue" by Lauren Bird Horowitz. Noa and Callum have each been through loss, and they immediately feel drawn to one another. But Callum is Fae, and it's dangerous for them to be together. When Callum is taken by others of his kind, Noa must decide if she's willing to sacrifice everything, perhaps even their love, to rescue him.

Noa and Callum have each been through loss, and they immediately feel drawn to one another.

#9 is "Out of the Shadows" by Ashlee Nicole Bye. The world of the Shadowlands is in trouble, and without it, the human world would fall apart. Sachi Manning is grieving after losing her best friend six months ago. Then she sees him, seemingly alive and with a reaper from the Shadowlands. The reaper doesn't understand how Sachi can see them, and soon Sachi is pulled into a world of magic, faeries, and dragons.

Last, at #10, is "Flicker" by Kaye Thornbrugh. Lee Capren is taken from her average life and forced to be a portrait artist for faeries. A human boy with magic helps her escape after only a day, but Lee returns to find that years have gone by in the human world. With her old life gone, she must forge a new one and ensure she doesn't get caught by her former captor.