A few things before we get to these amazing books. For today’s list, I chose eight great books with different kinds of fantasy elements. From mythology retellings, to mermaids, golems, witches, and even exorcists. There’s a book for everyone on this list! Plus, I chose to focus on more recent releases — the oldest one being from mid 2020. That’s because, now more than ever, standalone YA fantasy books are thankfully full of non-Western, non-white, and non-cis characters and settings. Which is something I wanted to focus on today. So without further ado, let’s dive into eight great standalone YA fantasy books that are absolutely worth reading. Want more standalone YA fantasy books? We’ve got you covered with 20 more recommendations. Or maybe take a dive into our SFF Archives to find all kinds of fantasy books.
