As an author, I consider it a deeply important part of my job to constantly be reading, especially in the genres I write in. 2025 wasn’t my best year for reading (I only read a grand total of 30 books), but I had some standout favorites that I want to share with fellow Fantasy Readers!
Elatsoe
Darcie Little Badger
My first pick is a YA fantasy set in an alternate version of America shaped by ancestral magic. Part fantasy, part murder mystery, this book is whimsical, magical, and engrossing. When 17-year-old Elatsoe’s cousin dies in a mysterious accident, she sets out to uncover the truth. Rooted in Lipan Apache lore, Elatsoe also features beautiful illustrations that tell a story of their own.
The Legendborn Cycle
Tracy Deonn
Imagine my surprise (and excitement) to find another YA contemporary fantasy series that re-imagines Arthurian legend in the modern day, just like The Wraithwood Trilogy. Interestingly enough, the protagonist of The Legendborn Cycle (Bree) even has a similar name to the protagonist of Wraithwood (Brinnie).
The similarities end there, however, as Tracy Deonn blends academia, secret societies, and Southern culture and history to create an incredible fantasy series that explores Southern Black culture, grief, trauma, and racism in a poignant, meaningful way. I eagerly await the next installment.
Cry, Voidbringer
Elaine Ho
I’m deviating from YA with this pick, but this adult fantasy was one of the last books I read in 2025 and such a rich read. Set in a world of complicated politics and moral dilemmas against a backdrop of vibrant cultures and landscapes, Cry, Voidbringer explores the impacts of colonialism and imperialism on the conquerors and the conquered. This book is raw, messy, and emotional. The only reason I gave it four instead of five stars? That cliffhanger ending! However, if anyone can give me even a glimmer of hope that Elaine Ho is working on a sequel, instead of leaving me devastated at the end of this standalone, I will happily give it a full five stars. You have been warned.
Alyssa Wrote 