Looking for an unforgettable collection of books about magic, magical realism, and supernatural things? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger about YA fiction, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most enchanting novels in this category.
You’ll find detailed reviews of many of my favorites in the roundup below. This category is very broad, and there are so many popular novels to choose. You will find supernatural creatures, magical objects, portals to other worlds, and paranormal powers. I promise you’ll find something new to love in this list.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
what’s otherworldly about it?
A hidden portal to another world
What it’s about
After making a deal with God, a boy travels to another world to save a dog and battles monsters to restore a kingdom and its people.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“A brave man helps. A coward just gives presents.” ― Stephen King, quote from Fairy Tale
You probably don’t think about Fairy Tale as Young Adult, but it’s about a boy and a dog on a journey in a magical realm. How much more Young Adult can you be, right?
In fact, Fairy Tale is Stephen King at his very best. This novel is multi-layered, with 3 distinct stories wrapped into a long, cascading, wonderful, and satisfying read.
The first story is how Charlie Reade meets Mr. Bowditch and his dog Radar in the first place. Settle in. There's a mystery here, and there's something supernatural, of course, because it's Stephen King.
That story leads Charlie on an epic journey with Radar to the center of another world, and this story is full of unique characters, dazzling details, and conflict in its own right. No sooner does this part of the story reach its conclusion than a new one begins, where Charlie is taken prisoner and is realized as the Prince That Was Promised, who has come to save the decaying kingdom.
Now the third story takes off, and there are monsters, giants, gladiator games, and all sorts of villains to be slain. There are princesses to be restored to kingdoms. There is a giant cricket king. It is a fairy tale, after all, as only Stephen King can tell.
I loved this book. At times, it reminded me of The Talisman, The Gunslinger, and The Stand for different reasons. It had this beautiful, epic quality. I didn't want it to, but of course, every fairy tale must.
Even after more than sixty books, Mr. King's well of great ideas is overflowing. If you’re looking for enchanting YA books about magic, magical realism, and other supernatural things, Fairy Tale is one novel that definitely belongs at the top of your reading list.
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
what’s otherworldly about it?
Multiple realities & supernatural beings
What it’s about
A boy goes on an otherworldly journey to find the Talisman and flips between multiple realms as he avoids monsters and creatures.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“He cried because safety and reason seemed to have left the world. Loneliness was a reality, but in this situation madness was also remotely a possibility.” ― Stephen King from The Talisman
I don’t know if you’d classify this as fantasy or adventure or magic or what, but The Talisman is just a good, old-fashioned wonderful story. Just that, plain and simple. A boy on a quest to save his mother must travel a great distance and experience many terrible things. The “magic” in this novel is the talisman that he seeks.
I’m a big King fan and have read this one a couple of times. As with all of his books, this one is a long and satisfying read, full of peril and suspense and terrible supernatural creatures. Loved it!
In fact, if you like this kind of King story, you might also read The Dark Tower series, which is thousands and thousands of pages—worlds long.
Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
what’s otherworldly about it?
Vampires & werewolves
What it’s about
A classic, unforgettable series about first love between characters of very different worlds—human and vampire.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him-and I didn’t know how potent that part might be-that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” ― Stephanie Meyer from Twilight
Oh. My. Gosh.
Twilight was my introduction to YA as an adult reader, and I remember plowing through these novels at a breakneck pace. They’re part love stories, part vampire and werewolf fantasy world, and just full of all the great emotions. At one point I contacted my friend who’d recommended the series and asked, “When do they finally have sex?!” By this point I felt as frustrated about the situation with Edward as Bella.
“It’s young adult,” she said. “Remember?”
Right.
For readers who have never read them or even those who read them a decade ago, these books are highly addicting, binge-worthy, can’t-put-down, and worth another look. There’s a reason millions of people loved them, watched all the movies, and bought posters. The passion between Bella and Edward sizzles on the pages of this series. Even more, there is a love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob in the middle books that turns up the heat.
Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall
what’s otherworldly about it?
Ghosts
What it’s about
A girl visits an island where people disappeared and encounters supernatural beings.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“What’s down there?” she asked. “A crack in the world,” I answered automatically.” ― Kate Alice Marshall from Our Last Echoes
Kate Alice Marshall is my new favorite author! This fast-paced, unusual ghost story kept me guessing the whole time. I started the book thinking I knew what would happen, but the story isn’t a simple or easy cliché. Instead, it’s dark and twisty, full of X-files weirdness. I loved every page of it.
In the story, Sophia travels to remote island to learn about her mom’s disappearance. She was told her mom died in a car crash when she was a toddler, but now she thinks that might not be true. What if her mom is still alive? At this creepy island, residents are definitely afraid of something that might be alive in the mist that comes rolling in.
Don’t go outside.
Sophia goes outside. Of course.
Fans of YA books about magic, magical realism, and other supernatural things will devour this novel by Kate Alice Marshall.
The Forgotten Book by Mechthild Gläser
what’s otherworldly about it?
A magical journal
What it’s about
A girl discovers a magic book and sets events in motion.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Now and then they would tell old legends and fairy tales about the castle, the way people always do about old castles. But they would be just that: fairy tales. Nothing more, and nothing less.” ― Mechthild Gläser, quote from The Forgotten Book
A girl discovers a magical journal, and when she writes in it, things happen—but not exactly in the way she hoped or wanted.
I don’t read many books in the YA fantasy genre, but I loved the cover on this one and found this premise intriguing, so I thought I’d give it a go.
It started slow.
I thought maybe I'd made a mistake, but then it grabbed me and took off! Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and magic, the light romance, and the pacing after the slow warmup.
If you’re looking for enchanting YA books about magic, magical realism, and other supernatural things, you should definitely take a look at The Forgotten Book. The magic will cast a spell over you!
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
what’s otherworldly about it?
Paranormal powers & skills
What it’s about
A local girl goes missing, and friends with secrets work to uncover the truth.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Knowing is hard, but it's a thing you can survive. The not knowing will kill you in the end. It's the secrets that fester." ― Ginny Myers Sain, quote from Dark and Shallow Lies
A girl is missing from a small town where all her peers have some kind of paranormal skill, yet despite all the supernatural power pulsating in the air, no one seems to be able to find her or reveal what happened to her.
This magical mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I couldn’t wait to figure out what happened to Elora, and there were plenty of suspicious characters to blame for her disappearance.
There’s plenty to love about this novel, including the atmospheric setting, alligators, mud, and strange powers of the summer children. You can practically feel the thick humidity in the evening over the Louisiana bayou. You won’t want to miss this enchanting YA book about magic, magical realism, and other supernatural things.
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
what’s otherworldly about it?
A magic bridge and bike
What it’s about
A girl who can travel through time and space by riding her bike across an old covered bridge.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Already, though, she understood the difference between being a child and being an adult. The difference is when someone says he can keep the bad things away, a child believes him.” ― Joe Hill from NOS4A2
This is my favorite Joe Hill novel yet! I couldn't put it down. We were on vacation with friends, and every chance I could sneak away to shove my nose in this book, I did.
From the opening scene when I met Charlie Manx in the hospital room, I just knew something terrible was going to happen, and soon enough, I wasn't disappointed. He's a serial killer... but with a supernatural, holiday twist. Very festive indeed.
The heroine, Vic McQueen, is a tough girl whose active imagination is magical. The thing is that she's also crazy, so you're really not sure if you should believe her or not. After all, there are such things as unreliable narrators.
The plot takes off from the beginning and doesn't stop the whole way through. It's a wild, wild ride! I wish Joe Hill wrote a novel a year. I would certainly buy them! :-)
All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
what’s otherworldly about it?
Magic & miracles
What it’s about
A family in Bicho Raro, Colorado, possess magical abilities and perform miracles to help pilgrims.
Why I Love It - Book Review
In this multicultural and multi-generational YA book about a Mexican American family of “saints,” pilgrims from everywhere arrive at thier ranch in search of miracles.
I almost abandoned this book. It has a really long, slow, meandering warm up that seems to be going nowhere, and then around page 170, I was suddenly delighted me with this passage:
"It may seem like madness for a young woman to chase a runaway horse, as a galloping horse travels at twenty-five miles an hour and a galloping woman only travels at fifteen. But runaway horses rarely have a purpose, and young women chasing them often do." ― Maggie Stiefvater, quote from All the Crooked Saints
The scene that followed was full of language that made me smile and action that finally drew me into the story. More lovely moments followed. The remainder of the book was magical, mysterious, and ultimately transformative for the characters. I wish the pacing for the first half had been different.
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
what’s otherworldly about it?
Ghosts & cultural heritage
What it’s about
A grieving girl goes on a search for her mother, who she believes has turned into a bird.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Believing is a type of magic. It can make something true.” ― Emily X.R. Pan, quote from The Astonishing Color of After
A young girl, Leigh Chen Sanders, is grieving the death of her mother, who committed suicide. Leigh believes that she turned into a bird, and she goes on a journey to visit her grandparents in Taiwan in search of her mother, the bird, and other family secrets.
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan is one of my top favorite YA reads. I discovered the novel after reading a Goodreads review so intriguing that I went hunting for the title during my next Barnes & Noble trip. The Astonishing Color of After was shelved under Teen Fantasy, a category where I never shop, so without seeing the great reviewer comments I might never have discovered this touching book about grief, culture, and family secrets.
This book wrecked me. The writing is so beautiful. Whether it’s the love story, the voice, the mystery, or the family culture aspect, there’s plenty of reasons why fans connect with this YA classic. I truly can’t say enough wonderful things about this amazing novel.
If you haven’t discovered it yet, you definitely want to make it one of the YA books on your list of enchanting YA books about magic, magical realism, and supernatural things you should read next. And if you have already read it, here’s my list of other great books for fans of The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan.
These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall
what’s otherworldly about it?
A haunted house & supernatural creatures
What it’s about
A girl inherits a haunted house and must survive a year within its walls.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Beware, beware, the Harrow Witch, with soul as black as blackest pitch.” ― Kate Alice Marshall from These Fleeting Shadows
These Fleeting Shadows is disorienting and spooky. The premise is that Helen Vaughan must spend a year in Harrow House to keep her inheritance, and during that year, Bad Things happen. Her family cannot be trusted. The house cannot be trusted. People die. Little girls disappear. As Helen tries to figure out what is going on, she sinks deeper into sickness.
I love Kate Alice Marshall books and couldn't wait for this one to come out. However, my feelings about this one are tepid. At times I felt as lost in the plot as Helen was in that house, which was no doubt intentional, but I closed the book wondering, "What the heck?" Did I miss a crucial element, or was it subtle, or both? Or? I think the execution missed a step.
Other YA Books about Magic, Magical Realism, and Other Supernatural Things You Should Read
If you are looking for other YA books about magic, magical realism, and other supernatural things, you should check out the YA Magic list on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of book reviews.
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
