I used to love Children’s / YA fantasy; for the wondrous, adventurous vibe and the sense of escape into a not-so-lonely world.
Problem is, I’ve been finding it hard to relate with those characters anymore, I’m of a different age and crave more mature themes and interpersonal relationships.
At the same time, I want the books to retain the core escapist, hopeful qualities that I’ve grown to love in children’s fantasy.
Any recommendations?
by spyfly-666
5 Comments
Dungeon Crawler Carl
The Wandering Inn
An Inheritance of Magic
Torth Majority
A Song of Fire and Ice
I’ve been there! I still read a lot of middle grade, but I’ve recently started exploring some adult books as well so I’m reading *some* books with characters not less than half my age! 🫠 I’ve found the cozy fantasy/sci-fi genre a really good entry point. Here are a few I’ve enjoyed:
– The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard—now one of my favorite books—it’s a (very long) beautifully written slice of life book about the personal secretary to the emperor of the world, with a heavy focus on platonic relationships.
– The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
– The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
– Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
– The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
the Hollows by Kim Harrison
The Black Company
Huge fan of Brandon Sanderson. I would start with the Mistborn books. They’re a similar thing to YA stuff but with a deeper feel that I really like and relate to.