4 Fantasy Novels to Read

by MK French

Since my favorite reads last year were all fantasy novels, I'm excited to dive into this year's new fantasy novels. Here are four for you to check out.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

January 2025; Wednesday Books; 978-1250902672
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); YA fantasy

The Guardian’s Tournament is held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Heaven to a new protector. Jun is sixteen and eager to prove that he's a warrior. A mistake had banished them from his home, mother, and twin brother. But Jun isn't breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin, so his father forbids him from trying. He goes anyway, and soon realizes he may be fighting for the fate of the country and the very survival of everyone he cares about.

Shannon Lee is Bruce Lee's daughter, and Fonda Lee is known for her breathtakingly detailed and riveting novels. Those who are Breathmarked in this world have the blood of the dragon, which manifests as scales. Jun and Sai were twins, but only Sai was breathmarked. Martial arts were banned as a means of violence, though Jun was skilled in it and thought displaying his talent would lead him to be taken away for training along with his brother. Instead, he and his father were exiled rather than his father sent to a work camp for teaching Jun. Following the five years of exile, his father played villains and choreographed fights for the opera and Jun was an usher and security guard. His father wanted him to study to become a civil servant, but Jun would rather fight. It doesn't help that tensions between East and West Longhan had worsened, with no other way to see Sai again without that Guardian's Tournament.

The world-building for Longhan is subtle and gradually introduced. Jun isn't the type to pay attention, but his friend Ren is, and she instructs him. His various teachers approach his ability in different ways, setting up the varying styles of martial arts and views on its utility and purpose. Even the contest rules themselves have changed, turning lethal. The tournament isn't just about who is the best fighter to protect the nation. It becomes propaganda and a means to push for war between nations, setting up future novels. Jun progresses from trying to prove himself to his father and twin, to fighting for the purest expression of the art and his ability. He learns that rivalry and envy are a source of torment, keeping him from being his best self. It was great to see Jun grow, moving past tragedy, and know that he has the potential to be truly great.

Buy Breath of the Dragon at Amazon

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire

January 2025; Tordotcom; 978-1250848338
audio, ebook, print (160 pages); fantasy

Nadya was missing an arm since birth, and her adoptive parents forced her to wear a prosthetic. She finds her way to Belyrreka, the Land Beneath the Lake. This world of water contains child-eating amphibians, giant turtles, and all kinds of impossible things. Nadya is considered a Drowned Girl, accepted by the river and its people. There are dangers in Belyrreka, and Nadya must fight for everything she holds dear.

This is the tenth book of the Wayward Children series, but each book can be read independently. I felt bad for Nadya, who was either abandoned or simply not seen on her own merits since she was born. Her adoptive parents are well-meaning but want to have the appearance of a perfect child. Of course, she would fall through a door into another world, one where her missing arm isn't the first thing about her that people see. She adapts well to her new world and finds a place for herself among the people there. Dangers exist that are different from the ones she knew in Colorado or Russia, but she adapts even to those.

This story is novella length, so it wraps up quickly. The ending felt almost abrupt and was certainly sad. Nadya had been happy in Belyrreka, and I liked that place and that version of her.

Buy Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear at Amazon

The Empress by Kristin Cast

After finding the Empress card of the Tarot in the snow, Hannah is instantly transported to the world of Towerfall. Nearly killed upon arrival, Kane saves her life and nursed her back to health. She isn't sure if he can be trusted, but must convince the Kingdom of Pentacles that they are married. It's her best chance to get to the palace and into her own world. There are many things wrong with Towerfall, but if anyone finds out that the marriage isn't real, both will be killed.

This is the first book in the new series Towerfall, mixing the Tarot with portal fantasy romance. Hannah has been down on herself and her luck for a while. Her major presentation tanks, coworkers make fun of her, and her boyfriend wants someone more put together than she is. She stumbles through the portal into Towerfall, and she has no idea what's happening around her. She is even mistaken fir a witch due to trying to get her cell phone to connect to nonexistent Wi-Fi. Kane rescues her and nurses her back to health, sure the Empress brought her to Towerfall to cure the rot in his world. The king has shut down the palace on the advice of his advisor, only opening it up to petition every six months. Hannah doesn't want to wait for the next opportunity, so she proposes taking over the identity of slain ambassadors. It would set off a war between kingdoms if she and Kane are discovered, setting up the proximity and tension keeping them together. 

Kane is the brooding loner type of hero in comparison to Hannah's nervous and chatty heroine. This gives him a commanding air, even with the innuendo and inevitable bedroom play. Hannah's into it, not to worry, and he backs off whenever she says no. We see the politicking that the nobles do, how unhappy the common people are, and the menace of the King's advisor, Four. In acting as an ambassador's wife, Hannah takes on a little more responsibility and sticks up for herself; it doesn't always work in this realm, but I liked seeing her begin to grow. When she begins to make her own decisions toward the end, there's still danger to contend with. I liked how it all came together for her happily ever after, even if it was a bit contrived. 

Buy The Empress at Amazon

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

January 2025; Del Rey; 978-0593724996
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); romantic fantasy

On a Tokyo backstreet, lost people can find a hidden shop where they can pawn their life choices and deepest regrets. Hana Ishikawa is the new owner, and the shop’s most precious acquisition was stolen, and her father is missing. A stranger offers help, so he and Hana travel through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice. As they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret and possibly make a choice she can never take back.

Hana's world is very different from what we're used to. Her pawnshop takes on regrets and choices not made, which then become birds that are handed over at the end of the month to the Shiikuin. Every person in her world has a role to play and cannot deviate from it, or else will be gravely punished; her mother was killed for taking one of the birds. However, this might not even be true, because her father is on a mission to try tracking her mother down once Hana takes over the shop. Keishin is a physics student yet still relies on the flip of a coin to make decisions, trusts in fate, and is immediately drawn to Hana despite her attempts to push him away. He latches onto her and has a childlike wonder and impulsivity about him, so he digs further and further into Hana's world.

I love the dreamy logic within this story. Travel is through puddles or dreams, memories are used as payment, time are grains of sand that can be harvested and bought or sold, and people can move around within parchment. The writing is appropriately lyrical, and actions ebb and flow like dreams do. Sometimes there are hectic races to get away, and sometimes moments are drawn out and slow. We find out what the stolen choices are and what happened afterward. The Shiikuin are even more frightening when we see them up close and know their origins, and how the cycle of abuse perpetuated in Hana's world. All the threads tie neatly together, and I liked seeing how it worked out.

Buy Water Moon at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.