Searching for Fantasy books with mythical creatures? Here are 15 insanely epic Fantasy books that are 100% worth buying!
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From fairies and dragons to vampires. I love getting sucked into a new fantastical world. And there is something so intriguing about mythical and fantastical creatures living among humans. If you're looking to read more fantasy books with mythical creatures then you're in the right place. There are a ton of incredible fantasy books with cool, mythological creatures.
But how do you define a mythical creature? For the sake of this post, I've defined it as an imaginary creature from a myth or fable. I've not included any human characters with historical origins (e.g. Father Christmas). So whether you're searching for books with dragons, vampires or fae - this post has got you covered.
After learning about all these books, you are going to have so many new books on your tbr list. For each book I've included a summary, the ratings and what mythical creatures it includes.
This post is all about fantasy books with mythical creatures
The best fantasy books with mythical creatures
Fantasy books with mythical creatures - dragons
1. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Six Crimson Cranes is an incredible YA Fantasy book featuring shape shifting dragons, curses and magic. The main character is a princess and it follows a royal family.
It follows Shiori. She is the only princess in Kiata. Shiori lives in a land where magic is banned. And demons are locked away inside a mountain. But forbidden magic runs through her veins.
Shiori normally conceals it. But on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, she loses control. And she attracts the attention of her stepmother Raikama.
Raikama possesses dark magic. She banishes the young princess. And turns her brothers into cranes. Shiori must speak of it to no one. For with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
As well as a curse and forbidden magic, this book features dragons. I would have liked to know more about the dragons. But the The worldbuilding in this book is exquisite. Especially when Shiori is in Iro. The images of snow-capped mountains and eating hot buns in the snow is beautiful.
Good Reads Rating: 4.31
Mythical creatures included: Dragons
2. Eragorn by Christopher Paolini
Eragorn has so much that I love about it – it has both elves, dragons and magic. And I honestly don’t see this book hyped up enough online. The writing is fast-paced and easy to read. A great fantasy book for beginners.
It follows Eragorn. He discovers a dragon egg in the forest. And it unhatched to reveal a dragon. The first to unhatch in many years.
Please don’t let the terrible movie adaptation put you off! It’s an excellent YA Fantasy book – the plot is gripping. And I found the writing style very easy to read.
The series features a prominent character who is an elf. The elves felt very Tolkein-esque to me – strong, battle hardy. This book is very much a YA Fantasy and features many of the typical YA Fantasy tropes/cliché’s – a poor orphan, ancient swords and a quest. Personally, I loved this. But if you’re not normally a YA Fantasy fan you might not enjoy this.
Mythical creatures mentioned: Dragons, elves, werecat, giant wolves, giant bears
Good reads rating: 3.92
3. The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
If you're looking for diverse LGBTQ+ YA graphic novels then you need to read some of Kay O'Neill's work. While the plot is very different to Heartstopper - they are still cosy, heartwarming reads.
The Tea Dragon Society is about dragons who grow leaves you can make tea from. But the tea is infused with memories.
We follow Greta a blacksmith apprentice. One day she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners.
This book is adorable, impossibly cute and heart-warming. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and painfully adorable.
Not only is it a beautiful book with a lovely message. But it stars people of color, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ characters.
Mythical creatures mentioned: Dragons
Good reads rating: 4.37
4. Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria
I'm absolutely obsessed with this book and I love the sibling relationship in this story. It features dragons, a sibling rivalry and a strong female lead. Plus it's an easy to read YA Fantasy with a fast-paced plot.
It follows Dani and Eden Riviera. They were both born to slay dragons. And they couldn't be more different. Dani wants a normal life and let's training take a backseat. While training is always Eden's priority. But they've always agreed on one thing -- with dragons its either kill or be killed.
That is until Dani meets a dragon. And forges a rare magical bond with him.
The characters are what made this book for me. Both of the sisters are really strong, badass female leads. But I also found it really refreshing to read about a sibling rivalry.
The side characters were also all pretty well developed. And I enjoyed the urban fantasy setting because it made it really easy read.
Mythical creatures mentioned: Dragons
Good reads rating: 3.88
Fantasy books with mythical creatures -fae and fairies
5. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
If you're looking for books with fae or fairies then you should definitely read this. The world building is stunning. I love the forest imagery and how the mythical creatures are woven into the storyline.
If you love a fast paced fantasy romance book or a twisty plot - then you absolutely need to read the Folk of Air Trilogy. It's a ya fantasy romance trilogy featuring fae, royals and an enemies to lovers romance.
Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.
The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters and is taken to live with the fae in the woods. She grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with.
There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers romance between a fae and a human. If you're looking for romance books with mythical creatures you should pick this up.
Mythical creatures mentioned: Fae, fairies, mermaids, imps, pixies, goblins and recaps
Good reads rating: 4.09
6. A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth
This book is so underrated! If you like Crescent City then you will be obsessed with the grumpy/sunshine wlw romance in this book. It's an urban fantasy featuring an array of mythical creatures (such as mermaids) in a modern city setting.
A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans. Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.
The characters in this book are so well developed! Nausicaä is a grumpy, chaotic and sarcastic lesbian. Nausicaä and Arlo have such a perfect slow burn enemies to lovers vibe.
It features a mixture of mythical creatures in an urban setting. I personally really enjoy reading books where you see how mythical creatures adapt to a city setting.
If you're looking for an audiobook then you should definitely give this one a listen. It features a full cast of narrators which make it so engrossing!
Mythical creatures mentioned: Fae, fairies, mermaids
Good reads rating: 3.83
7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
If we're talking about ya fantasy books with royalty then I can't not bring up Sarah J. Maas. Sarah J. Maas dominates the fantasy book world but for a good reason. Her books are seriously binge-worthy.
That said, sometimes her books dump a lot of world-building at the start. This can make it hard for some people to get into them. Throne of Glass starts with a bang and hooks you in instantly.
It follows Celaena Sardothien who is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. And one day she is summoned by the Prince to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.
If you're looking for a long fantasy book series to get into - then this is the book series for you. It features an incredible slow burn, enemies to lovers romance later in the series
Mythical creatures mentioned: Fae, wyverns, ghost leopards
Good Reads Rating: 4.19
8. Malice by Heather Walter
Let me tell you - Malice is one of the best books I have read this year. It was an instant 5 stars from me. You will absolutely love the dystopian world building, morally grey main character and grumpy/sunshine romance. Plus Malice and it's sequel Misrule includes some fantastic mythical creatures.
Malice is a Maleficent retelling. The book is set in a Kingdom called Briar. Once upon a time, a wicked fairy cursed a line of princesses to die. Only true love’s kiss can break the curse.
The book follows Alyce – the dark grace. She was left abandoned in Briar from a dark kingdom. The dark magic that runs in her veins abhors residents in Briar.
Except for Princess Aurora who accepts her. And she encourages Alyce to accept herself.
This book is almost a cross between Wicked and The Hunger Games. But with fae. The world building is darkly magical. And the residents of Briar reminded me of the residents of the Capitol. I LOVED the depiction of the Imps and goblins in Misrule. Plus both books reference fae.
Mythical creatures mentioned: Fae, goblins, Imps, shapeshifters
Good reads rating: 4.06
9. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
I came across An Enchantment of Ravens while looking for cottagecore books to read for another post. And I absolutely loved it.
It follows Isobel who paints stunning portraits for the dangerous fair folk. One day she creates a portrait of the Autumn Prince. But she makes a deadly mistake. She paints humanity in his eyes. And for that, she has to be punished.
I loved the imagery in this book. It’s full of magical woodland imagery. It also has a lot of Autumnal imagery because the Autumn Prince features so prominently.
I also instantly really loved Isobel. She’s down to earth, practical and incredibly kind. You can buy this on Book Depository and they offer free worldwide shipping – you can get it here. You can also read the ebook version on Scribd with a free 30 day trial
Mythical creatures mentioned: Fae
Good reads rating: 3.65
10. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
If you're looking for fantasy books with mlm romance - then you should definitely read Silver in the Wood. It's a fantasy book set in a magical forest. And it has an insanely cute grumpy/sunshine friends to lovers mlm romance. Plus it references mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries.
It follows Tobias who is a forest guardian. He is tasked to look after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall and everything changes. Silver starts to dig up old secrets that are best left forgotten. Plus they have an adorable mlm romance.
If you like the cottagecore aesthetic then you'll enjoy this book. The forest imagery is absolute gorgeous. It was filled with imagery about mythical creatures such as dryads in the forest. And definitely made me want to live in a cottage in the woods. It's really whimsical and enchanting.
This is also such a short and easy read. I listened to the audiobook. And the whole duology is only 5 hours. So you can easily binge read this in one setting. If you have a long journey this would also be the perfect audiobook to listen to because you can finish it in 5 hours. You can listen to the audiobook on Audible
Mythical creatures mentioned: Fae, dryads
Good reads: 4.02
Fantasy books with mythical creatures - elves
11. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein
The Hobbit is another absolute classic. If you're looking to read more adult fantasy books then this is a great place to start. I recommend this as a great starting point over the Lord of the Rings. It's a fantasy standalone novel with a simple but engaging storyline. And a well paced plot.
The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins. He is A Hobbit who lives in The Shire. One day he meets Gandalf and goes on an adventure.
The Hobbit the most charming adventure story. Also, the imagery in the hobbit – particularly around food is lovely. I want to be able to eat seven meals a day much like a hobbit.
The Hobbit is such a cosy, comforting book. It's not as long and drawn out as Lord of the Rings. And it's a really light-hearted read.
Mythical creatures mentioned: dragons, elves, hobbits, dwarves
Good reads rating: 4.28
12. Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne
I came across The Forbidden Forest when looking for books with elves. And I really loved the unique concept in this book. Forbidden Forest is an urban fantasy book featuring vampires, elves and shape shifters.
It follows Forest. She is born in shame as a half-Elf and half Shapeshifter hybrid. She has to work tirelessly to earn respect.
So she takes a job on earth guarding a portal. But she is asked to take on a mission to transport the vampire prince through enemy ground. And Forest has to conquer her prejudices to succeed.
There is a lot I loved about this book. I really enjoyed the elves in a more urban setting. And the idea that vampires can take control of someone they bite was really intriguing.
It’s not perfect. It definitely falls into the trap of ‘telling not showing’ at times. Also, it would probably work better as a new adult novel rather than young adult. But it was still a really enjoyable read. And I absolutely loved Forest. If you have a kindle – you can buy this for just 99p on Amazon – check it out here
Mythical creatures mentioned: elves, vampires, shape-shifters
Good Reads Rating: 3.91
Fantasy books with mythical creatures - unicorns
13. Princess Princess Ever After by Kay O’Neill
I'm kinda cheating here. This is definitely more middle grade rather than Young Adult. But it's such an insanely cute graphic novel that I had to include it. Kay O'Neill writes and illustrates the most beautiful, cosy and enchanting graphic novels.
Princes Princess ever after is about two princesses who fall in love. We follow Sadie who is locked in a tower. She is rescued by another princess -Amira. Also, Amira rides a pink unicorn. It’s just as queer and lovely as it sounds.
This is such a comforting book to read. It deals with some really important topics such as feminism, equality and abusive relationships. But it does it in such a light-hearted way.
This is insanely adorable and a really quick read. You can buy the absolutely beautiful hardcover from Amazon -get it here.
Mythical creatures mentioned: unicorn
Good reads rating: 4.08
Other mythical creatures
14. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson is an insanely popular series that got many bookworms into reading. And for good reason. It has a fast paced plot full of action and plot twists. The writing style is easy to read and you'll seriously want to stay in all day reading it.
The concept is that the Greek Gods are real. And they occasionally fall in love with mortals. They have children who become demigods.
The book follows Percy Jackson. He is having trouble focusing on his schoolwork. When one day his maths teacher turns into a monster.
And so mum decides it’s time to tell him the truth. His father is a Greek God. And she sends him to camp Half blood – a summer camp for demigods.
Greek Mythology is woven seamlessly into this book. And it balanced Greek Mythology with urban fantasy elements perfectly. Disney Plus are adapting this book series into a fantasy book series. So if you haven't read it - then you seriously should.
Good reads rating: 4.28
Mythical creatures mentioned: medusa, chimera, minotaur, dragons, dwarves, dark elves and many more
15. Mooncakes by Wendy Xu and Suzanne Walker
If you're looking for LGBTQ+ YA Graphic novels with cute. light-hearted romance then you need to read Mooncakes. It's a YA Romance about a witch and a non-binary werewolf.
It follows teen witch Nova. She works at her Nana's magical bookshop. And she helps them loan out spell books. But she also investigates supernatural occurrences in her local town.
One day, she is tasked to investigate reports of a white wolf in a nearby forest. She then discovers her childhood best friend, Tam, fighting a demon werewolf. Together they investigate the demon and rekindle their feelings towards each other.
This is such a comfort read. The artwork is insanely beautiful. I really loved the illustrations of the magic and magical creatures living in the forest. The romance is also really adorable.
The story isn't fast-paced and action packed. We also don't find out much about the characters background. But it's such a quick, cute and light-hearted read that I don't think it matters. It also deals with serious topics like loss and difficult family relationships really well.
Good reads rating: 3.85
Mythical creatures mentioned: werewolf
This post was all about fantasy books with mythical creatures
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