Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
Blightfall
Sanderson's worldbuilding discipline applied to a tighter YA frame—fast-paced, morally clear without being simplistic, and genuinely gripping through the third act.
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All the stars and teeth
by Adalyn Grace
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 810L · 2020
Moody dark-magic fantasy with a sharp, conflicted protagonist; the ocean-magic system is fresh and the family dynamics cut deeper than typical YA, though the pacing drags mid-book.
Cursed
by Thomas Wheeler
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2019
A smartly feminist Arthurian retelling with strong worldbuilding and real stakes; the pacing dips mid-act but Nimue's voice and the moral ambiguity around destiny land hard.
The Last Ember
by Lily Berlin Dodd
Young adult · ages 14–18 · 820L · 2025
A taut YA fantasy about reclaiming power on your own terms; strong emotional core and elemental world-building, though the pacing occasionally stalls mid-act.