Larissa's YA Favorites

Raybearer

The Raybearer Series: Book #1

By: Jordan Ifueko
Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Length: 13 hours 48 minutes

“Such a cool fantasy novel with an incredible magic system! Perfect for fans of "Children of Blood and Bone." I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to further immerse yourself in this beautiful world that Ifueko has created. Read more

Redemptor

The Raybearer Series: Book #2

By: Jordan Ifueko
Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Length: 13 hours 21 minutes

The hotly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling YA fantasy about Tarisai’s quest to change her fateFor the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar’s throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer. She must then descend... Read more

The Beast Player

By: Nahoko Uehashi
Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly
Length: 14 hours 50 minutes

**One of YALSA's 2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults**

Nahoko Uehashi's The Beast Player is an epic YA fantasy about a girl with a special power to communicate with magical beasts and the warring kingdom only she can save. Read more

Children of Blood and Bone

Legacy of Orisha: Book #1

By: Tomi Adeyemi
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Length: 17 hours 44 minutes

“Children of Blood & Bone, is a story told in a world where magic no longer exists. Years ago, this was not the case. Once, magic and the Gods were celebrated. Now, Diviners (those with Maji blood, but no magic) are treated poorly, and all the Maji have been killed. One of those including our main protagonist, Zélie’s, mother. Determined to... Read more

Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Legacy of Orisha: Book #2

By: Tomi Adeyemi
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
Length: 13 hours 27 minutes

*The spectacular sequel to Audie Award Audiobook of the Year Children of Blood and Bone*

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

"Bahni Turpin exquisitely narrates the second book in this fantasy series, Legacy of Orïsha. Her steady pace and West African accent draw us into the story of Zélie, a Maji warrior, and Princess Amari--both of whom fight... Read more

Iron Widow (Book 1)

Iron Widow: Book #1

By: Xiran Jay Zhao
Narrated by: Rong Fu
Length: 12 hours 13 minutes

“Iron Widow is addictive, non-stop, and insane! I LOVE this book so much! Take control of your life. Take control of your body. Make the patriarchy pay through blood and vengeance! This alt-reality world mixes Chinese culture and Pacific Rim, with addictive action, complex characters, and an unstoppable fury. Zetian wants revenge and will bring... Read more

A Deadly Education

A Novel

The Scholomance: Book #1

By: Naomi Novik
Narrated by: Anisha Dadia
Length: 10 hours 58 minutes

“A Deadly Education takes a fresh stab at the magical boarding school setting in this inventive and compelling new novel from Naomi Novik. Galadriel Higgins is a student at Scholomance, a dangerous institution full of things that don’t just go bump in the night, they tend to maim and murder the students. In such a perilous place, it’s important... Read more

The Last Graduate

A Novel

The Scholomance: Book #2

By: Naomi Novik
Narrated by: Anisha Dadia
Length: 13 hours 26 minutes

“If you fell in love with El like I did, you will be thrilled to know she is her same snarky self. A grander scheme will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And oh... what an ending! Once again, flawlessly narrated by Anisha Dadia. Read more

We Unleash the Merciless Storm

By: Tehlor Kay Mejia
Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
Length: 11 hours 40 minutes

In this nail-biting sequel to Tehlor Kay Mejia’s critically acclaimed fantasy novel We Set the Dark on Fire, La Voz operative Carmen is forced to choose between the girl she loves and the success of the rebellion she’s devoted her life to. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Anna-Marie McLemore.Being a part of the resistance group La Voz... Read more

We Set the Dark on Fire

By: Tehlor Kay Mejia
Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
Length: 9 hours 53 minutes

“Filled with lore, rebellion, and intricate world building- 'We Set The Dark On Fire' waves between exciting, beautiful, and intense. The writing is simple but not repetitive, it pulls a cultural backdrop with new values stacked around it, and the story in itself makes you continue to question how this will move forward. The relationships are all... Read more

The Way Back

By: Gavriel Savit
Narrated by: Allan Corduner
Length: 10 hours 53 minutes

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK

Perfect for readers of Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman, a sweeping historical fantasy that follows two teens on a journey through the Far Country, a Jewish land of spirits and demons.

For the Jews of Eastern Europe, demons are everywhere: dancing on the rooftops in the darkness of... Read more

A Song Below Water

A Novel

A Song Below Water: Book #1

By: Bethany C. Morrow
Narrated by: Andrea Laing & Jennifer Haralson
Length: 9 hours 23 minutes

“Accessible examination of social justice issues, in a wrapper of modern fantasy. Thought-provoking and a real pleasure. Particularly excellent as an audiobook! Read more

Akata Witch

Nsibidi Scripts: Book #1

By: Nnedi Okorafor
Narrated by: Yetide Badaki
Length: 8 hours 49 minutes

“This is a fast moving series with a strong female protagonist. The books move through finding magical powers, using powers, and conquering the antagonist. The female characters in this series are strong and independent. There are all the things are you look for in a good magical fantasy novel: intrigue, suspense, character frustration as they... Read more

Akata Warrior

Nsibidi Scripts: Book #2

By: Nnedi Okorafor
Narrated by: Yetide Badaki
Length: 12 hours 42 minutes

A year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu. Now, stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny is... Read more

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

By: Malinda Lo
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 12 hours 25 minutes

“This coming of age story about a young woman growing up queer in 1950s Chinatown, San Francisco, was brilliant. I loved the rich historical detail, believable characters, exploration of intersectional identities, romance, and sense of place, made even stronger by the excellent narration. Best book I've read in quite some time and highly... Read more

Nocturna

Nocturna: Book #1

By: Maya Motayne
Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
Length: 14 hours 47 minutes

“This book spoke to me from the moment I picked it up. From the cover, to the beautiful world, and the characters full of spark and life, everything whispered to me, enticing me to dive in. What drew me most was the fact that May Motayne wanted to create a world that she thought had been MIA when she was younger and looking for books to read. Set... Read more

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

By: Erika L. Sánchez
Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
Length: 9 hours 40 minutes

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “stunning” (America Ferrera) YA novel about a teenager coming to terms with losing her sister and finding herself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican American home.

“Alive and crackling—a gritty tale wrapped in a page-turner. ”—The New York Times

Perfect Mexican daughters... Read more

The Merciful Crow

The Merciful Crow Series: Book #1

By: Margaret Owen
Narrated by: Amy Landon
Length: 12 hours 57 minutes

“Equal parts beauty and grit, The Merciful Crow is a novel that kept me up through the night. In the start of what is planned on being a duology, Margaret Owens filled her story with beautiful words, witty characters, and situations many can connect to. The world Owens created is divided into a caste system named after birds, which like many in... Read more

The Faithless Hawk

The Merciful Crow Series: Book #2

By: Margaret Owen
Narrated by: Amy Landon
Length: 12 hours 28 minutes

Kings become outcasts and lovers become foes in The Faithless Hawk, the thrilling sequel to Margaret Owen's The Merciful Crow.

As the new chieftain of the Crows, Fie knows better than to expect a royal to keep his word. Still she’s hopeful that Prince Jasimir will fulfill his oath to protect her fellow Crows. But then black smoke fills the sky,... Read more

Sorcery of Thorns

By: Margaret Rogerson
Narrated by: Emily Ellet
Length: 14 hours 20 minutes

“Amazing! I wonderful fantasy I loved every bit of. The narrator brought this story to life, and I was hypnotized the entire time. This story has some of my favorite elements in it. A strong, smart heroine? Check. A charming hero with demons and a chip on his shoulder? Check. An evil threatening the safety of the world? Check. Elizabeth is such... Read more