Best Fantasy Books for Women (2026): 5 Picks Compared

If you want a fantasy story with a woman at its center, the best fantasy books for women are easier to pick once you know whether you want romance or a mystery. We compared five picks by the fit, edition, series position and page count each listing states.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Trial of the Sun Queen by Tuli	9.7/10	Buy
2	From Blood and Ash by Armentrout	9.7/10	Buy
3	Zodiac Academy by Peckham	9.6/10	Buy
4	The Lost Apothecary by Penner	9.6/10	Buy
5	The Lost Bookshop by Woods	9.4/10	Buy

1

Trial of the Sun Queen by Tuli

Nisha J. Tuli·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Lor, released into a rival king's hands, competes against other Tributes for the Sun King's heart in an enemies-to-lovers fantasy.

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Pros

• Fae magic and a dark prince are named in the description
• Book 1 of 4 is stated, so the series order is clear
• The listing gives 400 pages and a 2023 reissue edition

Cons

• Romance and stakes where losing means death, so check for a sensitive reader
• A four-book series commits you to more volumes
• No reading age or grade level is stated on the listing

2

From Blood and Ash by Armentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A maiden chosen to usher in a new era finds her duty tangled with desire for a guard, suiting readers who want fantasy romance.

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Pros

• Duty and forbidden desire drive the premise
• 493 pages with a publication date of September 15, 2021
• The description names Sarah J. Maas fans as its intended audience

Cons

• The description calls it sexy, so check for sexual content first
• Violence and vengeance are stated as themes
• Series position is not stated on the listing

3

Zodiac Academy by Peckham

Caroline Peckham·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A fae heir to a throne joins an academy full of rival supernaturals, suiting readers who enjoy dark academia.

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Pros

• Print re-issue with a bonus chapter and a new cover
• Book 1 of 12 gives a clear starting point
• 512 pages, with dark academia and elemental powers named

Cons

• The description refers to sexual content and dark, twisted scenes
• Book 1 of 12 is a long commitment before the story ends
• No reading age or grade level is stated on the listing

4

The Lost Apothecary by Penner

Sarah Penner·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A secret apothecary in eighteenth-century London sells poisons to women, suiting readers who want historical mystery over fantasy.

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Pros

• A historical setting built around a secret network of women
• 352 pages with a publication date of February 22, 2022
• A present-day storyline runs alongside the historical one

Cons

• Historical mystery rather than fantasy, so magic fans may skip it
• The description names poisons and murders, a mature theme
• No series position is stated, though a sequel is mentioned

5

The Lost Bookshop by Woods

Evie Woods·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A vanishing bookshop in Dublin draws three strangers into a mystery, suiting book lovers who want a charming, contemporary story.

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Pros

• Set in Dublin, with three characters whose stories are linked
• 448 pages, with One More Chapter named as the publisher
• The description frames the story around books and book lovers

Cons

• Listing dates conflict: October 2026 in the description, November 7, 2023 in the specs
• Reads as a contemporary mystery, so fantasy fans may find less magic
• No reading age or grade level is stated on the listing

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More picks to compare

• A River Enchanted by RossFor readers who want Scottish-inspired romantic fantasy with a mystery, Book 1 of 2.Check on Amazon
• When Women Were Dragons by BarnhillFor readers who want a feminist fantasy about women who turn into dragons.Check on Amazon
• Serpent & Dove Box Set by MahurinFor romantic fantasy readers who want three books in one paperback box set.Check on Amazon
• House of Salt and Sorrows by CraigFor fans of a fantasy mystery by the sea, Book 1 of 2 in a series.Check on Amazon
• Haunting Beauty by AnneFor romance readers who want spicy paranormal romance with antihero love interests.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 16 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and any listed reading age or level. None of the five picks lists a reading age or grade level, so the order rests on fit, contents and value. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best fantasy books for women

Choose romance or mystery first

Fantasy romances such as Trial of the Sun Queen and From Blood and Ash put the relationship first, while The Lost Apothecary is a historical mystery. Browse the full best fantasy books for women shelf for more.

Check the series order

Zodiac Academy is Book 1 of 12 and Trial of the Sun Queen is Book 1 of 4, so start with Book 1 of either. For age-specific picks, see fantasy books for young adults.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date: the Lost Bookshop listing gives two different dates.
• Confirm the series order: Zodiac Academy is Book 1 of 12, and Trial of the Sun Queen is Book 1 of 4.
• Read the description for mature themes, since no listing states a reading age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start a fantasy series?

Start with Book 1. The listings state Book 1 of 4 for Trial of the Sun Queen and Book 1 of 12 for Zodiac Academy.

Which of these suits a younger reader?

None of the listings states a reading age or grade level. The descriptions of From Blood and Ash and Zodiac Academy both mention sexual themes, so check first.

Which edition should I buy?

Check the publication date on the listing. Zodiac Academy is a print re-issue with a bonus chapter, and Trial of the Sun Queen is a 2023 reissue.

Still deciding? Our top pickTrial of the Sun Queen by Tuli

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Related lists

See every Fantasy and Romantasy list and all Fiction lists.

More lists: fantasy books for men, women’s confidence books and fantasy books for teens.