Best Fantasy Books for High School (2026): Picks Compared

A sophomore who wants a long epic and a senior who wants a short series need different books, so finding the best fantasy books for high school starts with the reader. We compared each listing’s title, publisher, publication date, page count, listed reading age or grade level, series position and description. Most picks are fantasy; the dystopian novel is included because its listed reading age fits high school readers.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Sorcery of Thorns by Rogerson	9.8/10	Buy
2	Lightlark Saga Box Set by Aster	9.7/10	Buy
3	The Knowledge Seeker by Knightly	9.3/10	Buy
4	Legend of Tal by Rosell	9.2/10	Buy
5	High School DxD, Vol. 1 by Ishibumi	9.2/10	Buy

1

Sorcery of Thorns by Rogerson

Margaret Rogerson·9.8/10 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 ›

An apprentice in a magical library is implicated in sabotage and must work with a sorcerer she was taught to distrust, which suits high school readers who like magic with a conspiracy plot.

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Pros

• Grade level 9 to 12 and a reading age of 14 years and up both fit a high school reader
• Listed as Book 1 of 1, so the listing presents a single book with no series to follow
• A single 480-page volume with a publication date of June 30, 2020

Cons

• The description mentions monsters and battles with a powerful sorcerer, so check for violence before buying
• At 480 pages it is a long read for a reluctant reader
• The listing states no illustrations or bonus material

2

Lightlark Saga Box Set by Aster

Alex Aster·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 ›

Isla Crown fights to restore her decaying kingdom while torn between two love interests, which suits readers who want romance-led fantasy across the first three books.

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Pros

• Three hardcover volumes in one box with 1200 pages in total, as the listing states
• Grade level 8 and up and a reading age of 13 years and up both match high school readers
• The most recent publication date in this list, March 4, 2025

Cons

• The description centers on romance with two love interests, so check whether the reader is ready for it
• At 1200 pages across three volumes, it is a big commitment for a reluctant reader
• The box holds only the first three books, so the reader will need more volumes to finish the series

3

The Knowledge Seeker by Knightly

Rae Knightly·9.3/10 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 sixteen-year-old who carries a lost civilization's knowledge must spread it before a feared Wraith Lord can take it, which suits dystopian fans more than fantasy readers.

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Pros

• Reading age of 13 to 16 years fits high school ages
• A single 345-page volume with a publication date of November 17, 2021
• Teen narrator and a coming-of-age plot; the description compares it to The Hunger Games

Cons

• It is a dystopian novel rather than fantasy, so it is a weak match for readers who want magic
• The description mentions cataclysmic wars and a Wraith Lord who hunts the narrator, so check for violence
• The listing gives no grade level, so the reading level rests on the age range alone

4

Legend of Tal by Rosell

J.D.L. Rosell·9.2/10 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 former fighter and a village boy are pulled into an epic journey, which suits readers who like long quests; the listing states no page count or reading age.

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Pros

• An epic journey with a village boy as companion, for readers who like long quests
• An audiobook version is listed, for readers who prefer listening
• Publication date of June 1, 2020 from the listed publisher, JDL

Cons

• No page count or reading age is stated, so the level is hard to check
• The listing says Book 1 of 5 but also says it has one book, so the series length is unclear
• The description mentions fighting warlocks and killing mythical beasts, which some families will want to check

5

High School DxD, Vol. 1 by Ishibumi

Ichiei Ishibumi·9.2/10 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 boy who becomes a demon's servant after a spear attack on a date wants to build a harem, which suits only older readers.

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Pros

• A short 180-page read in a single volume
• Demon and angel fantasy with a school setting
• Published October 20, 2020 by Yen On, as listed

Cons

• A listed reading age of 18 and up is above most high school readers
• The description's harem premise and a spear attack mean mature content, stated here so parents can check
• The listing gives no grade level and no series count beyond Vol. 1

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More picks to compare

• Trial by Sorcery by FierceFor young adult fantasy fans who like dragon riders; first of a long series.Check on Amazon
• The Book That Wouldn't Burn by LawrenceFor older teens who like library fantasy; the description notes bloodshed and burning cities.Check on Amazon
• Becoming Glitch by SayreFor young adult readers who like superhero action and urban fantasy; first of two.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 the listed reading age or grade level. Most picks list a reading age, a grade level or both. The Legend of Tal listing states neither, so it earns no reading-level points. The weights are explained on the How we pick page.

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 high school

Match the reading level, then the length

The listed grade level and reading age say more than the cover does. Sorcery of Thorns lists grade 9 to 12 and a reading age of 14 years and up, while The Knowledge Seeker lists only a reading age of 13 to 16 years. For a younger teen, compare these listings with best fantasy books for early teens.

Decide between a standalone and a series

Sorcery of Thorns is listed as Book 1 of 1, so the listing presents it as a single book. The Legend of Tal listing says Book 1 of 5 but also says it has one book, so check the series count before buying. For adult-leaning fantasy, see best fantasy books for adults.

Check mature content before buying

Romance drives the Lightlark box set, and the High School DxD listing pairs a harem premise with a violent scene and an 18 and up reading age. Read the description with a younger teen before you buy, since the summaries here are short.

Before you buy

• Check the format: the Lightlark listing is a box set of three hardcover volumes, not a single book.
• For a series, confirm the position: the Legend of Tal listing says Book 1 of 5 but also says it has one book.
• Compare the listed reading age or grade level with the reader’s own level, since the Knowledge Seeker listing gives no grade level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a high school reader start The Lightlark Saga?

The listing describes the box set as the first three books of the saga in hardcover, so that set is the place to start.

What age does Sorcery of Thorns suit?

The listing gives grade 9 to 12 and a reading age of 14 years and up, which fits most high school readers. The description mentions monsters and battles, so read it first if the reader is younger.

Is Legend of Tal a complete series?

The listing gives no completion status and says both Book 1 of 5 and one book, so check the listing before buying.

Still deciding? Our top pickSorcery of Thorns by Rogerson

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Related lists

See every Young Adult list and all Kids and Teens lists.

More lists: best books for high school, fiction for high schoolers and best fantasy books for teens.