Best YA Fantasy and Sci Fi Books (2026): 5 Series Openers Compared

The best ya fantasy and sci fi books for a teen depend on the other world they want. We compared five series openers on stated reading age, grade level, print length and series position.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Crownchasers	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Anachronist by Hastie	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	One If	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Fallen Academy by Stone	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Souls of the Never	9.3/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Crownchasers

Rebecca Coffindaffer·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 reluctant heir is pulled into a crownchase, a hunt for the royal seal across 1,001 planets to decide the next ruler.

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Pros

• A race across 1,001 planets for the crown
• 400 pages, the longest stated length here
• Reading age 13 years and up, grade level 8 - 9

Cons

• Book 1 of 2, so the story continues
• The contest is described as deadly
• Published September 7, 2021

2

Anachronist by Hastie

Andrew Hastie·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 time travel adventure, book 1 of 7 in the Infinity Engines, for readers 14 to 18 years, published March 25, 2017.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 7, a series starter
• Reading age 14 to 18 years stated
• 2nd edition stated

Cons

• No page count is stated
• Youngest target reader here
• Sequel needed to continue the story

3

One If

Carol B Allen·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 Manhattan student is pulled through a portal to Spyridon, a world in climate collapse, where an eagle names her Sky Queen.

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Pros

• Portal travel to a second world
• Reading age 13 - 18 years is stated
• Book 1 of 3 in the Virago Trilogy

Cons

• No print length is stated
• Civil war and deadly climate collapse feature
• A romance with a possible enemy features

4

Fallen Academy by Stone

Leia Stone·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 girl with black wings is admitted to an elite school in Angel City, suited to older teens who like urban fantasy romance.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 5 in Fallen Academy, so the first volume starts the series
• Grade level 8 to 12 and 352 pages are both stated
• Urban fantasy with demons and fallen angels at an elite school

Cons

• Reading age of 17 years and up is marked as from customers, while grade 8 to 12 is listed, so the two conflict
• Book 1 of 5, a longer commitment than a standalone
• The description centers a romance between a student and her teacher, so check for mature content

5

Souls of the Never

CJ Rutherford·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 Belfast student meets a man who has searched for her across a thousand lifetimes, in the Never between worlds.

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Pros

• Science and magic collide across worlds
• Book 1 of 3 in Tales of the Neverwar
• The heroine crosses dimensions to rescue him

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• No print length is stated
• Romance is central: one soul, two halves

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More picks to compare

• Exile: Faarian Chronicles Book 1A teen gymnast moves to her alien mother's water-starved planet Macawi.Check on Amazon
• The Twin StarsA teen writer falls through a portal into her own abandoned story.Check on Amazon
• The ProgenitorA royal with elemental magic faces prophecy and a plot for the galaxy.Check on Amazon
• The Last FlyerA girl who dreams of flying defies the rulers who banned it.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 21 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the teen reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. Only two listings state a reading age. 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 ya fantasy and sci fi books

Decide how long a series you are starting

Every pick opens a series: Crownchasers is Book 1 of 2, while One If and Souls of the Never each open a trilogy. Our best ya fantasy duologies list covers two-book series.

Use the stated reading age where there is one

Crownchasers gives 13 years and up with grade level 8 – 9; One If gives 13 – 18 years. The other three state neither.

Before you buy

• All five picks open a series, so check the next book exists before starting.
• Where no reading age is stated, check the description for themes first.
• Crownchasers is the only pick with a stated page count: 400 pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What reading age are these YA books aimed at?

Where stated, it starts at 13: Crownchasers gives 13 years and up, One If gives 13 – 18 years. The other three state none.

Should these series be read in order?

Yes. Each pick is a series opener, so start with the first book.

Which pick is the most science fiction?

Crownchasers, a hunt across 1,001 planets. One If and Souls of the Never blend science with magic.

Which book has the most romance?

Souls of the Never: two halves of one soul across a thousand lifetimes.

Still deciding? Our top pickCrownchasers

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