Best Fantasy Books in the Last Decade (2026): 5 Compared

Finding the best fantasy books in the last decade means sorting new releases for the ones that last. Below are recent YA fantasies and established series, all published within the decade. We compared five by publication date, page count, series position and reading age.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Last Magician by Maxwell	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Shades of Magic Trilogy	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Last Days of Magic	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Silver in the Bone by Bracken	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Last Herald-Mage by Mercedes Lackey	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Last Magician by Maxwell

Lisa Maxwell·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 ›

Book 1 of 4, 528 pages, about a girl who travels back to 1902 to steal a book, for ages 14 and up.

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Pros

• 528 pages, Book 1 of 4
• Published August 7, 2018
• Reading age 14 years and up stated

Cons

• No contradictions noted
• Time travel plot may confuse younger readers
• 528 pages is a long read

2

Shades of Magic Trilogy

V. E. Schwab·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 complete trilogy boxed set by V. E. Schwab, published September 12, 2023 by Tor Books.

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Pros

• Complete trilogy in one boxed set
• September 12, 2023 publication from Tor Books
• V. E. Schwab, per the listing

Cons

• Boxed set format; no single-volume option stated
• No page count stated
• 2023 edition, not the newest

3

The Last Days of Magic

Mark Tompkins·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 ›

Mark Tompkins' The Last Days of Magic: A Novel, 400 pages, March 7, 2017, Penguin Publishing Group, 2017 Edition.

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Pros

• 400 pages stated
• 2017 Edition stated
• Penguin Publishing Group

Cons

• No stated series
• 400 pages suits fewer readers
• No stated author background

4

Silver in the Bone by Bracken

Alexandra Bracken·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 ›

Book 1 of 2, about a teenage girl seeking her destiny in Arthurian ruins, for ages 15 and up.

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Pros

• Published April 4, 2023
• Book 1 of 2
• Reading age 15+ years stated

Cons

• No page count stated
• No publisher stated in spec
• Arthurian lore may need background

5

The Last Herald-Mage by Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Lackey·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 ›

The Last Herald-Mage is a deluxe hardcover collecting all three novels, 912 pages from DAW.

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Pros

• All three novels in one 912-page volume
• Deluxe edition with sprayed edges and foil case stamp
• Includes the Vanyel novella Uncivil Blood

Cons

• Fantasy, not science fiction
• 912 pages, a heavy read
• Trilogy content repackaged

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More picks to compare

• The Honor of Dragons416 pages, Book 1 of 6, published May 8, 2024Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age where one is given. Two of the five listings state a reading age; the REUSED picks do not. 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 in the last decade

Check the publication date

The Last Magician published August 7, 2018; Silver in the Bone published April 4, 2023. Both fall within the last decade. For series that span the decade, see our best book series in fantasy list.

Match the reading age

The Last Magician lists reading age 14 years and up and grade level 9 and up; Silver in the Bone lists 15+ years. The REUSED picks do not state a reading age. Readers who prefer cleaner content can try our clean fantasy books list.

Series or standalone

The Last Magician is Book 1 of 4; Silver in the Bone is Book 1 of 2; the Shades of Magic boxed set collects a trilogy. Starting at book one matters in fantasy. The Last Days of Magic is listed as a novel, not part of a numbered series.

Before you buy

• The Last Magician is 528 pages, Book 1 of 4, for ages 14 and up.
• Silver in the Bone is Book 1 of 2, for ages 15 and up; no page count is stated.
• The Honor of Dragons in More Picks is 416 pages, Book 1 of 6, published May 8, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Last Magician about?

A girl travels back in time to 1902 to steal a book that could save the future. It is Book 1 of 4, 528 pages, for ages 14 and up.

Is Silver in the Bone part of a series?

Yes, it is Book 1 of 2. The listing describes a teenage girl seeking her destiny in Arthurian ruins. For ages 15 and up.

What is the Shades of Magic boxed set?

A boxed set collecting the Shades of Magic trilogy by V. E. Schwab. The listing gives no page count or publication date.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Last Magician by Maxwell

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Related lists

See every fantasy list and all fiction lists.

More lists: browse fantasy books, fantasy series from the last 10 years and fantasy books like Joe Abercrombie.