Fights and Spells: 8 Exciting YA Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Novels

The day of Deka’s blood ceremony is supposed to be the start of something great. But when her blood proves to be gold instead of red, her life is thrown into chaos in an instant. So instead of staying in her village, she accepts a witch’s offer to join an army of girls with unusual gifts like her. Soon, she is training to do battle for the emperor, and she and the others cannot fail, because the fate of the empire rests in their hands.

Ever since the powerful Nightweavers took over the continents six centuries ago, humanity has been confined to the sea. Seventeen-year-old Aster Oberon grew up on a pirate ship with her family. But after her brother is killed in a battle with the Nightweavers, Aster and her family are offered work and protection by a handsome Nightweaver prince. All of a sudden, Aster finds herself enjoying the company of the enemy she was raised to hate, and learning that the Nightweavers may not be the problem after all.

Aurora Finch grew up in the small village of Reverie, where she learned the story of the Starmaker, who brings the sun to the sky every morning. But never did she expect to meet him, let alone be brought to his castle as his apprentice. The Starmaker insists on it, because he believes Aurora holds essential magic within her that the village needs to survive. But unless Aurora can learn the secrets he keeps hidden away so they can work together, the days of sunny skies may be numbered.

Inez Olivera grows up in a life of privilege in Buenos Aires with everything she wants except her parents, who leave her at home as they travel the world on grand adventures. So when she receives word that they have died in an accident in Egypt, she visits Cairo to get answers. It’s there that a magical ring left to her by her father draws her into an epic battle of ancient magic fought between good and evil. Luckily, she has a handsome guardian by her side.

Eighteen-year-old Eira Landan has spent her life hiding away with her magic, eclipsed by her older brother. That is, until she decides to step out of his shadow and compete against other sorcerers in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. Soon, she is facing trials by day and enjoying the spotlight at night. But the close scrutiny brings her forbidden magic to light and with it, reminders of a painful past.

This novel is an award-winning classic about fate! Harry Crewe is a young orphan girl who has arrived in the desert country of Damar. Harry, by all appearances, is an ordinary young woman. But then she meets the Hillfolk King, who tells her she is fated to be the King’s Rider, and carry the Blue Sword, an honor no woman has held for centuries. And just like that, a life of adventure and romance awaits.

Wren is a bonesmith, whose job it is to sever ghosts from the dead. But she longs to be a valkyr, a warrior who actually battles ghosts. If she can complete the trials and become one, she is sure her father will finally be proud of her. Unfortunately, her chances are sabotaged instead, and she is sent to the border wall to spend her days fighting the undead. But when a prince is kidnapped, Wren enters a partnership with a sworn enemy to find the prince and get the respect she deserves.

In the time of William Shakespeare, girls and women were not allowed to act on the stage, but some did work behind the scenes. Sixteen-year-old Joan has a job at the theater, making swords and daggers for the productions. She achieves this through her magic skills, which allow her to control metal. And when Joan saves the son of a lord from a Fae attack, she is drawn into an adventure of magic and political intrigue more exciting than any she’s seen on stage.