15 Underrated ya fantasy books about hidden worlds that you’ll love (2024)

Looking for ya fantasy books about hidden worlds? In this guide, I’ve ranked and reviewed the 15 best fantasy books about hidden worlds . So you can pick the best one to lose yourself in right now.

This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.

I genuinely think ya fantasy books about hidden or secret worlds were what first made me fall in love with reading. When I was younger, some of my favourite fantasy books were Percy Jackson, Alice in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia.

There is something so magical about a fantastical world completely hidden from the normal world. Truly nothing helps you escape more than discovering a secret world.

So whether it’s a main character stumbling through a wardrobe or discovering a forgotten world – this post has got you covered. Plus for each book I’ve included:

• Good Reads Rating
• Content warnings
• Summary
• The vibe of the book
• Positives and negatives

Here are the 15 absolute best ya fantasy books about hidden worlds

What are the best ya fantasy books about hidden worlds?

Here are my top picks for the best ya fantasy books about hidden worlds

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an absolute classic. And I couldn’t write a post on books about hidden worlds without mentioning this classic. It has one of the most magical secret fantasy worlds.

The Chronicles of Narnia follows four children who are evacuated to a country house. They find a magical kingdom called Narnia at the back of a wardrobe.

But Narnia has been enchanted by a White Witch. And it is frozen in an eternal winter.

The Lion, The Witch and The wardrobe has one of the most magical concepts behind it.The concept is also familiar to everyone and makes it easy to follow.

While there are multiple books in the Chronicles of Narnia – you can easily read The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe as a standalone. The wintery world building is seriously enchanting and the characters are really charming. It’s the perfect nostalgic read full of cosy imagery.

Good reads Rating:

4.22

Vibe:

fairy-tale, adventurous, light-hearted, winter imagery

Content warnings:

Animal death, War, Animal cruelty, sexism, violence, slavery, death, murder, gore

Positives

Negatives

• fast-paced adventure story
• Loveable characters with good character development
• Great battle scenes
• Sibling rivalry is executed really well
• talking animals!

• The book was written 50 years ago and some of the phrases used in the book upset people.
• A lot of allegorical references to Christianity
• Black and white morality
• Again it was written5 0 years ago, and doesn’t have a diverse cast of characters

2. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Legendborn is one of my top ya fantasy books to read! When I first picked this up, I stayed up until about 3am reading it! It features a hidden world of magic and secret societies.

It’s a fast paced ya fantasy book with an action packed plot and plenty of twists and turns. It has the competition element. And it also has an awesome main character who discusses losing a loved one.

Legendborn follows Bree Mathews. After the death of her mother, she wants to avoid family memories. So, she joins a residential program for gifted high school students.

But then she witnesses a magical attack on her first night. A flying demon feeding on human energy. A Mage tries to wipe her memory. But he fails. And instead Bree unlocks new memories of her mother’s death.

You should read this if you love a strong female lead, morally grey characters or the Sarah J Maas. It also features great commentary on slavery and racism. Perfect if you’re looking for books about hidden world with an urban fantasy vibe.

Good reads Rating:

4.42

Vibe:

dark academia, magic, secret societies, mysterious

Content warnings:

Death of a parent, grief/flashbacks, alcohol consumption, mind control/memory manipulation, racist macro and micro aggressions, blood, mild gore, combat violence, mention(s) of: physical abuse, racist violence, sexual violence.

Positives

Negatives

• fast-paced adventure story
• Excellent representation of grief
• Diverse characters
• Compelling and likeable main character
• Great writing style

• The world building has some info dumping
• Insta love trope

3. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

If you love a fast paced fantasy romance book or a twisty plot – then you absolutely need to read the Folk of Air Trilogy.It’s a ya fantasy romance trilogy featuring fae, royals and an enemies to lovers romance.

Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.

The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters. She’s taken to live with the hidden world of the fae. They live in the woods in a secret world concealed from humans.

Jude grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with.

There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers trope. If you like books with fae and forest vibes then you should read this. Definitely a great choice if you’re looking for books about hidden worlds

Good reads Rating:

4.09

Vibe:

forest, fae, gothic, dark fantasy, tense

Content warnings:

Body shaming, Slavery, Physical & psychological child abuse, Cheating, Disownment, Nightmares mentioned, Suicide (on-page) and coerced self-harm

Positives

Negatives

• fast-paced adventure story
• fae
• dark fantasy romance
• strong female lead
• suspenseful writing and great plot twists

• A lot of people who dislike this book don’t like the love interest and think of him as a bully/abusive.
• Some people find Jude annoying
• Some of the side characters lacked character development

4. Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Lore is perfect for any greek mythology fans out there. It’s Greek Mythology meets The Hunger Games. It features a strong, female main character, a romance and a competition element. Plus it’s all set in an urbam setting.

It features a hidden world of greek mythology. Every seven years Greek Gods are hunted by descendants of ancient bloodlines.

The main character, Lore, is part of this world and hides it from those close to her. Lore has turned her back on this world. But as the next hunt dawns, two participants seek out her help.

The plot of Lore is quite complex but it’s executed perfectly. Bracken did a great job of building the concept. I was intrigued and hooked from the first chapter.

It has a really great revenge storyline. If you’re looking for a secret world hidden in an urban city then this is a great choice. It’s also perfect if you like a revenge plot.

Good reads Rating:

3.84

Vibe:

urban fantasy, greek mythology, revenge,

Content warnings:

Lore features themes of sexual assault, child brides, and mentions rape/attempted rape

Positives

Negatives

• fast-paced adventure story
• revenge plot
• greek mythology retelling
• strong female lead

• Romance isn’t the most convincing
• Long
• Some of the side characters lacked character development

5. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

There is so much to love about A Marvellous Light. It’s an mlm romance about magic, a mystery to solve and a secret magical society. And it also has serious dark academia vibes.

It follows Robin Blyth. Due to an administrative error, he is named liaison to a secret magical society. So, he is forced to contend with magic’s dangers and a deadly curse while he searches for his missing predecessor.

To do this, he’ll need the help of Edwin Courcey. Edwin Courcey is his prickly magical society counterpart but he clearly wishes Robin were anyone else.

I love the secret society of magicians. And the Edwardian setting and mlm romance sets it apart from other books including secret magical societies.

If you like historical fiction or dark academia then you need to read this one. It’s fantastic to read about gay men in an Edwardian setting.

Good reads Rating:

4.13

Vibe:

historical fantasy, secret society, dark academia, magic, grumpy/sunshine

Content warnings:

• Attempted murder, Bullying. Chronic Illness (mentioned) Death of a parent (mentioned)
• Emotional abuse. hom*ophobia (minor)
• Kidnapping. Physical abuse.

Positives

Negatives

• fast-paced adventure story
• grumpy/sunshine romance
• beautiful writing and worldbuilding
• strong female lead

• Romance isn’t the most convincing
• Long
• Some of the side characters lacked character development

6. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is an insanely popular series that got many bookworms into reading. And for good reason. It has a fast paced plot full of action and plot twists. The writing style is easy to read and you’ll seriously want to stay in all day reading it.

The concept is that the Greek Gods are real. And they occasionally fall in love with mortals. They have children who become demigods. The world of Greek Mythology is kept a secret from humans.

The book follows Percy Jackson. He is having trouble focusing on his schoolwork. When one day his maths teacher turns into a monster.

And so mum decides it’s time to tell him the truth. His father is a Greek God. And she sends him to camp Half blood – a summer camp for demigods.

Greek Mythology is woven seamlessly into this book. And it balanced Greek Mythology with urban fantasy elements perfectly. Disney Plus are adapting this book series into a fantasy book series. So if you haven’t read it – then you seriously should.

Good reads Rating:

4.28

Vibe:

Greek mythology retelling, summer camp, adventure

Content warnings:

Bullying, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of a parent, death, car accident, ableism, child death

Positives

Negatives

• fast-paced adventure story
• seamless integration of greek mythology
• Clever premise
• loveable characters

• Some reviews comment that the book is sexist

7. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I couldn’t write a post on books about hidden worlds without including Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland. It’s an absolute classic. And feature Alice stumbling into the hidden world of Wonderland.

It follows Alice. She sees a white rabbit take a watch out of it’s waistcoat. She follows it. And she accidentally falls down a rabbit hole and stumbles into a secret world. A sequence of unusual events is set in motion.

There are so many beautiful versions of Alice in Wonderland. If you don’t mind spending a little more – I recommend a clothbound or hardcover version such as this gorgeous Wordworth edition. There are many stunning versions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland online.

The imagery is adorable with tea parties, roses and talking animals. It follows Alice who falls down a rabbit hole. And she finds herself in the absurd world of wonderland. This book is pure magic whether you are old or young.

Good reads Rating:

4.06

Vibe:

Whimsical, cottagecore, light-hearted

Content warnings:

Positives

Negatives

• childhood classic
• Whimsical world building
• unusual but loveable characters
• loveable characters

• Too bizarre for some readers
• Some readers didn’t like the character Alice

8. Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

I am a HUGE fan of the found family trope and it was executed so perfectly in this book! The plot was also really action-packed and fast paced throughout. There were no lulls or sections that lost my attention.

It follows 16-year-old Deka. She lives in a village where all the girls undergo a blood ceremony. If their blood runs gold – they are impure.

Deka has lived in fear of this ceremony. And on the day – her blood runs gold. And Deka must face consequences worse than death.

But then a mysterious woman comes to her rescue. And offers her the chance to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her.

There is so much to love about this book. The found family trope works really well. There was so much diversity in the army of Alaki. The magic system was really intriguing and the world-building was excellent.

This book is not for everyone – it has a lot of violence. Please check the trigger warnings before reading.

Good reads Rating:

4.04

Vibe:

found family, West African inspired,

Content warnings:

Violence, Death, Blood, rape, torture, sexual assault, war, trafficking

Positives

Negatives

• found family
• Fast paced story
• diverse cast of characters
• Great plot twists

• Graphic
• Some people didn’t like the writing style

9. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse so dark and Lonely has one of the most BADASS main characters! The main character has cerebral palsy but she is most definitely not in need of any sympathy. It also features an adorable enemies to lovers romance.

A Curse So Dark And Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Prince Rhen is the Heir of Emberfall.

Emberfall is under a curse and the kingdom is enchanted into an everlasting winter. Prince Rhen needs to make a girl fall in love with him to break the curse.

Harper has cerebral palsy. And she struggles to look after her dying mother. She tries to save a stranger and is pulled into the strange hidden world of Emberfall.

The plot is really well paced and keeps you engaged throughout. It also has the perfect slow burn romance. If you’re a fan of The Cruel Prince or Sarah J. Maas then you should definitely read this fast paced fantasy book.

Good reads Rating:

4.05

Vibe:

fairytale retelling, castle, winter imagery, medieval fantasy

Content warnings:

alcohol, assault, attempted murder, blood, decapitation, core

Positives

Negatives

• enemies to lovers
• strong female main character
• Excellent disability representation
• Great plot twists

• The main character is described as ‘not like other girls’
• Lack of world building

10. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King is an incredible YA Fantasy book with fae, an enemies to lovers romance and a strong female lead. Fans of Holly Black should definitely read it.

The Iron King follows 16-year-old Meghan Chase. Her father disappeared mysteriously when she was six years old. And ever since, something has been off.

But things start to change drastically. On her birthday, her brother is kidnapped and replaced by a faerie changeling. And Meghan has to venture into a mysterious place called Nevernever to rescue him.

I think The Iron King is a book that will divide readers. Some will really not like it. But personally, I really enjoyed this book. The setting is beautifully described. And Meghan is a great heroine. She’s not perfect but a very realistic 16-year-old.

This book takes many characters from classic literature and myths (such as a Midsommer Night’s Dreame) and modernises it in this coming of age story. Some of the characters are retold in a YA context. If you’re a Shakespeare fan then you might not like this. But if you love YA Fantasy books with fae then you should definitely read this one.

Good reads Rating:

3.89

Vibe:

fairy tale retelling, forest, cottagecore

Content warnings:

• Ableism & ableist language, misogyny, murder, violence, blood depiction, death of a loved one, bullying, drowning

Positives

Negatives

• Unique concept
• A more original take on Fae
• Beautiful worldbuilding

• The main character is described as ‘not like other girls’
• Contains lots of YA Fantasy Cliché’s

11. Ms Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Ms Peregrine’s home is a charming ya fantasy book featuring a hidden world, magic and children with strange powers.

Ms Peregrine’s home for Peculiar Children follows Jacob. His grandfather escaped the Holocaust and grew up at an orphanage for children with strange powers. He even has photographic evidence.

As he grows up, he stops believing the stories. But one day a horrible tragedy occurs. And Jacob starts to wonder – could it have been real?

The story is really gripping. It also has very dark and mysterious elements to it. And I love the way antique photographs were woven into the plot. The photographs and the imagery gives it real academia vibes.

The book also uses the found family trope – one of my favourites. And Ransom Riggs executes is really well.. And it what makes this book so enjoyable.

Good reads Rating:

3.91

Vibe:

historical fantasy, supernatural, whimsical, creepy, vintage vibes

Content warnings:

Alcohol consumption. Death of a grandfather. Bombings. The Holocaust & World War Two mentioned

Positives

Negatives

• Quick and easy read
• found family trope executed well
• Vintage photographs is a unique idea

• slow paced plot
• lack of character development
• A lot of reviewers don’t like the writing style

12. The Backstagers by James Tynion IV and Rian Sigh

Okay, this is such a wholesome LGBTQ+ graphic novel. If you’re a fan of Heartstopper, The Tea Dragon Society or the LumberJanes then you’ll probably enjoy this one. It’s a graphic novel featuring a mlm romance and the found family trope.

It follows Jory. He transfers to an all-boys private high school. But at first he’s not happy at the school. Until he’s taken in by the only ones who don’t treat him like a new kid – the lowly stage crew known as the Backstagers.

The backstagers are a group of students who help backstage at plays. He makes great, lifetime friends. But he is also introduced to an entire magical world that lives beyond the curtain.

This is such a light-hearted, easy read. It’s fairly short and the graphic style makes it easy to read pretty quickly. The romance was a bit insta-lovey. But it’s such a wholesome read that it doesn’t really matter. If you have a train journey this would be the perfect length read.

Good reads Rating:

3.91

Vibe:

LGBTQ+, wholesome, found family,

Content warnings:

Violence, blood

Positives

Negatives

• Quick and easy read
• found family trope executed well
• cute graphics

• insta love

13. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman often writes books you can easily read in a day. But Coraline is a personal favourite of mine. It’s a creepy, atmospheric read perfect for autumn. Plus it’s an absolute classic.

Coraline is fed up with the lack of attention from her parents. In her family’s new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close. The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage.

She discovers another flat identical to her own. And a family from a parallel universe who give her everything she could possibly want. But is everything as it seems.

This book is so short and easy to read in one sitting. But it’s delightfully quirky and creepy. The concept is unique. And it’s full of some of my favourite characters. Coraline is brave, determined and curious.

However, the sassy cat is the best. Especially when Coraline tries to befriend the cat. And it responds with “We COULD be rare specimens of an exotic breed of dancing African elephants, but we’re not. At least, I’M not.”

Good reads Rating:

4.08

Vibe:

Fall vibes, whimsical, dark fairytale, mysterious

Content warnings:

Amputation · Death · Spiders · Violence

Positives

Negatives

• Quick and easy read
• Mysterious plot
• Unique world building

• Writing style is simple as it’s aimed at middle grade.

Top Picks

That’s concludes my list of the best ya fantasy books about hidden worlds

Here’s a quick summary of our top picks:

• Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – Best Childhood classic
• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – Best classic
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn – Best book about secret society
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman – Best quick read
• The Backstagers by James Tynion IV and Rian Singh – Best Graphic Novel
• A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer – Best Retelling
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black – Best book about Fae

This post was all about ya fantasy books about hidden worlds

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Comparison Table

Use this quick and handy comparison chart to see how the books compare