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books that had me emotionally unwell (fantasy edition)
21
items fantasy books that will ruin your standards in the best way. expect deadly trials, morally grey characters, powerful heroines, and romances that feel completely consuming.
Sections
6
✨Booktok Fantasy Essentials
🧚♀️ Fae, Courts & Wicked Politics
🔥 Powerful Female Leads
🗡️ Deadly Trials, Games & Survival
💎 Underrated but So Good
🌙 Bonus: Not Fantasy but Obsessed
✨Booktok Fantasy Essentials
dragon riders, brutal trials, and tension that hurts. fast-paced, addictive, and impossible to put down.
The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros - Goodreads
seductive fae courts, power, and romance that evolves into something consuming. a true romantasy staple and a booktok fave
A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas
duty, destiny, and a world built on secrets. the more she learns, the more everything begins to unravel.
A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1) - Goodreads
🧚♀️ Fae, Courts & Wicked Politics
sharp, strategic, and full of ruthless fae politics. nothing is soft, everything is calculated.
The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black - Goodreads
dark magic, vengeance, and a dangerously seductive world where trust is a risk.
Kingdom of the Wicked Series by Kerri Maniscalco - Goodreads
a darker beauty and the beast retelling with curses, loyalty, and a heroine who refuses to be powerless.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely - Kemmerer
🔥 Powerful Female Leads
an iconic heroine rising into her power. strength, sacrifice, and a journey that only gets bigger.
Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas
thrown into a world of power and control, she learns to fight back and lead.
Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard - Goodreads
bold, defiant, and impossible to break. she doesn't wait for power, she takes it.
Quicksilver (The Fae & Alchemy Series 1)
🗡️ Deadly Trials, Games & Survival
cursed rulers, deadly competition, and secrets that change everything.
Lightlark Series by Alex Aster - Goodreads
a brutal vampire tournament where losing means death. high tension, survival, and romance woven in perfectly.
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
💎 Underrated but So Good
thoughtful, emotional, and seriously overlooked. a heroine who leads with both heart and resilience in a world that demands sacrifice
Defy the Night Series by Brigid Kemmerer - Goodreads
not the hero, not pretending to be. power, manipulation, and just enough charm to make it addictive.
The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes)
eerie, atmospheric, and completely addictive. a cursed magic system and a voice in her head make this feel darker and more unique than most fantasy.
One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, #1) - Goodreads
🌙 Bonus: Not Fantasy but Obsessed
a slow-burn sports romance where emotional distance turns into something steady and deeply personal. very character-driven, with a focus on trust, patience, and quiet love
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata - Goodreads
healing-focused romance about rebuilding your life in a small town. grief, growth, and a slow-building connection that feels real and grounding.
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata | Goodreads
an emotional story centered around identity and personal struggle, with themes of self-discovery and finding your place after loss or change.
Pieces of Me: A Novel by Kate McLaughlin
a powerful, heartbreaking wartime story following a girl navigating survival, fear, and hope in the middle of conflict. very emotional and impactful.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh | Goodreads
fast-paced sports romance with flirty banter, tension, and an easy-to-read storyline built around attraction and celebrity lifestyle.
The Baller by Vi Keeland | Goodreads
contemporary magical realism blended with domestic tension, focusing on resilience, family struggles, and finding hope in difficult circumstances.
If These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
high-stakes mystery involving riddles, inheritance puzzles, and family secrets. fast-paced, clever, and very addictive.
The Inheritance Games Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Goodreads