The end of 2024 is just around the corner and that's why we wanted to spotlight all the amazing authors who write Young Adult Fantasy whose books were included in one of our monthly Young Adult Fantasy book + goodies and book-only boxes at some point this year (up until September 2024!). Read on to find out more about each author and why our curation team chose to include their book in one of our boxes.
Our Young Adult Fantasy Authors - 2024
Allison Saft
Photos © Diane McClamroch
"You may be the only good thing I’ve ever wanted."
Allison Saft is a New York Times, Sunday Times, and USA Today bestselling author currently residing on the West Coast. In her free time, beyond writing, she also enjoys practicing aerial silks.
She mainly writes Romantasy novels and is best known for her book A Far Wilder Magic. Her first book was published in 2021, and to date, she has written five books, with a new one coming in 2025. One of her books, A Fragile Enchantment, was OwlCrate’s January 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because they loved how romantic it was and how much yearning was in it. They also thought the magic within the book was interesting and the side characters were super fun.
Kristen Ciccarelli
"I’m afraid you’ll be the end of me."
Kristen Ciccarelli is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author residing on a misty island in the North Atlantic. Her first book was published in 2017, and to date, she has written six books, with a new one expected to be published in 2026. She mainly writes Romantasy and is best known for her book Heartless Hunter, which was OwlCrate’s February 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because they loved the relationship between Rune and Gideon, wanted to see its development and they felt invested in the characters. They also thought the magic system in the book was unique.
Vanessa Le
"All either of them wanted was to find a pulse that beat like their own."
Vanessa Le is a Vietnamese American author from the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading and gaming. Her first book, The Last Bloodcarver, was published in 2024 and was OwlCrate’s March 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice. The sequel to this book, His Mortal Demise, will be published in March 2025.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because of the rich and interesting world-building that has lots of details to keep track of making the storyline immersive, and they thought the magic system was interesting. They also loved the slow-burn romance and banter between Nhika and Kochin. By the end of the book, the cliffhanger left them wanting more!
Kelly Andrew
"You can’t run from the things you fear. Instead, invite them to your table. Sit with them a while. Look them in the eye. You will find they are not as big as they seem, and you are not as small as you think."
Kelly Andrew began telling stories after losing her hearing when she was four years old. At present, she resides in New England with her husband, two daughters, and a persnickety Boston Terrier. In her free time, she loves reading a good book and exploring flea markets.
Best known for her debut novel, The Whispering Dark, which was published in 2022, she has written two books and had a story featured in a Dark Academia anthology in 2023. Her newest book, I Am Made of Death, is expected to be published in March 2025. She mainly writes Romantasy (mixed with horror and paranormal elements) and is the author of Your Blood, My Bones, which was OwlCrate’s April 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice. In the past, we also featured This Whispering Dark in our October 2022 YA Fantasy box.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because it was a lovely balance of gothic and creepy cottage-core. The setting of the story feels very unique, and the vibes in the book are both supernatural and folk horror-oriented, which makes the suspense of various plot points all the more intense. Kelly Andrew always writes the most beautiful character dynamics and all three of our main characters in the story are so deeply intertwined with one another making their relationships both tender and toxic in a way that feels very emotional.
Judy I. Lin
"Inside every living soul there exists a Spark."
Judy I. Li is a #1 New York Times-bestselling author who was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She continues to live there with her husband and daughters.
She is best known for her duology, The Tea of Book, which includes A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet, both of which were published in 2022. To date, she has written four books, and one of them, Song of the Six Realms, was OwlCrate’s May 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because they loved the bond between Xue, Jinglang, Lingwei, and the prince. They also thought that the setting was ethereal with beautiful imagery. They found the notes and dreams really cute and also thought that the plot twists throughout the book were fun.
Amber Chen
"These seas can never trap those who are meant to fly."
Amber Chen is a #1 bestselling Singaporean-Chinese author currently residing in Singapore. When she’s not writing, she enjoys a nice cup of bubble tea (or two...or three) and reading Chinese fantasy novels.
Before publishing her debut novel in 2024, she wrote webnovels, one of which, called The Cutting Edge, has been adapted for television. She mainly writes science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction. She is the author of Of Jade and Dragons, which was OwlCrate’s June 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice. The sequel, The Blood Phoenix, is expected to be published in June 2025.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because they felt that the story and the themes in the book are complex and they were able to make them feel emotional. They also loved how honest the characters were with themselves and the sibling bond between Ye-Kan and Ying.
Kalynn Bayron
"A wish granted is a very seductive thing, Eve."
Kalynn Bayron is a New York Times bestselling author and recipient of the 2022 Randall Kenan Award for Black LGBTQ fiction. In her free time, she enjoys watching scary movies, spending time with her family, and attending musical theater shows.
Her first book was published in 2015, and to date, she has written ten books across both YA and middle-grade genres. She mainly writes YA fantasy/horror novels and is best known for her book Cinderella is Dead. Her most recent book, Sleep Like Death, was OwlCrate’s July 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice. In the past, we also featured her book This Poison Heart in our July 2021 Young Adult Fantasy box.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because it was an amazing Snow White retelling with queer mothers, a haunting villain, and a headstrong MC. They also liked that the mirror in the story was extremely creepy but in such an interesting way.
Romina Garber
"You have a better chance of solving a puzzle if you’re holding all of the pieces."
Romina Garber is a New York Times bestselling Argentinian author who was born in Buenos Aires and resides in the USA. She was raised in Florida since she was five, but at present, she lives in California.
Best known for her debut novel, Lobizona, which was published in 2020, Romina has published three books to date and also has had her stories featured in two collections, one of which was published in 2018 before the release of her debut. Her most recent novel, Castle of the Cursed, was OwlCrate’s August 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because of the interesting generational history and magic that the MC gets to discover. They also loved the gothic vibe and the way that Spanish culture was weaved into the story, with some sections of the book written in Spanish.
Michelle Kulwicki
"You can never be lonely when you love."
Michelle Kulwicki is an author whose short fiction has been Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and currently lives in the Midwest with their three children. When Michelle’s not writing, you can find them playing the cello. Her debut novel, At The End of the River Styx, was OwlCrate’s September 2024 Young Adult Fantasy book choice.
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS: Why we chose this book:
Our curation team chose this book because it broke them in the best way possible and it’s such a beautiful example of queer representation. The relationship between the two main characters develops throughout the story in a way that feels very intimate and heartfelt. The book also features a bookshop and a cat! Enough said.
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