6 Must-Read New Fantasy Novels That Fight for a Better World
Science fiction and fantasy are frequent genre playgrounds for dealing with big issues like structural inequalities and unjust systems. Sometimes these ideas are large and world-spanning, creating dystopian realities for their protagonists to strive against. Other times, the injustices are personal—or are a deeper reflection of the real world in which they’re written. f
These six new fantasy novels show their protagonists fighting to make their worlds—be they great or small—better places.
The Incorruptibles by Lauren Magaziner
In The Incorruptibles, the world is ruled by a sorcerous elite, who keep the rest of the populace under their thumbs. The only people who stand against them? The Incorruptibles, a rebel organization—divided into cells—who aren’t willing to support the tyranny that keeps everyone down. Lauren Magaziner blends this dystopian idea with the magic school genre, making this a fantastic upper-middle-grade fantasy novel that will appeal beyond its target audience.
Main character Fiora is the niece of a respected tailor. Both of them hate sorcerers, but when Fiora decides her uncle has secretly been working for them—including the very worst, high powered sorcerers in the world, the Radiance—Fiora’s own attempts to defend their family lead to her being taken to Incorruptibles Academy, where she can learn to become the kind of fighter the rebellion needs to finally free themselves from their oppressors. But there’s trouble on the home front. Inc Academy has been infiltrated, and unless Fiora can find the spy, she and all the other Incorruptibles are all at risk.
With the mystery broiling under the school setting, an underground rebellion, and young heroes learning to fight against their common foe, this novel hits a lot of nostalgia vibes from early 2000s hot middle grade and YA titles, but also introduces a wonderfully diverse, queer cast—and sets up a brilliant shift in status quo that will raise the stakes for the rest of the series. Watch for this one to hit bookstore shelves in June 2025.
These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa
A system of tyranny also dominates the world of Gabe Cole Novoa’s newest YA novel, These Vengeful Gods. In a magical dystopia ruled by the rich and god-gifted, Crow is just trying to survive without revealing their secret: their entire existence is illegal. Years ago, the gods determined that Death was too powerful and so decided to kill all of Death’s children. The minor gods and the humans of Death’s lineage were all slaughtered—except for those who escaped. If anyone knew that Crow can practice deathmagic, their life would be forfeit. As it is, Crow makes a living as a gladiator, identifying people’s weaknesses but never, ever revealing the truth of their lineage.
So when minor god Chaos offers to sponsor Crow in a gladiatorial combat destined to grant fame and fortune, Crow is quick to refuse. Until, that is, Crow’s uncles are arrested for harboring Deathchildren. Crow’s left with one choice: they must fight in the Tournament of the Gods to bargain for their uncles’ freedom. All they have to do to get there is survive.
Finding justice is beyond their hopes—but genre readers will hope Crow can take the entire system down with them. If you imagine Aiden Thomas’s “Sunbearer Trials” duology and mix it with the vibes from Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Between Earth & Sky” trilogy, then add something that’s a dash of Novoa’s alone, you’ll be close to imagining what picking up These Vengeful Gods feels like!
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Like the setting in These Vengeful Gods, the fantasy world of Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows is made unjust by the gods themselves. The two creator gods loved the world and humanity so much that their godly children got jealous and created monsters to plague the nations. The only thing keeping the kingdoms from being utterly destroyed by the migration of crux—terrifying bird monsters that wreak utter devastation—is a treaty called the Shield of Sparrows. It’s what unifies the kingdoms and keeps them from warring on each other. In this generation, the Sparrow—a selected bride—from Quentis is destined to marry the prince of Turah to continue the deep magic protecting the nations. Princess Odessa doesn’t have anything to do with it. She’s the eldest daughter of the king, whose mother died years before, and who keeps mainly to herself, invisible in the shadow of her colorful and daring younger sister, Mae, and her baby brother, the crown prince.
Except that the prince of Turah chooses Odessa as a bride prize, and everything is turned upside down. Odessa is suddenly sent to a nation far across the sea, filled with monsters who threaten at every turn. She’s tasked with a mission to discover the location of the Turan capital, so that her father can invade. It would break the treaty, a fate punishable by death—but he says he’s found a way around that, if only she can get him the information he needs. Odessa is a terrible spy, certain that she’s going to fail despite her best efforts. And yet, even while she’s terrified, even when she’s facing off against the Guardian, a supernatural warrior from Turah who serves their crown, she’s also exhilarated at the possibilities of adventure. Could this be the life she’s wanted all along?
This first installment in this romantasy series sets up the hope that Odessa will discover her voice, find her strength, and find a way to free all the kingdoms from the injustice the gods have thrust upon them—the danger of monsters that tear the nations apart, even as fighting them binds the people together. And readers may also hope that Odessa learns to stand up against the injustices her home nation intends to perform—anyone threatening to break a magical treaty that keeps the world safe has good odds of being the actual villain of the piece, no matter where the hero hails from. Comparisons here to Fourth Wing are a given, but Perry’s fantasy world of gods and monsters holds its own against other romantasies.
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
The gods are famously unjust in the story of Medusa, and Ayana Gray’s debut adult novel doesn’t shy away from investigating how the whims of deities can create a monster—or, in this case, create a woman whose power can be used for something greater. Gray’s Meddy is the child of minor gods, the invisible sibling among beautiful, immortal sisters. As Athena’s chosen priestess, however, Meddy’s given a new chance to live her own life. She begins anew in Athens, growing into her own as Athena’s chosen acolyte.
All of that is shattered in a fateful encounter with Poseidon, and Meddy is transformed; a head of snakes and a superpower don’t change Meddy’s soul, however, and the young woman becomes not a victim of her story, but a vigilante, determined to bring justice to others. Meddy’s not the only girl who has been assaulted—or groomed—and cast aside, blamed by mortals and gods for the violence they suffered. And now, Meddy’s going to do something about it.
Gray creates a Medusa who begins as a naïve young woman, but who is transformed into someone who understands exactly how capricious the gods are. For lovers of mythology retellings, this tale of a diverse and cosmopolitan Athens is definitely something to watch for when it releases in November 2025.
Salvación by Sandra Proudman
In Alta California, injustice comes at a few different levels. First, Mexico has lost California to the Yankees, signing away the territory that its people inhabit in a treaty that ends the war. This puts Lola and her family at risk—they’ve moved to the remote village of Coloma, where Lola’s mother uses black salt for works of healing. Though they had always planned to return home, Lola’s mother doesn’t feel the mission is complete, and Lola worries that the Yankees will come before they return to Mexico. She and her brother, Victor, have already become the guardians of Coloma under the guise of Salvación, a hero in black whose sword-fighting keeps out the rough element. Unfortunately, even Salvación can’t hold back an army.
But the Yankees aren’t the worst threat. When a group of rebels comes to Coloma, promising to take back Alta California, Lola is suspicious—and rightly so. An injured woman comes with a message for Salvación: the leader of the rebels is a magician who uses red salt to harm, rather than heal. Lola witnesses it herself when the rebel leader slaughters one of his own followers, deep in the woods. She and Victor have to stop this magic, so they can keep their family safe.
Lola faces one final injustice, beyond the scope of magic and politics: it’s only as Salvación that she feels truly herself, rather than the girl Lola is expected to be—interested in clothes and embroidery and gossip. Even if Lola succeeds in saving Coloma, will she ever be respected as herself, and the girl she wants to be, rather than the role she is expected to play? Find out—Salvación is out now.
The Glittering Edge by Alyssa Villaire
Sometimes, injustice works on a smaller scale, when the actions of one person impact families for generations, forcing them to face the consequences. In YA fantasy The Glittering Edge, teen Penny is drawn into a magical feud when her mother is impacted by a curse. Years ago, the Barrions and the De Lucas became enemies. The De Luca patriarch was in love with a woman, and when she cheated on him and chose to marry a Barrion, the man cursed their family—anyone who a De Luca fell in love with would die. In the process, the Council took the De Lucas magic away, impacting their family for generations. But no one in their small Indiana town knows the truth behind the curse—or the whole story.
When Penny’s mother is struck by the curse and put in a coma, Penny’s determined to find a way to break the pattern, even if it means she has to get Corey Barrion and Alonso De Luca to work together. The three teens become an unlikely trio (and a very likely love triangle) and anxious, unambitious Penny leads the way toward unraveling the mystery that has bound their families together. Though the resolution to the story will occur in the second book (this debut novel is the first in a duology), readers can start on Penny’s journey on bookstore shelves now!
Alana Joli Abbott is a reviewer and game writer, whose multiple-choice novels, including Choice of the Pirate and Blackstone Academy for Magical Beginners, are published by Choice of Games. She is the author of three novels, several short stories, and many roleplaying game supplements. She also co-edits fantasy anthologies for Outland Entertainment, including Rising Tides (which is currently live on Kickstarter) and edits novels, like the debut paranormal mystery A Promise of Sirens by V.L. Barycz, due out in July. You can find her online at VirgilandBeatrice.com.