Trends can be fun, but don’t overlook these golden oldies of YA literature.

An Ever-Expanding World

The publishing world moves at the speed of light. It constantly churns out new and exciting books to peruse and enjoy, particularly in the fantasy genre. No matter what kind of fantasy you enjoy, you’re likely to find interesting new books published within the genre every year.

Bingeable Established Series

While discovering new characters, fantastical worlds and magic systems can be fun, there is a case to be made for revisiting old favorites. Reading an older series means you don’t have to wait ages for the next installment. Plus, many fantasy books are inspired by other titles, and being familiar with the originals can make your reading experience of a new series richer and more enjoyable. Even if you already read these older books when they first came out, rereading can be a fun way to catch details you missed or come to the story with a different perspective.

Old Faithful Titles to Try

If you’re searching for some tried-and-true series to revisit or fall in love with for the first time this summer, look no further. All the books listed here are the first in a series. Some are high fantasy, some are dystopian, some have romance and others don’t — hopefully there is a series here for every kind of fantasy reader.

• The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
• A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin
• Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey