This is a great discussion to have. And I've seen so many books, in different genres marked as YA just because the MC/s are young, with absolutely no attention to the content and themes etc. I would add that sometimes female authors' works are categorised as YA because of... well y'know sexism! TFS :) PS What you said about book 1 of The Magicians is exactly how I found A Discovery of Witches, the first book of the All Souls Trilogy. About half-ish of book 1 was a struggle then it picked up in the latter half, book 2 I LOVED and couldn't put down and book 3 was almost as exciting as 2.
The City of Brass is also a really good cross over book. The fever series also has the pace and romantic appeal of YA, but is quite explicit, so be warned!
To this day, Nevernight still ranks high on my most disturbing books list. Like reviews mention the blood and guts but wow! I wasn't expecting that first chapter.
Thank you! I've been in need of a video like this. Been exploring adult fantasy more and more lately and this is really helpful ♥️ Hoping to start The Final Empire soon!
You have such great taste! I've definitely read some of the books you talked about (i.e. Mistborn, Queen of the Tearling, Nevernight) and I do really want to read the other books you've mentioned, especially The Night Circus. We have the same taste in books so I trust your judgement in these books ❤️
This is a great video - thank you. Our reading tastes are identical. If possible, I’d be very grateful for a video recommending more mature YA books for old readers. Not that it matters too much, because I personally read anything from middle grade to YA to adult. But it would be nice to see some recommendations for YA books that adults would enjoy.
I love that series but I find that such character driven stories like that aren't as universally appealing, so I wouldn't recommend it as a crossover title across the board.
I thought that Nevernight was YA for the longest time! I only heard that it was adult this year and now I want to read it. I didn't know about Queen of the Tearling until watching this video.
THANK YOU for including Uprooted here. I remember when Spinning Silver came out and I saw Naomi Novik referred to as a YA author and it blew my mind. On what basis?! Cause she’s a ~lady writer?
It would be so great if the New Adult marketing group could be a thing instead of it just being about abusive relationships and smut. I think that's why we have this problem. We have characters in YA books that read like they're 25 despite being teenagers because there's no real in-between. It's frustrating, honestly.
Thanks sam. I love the Wayward Children series and just read Long Way to a Small Angry Planet this year and now love Becky Chambers. You really conveyed the difference between YA and adult fantasy well. I'm not the biggest fantasy reader. I find it confusing but also I can't handle darker content due to my anxiety. Guess that's why I love magical realism. It's set in our world so I'm grounded in reality but when there are dark subjects the magic enables the discussion. All The Bad Apples by Moira Fowley Doyle is a great example.
I almost never read any adult fantasy, but I'm currently on book 4 of the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik and absolutely adoring it - I think you read book one a while ago? I can definitely recommend you to carry on with the series, it just keeps getting better (maybe with the exception of book two, just a heads-up)
I would also suggest reading some very light books with different writing styles. Maybe The Hobbit or Discworld novels. Or comedy or romance (I can't think of any syggestions right now).
This was awesome Sam! I have several of these on my shelves to read for the first time. I haven't read Mistborn yet but I remember the first time I saw that YA cover for it and I was like "hang out, based on what my friends who have read this day, this is definitely an adult series". It bothers me when people assume a character is a certain age, it means that the book fits the genre of that age group. I am going to reread Night Circus (there's an audio version narrated by Jim Dale that I have never listened to) before Starless Sea (already preordered) comes out.😀❤️📘.
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides I think is one that gets miscategorized as well but is definitely literary fiction officially. The Maddadam trilogy by Margaret Atwood (almost anything by her honestly) but it's a dystopian trilogy that is easy to read like YA. Adult aged characters though.
Red rising and A darker shade of magic and Unprooted are indeed shelved on the YA shelf in the libraries here in The Netherlands, or at least in my province whoops 😅 I feel like they are only looking at the age of the main characters to see where they should shelve them
Anne Bishop’s The Black Jewels deals with tough topics (rape is a big part of book 1), but it’s filled with so many hilarious sequences. And for the first two books Janaelle is 7-20. Murderbot Diaries is a hilarious sci-fi novella series.
It’s my birthday and I get this lovely video, perfect timing cause I want to get into fantasy. I’m getting the twelve kings today due to your review. It’ll be my first adult fantasy.
The Queen of The Tearling series did make me want to get into more expansive fantasy stories. I enjoyed the first two books, but if I'm being honest the last book was a disappointment. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts though once you have completed it.
Sam, have you watched The Magicians TV show? Because I have (but not read the books) and I was wondering if the plot is the same in any way. I found the TV show to be very episodical, and thought that would make a strange book.
Hi, Samantha (& All)! Loved this video... I would like to read my first YA Fantasy series, prior to beginning a crossover into the adult suggestions you have here. What would you recommend for a first-timer YA Fantasy reader?... Or if you already have a video on this, I will definitely check that out, too!... ✨😎✨
Great choices. I was wondering whether or not you were going to include ACOTAR (or really ACOMAF) since, let's be really only Feyre is alate teen and it is VERY adult in content, even if it has cheesy teen swoonyness. I remember listening to the audiobook in the pick up line at my kids school and turning the volume way down because WHOA.
Man, some of these I didn't realize were technically adult. My local library system both has some of them (like the Queen of the Tearling) in YA, or some branches have them in YA and other branches have them in adult SFF (like the Every Heart a Doorway series). Or like they'll start out displayed in YA but then get moved to adult; it gets confusing.
I'm looking for a good fantasy romance (adult or new adult). I do write in that genre myself, but I just don't know any good passionate deeprooted angsty romances (except for Acomaf maybe). Any recommendations?
Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series was the very first to jump to mind. Then again, I think they could seduce anyone, regardless of their preferred genre.
Anyone who hasn't read mistborn or any Brandon sanderson just know that the explosive second half is very worth the slow first half
I'm at like 40% of the way through the first book and I'm loving it. This just makes me so excited for what's to come!
@@deadlyk12538 well good luck then, have fun 😁
This is a great discussion to have. And I've seen so many books, in different genres marked as YA just because the MC/s are young, with absolutely no attention to the content and themes etc. I would add that sometimes female authors' works are categorised as YA because of... well y'know sexism! TFS :)
PS What you said about book 1 of The Magicians is exactly how I found A Discovery of Witches, the first book of the All Souls Trilogy. About half-ish of book 1 was a struggle then it picked up in the latter half, book 2 I LOVED and couldn't put down and book 3 was almost as exciting as 2.
Ok but THAT scene in Uprooted when they are in the tower and there are roses growing. That's very very steamy
YES ergo why it's still adult even if those types of scenes are few and far between. (also that scene.. still haunts me.. the angst..)
@@ThoughtsOnTomes oh that was my favorite scene of the entire book xP
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden is also a good crossover series!
The City of Brass is also a really good cross over book. The fever series also has the pace and romantic appeal of YA, but is quite explicit, so be warned!
I think the Poppy War is a good crossover-especically the first half at boarding school!
To this day, Nevernight still ranks high on my most disturbing books list. Like reviews mention the blood and guts but wow! I wasn't expecting that first chapter.
Thank you! I've been in need of a video like this. Been exploring adult fantasy more and more lately and this is really helpful ♥️
Hoping to start The Final Empire soon!
best of luck!
You have such great taste! I've definitely read some of the books you talked about (i.e. Mistborn, Queen of the Tearling, Nevernight) and I do really want to read the other books you've mentioned, especially The Night Circus. We have the same taste in books so I trust your judgement in these books ❤️
I read Uprooted because of you and it's now one of my favorites!
I will have give these a try also.
yay!!
This is a great video - thank you. Our reading tastes are identical. If possible, I’d be very grateful for a video recommending more mature YA books for old readers. Not that it matters too much, because I personally read anything from middle grade to YA to adult. But it would be nice to see some recommendations for YA books that adults would enjoy.
I’m so glad you like The Night Circus! I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about it, but I still love it. POPPET AND WIDGET ARE THE BEST!! 😍😍🤩🤩
The Winternight trilogy by Katherine Arden is a good crossover trilogy.
I love that series but I find that such character driven stories like that aren't as universally appealing, so I wouldn't recommend it as a crossover title across the board.
I love "slice of life sci-fi" as a categorization!
I thought that Nevernight was YA for the longest time! I only heard that it was adult this year and now I want to read it. I didn't know about Queen of the Tearling until watching this video.
I kept getting distracted during this video because your eyeshadow!! it looks so good!
THANK YOU for including Uprooted here. I remember when Spinning Silver came out and I saw Naomi Novik referred to as a YA author and it blew my mind. On what basis?! Cause she’s a ~lady writer?
basically yes which makes me so mad
It would be so great if the New Adult marketing group could be a thing instead of it just being about abusive relationships and smut. I think that's why we have this problem. We have characters in YA books that read like they're 25 despite being teenagers because there's no real in-between. It's frustrating, honestly.
Thanks sam. I love the Wayward Children series and just read Long Way to a Small Angry Planet this year and now love Becky Chambers. You really conveyed the difference between YA and adult fantasy well. I'm not the biggest fantasy reader. I find it confusing but also I can't handle darker content due to my anxiety. Guess that's why I love magical realism. It's set in our world so I'm grounded in reality but when there are dark subjects the magic enables the discussion. All The Bad Apples by Moira Fowley Doyle is a great example.
I almost never read any adult fantasy, but I'm currently on book 4 of the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik and absolutely adoring it - I think you read book one a while ago? I can definitely recommend you to carry on with the series, it just keeps getting better (maybe with the exception of book two, just a heads-up)
I've read the first two!
@@ThoughtsOnTomes Oh, okay! :)
I would also suggest reading some very light books with different writing styles. Maybe The Hobbit or Discworld novels. Or comedy or romance (I can't think of any syggestions right now).
This was awesome Sam! I have several of these on my shelves to read for the first time. I haven't read Mistborn yet but I remember the first time I saw that YA cover for it and I was like "hang out, based on what my friends who have read this day, this is definitely an adult series". It bothers me when people assume a character is a certain age, it means that the book fits the genre of that age group. I am going to reread Night Circus (there's an audio version narrated by Jim Dale that I have never listened to) before Starless Sea (already preordered) comes out.😀❤️📘.
I recently bought Uprooted I can’t wait to read it this fall!
perfect fall read!
Oooo I need to start The Queen of The Tearling and Red Rising ASAP
Me too. Me too
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides I think is one that gets miscategorized as well but is definitely literary fiction officially.
The Maddadam trilogy by Margaret Atwood (almost anything by her honestly) but it's a dystopian trilogy that is easy to read like YA. Adult aged characters though.
Added the Mistborn one to my wishlist! Vicious and Nevernignt were so good 💕
The Night Circus is a literary masterpiece...and also the most aesthetically pleasing book I've ever read.
The description of 'Every Heart A Doorway' gave me a 'Chronicles of Narnia' vibe, the whole going between worlds part of it
yep! they are both portal fantasies!
Red rising and A darker shade of magic and Unprooted are indeed shelved on the YA shelf in the libraries here in The Netherlands, or at least in my province whoops 😅 I feel like they are only looking at the age of the main characters to see where they should shelve them
Anne Bishop’s The Black Jewels deals with tough topics (rape is a big part of book 1), but it’s filled with so many hilarious sequences. And for the first two books Janaelle is 7-20.
Murderbot Diaries is a hilarious sci-fi novella series.
It’s my birthday and I get this lovely video, perfect timing cause I want to get into fantasy. I’m getting the twelve kings today due to your review. It’ll be my first adult fantasy.
The Queen of The Tearling series did make me want to get into more expansive fantasy stories. I enjoyed the first two books, but if I'm being honest the last book was a disappointment. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts though once you have completed it.
Most of this video is you listing all my favorite books so i'll definitely read the ones i haven't read yet ^^
Sam, have you watched The Magicians TV show? Because I have (but not read the books) and I was wondering if the plot is the same in any way. I found the TV show to be very episodical, and thought that would make a strange book.
Hi, Samantha (& All)! Loved this video... I would like to read my first YA Fantasy series, prior to beginning a crossover into the adult suggestions you have here. What would you recommend for a first-timer YA Fantasy reader?... Or if you already have a video on this, I will definitely check that out, too!... ✨😎✨
Great choices. I was wondering whether or not you were going to include ACOTAR (or really ACOMAF) since, let's be really only Feyre is alate teen and it is VERY adult in content, even if it has cheesy teen swoonyness. I remember listening to the audiobook in the pick up line at my kids school and turning the volume way down because WHOA.
LOL yes! although that's one I would classify as New Adult because I wouldn't consider it adult or YA
Queens of Renthia series fits this perfectly!
omg I can't wait to read that series
@@ThoughtsOnTomes I think it's right up your alley!
Some fab choices! Great video, as always.
I don't know why but I whenever I watch your videos it really helps my anxiety. (also agree with all the books)
aw I'm so glad :)
I really enjoyed Night Circus.
I'd recommend His Dark Materials as a good crossover story :)
His Dark Materials (the original trilogy) is actually classified as Childrens.
Really? I thought that it was classified as YA, even thought it has some quite adult-oriented themes & philosophies, imo
I am literally interested in all of these but have only read the Tearling trilogy (loved it) and the Night Circus (did not enjoy). What am I doing? :D
Some of Robin McKinley's books could be considered NA, Sunshine in particular.
Man, some of these I didn't realize were technically adult. My local library system both has some of them (like the Queen of the Tearling) in YA, or some branches have them in YA and other branches have them in adult SFF (like the Every Heart a Doorway series). Or like they'll start out displayed in YA but then get moved to adult; it gets confusing.
it's so confusing!
I'm looking for a good fantasy romance (adult or new adult). I do write in that genre myself, but I just don't know any good passionate deeprooted angsty romances (except for Acomaf maybe). Any recommendations?
I have a number of videos on angsty romance you can check out :)
when I read red rising while I was 14 ... :0
Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series was the very first to jump to mind. Then again, I think they could seduce anyone, regardless of their preferred genre.
Lies of Locke Lamora I read as a late 17 so is a cross over
If you liked Illuminae you would LOVE Leviathan Wakes
agreed! I actually much prefer Leviathan Wakes tbh.
@@ThoughtsOnTomes me too
I dont think the final empire is adult. Same with a darker shade of magic (with v e schwab saying every single fucking day)
They both are actually (shrug) The Final Empire especially. That's an adult series, especially the later books. I agree that ADSOM doesn't feel adult.
The dragon riders of PERN I loved