The realm of the Fae has long been a source of fascination in fantasy literature, offering readers a gateway to worlds of enchantment, danger, and intrigue. These stories, rooted in ancient folklore yet reimagined for modern audiences, explore the complex and often treacherous interactions between humans and the Fair Folk. For many, Sarah J. Maas‘s books are an introduction to this genre, but if you’ve read through her series and are looking for more, look no further. From dark courts shrouded in mystery to sunlit glades hiding ancient magic, Fae-centric fantasy novels transport us to realms where nothing is quite as it seems. Let’s dive into the most captivating novels that bring the allure and peril of the Fae to vivid life.

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

Brie, who despises the Fae, is forced to infiltrate their world when her sister is sold to the cruel Unseelie king. To save her, Brie strikes a deal to steal three relics from the Seelie court. Posing as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, Brie unexpectedly develops feelings for him. Simultaneously, she’s drawn to Finn, the enigmatic leader of an Unseelie group aiding her mission. Caught between the two Fae courts, Brie must navigate treacherous political waters while grappling with her growing attachments. As loyalties blur and dangers mount, she faces a critical choice that will impact not only her sister’s fate but also her own heart.

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Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia Of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde, a brilliant but socially awkward Cambridge professor, arrives in remote Hrafnsvik to study faerie folklore. An expert in her field, she’s writing the world’s first faerie encyclopedia. Emily prefers books and Fair Folk to people, but her solitary research is disrupted by the arrival of Wendell Bambleby, her charming academic rival. As Emily delves into the secrets of the elusive Hidden Ones in the nearby forest, she finds herself unraveling two mysteries: the nature of these faeries and the true intentions of the enigmatic Wendell. Unexpectedly, Emily’s quest for knowledge becomes entwined with friendship, magic, and the unfamiliar territory of her own heart.

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The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Meghan Chase’s life has felt off-kilter since her father’s mysterious disappearance when she was six. As she struggles to fit in, strange occurrences begin to unfold: a dark stranger watches her and her best friend grows oddly protective. Suddenly, Meghan’s world turns upside down as she discovers her true identity as a faery king’s daughter, thrust into a deadly otherworldly war. Determined to save those she cares about, Meghan embarks on a perilous journey, facing untold dangers and confronting an evil no faery dares challenge. Along the way, she finds herself drawn to an icy prince, their forbidden attraction complicating her already treacherous path through the faery realm.

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Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee

In New Orleans, Cate Holloway lives by one rule: steer clear of the Gage crime family. But when her brother gets ensnared in their dangerous web, she must confront Lachlan Gage, the fearsome and alluring head of the family. Lachlan, however, is more than a mere criminal. He’s fae and he demands her soul as payment. Trapped and desperate, Cate is thrust into the mystifying Otherworld, where deceit lurks at every corner. With thirty days to break the sinister bargain, she must navigate a perilous path, torn between her humanity and the seductive pull of the fae prince and his dark realm.

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Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Yeeran, an elven warrior, and her sister Lettle, a struggling diviner, live disparate lives in their homeland. When Yeeran’s grave error leads to her banishment, both sisters are forced into the perilous unknown beyond elven borders. In the wild, they encounter the long-lost fae court, unseen for a thousand years. Suddenly immersed in the fae’s beguiling realm, Yeeran and Lettle find themselves caught in a web of conflicting loyalties. As they navigate this new world, the sisters must balance their bond with each other, their allegiance to their elven roots, and the unexpected stirrings of their hearts. Their choices will shape not only their fates but potentially those of both elven and fae societies.

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Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

After her sister’s murder, MacKayla discovers a cryptic clue on her phone. Seeking answers, she travels to Ireland and uncovers a hidden power: the ability to see into the perilous realm of the Fae. As Mac investigates her sister’s death, she is constantly shadowed by the enigmatic Jericho and pursued by V’lane, an alpha Fae who can make sex addictive for human women. With the boundary between worlds dissolving, Mac realizes her true mission: find the powerful Sinsar Dubh before anyone else. The fate of both the human and Fae realms hangs in the balance, with total control at stake.

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Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

Callypso Lillis, a siren, is burdened by a bracelet of black beads, each representing a favor owed. For seven years, these magical debts have only grown and will not vanish until her repayment or death. The Bargainer, a mysterious figure who grants wishes at a steep price, always comes to collect—except when it comes to Callie. But that changes when the fae king of the night visits her, igniting old feelings with a single kiss and a promise. A dark threat looms in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are vanishing. Whispers of an ancient evil spread among the slaves. To save his people, the Bargainer must enlist Callie’s help, despite the danger it poses to her. The fight to protect both worlds is on and Callie is at the heart of it.

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Lore Of The Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana

In a realm ruled by cruel Fae, Lore Alemeyu’s village is imprisoned in an enchanted forest. Desperate to save her people, the twenty-one-year-old strikes a deal with a Fae lord: organize a cursed library no Fae can enter. Her secret goal is to gain magic of her own. Venturing into hostile lands, Lore reluctantly allies with two dangerous yet captivating Fae males. As unexpected chemistry sparks, she risks not just her life, but her heart. Lore must navigate treacherous waters, balancing her quest for power with the growing attraction she can never fully trust.

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In The Jaded Grove by Anela Deen

Simith, a war-weary pixie knight, seeks peace between the Thistle court and trolls. Ambushed during negotiations, he flees through the Jaded Grove into another world. There, Jessa, a Michigan poet, saves him from attackers, binding their fates through magic. Together, they must prevent Simith’s war from infecting Jessa’s realm. As they uncover layers of deception, the conflict proves more complex than imagined. Their deepening bond is tested by personal demons and long-held grief. Simith and Jessa race to untangle lies and confront painful truths, with countless lives hanging in the balance across both worlds.

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Rosemary And Rue by Seanan McGuire

October “Toby” Daye, a half-human, half-fae changeling, has long distanced herself from the Faerie world after being hurt by both sides of her heritage. However, her self-imposed exile ends abruptly when Countess Evening Winterrose is murdered. Bound by a dying curse to investigate, Toby reluctantly re-enters fae society as a knight errant. She navigates a complex web of alliances and rivalries, confronting morally ambiguous characters from her past. As Toby delves deeper into the mystery, she realizes the stakes are higher than anticipated. Failure to solve Evening’s murder could cost not only her life but potentially threaten the delicate balance of the fae world itself.

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