Fantasy and Sci-Fi Fanatics

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

When I think of magical forests, I think of Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Kasia’s village is surrounded by a secretive, dangerous Wood, and only a powerful wizard keeps it at bay. Told in the lilting language of a fairy tale, this story will lure you in deeper until you either discover the secrets of the Wood or are ensnared by it.

The Invisible Wild by Nikki Van De Car

Journey into the tropical forests of Hawaii, where you’ll help Emma rescue the creatures from folklore from being destroyed. This book has lush descriptions, a cheeky teen, and strong nature vibes!

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

When Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: her mother is stolen away-by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother’s stories are set. Alice’s only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

If you like creepy, atmospheric dark fairytales, then this one’s for you!

Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

When Owen Merrick is lured into the witch’s wood, one of her tree-siren daughters, Seren, saves his life instead of ending it. Every night, he climbs over the garden wall to see her, and every night her longing to become human deepens. But a shift in the stars foretells a dangerous curse, and Seren’s quest to become human will lead them into an ancient war raging between the witch and the king who is trying to stop her.

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

Another darker book about a boy, David, who turns to books to help him deal with the death of his mother. He turns to books for refuge, and his imagination blends with reality. He enters a dark forest filled with cursed creatures and hungry monsters. Fairy tales might not be as happy as he first believed…

The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees

The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She’s desperate to know more—until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

We can’t talk about enchanted forests without mentioning the Hobbit! Mirkwood would be one of my least favorite forests to venture into–all those creepy giant spiders! Eek. But it would be interesting to meet the woodland elves and where Legolas comes from.

For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

In this fairy tale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Red is taken to the forest to be sacrificed to the Wolf.

She’s not as frightened as she should be, seeing the opportunity to save her sister from the dangerous magic that bubbles within her. But she learns that the Wolf is not who she thought, and a deeper, more powerful magic threatens her people’s lives.

This book will whisk you into a crumbling castle in an enchanted forest where the very trees speak.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

This is the perfect book to read in the fall: moody vibes, monsters, and myths. Elspeth needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic…

If you like your forests spooky, give this one a try!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

I had to put Harry Potter in this list because of the Forbidden Forest! That is one creepy place, but Hagrid lives nearby, so it’s not all bad. Watch out for werewolves, dementors, and spiders!

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

In his Jewish historical fantasy, Liba discovers that her and Laya’s Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps the old fairy tales are true. Then a troupe of mysterious men appear in town, and Laya falls under their spell despite their mother’s warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods…

Where the Dark Stands Still by Rena Rossner

Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.

Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

A reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, this book follows Toadling, who was stolen as a child from her family by fairies, but grew up safe and loved in faerieland. Once an adult, the fae ask Toadling to return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child.

Centuries later, a knight has heard there’s a curse that needs breaking, but it’s a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don’t quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there’s a visitor at his window. It’s ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

If you’re craving less spooky, more fairy like stories, you may enjoy Wildwood Dancing. High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. The sisters use the forest’s hidden portal to travel into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom where they dance through the night with fey creatures. But when their cousin arrives, life takes a darker turn.

After the Forest by Kell Woods

What happens when Hansel and Greta return from the old witch’s house? Well, it’s not all rainbows and cupcakes, though there is a lot of magical gingerbread. Greta bakes a lot to keep their house, using the magical book she stole from the witch’s house. When dark magic returns to the forest, Greta will need to decide how best to save those she loves.

This historical fantasy is perfect for those who love fairy tales! Not only does this book tell the story of Hansel and Gretel, but it also has hints of Beauty and the Beast and Snow White.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Clay Cooper and his band were once the greatest mercenary Bands. Now, the members have separated, grown old, fat, and drunk. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay’s door with a plea for help. His daughter is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy one hundred thousand strong and hungry for blood. Rescuing Rose is the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for. It’s time to get the band back together.

They’ll have to cross the Heartwyld, a gigantic forest full of monsters, beasts, and many other deadly sentient beings.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Enter the icy realm of faerie in this cozy cottagecore fantasy book. The story takes place in a cold, dreary land similar to Iceland where a grumpy, introverted professor has come to finish her encyclopaedia of faeries. Soon, the Hidden Ones who live in the forest take a dangerous interest in the professor, and it will take all of her knowledge to untangle herself from them.

Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This dystopian book is written as a memoir of a fictional man, Stefan, and his journey from prison into a jungle and then down into an underground city as he tries to discover a way to save a dying earth. An ecological, unique story with unlikely hero vibes.

The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

This book just came out (June 2026), and I can’t wait to read it! It sounds so sweet and cozy with nods to Howl’s Moving Castle, which I adore. Evelyn, a witch, and her adopted daughter take over as Caretaker of Thornwood House—a sentient home that acts as the magical heart of the village of Iskendra. But Thornwood House is grumpy, guarded, and extremely hesitant to allow the two witches through its doors.

Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer

At the highest level of a giant forest, thirteen kingdoms form the great city of Canopy. Thirteen goddesses and gods rule this realm and are continuously reincarnated into human bodies.

Canopy’s position in the sun, however, is not without its dark side. The nation’s opulence comes from the labor of slaves, and below its fruitful boughs are two other realms: Understorey and Floor, whose deprived citizens yearn for Canopy’s splendor.

The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

Inspired by Hungarian history and Jewish mythology, this story follows a young woman with hidden powers and a one-eyed captain of the Woodsmen as they form an unlikely alliance to thwart a tyrant.

A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig

From the author of House of Salt and Sorrows comes another gothic fantasy, this one of a village surrounded by woods that harbor dangerous beasts: wolves, bears, and the Bright-Eyeds—monsters beyond description who have rained destruction down on nearby settlements. When the main character ventures into the forest to find her love, she’ll face more than monsters; she’ll face truths behind her own origin.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

I saved the best for last! 😁LOTR has some of the best enchanted forests: Lothlorien, all tranquility and shining golden leaves and Fanghorn, a spooky wood where the talking trees live. His creativity in describing these forests and placing you in them is superb, and I wouldn’t expect you to look around for a clinging leaf or spiderweb once you finish reading the book.