Coming-of-Age Fantasy
What Is Coming of Age Fantasy?
In the tradition of acknowledged classics like Candide, Jane Eyre, or even Tom Sawyer, this genre takes our protagonist along an arc that starts with loss or alienation. Perhaps the young hero discovers that the people who raised him are not really his parents. Or just as likely, his magical powers have become evident and he can't explain to anyone's satisfaction why or how the family car becomes a dragon-drawn chariot whenever he gets in.
Whatever form the main character's “specialness” takes, he is forced to pursue further knowledge about who—or what—he is. This journey of self-discovery is also one of moral and psychological growth, for having special powers requires that one learn to use them for good.
And what is good? That is an age-old question, and like every young person the protagonist must decide whether to accept society's values as his own. Because of his special powers, he is put to severe tests that most young adults will never encounter; but in the process he will build a solid foundation to support his conception of good.
Dark Lords also feature heavily in this sort of fantasy – beings of malevolent power that opposes the hero’s quest, threatening the status quo of the present world (for example, Sauron from Tolkien or The Dark One from Robert Jordan).
Coming of Age Fantasy Features
Level of Magic
Heavy. The main character is almost certain to be endowed with special powers that he or she “discovers”; further development and experience expands those magical abilities and their application. However, the magic entails costs and has limits (befitting an instructional novel for young people).
Level of Characterization
Varies. There may be many characters broadly drawn, or few characters written with great detail, or a combination of the two. The main character will be complex enough to recognize the difficulty of the moral choices presented.
Level of Plot Complexity
Generally easy to follow the plot. The genre is well understood and familiar to most readers, due to its bildungsroman foundation and the beloved classic books of this type.
Level of Violence
Usually low, and not of an upsetting nature. Authors realize they are inviting sometimes tender psyches into the world of the story. However, as this sub-genre has gained in popularity, more variety exists in the tone of the stories.
Related Types of Fantasy
The structure of this type is related to the bildungsroman (formation novel) in traditional literature. The form presents a young person actively seeking maturity of thought and action to help them deal with the initial alienating event. Some political fantasy could be similar, since it often involves a naif learning to navigate and overcome a corrupt environment. Fables also offer some guidance to the inquisitive seeker. Epic High Fantasy qualifies as related due to the quest component. There is quite a bit of crossover between Coming of Age fantasy and High/Epic fantasy. Quite a few high fantasy novels feature a coming of age story about a hero’s rise, which is a key element of heroic fantasy.
Coming-of-Age Fantasy Isn’t For You If
If you find the earnest soul-searching required of a young and inexperienced character tiresome, you might not enjoy this genre.
Popular Coming of Age Fantasy Books/ Series
These books are highly representational of the coming of age fantasy subgenre. They are all highly popular and depending who you talk to, "The Best"
Harry Potter series J.K. Rowling
The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss
A Song of Ice and Fire George R.R. Martin
The Farseer Robin Hobb
Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis
The Riddle Master of Hed Patricia K. McPhillip
Earthsea series Ursula K. LeGuin
The Sea of Trolls Nancy Farmer
His Dark Materials series Philip Pullman
Abhorsen, Keys to the Kingdom Garth Nix
Bartimaeus Trilogy Jonathan Stroud
The Chronicles of Prydain Lloyd Alexander
Bloodhound, Song of the Lioness Tamora Pierce
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles Patricia C. Wrede
The Belgariad David Eddings
The Wheel of Time Robert Jordan
The Magician Raymond E. Feist
The Magicians Lev Grossman
Note: check out the best fantasy books list for our top recommendations –quite a few of the books on the best list are coming of age fantasy tales.
Other Recommendations
Annals of the Western Shore Ursula K. LeGuin
Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Michael Scott
Gemma Doyle series Libba Bray
Pendragon series D.J. MacHale
Inkheart series Cornelia Funke
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Rick Riordan
Inheritance series Christopher Paolini
Not Coming of Age Fantasy
If you’re sick to death of all the “Coming of Age” Fantasy that’s out there, here are a few fantasy books where the hero/heroine is NOT a callow youth:
The Black Jewels Anne Bishop
Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch.
Dresden Files Jim Butcher
His Majesty's Dragon Naomi Novik
A Song for Ariborne Guy Gavriel Kay
Curse of Chalion Lois McMaster Bujold
Remnant Population Elizabeth Moon
The Blue Sword Robin McKinley
Sorcerers Legacy Janny Wurts
Do you have your own quest/epic fantasy suggestions? Share them in the comment section below!
How come you have The Neverending Story in Best Stand Alone 25 but not here?
I agree with all of these.
I read most of these years ago as a kid, and still enjoy the easy read that brings up old memories of childhood.
I do have to say that the Inheritance Cycle(Eragon series) should recieve a bit more praise. For what started as a childhood dream that evolved into reality, the series really did come far and do quite well. I personally went to the midnight release of the new book, and had my copy signed. The signing was 19 hours after the release, and I had the book finished mere hours before.
The most recent one was enjoyable, but definatly rushed. I don't rate it nearly as high as the first or second, as it could have been broken up into two much longer books.
No mention of The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper (Over Sea, Under Stone etc)? It certainly fits in this genre. That could also be listed under great Children's Books and Celtic Fantasy as well. And it's better than Harry Potter...