22 High/Epic Adult Fantasy Books with 1 POV & a Male Protagonist

Books with a massive set of multiple POVs drive me crazy. I prefer stories with a tighter focus that invite readers to enjoy (and work to unravel) some mysteries about the larger world. Sometimes less is more.

But these days, multi-POV fantasy books seem to be the norm, especially in adult fantasy. It’s so hard to find books that feature only one point-of-view character, but I’ve done some legwork for you!

Note: this list focuses on male protagonists and dark, mythic, political, and military fantasy, rather than romance, satire, or coming-of-age.

I’ve read about half of these so far, and all others have at least a thousand 4+ star reviews. Most of these authors have a larger body of work which also feature a similar style.

  1. Classic and pre-2000s fantasy with 1 POV
  2. Modern fantasy books with 1 POV
  3. Fantasy books with predominantly 1 POV – but with brief cutaways

This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small amount on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Classic and Pre-2000’s Fantasy with 1 POV

1. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

Ok, technically this is science fantasy, but it FEELS so epic, and most of the story takes place in a medieval setting. The main character is a centuries-old mage poet and swordsmaster who stepped out of literal golden age Avalon! One of my absolute favorites!

Corwin is a prince of Amber, the “immortal city from which every other city has taken its shape.” All other worlds, including Earth, are shadows of that reality. Corwin has spent centuries on Earth with no memory of his birth.

But when someone in the family tries to kill him, Corwin begins a search for his past, discovering the universe itself will bend to his shaping. He is one of nine men who might rule Amber, if he can fight past the armies of his brother and nemesis Eric.

2. Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy #1) by Robin Hobb

Young Fitz is the bastard son of Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill.
 
As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz grows to manhood and soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

3. Elric of Melniboné (The Elric Saga #1) by Michael Moorcock

Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.

4. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril returns to the noble household he once served and is named secretary-tutor to the strong-willed princess. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for in the royal court of Cardegoss, the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions.

Worse yet, a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the blighted House of Chalion. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge.

5. The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun #1) by Gene Wolfe

The writing style in this one is quite dense, and absolutely packed with complex vocabulary. The language is masterful, but it’s no light read. Keep a dictionary tab open!

The Shadow of the Torturer cover: a cloaked man in a strange mask holds a longsword, standing upon a curling pedestal throne that rises into a cloudy sky.

Severian is a torturer, born to the guild and with an exceptionally promising career ahead of him… until he falls in love with one of his victims, a beautiful young noblewoman. Severian helps her commit suicide and escape her fate. For a torturer, there is no more unforgivable act.

He is exiled from the guild with little more than Terminus Est, a fabled sword, to his name. Along the way, a strange gem falls into his possession, which only makes his enemies pursue him with ever-more determination…

6. The Legend of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert

This was published back in 1993, but the link will take you to an updated Kindle version that the publisher released in 2019, which is why it has apparently few reviews.

He has been known by countless names and deeds – thief, swordsman, assassin, adventurer. But chief among those personae is that of Nightfall, gifted with unique powers which any sorcerer would kill to possess.

Yet even the cleverest of beings must occasionally slip. When Nightfall falls prey to a royal trap, he is bound by sorcery and oath to guard a young prince on his quest. He will need every trick and talent to keep both himself and his idealistic charge from death at the hands of unknown betrayers.

Modern Fantasy Books with 1 POV

7. The Hands of the Emperor (Lays of the Hearthfire #1) by Victoria Goddard

Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last god Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth.

He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. But he has never once touched his lord, nor called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation.

One day, Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the Wide Seas for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world.

Read my 5-star review here!

8. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind cover: a cloaked figure faces a single tree in an overcast grassland, the world tinged a blue-grey.

My name is Kvothe.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

9. Traitor’s Blade (Greatcoats #1) by Sebastian de Castell

The Greatcoats are travelling magistrates bringing justice to all… or at least they were, before they watched the Dukes impale their King’s head on a spike. Now the land’s heroes are reviled as traitors, their Greatcoats in tatters.

Facio, Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as mercenaries, but when they find their employer dead – and are forced to watch as the killer plants evidence framing them for the murder – they realize the royal conspiracy is spreading.

10. Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker

A siege is approaching, and the city has little time to prepare. The people have no food and no weapons, and the enemy has sworn to slaughter them all.

To save the city will take a miracle, but what it has is Orhan. A colonel of engineers, Orhan has far more experience with bridge-building than battles, is a cheat and a liar, and has a serious problem with authority. He is, in other words, perfect for the job.

11. Transformation (Rai Kirah #1) by Carol Berg

Note: this book is much better than its cover.

Seyonne is a man waiting to die. He has been a slave for sixteen years, almost half his life, and has lost everything of meaning to him: his dignity, the people and homeland he loves, and the Warden’s power he used to defend an unsuspecting world from the ravages of demons.  

But from the moment he is sold to the arrogant, careless Prince Aleksander, the heir to the Derzhi Empire, Seyonne’s desperately crafted apathy crumbles. When he discovers a demon lurking in the Derzhi court, he must find hope and strength in a most unlikely place…

12. Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence

Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—has a secret. He can see the Red Queen’s, his grandmother’s, greatest weapon: The Silent Sister. But content with his role as a minor royal, Jal pretends that the hideous crone is not there.

After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. But war with the undead is coming, and as the two undertake a journey to undo the spell, they realize they are but pieces in a game—and the Red Queen controls the board.

13. The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes wall-scaling, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics.

But today, Kinch has picked the wrong mark. Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death.

Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds himself braving krakens and giants with Galva in an epic journey to find her missing queen.

14. Among Thieves by Hulick Douglas

Drothe is a Nose, an informant who finds and takes care of trouble inside his criminal organization. On his latest assignment, Drothe unearths that someone is trying to stir up trouble between lower-level criminal organizations, including Drothe’s.

Rumors stir of a book containing imperial glimmer (or magic), and two crime bosses known as the Gray Princes are on the hunt. Drothe discovers the book, gaining the power to bring down emperors, shatter the criminal underworld, and unlock forbidden magic – if he can survive long enough to use it.

Fantasy Books with Predominantly 1 POV – but with brief cutaways

These books are told almost entirely (95%) from 1 point of view, with only brief cutaways to secondary characters. Note that some of these, like The Night Angel Trilogy and the Codex Alera, start incorporating more perspectives later in the series.

15. The Way of Shadows (Night Angel Trilogy #1) by Brent Weeks

The Way of Shadows cover: a cloaked man takes up a fighting stance, a dagger in each fist. Shadows swirl around him.

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art – and he is the city’s most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly – and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins’ world of dangerous politics and strange magics – and cultivate a flair for death.

16. Blood Song by Anthony Ryan

Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order to be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a warrior of the Faith.
 
Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the Unified Realm—and Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright knows no bounds. Even his cherished memories of his mother are soon challenged by what he learns within the Order.
 
But Vaelin cannot escape a future that will alter not only the Realm but the world.

17. The Black Company by Glen Cook

Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead. 

Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her… 

18. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Kings of the Wyld cover: a group of rough looking armored men stand together holding shields and bloodied swords.

Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best, the most feared and renowned crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk, or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay’s door with a plea for help – 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.

19. The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

Among the Omehi, one in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.

Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the 200 year war. Young, gift-less Tau plans to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land.

But when those closest to him are murdered, his grief turns to vengeance. He’ll become the greatest swordsman to ever live for the chance to kill the three who betrayed him.

20. Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera #1) by Jim Butcher

For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal. But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting.

At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy—the Marat horde—return to the Valley, Tavi’s courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war…

21. Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker

Girton Club-foot has no family, a crippled leg, and is apprenticed to the best assassin in the land. He’s learning the art of taking lives, but his latest mission tasks him with a far more difficult challenge: to save a life.

Someone is trying to kill the heir to the throne, and it is up to Girton to uncover the traitor and prevent the prince’s murder.

In a castle thick with lies, Girton finds friends he never expected, and a conspiracy that could destroy an entire kingdom.

22. The Silverblood Promise (The Last Legacy #1) by James Logan

Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and—thanks to a duel that ended badly—the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house.

When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death.

His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. But the price of truth is the deadliest of all.


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

18 Young Adult Urban Fantasy Books with a Male Protagonist (Science Fantasy, Superhero, Steampunk, & More)

This is part 2 of my ongoing series of book lists featuring young adult books with male protagonists. Part 1 lists high/epic fantasy books with young male leads, which you can read here!

I personally prefer reading about male protagonists (I’m a woman). I also would rather read a book with 1 POV, rather than ones that switch back and forth between different perspectives. The pacing of young adult fiction is also perfect after a long day at work!

Or perhaps your son has outgrown Spiderman, but isn’t ready to pick up adult fiction yet.

However, since the young adult market is largely aimed at girls and women these days, it can be a bit hard to find fast-paced books with 1 male main character. So I thought I’d share my growing TBR list with you all to help you find this kind of story as well!

Happy reading!

  1. Science Fantasy
  2. Superheroes and Academies
  3. Urban Fantasy and Supernatural
  4. Steampunk
  5. Comedy/Parody

This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Science Fantasy Books

Science fantasy is the umbrella term for fantasy that doesn’t fit neatly into just one genre! From contemporary fantasy and superpowered characters, to fantasy that leans a bit more toward sci-fi, there are a lot of great stories that fall outside of the epic category.

1. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

John Smith seems like an ordinary teenager, living a normal life with his guardian Henri in Paradise, Ohio. But for John, keeping a low profile is essential, because he is not an ordinary teenager. He’s an alien from the planet Lorien, and he’s on the run. A group of evil aliens from the planet Mogadore, who destroyed his world, are hunting anyone who escaped.

Nine Loric children were sent to Earth to live in hiding until they grew up and developed their Legacies, powers that would help them fight back—and help them save us. Three of them are now dead. John is Number Four, and he knows he’s next….

2. Steelheart (The Reckoners 1) by Brandon Sanderson

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.

Nobody fights the Epics…nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart — the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father.

3. Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

Only his father knows the truth about Rigg’s strange talent for seeing the paths of people’s pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him—secrets about Rigg’s own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain.

Rigg’s birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead.

4. Flames of Mira (The Rift Walker 1) by Clay Harmon

Among boiling volcanoes under Mira’s frozen lands, people like Ig are forced to undergo life-threatening trials that bind chemical elements to the human body. One of Mira’s most powerful elementals, Ig serves as an enforcer for Magnate Sorrelo Adriann, but is cursed with flesh binding magic that will kill him at the first sign of disobedience.

When Sorrelo is overthrown, Ig quickly learns he can do far worse than what has been asked of him so far. If he can’t escape the flesh binding in time, he will have to kill friend and foe alike to stop his master reclaiming the throne, or sacrifice himself trying.

Superheroes and Magic Academies in Fantasy

These books aren’t so different from the ones above, as they also feature superpowered individuals. But if you like the added structure of magic academies and secret organizations, or you’re looking for stories set in the superhero/supervillain “metaverse,” these ones are for you!

5. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist, one who has the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings—merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery.

6. The Never Hero (Chronicles of Johnathan Tibbs 1) by T. Ellery Hodges

Heroes are supposed to be the first to step forward. I didn’t. I was drafted.
An Alien, Heyer, did this to me. I asked him once why I had to do all the fighting while he watched from the shadows. He said he couldn’t be replaced. But I could be.

My name is Jonathan Tibbs. I’m the one standing between Earth and the Enemy.
They tell me every hero’s story follows a path. If I’m going to save the world, I have to find a different one.

7. The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost

Will West is careful to live life under the radar. At his parents’ insistence, he’s made sure to get mediocre grades and to stay in the middle of the pack on his cross-country team. Then Will slips up, accidentally scoring off the charts on a nationwide exam.

Now Will is being courted by an exclusive prep school . . . and followed by men driving black sedans. When Will suddenly loses his parents, he flees to the school. There he begins to explore all that he’s capable of–physical and mental feats that should be impossible–and learns that his abilities are connected to a struggle between titanic forces that has lasted for millennia.

8. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But then he discovers that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, and his dad insists he come live with him.

Damien has to survive his dad’s “flying lessons” that involve throwing him off the tallest building in the city and keep his supervillain girlfriend in the dark. But when Damien uncovers a plot to turn all the superheroes into zombie slaves, a plan hatched by his own mom, he has to choose: let his family become zombies, or stand up to his mom and become a real hero.

9. Psion Beta by Jacob Gowans

In the shadowy underbelly of a futuristic city, Sammy, a fourteen-year-old fugitive, stumbles upon a secret: he possesses the extraordinary powers of a Psion.

Plucked off the streets, he is thrust into the rigorously disciplined environment of Psion Beta headquarters. As a new Beta, Sammy must hone his newfound abilities using holographic fighting simulations, stealth training missions, and complex war games.

But when things go horribly wrong on a routine training mission, he must rely on the other Betas to stay alive.

10. Into the Labyrinth (Mage Errant #1) by John Bierce

Hugh of Emblin is the worst student that the Academy at Skyhold has ever seen. He can barely cast any spells at all, and those he does cast tend to fail explosively. He’s also managed to attract the ire of the most promising student of his year – the nephew of a king.

When an unusual mage unexpectedly selects him as apprentice in the Choosing, however, his life starts to take a sharp turn for the better. Now all he has to worry about is the final test for the first years – being sent into the terrifying labyrinth below Skyhold.

Urban Fantasy & Supernatural Books

Most urban fantasy tends to jump straight to adult fiction, with adult characters and grittier scenarios and content. A lot of supernatural fantasy shifts towards paranormal romance. But I found a promising few. If you can think of any more urban fantasy examples with young male leads, please share!

11. White Cat (Curse Workers 1) by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, all by the slightest touch. Since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got the magic touch, so he’s an outsider—the straight kid in a crooked family—as long as you ignore one small detail: He killed his best friend, Lila.

Now he is sleepwalking, haunted by terrifying dreams of a white cat. His brothers are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of one huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to outcon the conmen.

12. Infinity (Chronicles of Nick 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

At 14, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough, and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . . until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Now Nick has to hide his werewolf friends from his mom, his chain saw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended.

13. 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.

Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.

14. Nightlife (Cal Leandros 1) by Rob Thurman

There’s a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side—and that’s only the beginning. Of course, most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half-human.

His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares—and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal. Why?

He and his half-brother Niko have managed to stay a step ahead for three years, but now Cal’s dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they’ve always wanted him…

Steampunk Books

Classic steampunk mostly features adult characters, and a lot of contemporary steampunk has merged with the fantasy of manners sub-genre, featuring dashing young girls with pistols under their skirts. But here are a few that feature young men!

15. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

It is the cusp of World War I. The Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure…. One that will change both their lives forever.

16. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three half brothers are killed in an “accident,” he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and is surrounded by sycophants.

He is alone, and trying to find even a single friend . . . and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne–or his life.

Comedy/Parody Fantasy

I don’t read much comedic fantasy, so if you do, please help me fill out this section. You can’t go wrong with Terry Pratchett!

17. Dodger by Terry Pratchett 

Seventeen-year-old Dodger is content as a sewer scavenger. But he enters a new world when he rescues a young girl from a beating, and her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.

From Dodger’s encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd, to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.

18. Nice Dragons Finish Last (Heartstrikers 1) by Rachel Aaron

As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don’t cause trouble. But this meek behavior doesn’t fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has had enough.

Now, sealed in his human form and banished to the DFZ–a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit–Julius has one month to prove he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test.

How to Find More YA Fantasy Books with Male Leads

Here’s the trick to finding young adult books with male protagonists. They’re NOT marketed as YA anymore. Use tags such as “coming of age fantasy” or “teen fantasy.” “Adventure fantasy” is a tag more often paired with high fantasy worlds, but can still be helpful if paired with other themes you’re looking for. For instance “superhero adventure fantasy” can filter through stories that primarily feature romance.

Why am I focusing on YA? Well, it’s not hard to find adult fantasy about male main characters. It IS hard to find contemporary adult fantasy with only 1 male POV, so I also made a list for those.

Until then, stay tuned for the next male YA lists which will feature dystopian, progression fantasy, and more!

These are affiliate links – I may earn from qualifying purchases.


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…