The Shelves

Fantasy Contemporary Books

Books selected for readers looking for fantasy contemporary books.

54 booksApril 2, 2026

Part of 470+ tracked lists·5 crossover shelves·149% reader overlap with Magical Realism Books

1. The Tainted Cup
Robert Jackson Bennett
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Contemporary Fantasy
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Cozy Fantasy
3. An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder
K. Valentin
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Witch Romance
4. The Macabre
Kosoko Jackson
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Dark Fantasy
5. Water Moon
Samantha Sotto Yambao
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Cozy Fantasy
6. Legends & Lattes
Travis Baldree, Macmillan Audio
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Cozy Fantasy
7. The Astral Library
Kate Quinn
Included for strong book club alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Contemporary Fantasy
8. The Magician of Tiger Castle
Louis Sachar
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Wizards & Witches for Teens
9. Under the Whispering Door
Tj Klune, T.J. Klune
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Lesbian Romance
10. The Library at Mount Char
Scott Hawkins
Included for strong book club alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Contemporary Fantasy
11. The Found Object Society
Michelle Maryk
Included for strong thriller alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Sci-Fi Crime
12. Awakened
A.E. Osworth, Grand Central Publishing
Included for strong fantasy alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Contemporary Fantasy
13. Light From Uncommon Stars
Cindy Kay, Ryka Aoki
Included for strong book club alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: YA Romance - LGBTQ+
14. Anima Rising
Christopher Moore, Mary Jane Wells
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Humorous Fantasy
15. Wild Massive
Scotto Moore
Included for strong world alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Contemporary Fantasy
16. Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Contemporary Fantasy
17. The Croning
Laird Barron
Included for strong horror alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Dark Fantasy
18. The God and the Gumiho
Greta Jung, Intae Kim
Fits this list for its focus on contemporary and fantasy.
Shelf signal: Ethnic & Regional Fairy Tales for Teens
19. Carl's Doomsday Scenario
Matt Dinniman
Included for strong best alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Fantasy Adventure
20. Self-portrait With Nothing
Aimee Pokwatka
Fits this list for its focus on fantasy.
Shelf signal: Sci-Fi Crime
21. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook
Matt Dinniman
Included for strong best alignment with this fantasy contemporary list.
Shelf signal: Fantasy Adventure
22. Bazaar of the Bizarre
Fritz Leiber
Fits this list for its focus on contemporary and fantasy.
Shelf signal: Humorous Fantasy
23. A Dirty Job
Christopher Moore
Fits this list for its focus on contemporary and fantasy.
Shelf signal: Urban Fantasy
24. No Great Magic
Fritz Leiber
Fits this list for its focus on contemporary and fantasy.
Shelf signal: Time Travel Fiction