YA Books with Beautiful Maps

Few things beat opening a fantasy or sci-fi novel and finding a beautiful map waiting inside. Maps anchor a story’s world before you’ve read a single line, and the ones below are some of the best you’ll find in young adult fiction — a mix of old favourites and recent purchases worth seeking out. ## Sabriel (The Old Kingdom series) Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series has now passed its twenty-fifth anniversary, and it remains a joy to read. The characters are fantastic, the monsters genuinely terrifying, and the magic system is endlessly intriguing: people can travel into death, and Sabriel wields the necromancer’s bells. There are prequels, sequels and the original trilogy to work through, but Sabriel stands perfectly well on its own if you’d rather test the waters first. ## Wranglestone If you like national parks, a sweet gay love story and a generous helping of zombies, this one is for you. It was nominated for the YA Book Prize 2021, and the map at the front covers a small area but does a great job of establishing the atmosphere. ## Raybearer The cover hides a face, if you look closely. Inspired by West African folklore, European fairy tales and a range of other cultures, the story follows Tarisai, a young girl competing to join the Crown Prince’s Council of Eleven — while carrying out a secret murder mission given to her by her mother. The map offers a wide overview of the world, with illustrations that showcase each region. ## The Priory of the Orange Tree This chunky book has been doing the rounds on TikTok, and it’s easy to see why. Though not published as young adult, it’s often recommended alongside YA titles. It has not one but two beautiful maps. Expect dragon riders, royal families, a varied cast of LGBTQ+ characters and an epic adventure. ## Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom If you loved the Shadow & Bone series, you’ll already have met some of the compelling characters from Six of Crows and its sequel, Crooked Kingdom. Set in the same universe — the map covers the same world — this duology follows a crew of criminals plotting a heist. The books also include other maps, among them the city of Ketterdam, which was inspired by Amsterdam, Antwerp, Las Vegas, London and old New York. ## Girls of Paper and Fire This first book in a trilogy takes a different approach to its map. Here you’ll find a plan of The Hidden Palace, the setting where eight girls are chosen each year to serve the king as Paper Girls. The story unfolds in an Asian-inspired world and features a forbidden romance and a secret plot. ## We Hunt the Flame The first book in the Sands of Arawiya duology has one of the finest maps you’ll come across. Detailed borders with portraits and flowers, and cities marked by parchment banners, will have you lingering over it. The story follows two legends: Zafira, the Hunter, who disguises herself as a man on a mission to feed her people, and Nasir, the Prince of Death. Any recommendations of your own to add? Leave them below.