Top 5 Wednesday: Hidden Gems in Fantasy

Out of all the days of the week, Wednesday is the most top five-y. That’s right! It’s time for another Top 5 Wednesday! Slow your roll, it’s not that exciting. Anyway, this week’s topic is your top five hidden gems in your favorite genre. These are the supremely excellent books and series that don’t get enough attention, but you think are just fantastic. My favorite genre is fantasy, so all my picks will be magical. So, let’s get to listing:

1. The Seraphina duology by Rachel Hartman: I mean, it’s a series about dragons. The duology follows Seraphina Dombegh, a half-dragon and gifted musician. When the royal family starts getting murdered, she gets swept up in the investigation. However, living in a society that looks down on dragons is far more difficult for a girl with a dragon mother. It’s a really dense series, but so good and inventive. I only just realized Tess of the Road, Hartman’s latest, is a spin-off and I’m so excited to get into it.
2. The Succubus series by Richelle Mead: I know I mentioned this recently, but it’s absolutely worth mentioning again. Georgina Kincaid is such a great protagonist, and the only case in which I actually don’t mind the reluctant monster trope. Georgina is a succubus with a love of books and a mess of a love life. Each book fills her life with new supernatural troubles, starting with her fellow demon folk getting murdered and Georgina as the prime suspect. It’s also got an epic love story. It does have some smut, but well-written smut that Georgina is never shamed for. If you ask me, this is one urban fantasy book you need in your life.
3. The Archived by Victoria Schwab: “This series? Again?! You talk about this all the time!” And I’m going to keep talking about it until it gets the appreciation it deserves. It follows MacKenzie Bishop, a Keeper who keeps the spirits of the dead out of the world of the living. On top of being unique, it’s got a great mystery and a friend-to-lovers romance. Please read this book. If we make it popular, the concluding novel might finally get published.
4. Hunted by Meagan Spooner: This standalone is by far the best “Beauty & the Beast” retelling I’ve ever read. It’s a little bit dark, but you can genuinely see Yeva slowly taming the Beast. She’s also an excellent hunter. It’s slow-paced, but so well-written. And honestly? It’s too good for book stans. They’ll just ruin it.
5. The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco: This is another slow-moving fantasy series that book stans don’t deserve. It follows Tea as she develops her abilities as an asha; however, the story is told from two time periods. Tea recounts her life story to a bard, while plotting against the kingom. She’s the antihero I needed and I’m so excited for The Heartforger. I just know it’s going to be as fantastic as this was.

Are there any hidden gems in fantasy that I missed? What are some hidden gems in your favorite genre? Tell me about them in the comments!