Low Spice Fantasy Books for Young Adults

As I was scrolling through instagram recently, I came across a video of a Q&A with a popular young adult author. One of the questions asked was if her second book would have any spice. Her response was that there would be plenty of tension, but since it was a YA book, it would not contain any explicit scenes.

After her response, there was an audible groan from the audience. This reaction really irritated me. I am so tired of YA books having explicit sex scenes and adults pushing for that content. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy some spicy scenes, but YA BOOKS ARE NOT THE PLACE FOR THAT! Okay, rant over.

Maybe you want to be sure your kid isn’t reading YA smut or maybe as an adult you just want a sweet fantasy book that still has the romance, tension, and witty banter, but with fade to black or closed door scenes, I’ve got you covered!

1. Shadow and Bone Trilogy

By Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

In addition to Shadow and Bone, there is a duology written by Bardugo that is set in the same world. The Six of Crows duology takes place two years after the end of the Shadow and Bone in Ketterdam, and focuses on a new set of characters and different plots. Some characters appear in both series.

2. Powerless

By Lauren Roberts

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

In addition to Shadow and Bone, there is a duology written by Bardugo that is set in the same world. The Six of Crows duology takes place two years after the end of the Shadow and Bone in Ketterdam, and focuses on a new set of characters and different plots. Some characters appear in both series.

3. Divine Rivals

By Rebecca Ross

After a long slumber, the gods are fighting again, but Iris Winnow just wants to keep her family together. Her mom struggles with addiction, and her brother’s missing from the war front. So, Iris focuses on snagging a promotion at the Oath Gazette. To cope, she writes letters to her brother, which end up in the hands of Roman Kitt, her rival at the paper. Surprisingly, Roman responds anonymously, sparking a connection that takes Iris to the front lines, where she fights for her brother, humanity, and love.

The writing is beautiful and poetic. It was one of the things I loved most about this book. But the main thing that won me over was the love story. Roman Kitt is the literal embodiment of a book boyfriend.

4. Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains.

Chances are you’ve already heard about this series. However, if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?! Read this series now! If you’ve already read this spectacular story, this is your sign that it’s time for a reread!

5. Caraval

By Stephanie Garber

Caraval follows two sisters Scarlett and Donatella Dragna as they enter the mysterious game of Caraval. Held on a magical island, Caraval promises adventure, illusion, and danger. As Scarlett searches for her missing sister within the game’s intricate puzzles and performances, she becomes entangled in a web of secrets and romance. With each twist and turn, Scarlett must distinguish between reality and illusion to uncover the truth about Caraval and save her sister.

The world of Caraval is addicting. The story is captivating, the characters have depth, and the romantic tension had my heart beating fast! There was not a thing I disliked about this book!