15 hidden gems SFF readers need to dig up and read

L: Cover to Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis. Image: Razorbill

R: Cover to Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. Image: Tor Fantasy

With so many exciting fantasy and science-fiction novels hitting shelves in recent years, it can be difficult to find the “hidden gems” of the genres.

In recent years, it seems like the SFF area of the publishing world has exploded, with new fantasy and science-fiction stories hitting shelves every week. The demand for such stories is higher than ever, and authors are meeting that demand with increasingly unique worlds, characters, and magic systems.

But with all of the SFF novels hitting shelves—in both the adult and young adult sections of the bookstore—it isn’t always easy to decide what to read. Most readers will reach for the books that have received attention and exciting reviews prior to their release dates, but there are plenty of blacklisted SFF titles and less hyped newer ones that deserve more attention among mainstream audiences.

From older novels, like Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora and Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker, to newer releases like Beth Revis’ Give the Dark My Love and Jenna Glass’ The Women’s War, there are so many hidden gems in the SFF category just waiting to be uncovered by readers. These are 15 of our favorite underrated science-fiction and fantasy novels that you should add to your reading list.