Here are ten best high fantasy books for young adults with Welsh themes. Between the pages of the novels, you’ll find many familiar Welsh deities and legends, along with some new adventures from the imaginations of these brilliant authors.
These ten high fantasy books for young adults are filled with Welsh legends and otherworldly magic from the land of the dragon. One thing I especially liked when compiling this list is that some of these books were published quite some time ago (way back in the 1900s, haha). So, even though they’ve been around for a while (like me), they’re not getting the same current publicity as the new releases. That means that younger readers may not have heard of them, and so, they are “new” books, after all.
Finding gems like these reminds me of going to the school library as a kid and catching a delightful trace of that “book smell.” You know the one I mean. And I discovered that “book smell” has a name: bibliosmia. It’s caused by the chemical compounds in the paper breaking down over time. Maybe that’s science, but there sure seems to be a lot of magic in there, too.
Some of the novels listed are more appropriate for middle schoolers (Years 7 – 9 in the UK) than teens, and some are perfect high fantasy books for adults as well as teenagers. If you love high fantasy and Wales, you’ll surely find your next great read on this list! So, take a deep whiff of metaphorical book smell and prepare for an amazing Welsh adventure!
This post is all about high fantasy books for young adults with Welsh themes.
High Fantasy Books for Young Adults
The Book of Three (Chronicles of Pydain 1) by Lloyd Alexander
From the blurb:
Since The Book of Three was first published in 1964, young readers have been enthralled by the adventures of Taran, the Assistant Pig-keeper, and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharp-tongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the hyperbole-prone bard; the ever-faithful Gurgi; and the curmudgeonly Doli—all of whom become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain.
Released over a period of five years, Lloyd Alexander’s beautifully written tales not only captured children’s imaginations but also garnered the highest critical praise. The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor Book, and the final volume in the chronicles, The High King, crowned the series by winning the Newbery Medal for “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”
The Foundling: And Other Tales of Prydain (The Chronicles Of Prydain Book 6) by Lloyd Alexander
From the blurb:
A companion book to The Chronicles of Prydain, this collection of short stories revisits beloved characters and reveals more about the history of the magical land of Prydain.
Here, readers will find Dallben, destined to be an enchanter; Angharad, a princess of the House of Llyr; Kadwyr, the rascal crow; and Medwyn, the mystical protector of all animals. They’ll learn the grim history of the sword of Dyrnwyn and even find out how Fflewddur Fflam came by his enchanted harp. How did Coll rescue Hen Wen when she disappeared at the hand of Arawn, Lord of the Land of Death? Find the answer to this question and many more in The Foundling: And Other Tales of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Castle Book 1) by Diana Wynne Jones
From the blurb:
This entrancing classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn. An international bestseller, this much-loved book is the source for the Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature.
Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s castle.
To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there’s far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl’s castle?
The Whispering Mountain (Wolves Chronicles) by Joan Aiken
From the blurb:
Winner of the Guardian Prize for Fiction
In the small town of Pennygaff, where Owen has been sent to live after his mother’s death, a legendary golden harp has been found. Knowing of the prophecy of the Harp of Teirtu, Owen must prevent the magic harp from falling into the evil clutches of its reputed owner, the sinister and diabolical Lord Mayln. But it won’t be easy. Owen and his friend Arabis are plunged into a hair-raising adventure of intrigue, kidnapping, exotic underground worlds, savage beasts… even murder.
For only too late will Owen learn that Lord Mayln will stop at nothing to have the golden harp.
The Crystal Cave (The Arthurian Saga, Book 1) by Mary Stewart
From the blurb:
Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys—or as he would later be known, Merlin—leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man’s-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon . . . and the conception of Arthur — king for once and always.
The Hollow Hills (The Arthurian Saga, Book 2) by Mary Stewart
From the blurb:
Keeping watch over the young Arthur Pendragon, the prince and prophet Merlin Ambrosius is haunted by dreams of the magical sword Caliburn, which has been hidden for centuries. When Uther Pendragon is killed in battle, the time of destiny is at hand, and Arthur must claim the fabled sword to become the true High King of Britain.
The Last Enchantment (The Arthurian Saga, Book 3) by Mary Stewart
From the blurb:
Arthur Pendragon is King! Unchallenged on the battlefield, he melds the country together in a time of promise. But sinister powers plot to destroy Camelot, and when the witch-queen Morgause—Arthur’s own half-sister—ensnares him in an incestuous liaison, a fatal web of love, betrayal, and bloody vengeance is woven.
Darkhenge by Catherine Fisher
From the blurb:
It’s been three months since Rob’s younger sister, Chloe, fell into a coma after a riding accident, and his life is in disarray. Rob’s parents spend most of their time at his sister’s bedside, and his best friend is afraid to talk to Rob about Chloe. To distract himself, Rob takes a job working at a secret archaeological site, where workers have uncovered a mystical ring of black timbers. At its center, an ancient tree is buried upside down in the earth—a tree with the power to transport Rob to the Unworld, where Chloe lives in a forest of enchanting dreams, trapped between life and death.
Catherine Fisher has combined a fascinating exploration of myth with a modern quest for understanding. Where is the land of the imagination? And if we found our way there, would we ever want to come back?
The Mabinogion Tetralogy: The Prince of Annwn, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon, The Island of the Mighty by Evangeline Walton
The Mabinogion Tetralogy is an excellent example of high fantasy novels for adults featuring the familiar heroic tales handed down in Wales. This is Evangeline Walton’s retelling.
From the blurb:
The Mabinogion is to Welsh mythology what the tales of Zeus, Hera, and Apollo are to Greek myth. These tales constitute a powerful work of the imagination, ranking with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings novels and T.H. White’s The Once and Future King. Evangeline Walton’s compelling rendition of these classic, thrilling stories of magic, betrayal, lost love, and bitter retribution include the encounter between Prince Pwyll and Arawn, the God of Death, which Pwyll survives by agreeing to kill the one man that Death cannot fell, and the tale of bran the blessed and his family’s epic struggle for the throne.
The Mabinogion is internationally recognized as the world’s finest arc of Celtic mythology; Walton’s vivid retelling introduces an ancient world of gods and monsters, heroes, kings, and quests, making accessible one of the greatest fantasy sagas of all time.
Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit (A Novel of King Arthur) (Arthurian Novel) by Mercedes Lackey
From the blurb:
Gwenhwyfar moves in a world where gods walk among their pagan worshipers, where nebulous visions warn of future perils, and where there are two paths for a woman: the path of the Blessing or the rarer path of the Warrior. Gwenhwyfar chooses the latter, giving up the power that she is born into. Yet the daughter of a King is never truly free to follow her own calling. Acting as the “son” her father never had, when called upon to serve another purpose by the Ladies of the Well, she bows to circumstances to become Arthur’s queen—only to find herself facing temptation and treachery, intrigue, love, and redemption.
This post was all about high fantasy books for young adults with Welsh themes.
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