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By: Cindy Orr, OverDrive Digital Collection Advisor

Fantasy, of course, really took off in popularity with the publication of the Harry Potter series in the late 1990s, and perhaps not surprisingly, is still the most popular genre for teens. You may not remember, but before Harry Potter there were no children’s bestseller lists. The series was so fantastically popular in 2000 that it took up three slots on the lists, and with book four coming, both The New York Times and Publishers Weekly added a separate bestseller list for children’s books to free up more slots for adult titles. The Harry Potter books didn’t fall off the list until ten years after the first book was published. That’s a lot of impact, and the books also influenced kids to continue reading fantasy. Here we are 18 years later, and fantasy shows no signs of decreased popularity. With that in mind, here are a few great new fantasy audiobooks that teens can listen to on their phones as they go about their busy lives.

The Hammer of Thor, Book 2 in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Series by Rick Riordan

Thor has a habit of misplacing his powerful hammer, but this time it has fallen into enemy hands, and the mortal world is being threatened by giants. Loki is the only god who can make a deal to get the hammer back, and his price is very high.
Riordan’s series of books about the Greek and Norse gods have all been bestsellers.

The Fever Code, Book 0.6 in The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

This new book is a prequel to the wildly popular Maze Runner story, which was also one of the hottest YA movies in recent history. Maybe less well known is that the Maze Runner series has won several awards including the Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year and an ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Here is the story of how the Maze was built.

(Ed. Note: Be sure to subscribe to the Professional Book Nerds podcast as we’ll have a live interview with James coming next week)

Goldenhand, Book 5 in The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix

Goldenhand takes place six months after the events of Abhorsen. Lirael has lost one of her hands, but now she has a new one made of gilded steel and Charter Magic, and she must use her new powers to save the Old Kingdom from the great danger of the Witch with No Face. Nix’s wonderful books are full of magic, true, but his worlds were invented long before the publication of the Harry Potter books.

The Midnight Star, Book 3 in the Young Elites trilogy by Marie Lu

This is the thrilling finale of the series. Adelina, whose power has grown, and who has found the darkness within spinning out of control as she indulges in revenge in her reign as the White Wolf. A new danger requires an uneasy alliance to preserve her empire…and the need to revisit old wounds.

The Black Key, Book 3 in The Lone City trilogy by Amy Ewing

The Black Key is the finale in the trilogy which began with The Jewel and The White Rose, and actually ended up with five books as Ewing added a Book 1.25 and 1.5.  Finally, the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power of the Lone City. Violet is at the center of the rebellion, but she has an additional motivation…her sister has been taken prisoner by the Duchess of the Lake.