Great modern YA fantasy novels:
- Have an element of Suspense-Mystery-Thriller. Heroes are pursued by killers or must find who is killing people around them.
- Have a hero’s journey theme, especially an internal journey or a search to understand one's own powers.
- Are written in simple prose accessible to everyone with short sentences and very precise words. Use a unique voice with unique expressions.
- Have a revenge theme or an enemy who tries to kill the hero’s race. Revenge stirs powerful human emotions and brings about the theme of justice. High stakes like desire to erase an entire race and the hero's world or way of life is in danger.
- Have a screenplay structure. Quick pacing and short timing. Short scenes. Time bomb. Have a cliff hanger at the end of each chapter.
- The villain has a triumphant moment, does substantial damage, unrolls friends of the heroine into their midst and seems to be winning until the very last moment.
- Heroes are exceptional or have a special or amazing talent they need to discover. They often have to fight against this power or find a way to control it.
- Unusual twists and originality of story.
- A love triangle and lovers cannot consume their love until the very end.
- Have an element of Suspense-Mystery-Thriller. Heroes are pursued by killers or must find who is killing people around them.
- Have a hero’s journey theme, especially an internal journey or a search to understand one's own powers.
- Are written in simple prose accessible to everyone with short sentences and very precise words. Use a unique voice with unique expressions.
- Have a revenge theme or an enemy who tries to kill the hero’s race. Revenge stirs powerful human emotions and brings about the theme of justice. High stakes like desire to erase an entire race and the hero's world or way of life is in danger.
- Have a screenplay structure. Quick pacing and short timing. Short scenes. Time bomb. Have a cliff hanger at the end of each chapter.
- The villain has a triumphant moment, does substantial damage, unrolls friends of the heroine into their midst and seems to be winning until the very last moment.
- Heroes are exceptional or have a special or amazing talent they need to discover. They often have to fight against this power or find a way to control it.
- Unusual twists and originality of story.
- A love triangle and lovers cannot consume their love until the very end.