My Favorite Fantasy Books That Inspired Fatebound
Every fantasy writer begins as a fantasy reader. Long before I started writing Fatebound, I spent years getting lost in magical worlds filled with hidden powers, dangerous quests, and unforgettable characters. The books below played a huge role in shaping my imagination and ultimately influenced the story I wanted to tell.
Here are some of the fantasy series that inspired me the most.
The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
This book has such a fun and mysterious premise: magical candy that grants strange powers. What I loved most about it was how ordinary kids slowly realize that something much bigger and more dangerous is happening around them.
That idea of young characters discovering hidden magic in the world definitely influenced the way Mia begins uncovering secrets in Fatebound.
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Few series capture the wonder of hidden magical worlds quite like Fablehaven. The idea that magical creatures could be secretly protected within the modern world is incredibly compelling.
Stories like this helped inspire the sense that the world of Fatebound holds deeper mysteries waiting to be discovered.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Percy Jackson books are amazing at blending mythology, humor, and adventure. What stands out most is how relatable the characters are even while dealing with gods and monsters.
That balance between epic stakes and personal character journeys was something I kept in mind while writing Fatebound.
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda
Deltora Quest is one of those classic fantasy adventures filled with puzzles, dangerous landscapes, and an epic quest. Each step of the journey reveals new parts of the world and new challenges for the heroes to overcome.
That sense of adventure and exploration helped inspire the quest-like elements that appear throughout Fatebound.
Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull
As a continuation of the Fablehaven world, Dragonwatch expands the magical conflicts and raises the stakes dramatically. The series does a great job of showing how a magical world can grow larger and more dangerous over time.
Stories like this helped inspire the larger magical conflicts and ancient forces that play a role in Fatebound.
Why These Stories Matter
All of these books share something important: a sense of wonder, adventure, and discovery. They remind us why fantasy is such a powerful genre. It allows readers to step into worlds where magic is real, courage matters, and ordinary people can become heroes.
When I started writing Fatebound, I wanted to capture that same feeling I had while reading these stories for the first time: the thrill of discovering a hidden world and realizing that an incredible adventure is just beginning.
If you grew up loving these kinds of fantasy stories, you might find something familiar waiting for you in the pages of Fatebound.