This Collider article recommends five modern fantasy books published within the last 25 years that the author considers compelling from beginning to end, spanning graphic novels, young adult series and standalone fairytales. It matters to fantasy readers seeking recommendations for immersive worldbuilding, strong character dynamics and emotionally satisfying conclusions, drawing on both well-established franchises and newer literary voices.

The selections include ND Stevenson's graphic novel "Nimona," about the partnership between disgraced knight Ballister Blackheart and shapeshifting sidekick Nimona, later adapted into a Netflix film; Rick Riordan's "The Last Olympian," the emotional final instalment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series which also has its own TV adaptation; and Meg Shaffer's "The Lost Story," a fairytale following two friends who vanished in the West Virginia woods for six months. The article, cut off before fully detailing the remaining two titles, frames all five as standout examples of 21st-century fantasy writing.