Anyone else tired of that go to fantasy setting? You know, the timeless stone castles, classic rolling hills and roaring seas full of monsters? Ok, me neither but it is nice when I see a new setting thrown into the mix, and here are 10 that really don’t get enough page time.
University
1. I cannot shout this one enough. How can we not have more YA novels set at university, with characters in their early twenties? It was way more character developing than school ever was for me. Think what a hit Fangirl was and Ninth House will be. Come on people, get on that gravy train.
Countries other than America
2. I love books set in the States, I really do, but wouldn’t it be cool to step on the Bakerloo Line in dystopian London, meet wizards in Siberia, or fight an epic war on the icy wasteland of the Artics? Although I am actually writing a story about dystopian London so shhhhh forget I said that.
Deserts
3. Come on, how do we not have more desert settings for fantasies?! There could be anything hidden in all that sand, and after Rebel of the Sands I have a real craving.
The Deep Sea
4. Have you seen some of the crawlies they’ve got under there?! It’s basically a fantasy novel already.
Dreams
5. Don’t worry I’m not endorsing the ‘it was all a dream’ trope, I just love a good novel with epic, surreal dream battles. Touched a bit on in Strange the Dreamer, The Dream Thieves and way more in Mirror Dreams, I am a big fan of dreamscape fantasies.
The Skies
6. Think Max Ride, Avatar the Last Air Bender, that sort of thing. There is nothing I like more than characters that can explore the great open air.
Work
7. I know a day job might not seem the most exciting thing to write about but if JK Rowling can make kids desperate to go to school, surely we can work some magic on the mundane chore of the office.
Pokey Flats
8. Ok, hear me out here. I’m thinking Friends. But with power. Wouldn’t that show be so much better as a fantasy, where Chandler controls fire and Rachel is a ghost? I’m seeing some real potential here.
The Jurassic Era
9. It is a travesty that I can only recall one novel (Time Riders, excellent read by the way) featuring dinosaurs. They are basically dragons but were actually real 🦕
Forgotten Buildings
10. Abandoned, crumbling buildings, lost cities that are more vines than walls and boarded up eerie museums? Urg the potential is just killing me.
Lets Compare Notes
So there you have it! 10 settings I absolutely would love to see in YA! Got any recommendations or a list of your own? Drop me a message in the comments section, and I will be back Thursday with a review for Uprooted, because I have a major review backlog going on.
Books, Life and Other Oddities 
“Forgotten Buildings” = I didn’t think about this while writing mine but I agree, so much. I have read a book set in a magical, mostly empty old building (The Gallery of Unfinished Girls) and it’s one of my favorites, I’d really love to read more.
And I agree about “countries others than America” too. There are so many other places in the world and it would be amazing to see more stories – of all genres and age ranges – set there.
Great list!
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Right?! Literally anything could be in there and even better if they say why it’s forgotten 😍 ooh what’s it about? Yeah definitely! There are whole countries I’ve not read about 😮 which is mad given how often I’ve read books set in America. Thanks!
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It’s difficult to explain what TGoUG is about because it’s kind of a slice-of-life story with fantasy aspects – I think an accurate, non-spoilery description could be “a coming-of-age story about art, involving an old magical buildings in which everything is perfect but can’t be taken outside (or it disappears)”.
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Oh that sounds so good! I’ll look out for it, thanks!
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Omg, I’m here for those settings 😍.
Here’s mine 🧡💙: https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2019/07/23/settings-that-id-like-to-see-more-of-ttt/
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Thanks! And thanks for the link 😁
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Yes to all of that! Especially the uni and people in their 20s in general!
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Yeah! I feel uni and my early twenties have been way more character defining than school yet they’re never talked about in books?!
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Yess! It’s like people in their 20s don’t exist in literature! I don’t even remember HS! I blanked it all out. Just give me some dumbasses summoning a demon a night before The Scariest Exam because it’s 2 am already and the study group is low enough on morale to grasp onto anything!
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Oh that’s such a good idea! Late night library cramming but then attacked by a dragon, first year flatmate is a warewolf urg so much potential
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Right?? And you don’t have to give a shit whether you’re making it beliveable enough because honestly dumb students are capable of anything and every university has some cursed/hounted/etc place and we know that Shit Happens there
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Yeah! We had an abandoned building on campus that the uni was too cheap to remove but was unsafe to enter, you could definitely set a fantasy there!
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Our uni building was a hospital before and we had classes where was prieviously a morgue… I love getting education! 🙂
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Oh wow that’s so creepy that could definitely be a book
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You had me at desert fantasy but really sold me when you made me imagine Chandler Bing with fire powers. Now, I’m just going to imagine him saying- “Could this be any more on fire?” all day long.
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Desert fantasies are the best. You should read Rebel of Sands it’s one of my favourite reads. Oh my gosh yes!! And Joey would look impressed and go ‘youre on fire?!’ and someone would need to make a ‘wow that’s hot’ pun 😂
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I’ve had it on my tbr for so long. I really have no idea why I haven’t gotten a copy yet 😅 but yes, I am totally picturing this scene in my head and it would so be Phoebe😂😂😂
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Oh you should! And the cover is so pretty! Oh my gosh yessss shall we just write a friends fantasy spin off together?
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You know, there are tons of books set in high school, but no where near as many set in college or universities. I wonder why that is? There’s so much that could be done with it! I also love your idea for countries other than America. It does seem a bit saturated, doesn’t it? I am totally down to read about Siberian wizards!
Thanks for visiting my blog today!
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I know! And in my experience it was a way more defining time of life, being in uni than at school. Yeah it really does. No problem 😁
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Yes, we definitely need more books about deserts and the Jurassic Era. Nice choices there.
My TTT.
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Thanks! And thanks for the link!
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100% yes to more dinosaur books. I love abandoned buildings, too – there’s so much creepy potential. Great list!
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Yesssss! And you can go into their history and stuff which is all really exciting!
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YES TO ALL OF THESE omg I need to read what you are writing 👀👀👀 all these settings are amazing and we totally need more of them!
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Haha it’s not very far through 😳 I’m not very good at plot making, I come up with a concept I like or character or setting I like but have no ending or plot or anything 😂
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Plot is overrated anyways 😂 best of luck though
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Hope everyone else thinks that 😂 thanks!!
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Abandoned buildings – love the sound of that!
Lauren @ Always Me
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There’s so much wasted potential! I mean creepy backstory, spooky location and anything could be hidden in there!
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Thanks! And thanks for the link 😁
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In the jungle or in space would be cool.
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There’s quite a bit of space in sci fi but definitely up for more fantasy space crossovers! I’ve not read a jungle book, that’s a good idea!
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Even in cave would be pretty sweet
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Right?! There is and you can go into their history and stuff which is all really exciting.
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Oooh! Your list is so creative and outside of the box! Dreams – yes please!!!
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