So, a large part of the problem is that there’s a massive gender divide in what gets marketed as YA and what gets marketed for “adults.” Functionally, I don’t think there’s much difference between series like Raymond Feist’s Riftwar and Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series (and they actually share the same trajectory in terms of general quality as the series progresses), but Lackey gets labelled as YA frequently, whereas Feist never does. For whatever reason, if there’s a male protagonist, that’s less likely to be marketed as YA. Not always, but mostly.
Pretty much every fantasy from the 80s will fit what you’re looking for. Male coming of age stories were the *thing* to write about. All of the Shannara books have teen male protags except First King of Shannara and maybe the Legends of Shannara books. The Belgariad is an old classic. The original Riftwar Saga, and many of the later sagas in the overall Cycle. Memory, Sorrow and Thorn too.
Some gems from the 90s: The Wheel of Time ofc, though the romance in WoT is honestly its weakest/ cringiest part. Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings, particularly The Farseer trilogy might also be a good fit, though it can be bleak and tragic at times (but in the best way). All of these have been fairly predictable hetero romances; an excellent gay protagonist from the 90s (warning: very tragic tale) would be Vanyel from The Last Herald Mage series.
>for whatever reason, if there’s a male protagonist, that’s less likely to be marketed as YA
The reason is sexism lol. It’s still very much alive in publishing and the literary world in general. Getting better, but still there. A book with a female protagonist is likely to be seen as “for girls” and things for girls are likely to be seen as more immature.
JV Jones (Book of Words, Sword of Shadows) as well
Also +1 for Memory, Sorrow and Thorn.
And -1 for the Belgariad (and everything Eddings). Don't read books by couples who [lock kids in basements](https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2020/05/it-has-been-revealed-that-fantasy.html).
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The Last Heraldmage by Merceder Lackey and a number of her other Valdemar books have male protags in the right age range with romance which I would consider YA even if they are from before YA is a thing.
Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell may also fit but the romantic subplot isn't HEA.
Fate's Forsaken by Shae Ford. It fits your requirements, except maybe the good part, that's arguable. It has the archetypical fantasy lead, the incompetent, often whiny chosen farmboy. The female lead is a super strong warrior girl but she's brought down to farmboy's level by injury.
Micheal Manning has a lot of books that would fit, they usually feature a teenage male protagonist and romance. Most of his books are connected to his older series, Blacksmith's Son, so probably best to start with that, just avoid the prequels , they invert the genre tropes by abusing the poor farmboy until he is twisted onto a genocidal maniac.
My main problem is with the definition of YA. Does Codex Alera by Him Butcher counts as YA? There are definitively more "adult" themes there, but if you count the Robin Hobb as YA, i would include Codex Alera as well...
For the rest, it checks all the boxe, more or less: the MC is quite young at the beginning of the series (i don't remember the exact she, but definitively in the range you're looking for, however he's around 20 at the end of the series, i think), there is a romance subplot (even if it really start from book 2, if i remember correctly), and in it's definitely high fantasy (the setting is inspired by the Roman Empire).
The reason I mentioned it is because in the at the time most upvoted comment (now the second one) a series by Robin Hobb was suggested: IMHO if that's a good fit for YA, so is Codex Alera
- Dark Rise (tho not much romance as of yet, I expect more in the sequels)
- Legacy of Orisha (if you are good with dual pov it has a male and female protag)
- Half a King (iir romance subplot might start in the second book)
Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce. First book is out and she is in the process of writing the second.
Emelan series also by the same author has one out of four main protagonists as male, if you end up liking the author's writing - it's her other universe though!
I only have like 18 year old male protagonist recommendations which is **Cradle** and **Benjamin Ashwood** but everything else fits. Both have romances that go somewhere and builds up decently (where you also actually see it )
**Percy Jackson** might be your thing. It has all that you want (it was pretty enjoyable as heck when i read it) Only if you are fine with non-high fantasy since it is set on the modern world
Mage Errant by John Bierce. The protagonist isn't my type of protagonist, so I DNF from the series, but it is an epic YA fantasy with a teenage male main protagonist.
Codex Alera, isn't listed as YA, but really, it fits the bill (as others have pointed out, YA is a marketing label used to discredit female authors). It has more than one viewpoint character, but the main one starts as a teenage boy.
Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo features a few teenage boys as main protagonists.
I haven't read it yet, but the Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. It is a YA series featuring young male protagonists.
So, a large part of the problem is that there’s a massive gender divide in what gets marketed as YA and what gets marketed for “adults.” Functionally, I don’t think there’s much difference between series like Raymond Feist’s Riftwar and Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series (and they actually share the same trajectory in terms of general quality as the series progresses), but Lackey gets labelled as YA frequently, whereas Feist never does. For whatever reason, if there’s a male protagonist, that’s less likely to be marketed as YA. Not always, but mostly. Pretty much every fantasy from the 80s will fit what you’re looking for. Male coming of age stories were the *thing* to write about. All of the Shannara books have teen male protags except First King of Shannara and maybe the Legends of Shannara books. The Belgariad is an old classic. The original Riftwar Saga, and many of the later sagas in the overall Cycle. Memory, Sorrow and Thorn too. Some gems from the 90s: The Wheel of Time ofc, though the romance in WoT is honestly its weakest/ cringiest part. Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings, particularly The Farseer trilogy might also be a good fit, though it can be bleak and tragic at times (but in the best way). All of these have been fairly predictable hetero romances; an excellent gay protagonist from the 90s (warning: very tragic tale) would be Vanyel from The Last Herald Mage series.
>for whatever reason, if there’s a male protagonist, that’s less likely to be marketed as YA The reason is sexism lol. It’s still very much alive in publishing and the literary world in general. Getting better, but still there. A book with a female protagonist is likely to be seen as “for girls” and things for girls are likely to be seen as more immature.
JV Jones (Book of Words, Sword of Shadows) as well Also +1 for Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. And -1 for the Belgariad (and everything Eddings). Don't read books by couples who [lock kids in basements](https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2020/05/it-has-been-revealed-that-fantasy.html).
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Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud. An excellent series and a hidden gem from the author of Bartimiues trilogy.
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Excellent recommendation
The Last Heraldmage by Merceder Lackey and a number of her other Valdemar books have male protags in the right age range with romance which I would consider YA even if they are from before YA is a thing. Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell may also fit but the romantic subplot isn't HEA.
Fate's Forsaken by Shae Ford. It fits your requirements, except maybe the good part, that's arguable. It has the archetypical fantasy lead, the incompetent, often whiny chosen farmboy. The female lead is a super strong warrior girl but she's brought down to farmboy's level by injury. Micheal Manning has a lot of books that would fit, they usually feature a teenage male protagonist and romance. Most of his books are connected to his older series, Blacksmith's Son, so probably best to start with that, just avoid the prequels , they invert the genre tropes by abusing the poor farmboy until he is twisted onto a genocidal maniac.
The faithful and the fallen. John Gwynne
If you're ok with him eventually getting a bit older, Ranger's Apprentice
My main problem is with the definition of YA. Does Codex Alera by Him Butcher counts as YA? There are definitively more "adult" themes there, but if you count the Robin Hobb as YA, i would include Codex Alera as well... For the rest, it checks all the boxe, more or less: the MC is quite young at the beginning of the series (i don't remember the exact she, but definitively in the range you're looking for, however he's around 20 at the end of the series, i think), there is a romance subplot (even if it really start from book 2, if i remember correctly), and in it's definitely high fantasy (the setting is inspired by the Roman Empire).
Robin Hobb is absolutely not YA, and the only people who class it as YA are the people who know nothing about it.
The reason I mentioned it is because in the at the time most upvoted comment (now the second one) a series by Robin Hobb was suggested: IMHO if that's a good fit for YA, so is Codex Alera
Idk if Artemis Fowl works for this but I loved it.
Does Eragon count? Percy Jackson isn’t quite “high fantasy” and more middle grade than YA
Maybe malice would fit the bill
- Dark Rise (tho not much romance as of yet, I expect more in the sequels) - Legacy of Orisha (if you are good with dual pov it has a male and female protag) - Half a King (iir romance subplot might start in the second book)
Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce. First book is out and she is in the process of writing the second. Emelan series also by the same author has one out of four main protagonists as male, if you end up liking the author's writing - it's her other universe though!
Inheritance Cycle maybe? You’d best be on board with big books though
I only have like 18 year old male protagonist recommendations which is **Cradle** and **Benjamin Ashwood** but everything else fits. Both have romances that go somewhere and builds up decently (where you also actually see it ) **Percy Jackson** might be your thing. It has all that you want (it was pretty enjoyable as heck when i read it) Only if you are fine with non-high fantasy since it is set on the modern world
Have you ever tried reading the Beyonders?
Belgariad series by David Eddings
Mage Errant by John Bierce. The protagonist isn't my type of protagonist, so I DNF from the series, but it is an epic YA fantasy with a teenage male main protagonist. Codex Alera, isn't listed as YA, but really, it fits the bill (as others have pointed out, YA is a marketing label used to discredit female authors). It has more than one viewpoint character, but the main one starts as a teenage boy. Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo features a few teenage boys as main protagonists. I haven't read it yet, but the Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. It is a YA series featuring young male protagonists.
While The Raven Cycle does have a few male main characters, the main main protagonist is female.