The LoveOzYA committee are a group of people who promote fantastic Australian YA and the events taking place across our country. We asked them to step away from their amazing website for a second to share their favourite YA titles.

Committee member, Nicola Santilli, contributed her favourite fantasy series:

The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix (Book 1: Sabriel) ** #LoveOzYA
A kickass young woman must use her magic, bells and sword to control and destroy dead monsters in order to save her friends and rescue her father. This fantastic horror/fantasy series has necromancy and a talking cat. What more could you want?

His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman (Book 1: Northern Lights)
This magnificent series is about two teens who navigate parallel universes, daemons, talking polar bears in armour, witches and more. It also manages to tackle big topics such as physics, original sin and philosophy. Trust me – this series will change your life.

The Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody (Book 1: Obernewtyn) ** #LoveOzYA
In a post-apocalyptic world, people with superpowers called Misfits are hunted by the government and religious factions. Main character Elspeth has to juggle leading the Misfits and fulfilling a centuries-old prophecy to prevent another nuclear holocaust. Perfect for fans of the X-men.

The Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce (Book 1: Alanna: The First Adventure) 
Alanna pretends to be her twin brother to learn how to be a knight. What she didn’t bargain on was also having to use her magic to save the Prince’s life. There’s friendship, romance and swordfights aplenty in this great exploration of gender and accepting people for who they are.

The Tribe series by Ambelin Kwaymullina (Book 1: The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf) ** #LoveOzYA
This is a fantastic eco-dystopian series interwoven with aspects of the Dreaming. Main character Ashala Wolf is brave and loyal, and it is friendship and love that helps her and her superpowered tribe rise up against discrimination and oppression. #ownvoices rep for First Nations characters.