Did you know that the absolute best way to survive a travel delay (especially during the holiday season) is with a book?

Just kidding, of course you did, you love book as much as we do!

Now, you COULD risk heading to the airport without the appropriate amount of reading material. Best case scenario, you finish your book before you board the plane and you have time to head to the airport bookstore and see what the selection looks like. WORST CASE: you finish your book ON THE PLANE and have nothing but bad movies to watch. 

We here at Fierce Reads HQ always plan for the worst and pack FAR too many books in our carry-ons.

But you can't pack just any books. No. The books you pack have to be the perfect mix of long, engrossing fantasy novels and cute contemporary novels, both of which will help pass the endless travel time so much faster.

So here are our travel reading recommendations for you!

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine. 

Why it's the perfect travel companion: This lush fantasy is 469 pages long—the perfect immersive companion for a long trip!

There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool

For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations—until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared.

All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation... or the cause of its destruction. As chaos takes hold, five souls are set on a collision course:

A prince exiled from his kingdom.
A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand.
A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart. 
A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone.
And a dying girl on the verge of giving up.

One of them—or all of them—could break the world. Will they be savior or destroyer? 

Why it's the perfect travel companion: Another chunky, addictive fantasy with that will leave you absolutely stunned from page one! 

Better Than the Best Plan by Lauren Morrill

It’s the last day of junior year, and seventeen-year-old Ritzy—short for Maritza—is pretty sure she has a great plan. Summer job—check. Hang with friends at the beach—check. Keep looking after herself as she’s been doing since her mom bailed to follow her bliss—check. Or no check?

After someone reports that Ritzy is living alone, a social worker shows up and puts her into foster care. That’s surprise enough. Even more surprising? Ritzy has been in foster care before, as an infant, and the woman who cared for her then takes her in again. But maybe the greatest surprise of all for Ritzy is that living with her foster mother, Kristin, in Kristin’s gorgeous house, isn’t all that bad. And neither is the cute, friendly boy next door. If Ritzy’s mom hadn’t gotten her back all those years ago, this is the life she could have had. But is it the life she should have had?

When Ritzy’s old life catches up with her new one, she has some decisions to make. Can she plan for the worst, but still hope for the best?

Why it's the perfect travel companion: Better Than the Best Plan is a read-in-one-sitting, absolutely devourable contemporary that will give you ALL the feels and totally make you forget you're traveling during the holidays.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and for her enemies.

Why it's the perfect travel companion: Not only is Children of Blood and Bone 544 pages long epic fantasy that will totally sweep you off your feet, the sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance is finally here so you'll have even MORE to read ASAP, especially considering that brutal cliffhanger!

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

A formidable outlaw family that claims to be the first among nations.
A son destined to lead, thrust suddenly into power.
Three fierce young women of the Rahtan, the queen's premier guard.
A legendary street thief leading a mission, determined to prove herself.
A dark secret that is a threat to the entire continent.

When outlaw leader meets reformed thief, a cat-and-mouse game of false moves ensues, bringing them intimately together in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

Why it's the perfect travel companion: Truly, the swoons in this book will sustain you through even the longest, most painful delays. Jase+Kazi=4EVA!!! (Not to mention, you can also take Vow of Thieves with you and find out how this 2-book series ends without delay!)

Fake it Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen

Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. They’ve endured summer vacations, Sunday brunches, even dentist visits together. Their mothers, who are best friends, are convinced that Mia and Jake would be the perfect couple, even though they can’t stand to be in the same room together. 

After Mia’s mom turns away yet another cute boy, Mia and Jake decide they’ve had enough. Together, they hatch a plan to get their moms off their backs. Permanently. All they have to do is pretend to date and then stage the worst breakup of all time—and then they’ll be free.

It’s the perfect plan—except that it turns out maybe Mia and Jake don’t hate each other as much as they once thought…

Why it's the perfect travel companion: Grab Jenn P. Nguyen's latest if you, like us, believe there is no better cure for a terrible travel delay than a super sweet hate-to-love romcom!

Black Wings Beating by Alex London

Brysen strives to be a great falconer but his twin sister, Kylee, rejects her ancient gifts. She’s nearly made it out, too, but with a war on the horizon, no bird or falconer is safe.

Together the twins must journey into the treacherous mountains to trap the Ghost Eagle, a solitary killer that could save them. Brysen goes for the boy he loves and the glory he's long craved, and Kylee to atone for her past and protect her brother's future. But both are hunted by those who seek one thing: power.

Why it's the perfect travel companion: If you're the kind of person who gets really mad while traveling, channel your anger into this gritty, bloody fantasy series by Alex London! And, like some of the other books on this list, books 1 and 2 in the series are already out, so there's even MORE to read during those long delays.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl…

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Why it's the perfect travel companion: If you read that book summary, you'll notice that's just the summary for CINDER. The Lunar Chronicles is a COMPLETE SERIES and there are 6 books total if you're counting novellas. Basically: these 6 books are the perfect travel books if you have multiple days of planes, trains, and busses ahead of you this holiday season!