These masterful storytellers combine classic fantasy themes and motifs with fresh ideas to create sweeping stories and vivid imaginary worlds. Gregory Maguire, best known as the author of Wicked, has always been first and foremost an author for young people; his latest, Egg and Spoon, incorporates elements of Russian folklore. Soman Chainani goes beyond “happily ever after” with A World Without Princes, the sequel to The School for Good and Evil. And Holly Black and Cassandra Clare, both literary superstars in their own right, team up on The Iron Trial, about a reluctant hero’s first year at a school for mages. Roger Sutton, editor in chief of the Horn Book, will lead our exploration of the very best in fantasy books for kids.