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Best Fantasy books are your one stop to the other worlds and magical kingdoms, epic adventures if you love magical realism. Whether the flying dragons and the magical castles of the skies or the enchanter and the extraordinary performing spells—fantasy literature gives you the feeling to be shipped to a world where impossibility turns into reality. But, as we have seen, there are countless fantasy books on the market, so how can you determine which books to read?
This blog will guide you through the greatest and best fantasy books of the genre that each fantasy lover should read. No matter if you are a complete beginner in the field of fantasy or a consistent reader in the genre, you will not be able to put this book down. But, as always, before we get to our list, it is worth taking a closer look at how to choose the right book in the fantastic genre!
The Best Fantasy Books You Should Not Miss
Now, let us go to the next level of the best fantasy books that all the fans of the books should read. These books are not only great for great adventure, but they feature exceptional settings, fantastic magic, and great characters. It is hard to look for great books that contain epic-like quality and deep emotional HC stories, and each of these books will take you to a magical world.
1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Owners of whisky-stick sort of books are quite emphatic about their volumes being more than books: Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is not just a book but truly an event and an epoch in the postwar and the popular culture of fantasy literature especially. Adventured in Middle-Earth is a trilogy of books that centres on a hobbit by the name of Frodo Baggins and his companions as they struggle against the might and the destruction of the One Ring—an object filled with evil power.
All these narratives, and there are many more, combined with histories of Elves and Dwarves and even the languages Tolkien invented are legendary and considered as best fantasy books. Friendship and courage prevail as mighty traditions still attracting everybody, as well as a timeless conflict of the forces of both darkness and light.
2. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
The series on which the record-breaking television show is based, A Song of Ice and Fire, is a grim and compelling tale in the lands of Westeros and Essos. The story has a strong plot involved in the terribly obscure twists, complex immoral characters, and dense political implication. Martin’s world is ugly and cruel, the world where power and breeding mean using people, gaining more supporters, and killing opposing clans.
This aspect must actually be credited most to Martin, because his creation of a realistic world makes readers really unable to determine when a character may meet their endand and considered as best fantasy books. With complex archetypal processes, sometimes emotionally charged conflicts, and multifaceted characters, A Song of Ice and Fire is organically diverse and uncontrollable.
3. Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn
In modern fantasy literature, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series offers one of the best and most original ideas for magic. In the land governed by the eternal Lord Ruler, a few rebels—called Mistborn—use the form of magic called allomancy: the ability to ingest metals and get superpowers.
Once again, Sanderson excels at the creation of his imaginary world, and his look at politics and struggle between classes enriches the plot full of staking and battles. The series is not only for its smart narratives but also for its twists and turns and well-developed characters, which is one of the best fantasy books. If you like intricate magic and tales of rebellion, then Mistborn is an absolute must read.
4. The Name of the Wind By Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind is the first volume of the four-novella Kingkiller Chronicle, which undergoes high fantasy with a focus on an introspectively character-voiced tale. The book is about Kvothe, a man of magnificent legend who narrates his autobiography—from being a homeless child to a student at the Maestro’s University of Music and Magic. Rothfuss does a great job with this book in terms of writing; his prose is pleasant to the ear.
The novel is centered around love and loss, as well as the discovery of knowledge, and incorporates a great number of mysteries. Kvothe’s coming-of-age process, combined with her love of music and evident magical talent, is the key to an exciting read.
5. Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora
Those readers who appreciate the schemes in the stories, sharp talking, and unconventional rogueness of a protagonist will love the books. Guarantees up to Venice in apparent complexity and swirling cloaks and gondolas, Camorr is a city that is defined by magic yet a little too acquainted with vice. But that’s not all. Locke and a band of other thieves who work for him and share in the heist procedures give the city’s powerful crime lords a run for their money. His Books are considered as best fantasy books.
Lynch’s prose is witty and swift; the comic timing and plot are consistent, with plenty of plots within plots of book The Lies of Locke Lamora. It has the elements of world-building, and the main character, Locke Lamora, is an extremely likeable con artist with a rather dubious ethical compass.
6. Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree
In this sweeping historical fantasy of feminism, power, and environmentalism, a world where dragons run the show, Andrea Stewart’s The Priory of the Orange Tree is a breathtaking epic. In the book, we follow a queen dragon riding, a warrior dragon riding, and a dragon rider from out of town who banded together to take on an ever-growing dark force.
There’s a world both vast and immersive to Shannon’s that she builds up her diverse range of characters and cultures into a book that becomes a refreshingly inclusive entry into the genre as a bes fantasy books. If you’re looking for an in-depth dragon lore and strong female protagonists story, this is it.
7. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
‘More whimsical and lighter’ than The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is the tale of it’s more whimsical and lighter side, introducing the world of Middle Earth for another time. Bilbo Baggins, reluctant hobbit of this children’s classic, goes on an adventure to reclaim the treasure of a band of dwarves from the dragon Smaug.
Less epic than The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit still doesn’t lack Tolkien’s world-building and charm which is in the list of the best fantasy books. A great intro to Tolkien’s universe and a fun one to read, no matter your age, if you’re a fantasy fan.
8. N.K. Jemisin horror series The Broken Earth Trilogy
Beginning with The Broken Earth trilogy (2015), N.K. Jemisin has won three consecutive Hugo Awards (awarded for the best fantasy books in this year’s issue of whatever currently holds the honor of that time frame); there’s no telling what she might create next. The series is set in a world constantly torn apart by seismic disasters and follows Essun, a woman able to control the earth itself, moving through a world on the edge of collapse.
Themes of oppression, survival, and how a society collapses are woven into large and complex storytelling that is Jemisin’s. But it’s not just about world building and magic system, the series is praised for being deeply emotional, and political.
9. Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time series is one of the longest most beloved epic and best fantasy books series in history. In this world time is circulatory and the forces of Light and Shadow fight over the destiny of the world, with the fate of the world hung on the back of the Dragon Reborn Rand al’Thor.
Jordan has a world made up of countless cultures and histories along with an epic mythos. Noted for its extensive character development and its painstaking care to detail, the series is well known. It’s a good pick for readers who love to read long, action and magic and prophecy filled journeys.
10. Carlos Ruiz Zafón: The Shadow of the Wind
Although not strictly traditional fantasy, the book The Shadow of the Wind is part gothic fiction, part mystery, part fantasy, all of which results in an uncommon reading experience that make it best fantasy books. The story is set in post World War II Barcelona, and the plot is Daniel, a young boy who’s discovered a novel by an almost unknown author, Julián Carax. Daniel digs into Carax’s life, learning dark things, but discovers that someone is burning up all of Carax’s books.
While Zafón’s atmospheric writing and gripping plot are sure to make fans of magical realism and literary fantasy absolutely gripped, only the most ardent reader will want to go to 11 with this.
Tips to Finding the Right Fantasy Book
Picking a best fantasy books can be a difficult task as there is always an unbelievable number of great books around you. But do not panic; I will explain them in detail below. Here are some tips for picking the perfect fantasy novel:
Know Your Sub-Genre
The fantasy genre is subdivided into a number of sub-genres, each being as interesting as the other. If you like large high fantasy settings like Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings, or are you more drawn to the types of magic most like in The Dresden Files, where it’s set in modern times? Simply deciding on a specific genre will make your decision easier for you.
Take Your Reading Habits Into Account
On the basis of the priorities shown by the characters in the story, consider which type of stories you like: characters as driving forces, or plot as the driving force. So if you are the kind of reader that enjoys complex characters with many layers and layers and more layers, books such as A Song of Ice and Fire or Mistborn are for you. If you have a preference for books with more action, for example, Name of the Wind may suit you to the ground.
See reviews and ratings
Sometimes, it is worthy to look at what other people who read the news have to say. There is a great deal of information from a reader’s perspective and sources such as Goodreads, which outline trends and best fantasy books choice.
Read a Sample
The front cover and the first chapter of a book can tell whether it is a book worth reading or not. If you are overwhelmed by the writing style and the creation of the world, you would like to explore more. If not, don’t be upset, and it is fine to switch to another!
Final Thoughts
The top best fantasy books take you places you’ve never been, only for you to think about it every time you close the last page. Gods damn, these books are what fantasies are all about; from high stakes adventure to intricate world building, and some of the most compelling main characters you’re going to come across. Whatever your thing, there’s a little bit of it here: epic battles, morally ambiguous characters, or a lovely magical system.
Hence, should you take one of these awesome novels out of your hands and get engulfed into worlds of wonder and thrills.
What is your favourite fantasy book?
Don’t forget to share your thoughts and recommendations down in the comments below! Happy reading!
What are the best fantasy books?
Books like The Hobbit, The Name of the Wind, and Mistborn stand out as must-reads.
What are the best fantasy book series?
Series like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and A Song of Ice and Fire are iconic.
What are the best fantasy books of all time?
Timeless works include The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and A Song of Ice and Fire.