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35 Classic Fantasy Books Everyone Should Read

It is a genre of fiction that is generated with imaginary lands, people, and creatures. Most fantasy books are filled with magical as well as mystical elements. This genre usually has themes such as heroism, the power of imagination, and good versus evil. The best example of a fantasy novel is The Lord of Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien in addition to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Many authors have shared that fantasy novels are different from romance or fiction. It features stories that have mythical if not completely imaginary characters that can wield magic. 

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It should be noted that this genre mixes well with romance and adventure books. Fantasy literature has been popular among readers of all ages and is captivating to audiences of almost every century. Other sub-genres of fantasy include dark fantasy, urban fantasy, high fantasy, and epic fantasy. Some of the things that define high fantasy include a completely fictional world that has its own mythology and history.

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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It is a novel about a thieving crew that is based in the city of Ketterdam. The story is told in the third person and is part of the Grishaverse storyline. In this book, readers are able to follow Kaz Brekker, a brilliant and ruthless conman who is skilled with a crew of spies, sneak thieves, and cutthroats. Through their skills, they are able to survive in a cruel world. The characters in this book are also featured in Shadow and Bone another fantasy novel by Leigh.

2. The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 

Famous for being an epic high fantasy novel, it is set as a sequel to the well-known children’s book The Hobbit. It has sold over 150 million copies. The story is based on Dark Lord Sauron who is the antagonist of the book. He created the One Ring to rule the other rings of power which were given to Dwarves and Elves and Men. Most of the adaptations based on the film have won numerous awards.

2. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Also known as The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One is the first book in The Kigkiller Chronicle trilogy. It tells the story of Temerant, a fictional world that is divided into several nations formerly known as the Four Corners of Civilization. Most of the nations follow a faith close to medieval Christianity.

They have to coexist alongside Fae a realm that is filled with supernatural creatures that move from realm to realm during a full moon. In Temerant, the magic is observed under a set of rules and principles.

3.  The Hobbit by John. R.R. Tolkien

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Is a famous children’s fantasy book that was awarded by the New York Herald Tribune, and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. With over 100 million copies sold, The Hobbit is easily one of the best-selling books of all time. It tells the story of how  Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, joins Gandalf the wizard, and thirteen dwarves on a quest to claim back the dwarves’ treasure and home.

The book was such a success that it was adapted on stage, screen, radio, board games, and video games. Some of which have received recognition.

4. The Harry Potter Series by J.K.Rowling

It is a series of seven novels all based on the life of a young wizard named Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The books are based at Hogwarts School at Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first novel in the series was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone which was published in 1997. 

Over the years, the series has attracted a wide adult audience and younger readers. In total the books have sold over 600 million copies worldwide and have been translated to 85 languages. The last four books of the series sold over 11 million copies within 24 hours of being released.

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5. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Commonly known as Alice in Wonderland, was labeled as one of the best works of Victorian literature. It has been translated into 174 languages and has been adapted for musicals, and films. The book revolves around a young girl named Alice who falls into a rabbit hole and finds herself in a magical world filled with wonderful people and animals.

6. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

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It is the first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire series. It won the Locus Award and was nominated for both the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards in the same year. The book introduces the stories of noble houses such as Westeros, the Targaryens, and the Wall. The book was adapted into the famous series Game of Thrones. It is filled with emotional drama, fierce battles, and political intrigue.

7. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

It was published in 1968 and since then, it has been considered a classic children’s literature. It is based on the story of Ged a young enchanter born in a village on the island of Gont. Even at a young age, he displays great power to the point he is enrolled in a school of wizardry. Throughout the book, readers follow Ged on his journey to free the creature he somewhat summoned. After the book was released, it won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Ursula also wrote five books that are related to the book.

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8. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

It is a beautiful blend of fantasy, Americana, and ancient as well as modern mythology. The book revolves around Shadow, an ex-convict who is released from prison three days early when his wife is killed in a car accident. After her death, Shadow is acquainted with Mr. Wednesday, the incarnation of Odin, the god of wisdom among other things.

9. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

It is a well-known novel that was published in 2015. It is the first Nobel in the Broken Earth series and was the recipient of the Hugo Award in 2016. The entire storyline takes place on a planet with a supercontinent called the Stillness. Its inhabitants endure a catastrophic climate change called the Fifth Season.

The continent is filled with different species and ethnicities for example Orogenes people who control energy. Guardians, who control Orogenes, and Stone eaters which are sculpture-like beings that move through rock.

10. The Leadership of The Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

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The book is the first of three volumes of the novel The Lord of the Rings. As Bilbo, the hobbit, celebrated his 111th birthday, he passes the Ring to Frodo Baggins and suddenly leaves the Shire. Frodo has to adjust to the unnerving task of destroying the ring in the fires of Mount Doom.

11. Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman

Also known as The Golden Compass, is a young adult fantasy novel that was published in 1995. It is based on the life of Lyra Belacqua who goes on a journey to find her friend in the Arctic. The book won the Carnegie Medal in 1995 from the Library Association. The storyline of the book is set in a world that is dominated by the Church which is an international theocracy. In this fictional world, human souls exist outside the body in the form of an animal.

12. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Originally, the book was meant to be a script for the annual writing competition also known as National Novel Writing Month. It is set in Victorian London in a magical circus that has no set schedule and appears in random cities and towns without warning. It is known as the Circus of Dreams because it is powered by real magic and the performers normally pull off tricks that are impossible.

13. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

It is the first book in the Dragonriders of Pern series. The book established Anne as the first woman to win a Hugo and Nebula Award. The book takes place in the far future Pern, a planet that is colonized by humans. The main character Lessa is an outcast survivor who plans her revenge every day. Throughout the book, readers see Lessa’s characteristics grow as well as her telepathic connection with a great dragon.

14. The Once and Future King by T.H. White

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It is a collection of novels are is based on the legendary tale of King Arthur. Due to this, the book loosely revolves around the work of Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur. The book refers to a legend that Arthur will one day return as king. Even though the classic tale notes that King Arthur lived in the 5th and 6th centuries, this book is based on the 14th century. 

15. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

The book tells the story of a unicorn who believes she is the last of her kind in the world With this in mind, she decides to go on a quest to discover what exactly happened to the other unicorns. The book has sold over 6 million copies worldwide. The book has been translated at least 25 times. In 1987, the Last Unicorn was ranked number 5 in the All-Time Best Fantasy Novels list and later in 1998, it was ranked number 18 in the same list.

16. Magician by Raymond E. Feist

It is the first book of the Riftwar Saga. It was originally published in 1982 and is set in a Dungeons and Dragons-style fantasy world called Midkemia. It was invented by Raymond and his friends while they were in college. The story is based on the life of Pug and Tomas as their world is overtaken by a war between humans and aliens. There have been attempts to adapt to TV but none of them have succeded.

17. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

It is the second book in The Dark Is Rising Sequence. The novel won a Newbery Honor Book. Will, the main character, begins to experience strange and magical experiences on his 11th birthday. He later discovers that he is part of a group of ancient magical people called the Old Ones.

18. The Mists of Avalon by Marion. Z. Bradley

Is a historical fantasy that was published in 1983. The book is based on Morgaine, a priestess fighting to save her Celtic religion in a country where Christianity shares its ideas on destroying the pagan way of life.

It is focused on Morgaine also known as Guinevere, Viviane, Morgause, and other legendary women of the Arthurian time. The book is told in four large parts including Book One: Mistress of Magic, Book Two: The High Queen, Book Three: The King Stag, and Book Four: The Prisoner in the Oak.

19. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

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It is the first book of the Dark Star Trilogy and is based on African history as well as mythology. The entire plot is narrated in flashbacks even though it revolves around a man named Tracker. Through him, readers are able to understand him and his life even if he is speaking to a prison interrogator from the South Kingdom. The book is filled with quests, magical beasts, and vicious battles that result in death.

20. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The book is a beautiful blend of comedy, adventure, fantasy, and fairy tales. The main characters Buttercup and Westly are madly in love with each other but are faced with numerous challenges before they are together again. In 1987, the book was adapted into a film under the same title. It is still a major success with a number of viewers.

21. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

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It was published in 2016 and was her debut novel. It tells the story of a witch and a techno-geek and their attempt to save the world. It won the Nebula Award, IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award, and the Locus Award in 2017. Jane has always cited Little Brother and Among Others as the inspiration for her coming-of-age theme in her book.

22. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

It is the first book of the Gentleman Bastard series. It entails the story of elite con artists who are known as Gentleman Bastards who rob the rich and are based on medieval Venice but on an unnamed world.

They are masters of deception as well as fine cuisine. Father Chains who is their leader, is a priest of the Crooked Warden, the god of thieves. The book was nominated for the Locus Award, the August Darleth Award, and the World Fantasy Award. 

23. Jade City by Fonda Lee

It was published in 2017 and the following year, it won the World Fantasy Award. The book is the first novel in the Green Bone Saga. In this book, Jade is a mineral that grants the wearer with enhanced abilities. The safe use of Jade requires genetic predisposition and intense training in the six disciplines. 

The storyline revolves around four siblings who battle rival clans for honor and power in Asia. The island of Kekon depends on Jade.

24. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

It is the first of ten novels in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. The book is based on the various struggles for power in an intercontinental region that is dominated by the Malazan Empire. The book became famous for its use of magic and unusual plot structure. Its storyline centers around the Imperial campaign to conquer the city of Darujhistan. 

The book has sold over one million copies and was even nominated for the World Fantasy Award. It has also been translated into multiple languages including French, Italian, Romanian, and many more.

25. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

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It is the first book in a planned trilogy. The book is based on Zelie Adebola and her journey to restore magic to the kingdom of Orisha. Tomi shared that her inspiration for the novel came from the books Harry Potter and An Ember in the Ashes. Readers believe that Orisha is based on pre-colonial Nigeria. Almost immediately after the book was released, it was ranked number one on The New York Times best-seller list.

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26. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

It is a book set in a region called the Peninsula of the Palm that many readers believe the novel is based on Renaissance Italy. Tigana takes place in a world that is orbited by two moons. The provinces in the book include Asoli, Certando, Chiara, Corte, Senzio, and Tregea as well as Astibar, Ferraut, and the main plot in the book Tigana.

The people of Tigana are the only ones that can remember it as it was and everyone else sees it as an insignificant part of the neighborhood.

27. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

This book also takes place in the Discworld setting that is featured in The Colour of Magic. Tiffany Aching is a nine-year-old girl who sees things differently from others. She decides to team up with a Nac Mac Feegle clan in order to defend her home and her family after he brother is kidnapped by an evil faerie queen.

The Wee Free Men won the WH Smith Teen Choice Award, the American Library Association, Parenting Book of the Year, and the Locus Award.

28. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

When the book was first released, Samantha described it as a feminist retelling of Saint George and the Dragon myth. This world is filled with differences as well as the need for a living descendant of their first king on the throne. Even though the book is a fantasy, many readers have labeled the book as their favorite romance novel.

29. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

It is the first book in The First Law Trilogy and was published in 2006. The novel is set in a fictional world that is based on medieval Europe. The main character Logen Ninefingers is a barbarian warrior on the run from his past and ends up in the middle of a brutal war between the North and the Union. Throughout the book, readers are introduced to intriguing themes, intricate plot twists, and complex characters. The Blade Itself became famous because of its exploration of politics, power, and morality.

30. Watership Down by Richard Adams

It is set in Hampshire in southern England. The novel revolves around a small group of rabbits. Readers follow them as they escape the destruction of their warren and go in search of a new home. When the book was finished, publishers refused the manuscript until Rex Collings picked it up.

Watership Down is the recipient of the annual Carnegie Medal, the annual Guardian Prize, and many other book awards. In 2018, the book was adapted into a drama that aired in the UK and was streamed through Netflix.

31. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler   

The novel is very famous for its incorporation of time travel which is added to the reading programs of a number of book organizations as well as high school and college courses. The book’s storyline follows the life of Dana, a young African-American writer who is transported in time between her Los Angeles and a Maryland plantation.                                                        

32. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

The book is a collection of myths and stories that vary in style. Most readers admire the fact that the book was edited by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977. It is based on Ea, a fictional universe that has the Blessed Realm of Valinor which used to be a great region of Beleriand.

The book is meant to be a sequel to The Hobbit. Ainulindale is a mythic style of the creation of Ea, while Valaquenta gives the description of the Valar and Maiar, and the supernatural powers of Ea.

33. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

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It is the first book in the Discworld series. The British edition only has 506 copies but later advanced as the book became an international success. In this book, Discworld is a planet-sized flat disc that is carried through space on the backs of the elephants Berilia, Tubul, Great T’Phon, and Jerakeen. These elephants stand on the shell of the giant star turtle. The disc itself has oceans, continents, cities, mountains, and forests as well as civilizations.

The main character of the novel is Rincewind, an incompetent and cynical wizard who is hired to guide Twoflower through Ankh-Morpork, the biggest city on Discworld.

34. The First Bright Thing by J.R.Dawson

It is a historical fantasy that brings together elements such as time travel, a vibrant circus setting, and magical superpowers. The book is based in a world where people are still recovering from the horrors of the First World War and the tragedy of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

35. Assassin’s Apprentice By Margaret Astrid Lindholm

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It is the first book in The Farseer Trilogy. It was the first book she published under the pen name Robin Hobb. The story is based on the life of FitzChivalry, a royal living in Buckkeep Castle. The other books set in the same world are The Liveship Traders and The Rain Wild Chronicles.

In this book, a six-year-old boy is taken to the Fareers’ army base in Moonseye. The boy is brought to Prince Verity and is given ordered to take care of Burrich, the Chvalry’s right-hand and stableman.

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Fantasy novels have been at the top of the fiction category for a while. From being an imaginary world to magical creatures. These novels give readers a variety of storylines that are not bound by limitations. From books such as the Harry Potter series to The Game of Thrones, it is unbelievable how fantasy writers are able to create a world where everything is not as it seems.