I love fantasy fiction. I find in it a refuge from the pressures of everyday life, an escapade of some sort from my world into imaginative worlds where anything is possible. If you like fantasy books then the titles below are definitely must-reads.
It was such a pain to compile a list of the best fantasy books because there are way more than this short post can hold. Dozens and dozens of wonderful fantasy titles are not included. This collection, while subjective, is based on similar collections from authoritative sources including The Time, Oprah Daily, and Good Reads.
Check out our Fantasy section here in Selected Reads for more options!
Fantasy Books
From classic tales of wizards and dragons to modern adventures featuring magic and mystical creatures, these fantasy books will certainly captivate and immerse you in a world beyond your wildest imagination.
1. The BFG, by Roald Dahl
The BFG, by Roald Dahl, is a classic children’s book about a friendly giant named The BFG who helps protect Sophie from the other giants who mean her harm. The story starts with Sophie being carried away in the middle of the night by The BFG and, rather than eat her like the other giants would have done, The BFG decides to help her protect the world from their evil intentions.
The story follows Sophie and The BFG on their adventure as they work together to save the world from the giant’s misdeeds. The book is a humorous and exciting take on classic fantasy, with a unique twist that will leave readers enthralled.
2. The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, is a timeless classic and an enchanting tale of adventure and exploration. The story follows Milo, a bored young boy with nothing to do until one day a mysterious tollbooth appears in his room. He decides to drive through it out of curiosity and finds himself in a strange new world full of exciting adventures and characters.
The Phantom Tollbooth is a captivating story that will provide readers with plenty of lessons to take away from it, such as the power of imagination and the importance of taking risks. The book also contains some clever wordplay, making it a fun read for all ages.
3. The Arabian Nights, by Muhsin Mahdi (Editor), Husain Haddawy (Translator)
The Arabian Nights is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales and stories from the Islamic Golden Age. The stories are set in various locations throughout the region and revolve around characters such as Sinbad, Ali Baba, Aladdin, and more. The book is divided into two parts: The Nights of The Arabian Nights and The Story of The Thousand and One Nights. The stories are written in a style reminiscent of ancient tales, with poetry, music, and witty dialogue. The book was edited by Muhsin Mahdi and translated by Husain Haddawy.
4. The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson, is an epic fantasy novel set on the world of Roshar. The planet experiences powerful storms that shape its civilizations and ecologies, and centuries ago, ten orders called the Knights Radiant used mystical weapons known as Shardblades and Shardplates to become nearly invincible warriors.
The remnants of these weapons are extremely rare and highly sought after, with many people willing to risk kingdoms for them or fight wars over them. The Way of Kings is the first in a series that follows an ensemble of characters as they explore Roshar’s dangerous landscapes, encounter magical creatures, and learn more about their mysterious weapons.
5. The Eye of the World: Book One of The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan
The Eye of the World: Book One of The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan is a captivating fantasy novel about Rand al’Thor and his friends, who have been invited to leave their Two Rivers home and enter a larger world full of mystery and danger.
The book is set in The Wheel of Time, an ever-changing universe which has enthralled millions of readers around the world. The Eye of The World was named one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read and all six books in The Wheel of Time series were New York Times bestsellers.
6. The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’, by C. S. Lewis
The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’, by C. S. Lewis, is book five in The Chronicles of Narnia series and follows a king and his companions on a journey beyond all known lands. The voyage will ultimately reveal that their quest is more than they imagined, and that the world’s end is only the beginning. The story is available in a beautiful paperback edition.
7. Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is a classic fantasy novel that tells the story of Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy the One Ring of Power to prevent it from falling into the hands of Sauron, the Dark Lord. Long ago, Sauron had crafted this Ring to rule all others and attempted to reclaim it for himself.
However, Bilbo Baggins found it, as told in The Hobbit, and Frodo was given the task of fulfilling its destiny by destroying it at the Cracks of Doom. Along his journey he is aided by a Fellowship of nine – including Gandalf the wizard, Aragorn the Ranger, Legolas the Elf, and Gimli the Dwarf – all of whom must stand together to ensure that their mission is successful.
8. Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll is a work of literary nonsense and a sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Through the Looking-Glass tells the story of Alice travelling through a mirror into an alternate world where everything is backwards and she must navigate her way back home. Through the Looking-Glass features many themes such as opposites, time running backwards, and imagery of playing cards and chess.
9. Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
Alice in Wonderland is an 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll that tells the story of Alice, a young girl who falls through a rabbit hole into an underground fantasy world inhabited by a variety of strange creatures. Alice’s journey is considered to be one of the greatest examples of the literary nonsense genre, playing with logic and becoming popular with both children and adults.
Alice in Wonderland has been translated into 97 languages and is considered an influential classic of English-language fiction. Its legacy continues today with numerous adaptations for stage, screen, radio, art, ballet, theme parks, board games and video games.
10. Ozma of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
Ozma of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum in 1907, was the third book of the Oz series and marks the beginning of his plans to create a series of Oz books. It is an adventure novel that follows Dorothy as she finds herself once again in Oz with a desire to return home. Along her journey, she meets a host of interesting characters, such as the wheelers, Ozma, and the Nome King. Ozma of Oz is complemented by beautiful illustrations from John R. Neill, making this book an enchanting journey into the Land of Oz.
11. Five Children and It, by E. Nesbit
Five Children and It, by E. Nesbit, tells the story of Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and their baby brother who go digging in the gravel pit and find a Psammead – an ancient Sand-fairy! This Sand-fairy grants them one wish per day, but they soon realize all the trouble that can come with wishes.
Five Children and It is a timeless classic, with an introduction by Quentin Blake, the award-winning illustrator and first-ever Children’s Laureate (1999–2001). The story is full of humorous moments and teaches important lessons about being careful what you wish for.
12. A Hero Born, by Jin Yong
A Hero Born, by Jin Yong, is an epic Legends of the Condor Heroes novel set in ancient China. The story follows Guo Jing and his mother as they flee to the plains of Ghengis Khan after his father―a devoted Song patriot―is murdered by the Jin empire. There, under the tutelage of Genghis Khan and The Seven Heroes of the South, Guo Jing hones his kung fu skills. A humble hero with a great destiny, Guo Jing eventually faces his mortal enemy in an epic battle that will shape the fate of China.
13. A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin
A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, tells the tumultuous story of Ged, who began as a reckless young mage in search of power and knowledge. His tampering with forces he did not understand released a terrible shadow into the world, and he had to face difficult trials to restore balance. Through his journey, he learned to master powerful words of magic, tamed a powerful dragon and crossed death’s threshold.
14. Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted is a beloved young adult fantasy novel by Gail Carson Levine. Ella of Frell lives in a magical kingdom and is cursed at birth with the “gift” of obedience, meaning she must obey any order given to her. Ella sets out on a quest to break the curse and reclaim her freedom, encountering princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers along the way.
15. Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salman Rushdie
Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salman Rushdie, is an imaginative work of power and endearing humor set in an exotic Eastern landscape. Haroun, a twelve-year-old boy, embarks on an adventure to restore his father’s gift of storytelling. Along the journey, Haroun encounters many foes who are intent on draining the Sea of Stories of its storytelling powers.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories is an exploration of the necessity of storytelling in our lives, a theme Rushdie masterfully captures throughout this journey. The imaginative world created by Salman Rushdie makes Haroun and the Sea of Stories a work not to be missed.
Final thoughts
Compiling this list of must-read fantasy books has been a journey through the boundless realms of imagination, a reminder of the power that stories have to offer refuge and exhilaration amidst the ordinariness of our lives. While this collection merely scratches the surface of the vast universe of fantasy literature, it serves as a gateway to worlds where magic is real, adventures are boundless, and heroes come in every conceivable form. From the whimsical journeys in “Alice in Wonderland” to the epic battles in “The Way of Kings,” each book offers an escape into lands where the impossible becomes possible, reminding us of the infinite potential of the human mind to create and explore.
