50 Best Fantasy Books of All-Time

When you think of fantasy, you probably think of elves, dwarves, and (natch) hobbits. I’m here to tell you that there’s more to fantasy than LOTR. Here’s 50 of the best fantasy books of all time. You’ll find subcategories for the Best Fantasy Book Series, the Best Fantasy Romance Books, the Best Dark Fantasy Books, and the Best Fantasy Books for Teens. 

50 Best Fantasy Books of All Time

The Classics 

To be sure, there are some fantasy series that need no introduction. These are the books that define the genre and, for better or worse, cast a long shadow on everything that has been written since. Series like the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Wheel of Time, or The Song of Fire and Ice are definitive classics, but their fame precedes them. (When was the last time you heard someone say, “Who’s this George R.R. Martin guy I keep hearing about?”) As much as I appreciate them, this list is going to focus on lesser-known (but just as great) fantasy books and series. 

For best-of lists in other genres, check out “50 Best Nonfiction Books of All TIme” and “25 Best Memoirs of All Time.”

Best Fantasy Book Series

Perhaps more than any other genre, fantasy is defined by the series. There’s nothing like finishing a 600-page tome and then picking up the next 700-page tome in the series. 

1) The Earthsea Cycle, by Ursula K. Le Guin

In this series, Ged, a novice mage, struggles with the responsibility of magic. Margaret Atwood calls this series one of the “wellsprings of fantasy literature.” 

2) The Chronicle of Amber, by Roger Zelazny 

In Zelazny’s 10-book series, the tension between the kingdoms of Chaos and Amber generates shadow worlds (including Earth) that few can navigate. 

3) The Deryni Novels, by Katherine Kurtz 

Set in the kingdom of Gwynnedd, this series tells the story of the Deryni, a people with psychic or magical abilities, and the powers that would destroy them. 

Best Fantasy Book Series (Continued)

4) The Shannara Series, by Terry Brooks 

Located on a future earth ravaged by chemical and nuclear war, the high-fantasy of Shannara mixes elves, druids, trolls, and humans to novel effect. 

5) A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas

When 19-year-old Feyre Archeron is brought to the faerie lands, she becomes dangerously involved in the drama, love, and violence of the High Lords of Prythian. 

6) The Riftwar Cycle, by Raymond E. Feist

When magicians accidentally create a “rift” connecting the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan, the young Pug and Tomas take up arms against otherworldly invaders. 

Best Fantasy Book Series (Continued)

7) The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Sent to the country during WWII, the Pevensie siblings find a passageway to Narnia, a magical land with vaguely Christ-like lions, evil queens, and talking horses. 

8) The Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander

In these five novels, Taran, who begins as an assistant pig-keeper, goes on a series of adventures with kings, queens, and the elusive “fair-folk.” 

9) The Discworld Novels, by Terry Pratchett

As there are 41 Discworld novels, a concise summary is impossible. Suffice to say that Discworld is a flat world balanced on the back of four elephants who are in turn standing on the back of a giant turtle. 

Best Fantasy Book Series (Continued)

10) The Fowl Adventures, by Eoin Colfer

Holly Short, a sort of elf police officer, navigates a complex relationship with Artemis Fowl. Though initially enemies, the two ultimately team up to save the world. 

11) The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, by Stephen Donaldson

Thomas Covenant is a washed-up writer with leprosy who is magically transported to The Land, where he will fight against Lord Foul. 

12) The Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare

Imagine Clary Fray’s surprise when she has the dubious luck to meet the Nephelim, or Shadowhunters, who protect humans from dark forces. 

Best Fantasy Book Series (Continued)

13) The Magic Kingdom of Landover, by Terry Brooks

Grieving the death of his wife and unborn child, trial lawyer Ben Holiday purchases a magical kingdom for $1,000,000. He gets more than he bargained for when he has to battle for the throne. 

14) Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, by Tad Williams

When King Prester John dies, the peace of Osten Ard is broken. Only Simon, the lowly scullion boy, can bring peace to the realm. 

15) The Spiderwick Chronicles, by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

When Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace move into the decrepit Spiderwick Estate with their mother, they enter into a world of goblins, brownies, and trolls. 

Best Fantasy Book Series (Continued)

16) The Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson

Set in the Cosmere universe, Sanderson’s dizzyingly complex series features Thaylens, Alethi, and otherworldly Parshendi.

17) Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Series, by Fritz Lieber

In this anachronistic, genre-bending series, Fafhrd (7-foot-tall warrior) and the Gray Mouser (5-foot-tall rogue) swashbuckle through the world of Nehwon (“nowhen” backward). 

18) The Dragonriders of Pern, by Anne McCaffery

A heady mix of science-fiction and fantasy, this series takes place on Pern, a distant planet in the Rukbat star system. The eponymous dragonriders are the only thing that can repel “the Thread.”

Best Fantasy Book Series (Continued)

19) The Vampire Chronicles, by Anne Rice

Centered on the vampire Lestat, Rice’s 13-volume series follows him from Louisiana, to Hell, and eventually to Atlantis(?). 

20) The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang

A child orphaned by war, Rin escapes the poverty of her village and learns the secrets of shamanism. 

Best Fantasy Romance Books

21) Bonded by Thorns, by Elizabeth Helen

When Rosalina finds herself in the kingdom of the fae, she must balance the demands of the realm’s four princes.  

22) Broken Bonds, by J. Bree

When her mother is killed, Oli doubts she’ll ever find a bond of her own. When she does, things only get more complicated. 

Best Fantasy Romance Books (Continued)

23) Order of Scorpions, by Ivy Asher

When Auster wakes up in a cage with no memory of how she got there, she resolves to become the warrior she knows she can be. 

24) A Ruin of Roses, by K.F. Breene

This Beauty and the Beast retelling offers adventure, humor, and more than a bit of spice. 

Best Fantasy Romance Books (Continued)

25) Flames of Chaos, by Amelia Hutchins

As the first book in the Legacy of the Nine Realms series, Flames of Chaos introduces Aria and her sisters, who have to go head-to-head with the arrogant King Knox. 

26) This Woven Kingdom, by Tahereh Mafi

Though Alizeh is a mere servant girl, the crown prince Kamran can’t seem to get her out of his mind. 

Best Fantasy Romance Books (Continued)

27) Only a Monster, by Vanessa Len

As long as she can remember, Joan has kept her family’s monstrous secret. But when Nick shows up, Joan might have to become her own kind of monster. 

28) Powerless, by Lauren Roberts

In the kingdom of Ilya, the Elites and the Ordinaries are locked in struggle. When Paedyn, an Ordinary, accidentally saves one of the Elite’s princes, her life will never be the same. 

Best Fantasy Romance Books (Continued)

29) The Shadows Between Us, by Tricia Levelseller

Allessandra has a plan – find and wed the mysterious Shadow King – if she can keep him safe from the assassins who want to kill him. 

30) Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard

Born a lowly Red-blood, Mare Barrow discovers she has a gift – one that will upend the divisions that plague her world. 

Best Dark Fantasy Books

31) One Dark Window, by Rachel Gillig

Elspeth has until the solstice to gather the 12 Providence Cards that will cure the kingdom of the dark magic that threatens it. 

32) Daughter of the Blood, Anne Bishop

Prophecy holds that a witch will come to the land more powerful than the High Lord of Hell. Can she be controlled? Can she control herself? 

Best Dark Fantasy Books (Continued)

33) The Court of Broken Knives, by Anna Smith Spark 

In his dreams, Orhan has seen the fall of the empire. When he sends a group of soldiers to kill the emperor and his court, one special soldier has the power to upend all his plans. 

34) Godblind, by Anna Stephens

When King Rastoth’s wife dies, his grief makes the whole kingdom vulnerable to their many enemies. 

Best Dark Fantasy Books (Continued)

35) Kushiel’s Dart, by Jacqueline Carey 

Phédre nó Delaunay is no ordinary girl. Born with a scarlet mote in her eye and trained in the arts of war, she alone can save her homeland. 

36) Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsuyn Muir

I can’t add much to the publisher’s description – “a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers.” 

Best Dark Fantasy Books (Continued)

37) The Book Eaters, by Sunyi Dean

On the Yorkshire moors lives a family of bookeaters, but when the youngest develops a different kind of appetite, their world is forever changed.  

38) The Book of Azrael, by Amber V. Nicole

Enthralled by Kaden, Diana must join forces with Samkiel, the World Ender, to rid the world of an eternal evil. 

Best Dark Fantasy Books (Continued)

39) A Cage of Crimson, by K.F. Breene

Weston’s mission is clear – find her and bring her to the dragons. Things get complicated when he realizes who she is – and who she might be for him. 

40) Kingdom of the Wicked, by Kerri Maniscalco

Emilia and her sister have hidden their powers for years, but when Emilia’s sister is killed, Emilia has to join forces with some dubious witches to find the truth. 

Best Fantasy Books for Teens

41) Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas

Celaena Sardothien came to the castle to win her freedom. She will end up fighting for her life against dark creatures. 

42) The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black

Jude is a human among the fae. Kidnapped at seven, Jude wants nothing more than to feel like she belongs – even if it means defying Prince Cardan. 

Best Fantasy Books for Teens (Continued)

43) Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo 

When Kaz gets offered the heist of a lifetime, he knows he can’t do it alone. By the time he’s finished, he just might have saved the world. 

44) City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

When Clary Fray comes out of the club, the last thing she expected was to see a murder – and the body disappear into thin air. When she herself is attacked by demons, the Shadowhunters grow suspicious. 

Best Fantasy Books for Teens (Continued)

45) Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi 

The magic of Orïsha disappeared long ago, but Zélie Adebola remembers. When trouble comes for her, she decides to bring magic back to her land. 

46) Akata Warrior, by Nnedi Okorafore

As an initiate in the Leopard Society, Sunny is still trying to master her own magic. When she’s chosen for a mission to avoid the apocalypse, she’s going to have to learn fast.  

Best Fantasy Books for Teens (Continued)

47) Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor

Karou has always been different. Multilingual with naturally blue hair, she knows not whence she comes. Only Akiva the fire-eyed can help her understand what she’s capable of. 

48) Divine Rivals, by Rebecca Ross

The gods are warring again but Iris Winnow would rather focus on becoming a columnist at the Oath Gazette. 

Best Fantasy Books for Teens (Continued)

49) Graceling, by Kristin Cashore

In the seven nations, those who have a special talent are called “Gracelings.” Katsa’s grace is killing – how she uses her grace will take her further than she could ever imagine.  

50) Heir, by Sabaa Tahir

Power, treachery, and love combine in this spell-binding story of Sirsha, Aiz, and Quil. 

Best Fantasy Books – Wrapping Up

Too often fantasy books are dismissed as mere escapism. Don’t get me wrong – who doesn’t want to escape sometimes? At the same time, a good fantasy novel can reflect the issues and dilemmas in our world in a wholly new context. In other words, when you’re least expecting it, sometimes wisdom can come out of the mouth of an elf. 

We hope you have enjoyed our lists of the Best Fantasy Book Series, the Best Fantasy Romance Books, the Best Dark Fantasy Books, and the Best Fantasy Books for Teens. 

If you’ve found this article interesting, I’ve also written on 1984, Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, The Crucible, Beloved, Brave New World, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Macbeth, Jane Eyre, and Of Mice and Men.