So after doing some research on fantasy sub-genres (see my post about it here), I decided to have a look and see what the must-read fantasy faves are. I learned that NO ONE CAN AGREE. I read 11 different articles, from Time Magazine to Reedsy, and I came up with 234 possibilities for "best fantasy reads." Lucky you, I went through every single list I read to come up with some kind of consensus as to what the top 10 fantasy must-read books are, based on how many lists they appeared on. Disclaimer, I have not read all of these so some of the information I provide is based on research and not personal experience.
10. The Earthsea Saga by Ursula K. LeGuin
The Earthsea Saga is a High Fantasy series of novels published between 1968 and 2001. It consists of 6 books and it appeared on 6 out of 11 lists I read. Here's the blurb for the first book, Wizard of Earthsea:
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance. (Source: Goodreads)
9. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
American Gods is a mythic-urban fantasy novel published in 2001 by British author Neil Gaiman, who is well known for his representation of Norse mythology in fiction. It won both the Hugo and Nebula awards in 2002, and was adapted for television in 2017. It appeared on 6 of 11 lists.
Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.
Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break. (Source: Goodreads)
8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia is one of my favourite book series of all time. It appeared on 6 of 11 lists. The most well-known book in this series is The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, which has been adapted into a pretty darn good movie as well as a stage play. The full Chronicles of Narnia consists of seven books. The books are a portal fantasy written for juvenille readers (aged 8-12 or so), but they can be enjoyed by all ages. My 11-year-old nephew is enjoying this series right now. Fun fact: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were good friends, and each has a character based on the other in their books. The character of the Professor is based on Tolkien.
The series is set in the fictional realm of Narnia, a fantasy world of magic, mythical beasts and talking animals. It narrates the adventures of various children who play central roles in the unfolding history of the Narnian world. Except in The Horse and His Boy, the protagonists are all children from the real world who are magically transported to Narnia, where they are sometimes called upon by the lion Aslan to protect Narnia from evil. (Source: Wikipedia (don't judge me!))
7. The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
This trilogy, opening with the book The Name of the Wind, is a relatively new addition to the world of fantasy, published between 2007 and 2011. It is a high fantasy series and appeared on 7 of 11 lists. I don't know much about this series but I definitely plan to check it out.
Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.
The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. (Source: Goodreads)
6. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Wheel of Time is a massive series encompassing 14 novels, a prequel, and two companion novels. Brandon Sanderson, another well-known fantasy author, co-authored the last three books after Jordan's death in 2007. It is set in a high fantasy world, taking inspiration from European and Asian mythology, and has been adapted into a TV series. Because it takes place in both the past and future, this can be considered hard fantasy as well. Wheel of Time appeared on 7 of 11 lists.
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time is a story that takes place both in our past and our future. In his fantasy world, only women can use the One Power safely. Any man who wields will inevitably go insane and wreak havoc in the world.
As the books begin, the Dark One, the embodiment of pure evil, is breaking free from his prison. The overall plot is about a man who learns that he is the reincarnation of the world's messiah and is once again destined to save the world from the Dark One -- but possibly destroy it in the process. This saga is not only his story, but the story of an entire world's struggle to deal with war and change, destruction and hope.
May the Dragon ride again on the winds of time. (Source: dragonmount.com)
5. His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
This series appeared on 7 of 11 lists, which actually surprised me. I have read this series, but it was quite a long time ago and I don't remember having liked it all that much. However, there are definitely books that I have re-read as an adult and a) enjoyed much more or b) realized I do not enjoy them anymore, so this one is going on my re-read list. His Dark Materials is a hard book to put into a sub-genre as it crosses from science fiction into portal fantasy into high fantasy, but Goodreads labels it as adventure fantasy. It is also considered to be a Young Adult series, as the protagonists are young adults. Some users on Goodreads also placed it in the steampunk category. Here's the blurb from the opening novel, The Golden Compass (published outside North America as The Northern Lights):
Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other. (Source: Goodreads)
4. Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Discworld is a comic fantasy series by author Sir Terry Pratchett. 41 Discworld novels were originally published (oh my). The Discworld is a flat world which rests on the back of four elephants which in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle. This series appeared on 7 out of 11 lists. According to Terry Pratchett's website, you can start with any one of the 41 novels, and they even have a book generator that will recommend where to start based on your interests. Here's the blurb for the first published novel:
Somewhere between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a magical world not totally unlike our own. Except for the fact that it travels through space on the shoulders of four giant elephants who in turn stand on the shell of an astronomically huge star turtle, of course.
Rincewind is the world’s worst wizard who has just been handed a very important job: to look after the world’s first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land. Unfortunately, their journey across the Disc includes facing robbers, monsters, mercenaries, and Death himself.
And the whole thing’s just a game of the gods that might send them over the edge . . . (Source: terrypratchettbooks.com)
3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Thanks in part to the film franchise by director Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings has become one of the most popular fantasy series in recent memory. It appeared on 7 of 11 lists (Yeah, I was surprised too. I thought it would be on all the lists
). I came to Middle Earth through the films, though I have now read all the books in the trilogy and I'm working my way through the Silmarillion. Middle Earth's history and mythology is so complex and vast, which is part of what makes it so popular. Tolkien invented several completely new languages, some of which you can now learn on DuoLingo, and has become part of a larger fanbase, which is actually kind of a cult. The upcoming series on Amazon Prime has me really excited as well!
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
From Sauron's fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.
When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.
The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. (Source: Goodreads)
2. The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
This trilogy of novels, beginning with Assassin's Apprentice, appeared on 8 of the 11 lists I read. They were published in the mid-1990s and have had both commercial and critical success. They are described as character-driven epic fantasy, set in a fictional world following FitzChivalry Farseer, an "illegitimate son of a prince and a melancholy hero." (Wikipedia - again, don't judge me!) I haven't read these books but I certainly plan to check them out, having come so highly recommended. It's also one of only 2 series on this list by a female author. Born Margaret Lindholm Ogden, she used the androgynous pseudonym Robin Hobb to match the point of view of the story, from a male perspective.
In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.
Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.
So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin. (Source: Goodreads)
1. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
This series, also recently popular thanks to the HBO television adaptation, appeared on 10 out of 11 lists, making it the most highly recommended book in my research. I have read and enjoyed this series several times, and I recommend it for ADULTS ONLY. It's seriously spicy, which you'll know if you've seen the TV series at all. I'll also caution first-time readers that if you've seen the TV show, the plot of the novels will be familiar to you until about halfway through the second book. At that point, the novels and the TV show almost completely diverge and have very different elements. I would classify A Song of Ice and Fire as Epic Fantasy, perhaps even hard fantasy if you consider following all the different characters difficult (I didn't have too much of a problem with it but I know many people were confused by the different character points of view). Another caution for first time readers is that the series is not complete - we are waiting for book six, which author George R.R. Martin seems to be dragging his feet on. We've been waiting since 2011. Martin has stated that the 6th and 7th books of the series, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring will be around 1500 manuscript pages each. Martin says the book "will be done when it's done" and stated in March of this year on his blog that the world of A Song of Ice and Fire is his number one priority, but that doesn't necessarily exclusively refer to finished The Winds of Winter. Meanwhile, we wait, hoping he doesn't die before he finishes the book. While a summary of the entirety of the series would take several more blog posts, Goodreads has a nice summary of the first novel.
Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.
Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
Honourable Mentions
Some of my top fantasy series did not appear on this list, so I want to give you a mini version of the above list using only MY favourites.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (and the subsequent series, Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo) by Rick Riordan A mythological fantasy set in the modern day, the series follows Percy Jackson, the demi-god son of a Greek Olympian god. See Greek myths and legends become flesh in the contemporary world. Recommended for readers 9 and up. Percy's character is just so compelling and the writing is super fun. Definitely recommend this series to anyone who will listen.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- this one came up on many of this lists, but is sometimes overlooked due to the nature of it being for young readers. A low fantasy magical journey through the lens of a unique young wizard. Recommended for - yeah, all ages basically. The books age with the characters, so the later books have deeper thematic material and more mature themes.
DISCLAIMER: I do not support J.K. Rowling's views or treatment of transgender people. I think her comments are disgusting and they harm her franchise. They leave a bitter taste in my mouth. However, I refuse to give her the power over my enjoyment of the series. The fans have taken the series out of her hands over the years as it become a global phenomenon. Agree or disagree, that's my thoughts.
The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini - this one came up on a couple of lists, but it's one of my favourite series of all time. I actually started re-listening to it recently after completing this research. It has a flawed main character, a world at war with itself, and a king who, while he appears evil, has more substance to him than just "bad guy." The depth and complexity of this series is really intriguing to me. I've read it several times now and always found something new to pinpoint.
The Writing of Sarah J. Maas - her series Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City have become a recent obsession of mine. I read these books in record time, considering their length - two of them come close to a thousand pages, others not far behind - and I love the intricacy of her writing and the threads that come together in each book. Each book feels like its own story as well as a part of a series, which is something I really enjoy and look for in a series. Each book needs to have an arc, otherwise it should just be part of another book. These books are recommended for older readers. Throne of Glass I would recommend for ages 13 and older, while A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City I recommend to adult readers.