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Fiction » Fantasy

Most Recommended Books

The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien

“This trilogy is the gold standard in terms of fantasy writing”

Philip Reeve, Children's Author

Read more

The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

“The Hobbit is such a richly imagined fantasy that, especially as a child, you can live in it. It is so completely immersive.”

Cressida Cowell, Children's Author

Read more

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

“The school on Roke, a school for magic where you can learn how to be a wizard, was such a glorious idea.”

Cressida Cowell, Children's Author

Read more

Browse book recommendations:

Fantasy

  • Best Fantasy Books of 2021

Fiction

  • Best Fiction of 2020
  • Best Fiction of 2021
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Immerse yourself in another world with our fantasy book recommendations.

"Take a giant step back and you can’t help but notice that the greater part of all human literature is fantasy"
—Lev Grossman discussing his choices of the best fantasy books.

Our selections of books include the classic fantasies of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as well as some more recent authors like George R.R. Martin, (Game of Thrones), Neil Gaiman (Norse Mythology, American Gods), Susanna Clarke (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell), China Miéville (The City & the City) and Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials).

Discover the most recent books with our list of the best fantasy books of 2021.

    The best books on Fantasy, recommended by Lev Grossman

  • Read
    The best books on Fantasy - The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

    1

    The Hobbit
    by J R R Tolkien

  • Read
    The best books on Fantasy - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

    2

    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
    by CS Lewis

  • Read
    The best books on Fantasy - The Once and Future King by T H White

    3

    The Once and Future King
    by T H White

  • Read
    The best books on Fantasy - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

    4

    A Wizard of Earthsea
    by Ursula Le Guin

  • Read
    The best books on Fantasy - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

    5

    Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
    by Susanna Clarke

The best books on Fantasy, recommended by Lev Grossman

We’re living through a golden age for fantasy fiction, says the author of The Magicians. Here, he tells us what makes for a good fantasy novel, and who’s staking out the future not just of fantasy but of fiction as a whole.

    Comfort Reads, recommended by Neil Gaiman

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    Comfort Reads - The Princess Bride by William Goldman

    1

    The Princess Bride
    by William Goldman

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    Comfort Reads - No Bed for Bacon: Or Shakespeare Sows an Oat by Caryl Brahms & SJ Simon

    2

    No Bed for Bacon: Or Shakespeare Sows an Oat
    by Caryl Brahms & SJ Simon

  • Read
    Comfort Reads - Psmith by PG Wodehouse

    3

    Psmith
    by PG Wodehouse

  • Read
    Comfort Reads - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

    4

    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
    by Douglas Adams

  • Read
    Comfort Reads - Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones

    5

    Archer's Goon
    by Diana Wynne Jones

Comfort Reads, recommended by Neil Gaiman

In his latest book, fans from around the world chose which of Neil Gaiman’s writings they liked the best, a great introduction to his writing for anyone not familiar with his work. Here the prolific, genre-bending author recommends some of his own favourite books: comfort reads to turn to in difficult times.

    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults, recommended by Zoe

  • Read
    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

    1

    Daughter of Smoke and Bone
    by Laini Taylor

  • Read
    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: Bk 1) by Chanda Hahn

    2

    UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale: Bk 1)
    by Chanda Hahn

  • Read
    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Detectives (Bk 1) by Michael Buckley

    3

    Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Detectives (Bk 1)
    by Michael Buckley

  • Read
    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Red Queen (Red Queen Series Bk 1) by Victoria Aveyard

    4

    Red Queen (Red Queen Series Bk 1)
    by Victoria Aveyard

  • Read
    The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults - Mirrorworld: The Petrified Flesh (Bk 1) by Cornelia Funke

    5

    Mirrorworld: The Petrified Flesh (Bk 1)
    by Cornelia Funke

The Best Fantasy Books for Young Adults, recommended by Zoe

Fantasy novels, with their limitless scope for possibility, appeal to children with vivid imaginations. Here 14-year-old Zoe, who lives in the US and is a big fan of the genre, recommends her current favourites.

    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien

    1

    The Lord of the Rings
    by J R R Tolkien

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Watership Down by Richard Adams

    2

    Watership Down
    by Richard Adams

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury

    3

    The Stories of Ray Bradbury
    by Ray Bradbury

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - The Space Machine by Christopher Priest

    4

    The Space Machine
    by Christopher Priest

  • Read
    Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults - Fires' Astonishment by Geraldine McCaughrean

    5

    Fires' Astonishment
    by Geraldine McCaughrean

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Young Adults, recommended by Philip Reeve

Award-winning author Philip Reeve talks us through the science fiction and fantasy books that shaped him and his work in profound ways; among indubitable classics are vibrant lesser-known works awaiting our discovery.

    The Best Harry Potter Books, recommended by Katie Savva

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    The Best Harry Potter Books - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

    1

    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    by J.K. Rowling

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    The Best Harry Potter Books - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

    2

    Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
    by J.K. Rowling

  • Read
    The Best Harry Potter Books - Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

    3

    Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
    by J.K. Rowling

  • Read
    The Best Harry Potter Books - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

    4

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    by J.K. Rowling

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    The Best Harry Potter Books - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

    5

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
    by J.K. Rowling

The Best Harry Potter Books, recommended by Katie Savva

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are among the bestselling books ever written, with half a billion copies sold since the first novel in the series was published in 1997. Since then, the fantasy world the books created—where a wand can clean up your room and school is an exciting place where you fight evil with your friends—has taken on a life of its own, with Harry Potter societies created by students at universities across Britain. Here, Katie Savva, of Warwick University’s Harry Potter and Quidditch Society and captain of its quidditch team, talks us through her group’s favourite Harry Potter books and explains how to play the game without a flying broomstick.

    The best books on Fantastical Tales, recommended by Andrei Codrescu

  • Read
    The best books on Fantastical Tales - Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch

    1

    Bulfinch's Mythology
    by Thomas Bulfinch

  • Read
    The best books on Fantastical Tales - The Arabian Nights by Husain Haddawy & Muhsin Mahdi

    2

    The Arabian Nights
    by Husain Haddawy & Muhsin Mahdi

  • Read
    The best books on Fantastical Tales - Orlando by Virginia Woolf

    3

    Orlando
    by Virginia Woolf

  • Read
    The best books on Fantastical Tales - The Golem by Gustav Meyrink

    4

    The Golem
    by Gustav Meyrink

  • Read
    The best books on Fantastical Tales - Dracula by Bram Stoker

    5

    Dracula
    by Bram Stoker

The best books on Fantastical Tales, recommended by Andrei Codrescu

The Romanian-born poet tells us about his love for fantastic and magical tales – particularly bloody ones with cannibalism, necrophilia and alienated heroes.

    The Best of Speculative Fiction, recommended by Ken Liu

  • Read
    The Best of Speculative Fiction - Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi

    1

    Riot Baby
    by Tochi Onyebuchi

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    The Best of Speculative Fiction - United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas

    2

    United States of Japan
    by Peter Tieryas

  • Read
    The Best of Speculative Fiction - A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker

    3

    A Song for a New Day
    by Sarah Pinsker

  • Read
    The Best of Speculative Fiction - Zero Sum Game by S L Huang

    4

    Zero Sum Game
    by S L Huang

  • Read
    The Best of Speculative Fiction - This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

    5

    This Is How You Lose the Time War
    by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

The Best of Speculative Fiction, recommended by Ken Liu

Ken Liu, the multi-award winning author of The Paper Menagerie, explains how using elements of fantasy and science fiction can help us examine deep truths about the human condition, as he recommends the best of contemporary speculative fiction.

    Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids

  • Read
    Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids - The Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones

    1

    The Ogre Downstairs
    by Diana Wynne Jones

  • Read
    Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids - The Five Children and It by E Nesbit

    2

    The Five Children and It
    by E Nesbit

  • Read
    Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids - The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien

    3

    The Hobbit
    by J R R Tolkien

  • Read
    Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids - The Sword in the Stone by T H White

    4

    The Sword in the Stone
    by T H White

  • Read
    Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

    5

    A Wizard of Earthsea
    by Ursula Le Guin

Cressida Cowell on Magical Stories for Kids

From wizards to alchemy and fairies to folklore, Cressida Cowell reveals the magical stories that were most important to her as a child (and which she now delights in sharing with her own children), and her own inspirations for writing about magic and magical worlds today.

    Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale, recommended by Alan Lee

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    Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale - The God Beneath The Sea by Edward Blishen & Leon Garfield

    1

    The God Beneath The Sea
    by Edward Blishen & Leon Garfield

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    Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale - Lavondyss by Robert Holdstock

    2

    Lavondyss
    by Robert Holdstock

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    Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale - Burning Your Boats: Collected Short Stories by Angela Carter

    3

    Burning Your Boats: Collected Short Stories
    by Angela Carter

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    Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale - The Owl Service by Alan Garner

    4

    The Owl Service
    by Alan Garner

  • Read
    Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale - The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien

    5

    The Lord of the Rings
    by J R R Tolkien

Books Drawn From Myth and Fairy Tale, recommended by Alan Lee

Alan Lee, illustrator of such classics as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, talks to Five Books about his favourite stories drawn from myth and fairy tale, what they mean to him, and how important it is for young readers today to experience these ancient stories.

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