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 of the last century.
Our selections 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).
If you prefer where the boundaries between the enchanting and the everyday blur, embark on a journey into the captivating realm of enchantment with magical realism books.
Discover the most recent books with our list of the best fantasy books of 2023.
The Best Historical Fantasy Books, recommended by P. Djèlí Clark
Historical fantasy books intermingle real history with counterfactual and speculative elements. P. Djèlí Clark, historian and Nebula Award-winning novelist, talks us through his top five magical re-imaginings of past eras, taking us from fourteenth century Russia into the Washington D.C. of the Roaring Twenties.
The Best High Fantasy Novels, recommended by Richard Swan
High fantasy, also known as epic fantasy, has been on a long journey since J.R.R. Tolkien published The Lord of the Rings. Richard Swan introduces us to the breadth of the genre – and how it embraces social commentary, political realism, and deeply personal stories.
UPDATED: The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Books of 2023: The Hugo Awards, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
The Hugo Awards, first presented in 1953, were originally known as the ‘Science Fiction Achievement Awards.’ But, in practice, their shortlists encompass speculative fiction as a whole, including fantasy—and is considered one of that genre’s most prestigious prizes. Here, Sylvia Bishop offers an overview of this year’s nominees in the ‘Best Novel’ category, which represent the most popular sci-fi and fantasy books of 2023. Note: We have updated this list to include a book that was excluded for political reasons.
The Best Urban Fantasy Books, recommended by Seanan McGuire
We tell ourselves fantastical stories to account for all that cannot be explained, says Seanan McGuire, the multi-award winning author of the October Daye, InCryptid, and Indexing series. Here, she selects five of the best urban fantasy books—fabulous novels that help us find the magical in the mundane.
The Best Terry Pratchett Books, recommended by Marc Burrows
The beloved British author Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) sold millions of copies of his 41-book Discworld series. But he also wrote standalone novels, children’s stories, and shorter fantasy series—all works of comic genius that drew from his polymathic knowledge and omnivorous reading habits. Here, Pratchett biographer Marc Burrows highlights five of Terry Pratchett’s best books. Read more fiction recommendations on Five Books
Humorous Fantasy Novels, recommended by Travis Baldree
What makes fantasy worlds so ripe for comedy? Hugo nominee Travis Baldree points toward our shared humanity, our love of anti-heros, and the power of back-to-front archetypes. He recommends the five best fantastical adventures to get us laughing – mostly at ourselves.
The Best Teen Fantasy Books Set in Britain, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
Britain offers rich pickings to writers: wild and windswept locations, peculiar folklore, a treasure trove of odd histories and even odder place names. Taking Britain as a starting point, many fantasy authors have produced stories that are at once wonderfully strange and hauntingly plausible. Our fantasy interviewer Sylvia Bishop picks out her top five fantasy books set in Britain for teen readers.
The Best Fantasy Romance Books, recommended by A.K. Mulford
Fantasy romances top bestseller charts, and also dominate an enormous fandom and fan fic culture. Where did this turn towards intimacy in the fantasy epic begin, and what does it offer readers? Bestselling author A.K. Mulford guides us through the delights of romantasy novels: comforting reads, immersive worlds, and a central concern with emotional intimacy – in all its varieties.
The Best Fantasy Novels With Battle Couples, recommended by Valerie Valdes
The best kind of love involves supporting each other in battle with magical beings, says bestselling fantasy author Valerie Valdes. She recommends the five best fantasies where the couples that spar together star together.
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Debuts of 2023, recommended by Yume Kitasei
There’s nothing better than discovering an exciting new writer at exactly the moment they break onto the scene. Here novelist Yume Kitasei recommends brand new sci-fi and fantasy (SFF) novels by debut authors coming out in 2023.