Fantasy books are often looked at for the scale of the stakes, complexity of the story and the depth of the world and setting. But there’s something else that makes them so compelling. The characters. Here’s a list of some fantasy reads with the best characters.

(1) Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor by Carrie Bebris in 2001

A dracolich and his sorcerous queen have seized control of the Mythal, the ancient magic that once protected the war-ravaged elven capital. Once the elven ruin is completely in their thrall, the cult intends to expand its domination one city — and one soul — at a time.

(2) Blood of Elves (The Witcher Book 3) by Andrzej Sapkowski in 1994

When the Empire of Nilfgaard attacks the Kingdom of Cintra, Ciri, granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, manages to flee the capital city. The Emperor of Nilfgaard sends his spies to find her, hoping to harness her magical potential and the elven blood in her veins. Enter Geralt of Rivia. A monster hunter for hire, he’s keeping Ciri safe at the Witchers’ keep, Kaer Morhen. But with the Emperor’s spies closing in, how long can Geralt keep Ciri hidden away?

(3) Search for Sienna (Everworld Book 1) by K.A. Applegate in 1999

When David’s girlfriend Senna is swallowed up by the Earth, he and his friends follow to save her, only to stumble upon a nightmarish land they could have never imagined.

(4) Storm Front (The Dresden Files Book 1) by Jim Butcher in 2000

A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt. Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters to vampires, while he himself is under suspicion of the crimes.

(5) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter Book 1) by J.K. Rowling in 1997

The story follows Harry Potter, young wizard who discovers his magical heritage on his eleventh birthday, and his acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

(6) A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 2) by George R.R. Martin in 1999

A Clash of Kings depicts the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in civil war, while the Night’s Watch mounts a reconnaissance to investigate the mysterious people known as wildlings. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen continues her plan to conquer the Seven Kingdoms.

(7) Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs in 2006

Mercedes Thompson, aka Mercy, is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington who happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. When a young werewolf seeks Mercy’s help, claiming to be on the run from a dangerous pack, she finds herself caught in the midst of a supernatural power struggle. As Mercy delves deeper into the mysterious disappearance of local werewolves, she becomes entangled in a dangerous web of deceit, betrayal, and magical intrigue.

(8) Dragons of Spring Dawning (Dragonlance Chronicles Book 3) by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman in 1985

Finally armed with dragonlances, a group of heroes, composed of a knight, barbarian, dwarf, and half-elf, faces a deadly showdown with the evil dragons and Takhisis, the Queen of Darkness.

(9) The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower Book 3) by Stephen King in 1991

Roland, Susannah, and Eddie must draw Jake into Mid-World and then follow the Path of the Beam all the way to the Dark Tower. Along the way our tet stumbles into the ruined city of Lud and are caught between the warring gangs of the Pubes and the Grays. The only way out of Lud is to wake Blaine the Mono, an insane train that has a passion for riddling, and for suicidal journeys.

(10) Armageddon’s Children (Genesis of Shannara Book 1) by Terry Brooks in 2006

Navigating the scarred and poisoned landscape that once was America and guided by a powerful talisman, Knight of the Word Logan Tom has sworn an oath to seek out a remarkable being born of magic, possessed of untold abilities, and destined to lead the final fight against darkness.

(11) The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time Book 2) by Robert Jordan in 1991

The story features young heroes Rand al’Thor, Mat Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara, who join Shienaren soldiers in a quest to retrieve the Horn of Valere. At the same time, Egwene al’Vere, Nynaeve al’Meara, and Elayne Trakand go to the White Tower in Tar Valon to learn Aes Sedai ways. Finally, an exotic army invades the western coast.

(12) Splintered (Splintered Series Book 1) by A.G. Howard in 2013

In the real Wonderland, Alyssa Gardner must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to save her family from the curse stretching back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. 

(13) Chosen Ones (The Chosen Ones Book 1) by Veronica Roth in 2020

Fifteen years ago, five ordinary teenagers were singled out by a prophecy to take down an impossibly powerful entity wreaking havoc across North America. On the 10th anniversary of the Dark One’s defeat, something unthinkable happens: one of the Chosen Ones dies. When the others gather for the funeral, they discover the Dark One’s ultimate goal was much bigger than they, the government, or even prophecy could have foretold – bigger than the world itself.

(14) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia Book 1) by C.S. Lewis in 1950

The story follows siblings Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund Pevensie who enter a wardrobe and discovers the magical world of Narnia, which is being controlled by the queen of Narina, the White Witch

(15) Witchling (Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Book 1) by Yasmine Galenorn in 2006

Set as the first book in the Sisters of the Moon series the book follows the D’Artigo Sisters, operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency, who are tasked with keeping the mysterious Shadow Wing and his minions at bay.

(16) The Infernal City (The Elder Scrolls Book 1) by Greg Keyes in 2009

Four decades after the Oblivion Crisis, Tamriel is threatened anew by an ancient and all-consuming evil. It is Umbriel, a floating city that casts a terrifying shadow–for wherever it falls, people die and rise again. And it is in Umbriel’s shadow that a great adventure begins, and a group of unlikely heroes meet. A legendary prince with a secret. A spy on the trail of a vast conspiracy. A mage obsessed with his desire for revenge. And Annaig, a young girl in whose hands the fate of Tamriel may rest…

(17) The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster in 2002

The story follows Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker as they are sent to a planet to settle a dispute as growing unrest threatens the Galactic Republic’s stability.

(18) A Darker Crimson (Crimson City Book 4) by Carolyn Jewel in 2005

Officer Claudia Donovan goes to the plane of Orcus, home of the demons, to rescue her daughter with the help of a vampire, Tiberiu Korzha, while dealing with the demon Lath.

(19) A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1) by George R.R. Martin in 1996

A Game of Thrones follows Ned Stark who becomes Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon, Ned’s bastard son Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch, an ancient order sworn to defend Westeros by maintaining the Wall, and the exiled Viserys Targaryen marries his sister, Daenerys, off to Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo in exchange for an army to take back Westeros.

(20) Vector Prime (The New Jedi Order Book 1) by R.A. Salvatore in 1999

As the Jedi and the Republic focus on internal struggles after the downfall of the Empire, a new threat surfaces from beyond the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim–an enemy bearing weapons and technology unlike anything New Republic scientists have ever seen.

Thanks for checking out the post and in the comments let us know some of your favorite fantasy reads with the best characters.