There’s a lot of good fantasy out there and I thought why not come out with a list of memorable fantasy reads.
(1) Dragonfall (The Dragon Scales Trilogy Book 1) by L.R. Lam in 2023
Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the gods remember, and they do not forgive.
(2) 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.
(3) The Last Wish (The Witcher Book 1) by Andrzej Sapkowski in 1990
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous looking is evil and not everything fair is good… and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
(4) 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.
(5) A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3) by George R.R. Martin in 2000
A Storm of Swords picks up with The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros still in the grip of the War of the Five Kings, a large host of wildlings, the tribes from beyond the Seven Kingdoms’ northern border, approach the Wall that marks the border, and Daenerys Targaryen, the daughter of a deposed former king of Westeros and “mother” of the world’s only living dragons, sails west, planning to retake her late father’s throne.
(6) 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…
(7) 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.
(8) Faerie Wars (The Faerie War Chronicles Book 1) by Herbie Brennan in 2003
Enlisting the help of his sister, Holly Blue, and his new friend, Henry, Pinrce Pyrgus Malvae must get back to the Faerie world while dealing with the threat of an egomaniacal demon prince, greedy glue factory owners, and the leader of the Faeries of the Night.
(9) The Dragon Society (The Obsidian Chronicles Book 2) by Lawrence Watt-Evans in 2001
Years after escaping the destruction of his village at the hands of dragons, fueled by years of hatred for the dragons, bandits, and slavers that took away his youth — Arlian seeks out The Dragon Society, whose sworn purpose is to stand against the dragon menace.
(10) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter Book 7) by J.K. Rowling in 2007
Everything that happened before this novel pale in comparison to the final climax, the events leading up to the final confrontation of good against evil, Harry against Voldemort.
(11) 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?
(12) Orge, Orge (Xanth #5) by Piers Anthony in 1982
Smash, himself, was part ogre. Although ogres were considered so stupid they could hardly speak, and spent their time eating young girls, seven assorted females had suddenly turned to him for guidance and saftety? In Xanth, one visit to the Good Magician Humfrey worked wonders….
(13) A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1) by George R.R. Martin in 1996
The story 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.
(14) The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time #5) by Robert Jordan in 1993
Rand al’ Thor, the Dragon Reborn, knows that he must strike at the Enemy, but his forces are divided by treachery and by ambition. Even the Aes Sedai, ancient guardians of the Light, are riven by civil war. Betrayed by his allies, pursued by his enemies and beset by the madness that comes to the male wielders of the One Power, Rand rides out to meet the foe.
(15) Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn (Xanth Book 8) by Piers Anthony in 1984
The story follows a Castle Roogna’s ghost, Jordan the Barbarian, who tells Princess Ivy his story of betrayal and death via the magical medium of the Tapestry.
(16) 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.
(17) Witches Steeped in Gold (Witches Steeped in Gold Book 1) by Ciannon Smart in 2021
Sworn enemies, prisoner Iraya and Princess Jazmyne, two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat, the power-hungry queen.
(18) Discover the Destroyer (Everworld Book 5) by Katherine Applegate in 2000
David, Christopher, April and Jalil are at the mercy of a dragon who has demanded they retrieve his stolen goods for him or else their replaced hearts will burn with dragon fire in six days.
(19) 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.
(20) Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury in 2023
Daisy sees dead people and when she moves into a new mansion, she begins to realize that there’s more than the supernatural. Brittney decides to uncover what happened to a young Black girl in the mansion ten years prior. As Brittney investigates the mansion in the present, Daisy’s story runs parallel in the past, both timelines propelling the girls to face the most dangerous monsters of all: those that hide in plain sight.
(21) 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.
(22) The Lady of the Lake (The Witcher Book 7) by Andrzej Sapkowski in 1999
After walking through the portal in the Tower of Swallows while narrowly escaping death, Ciri finds herself in a completely different world… and knows she must escape to finally rejoin the Witcher, Geralt, and his companions – and also to try to conquer her worst nightmare.
(23) 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.
(24) 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.
(25) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness in 2011
Set in present-day England, it features a boy who struggles to cope with the consequences of his mother’s illness. He is repeatedly visited in the middle of the night by a monster who tells stories.
(26) Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time Book 1) by Robert Jordan in 1990
When the Two Rivers is attacked by Trollocs-a savage tribe of half-men, half-beasts – five villagers flee that night into a world they barely imagined, with new dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.
(27) Homeland (The Dark Elf Trilogy Book 1) by R.A. Salvatore in 1990
The story follows Drizzt Do’Urden from his time of his birth and his upbringing amongst the dark elves.
(28) 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.
(29) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1937
The Hobbit is set within Tolkien’s fictional universe and follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon.
(30) The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower Book 1) by Stephen King in 1982
The story centers Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, following Roland’s trek through a vast desert and beyond in search of the man in black “The Man in Black”, encountering an alluring woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the Kid from Earth called Jake.
Thanks for checking out the post and in the comments let us know what your memorable fantasy reads are.
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