One carefully curated shelf of fantasy books: a harmony of timeless masterpieces and exciting recent titles. Save this list, sample the worlds, build your own canon.
Why this list? Because “best of” often splits into “old vs new.” We blended the two. Below are ten essential fantasy books that continue to shape readers, alongside recent releases that push the genre forward. No filler, no duplicates — just books that reward your time.
All-time cornerstone
The template. Tolkien’s legendarium shaped nearly every epic that followed. Beyond the quest, it’s a meditation on mercy, burden, and hope — told with languages, histories, and songs that make Middle-earth feel geologically real.
Modern epic, razor-clean prose
If you crave vast scope with clear rules of magic, this is your mountaintop. Sanderson balances colossal battles with intimate arcs about mental health, leadership, and the weight of ideals. Start at book one; the payoffs bloom book after book.
Dark academia that bites
Secret societies guard magic with the same ferocity as status. Bardugo marries campus thriller to supernatural noir, asking who pays the bill when power bends reality. If you like your fantasy books with grit, start here; continue with Hell Bent.
Romantasy phenomenon
A page-turning blend of training-ground peril, dragon lore, and romance that ignited legions of new fantasy readers. Come for the adrenaline; stay for a heroine who learns to weaponize her vulnerability.
Elegant multiverse
Swagger, style, and scarlet coats. Schwab builds a sleek cosmology of doors between worlds and people who risk everything to move through them. Return trips via The Fragile Threads of Power deepen the spell.
Standalone colossus
A single-volume epic with the sweep of a trilogy. Shannon braids court intrigue, ancient prophecy, and sapphic romance into a tapestry that feels both classic and new. Perfect if you want a complete feast in one book.
Musical mythmaking
Kvothe’s confession is as much about storytelling as survival. Lush prose and a performer’s heartbeat make every scene feel candle-lit and close. For many, this is the definition of immersive voice in modern fantasy books.
Scholarly seduction
A claustrophobic experiment in ambition: six brilliant magicians, five will advance. It’s philosophy in a greenhouse — humid, dangerous, oddly beautiful — and a reminder that genius rarely equals goodness.
Recent release — pulse-pounding
A fierce, self-contained adventure that welcomes newcomers yet rewards Cosmere devotees. Lean, kinetic chapters, big-hearted stakes, and inventive ecology — proof that recent fantasy books can be both generous and sharp.
Recent release — post-quest twist
Hanrahan flips the legend: the war is over, the sword still whispers, and the rot of victory creeps in. Morally uneasy and bleakly funny, it’s a fresh tonic for readers who love tradition but crave mutation.
Already devoured the ten above? Queue these recent titles. They’re buzzy for good reasons — striking premises, bold voices, and satisfying craft:
Standalone first? Try Priory of the Orange Tree or The Sunlit Man. Series sampler? Begin with The Way of Kings (for epic), Ninth House (for occult campus), or A Darker Shade of Magic (for sleek portal fantasy). Romantasy? Fourth Wing or the ACOTAR cycle.
Do I have to read epics in order? Usually, yes. Start with book one to enjoy foreshadowing and character growth. Many modern series also provide “previously on” summaries if you’re returning after a break.
What if I get lost in the lore? Accept a little fog. Mark names, flip to maps, and let the story carry you. Confusion often melts by chapter three as patterns click.
Is romantasy for me? If you enjoy character-centric arcs and slow-burn tension alongside magic, absolutely. If you want relentless tactical warfare, pick an epic instead — or read both.