25. THE FIFTH SEASON BY N.K. JEMISIN
The Fifth Season may not have the most ratings on Goodreads, but the trilogy it begins (The Broken Earth trilogy) has made history.
Each of the three books has won the Hugo, making Jemisin the first author to win the award in consecutive years. If that doesn’t mark a top fantasy novel, I don’t know what does.
Check the book on amazon »24. ANGELFALL BY SUSAN EE
Originally a self-published title, I remember when this book made a huge splash. An apocalypse caused by angels! Given the nature of the Bible, perhaps this shouldn’t have been so astonishing.
While the portrayal of mental illness isn’t what I consider to be the best (at all), the protagonist’s quest to save her younger sister—which leads her to joining forces with the enemy—is a gripping one.
Check the book on amazon »23. THE WRATH AND THE DAWN BY RENEE AHDIEH
Of all the potential retellings out there, I never expected to see a YA retelling of 1001 Nights. It’s not a strict retelling, so if you’re a fan of the nested story within a story structure, this is not the book for you.
But if you want to see a different take on the original, Ahdieh’s debut might be worth checking out.
Check the book on amazon »22. CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE BY TOMI ADEYEMI
Originally published in 2018, Adeyemi’s debut has shot up through the Goodreads rankings at an astonishing pace. It almost reached 50,000 ratings in its first year alone, which is no small feat for a new author.
No doubt, the book’s fast pace and action-filled adventure contributed to its popularity. Interested in reading more novels like Children of Blood and Bone? Find even more
Check the book on amazon »21. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES BY SABAA TAHIR
Inspired by ancient Rome, An Ember in the Ashes explores oppression and tyranny via the story of Laia, who hopes to save her brother by spying on the Empire for the rebellion. This mission leads her to Elias, who is set to become the best soldier the Empire has ever seen
Check the book on amazon »20. THE CRUEL PRINCE BY HOLLY BLACK
Holly Black has established herself as the Queen of Faerie Novels. The Cruel Prince takes us back to the world first featured in her debut novel, Tithe, and introduces us to Jude, a mortal heroine whose rage and determination cuts through a courtly politics and a quest to find a place she can call home.
Check the book on amazon »19. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE BY LAINI TAYLOR
f I had to describe this book, I’d say it was about angels and demons, and that answer is both accurate and inaccurate.
If you’ve never read a Laini Taylor novel, be prepared for fascinating characters, unique settings, and creepy imagery that catch you off-guard because they always come when you least expect!
Check the book on amazon »18. SIX OF CROWS BY LEIGH BARDUGO
Bardugo’s Grishaverse books have inspired a huge legion of fans since Shadow and Bone was first published in 2012. A quick glance at bookstagram will show you just how much these books are beloved by the reading community.
Six of Crows introduces us to a crew of thieves out to pull off an impossible heist. If you’re a fan of The Lies of Locke Lamora, this is the book for you.
Even if you think you don’t like young adult novels, I still think you should give this one a try, and given the number of Goodreads ratings, so do a lot of other people.
Check the book on amazon »17. GRACELING BY KRISTIN CASHORE
Published in 2008, Graceling was one of the earliest fantasy novels in the current young adult renaissance. Set in a world where people known as Gracelings are born with an extreme skill, Kaisa has the ability to kill.
Unfortunately, the nature of her gift traps her into serving as her uncle’s enforcer. By the way, her uncle is the king, and not the most benevolent one.
Check the book on amazon »16. RED QUEEN BY VICTORIA AVEYARD
If you ever wondered what X-Men would look like in a fantasy setting, this book might provide an answer for you. In a world where people with silver blood have superpowers and people with red blood are the people they subjugate, a girl with red blood discovers she has special abilities of her own.
Check the book on amazon »15. THRONE OF GLASS BY SARAH J. MAAS
If you’re a regular voter in the annual Goodreads book awards, you’ll recognize Maas’s name. She and her novels are a mainstay in the competition. This is the debut novel, about an assassin, that started it all.
Check the book on amazon »14. CLOCKWORK ANGEL BY CASSANDRA CLARE
The first book in the prequel trilogy to the hugely popular The Mortal Instruments series, Clockwork Angel takes place in Victorian London. It delivers everything Clare’s fans want and expect from her books.
Check the book on amazon »13. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON BY GRACE
Given the nature of Goodreads, it can be difficult to find the highly rated fantasy books for younger readers. It seems like there’s a gap between middle grade novels and picture books. I’m sure they exist, but they’re not easiest to find.
Based on Chinese mythology, Lin’s book pulls together the pieces of many different stories and weaves them into something new. Featuring a determined heroine who never gives up, this story about her quest to improve her family’s fortune delights children and parents alike.
Check the book on amazon »12. THE LOST HERO BY RICK RIORDAN
One of the most beloved middle grade authors out there, picking one Riordan book to recommend is impossible. Thankfully, I had my previously mentioned restrictions to make things easier. Set in the world of the Percy Jackson books, The Lost Hero once again features Riordan’s take on Greek mythology but with a whole new cast of characters.
Check the book on amazon »11. VAMPIRE ACADEMY BY RICHELLE MEAD
As someone who read a lot of vampire novels, both adult and YA, in the late 2000s, I admit I’m a little surprised to see how many ratings this book had on Goodreads.
And I was a big fan of this series! I don’t know how I missed its popularity. About a dhampir who’s dedicated her life to protecting her best friend, a vampire princess, what I appreciated most about these books was the female friendship that ran throughout.
Over a decade later, I still love seeing that fierce dedication between girls—especially in YA
Check the book on amazon »10. MOON CALLED BY PATRICIA BRIGGS
In a sub-genre populated by investigators and mercenaries, coyote shifter Mercy Thompson stands out because she’s a mechanic. How refreshing. The staples of the genre—gremlins, werewolves, vampires, and more—can be found in Mercy’s world and her relationships with them are what often get her into trouble.
Check the book on amazon »9. THE NIGHT CIRCUS BY ERIN MORGENSTERN
A standalone novel in the fantasy genre is a rare feat, but The Night Circus succeeds—much to the dismay of its fans who wish it had a sequel or two.
Revolving around a competition between two magicians who fall in love, the lush prose has won the heart of many readers across the world. It’s collected over half a million ratings on Goodreads! That is a big accomplishment for an author who didn’t publish her follow-up, The Starless Sea, until eight years later.
Check the book on amazon »8. AMERICAN GODS BY NEIL GAIMAN
While Gaiman’s short stories are my personal favorites of his writings, most fiction readers meet him through his novels.
American Gods reimagines myths and gods in the modern age, mashes them up with Americana, and takes you on a road trip. I can see why this is one of his most famous works.
Check the book on amazon »7. KUSHIEL’S DART BY JACQUELINE CAREY
Courtesans are another staple of the epic fantasy genre. While they’re usually supporting characters—either in the form of allies or enemies—Carey’s debut novel introduces us to Phedre, a courtesan marked by a god to feel pleasure and pain as one. In other words, she’s a masochist.
But alongside her courtesan-related talents, she’s also a spy. This unlikely combination in a protagonist explains why it’s one of the top fantasy books on Goodreads, even though it doesn’t necessarily resemble the traditional quest-style epic fantasy tome.
Check the book on amazon »6. THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA BY SCOTT LYNCH
In addition to royal bastards and assassins, thieves also run wild through the fantasy genre. Who’s surprised? There are a lot of important mystical artifacts to steal. And let’s face it, a fantasy setting is the perfect background for a heist caper.
Check the book on amazon »5. ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE BY ROBIN HOBB
Royal bastards figure prominently in the fantasy genre. So do assassins. They’re usually two different people, though. The main character in the first book of Hobb’s Farseer trilogy, however, is both.
Check the book on amazon »4. A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA BY URSULA LEGUIN
Confession time: I first discovered LeGuin through her science fiction. I didn’t learn she’d also written fantasy until I was well into adulthood. Unfortunately, the Earthsea series is probably better known for the whitewashed adaptation that aired on the SyFy channel.
he could not go to the party because his homework is not finished A true tragedy because as anyone who’s read her books knows, LeGuin was a master of world-building and depicting culture. Check the book on amazon »3. THE WAY OF KINGS BY BRANDON SANDERSON
Sanderson is arguably one of the most prolific fantasy writers working in the genre today. In a genre where readers are used to waiting years between series installments, that’s very refreshing.
I can’t overstate this fact. It’s one of the reasons he’s gathered a very large, dedicated fanbase. If you’re not familiar with Sanderson’s work, he’s best known for his clearly delineated, almost scientifically laid out magic systems.
Check the book on amazon »2. THE NAME OF THE WIND BY PATRICK ROTHFUSS
While good writing certainly permeates the fantasy genre, it’s not necessarily a requirement. Above all, we want a good story and as long as the prose is readable, that’s fine. Rothfuss’s debut novel showed us that an epic fantasy novel could feature not only good writing, it could showcase beautiful prose.
But what’s most interesting about The Name of the Wind is its structure. We first meet Kvothe when he’s a broken man, after the battle has been fought. The mystery of how he got to that end point from his beginnings as an audacious prodigy is part of the series’s charm.
Check the book on amazon »1. GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN
This novel launched the Song of Ice and Fire series and upended the established tropes of 1990s-era epic fantasy. Let’s not forget that shocking death at the end! I know it’s hard to believe now, but back then, that was something of a fantasy no-no.
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