Fantasy Book Recs: Masterpost
Disclaimer: All of these books are books are either books I’ve read, or that I’ve read enough of to feel comfortable recommending, so it’s biased and YMMV. Fantasy is defined rather loosely here for the sake of giving y’all more options.
Tips: This rec list has a lot of repeats because it’s organized by specific categories. Scroll down to the section or sections that seem the most interesting to you and have at it! (Let me know if links aren’t working.)
Last updated: June 29th, 2019
First Section: Read What You Want, Y’all
Fantasy classics book recs:
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll*
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum*
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis*
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie*
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander*
I’m not your mother so just read them, y’all. Or read some quality HP fanfiction to scratch that itch. (I highly recommend Oh God Not Again!, Hermione Granger’s Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run, and Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality.)
Not!Harry Potter books:
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo*
Short stories and short story collections:
A Glory of Unicorns compiled by Bruce Coville*
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling*
Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany (explicit adult content)
Across the Wall by Garth Nix
Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (disturbing content)
Theater of Cruelty by Terry Pratchett
Jackalope Wives by T. Kingfisher
Resilience compiled by Sasha L. Miller (explicit adult content)
A Faire Encounter by A.M. Valenza
The City of Dreams by Hailey Griffiths
Unlocking the Air by Ursula K. Le Guin
Valor Vol. 1 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (collection of indie stories)
Valor Vol. 2 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (a bunch of new stories)
Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce
The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin (available here)
The Fairy’s Return by Gail Carson Levine*
Death and What Comes Next by Terry Pratchett
The Found and the Lost by Ursula K. Le Guin
Solid standalone fantasy stories:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson*
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Indie fantasy book recs:
Thornfruit by Felicia Davin
City of Dreams by Hailey Griffiths
A Faire Encounter + Alexey Dyed in Red by A.M. Valenza @amvi1323
Sunblind by Ramona Meisel @rmeisel (modern retelling in a prose and poetry format of Icarus and Apollo)
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher @tkingfisher
Digger by Ursula Vernon* (also available here)
The Chronicles of Arenacea by S.M. Lee @arenacea
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn @brynwrites
The Songbird’s Refrain by Jillian Maria
The Posterchildren by Kitty Burroughs
The Fever King by Victoria Lee
Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner
Valor Vol. 1 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (collection of short stories) @isaportfolio
Valor Vol. 2 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (a bunch of new stories)
Deadline by Stephanie Ahn @delphiiwrites (explicit adult content, BDSM)
More Than Enough by Elizabeth Wambheim @ajumbleofpages
The Bones of the Earth by Scott Hale (warning: very disturbing content and body horror)
Resilience compiled by Sasha L. Miller (explicit adult content) @lessthanthreepress
Nightblade by Garrett Robinson @garrettauthor
Robbergirl by S.T. Gibson
Maple Street by A.M. Dorhauer*
Ascendant by Kimberly Grey
The Queen of Ieflaria by Effie Calvin
Second Section: Things in Fantasy Books
Main Characters of Color:
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Thornfruit by Felicia Davin
Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher
More Than Enough by Elizabeth Wambheim
The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin**
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis (also has a disabled main character)
City of Flowers by Mary Hoffman** (Stravaganza #3)
Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
The Posterchildren by Kitty Burroughs
The Fever King by Victoria Lee
Fire by Kristin Cashore** (Graceling #2)
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore** (Graceling #3, warnings for abuse/suicide)
Daja’s Book by Tamora Pierce** (Circle of Magic #3)
Briar’s Book by Tamora Pierce** (Circle of Magic #4)
Circle Opens quartet by Tamora Pierce
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Deadline by Stephanie Ahn
LGBT+ Main Characters (yes, the rainbow is 100% intentional):
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones (wlw)
Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce** (bi rep) (note LOTS of content and trigger warnings including genocide and animal harm)
More Than Enough by Elizabeth Wambheim (mlm, ace rep)
The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin** (wlw)
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner (mlm)
Mother of Souls by Heather Rose Jones** (wlw)
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (mlm)
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett** (wlw)
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire** (wlw)
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (mlm, bi rep)
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova (wlw, bi rep)
The Mystic Marriage by Heather Rose Jones (wlw)
Valor Vol. 1 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (wlw, trans rep)
Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner (wlw)
Robbergirl by S.T. Gibson (wlw)
The Songbird’s Refrain by Jillian Maria (wlw)
The Queen of Ieflaria by Effie Calvin (wlw)
Deadline by Stephanie Ahn (wlw)
First Test by Tamora Pierce (ace-spec rep)
The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce** (wlw, ace rep, bi rep)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (mlm)
Wicked by Gregory Maguire (bi rep)
Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire** (mlm, bi rep)
Valor Vol. 2 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (wlw)
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (mlm, bi rep, ace rep)
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn (nonbinary rep, wlw rep)
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater** (mlm)
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis (wlw, bi rep, also disability rep)
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (mlm, gay and bi rep)
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (mlm, gay and bi rep)
The Gardener’s Hand series by Felicia Davin (wlw and mlm)
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (mlm)
Jade City by Fonda Lee (mlm)
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (genderqueer)
The Fever King by Victoria Lee (mlm)
The Posterchildren by Kitty Burroughs (wlw and mlm)
Dragons books:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling**
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire**
The Fire Within by Chris D’Lacey*
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede*
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Fairies and Fae:
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie*
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs** (btw the fandom hates the American covers which is why this cover is not the one you’ll see on Goodreads)
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander*
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The Fairy’s Return by Gail Carson Levine*
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Tiffany Aching #1)*
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Mages and Magicians books:
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (Immortals #1)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Graceling #1)
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
Sabriel by Garth Nix (Abhorsen #1)
Circle of Magic Quartet by Tamora Pierce*
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Thornfruit by Felicia Davin
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Witches and Wizards books:
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (aka why we hate the American covers)
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Witches by Roald Dahl*
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis*
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
The Fever King by Victoria Lee (warnings for trauma and CSA)
The City of Dreams by Hailey Griffiths
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Tiffany Aching #1)*
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett**
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones*
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede*
The Phoenix Dance by Dia Calhoun
The Songbird’s Refrain by Jillian Maria
Sassy Cat Companions:
In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce**
Sabriel by Garth Nix (Abhorsen #1)
Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Vampire books:
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (disturbing content)
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs** (content warnings for a lot of things)
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire**
Maple Street by A.M. Dorhauer*
Books with unicorns:
A Glory of Unicorns compiled by Bruce Coville*
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling*
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis**
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
Third Section: Subgenres of Fantasy Books
Historical Fiction and Fantasy books:
Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay
River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
Science Fiction and Fantasy books:
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (handy reading guides: [1] [2] [3])
Tales of Neveryon by Samuel R. Delany
Fall of Angels by L.E. Modesitt Jr.**
The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin**
Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis
Resilience compiled by Sasha L. Miller (explicit adult content)
The Bones of the Earth by Scott Hale (warnings for disturbing content and a lot of body horror)
The Fever King by Victoria Lee (content warnings for trauma and CSA)
Celtic and Arthurian fantasy books:
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dark Is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander*
“Under the Lake” by Garth Nix (within Across the Wall)
The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell (prose and poetry)
The Keltiad Series by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (mostly out of print but you might find these used or in a library)
Mythology books:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Circe by Madeline Miller
Sunblind by Ramona Meisel (modern retelling in prose and poetry format of Icarus and Apollo)
A Hundred Forevers by Ramona Meisel (modern retelling in prose and poetry format of Hades and Persephone)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Hekití and the Moon: A Taíno Legend by M.C. Olmo
If Lost, Please Return To by A.M. Valenza
Fairy tale-inspired fantasy books:
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher
More Than Enough by Elizabeth Wambheim
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones*
A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Robbergirl by S.T. Gibson
The Phoenix Dance by Dia Calhoun
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine*
The Fairy’s Return by Gail Carson Levine*
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker* (the bookspiration for Princess Tiana)
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale*
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
Valor Vol. 1 compiled by Isabelle Melançon
Valor Vol. 2 compiled by Isabelle Melançon
Funny fantasy books:
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson #1)
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede (Enchanted Forest #1)*
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Mort by Terry Pratchett
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett**
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Digger by Ursula Vernon*
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones*
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine*
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett**
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
Graphic novels with fantasy content:
Digger by Ursula Vernon
The Hedge Knight by Ben Avery and George R.R. Martin
Valor Vol. 1 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (also includes short stories)
Valor Vol. 2 compiled by Isabelle Melançon (also includes short stories)
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang
Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman (The Sandman comics series)
Creepy fantasy books:
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore** (content warnings for abuse and suicide)
The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire
The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (note content warnings for just about everything in this series)
The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix
Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell (has disturbing content)
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
NOTE: With possibly the exception of Shadow Spinner, don’t read these if you are easily triggered by disturbing content (e.g. death, abuse, etc.), in particular Briar Rose because it is a Holocaust story.
Stories that are downright disturbing and pure nightmare fuel (welcome to my hell):
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher (based on the story of Scheherazade)
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (Holocaust story written by a Jewish author, very disturbing and contains homophobia in addition to depictions of Nazi-era antisemitism)
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (Alice in Wonderland... but like a really super fucked up AU)
Wendy by Karen Wallace (disturbing Peter Pan retelling and has child abuse so FYI)
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (unsettling Cinderella retelling in the era of the Dutch tulip mania)
The Problem of Susan by Neil Gaiman (available here and a very dark “what if” about the character Susan Pevensie)
Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman (available here and a very dark retelling of Snow White)
Never by T. Kingfisher (available here and an incredibly disturbing and dark Peter Pan retelling so don’t say I didn’t warn you)
Elegant and Fine by T. Kingfisher (available here and yet another “what if” story about Susan Pevensie)
The Wolf & the Woodsman by T. Kingfisher (available here and a dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood)
The Bones of the Earth by Scott Hale (body horror and very disturbing apocalyptic fiction with both sci-fi and fantasy elements)
The Fever King by Victoria Lee (lots of trauma, CSA, death, medical scenes, etc)
Fantasy books with less magic:
Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman
The Hedge Knight by Ben Avery and George R.R. Martin
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
Nightblade by Garrett Robinson
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
City of Dreams by Hailey Griffiths
Fantasy books and series lacking a major romantic arc:
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett*
Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce (one relationship in later books but no romantic endgame)
Circle of Magic and Circle Opens Quartets by Tamora Pierce*
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis* (except The Horse and His Boy)
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques* (also many of his other kid-friendly Redwall books, but it depends so send me an ask or check the fan wiki)
See also: https://bookriot.com/2016/10/12/100-must-read-ya-books-little-no-romance/
Fantasy books that will give you an existential crisis and/or food for thought:
The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin (also available here)
The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley*
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (also called The Golden Compass or Northern Lights)
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
Tales of Neveryon by Samuel R. Delany
Fantasy books with religious satire and/or social commentary, from left to right:
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (also called The Golden Compass or Northern Lights)
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
Fantasy books with Christian elements/themes:
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (again content warnings for just about everything for the entire series)
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis*
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques*
Redwall series by Brian Jacques* (and yes, I’ve read dozens of those books so I’m well aware that it’s not nearly as overt in this series as in the Flying Dutchman series but c’mon, it’s about an Abbey led by Abbots and Abbesses and St Ninian’s Church is canonical)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones
Ascendant by Kimberly Grey
Fantasy books about books or the writing process:
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett**
The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley*
The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (Spiderwick #1)
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Thornfruit by Felicia Davin
Bonus Book Rec Sections:
Ocean Organisms and Folklore:
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn
Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
If Lost, Please Return To by A.M. Valenza
The Gardener’s Hand series by Felicia Davin
The Ladies Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Lady Knights:
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
First Test by Tamora Pierce
Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
More Than Enough by Elizabeth Wambheim
Plant Nerds Unite:
Briar’s Book (Circle of Magic) by Tamora Pierce
Street Magic (Circle Opens) by Tamora Pierce
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
The Gardener’s Hand series by Felicia Davin
Circe by Madeline Miller
Political Intrigue:
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Heist and Urban Fantasy:
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Jade City by Fonda Lee
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Fever King by Victoria Lee (warnings for trauma, CSA, other dark content; this is a fantasy dystopia in a way)
Beka Cooper: Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Superheroes & Supervillains:
The Fever King by Victoria Lee
Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee
The Posterchildren by Kitty Burroughs
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Medically-Focused Protagonists:
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Ladies Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
The Posterchildren by Kitty Burroughs
Briar’s Book (Circle of Magic) by Tamora Pierce
Free Internet-Only Stories, Series, and Webcomics:
If you want a good fantasy series that’s entirely on the internet and that parodies and subverts common fantasy tropes, I highly recommend the Pretentious Pentad by Limyaael, which starts with Prophecy of Four Royals With One Mistake.
Aerial Magic by walkingnorth on webtoons (witchy stuff, wlw, wholesome fluff)
Sharp Zero by robotsharks on Tapas (superheroes, basically all the lgbt+ rep you could possibly imagine)
Worm, a dark superhero web serial on Wordpress with a lot of content warnings
Of the Wild by Elizabeth Wambheim on Wordpress
Footnotes:
*Appropriate for young children ~ 7-10 years old and up, so older readers might find the writing a bit juvenile, though they might still enjoy it
**A later book in a series, so YMMV on whether or not you want to read the previous ones first
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