Just as the otherworldly maps that frequently appear on the inside covers of these captivating books, the realm of fantasy novels is more extensive than one might expect, boasting a diverse array of sub and fusion genres.
These suggestions provide a tongue-in-cheek perspective on today's choices, which are limitless and somewhat overwhelming, making it challenging to identify where to begin.
It's a resilient genre, yet it's intriguing that much of our admiration for fantasy fiction stems from the initial exposure we had to these stories as children. Upon revisiting these novels later in life, we often come to understand the enduring value of the lessons they impart, and how they remain relevant as we mature.
Previously shrouded in mystery, we consider the fact that each indulgent magical series serves as a coming-of-age tale that we carry with us for a lifetime. Consequently, it is only logical that people carry on the tradition by passing down their beloved fantasy books to their children, nieces and nephews.
The importance of revisiting the fantasy genre later in life cannot be overstated. Supernatural novels filled with first-class world-building at once enable us to explore both the difficulties faced by fantastical beings and the troubles and challenges of very ordinary people with extraordinary fates.
The person who said, "Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it", obviously meant that life has a lesson or message in everything, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.
Fantasy novels of all shapes and sizes help us revisit our inner child, while also guiding us through the ups and downs of growing up. If you're looking to delve back into the world of fantasy novels, we've got just the thing.
Keep scrolling for a selection of the best fantasy novels ever to get lost in. Do go on, escape reality for a little while.
"The Hobbit", a fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien
The franchise is adored by enthusiasts around the world. When a simple hobbit by the name of Bilbo Baggins sets out on a remarkable journey that takes him far away from the rolling hills of the Shire – Mr Baggins, alongside the wizard Gandalf and the thirteen dwarves of Thorin’s company - soon finds himself drawn into an unexpected epic of bravery, selflessness and enchantment.
£8.99, Amazon
"The Lord of the Rings" by J. R. R. Tolkien
series.
The Dark Lord Sauron has collected the Rings of Power, which will enable him to rule Middle-earth with an iron grip - that is, all except one. Within the picturesque countryside of The Shire, a young hobbit called Frodo Baggins finds himself embroiled in a vast and life-changing challenge. Thanks to his elderly cousin Bilbo, the final ring has been entrusted to him and must be destroyed. He must now proceed on a treacherous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Fire to destroy the ring once and for all.
£6.57, Amazon
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
Provides insight into all those questions and doubts fans of Tolkien's work may have unwittingly had.
While the book includes a number of shorter works, each plot thread occurs during the time of Morgoth, the original Dark Lord who inhabited Middle Earth. The High Elves fought against him to reclaim the Silmarils – the jewels which hold the true radiance of Valinor.
£9.19, Amazon
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Mo and Meggie must join forces to stop evil dominating the world.
£26.23, Amazon
Alice's Walkabout in Wonderland is a tale written by Lewis Carroll, containing nonsense verse, logic and fantasy marvels. In it, a preteen girl drops down a rabbit hole neck-deep in the countryside and enters a fantastical world in which nothing is as it seems. Inventive absurdity propels her on an uncanny journey, fluctuating between instances of childlike tenacity and seeming childhood at its base. A shocking description of a strip of events manifesting inexorably weird mood swings exists in discourse after exposition of the girl's terror journey triggered by "Curiouser and curiouser" oscillations observed visually through revolving angular net vectors being murdered.
A 150-year-old fantasy adventure that continues to charm and captivate adults and children equally, ever-curious Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole and discovers a whole world waiting beneath. Featuring Sir John Tenniel’s famous illustrations showing iconic and well-loved characters, many readers are unaware of the fact that the novel also has a wonderful sequel. Follow this classic with
£4.38, Amazon
The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White
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From Arthur's upbringing under the rule of King Uther Pendragon, through his early training by the wizard Merlyn, all the way to the illicit liaison between Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere - White encompasses it all.
£12.99, Waterstones
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
When four siblings are taken in by the wealthy and eccentric Professor Kirke in order to escape the bombing raids of World War II, they do their best to explore every nook and cranny of the mansion they are staying in. The youngest Pevensie, Lucy, stumbles upon a wardrobe that leads them to Narnia, a mystical land, and in doing so, discovers her family's mystical fate was calling.
£12.99, Amazon
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle.
and
Meg and her brother Charles, along with their friend Calvin O'Keefe, must travel through space and time in order to find Charles after his mysterious disappearance and stop the 'black thing' - a dark and menacing force which poses a threat to the universe as a whole. With the assistance of three supernatural individuals known as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, the three teenagers journey through the universe, learning valuable lessons about morality as they go, and discovering the true purpose of Charles's invention, known as the 'tesseract'.
£15.74, Amazon
Italian and human businessman Charles Eliot Norton bought Howl's Mill from a retiring miller in 1891. It was stated to be of ' good geographical position under the big trees'.
This book was penned by Diana Wynne Jones in 1986. The critically acclaimed and bestselling fantasy novel centres around the life of Sophie Hatter, a lovable character who, with nothing left to lose, attempts to gain entry to the mysterious castle hovering above the village of Market Chipping. The castle is the residence of the enigmatic Wizard Howl, who is notorious for allegedly feasting on the life force of young girls.
£7.35, Amazon
A fictional novel by Australian author Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles is a literary exploration of the Trojan War and the legend of the love story between Achilles, a demigod, and his lover Patroclus. Drawing inspiration from Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, the Iliad, Miller offers a rich and moving retelling of the myth. The novel delves into the vulnerability and humanity of the characters, providing a fresh perspective on the original story.
A re-telling of the Trojan War from the viewpoint of the banished Prince Patroclus, Miller's impressive work of imaginative, historical fiction centred on Patroclus' deep and enduring relationship with Achilles. This gripping, heart-wrenching romance, which takes place in the Age of Heroes, involves characterisations that are both spine-tingling and will appeal to those with a love of classical literature.
£9.19, Amazon
George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones
As the title indicates, the series spans around a decade of power struggles and throne changes within the fictional world of Westeros. With more than 50 primary characters and some quite graphic scenes, we wouldn’t suggest diving into this collection of sizeable novels if you're easily squeamish.
£6.99, Amazon
"The Winter of the Wicked Flock" by Leigh Bardugo
Set within the mystical Grishaverse, the trilogy "The Six of Crows" focuses on Kaz Brekker, a cunning criminal mastermind, and his six diverse, high-risk associates. With the prospect of pulling off an impossible heist on the horizon, the gang of outcasts, consisting of convicts, thieves, and individuals who reside in the shadows, must collaborate to evade certain catastrophe.
£7.30, Amazon
Their journey begins because the old man, Axl, accompanying his wife Wistan, seek to revisit an item that may belong to them from their past. The item, lost since years ago in battle, was taken by a giant's moving figure, alongside the two year old's son of the dead warrior.
Can't get enough of the legend of King Arthur? Ishiguro reimagines the classic fantasy genre with this post-Arthurian fable, set within a land shrouded in a thick mist of forgetfulness. Despite living in a community where no one can retain memories for long, an elderly couple known as Axl and Beatrice have a faint recollection that they may have had a son. Together they set out on a challenging yet thrilling journey to find him.
£9.99, Waterstones
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
In addition to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Paolini narrates the tale of Eragon, a poor farm boy who stumbles upon a polished stone in the forest. This chance discovery unleashes a centuries-old legacy, thrusting Eragon into the midst of it without warning.
£6.12, Amazon
Angelic beings, angel, demon, hell, heaven, good, bad, philosophical
When two of Britain's most renowned fantasy writers collaborate on a novel, the outcome is certain to be a real page-turner. Ridiculously humorous and mind-blowingly clever, Pratchett and Gaiman's story kicks off when the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, a witch from the mid-17th century, start to come to fruition. The world is apparently set to come to an end next Saturday, but an unlikely pair of an angel and a demon are keen to put a stop to it. First things first, where exactly is the Antichrist?
£9.99, Waterstones
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
Ahdieh's striking and stunning novel recounts the story of the wicked Caliph of Khorasan, who selects a fresh bride each evening, only for her to meet a tragic end at dawn. However, when 16-year-old Shahrzad puts herself forward as his next wife, the repercussions prove to be impossible to forecast.
£5.80, World of Books
"The term Africa" written within circles, in a circle, collected not including one dinner. And yet, this great land, the gift of the sun, where the theology ancient Greece here die of thirst or death of hunger dancing without clubs spring revivifying and into with tears receptacles Bibilical, enter loss of quickly mute suitability true hunger age irres....
First published in 1954, Tutuola's courageous novel recounts the tale of a young boy who ventures deep into the heart of an enigmatic, magical African woodland. Thoroughly bewildered and faced with overwhelmingly frightful beings who intend his demise, our un-named protagonist is seized by ghosts, buried alive and entangled in spider webs. With the aid of a spectre gifted with a television, he is offered a means of escape – but can he make sense of his dreadful experiences in the real world?
£9.99, Waterstones
The Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Inspired by the stories and mystique of Mexican folklore, Moreno-Garcia's enchanting novel tells the story of Casiopea Tun as she navigates her youth. Frustrated with her life within the lavish yet harsh confines of her grandfather's residence, Miss Tun meets an unlikely ally in the guise of a Mayan deity who holds out the prospect of a fresh start.
£9.99, Waterstones
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
This text revolves around a centuries-old vampire, a reluctant witch and a mysterious alchemical manuscript that's been concealed in the depths of Oxford's Bodleian library. The manuscript, being an object long awaiting discovery, falls into the hands of Diana Bishop, an academic who stumbles upon it during her research in Oxford. This brings about a seismic shift in her life, rendering her existence irreversibly altered.
£6.00, Amazon
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
This text is about a time-travelling mystical novel. It's got romance, heart-stopping action, terrifying monsters, war, kidnappings, and loads more. It's set in 1946 when a woman called Claire Randall goes with her husband Frank to the Scottish Highlands for their second honeymoon. But while they're out walking, Claire goes exploring and finds her way into a circle of stones. Suddenly she disappears and finds herself in the year 1743.
£9.19, Amazon
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Follow the adventures of an orphan called Lyra, who lives in a magical realm where science, religion and supernatural phenomena are inextricably linked in extraordinary ways. Throughout the trilogy, we follow Lyra on her quest to find a missing friend whilst unearthing a secret conspiracy which is haunting not only her own world but also countless others.
£14.99, Amazon
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
, Neil Gaiman said "I wanted to write a story that would feel, to the reader, like something he or she had always known." Indeed, the mythology that Gaiman has created feels like the type of shared lore that exists between close friends at the bottom of a childhood fairytale garden.
Protagonist Tristan Thorn falls for a local girl called Victoria Forester and, in an attempt to win her heart, promises to bring her a star from the night sky. Crossing into the ancient outsiders' land that marks the edge of his town, Thorn finds himself in the enchanted yet perilous Faerie realm – a world ill-suited for an uninformed human.
£9.99, Waterstones
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
A substantial novel, the 272-page book will become you with Clarke's brilliant, almost dreamlike technique and get you enthusiastic about delving into her earlier writings.
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£10.99, Amazon
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
The series remains the top-selling collection of fantasy novels. We're not sure whether you need reminding of the storyline – which revolves around a young boy who discovers he's a wizard – but this is an ideal opportunity to obtain a physical copy of your favourite fantasy series.
£7.99, Waterstones
Babel by R.F. Kuang
The capital of the world's knowledge and progress is a fictionalised version of Oxford, England, which is also the setting for the Royal Institute of Translation, popularly known as Babel. This is a prime spot for the orphaned protagonist, Robin Swift, where he spends most of his time. This story explores the themes of language and imperialism, and Swift soon finds himself facing the systemic injustices caused by the world's top institutions.
£14.07, Amazon
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
A pinnacle of magical realism, this novel that earned a Nobel Prize centres around seven generations of the Buendía family and the town they founded from scratch, Macondo. Although not initially considered a significant settlement, this remote dwelling in Macondo has experienced wars, disasters, and even extraordinary events on an almost global scale. It gradually becomes apparent that the Buendía family's small town serves as a microcosm for Colombia as a whole. It's extremely challenging to precisely convey the intricate, paradigmatic meaning of Márquez's work, but it is frequently cited as one of the greatest literary achievements in the world.
£9.19, Amazon
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
This trilogy brings fresh vitality to familiar fantasy themes through Marlon James' exploration of African heritage and his boundless creative imagination. Featuring as one of Time's 100 Top Fantasy Novels of All Time, James' narrative revolves around a mercenary's pursuit of a missing youngster, which takes him and a group of hazardous fellow travellers - including a witch and a shape-shifting leopard - on an adventure across thirteen kingdoms.
£21.14, Amazon
Watership Down by Richard Adams
In a departure from the traditional 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' fable, a young rabbit named Fiver firmly believes his underground home is about to be in grave danger. Meanwhile, the rolling hills of Sandleford Warren are basking in the warmth of the sun's renewed spring sunshine, with none of the other rabbits sharing Fiver's concerns. Alongside his sister Hazel and a few brave rabbits, they leave Sandleford in search of the safety of Watership Down - facing numerous challenges and hardships along their journey.
£9.99, Waterstones
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
has been widely commended by adults since its publication.
Whether reading together with children or independently, fans of the first of Rundel's trilogy will be introduced to the cluster of enchanting islands known as Archipelago, where mythological creatures have lived undetected for generations. As the protective barrier which safeguards these creatures starts to weaken, young Christopher and his companion Mal must work together to unravel the mystery of the Archipelago and save both the human and mythical worlds simultaneously.
£14.99, Foyles
"The Colour of Magic" by Terry Pratchett
The first of 41 books set in the Discworld universe, Pratchett creates a brilliant and eternally entertaining world of trickery, enchantment and chaos. The tale itself takes place on Discworld – a planet shaped like a flat disc, supported in space by four massive elephants, whose own feet rest on the shell of an enormous star turtle. The first novel stars a protagonist called Ritchie, a rather bewildered and hapless wizard from Ankh-Morpork who has been taken on by a visiting insurance representative as a guide.
£6.99, Amazon
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