Anyone making a list of great fantasy books has to mention Tolkien’s epic Lord of the Rings series. Its unique world blends Western and post-apocalyptic themes with a sprawling, multiversal journey.
Uprooted is set in a Polish folklore-inspired world and avoids cliches with its intelligent protagonist. It’s an enthralling story with a fun magic system.
We found another great list 23 Fantasy Romance Books of 2023 – You’ll Keep Reading These All Night Long
The Shadow King
In a novel that carries the echoes of an entire history, Mengiste depicts a time when Ethiopia—then known as Abyssinia—tried to stand up to Mussolini’s 1935 invasion. Orphaned maid Hirut joins Kidane’s guerilla army, disguises herself as a shadow of the Emperor and inspires women to fight the Italian invaders.
The story of Hirut’s transformation into a warrior—physically and metaphorically—is a triumph. The book is full of complex characters with rich backstories and Mengiste’s writing is beautiful but never florid, making it unputdownable.
The themes are powerful; a call for the world to remember those who’ve died in senseless violence, and an exploration of what it means to be a woman at war. As the climactic battle concludes, all of the foundation and development laid in the first two books comes to a rousing conclusion. And the arc is completed in such a way that you’ll want to revisit these remarkable heroes again. A modern-day Iliad, this is a novel that you don’t want to miss. By the end, you’ll be in love with these Ethiopian heroines and their harrowing struggle against European colonizers.
The Bard’s Blade
The self-published author of the Godling Chronicles and Dragonvein series makes the transition to Tor with this fantasy epic. Though the story has echoes of classical, chosen-one fantasy (a genre, I’ll admit, is overused, but is still popular for good reason) Anderson manages to suffuse it with his own unique touch, creating a thrilling first novel in this Crescent City series.
The characters were interesting and easy to relate to. The world was a fascinating one, set on a version of Earth invaded by all manner of magical creatures thousands of years ago that ended humankind’s dominance over the planet. The various factions, hierarchies, and magical creatures are all well established and highly original, giving the book a lot of cool depth.
It was also a great story about two young protagonists coming to terms with the harsh reality of the world beyond their own sheltered home and what they would have to give up in order to change it. A highly recommended read! ARC provided by publisher.
Mortal Follies
This one has that classic fantasy feel, like something to be read curled up with a blanket and some hot chocolate. It’s a well-thought out plot that defies the expectations of the genre and has an awesome sarcastic demon for a narrator.
This third installment in the Red Rising trilogy has an epic, gut-wrenching conclusion that is truly spellbinding. Sanderson’s world-building and the complex system of magic that powers this universe are masterful, but it’s his human themes that really make his work stand out. The book touches on depression and addiction, which is refreshing in a genre often filled with knights and dragons.
Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series cemented her as a legend in the genre. Her intricate, enchanting world and the many lords and ladies she populated it with are some of the most iconic characters in fantasy fiction. She also brought the satirical side of fantasy into play, using her witty narrator and world to explore real-world issues such as social class, policing, and even religion with clever wit.
The First Bright Thing
The dark and fantastical circus has a way of enchantment and terrifying its audience at the same time. Dawson pulls this off through the use of strong characters as well as a richness of layered narratives.
Fans of magical realism and urban fantasy will enjoy this book as it darts between timelines. However, it will resonate most with those that understand the very real power of abusive relationships. The First Bright Thing tackles themes of choices, toxic relationships, and the ways we use our powers.
Unlike the darker works of Shakespeare, this story makes these deeper concepts accessible to younger readers while still retaining the integrity of William’s work. With a plot full of murder, backstabbing, and gossip, this is a fun read that would make Shakespeare proud. It’s also a great choice for those who are intrigued by magic, the circus, and all of its wonder. The act members – the Ringmaster, Trapeze Artist and Nightingale -name themselves misfits in more ways than one. Each of them have a Spark that ranges from time travel to healing bullet wounds.
Divine Rivals
Divine Rivals is an epic rivals-to-lovers romance set in a fantasy world inspired by a war between gods. The backstory about the gods Dacre and Enva is woven throughout, but this is more of a story about humans in a time of turmoil. There is a lot of grief, PTSD, alcoholism and violence but also hope and love in this book.
Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt compete for the same position at Oath Gazette, but when she starts writing letters to her brother on the front lines that mysteriously get magically rerouted to Roman thanks to their linked magic typewriters, they both start falling for each other. But their relationship is complicated as they are also competing against each other in the race to be a godly correspondent.
The swoony romance in this book is reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail and it was so fun to watch them fall for each other, even though they weren’t really supposed to be together. This is a heartwarming, epic fantasy novel about war, loss and the power of love.
