Fantasy Books That Should Be On Your List
The 10 Best Fantasy Books You Haven’t Read
Stories to inspire your creativity
Books are a great way to learn your craft, and there’s no better time than now to read, reread, and explore. To help get you started down the path of reading books you may have missed in school or never had the opportunity to read for leisure, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite books that seem like they would be intriguing reads. All these titles are also highly recommended by professionals across various fields.
The following is a sort of top ten list, sorted by the genres I normally read (fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and horror). The books are the ones that have meant the most to me, those that helped me to grow and develop as a reader. They are not necessarily the best books I’ve ever read — they just happened to be the best for me in my early years of reading.
Hope that you’ll find some interesting titles and be able to enjoy them as much as I have!
Fantasy Books In The List
“The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien (no one needs an introduction to this book). The first time I read it, I was 9 years old. It’s a children’s book, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad — it’s magnificent, and a classic I still return to from time to time. Some say it’s for kids, but as an adult, I find so much beauty in the writing of this book.
The “Narnia” books by C.S. Lewis (this trilogy was number one on my all-time list). I read the first one (“The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”) when I was 12. This was another world for me — a land inhabited by fauns and centaurs, dragons, and giant talking beavers. It was like I’d found my home in Narnia. I’ve read them many times over the years — they remain with me.
“A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula K. Le Guin (probably one of my favorite fantasy books ever). I was 14 the first time I read it, and even then, I appreciated the writing and the story. It’s a coming-of-age tale that follows Ged from boy to man and touches on dark themes with a strange but appealing mix of hope.
The “Discworld” books by Terry Pratchett (one of my favorites ever). Maybe it’ll seem childish — but it isn’t! A series about a flat world, supported by five elephants standing on top of a giant turtle. The stories are funny and witty. And the author takes you through a lot of different genres and subgenres.
“Anansi Boys” by Neil Gaiman (I fell in love with the story, characters, and writing). This was probably the book that made me understand that fiction can be as real to me as life itself. It’s about a boy who finds out he has an older brother he didn’t know about — but his brother isn’t human…
The “Harry Potter” books by J.K. Rowling (I read them all, but these were the first ones I fell in love with). So many people have told me how much children relate to these characters that go to school and are mistreated by adults — I know because it happened to me. These stories really spoke to me and made me feel as if I could be a part of things and encourage others.
“Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman (a story I fell in love with). This book is about another world, subterranean London. The writing makes this story come alive — we see Richard Mayhew and how his life changes completely when he meets a girl named Door.
“The Stone Dance of the Chameleon” by Octavia E. Butler (one of my first deep impressions as a young reader). The premise is crazy; a girl on a spaceship named Aeryn is sent to Earth for some reason, and she meets a man that seems to not like her at all. This story is so bizarre and interesting that it would have never occurred to me to read it if I hadn’t bought the book with my own money! It was so alien for me in a very good way, and I’ve never forgotten it.
Fantasy Books Outside The Top Ten
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald (a book I enjoy when I’m in the mood for something moody). I’m not that into the classics, but this one is as close to a classic as any I know. A story about an old man and a bunch of rich kids in the 1920s. The writing is fantastic, the characters are well-rounded, and it’s a wonderful book.
“The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making” by Catherynne M. Valente (one of the best books I’ve ever read). It’s a fairy tale retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty. Valente is just incredible with words and imagination. I loved this book so much that I read it again after having read it the first time many years ago.
The Final Word
Here are the ten books I’ve read and really loved. But like I said, the list is only exclusive to fantasy, from the best science fiction to the best mystery classics. Not all favorite readers were in a fantasy genre. Nonetheless, I think that these books work well in any genre.
It’s like Neil Gaiman said — Never let the rules of the world get in the way of a good story.
So, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the list and found some books that you’ll enjoy reading…
In case you’re wondering why I put two titles in one genre, it’s because they are considered classics of both fantasy and science fiction.
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J.D Rehbein-Wrightstein founder of The Savytech articles is a writer who loves to help people discover their hidden potential as well as their true purpose in life. He inspires and educates people on living an awesome life with inspiring articles. Connect with him on Twitter for more!
