The 25 Best Fantasy Books: Our Pick in 2021

In our latest ebook, -World-Building 101: How to Construct an Unforgettable Universe for Your Fantasy or Sci-Fi Story, we dive into the top 10 fictional worlds ever created to see what they can tell us about creating our own fantastic universes.

We couldn't leave it at ten. In this article, we dive into the top 25 fantasy novels ever written.

Have you ever thought of writing your own fantasy novel? One of the best things you can do is take inspiration from others and get to know your genre. So without further ado, here's our pick of the 25 best fantasy books ever written.

1. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

The popularity of this series has exploded in recent years, so which list wouldn't A Game of Thrones be on? If you like multiple intricate storylines, a cast of characters where no one is safe from death, and a world full of lords, knights, bastards, wizards, ladies, and more, then you will love this series. It has magic, intrigue, mysteryland a lot of romance; essentially a world like you have never encountered before.

See Also: 20 Best Urban Fantasy Series Books

2. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

One ring rules them all. The Dark Lord put all his powers into One Ring which was taken from him. After years in Middle-earth, Bilbo Baggins ends up at the ring. After reaching his twenty-first year, he disappears and the ring becomes the property of Frodo, his cousin. Thus begins the epic quest to destroy the ring and everything it stands for.

3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

The land where children tumble out of a wardrobe, a secret land where only Lucy, Peter, Susan and Edmund are known. Lucy finds it first, followed by Edmund and the others. There they discover magic and Aslan, the big lion. And it changes their lives forever.

4. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

What would happen if characters grew up in a fantasy world and found they had modern fears and problems? What would be the best job for a troll in town? The Color of Magic explores the answers to questions everyone has but dares to ask about fantasy heroes.

5. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Fitz is born a bastard of royal blood with a magical link to animals called White. When he is finally adopted into the royal house, he must give up his bond with animals and embrace a new way of life and his - training to become a royal assassin.

6. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch Set

In a fantastic world of criminals and nobles, The Lies of Locke Lamora isan adventure, loyalty and survival guide along the lines of Robin Hood and Ocean's Eleven. Locke Lamora dodges death, slavery, and more only to fall into the hands of a con man known as Chains.

7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

A coming-of-age story set in a fantasy world. The Name of the Wind tells the story of a young man who grows into a notorious wizard. With a beginning that begins in a group of traveling players, Kvothe finally enters a school of magic. Lots of action and adventure make Kvothe a refugee wanted for murder.

8. Dragon flight by Anne McCaffrey

Goodreads' description begins: "HOW CAN A GIRL SAVE A WHOLE WORLD?" Lessa, who most people think of as an insignificant kitchen girl, decides it's time to take back her stolen birthright. But then she meets the dragon queen and forms a fast and strong bond. Dragons and their riders must protect the planet Thread, but at what cost?

9. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

As the wheel of time continues to turn, centuries come and go, leaving legends fading into a myth long forgotten. It is not until the third age, the age of prophecy, that the world and time are both in balance. Now, what was, what is, and what will be can fall under the shadow.

10. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Abercrombie combines an unlikely cast of characters: a philosophical barbarian who hates to kill, a dashing hero who fears to fight, and a crippled torturer with a heart of gold. This unlikely cast, coupled with an interesting plot and wizard, treads a hero-villain line that could cost them anything.

11. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

An epic fantasy where mystical swords and armor turn ordinary men into invincible warriors, kingdoms are won and exchanged for Shardblades. An interesting cast of characters from around the fantasy world wages their own battles, sometimes with less than pure motives.

12. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

Malazan's fantasy world is full of discontent due to countless wars, bitter infighting and bloody confrontation. Empress Laseen's imperial legions, remembered for the bloodshed, seek a break. But her rule is absolute, enforced by her dreaded Claw hitmen. As the Empress turns her site into new battles, the gods themselves prepare for a little interference.

Why are these books so successful?

We're halfway through our list of the best fantasy books of all time - but why are these books so great?

All the books on this list completely immerse their reader in their stories. Their plots are by no means simple, but they are written in such a way that their readers can step themselves into complex new worlds without overwhelming them with information.

This may seem effortless, but a lot of work goes into producing fantasy writing that works. If you have a whole world in your head waiting to appear on the page, you may have considered writing a book. If you construct a world that readers simply want to enter, that book might one day become one of the best of all time.

But before we get there, your writing must be fantastic. Using an editing tool like ProWritingAid will help you learn as you write, teaching you how to make your writing readable, well paced and, of course, grammatically correct!

Did you know that your pace can have a major impact on readability? You may have planned every detail of your world, right down to the types of fork each character uses at dinner, but does your reader need to know every detail at once?

ProWritingAid's tempo report will highlight areas where your writing is a bit too introspective or a heavy description so you can balance it out with some action. If you can see an outline of your writing, you can keep track of your novel as a whole to make sure that each part does the work it takes to get your world into the minds of your readers.

Even if you're not writing a novel, you can use ProWritingAid to check all the writing you make to make sure your written communication is as effective as possible.

Now, back to the list!

13. The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Roland Deschain from Gilead is the Last Gunslinger. He is a mysterious figure on a quest through a desolate fantasy world in search of the man in black. Roland is a good man, but he leaves death behind. The man in black, on the other hand, can bring the dead back to life.

14. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ged is the greatest wizard in all of Earthsea, but he was called Sparrowhawk in his youth. It was as Sparrowhawk that the terrible shadow was released over the world. Ged must master the mighty word of power, tame an ancient dragon, and cross the threshold of death to restore balance to his world.

15. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Over 800 pages of world building, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrelltell the story of English magicians who have lost their ability to perform magic. That is, until a reclusive magician regains some powers. He is soon asked for his powers and everything is fine until a rival magician appears: Jonathan Strange.

16. Golden Compass Philip Pullman's

Lyra rushes to the cold north where witch clans and armored bears rule - and where Gobblers take children, including her friend Roger. Lyra's fearsome uncle Asriel tries to build a bridge to a parallel world, but Lyra is a little girl. Can she make a difference in this great and terrible endeavor?

17. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

In a world where the evil of the king is infinite, can Eragon and the young dragon navigate treacherous terrain and vast, dark enemies? Can Eragon take on the legendary Dragon Riders? Eragon is pushed into a world of destiny, magic and power and realizes that the fate of the empire may be in his hands.

18. Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind

The first in the Sword of Truth series, Wizard's First Rule, begins with the murder of Richard Cypher's father. Suddenly, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard's forest. She needs help - and more. Will Richard find the courage to challenge those in power?

19. The Once and Future King by TH White

Who doesn't love the mystical, magical legend of King Arthur? In The Once and Future King, a young lad named "Wart" comes under the tutelage of Merlyn the wizard to create a great future. Wart will unite with the greatest knights in the realm, love a legendary queen, and unite a land under knightly values. He becomes Arthur, the King of the British.

20. Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

In the kingdom of the islands, an orphan, Pug, comes to the coastal forest to study with the magician Kulgan. He may have won the beautiful princess's heart, but normal wizardry leaves him cold. However, its strange magic can save two worlds from dark creatures opening up space-time to start an old battle between Order and Chaos again.

21. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

Jorg Ancrath, who was once a privileged royal child raised by a loving mother, has become the Prince of Thorns, an immoral boy who leads a band of bandits. The whole fantasy world is in chaos and Jorg can rule the living and the dead, but something even more gruesome confronts him. He must face the horrors of his childhood and build a better future for himself.

22. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Featuring a cast of gods that have almost washed up, American Gods Tells the story of power increasing and decreasing in modern times. When war with modern gods turns its evil head, Shadow Moon meets Mr. Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee, a former god and the king of America.

23. The Black Company by Glen Cook

The Black Company was an influence in Martin's A Song of Fire and Iceand deserves to be read for that very reason. Is the newly risen Lady the force that stands between humanity and evil - or is she herself bad? The stoic, tough men of the Black Company do their job until the prophecy is proven: The White Rose has been reborn and re-embodies the good.

24. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

The one real world, Amber, casts infinite shadow worlds of herself that can manipulate with royal blood. But when the royal family is torn apart by the disappearance of Patriarch Oberon, the crown is there for the taking and Corwin, the crown prince of Amber, is amnesiac - even the fact that he is the rightful heir to the throne.

25. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

What fantasy list would be complete without JK Rowling's Harry Potter series? Harry discovers he has magical powers and is sent to Hogwarts Wizarding School to develop them. Once there, he discovers a secret object hidden in the castle walls that Harry must keep from falling into bad hands.

Final Thoughts

So many other titles should be on the list but weren't. What's your favorite fantasy novel we left behind? Let us know in the comments below so we can get the final list up and running.

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links, so buying one of the books will support ProWritingAid's evolution without it costing you extra - whoop!