The Best Fantasy Books You Must Read: Updated 2020

Best Fantasy Books

Here are the best Fantasy books by the experts:

1) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling

• Book Summary: Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry’s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin! Undoubtedly one of the best fantasy books.

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2) Where the Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah

• Book Summary:  After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

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3) What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

• Book Summary: Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make?

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4) Seven Stones to Stand or Fall: A Collection of Outlander Fiction by Diana Gabaldon

• Book Summary: Among the seven spellbinding pieces there is “The Custom of the Army,” which begins with Lord John Grey being shocked by an electric eel and ends at the Battle of Quebec. Then comes “The Space Between,” where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In “A Plague of Zombies,” Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn’t a giant rat. “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie’s parents during World War II. In “Virgins,” Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they’re trying. . . . “A Fugitive Green” is the story of Lord John’s elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in “Besieged,” Lord John learns that his mother is in Havana—and that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city.

Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon’s genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection of outstanding fantasy books.

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5) Branded by the Black Wolves by Hollie Hutchins

• Book Summary: I’m on the ground, again.

I have been punched and slammed by someone far bigger and tougher than me.

I can hear the snorts and laughter; I’m the only girl on the training squad.
“This is why someone like you should never be allowed to fight side by side with war brothers.” 

Still, I get up. Not complaining.
This is the life I chose.

So when a stranger challenges me to a duel two minutes later, I don’t hesitate to take him up and agree to his terms that I will do something for him if I lose.

Then it all went black.

I wake up in a cell and realize with terror that I’m probably in werewolf territory, high up in the mountains.

Two hours later, I’m presented to both, the prince’s step-cousin and the prince himself.

“You are lucky, you have been chosen to be our new human concubine. A rare opportunity, given only to the most worthy of women.”

You’ve got to be kidding me?!
This was NOT what I meant by a favor!!!

“Have you bred before?”

WHAT?!

“What about sharing? Two, three men, perhaps?”

EXCUSE ME?!

“Tomorrow will be your first training.”

Next thing I know, I have a royal collar attached to my neck, to denote I belong to them.

“You either walk on your feet or you will be dragged,”  says the prince.

He can’t be serious.
I’m gonna kill them both.

Branded By The Black Wolves is a full-length novel with a HEA. Adult’s only!

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6) Dragon Guard (Earth Dragons Book 1) by Charlene Hartnady

• Book Summary: When Mountain catches the human he’s been tracking, his excitement turns instantly to shock. She’s not who he thought she would be. Not even close. She’s not even one of the females taking part in the hunt. This female is something else entirely.

He needs to get her back to his lair for questioning. His people will be interested in all she has to say. At least, that would be the logical, responsible thing to do. Only, he’s not feeling particularly logical at the moment. Not when looking into her blue eyes, or taking in her curvy body. Nope! Screw being responsible! He’s going to try and win her. The only problem is, this particular female isn’t looking for a mate. His superiors won’t be happy with his choice either, but he’s going for it anyway.

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7) Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay

• Book Summary: From the small coastal town of Senjan, notorious for its pirates, a young woman sets out to find vengeance for her lost family. That same spring, from the wealthy city-state of Seressa, famous for its canals and lagoon, come two very different people: a young artist traveling to the dangerous east to paint the grand khalif at his request—and possibly to do more—and a fiercely intelligent, angry woman posing as a doctor’s wife but sent by Seressa as a spy.

The trading ship that carries them is commanded by the accomplished younger son of a merchant family, ambivalent about the life he’s been born to live. And farther east a boy trains to become a soldier in the elite infantry of the khalif—to win glory in the war everyone knows is coming.

As these lives entwine, their fates—and those of many others—will hang in the balance when the khalif sends out his massive army to take the great fortress that is the gateway to the western world….

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8) Prism Cloud (Harbinger Book 4) by Jeff Wheeler

• Book Summary: When the emperor is assassinated, Sera Fitzempress is the noble most eligible to inherit the empire. Her upcoming marriage to the prince would cement her position. And as a champion for peace, Sera is the only promise of hope for staving off war between the worlds of Kingfountain and Muirwood. But standing between her and her enemies is just one devastating secret.

Sera’s best friend, Cettie, a girl born of a lower class, has made a shattering discovery: her entire existence has been a lie. Now Cettie must give up the only life she’s known and fought for and leave behind the man she loves to stop Sera’s wedding. For this discovery could bring the whole of Kingfountain to ruin.

As Cettie struggles to determine her true loyalties and loves, her allies fall to wicked plots, and she becomes increasingly alone on her journey to a destiny she never wanted—one that could ignite an unstoppable war. An amazing fantasy read.

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9) Awaken Online: Dominion by Travis Bagwell

• Book Summary: Following Jason’s evolution into a Keeper, he finds his fledgling city once again in turmoil. A new and deadly enemy threatens the Twilight Throne — one that has no difficulty contending with Jason and the members of Original Sin.

Jason must work quickly to consolidate his city’s power. That means securing the villages within the Twilight Throne’s influence, finding a steady stream of income, and growing the city’s military strength. Even as the group grapples with these changes, they notice that something is stirring up the native undead around the city, although the source of this strange influence is uncertain.

One thing is clear, however. Jason might have evolved, but his enemies have adapted with him. If the Twilight Throne is to survive, the group must grow stronger and Jason must learn to control his newfound abilities.

Otherwise, the darkness may very well claim them all.

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10) Shadow Sun Survival: Shadow Sun Book One by Dave Willmarth

• Book Summary: Allistor is a gamer geek who has spent most of his life indoors, playing virtual reality MMORPGS and reading classic LitRPG books. But when Earth is seized by an ancient race wielding incredibly advanced tech, who transport the entire planet to a new location with twin suns, he finds himself fighting to survive in real life. The human race is declared a contaminant, and the new overlords decree that 90% of us will be exterminated. Creatures out of myth and legend are sent to do the killing. Dragons, titans, alien creatures big and small, all with a hunger for human flesh. Humans who survive the first year will be rewarded.

After seeing his family killed in the first week, Allistor leads a small group of survivors in their struggle to stay alive. Not satisfied with simple survival, he strives to make himself and his people stronger. The new ‘magic’ RPG system that now governs the planet is something he can work with, and teach others to exploit. Thrust into a leadership position, and with vengeance in his heart, Allistor aims to establish a stronghold, then take the fight to the monsters who seek to enslave his people.

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Best Fantasy Movies

If you enjoyed the best fantasy books, why stop there? Take a look at our list of best fantasy movies and witness these marvelous films from the big screen.

1)The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King

Starring: Vebjørn Enger , Eili Harboe , Mads Sjøgård Pettersen , et al.
Directed by: Mikkel Brænne Sandemose

Conclusion

What do you think about our list of best fantasy books? If you have another genre that you prefer to read we have probably compiled a list of our favorites for that genre too. So if you are looking for something other than the best fantasy books you can find other genres here.