Where to start with fantasy?
Slightly intimidated by the width of the books, the intricacies of the world-building and the lengthy lists of characters? We’ve rounded up some brilliant fantasy books that are perfect for the beginner reader. Whether you read to be thrilled and entertained or just to escape everyday life, there’s a fantasy book on this list for you.
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Dark and deadly, The City of Stardust is the perfect place to begin with fantasy if you like the sound of a magical underworld filled with quests and keys.
Violet Everly’s family is cursed by an immortal woman named Penelope. Violet’s mother disappeared trying to break the curse, and now the burden falls on Violet – or else she’ll be taken by Penelope, too. Violet must journey to a darkly magical place, meeting wicked scholars, gods, and monsters. She also meets Penelope’s assistant Aleksander, to whom she is inexplicably drawn. Violet must find her mother and the key to the city of stardust, before it’s too late.
City of Stardust is a standalone fantasy, making it perfect to begin your journey with – you’ll be mesmerised.
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The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
Let’s take a step even further into the dark with the gothic The Last Tale of the Flower Bride.
A fairytale scholar named only the Bridegroom marries his unfathomably rich wife Indigo under her one condition – that he never enquire about her past. When a family matter brings Indigo and the Bridegroom to Indigo’s childhood home, he learns of Azure, Indigo’s childhood friend who disappeared in youth. As the magnificent house breathes, the truth – and their marriage – starts to unravel.
Taking great inspiration from fairytales, this twisting and intoxicating standalone fantasy feels like a fever dream.
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Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Like a daring quest as much as you like an enchanting world? Strange the Dreamer is perfect for you.
The lost city Weep is shrouded in mystery. Lazio Strange, orphan and librarian, is obsessed with finding it.
It doesn't matter that his dream that his dream chose him, Lazio doesn't think it's right, he is meant for something different. When a hero named Godslayer invites him to join the search for Weep, Lazio finally has the chance to choose his own dream. As he unravels the mystery of Weep, more arise: who is the blue goddess that appears to Lazio at night? If the gods are dead, how can she be real?
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The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series are an absolute classic of the fantasy genre, starting with The Dragonbone Chair.
Fourteen-year-old Simon is the kitchen-boy of a castle in Osten Ard. He is restless and tired until he becomes the apprentice of the castle’s wizard. As he settles into his new role, the country of Osten Ard is upheaved: their King dies, civil war erupts, and the princes battle for the throne, the Dragonbone Chair. Simon must flee danger, and leave behind everything he has ever known.
Praised as one of George R.R. Martin’s favourite fantasy series, The Dragonbone Chair introduces an epic and legendary world.
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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Like the idea of the boundaries between our world and a magical world blurring? Try Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
Seventeen-year-old Karou doubles as a helper to a creature name Brimstone from Elsewhere, Earth’s twin world of magical beast and celestial bodies. When the boundaries between the two worlds begin to weaken, a war erupts that changes both worlds – and Karou herself – forever.
The first in a magical trilogy and beloved by Stephanie Meyer, Daughter of Smoke and Bone will captivate you.
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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant star in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel.
An Imperial officer lies dead - killed when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even here, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it's a death at once terrifying and impossible. Called in to solve the crime is the eccentric dectective, Ana Dolabra, and her new assistant, Dinios Kol, an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory.
Soon, the mystery leads to a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, an exceptional fantasy mystery with a classic detective duo.
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The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
Not publishing until April next year but we just had to include this. A masterfully woven and breathtakingly epic modern fantasy from award-winning author Antonia Hodgson.
After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for the emperor's reign to end. Seven contenders, trained at rival monasteries, will compete to replace him.
Each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best. Then one of them is murdered. It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering.
A richly drawn world, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth. The fate of nations - and the world - are at stake with Neema, the underdog heroine, you cannot help but root for, fighting to save the day.
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The City of Dusk by Tara Sim
If you love sweeping epic fantasy with fabulous world-building then The City of Dusk, the first in a dark epic fantasy trilogy, is for you.
The Four Realms - Life, Death, Light, and Darkness - all converge on the city of dusk. For each realm there is a god, and for each god there is an heir.
But the gods have withdrawn their favour and without it, all the realms are dying. Unwilling to stand by and watch the destruction, the four heirs - Risha, a necromancer struggling to keep the peace; Angelica, an elementalist with her eyes set on the throne; Taesia, a shadow-wielding rogue with rebellion in her heart; and Nik, a soldier who struggles to see the light- will sacrifice everything to save the city.
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