My favorite genre has to be fantasy because of how much attention to detail there is. But with so many fantasy novels out there, the best fantasy books can be overlooked and forgotten. Keep read to find out the three fantasy novels that you must read once in your life!
The list of fantasy novels out there is ever growing. Trying to read all of the fantasy novels is an impossible task. That is why you should start with the must reads and branch out.
This list highlights three books that are deemed important fantasy novels. They have shaped the genre and are overall great novels that all book lovers should read. You can see the full list below
Three Fantasy Novels That You Must Read
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
- The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie
The Lord of the Rings
If you love fantasy novels, then you have to read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only is it an amazing series but it is the formula that many fantasy authors have used to write their novels. If you have read a bunch of fantasy novels, then you have most likely come across troupes that were popularized by Tolkien.
The First Law
While most people agree that TLOTR is the best fantasy novel and series, the debate really starts at number two. Your taste is going to play a role in what makes your pick. For me, The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie.
The series has a dark and gritty style that makes these book feel nothing like The Lord of the Rings and yet, you can’t put the novel down. I have seen books copy this style of writing and when done right, these novels are amazing reads.
Harry Potter
While the second novel on this list was hard to pick, the third seems almost impossible. There are a few choices and each of them have a good reason to be selected. Ultimately, the novel that feels right has to be the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.
The novels are amazing and the worldbuilding make it one of the most interesting worlds out there in fiction. The books appeal to all ages and the uptick is novels involving wizards and magic are proof alone that the series has changed the genre.
Honorable Mentions
Because I had a few books in mind that just missed out, I wanted to mention them here. On various lists, books such as The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, The Earthsea Cycle series by Ursula K. LeGuin, and The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis may make the top three. Or even A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin.
Conclusion
These are the three fantasy novels that you must read once in your life. What do you make of our picks? What novels should we include on our next list? Let us know in the comments below!
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You didn’t even mention Steven Erickson’s MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN or ELRIC
Have not read Elric, but Malazan Book of the Fallen is hands down the best epic fantasy series I have read. That’s definitely a must-read for fantasy fans.
I have to agree. Malazan books if the fallen is, arguably, the best fantasy series around. Found that after wheel of time, which was my number one. Joe Abercrombie and j.k. Rowling are good but they can’t compare with those two
To fantasy fans I would argue Harry Potter is very optional. Harry Potter is maybe a good entry book to get kids and adolescents interested in reading and maybe as a platform to the enjoyment of fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very entertaining and I enjoyed reading it as an adult. But compared to many, many other series, the world-building is fairly poor, the plot mechanisms are simplistic, there’s very little if any character development, and the characters themselves are highly unoriginal.
What about Stephen Donaldson’s The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever?
I believe that Shannon Mayer’s “The Desert Cursed” series should be on the list SOMEWHERE! It is an awesome read, sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn’t let you go until the epic conclusion. The characters are well thought out with lots of depth to them, even the secondary characters are memorable because of the way she handles each and every one of them.
All I can say of Shannon Mayer’s writing is: sublime and superb!
Terry Brooks Shannara books are a must read. I also love his Landover Books (Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold). Tolkien and Martin are classics as are Le Guin and Lewis. Anne McCaffrey’s PERN series are brilliant fantasy (which turn into Sci-Fi).
In regards to Harry Potter, I love my literature and authors with a side of antisemitism and transphobia!
How can George R R Martin’s novels of The Song of Fire and Ice even be considered? He never finished the series! At least after Robert Jordan died, Brandon Sanderson was able to complete his series.