One thing you should know about me is that I love a good fantasy novel. There are hundreds of great fantasy books to read but so little time. That is why we have made this list of the 25 must read fantasy books of all time. Keep reading to find out which books made the list!
With so many amazing fantasy books out there, there is something for everyone. But many of them won’t make it to this list. Choosing only 25 does not seem fair but this should only be the start of your journey. You can see they full list below!
The 25 Must Read Fantasy Books of All Time
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
- A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
- Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
- The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- The Night Angel by Brent Weeks
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
- A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- Discworld by Terry Pratchett
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
- The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
- Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1 by Patrick Rothfuss
- Temeraire by Naomi Novik
- The Gentlemen Bastards by Scott Lynch
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
- The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
The Lord of the Rings
I 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.
A Song of Ice and Fire
When I think of the best fantasy books, a series that always comes to mind is George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. The world building is detailed and with so many characters, the series should not work. But Martin’s attention to every little thing makes this series one of the best works of fiction there is. And if you have only watched the show, then you are missing out because the novels are even better.
The First Law
One of my favorite series on the list is The First Law by Joe Abercrombie. It is a gritty and bloody series that feels like it belongs on HBO. The characters are interesting and the protagonist has his moments. The world building is what makes this novel special and one of a kind.
The Dresen Files
If you like mystery novels and wanted them to have a flair of fantasy, The Dresden Files should be your next read. Butcher’s writing is brilliant and it feels like a whodunnit instead of your usual world building fantasy novel. Butcher was a big fan of fantasy novels and it shows and it shows in his novels.
Brandon Sanderson Novels
My favorite fantasy writer has to be Brandon Sanderson without a question. He has many great fantasy series and all of them have made me a fan. His characters are likable and his world-building is great. The Stormlight Archive and the Mistborn series have made him a star in the fantasy world.
The Wheel of Time
A popular fantasy series that everyone should give a try is The Wheel of Time series. It has over a dozen books and if you do enjoy the first book, then you are in for a treat. Unfortunately, Jordan passed away before he could complete the series. Fellow fantasy author Brandon Sanderson co-wrote the final three books in the series to wrap it up.
Conclusion
That is all for this list of the 25 must read fantasy books of all time. How many of these fantasy books have you read? What books should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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You listed American Gods twice but any Gaiman is great
Another often overlooked book is The Dark Symphony by Dean Koontz
American god must be really good to get listed twice
How could you ignore The Thousand and One Nights?
George R.R. Martin? Really? The guy’s a hack who writes badly only about two things he obviously has no experience with: sex and warfare. He write his characters into a corner and then kills them off. He writes himself into a corner and then drops the thread without any plot toward such an end.
What about Brooks and Goodkind??!
I kinda figured someone popping a Sci fi list would definitely have the sword of truth series on it. Well if you haven’t read it plz do.
Richard BRAUTIGAN !!!!
The Riddle-Master trilogy by McKillip is an incredible story. I have always hoped it would be made into a film series!
A lot of these aren’t even books they are the name of a series of books.
Hunger games really? Have you ever read Hyperion Books by Dan Simmons or the Coyote books by Max Steele? Your an idiot.