One of the best ways to get yourself lost in a novel is to read a high fantasy novel. That is why we have made a list of the 12 high fantasy novels that we loved. Keep reading to find out which ones made our list!
The difference between a regular fantasy novel and a high fantasy novel is that in a high fantasy novel, the setting is not earth. It is another world and that means that the author has to meticulously build this world for the reader to imagine.
We chose some of our favorite books to ever be written and many of them are considered classics in the fantasy genre. And while most readers will be familiar with most of these novels, this should be the push to read the ones that they never got around to.
The list includes older novels such as The Lord of the Rings and newer ones like Mistborn. The high fantasy genre is in good hands and new authors have continued to make strides. That hasn’t stopped older authors such as Andrzej Sapkowski to continue writing. You can see the full list below!
12 High Fantasy Novels That We Loved
- The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie
- Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin
- A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
- Discworld by Terry Pratchett
- His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
- The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1 by Patrick Rothfuss
- Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
- The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
- Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski
- The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
The First Law Trilogy
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.
A Wizard of Earthsea series
A fantasy author that deserves her flowers is Ursula K. Le Guin for her amazing novel A Wizard of Earthsea. Before her novel, a wizard was always an old and wise man. Her protagonist was a young kid learning magic at a school far from home. Yes, her novel influenced the Harry Potter books and her magic system of the name of something having power has been used a lot since then.
Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series is everything I love about the fantasy genre. His world building is unmatched and his magic systems are complex and detailed and a heavy part of his books. The characters are well written and the plot makes you wonder if what the protagonist is doing is actually for the best.
A Song of Ice and Fire
When I think of high fantasy, 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 Lord of the Rings
The fantasy series that helped popularize fantasy novels and high fantasy novels is The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. Middle-Earth is one of the most detailed and familiar high fantasy worlds that readers know.
Some readers say that Tolkien focused too much on world building whereas it hurts the pace of the writing but that makes you able to imagine this world that he loved a lot easier. This is the series that influenced many writers and provided a guideline to world building. It is no wonder that you can see its influence in many novels to this day.
Conclusion
These are the 12 high fantasy novels that we love. How many of these books have you read? What other high fantasy novels comes to mind? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yo. Bookseller of 10 years here. I dispute your use of “High Fantasy” high fantasy is traditional Tolkein style fantasy….swords, orks, dragons, wizard…the “classic” fantasy feel.
A lot of those i would say are “modern” fantasy. Grittier, more realistic takes on the genre that eschew the usual classic tropes.
Ofc, it’s semantics anyway. Some great books in that list!
Tad Williams should have been on the list, most notably his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series. Not only are his fantasies superb, but they are acknowledged to have had truly major influence on other writers such as George R.R. Martin.
What a fantastic roundup of high fantasy novels! Your article not only showcases beloved classics like “The Lord of the Rings” but also introduces newer gems like “The First Law” series by Joe Abercrombie. It’s refreshing to see how the genre continues to evolve with new authors like Brandon Sanderson bringing fresh perspectives and intricate world-building to the table. And who can forget the groundbreaking influence of Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Earthsea” series, which paved the way for more diverse and dynamic representations of magic and protagonists in fantasy literature. Overall, your article is a delightful journey through the realms of imagination, reminding us of the timeless allure and boundless creativity of high fantasy. Great job!