Five Fantasy Books that We Wish We Could Read for the First Time Again

Every book lover has that list—the stories that stuck with you long after you turned the final page. The ones you couldn’t stop thinking about, couldn’t stop recommending, and honestly wish you could experience all over again for the very first time.

If we’re being real, if there were a way to erase our memory just to relive those moments again, we’d do it in a heartbeat.

That’s exactly what inspired this list. We’re diving into five fantasy books that we wish we could read again for the first time—the ones that delivered unforgettable twists, incredible worlds, and that feeling of pure magic you can’t quite replicate.

Because as much as rereading a favorite book is always worth it, it’s just not the same. You already know what’s coming. The shocking moments don’t hit as hard, the tension feels different, and that sense of discovery is gone.

But that doesn’t mean rereading is pointless—far from it.

Going back to a great fantasy novel lets you pick up on the little things you missed the first time. A line of dialogue suddenly means more. A small detail becomes important. And when an author has carefully planted foreshadowing throughout the story, you finally get to see just how brilliant the setup really was.

It’s a completely different experience—but still a rewarding one.

That said, nothing beats that first read.

There’s something special about stepping into a new fantasy world with no expectations. Learning the rules, meeting the characters, and uncovering the story as it unfolds—it’s the kind of magic that only happens once.

Rereading might feel like revisiting your childhood, but that first experience? That’s what made you fall in love with it in the first place.

So with that in mind, here are five fantasy books we’d give anything to read again for the first time.

Fantasy Books that We Wish We Could Read for the First Time Again

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
• A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin
• Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
• The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski
  

The Hobbit

A novel that I would love to read again for the first time is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. This was the fantasy novel that made me fall in love with the fantasy genre. When people say Martin created the format for hundreds of authors, they are not lying.

The novel is a an ordinary adventure novel about Hobbits and yet, Tolkien’s world building ability makes you feel like you are tagging along with Bilbo Baggins. That feeling of adventuring and traveling across countries first bit me in this novel. Nothing would beat experiencing this novel again for the first time and falling in love with it all over again.

The Fifth Season

I am a big fan of sci-fi novels and fantasy novels coming together in one novel. Dune by Frank Herbert is the first novel that comes to mind but the one I would want to read for the first time again is The Fifth Season. The characters, plot, storytelling, world building, and magic system make this one of my all time favorite fantasy novels.

Few novels have moved me as much as this one and I would love to experience that feeling again. Jemisin is a fantasy author that you need to read if you haven’t already. Her fantasy novels are flipping the genre on its head and showing that there are still so many new ways to tell a fantasy story.

A Song of Ice and Fire

George R.R. Martin is an incredible author (when he is able to write) and A Song of Ice and Fire are some of the best works of literature I have come across. Martin writes from the point of view of over thirty characters that play an important part in the series and he makes you care about most of them if not all.

The giant task that Martin undertakes makes the series a delight to read. I am not the biggest fan of blood and violence if it doesn’t serve a purpose to the plot. And in the books, it feels more genuine instead of the show where it makes for an eye-catching scene. I still think about this series and do hope Martin does finish the series one day.

Mistborn Series

The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson made me a lifelong Sanderson fan. The series is well written but what makes a Sanderson novel an amazing read is his magic systems and world building. No other goes as in depth as Sanderson while also fluidly making it fit in with the plot.

That takes a skill and separates great authors from mediocre ones. Sanderson has a bunch of amazing novels but this the one I first fell in love with and it has a special place in my heart. The only good about this series is that it is still ongoing, even though the characters are mostly new.

The Witcher

Just like A Song of Ice and Fire, I read The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski after watching the show and fell in love with the books. If it wasn’t for the show, I wouldn’t have discovered one of the best fantasy series written. And while the show has fallen off since the first season, I am grateful for it introducing me to the books.

The Witcher novels are unique and unlike anything out there. The storytelling and characters made my bones chill. This is a great reminder that there are thousands of books that we haven’t read because they are in another language. That is why you should novels released in other languages (after they are translated) because they are a gold mine waiting to be discovered.

Conclusion

These are the five fantasy books that I wish I could read for the first time again. I am envious of all the people that have yet to read these books. They are in for a treat and I can’t wait for them to become obsessed with these books like I have.

These five fantasy novels will stay with me for a long time and I am lucky that I can reread them as much as I want. It may not be the same rereading them again for the first time but it is the next best thing. Until next time, happy reading!

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