Anytime I see a list ranking fantasy novels, I immediately know I’m going to have opinions.
Fantasy is probably the hardest genre to rank because the genre itself is so massive. Some readers love sprawling epic fantasy filled with wars and politics, while others prefer magical realism, fairy tale retellings, or character-driven fantasy stories. And because fantasy fans are incredibly passionate, every ranking instantly becomes controversial the second it is published.
Honestly, that is part of the fun.
Today, we are looking at Forbes’ list of 30 great fantasy novels to read when you want to escape reality, and this list definitely gave me a lot to think about. Some inclusions made perfect sense, some placements were questionable, and a few choices genuinely surprised me.
But I will give the list credit for one thing immediately: it does not play it safe.
A lot of fantasy rankings online recycle the exact same books in the exact same order every single time. You already know what the top five will look like before even opening the article. This list at least tries to mix classics, modern fantasy, literary fantasy, young adult fantasy, and international fantasy together.
And honestly, even when I disagree with parts of it, I appreciate that effort.
Because fantasy novels are more than just escapism.
Yes, fantasy gives readers magical worlds, dragons, impossible adventures, and epic battles between good and evil. But the best fantasy stories also reflect real-world struggles, emotions, and themes. They explore power, corruption, grief, love, survival, identity, and hope in ways that feel timeless.
That is why fantasy remains one of the most beloved genres in fiction.
Readers want stories that transport them somewhere else while still making them feel something real.
And while this Forbes list definitely has some questionable rankings, it also includes some genuinely incredible books that every fantasy fan should experience at least once.
30 Great Fantasy Novels to Read to Escape Reality
- Between Earth and Sky series by Rebecca Roanhorse (2020-2024)
- Woven in Moonlight series by Isabel Ibañez (2020)
- Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (2015-2019)
- An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir
- The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis (1950-1956)
- The Magicians series by Lev Grossman (2009-present)
- Circe by Madeline Miller (2018)
- Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1915)
- Cypher series by Daniel José Older (2015-2020)
- Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo (2012-2014)
- The Once & Future King series by T.H. White (1938-1958)
- Earthsea Cycle series by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968-2001)
- Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie (1990)
- Dark Star series by Marlon James (2019-present)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas (2015-present)
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007)
- His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman (1995-2000)
- The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (1990-2013)
- The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (2016)
- My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola (1954)
- Legends of the Condor Heroes series by Jin Yong (2019)
- A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin (1996-current)
- The Changeling by Victor LaValle
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2012)
- The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-1950)
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum (1900-1920)
- Watership Down by Richard Adams
- Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (1997-2007)
- Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin (2015-2017)
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Let’s just get this out of the way immediately.
The Lord of the Rings is still the gold standard of epic fantasy.
Without Tolkien, modern fantasy as we know it probably does not exist. The influence this series has had on fantasy literature is impossible to overstate. Entire genres, tropes, and storytelling traditions were shaped by these books.
And somehow, despite how influential they are, the novels still hold up remarkably well.
Middle-earth feels alive in a way very few fantasy settings ever achieve. Tolkien’s worldbuilding is so detailed and immersive that readers genuinely feel like they are stepping into an ancient world filled with history, mythology, languages, and cultures.
What makes the series timeless is not just the worldbuilding though.
At its core, The Lord of the Rings is about friendship, sacrifice, courage, and perseverance in the face of overwhelming darkness. Those themes resonate just as strongly today as they did decades ago.
Which is why seeing it outside the top five honestly feels criminal.
I understand wanting to shake up rankings and avoid predictable lists, but some books are legendary for a reason.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Was anyone surprised to see Harry Potter near the top?
Probably not.
Regardless of how people feel about the series today, there is no denying the impact these books had on an entire generation of readers. Millions of people fell in love with reading because of Harry Potter.
That alone makes the series historically important.
What Rowling accomplished was creating a fantasy world that felt magical yet accessible. Hogwarts became a dream destination for readers everywhere, and the books balanced mystery, humor, adventure, and emotional storytelling extremely well.
The series also grew alongside its audience, becoming darker and more mature as the characters aged.
That progression is part of why readers became so emotionally attached to the books.
Even now, decades later, new readers continue discovering the series for the first time. That kind of longevity is incredibly rare.
The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Now this is where things get interesting.
Seeing The Broken Earth Trilogy ranked number one initially surprised me, but after thinking about it more, I honestly cannot even be mad about it.
N.K. Jemisin created one of the most ambitious and emotionally powerful fantasy trilogies of the modern era.
The worldbuilding is phenomenal, the themes are complex, and the storytelling structure is incredibly unique. Jemisin blends fantasy and science fiction elements together while exploring oppression, survival, trauma, and systemic injustice in ways that feel deeply relevant.
And unlike some fantasy novels that rely heavily on familiar tropes, The Broken Earth Trilogy genuinely feels fresh and original.
That is rare.
Fantasy as a genre can sometimes become repetitive because so many books draw inspiration from the same sources. Jemisin’s work feels completely distinct.
Would I personally rank it above The Lord of the Rings?
Probably not.
But do I understand why someone would?
Absolutely.
The Fantasy Series I Was Happy to See Included
One thing I genuinely appreciated about this list was the variety of fantasy represented.
Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin
Le Guin is one of the most important fantasy writers of all time, and it always feels good seeing Earthsea receive mainstream recognition.
The series feels quieter and more philosophical compared to many modern fantasy epics, but that is exactly what makes it special.
Le Guin focused heavily on balance, identity, and self-discovery rather than constant battles and large-scale wars. The result is a fantasy series that feels deeply thoughtful and timeless.
A lot of modern fantasy authors owe a huge debt to Le Guin whether they realize it or not.
Circe by Madeline Miller
I absolutely love seeing Circe included.
Madeline Miller took a relatively minor figure from Greek mythology and transformed her into one of the most compelling protagonists in modern fantasy literature.
The writing is beautiful, the emotional depth is incredible, and the novel explores themes of isolation, power, femininity, and transformation brilliantly.
Retellings have become increasingly popular over the years, but Circe stands out because it feels literary without becoming inaccessible.
It is the kind of fantasy novel that appeals even to readers who normally avoid the genre.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Whether people want to admit it or not, Sarah J. Maas has become one of the biggest fantasy authors in the world.
ACOTAR exploded in popularity over the last few years and brought massive attention to fantasy romance as a subgenre. The series has introduced countless readers to fantasy who otherwise may never have touched the genre.
And honestly, that matters.
Fantasy should not only be measured by literary complexity or critical acclaim. Sometimes the most important books are the ones that get people excited about reading.
The popularity of A Court of Thorns and Roses speaks for itself.
The Rankings That Made Absolutely No Sense
Now we get into the more frustrating parts of the list.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
I genuinely do not understand the hype surrounding The Magicians.
I know the series has passionate fans, but personally, I found it incredibly disappointing. The books constantly felt like they were trying too hard to be a darker, more cynical version of Harry Potter while lacking the emotional connection and charm that made Rowling’s series work so well.
The characters were frustrating, the tone often felt unnecessarily bleak, and the story never fully grabbed me emotionally.
Fantasy can absolutely be dark and mature without becoming emotionally exhausting. Plenty of fantasy series accomplish that balance beautifully.
The Magicians just did not work for me at all.
And seeing it ranked among some of the greatest fantasy novels ever written honestly feels bizarre.
The Changeling Above A Song of Ice and Fire?
This might have been the ranking that shocked me the most.
I actually like The Changeling by Victor LaValle, but there is absolutely no universe where I would rank it above A Song of Ice and Fire.
George R.R. Martin completely transformed modern fantasy with his series.
Before Game of Thrones became a television phenomenon, the novels were already reshaping the fantasy genre through morally gray characters, political realism, brutal consequences, and intricate plotting.
Martin made fantasy feel unpredictable in a way that very few authors had before.
Readers genuinely feared for every character because nobody felt safe.
That tension changed fantasy storytelling forever.
Which is why seeing the series outside the top five feels strange.
Classic Fantasy Still Dominates
One thing this list reminded me of is just how dominant classic fantasy remains.
The Chronicles of Narnia
I know some readers absolutely adore Narnia, and while I respect its importance, I have always thought the series was slightly overrated.
That does not mean it is bad.
Far from it.
The books are imaginative, accessible, and incredibly influential, especially for children’s fantasy. But I personally never connected with them as deeply as I did with some other fantasy classics.
Still, the impact of Narnia on fantasy literature is undeniable.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
This is one of those books that transcends genre entirely.
Alices’s Adventures in Wonderland is surreal, bizarre, imaginative, and endlessly creative. Even readers who have never picked up the novel know its characters and imagery because it became such a massive cultural phenomenon.
And honestly, the weirdness of the book is exactly why it remains memorable.
Fantasy does not always need massive battles or complicated magic systems. Sometimes pure imagination is enough.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Much like Alice in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz became foundational fantasy literature.
The influence these stories had on children’s fantasy cannot be overstated.
Modern fantasy owes a lot to these earlier imaginative works that proved readers wanted stories that transported them completely outside reality.
Modern Fantasy Has Become More Diverse and Experimental
One of the best things about modern fantasy is how much the genre has expanded.
Fantasy is no longer dominated solely by medieval European-inspired settings and chosen-one narratives. Readers now have access to fantasy inspired by countless cultures, mythologies, and storytelling traditions.
And this list actually does a pretty solid job reflecting that evolution.
Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse
Rebecca Roanhorse continues to push fantasy in exciting directions.
Her work blends epic fantasy storytelling with Indigenous-inspired worldbuilding in ways that feel fresh and compelling. Fantasy desperately needs more diverse voices and perspectives, and Roanhorse’s success shows readers are hungry for those stories.
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Binti is technically more science fantasy than traditional fantasy, but it absolutely deserves recognition.
Nnedi Okorafor consistently creates stories that feel imaginative, culturally rich, and emotionally grounded. Her work has become hugely important in expanding what fantasy and speculative fiction can look like.
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez
Fantasy inspired by Latin American culture and folklore has become increasingly popular, and Woven in Moonlight is a great example of that trend.
The genre becomes stronger when it embraces different storytelling traditions rather than repeating the same formulas endlessly.
Fantasy Is About More Than Escaping Reality
One thing I always find interesting is how people describe fantasy as “escaping reality.”
And yes, fantasy absolutely provides escapism.
But the best fantasy novels are often deeply connected to real-world issues and emotions.
The Broken Earth Trilogy explores oppression and trauma.
The Lord of the Rings reflects war, industrialization, and the corrupting nature of power.
Harry Potter touches on prejudice, authoritarianism, and identity.
A Song of Ice and Fire examines politics, violence, ambition, and human nature.
Fantasy allows authors to discuss real issues through magical settings and fictional worlds. Sometimes that distance actually makes the themes hit even harder.
That is why fantasy resonates with so many readers.
The genre allows us to explore humanity itself through impossible stories.
Final Thoughts
This Forbes list definitely made some questionable choices.
There are rankings I strongly disagree with, books I would have removed entirely, and fantasy classics I think deserved higher placement. But at the same time, I respect the list for trying to do something different instead of recycling the exact same ranking everyone expects.
And honestly, that is part of what makes fantasy discussions fun.
Every fantasy reader has completely different tastes depending on what they value most in storytelling. Some readers prioritize worldbuilding, others care more about prose, characters, pacing, emotional depth, or originality.
There is never going to be one definitive fantasy ranking that satisfies everyone.
Still, lists like this are always entertaining because they introduce readers to books they may have overlooked while also sparking debates about beloved classics.
And in the end, that passion is exactly why fantasy remains one of the greatest genres in fiction.
Whether you prefer epic fantasy, dark fantasy, literary fantasy, magical realism, or fantasy romance, there is always another incredible world waiting to be discovered. Until next time, happy reading!
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