If you’re craving more than just hobbits and direwolves, then welcome to a realm of dragons, magic, and sprawling narratives. J.R.R. Tolkien essentially invented the high fantasy genre with his creation of Middle-earth and its epic struggle against an apocalyptic threat in The Lord of the Rings. While many stories introduce fantastical elements into our world, high fantasy immerses you in fully realized imaginary realms with their own rules, history, and factions.
Exploring New Worlds
George R.R. Martin proved that high fantasy doesn’t always need to be synonymous with powerful magic. In A Song of Ice and Fire, most characters don’t expect to encounter dragons or giants, making their appearances all the more terrifying. The scope required for these worlds often leads to sprawling series, but there are also brilliant standalone novels that ground their imagined worlds in real history. Whether you seek tales of knights and wizards or dangerous settings where heroes must rely on their wits, here are 10 perfect high fantasy books.
Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea (1968)
” alt=”Cover of A Wizard of Earthsea”>
One of the true masters, Ursula K. Le Guin both drew upon and subverted classic fantasy tropes. Ged, a young boy with immense magical potential, grapples with his own impatience and hubris rather than facing a dark lord. A Wizard of Earthsea, set at a wizarding school, paved the way for Harry Potter but offers a more thoughtful exploration of power and balance. It’s a quick read; continue with the five-book series for more beautiful and meditative stories.
Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana (1990)
” alt=”Cover of Tigana”>
Guy Gavriel Kay is known for blending fantasy with real history. The Lions of Al-Rassan, a heartbreakingly beautiful story inspired by Moorish Spain, had minimal magic. For more fantasy elements, check out Tigana, inspired by Renaissance Italy. A vengeful sorcerer king has erased the memory of Tigana, and its people must fight to reclaim their home.
Robert Jordan, The Great Hunt (1990)
” alt=”Cover of The Great Hunt”>
The Eye of the World, the first book in Jordan’s epic The Wheel of Time series, has some amazing moments but is weighed down by genre cliches. However, his second book, The Great Hunt, might be the best in the series, giving characters a chance to truly shine as they face numerous threats.
Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish (1993)
” alt=”Cover of The Last Wish”>
Andrzej Sapkowski built the world of The Witcher by putting dark spins on classic fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and Snow White in his short story collection, The Last Wish. While his Witcher novels focus more on the brutal cost of war, The Last Wish is a perfect blend of humor, action, and tragedy. The monster hunter Geralt of Rivia faces mythical creatures and cruel people while trying to avoid getting entangled in politics.
Steven Erikson, Gardens of the Moon (1999)
” alt=”Cover of Gardens of the Moon”>
Gardens of the Moon kicks off Malazan Book of the Fallen, one of the best and richest high fantasy series. The Malazan Empire seeks to complete its conquest of Genabackis, a conflict involving con artists, gods, assassins, and mages. It can be hard to get into, but sticking with it rewards you with nuanced characters and a story that moves quickly while drawing on millennia of history.
Robin Hobb, Fool’s Errand (2001)
” alt=”Cover of Fool’s Errand”>
Ideally, you’d start with the Farseer Trilogy, which introduces FitzChivalry Farseer, an assassin who can bond with animals. But if you want to jump ahead to her best work, Fool’s Errand, part of the Tawny Man trilogy, picks up Fitz’s story 15 years later. This time jump allows for a more mature tale dealing with aging and loss, showcasing a hero relying on his wits in a mysterious estate searching for a missing prince.
Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion (2001)
” alt=”Cover of The Curse of Chalion”>
The Curse of Chalion, heavily inspired by the unification of Spain, is set in a world of dark magic, demons, and meddling gods. Cazaril, an unlikely hero, a former soldier aged by captivity and torture, is tasked with tutoring noble children but winds up facing old enemies and unraveling a powerful curse. He must use clever scheming to save the royal family, involving sacrifice, a marriage plot, and divine intervention.
Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)
” alt=”Cover of The Lies of Locke Lamora”>
The Lies of Locke Lamora follows a group of con artists in a fantasy version of Venice trying to pull off a big job while under attack from a brutal new crime lord. Scott Lynch does a phenomenal job crafting a complicated world filled with competing factions, all looking to get ahead. The book is often very funny and filled with endearing characters, making their deaths even more impactful.
Brandon Sanderson, Words of Radiance (2014)
Brandon Sanderson is the most successful living high fantasy author. He masterfully creates new worlds and magic systems, weaving them into the sprawling Cosmere shared universe. While his earlier works like Elantris and Warbreaker are excellent, and his first Mistborn trilogy skillfully navigated a huge shift in scope, The Stormlight Archive is his true opus. Words of Radiance pays off on all the setup in the first book, The Way of Kings, dramatically expanding the stakes by focusing on Shallan, a noble scholar with dark secrets. It’s full of action and shocking revelations that will make the thousand-plus pages fly by.
James Islington, The Will of the Many (2023)
” alt=”Cover of The Will of the Many”>
Inspired by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, James Islington has created his own rich fantasy world based on the Roman Republic. In The Hierarchy series, magic is a tool of oppression, with rulers literally sapping will from people to fuel their strength and technology. A prince from a fallen kingdom, Vis, finds himself entangled in Catenan politics when he’s chosen to be a spy within the most prestigious school. His dangerous mission drives forward a twisty tale showcasing Islington’s rich worldbuilding.
Source: Polygon
Comments
Be the first to comment.