TOP-10 Best Fantasy Books

Many popular games, films, and TV series are based on famous novels. Moreover, they can be captivating in their own right, separate from the works they're based on. In this article, we've compiled ten of the best fantasy sagas. Anyone with even a passing interest in the genre should check them out.

Many fantasy worlds only gained popularity after the release of film adaptations or video games based on them. But The Lord of the Rings is a special case. His fan base and the Tolkien movement formed back in the 1960s, many years before Peter Jackson's film trilogy began filming. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien's books are classic fantasy, with noble elves, cruel orcs, and highly ambiguous humans who can be both good and evil.

This book saga served as the basis for the TV series Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This is an excellent example of modern fantasy. Wizards, dragons, and the undead take a back seat, with political intrigue, the clashes between the Great Houses, and the battles of their armies taking center stage. Unfortunately, the story is not yet complete — George R. R. Martin has not yet completed the final two volumes. However, the books already published are enough to keep readers engaged for a long time.

Thanks to the success of the game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, millions of people around the world learned about the Witcher universe in 2015. But the first books were written by Andrzej Sapkowski back in the 1990s. They can be considered a unique interpretation of old fairy tales and legends. Furthermore, as in A Song of Ice and Fire, there is an allusion to real history, with the clash of small kingdoms and the formidable Nilfgaardian Empire. It's worth noting that CD Projekt RED's trilogy directly continues the events of the novels. However, the Netflix series, based on the book saga, was unsuccessful.

Fantasy works are typically set in the Middle Ages. However, the main events of Harry Potter took place in the 1990s. This universe combines the realities of those years with magic and broomsticks. Many fans believe the films failed to fully convey J.K. Rowling's vision. Perhaps a second series adaptation will be closer to the original source material, but it remains highly uncertain.

Laura and Tracy Hickman, along with Margaret Weis, came up with the foundations for this fantasy universe during a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Magic, bestowed upon mortals by the gods, plays an important role in the world of Dragonlance. For example, it was used to create the draconians, who are later actively used in battle. This universe also experiences cataclysms that wipe out entire cities, forcing the survivors to suffer from starvation.

«The Chronicles of Narnia» is a vivid example of the story of time travelers. This is the name given to people who find themselves in a parallel dimension. In this case, the transition to another universe occurs through a wardrobe. There, the teenagers found themselves in a fantasy world where animals can talk and the use of magic is considered commonplace. The world of «Narnia» is based on Christianity, but it also incorporates elements of Greek mythology and British fairy tales. It's worth noting that some good films based on this book saga have been made, both aimed at children.

This book series intertwines science and magic, so the characters include both witches and aeronauts. His Dark Materials will surely appeal to those interested in parallel worlds, like those in DC and Marvel comics or the film Everything Everywhere All at Once. One resembles our universe, another has ghosts, and a third has angels and harpies. Moreover, travel between different dimensions is at the center of the narrative.

The main events of the Lightbringer saga revolve around the fate of Gavin Guile, the most powerful man in the world, who knows in advance when he will die. His death will cause a monstrous catastrophe, so he decides to prepare for it in advance. However, problems began to loom from all sides even during his lifetime: the old gods have revived, some people have learned Gavin's terrible secret, and magic has become unstable and threatens to destroy the world. And although it seems the Lightbringer universe is doomed, it's truly fascinating to follow its developments.

The world of this fantasy saga periodically experiences Voidspawn invasions, which push humanity to the brink of extinction. However, the last battle with them was long ago, so the knights have long forgotten how to fight a truly powerful opponent, and their magical swords have gone from being formidable weapons to useless relics of the past. The plot is reminiscent of Dragon Age: Origins, with the first volume of the Stormlight Archive, titled "The Way of Kings," being released six months after BioWare's role-playing game.

And if you're tired of serious fantasy, check out the books of Terry Pratchett. The first volume of the Discworld saga satirizes tired genre cliches and parodies the tropes often used by other authors. But starting with the second book, the writer began to ironize real-world trends, from the problems of radioactive waste disposal to the hysteria over UFOs. Fans even find their own philosophy and hidden meaning in the events. However, at its core, Discworld is fantasy, albeit with a humorous twist.

Fantasy is one of the most popular literary genres, transporting readers to worlds of magic and adventure in mysterious worlds. They capture the imagination, captivate with gripping plots and deeply developed characters. It's no wonder fantasy has millions of fans worldwide. Which books from our selection are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments!