Fantasy Favorites
There’s something magical about slipping into the kind of story that whisks you away to unfamiliar lands, introduces you to unforgettable characters, and leaves you wishing you could stay just a little longer. Over the years, I’ve collected a few favorites that feel like home whenever I revisit them. Some are intense and full of conflict, others glitter with intrigue or charm with whimsy, but each of these stories pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. Here are five fantasy books I love, each with its own special flavor of magic.
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Want to explore even more fantasy favorites? Many of these titles and more are included with Kindle Unlimited or available on Audible.
Jade City by Fonda Lee
If you love intricate family sagas mixed with street-level grit and high-stakes battles, Jade City is a treasure. Think modern fantasy with a dash of crime drama. With rival clans, magical jade that enhances abilities, and a city alive with tension, this book is incredibly vivid. It’s layered, cinematic, and full of characters you can’t help but root for (even when they make terrible choices).
Book cover image courtesy of Orbit, ©2017
The Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
This book feels like settling by a fireplace with a slow-burning, richly detailed tale. Fitz, a royal bastard turned assassin’s apprentice, navigates a world of court politics, loyalty, and quiet heartbreak. Robin Hobb’s writing has a warmth and depth that makes you feel every small triumph and sorrow right alongside him. It’s patient, immersive storytelling at its finest. If you can’t get enough, don’t worry, there are several more series in this universe.
Book cover image courtesy of Bantam Spectra, ©1995
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Gideon the Ninth is unlike anything else, with snark, skeletons, and a unique magic system. Part gothic mystery, part sci-fi fantasy, and wholly irreverent, it introduces us to Gideon, a reluctant cavalierswordswoman with a sarcastic streak a mile wide. The voice is fresh and sharp, the world deliciously strange, and the humor balances the darker twists perfectly. Included with Kindle Unlimited.
Book cover image courtesy of Tor.com, ©2019
A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos
For something more whimsical and dreamy, A Winter’s Promise sweeps you into floating worlds filled with family intrigue and fragile alliances. Ophelia, with her shy demeanor and hidden powers, makes for an unlikely yet utterly lovable heroine. The world-building is enchanting — icy arches, magical gifts, and a fairytale-like setting that’s as cozy as it is mysterious.
Book cover image courtesy of Europa Editions, ©2018
Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
Dark, raw, and unforgettable, The Poppy War takes you on a journey with Rin, a war orphan who claws her way into an elite military academy and discovers her terrifying potential. What begins as a story of ambition and determination slowly transforms into something brutal and haunting. While this is not a cozy read, it’s a powerful one, and it lingers long after you turn the last page. Included with Kindle Unlimited!
Book cover image courtesy of Harper Voyager, ©2018