The 10 Greatest Fantasy Books That You Haven't Read

Fantasy novels are a dime a dozen nowadays, largely due to how the genre became mainstream. It first rose to prominence following the success of early novels and the rise of tabletop RPGs, but it's seeing a huge surge now that genre TV shows are popular. Many aspiring authors have tried and failed to tell their stories of magic and monsters, with many of these books getting lost in the never-ending sea of fantasy. What's sad is that there are many great stories that do not get the chance in the spotlight, despite the fact that they are well-written and entertaining. These fantasy books may have been forgotten by the sands of time, or they may have never become too popular to begin with. However, there is one thing they have in common: very few people have read them, in spite of their inherent quality. 'The Anvil of the World' (2003) Image via Tor Fantasy Kage Baker's The Anvil of the World is the first in the Lord Ermenwyr trilogy. Although this is less of a sequential trilogy and more like three loosely connected, yet mostly separate stories that happen to be set in the same universe. Instead of the typical chapter format, the book is split into three parts, each one a small story that makes up the overarching narrative. It starts pretty simple, following a smuggler named Smith who is hired to escort Lord Ermenwyr to a seaside city. This book is a little bit steampunk and entirely amazing. Not only is there great adventure, exceptional worldbuilding, memorable characters, and a rich setting, but there's some genuinely hilarious humor to boot. While the tone of the book is primarily serious, Kage Baker has no problem letting the audience know that she was a pretty funny person. The Anvil of the World has everything you could possibly want in a fantasy novel, which is why it sorely needs more love. 'Lord of Snow and Shadows' (2003) Image via Spectre Lord of Snow and Shadows is the first book in Sarah Ash's The Tears of Artamon saga. The series was initially conceived as a trilogy, but after repeated and prolonged requests from fans, a fourth book was released just a few years ago. The story is an epic fantasy with heavy tones of romance, making it a nice compromise for fans of romantasy and fans of political intrigue and large-scale battles. The tale opens with the assassination of a king and his illegitimate son discovering his destiny. Not only is he meant to avenge his father's place, but he is also Drakhaon, infused with the blood of the ancient dragons. This comes with drawbacks, however, meaning the aspiring prince will be forced to make difficult choices that compromise his morality. It's a really interesting and unique book with a killer magic system, a phenomenal introduction to the saga, and a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated genre. 'Vermis I - Lost Dungeons and Forbidden Worlds' (2023) Image via Hollow Press Unlike most of the other books on this list, Vermis I is not a novel. Heck, it doesn't even tell a straightforward, beginning-to-end narrative. Instead, it's an art book that presents itself as a guide to a tabletop RPG that does not actually exist, but man, it really should. The images and text present an established universe that is dark and unforgiving, with a lot of cynical undertones. This is a book that not a lot of people are interested in due to its unconventional approach and experimentation, but it actually does a really good job for what it is. It's exceptional at making readers feel the oppressiveness of its world, and actually feels like it could be for a real tabletop game. There's just nothing else like it out there. It might be a quick read, but it's a dream come true for dark fantasy fans. 'Pilgrim: A Medieval Horror' (2023) Image via Sentinel Creatives Pilgrim is part fantasy, part horror, which takes readers back through history to the Crusades. In 12th-Century Jerusalem, a Teutonic Templar is on his way home when he and his companions are faced with demons and vengeful spirits. The demons they face come from a combination of religious folklore, specifically involving all three of the Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Not only are the knights forced to grapple with the literal personifications of everything wrong with the world, but they are also forced to confront their morality and mortality. It's a very mature book, leaning heavily into atrocities, cynicism, and gruesome violence, but that's also what makes it so deliciously unsettling. If you're a fan of both low fantasy and horror, Pilgrim is certainly a book for you. 'In the Eye of Heaven' (2006) Image via Tor Fantasy Canadian author David Keck penned In the Eye of Heaven over 20 years ago. It is the first in a trilogy that took over ten years to conclude, with the final installment coming out in 2018. This was a decade after the second book, so fans weren't exactly happy. But hey, at least the conclusion did come out, right? Better late than never (looking at you, George R. R. Martin!) The protagonist, for whom the trilogy is named, is Durand, a squire who is set to inherit the lordship of his small, rural village because the knight who was initially supposed to inherit the title has died. Things get complicated when said knight turns up very much alive, prompting Durand to strike out on his own and fall in with a band of rival knights. The book may not be perfect, but it's fairly unknown in the fantasy fandom and deserves some more love. 'Dawn of the Firebird' (2025) Image via Hanover Square Press Dawn of the Firebird is set in a high fantasy world that resembles the Middle East during the Middle Ages, true to author Sarah Mughal Rana's heritage. It's a really interesting choice because it provides a setting that is decidedly different from most fantasy stories, which tend to favor Medieval Europe. The protagonist is a girl named Khamilla, who has known nothing but violence and war, since she is the daughter of an emperor's clan. This means she has spent her entire life learning how to kill, which is useful considering all she sees in the world is death and destruction. When her clan is viciously attacked by a rival clan, however, her plans for the future change. Discovering she has innate magical talent, she travels to a university to learn to hone her craft, hoping to master the arcane arts and exact revenge against the aggressors. Though the book is barely a year old, it did pretty well for itself domestically. For the most part, though, it is fairly unknown in the fantasy world. 'The Golden Door' (2011) Image via Omnibus Books Emily Rodda is the pen name for Australian author Jennifer Rowe. She developed a universe when she wrote her Deltora Quest series that became surprisingly expansive and lore-heavy for a YA series. One of the many entries in this universe is The Golden Door, the first in The Three Doors trilogy. Set on the island of Dorne, the story follows Rye, a youth who lives in the city of Weld, completely walled off from the outside world with no way in and no way out. Every year, Weld is attacked by bat-like creatures called Skimmers. However, the Skimmer attacks are becoming more vicious, prompting the mayor to launch expeditions beyond the city walls to find the source of the attacks and eliminate it. Rye's brothers go, but do not return, so he resolves to set off on the journey himself. The only way out of the city is a series of three doors: one gold, one silver, and one wooden. It might be aimed at younger audiences, but this adventure story is actually incredible for both kids and adults. It's a simple, feel-good read with a fascinating world and a captivating story. 'Yiddish for Pirates' (2016) Image via Random House Canada Gary Barwin's Yiddish for Pirates is pretty light on the fantasy elements, but there are certainly aspects of magic, so it still counts. The story is about Moishe, a Jewish boy who escapes from his home one night in 1492 to set off on a journey across the sea, accompanied by a smartass, wise-cracking, immortal parrot, who also serves as the humorous narrator of the book. On their trip across the sea, they get swept up with Christopher Columbus as he journeys to the Americas, where he hopes to find the Fountain of Youth. As the title implies, pirates and seafaring adventure are a pretty major part of this story. It certainly isn't a book that everybody will like due to its quirky nature, but for those who like unhinged, ridiculous stories, it's an absolute blast. In its native Canada, the book won several literary awards, including one for humour, and it was nominated for even more. It's great if you like pirate stories, comedy, or low fantasy that isn't too heavy on the magical aspects. 'Infinity Blade: Awakening' (2011) Image via Chair Entertainment It's no secret that Brandon Sanderson is an immensely popular author, with his fantasy novels selling millions of copies apiece. He is also renowned for his Skyward series of sci-fi novels and many, many other works. If there's one book that people forget exists, however, it's Infinity Blade: Awakening. Now, to be fair, this isn't a full-length novel—it's just a novella, meaning it is pretty short. On top of that, the idea didn't come from Sanderson's mind; he was hired to write it by Chair Entertainment, a video game studio responsible for creating the Infinity Blade series of RPG mobile games. The games were actually really awesome and pretty popular, with the first telling about a quest to kill the God King that spans generations. The book is set between the first and second games, and tells the tale of Siris as he arrives home following the completion of his quest, where he meets new friends and begins a new quest. It serves as a liaison and a connecting story between the first two mobile games. Unfortunately, the games are no longer available, so this book is lacking some serious context if you haven't played any of them. That said, Sanderson always delivers, and it is a very good book. 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' (1924) Image via G. P. Putnam's Sons A lot of people don't realize it, but if it weren't for The King of Elfland's Daughter, the modern landscape of the fantasy genre would likely look very, very different. Most people probably haven't even heard of this century-old book, even though they absolutely should have. See, this novel actually inspired J. R. R. Tolkien, who went on to write the most legendary fantasy saga of all time, The Lord of the Rings. The story is about two kingdoms: one run by humans, and one by elves. They seek a union via marriage, but run into problems when the princess of Elfland begins to grow weary in the human kingdom. It's an old-fashioned book, written with somewhat archaic language, which can make it hard to get into for a lot of people, but it's absolutely worth reading. It is clear to see what parts Tolkien drew his ideas from, but it's also interesting to see how this book inspired the saga that changed all of fantasy forever.