10 best fantasy books from The Lord of the Rings to A Wizard of Earthsea

Here, we've compiled a list of 10 of the best fantasy novels to read right now for anyone craving an exhilarating escape from the day-to-day rush, with a mix of all-time greats and modern hits designed to suit all tastes.

Expect royal intrigue, shocking betrayals, powerful sorcerers and truly malevolent entities as we run down these top 10 fantasy novels, which are sure to be available from all good booksellers.

10. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

If you've had enough of George RR Martin's Westeros and its various warring families, consider the work of Joe Abercrombie for an alternative source of bloody medieval fantasy drama.

The Blade Itself is the first entry in the Abercrombie's much-lauded The First Law trilogy, which chronicles the tussles for land and power between The Union, The Gurkish Empire and the North.

Caught in the middle of these conflicts are the formidable warrior Logen Ninefingers, hateful torturer Sand dan Glokta and arrogant nobleman Captain Jezal dan Luthar, who are among the morally compromised figures you can expect to meet.

Less intimidating than A Song of Ice and Fire thanks to its more controlled character roster and focused storyline, Abercrombie's The Blade Itself is a gripping start to a stellar trilogy, brimming with conspiracy, violence and fantastical action.

9. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Although arguably not quite as esteemed as some of the other entries on this list, you can hardly scoff at the gargantuan impact that Sarah J Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series has had in recent years.

A beneficiary of the BookTok boom (originating from the short-form video site TikTok), the novels tell of an intense yet troubled romance between the mortal Feyre Archeron and the noble High Fae Tamlin.

The story begins when Feyre is brought to Tamlin's kingdom of Prythian charged with killing a wolf, but her initial disdain for him and his people begins to dissipate as she realises her understanding of the faerie world is based on falsehoods.

The easy readability of A Court of Thorns and Roses is legendary and causes some fantasy purists to consider it lesser than the more complex works of other authors – but we say that a fantasy romp shouldn't require a PhD to be worthy of praise.

8. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

In addition to admirably stepping in to help finish The Wheel of Time saga by Robert Jordan, who sadly passed away before it could be completed, author Brandon Sanderson is also known for his very own fantasy masterwork.

Mistborn begins with The Final Empire, which drops viewers into the frankly miserable dystopia of Scadrial, where the desolate environment is matched by the cruelty of its tyrannical ruler.

Against this bleak backdrop, we meet Kelsier and Vin, both of whom have discovered that they are Mistborns ie members of the oppressed Skaa race, who are capable of wielding magic typically only accessible to the ruling classes.

They dare to dream of a future in which the present regime is toppled, but learning to work together in a world so plainly devoid of hope and unity will be no small feat.

7. The Inheritance Trilogy by NK Jemisin

NK Jemisin is among the modern authors quickly ascending to the ranks of the all-time greats, having won five Hugo Awards since publishing The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, her debut novel, in 2010.

Omnibus edition The Inheritance Trilogy includes that title and its two sequels, The Broken Kingdoms and The Kingdom of the Gods, which only go from strength to strength as they unfurl this epic saga.

The story kicks off here, following Yeine Darr, a disowned daughter of the cruel ruling Arameri family, who is brought back into the fold following the murder of her mother, as her grandfather names her (and two other relatives) as heirs to his throne.

Expect intrigue and conspiracy as Yeine must quickly develop her understanding of this strange and dangerous elite world, while she also scrambles to uncover the truth of what happened to her late mother.

6. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Recently brought to life in a stunning series co-produced by the BBC and HBO, His Dark Materials is a compendium collecting Philip Pullman's Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

The story follows young protagonists Lyra Belacqua and (later) Will Parry, who originate from different universes and work together to investigate a substance called 'dust', which is central to the plans of the sinister Magisterium.

Pullman courted controversy with this groundbreaking trilogy, which takes a sceptical and, indeed, overtly critical view of organised religion, but despite its weighty themes the books have long been regarded as suitable for a wide age range.

You can hear a sample of Northern Lights, as narrated by His Dark Materials star Ruth Wilson, above.

5. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin

Often regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi and fantasy writers of her era, Ursula K Le Guin's most revered works continue to be her six-part Earthsea series, which began with this 1968 title that introduces the universe to readers.

Often described as a forerunner to JK Rowling's Harry Potter, the story introduces us to a promising young mage named Ged, whose eagerness to put his growing power to use see him sent to a school for wizards, where he hopes to hone his craft.

However, things quickly take a turn for the worse as Ged's animosity towards fellow pupil Jasper culminates in a bitter duel, where the former unwittingly summons a malevolent creature that goes on to stalk him across the Earthsea archipelago.

As a whole, the saga is a seminal work that deserves to be read in recognition of its enormous influence on later works. Whatever you do, just don't watch the animated film, which was a rare and woeful misfire from Japan's Studio Ghibli.

4. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

The late Terry Pratchett's Discworld universe is among the most cherished creations in fantasy history, and owing to the largely independent nature of the stories, there are various points at which you could conceivably jump in.

One that is often advocated for is Guards! Guards!, which began carving out the City Watch sub-strand of Discworld stories, following members of a police force unravelling mysteries in the city of Ankh-Morpork.

Guards! Guards! is a great choice for readers looking for a bit of comedy in their fantasy escapism, with Pratchett's characters, satire and wacky scenarios sure to elicit a chuckle as you get to know this outlandish landscape.

Although this is technically the eighth overall entry in the Discworld universe, try not to get too worried about the numbering – especially as the earliest books in the series are generally regarded as the weakest.

3. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

The recent cancellation of Prime Video's The Wheel of Time shouldn't put you off engaging with this excellent series of fantasy novels, which kick off with The Eye of the World.

While the streaming adaptation didn't truly win fan favour until its third season – by which point, it proved too little too late – the books hit the ground running, with this first entry being among the most acclaimed of the bunch.

Jordan introduces us to magic wielder Moiraine Damodred, who seeks the Dragon Reborn – a reincarnated figure, who is the world's only hope against the return of an ancient evil known as The Dark One.

One for readers with stamina, the full Wheel of Time saga unfolds across a whopping 15 novels (including one prequel), with the latter three being co-written by Mistborn creator Brandon Sanderson (following Jordan's sad death, aged only 58).

2. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

While enthusiasm for George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels might well have been dimmed by divisive TV adaptations and frustration over a long, long wait for the final entries, you would be doing yourself a disservice to cast these off entirely.

Even if Martin never gets around to the fabled Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, the five epic novels that currently comprise this series have enough world-building, character growth and breathtaking action to warrant the time investment.

With an average of almost 850 pages per novel, you can be assured that there is plenty of material here that couldn't be squeezed into the HBO series too, so those who watched up to that infamous final episode should still take these titles into consideration.

As in the series, there are multiple point-of-view characters in these hefty tomes, some of whom aren't long for this world as risky plays for power unfold with deadly and disastrous consequences.

1. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

It's nigh-on impossible to have a conversation about fantasy literature without referencing or paying tribute to JRR Tolkien's legendary trilogy The Lord of the Rings – which starts with this volume, first published in 1954.

Picking up in the world of Tolkien's The Hobbit, which hit book shop shelves almost two decades earlier, this trilogy introduces a new central protagonist in Frodo Baggins and expands the wider universe in truly astonishing ways.

Smaug seems almost quaint in comparison to the menacing Sauron and his acolytes, who are strategising to bring the Dark Lord a powerful magic ring that would grant him the power to extend his oppressive rule over all in Middle-earth.

It's entirely up to you whether to start with The Hobbit before moving onto the weightier Lord of the Rings books – Tolkien did include a recap prologue for those who skip ahead, and if it's epic stakes that you're after then that might be preferable.

Suffice to say, though, Tolkien should be on the reading list of any avid fantasy reader. And if you've already devoured his works, perhaps you should consider revisiting them!

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