17 Fantasy Books That Everyone Should Read at Least Once

In American Gods, Neil Gaiman sends two men on a road trip across the United States, but no matter where Shadow and Mr. Wednesday go, magic follows. There are gods waging a war for America, and the battle that ensues is strange and bloody, with the rare moment of beauty thrown in for good measure. By mixing mythology and technology together with a good old-fashioned story about two men trekking across the US, American Gods creates an unforgettable journey that you'll want to go on again and again.

Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone was just released in 2018, but it's already earned its place on this list. Zélie Adebola's mother is killed by a regime determined to eradicate magic from the country of Orïsha. But there's still magic inside of Zélie, and her determination to avenge her mother and restore her people's gifts makes for a breathtaking read.

V.E. Schwab knows her way around a fantasy world, as she proves once again with A Darker Shade of Magic. This story of parallel Londons and the magicians who can move between them is a tale full of royal intrigue, terrible machinations, and, of course, magic. There are two more books in the series, but it's hard to top the first's ability to so fully flesh out multiple versions of London and an intricate magic system.

The TV series gets most of the attention these days, but it wouldn't exist without the world-building of George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. Other books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series may be more thrilling, but the first book introduced the world to Westeros, the Starks, the Targaryens, and the White Walkers. And for that reason alone it's a masterpiece.

The His Dark Materials trilogy stirred up controversy when it was first released due to its ideas about religion. However, that shouldn't stop anyone from diving into Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. The first book in the series is the start of a young girl named Lyra's quest to find her kidnapped friend. Along the way, she encounters a heroic talking polar bear, a Texas balloonist, and way too many people who wish to do her harm. Dense, dark, and fantastical, this world is one that will never leave you after you visit it.

Two masters of fantasy, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, joined forces to write a book about an angel and a demon trying to prevent the Apocalypse. That book is Good Omens, and it's hilarious. You will laugh until your sides ache and the pages (or ereader) are stained with tears. But it might also make you think about the funny old world we live in and why two beings who should be enemies would band together to save it.

Stephen King is best known as a horror writer, but he also wrote one of the modern era's towering fantasy epics. The Gunslinger is the start of his critically acclaimed Dark Tower series, and it's a haunting ride from start to finish. Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger, is chasing the Man in Black across a vast desert. What follows is an intense but lyrical tale that expertly blends Western tropes with fantasy elements to create something completely new.

What is there to say about J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone that hasn't already been said? The first book kicked off a literary phenomenon that continues to resonate with people to this day. Hogwarts is still home to anyone who has ever visited it, but its doors also remain open to welcome new generations to the wizarding world.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is fantastic, but J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is such a succinct fantasy novel and deserves more love than it gets. Bilbo Baggins's reluctant quest away from his beloved home is timeless and enthralling, and it should be read by everyone at least once.

It's not easy to write a book set in another era just as a writer of that era would write it, but Susanna Clarke does just that. Her Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell reads like a lost Victorian novel about two aging magicians, complete with footnotes. It starts out slow, but this is a fantasy novel that rewards patience.

Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn is so beautiful, it will make your heart ache. When a unicorn realizes she may be the last of her kind, she goes on a journey to find out what happened to the others, but that same journey fundamentally changes her in ways that neither she nor the reader could ever expect.

The Chronicles of Narnia are collectively incredible, but there's a reason The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe remains the most beloved entry in the series. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie escape one world at war through a magical wardrobe only to find themselves in another that tests their strength of character even as it introduces them to the danger and power of true magic. This book may be a children's classic, but it's one you're never too old to read for the first time.

Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is overwhelmingly expansive, but Mort is a terrific place to start. Death takes center stage when he hires a bumbling but well-meaning apprentice. Mort's gig isn't too bad, really, but when your demanding boss is the ultimate reaper of souls, things tend to get weird.

Patrick Rothfuss is an expert at world-building. As a result, The Name of the Wind can feel like a huge undertaking for the reader — at least until you turn the first page. Kvothe's story is full of heroic deeds, beautiful songs, and great tragedies. It's romantic and riveting and, yes, more than a little magical. It's a true epic that you won't be able to stop yourself from getting lost in.

King Arthur and Camelot are responsible for more than a few fantasy tropes. And while the classic story's been told many times, T.H. White's The Once and Future King is by far the most accessible take on the legend. Even if you know Arthur's story, White's gorgeous writing will make you feel like you're entering Camelot for the first time.

Six uneasy allies unite for the heist of a lifetime in Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. What follows is a fast-paced, intricately written descent into a down-and-dirty fantasy world with steampunk sensibilities. Yes, there's magic here, but more importantly, there's a world that feels as real as our own, populated by characters who are morally complex but impossible not to love.

Ursula K. Le Guin is the queen of fantasy, and her Earthsea series proves it. In A Wizard of Earthsea, the sorcerer Ged must come to terms with the darkness he unleashed on the world in pursuit of knowledge. His quest to set things right is a breathtaking example of everything that makes this genre so intoxicating.