The 25 best fantasy books
The 25 highest-ranked fantasy books in our ranking of 2,819, scored on how much readers love them, their prize, best-list and bestseller record, and current buzz. We rank 461 fantasy books in all. How we rank
- 1
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone96.8Must-Read ScoreHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
It's the book that turned a generation into readers, and it's still pure magic: funny, warm, inventive and with a mystery that keeps you turning pages.
- 2A Game of Thrones96.2Must-Read Score
A Game of Thrones
It's the book that remade modern fantasy: grown-up politics, characters you love who aren't safe, and a world that feels as solid as history.
- 3
Fourth Wing93.8Must-Read ScoreFourth Wing
It's the book that turned millions of people into romantasy readers: relentlessly fast, with high stakes, real danger, dragons with personality and a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance.
- 4
The Fifth Season91.9Must-Read ScoreThe Fifth Season
It's one of the most inventive fantasies of the century, and its trilogy is the only one to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years running.
- 5
Dungeon Crawler Carl91.8Must-Read ScoreDungeon Crawler Carl
It's absurd, violent, very funny and surprisingly moving, and Carl's quiet rage against the people running the show gives it real heart.
- 6
The Lord of the Rings89.9Must-Read ScoreThe Lord of the Rings
It's the book that made modern fantasy, and it still has no equal for depth of world, sense of history, and a friendship you'll feel at the end.
- 7
House of Earth and Blood87.6Must-Read ScoreHouse of Earth and Blood
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and launched the Crescent City series, one of the most popular in modern fantasy.
- 8
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe87.6Must-Read ScoreThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
It's one of the most beloved children's books ever written, a perfect adventure that adults reread with delight.
- 9
Six of Crows87.4Must-Read ScoreSix of Crows
It's a heist thriller in a fantasy world, with six unforgettable characters, sharp banter, clever twists and a found-family heart.
- 10
Quicksilver87.1Must-Read ScoreQuicksilver
It's an addictive enemies-to-lovers romantasy with fast-paced action, sharp banter and a slow burn that readers devour.
- 11
Hyperion87.0Must-Read ScoreHyperion
It won the Hugo Award and is one of the most acclaimed science fiction novels ever.
- 12The Way of Kings87.0Must-Read Score
The Way of Kings
It opens The Stormlight Archive, the most ambitious series by one of today's most popular fantasy writers.
- 13
The Eye of the World86.4Must-Read ScoreThe Eye of the World
It was voted onto PBS's Great American Read and begins The Wheel of Time, one of the best-selling fantasy series ever written.
- 14Gideon the Ninth86.3Must-Read Score
Gideon the Ninth
It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.
- 15
A Court of Thorns and Roses86.3Must-Read ScoreA Court of Thorns and Roses
It launched one of the biggest fantasy-romance series of the century, beginning as a Beauty and the Beast retelling and becoming something much bigger.
- 16
The Tainted Cup86.2Must-Read ScoreThe Tainted Cup
It's Sherlock Holmes in a strange, inventive fantasy world, a genuinely clever mystery with a delightful detective duo, and it won the Hugo Award.
- 17
The Dispossessed85.9Must-Read ScoreThe Dispossessed
It's a thoughtful, humane novel of ideas about freedom, society and what makes a good life, and it won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.
- 18
Outlander85.9Must-Read ScoreOutlander
It's one of the best-selling novels ever, about 25 million copies, and a PBS Great American Read pick.
- 19
Piranesi85.3Must-Read ScorePiranesi
It won the Women's Prize for Fiction and was a Hugo and Nebula finalist.
- 20Circe85.1Must-Read Score
Circe
It was a Women's Prize for Fiction finalist and has spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 21The Name of the Wind84.9Must-Read Score
The Name of the Wind
It's one of the most beloved fantasy novels of the century.
- 22All Systems Red84.5Must-Read Score
All Systems Red
It begins the Murderbot Diaries, one of the most loved science fiction series of recent years, which has won both the Hugo and the Nebula.
- 23Night Watch84.1Must-Read Score
Night Watch
It's on the Guardian's list of the best books of the 21st century and the BBC's Big Read, and many fans call it the best of all the Discworld novels.
- 24One Hundred Years of Solitude83.8Must-Read Score
One Hundred Years of Solitude
It's one of the best-selling novels ever, with about 50 million copies sold, and it's on the Bokklubben World Library, the BBC's Big Read and PBS's Great American Read.
- 25
Ficciones83.8Must-Read ScoreFicciones
It's on Le Monde's list of the books of the century and the Bokklubben World Library of the greatest books ever written.