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Best Fantasy Books: Epic Quests, Magic and Cozy Worlds

Fantasy builds worlds where magic is real. This list covers epic quests, schools of magic, dark tales and gentle cozy fantasy from our catalog.

Choose it for escape and wonder. Books are ordered by reader interest, and each has a one-line hook and a note on what you get.

Best for: Readers who want to escape into another world.

Scope: Books in our catalog with this genre.
Order: By reader interest (Open Library want-to-read counts), then newest first. Not a quality ranking.

102 books

1996
A Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin
Fantasy · Dark
Noble houses fight over the Iron Throne as winter nears
What you get: A sweeping, richly detailed world with many memorable characters and plenty of intrigue. You get the pleasure of losing yourself in a vast, gripping saga.
Amazon Description
2005
The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan
Fantasy · Light
A boy learns he is the son of a Greek god
What you get: A quick, witty ride through modern America filled with Greek gods and monsters. Great fun, full of humor and heart, with a hero who feels like a friend.
Amazon Description
1998
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A hidden chamber and a monster loose at Hogwarts
What you get: A cleverly built mystery wrapped in the cozy magic of school life, with courage, loyalty and a few good scares along the way. You feel right at home in the castle again.
Amazon Description
2007
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Epic
The final book: a hunt for the pieces of Voldemort’s soul
What you get: A grand, moving conclusion where courage, love and friendship are tested. It rewards your long journey with a story that feels earned and unforgettable.
Amazon Description
1999
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A prisoner escapes Azkaban, and Harry is said to be his target
What you get: A turning point in the series: sharper mystery, richer characters and a surprising twist that makes you want to go back and notice every clue. Moving and exciting at once.
Amazon Description
1937
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Fantasy · Warm
A reluctant hobbit joins a company of dwarves to win back a mountain
What you get: A cheerful, imaginative adventure with dwarves, riddles and a dragon's hoard. It is the perfect doorway to Middle-earth and a story that feels like home.
Amazon Description
2001
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Warm
In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire for the Triwizard Tournament
What you get: A thrilling contest, shifting loyalties and a turn toward real danger. It brings the full rush of a story getting bigger, braver and more emotional.
Amazon Description
2003
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Dark
Harry’s fifth year, and the Ministry refuses to believe Voldemort is back
What you get: A powerful story of friendship, defiance and finding your voice. It lifts you up with its sense of loyal people choosing to fight for what is right.
Amazon Description
2012
The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller
Fantasy · Melancholic
Exiled Patroclus meets Achilles, son of a sea nymph, in Phthia, and their friendship grows
What you get: A lyrical retelling of the Trojan War through a tender love story. It brings ancient legends to life and moves readers who love beautiful, heartfelt writing.
Amazon Description
2005
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Dark
Dumbledore shows Harry the past of the dark wizard
What you get: A rich blend of mystery, humor and heartfelt moments, with a deeper look into the past. It leaves you thinking about choices and what makes a person who they are.
Amazon Description
1990
The Eye of the World
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
A farm boy is hunted by the Dark One
What you get: The comfort of settling into a big, well-drawn world with a band of ordinary people called to something larger. It builds wonder, friendship and a strong desire to keep going.
Amazon Description
2002
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Fantasy · Dark
A girl finds a door to a mirror-world with an Other Mother
What you get: A delightfully spooky tale that mixes wonder and a little fear. It is short, creative and brilliantly atmospheric.
Amazon Description
1988
Matilda
Roald Dahl
Fantasy · Light
A brilliant girl discovers she can move things with her mind
What you get: Pure delight: funny, warm and quietly empowering. It reminds you that a curious mind and a good heart can change everything.
Amazon Description
1964
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl
Fantasy · Light
A poor boy wins a golden ticket to see inside a candy factory
What you get: A joyful dose of wonder and mischief, with a kind-hearted hero and a magical factory beyond imagination. A story that makes you smile.
Amazon Description
1954
The Fellowship of the Ring
J. R. R. Tolkien
Fantasy · Epic
A small ring and the long journey to destroy it
What you get: The first step of an unforgettable journey, with a richly imagined world and friendships that feel like your own. It is a classic fantasy adventure that invites you to keep going.
Amazon Description
2006
The Sea of Monsters
Rick Riordan
Fantasy · Light
A quest for the Golden Fleece
What you get: A quick, funny, action-packed quest across the sea with friendly heroes.
Amazon Description
1950
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Warm
Four children step through a wardrobe into a snowy land
What you get: A cozy, magical journey through a snowy land, full of talking animals and brave choices. It brings out the child in readers of every age.
Amazon Description
2007
The Titan’s Curse
Rick Riordan
Fantasy · Light
The goddess Artemis is missing
What you get: A fun, fast-moving quest with new friends and big stakes.
Amazon Description
1982
The BFG
Roald Dahl
Fantasy · Warm
A girl and a giant who catches dreams
What you get: Silly, imaginative fun with a lovable giant and a brave girl.
Amazon Description
1900
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
Fantasy · Warm
A Kansas girl is swept by a cyclone to a land of witches
What you get: A colorful, kind-hearted adventure about courage, friendship and finding that you already have what you need. Comforting and delightful.
Amazon Description
1982
The Gunslinger
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
A gunslinger pursues a man in black across a desert
What you get: A strange, haunting atmosphere and a lone hero on a mysterious quest. It draws you into a big world and leaves you curious about everything behind it.
Amazon Description
2008
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Rick Riordan
Fantasy · Light
A maze beneath the world
What you get: Clever, funny and thrilling, with surprising allies.
Amazon Description
1990
Good Omens
Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
Fantasy · Light
An angel and a demon try to stop the apocalypse
What you get: Laugh-out-loud humor, a lovable odd-couple friendship and a plot that is as clever as it is silly. A joy from start to finish.
Amazon Description
2009
The Last Olympian
Rick Riordan
Fantasy · Epic
The final war at Olympus
What you get: An exciting, heartfelt conclusion with a giant battle and loyal friends.
Amazon Description
1954
The Two Towers
J. R. R. Tolkien
Fantasy · Epic
The Fellowship splits and war comes to Rohan
What you get: Sweeping adventure with unforgettable scenes of loyalty and courage, plus the pull of several journeys at once. A sense of a vast world fighting for its light.
Amazon Description
1968
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A young wizard’s rise on an island archipelago
What you get: A beautiful, thoughtful story of magic and learning that feels timeless.
Amazon Description
1955
The Magician’s Nephew
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Warm
The story of how Narnia began
What you get: A charming origin story with magic doors and new worlds, delightful for new and returning readers.
Amazon Description
1955
The Return of the King
J. R. R. Tolkien
Fantasy · Epic
The last battles and the end of the quest
What you get: A powerful, deeply moving ending where friendship, sacrifice and hope carry the day. You close the book feeling that something great has truly been completed.
Amazon Description
2002
American Gods
Neil Gaiman
Fantasy · Dark
Ex-convict Shadow becomes bodyguard to a mysterious con man named Mr. Wednesday and travels across America
What you get: A strange, atmospheric journey through a hidden world of old gods. It delivers a rich sense of mystery and imagination.
Amazon Description
1998
A Clash of Kings
George R. R. Martin
Fantasy · Dark
Five kings claim the realm
What you get: The delight of a vast, richly detailed world where every chapter turns the game of power a little further. Rich in intrigue, atmosphere and memorable characters.
Amazon Description
1972
Watership Down
Richard Adams
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A band of rabbits flee their doomed warren to found a new one
What you get: A moving, richly imagined journey of survival and loyalty. You come to care deeply about the rabbits and their search for home.
Amazon Description
2009
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
Fantasy · Warm
A toddler whose family is murdered is raised by the supernatural residents of a graveyard
What you get: A warm, imaginative story about a boy raised by friendly ghosts. Charming and touching.
Amazon Description
2011
A Dance with Dragons
George R. R. Martin
Fantasy · Dark
The north and the east converge
What you get: A vast, immersive return to a beloved world, packed with memorable moments.
Amazon Description
1951
Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Hopeful
The Pevensies return to find Narnia changed
What you get: A rousing adventure of courage and hope, with talking animals and a rightful prince to cheer for.
Amazon Description
1999
Stardust
Neil Gaiman
Fantasy · Warm
A young man crosses a wall to find a fallen star
What you get: A charming, witty quest into a magical land, with a warm, romantic heart.
Amazon Description
2003
Wolves of the Calla
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
A village under threat from wolves
What you get: A fast, atmospheric story with an old-fashioned feel.
Amazon Description
2021
Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
Fantasy · Thoughtful
Piranesi records the tides and statues of an endless House and meets a man called the Other
What you get: A strange, beautiful and surprising world to explore, told in a voice full of wonder. It is quietly magical and rewards you with a satisfying sense of discovery.
Amazon Description
2000
A Storm of Swords
George R. R. Martin
Fantasy · Dark
The most celebrated volume of the series
What you get: A big, gripping saga with shocking turns and moments you will want to talk about right away. It is often called the high point of the series for good reason.
Amazon Description
2005
A Feast for Crows
George R. R. Martin
Fantasy · Dark
The aftermath of war, told by new voices
What you get: A richly detailed continuation with fresh viewpoints and layers of political drama.
Amazon Description
1962
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury
Fantasy · Dark
An autumn carnival that grants wishes at a price
What you get: A lyrical, spooky adventure of friendship and courage, perfect for an autumn night.
Amazon Description
1987
The Drawing of the Three
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
Roland draws three companions from our world
What you get: A fast, inventive continuation with memorable new characters.
Amazon Description
1953
The Silver Chair
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Thoughtful
Two children and a marsh-wiggle search for a lost prince
What you get: A brave, atmospheric adventure with loyal friends and a clever puzzle to follow.
Amazon Description
2004
The Dark Tower
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
The tower at last
What you get: A big, emotional conclusion to a long journey.
Amazon Description
1973
The Princess Bride
William Goldman
Fantasy · Light
A fairy tale with swordfights, true love and giants
What you get: Wit, adventure and true love in one irresistible package. It is clever, quotable and guaranteed to leave you smiling.
Amazon Description
2020
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
Fantasy · Warm
A caseworker visits an orphanage of magical children
What you get: A heartwarming, gently funny story about belonging, with unforgettable children and a charming island. It is a hug in book form, and it leaves you smiling.
Amazon Description
1956
The Last Battle
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Melancholic
The final chapter of Narnia’s history
What you get: A touching, grand ending that gives the series a feeling of completeness and hope.
Amazon Description
1954
The Horse and His Boy
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Warm
A boy flees south and races to warn a kingdom
What you get: A fast, warm journey across new lands with talking horses and plenty of courage.
Amazon Description
1997
Wizard and Glass
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
Roland remembers his youth
What you get: A moving, atmospheric tale that deepens the hero.
Amazon Description
1995
Assassin’s Apprentice
Robin Hobb
Fantasy · Melancholic
A bastard prince is trained as a royal assassin
What you get: A gripping, emotional start to a saga, with a narrator you stay close to.
Amazon Description
1997
The Subtle Knife
Philip Pullman
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A boy meets Lyra in a city between worlds
What you get: A fast, imaginative adventure that crosses into new worlds with courage and curiosity.
Amazon Description
1990
The Great Hunt
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Pursuit of a stolen horn across the world
What you get: A big, immersive story that expands the world and gives its heroes new challenges.
Amazon Description
2004
Song of Susannah
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
Susannah and her double
What you get: A bold, unusual chapter that raises the stakes.
Amazon Description
1952
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
C. S. Lewis
Fantasy · Hopeful
A voyage to the edge of the world by sea
What you get: A sparkling voyage from island to island, full of wonder and a warm sense of friendship.
Amazon Description
2016
The Fifth Season
N. K. Jemisin
Fantasy · Dark
On a single supercontinent hit by world-ending Fifth Seasons, orogenes who control the earth are feared and persecuted
What you get: A bold, gripping story with a deep sense of world and heroines you care about.
Amazon Description
2000
The Amber Spyglass
Philip Pullman
Fantasy · Epic
The final battle for the worlds
What you get: An epic, emotional conclusion full of wonder and bravery.
Amazon Description
1992
The Shadow Rising
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
A return to the Waste
What you get: A rich, immersive volume with many storylines and great scenes.
Amazon Description
2022
Legends & Lattes
Travis Baldree
Fantasy · Warm
An orc retires from adventuring and opens a coffee shop
What you get: A cozy, feel-good story with the warmth of a coffee shop and the charm of fantasy. It is a gentle, comforting read for slow days and rainy weekends.
Amazon Description
1971
The Tombs of Atuan
Ursula K. Le Guin
Fantasy · Dark
A priestess in a tomb
What you get: A haunting, beautiful story of a girl and an underground temple.
Amazon Description
1994
Lord of Chaos
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Rand fights for the world’s fate
What you get: A long, absorbing volume with large events.
Amazon Description
1993
The Fires of Heaven
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Armies gather in the desert
What you get: A big, immersive chapter packed with action and character.
Amazon Description
2003
Crossroads of Twilight
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
A long middle
What you get: A slower, richly detailed installment for devoted readers.
Amazon Description
1996
Hogfather
Terry Pratchett
Fantasy · Light
The Discworld version of Santa Claus has gone missing
What you get: Witty, warm and unexpectedly moving, a perfect festive read for fantasy fans.
Amazon Description
1998
The Path of Daggers
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
A siege and a blow to the White Tower
What you get: An action-packed, atmospheric volume.
Amazon Description
2010
The City & the City
China Miéville
Fantasy · Tense
A police inspector investigates a murder in Besźel, a city that shares its space with Ul Qoma
What you get: An original, thought-provoking mystery set in two cities that share the same space.
Amazon Description
2012
The Wind Through the Keyhole
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
A story within a story told by the fire
What you get: A cozy, atmospheric tale with a fairy-tale feel.
Amazon Description
2009
The Gathering Storm
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Brandon Sanderson continues the story
What you get: A strong, energetic volume that revives the story's pace.
Amazon Description
Winter’s Heart
2000
Winter’s Heart
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Rand’s journey into darkness
What you get: A tense, powerful chapter with a memorable climax.
Amazon Description
1972
The Farthest Shore
Ursula K. Le Guin
Fantasy · Melancholic
Ged and a prince journey to the edge of the world
What you get: A reflective, moving voyage at the edge of the world.
Amazon Description
2004
New Spring
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
A prequel set before the story begins
What you get: A compact, engaging prequel with a fresh feeling.
Amazon Description
2012
Among Others
Jo Walton
Fantasy · Warm
A 15-year-old Welsh science fiction fan moves to England after a traumatic loss and keeps a diary
What you get: A warm, quirky story that celebrates reading and finding your people.
Amazon Description
Knife of Dreams
2005
Knife of Dreams
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
The final push begins
What you get: A fast, satisfying volume with big payoffs.
Amazon Description
2023
Nettle & Bone
T. Kingfisher
Fantasy · Warm
The youngest of three princesses leaves a convent to help her sister, with a dust-wife and a demon-possessed chicken
What you get: A funny, adventurous quest with unforgettable companions.
Amazon Description
2001
Tales from Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A collection set in Earthsea
What you get: Beautiful, varied tales that deepen a magical place.
Amazon Description
1991
The Dragon Reborn
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Rand heads for Tear and a sword in a stone
What you get: A gripping, large-scale story with high stakes.
Amazon Description
1997
Assassin’s Quest
Robin Hobb
Fantasy · Melancholic
A quest to find a lost ally
What you get: A long, absorbing finale that rewards your patience.
Amazon Description
2010
Towers of Midnight
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Preparations for the last battle
What you get: A rousing, emotional volume full of gathering forces.
Amazon Description
2017
The Obelisk Gate
N. K. Jemisin
Fantasy · Dark
Mother and daughter, both orogenes, separated shortly before the latest Fifth Season, try to find each other
What you get: A powerful, absorbing middle volume with big revelations.
Amazon Description
Season of Storms
2013
Season of Storms
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
A standalone Witcher novel
What you get: A fast, witty story that you can enjoy without the long saga.
Amazon Description
2026
The Everlasting
Alix E. Harrow
Fantasy · Melancholic
A scholar and returning war veteran researches the knight Sir Una Everlasting and travels through time with her
What you get: A lively, imaginative story about a scholar tracing a famed knight.
Amazon Description
2025
The Tainted Cup
Robert Jackson Bennett
Fantasy · Tense
In an empire walled against leviathans, a young engraver assists an eccentric investigator after a murder
What you get: A fresh, gripping case in a strange, richly imagined empire.
Amazon Description
2024
Crossroads of Ravens
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
A new Witcher novel
What you get: A lively, atmospheric story that returns to the beginnings.
Amazon Description
2018
The Stone Sky
N. K. Jemisin
Fantasy · Dark
The final book of the Broken Earth trilogy, set on the supercontinent of the Stillness
What you get: A moving, grand finale that ties the story together.
Amazon Description
2013
A Memory of Light
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
The Last Battle
What you get: An epic, rewarding conclusion to a very long journey.
Amazon Description
2005
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Susanna Clarke
Fantasy · Thoughtful
In 19th-century England during the Napoleonic Wars, magic returns through two magicians, Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange
What you get: A rich, witty alternate history of English magic that feels wonderfully real.
Amazon Description
2004
Paladin of Souls
Lois McMaster Bujold
Fantasy · Hopeful
Ista, mother of Chalion's young ruler, sets out on a pilgrimage after the family curse is lifted
What you get: A touching, adventurous quest with humor and heart.
Amazon Description
Inkheart
2003
Inkheart
Cornelia Funke
Fantasy · Warm
A girl’s father can read characters out of books
What you get: A wonderful adventure for book lovers, full of imagination and a warm family core.
Amazon Description
2001
The Other Wind
Ursula K. Le Guin
Fantasy · Melancholic
The last Earthsea novel
What you get: A calm, moving finale about home and understanding.
Amazon Description
The Lady of the Lake
1999
The Lady of the Lake
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
The final book of the saga
What you get: A rich, emotional finale that ties up the long journey.
Amazon Description
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
1997
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
J. K. Rowling
Fantasy · Warm
An orphan learns he is a wizard and starts at Hogwarts
What you get: The thrill of discovering a secret world right next to ours, with a friendly hero, loyal friends and a first adventure that makes you want to read on. Pure wonder and warmth.
Amazon Description
The Tower of Swallows
1997
The Tower of Swallows
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
Ciri and the end of the world
What you get: A gripping, atmospheric volume that raises the stakes.
Amazon Description
A Crown of Swords
1996
A Crown of Swords
Robert Jordan
Fantasy · Epic
Rand’s power grows, and so do his doubts
What you get: A rich, detailed continuation with many storylines.
Amazon Description
Baptism of Fire
1996
Baptism of Fire
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
The war and a company on the road
What you get: A lively, rough-and-tumble journey with humor and friendship.
Amazon Description
1996
Royal Assassin
Robin Hobb
Fantasy · Melancholic
A kingdom under threat
What you get: A rich, emotional continuation with plenty of tension.
Amazon Description
The Golden Compass
1995
The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A girl and a talking daemon leave Oxford for the Arctic
What you get: A richly imagined world, a loyal animal companion for every person and a journey north full of wonder and danger. It sparks real curiosity and courage.
Amazon Description
Time of Contempt
1995
Time of Contempt
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
Ciri’s fate is at stake
What you get: A dark, fast-moving chapter full of intrigue and big choices.
Amazon Description
Blood of Elves
1994
Blood of Elves
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
The saga begins in earnest
What you get: A gripping first novel in the saga with strong characters and tension.
Amazon Description
The Last Wish
1993
The Last Wish
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
A witcher and the short stories that began it all
What you get: A fun, atmospheric introduction to a world of monsters and clever choices.
Amazon Description
Sword of Destiny
1992
Sword of Destiny
Andrzej Sapkowski
Fantasy · Dark
More stories about Geralt
What you get: Fun, dark and clever stories with a memorable hero.
Amazon Description
The Waste Lands
1991
The Waste Lands
Stephen King
Fantasy · Dark
A train, a riddle and a trip through a ruined world
What you get: Atmospheric, eerie and full of surprises.
Amazon Description
Tehanu
1990
Tehanu
Ursula K. Le Guin
Fantasy · Thoughtful
A woman in Earthsea’s later years
What you get: A quiet, wise novel about power and ordinary courage.
Amazon Description
1979
The NeverEnding Story
Michael Ende
Fantasy · Warm
A boy reads a book and finds himself inside it
What you get: A wondrous adventure that makes you feel part of the tale.
Amazon Description
The Shepherd
1975
The Shepherd
Frederick Forsyth
Fantasy · Warm
A pilot’s story at Christmas Eve
What you get: A quiet, memorable tale you can read in one sitting.
Amazon Description