The fantasy genre allows the impossible to happen: a magic-wielding peasant leading a revolution, an overlooked goddess transforming into a powerful sorceress, a Jewish moneylender outsmarting a fairy king. . fantasy epics present readers with adventures starring world-conquering villains and selfless heroes (or sometimes soft-hearted villains and amoral heroes). is a genre that celebrates creativity, combining lush world-building with compelling character development.
As the decade draws to a close, we want to highlight the fantasy novels that have captivated us over the past 10 years. This list includes 30 novels published in English between 2010 and 2019, and we’ve limited it to one book per author (with the exception of one solo novel and one novel co-authored by Brandon Sanderson). this list is obviously subjective; it is by no means representative of the only “good” fantasy books published during the last 10 years. This is simply a list of the novels that we cried, laughed at, and were inspired by during a tumultuous decade.
You are reading: Best fantasy books of the decade
if you’re looking for magic, you’ll love these books.
30. all the birds in the sky by charlie jane anders (2016)
Magic collides with science in Charlie Jane Anders’s All Birds in the Sky, an imaginative blend of science fiction and fantasy. follows two social outcasts, a budding witch and a boy who will grow up to be a tech whiz, who become friends, drift apart, and must ultimately team up to save the world. this novel is a celebration of ambiguity, transcending gender labels with its luminous prose and inventive hybridization of two distinct genres. Eccentric and deeply intelligent, All the Birds in the Sky is essential reading for people who celebrate when intelligent writers refuse to bow to convention and create their own. —amy glynn
29. children of blood and bone by tomi adeyemi (2018)
A truly epic young adult fantasy blockbuster, Tomi Adeyemi’s debut novel has consistently topped the best-seller list for good reason. Featuring stunning world-building and lush prose, the Legacy of Orïsha series is set in a kingdom where magic is outlawed and a ruthless monarch seeks to kill those who possess magical gifts. Zélie, a teenager with powers of her own, is in a position to fight back, seeking revenge against those who oppressed her people and killed her mother. the result is a violent and gripping story about family, love and the fight for freedom. Even though children of blood and bone clocks in at over 500 pages, you won’t want it to ever end. —eric smith
28. the land of the wizard by lev grossman (2014)
The shorthand description for Lev Grossman’s Wizards trilogy is “Harry Potter for Adults”. And while there’s plenty of college-age angst in the first entry, the focus shifts from brakebills college to magical pedagogy to the filler fantasy world as the series progresses. each book cares a little more about its characters, who face the same struggles for meaning and purpose as the rest of us, culminating in a powerful third installment, the land of the wizard. Magic corrupts as much as it helps draw its practitioners out of their brooding existences, and protagonist Quentin spirals out of control in a sequence of events that wind up intertwining in unexpected ways. Grossman succeeds in capturing the density and complexity of modern human struggle in his must-read trilogy. —josh jackson
27. the grace of kings by ken liu (2015)
game of thrones comparisons abound in epic fantasy, but ken liu’s grace of kings is one of the few tomes that earns that comparison favorably . The first volume in the dandelion dynasty series, grace of kings follows a diminutive bandit and the son of a deposed family bloodline who suffer under, and eventually help to overthrow, to a tyrannical ruler. But what sounds like a spoiler is actually a prelude to Liu’s true plot, as these two meet with opposing views on how to establish justice in their new world. the wall of storms, liu’s sequel, masterfully builds on the seeds planted in the first volume, and readers should catch up now before the trilogy’s imminent conclusion. —steve foxe
26. black leopard, red wolf by marlon james (2019)
the first book of marlon james’s dark star trilogy is unpredictable in the best way. Influenced by African folklore and history, the novel follows a man named Tracker who joins a band of hired mercenaries to locate a kidnapped boy. But this is not a simple rescue story; Both human and supernatural forces intend to assassinate the mercenaries in countless ways. on any given page, you’ll discover everything from witches to cannibalistic creatures on the gang’s path, and it’s rarely clear which characters are trustworthy. Even more captivating than James’ ability to keep you guessing is the mystery he slowly unravels around the boy, ensuring you’ll be clamoring for sequels by the end. —frannie jackson
25. republic of thieves by scott lynch (2013)
Scott Lynch’s Bastard Knights series reminds us that gloriously three-dimensional characters can exist within a rich fantasy world, adding depth to its setting rather than existing in spite of it. Throughout Lynch’s three books in a row (with four more to come), professional thief Locke Lamora and his friends have consistently pulled off scams and heists so startling, yet believable, that fans of Ocean’s Eleven and patrick rothfuss alike will find his adventures ridiculously entertaining. Lynch’s third installment, Republic of Thieves, finds Locke pitted against his childhood companion-turned-rival in a political game with dangerous stakes. The result is a gripping story in which Lynch reminds us why fantasy reading is an absolute joy. —frannie jackson
24. Elizabeth Lim’s Turn the Dawn (2019)
It’s impossible not to love any dazzling coming-of-age story in which the fate of a nation hinges on high-stakes competition. Throw in Maia Tamarin’s cross-dressing prodigy of a leading man, her enchanted (and quietly stubborn) scissors, and endless drama-loving old men, and you’ve got a truly fantastical treat. As the first book in her Blood of Stars series for young adults, Elizabeth Lim’s brilliant Turn the Dawn features a series of unexpected twists and suspenseful moments that will draw more strongly to an audience with an appetite for unlucky young love. But even infrequent readers will be enthralled by this artfully magical story about overcoming cultural expectations, fighting for your dreams, and using art to survive a challenging life. —alexis gunderson
23. a darker shade of magic by v.e. schwab (2015)
v.e. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series features an inventive setting in which four parallel Londons, once linked by magical portals, have been isolated from each other for centuries. only antari, individuals who wield the strongest magic, can travel between cities. a darker shade of magic kicks off schwab’s gripping trilogy, which follows an antari named kell and a charming wannabe pirate named lila on a daring journey through from various london. While each book in the series offers a thrilling read, the first novel especially highlights Schwab’s talent for weaving imaginative characters, gripping action, and gloriously creative worlds to create a fantasy epic. By the end of the book, you’ll wish you could live in red London, and immediately want to dive into the sequel. —frannie jackson
22. Saladin Ahmed’s Crescent Moon Throne (2012)
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saladin ahmed’s throne of the crescent moon offers a master class on how to get your fantasy from historical periods other than medieval europe. Drawing heavily on Middle Eastern mythology, the novel follows Dr. Adoulla Makhslood, a ghoul hunter driven from her retirement by an evil plot brewing in the royal palace. Ahmed, who has found success writing for Marvel Comics and Boom! studios, surrounds the doctor with a diverse cast, including a resourceful married couple, a shape-shifting tribal woman with nothing to lose, and an honor-bound dervish warrior. This Locus Award-winning novel stands on its own, but will await a possible sequel at the end of Ahmed’s narrative. —steve foxe
21. a memory of light by robert jordan and brandon sanderson (2013)
robert jordan’s long and beloved 14-book wheel of time series could have, at times, used a more ruthless publisher. But if he drags a bit in the middle, he finishes strong thanks to an assist from Brandon Sanderson, who took over the series following Jordan’s untimely death in 2007 at the age of 58. A Memory of Light delivers a captivating and satisfying ending to the epic high fantasy saga, ensuring Jordan’s heroes from the sleepy town of Two Rivers and their motley cast of allies have their moments to shine. Jordan’s complex mythologies, prophecies, stories, battles, and magic systems are closely intertwined in Sanderson’s hands, culminating in a monumental final entry. —josh jackson
20. laini taylor’s muse of nightmares (2018)
laini taylor’s writing is the stuff of dreams, even when its subject matter is literally nightmares. muse of nightmares continues her seductive tale of blue gods, magical metal, and deep trauma compounded by generations of abuse and genocide that began in strange the dreamer. muse concludes taylor’s duology with the addition of an entirely new thread of trauma, one launched from a new magical world that, in theory, shouldn’t work this close to the conclusion. But in Taylor’s capable hands, and with the viability of multiple universes working together established in his previous trilogy, he is an unqualified success. for those readers who want a healthy dose of sexy and emotional romance with its magical battles and flying creatures, rejoice! Taylor’s daughter of smoke and bone brand is extra strong here. —alexis gunderson
19. swivel silver by naomi novik (2018)
Rumpelstiltskin’s fairy tale has never been more captivating than in Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver. The exuberant narration of a classic story follows Miryem, the daughter of Jewish moneylenders who takes over the family business. But her talent for turning silver into gold catches the attention of a calculating faerie king, catalyzing a chain of events that endangers both the human and faerie kingdoms. Novik has already proven herself a master of weaving fairy tales with uprooted, her 2015 nebula award-winning novel about a young woman chosen to be a “dragon’s” handmaiden. spinning silver further cements its place as one of the genre’s greats, delivering a magical story of sacrifice and anti-Semitism that will delight readers from start to finish. —frannie jackson
18. shadowshaper by daniel jose old (2015)
the magical and monstrous new york city of daniel josé old’s shadowshaper cypher series is vibrant and its plot challenges many of the thorniest cultural and political questions of the last decade from a latinx perspective . From graffiti witch Sierra Santiago and her merry and diverse collection of family and friends to the electrically imaginative ghosts and monsters that threaten her Brooklyn neighborhood, shadowshaper is a paragon of #ownvoices lit, one of the artists most important young people of the decade. adult movements. it’s also a captivating thrill ride into a modern fantasy, delivering a saga you’ll want to revisit for years to come. old thankfully released the sequel earlier this year, so you can dive into shadowhouse fall immediately after reading his captivating shadowshaper. —alexis gunderson
17. Sean McGuire’s Midgame (2019)
Quantum entanglement, a physical phenomenon that occurs between pairs of particles, regardless of the distance between them, is as close to magic as anything described by science. in seanan mcguire’s middlegame, those pairings take the form of roger and dodger, a boy and a girl who can see through each other’s eyes and hear each other’s words. His is a world anchored in both reality and fantasy, and that dichotomy is at the heart of McGuire’s story. This witty coming-of-age story features two original leads and memorably menacing villains, delivering a page-turning thriller. McGuire already has Hugo and Nebula awards under his belt, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see one more. —josh jackson
16. a dance with dragons by george r.r. martin (2011)
george r.r. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series expanded to almost unmanageable proportions in book four, causing him to split A Feast for Crows geographically in two. A Dance With Dragons, the fifth book in Martin’s fantasy epic, was the beneficiary of the most riveting stories as a result. Devoid of the goings-on in Dorne, the Iron Isles, and the Vale, the fifth novel features Tyrion’s adventures in the Free Cities, Daenerys’s struggles to control her city and her dragons, and the path of cersei’s shame It took Martin 11 years to publish the pair of books that span a single timeline, but his captivating narrative was worth the wait. —josh jackson
15. before the devil breaks you by libba bray (2017)
While libba bray’s diviners series set in the roaring twenties is genuinely harrowing, there are few fantasy worlds you’ll want to live in more. Featuring a superpowered cast that includes a flapper with hands on fire, a disappearing pickpocket, a healer from Harlem, older witch sisters from Virginia, dream walkers from Chinatown, and a host of deranged ghosts and ghouls, Bray’s hilarious series It is wonderful in every way. Before the devil breaks you, the third book, manages to set an even higher bar as its mysterious threads intertwine to form the magical question that the final book must answer in 2020. it’s so magical as it is relevant and reflective of the challenging issues we have grappled with throughout the 2010s. —alexis gunderson
14. six of crows by leigh bardugo (2015)
Set two years after the end of Leigh Bardugo’s grisha trilogy, Six of Crows features an inspiring fantasy world that’s easy to get lost in. The novel takes you back to the fantasy kingdom of Bardugo of Ketterdam, with a ragtag team of outcasts who must pull off a big heist. the result is a fast-paced saga that will keep you turning the pages for hours. And if Six of Crows is the heist, then its sequel, crooked kingdom, is the glorious getaway. One of the many wonderful things about this magical duology is that if you haven’t read Bardugo’s original trilogy, this must-read fantasy stands on its own. but you’ll probably want to explore more of bardugo’s charming grishaveverse after the final page. —eric smith
13. the tower of the raven by ann leckie (2019)
Hopefully Ann Leckie’s standalone foray into fantasy, Raven’s Tower, can’t be quite as sweeping as her Imperial Radch sci-fi trilogy. but you would be wrong. Framed as a story told by a silent rock god to a mysterious you investigating a current mystery, The Tower of the Raven makes excellent use of its relative brevity. This is a world rich enough to tell a hundred more stories about it (some of which Leckie has already published in abridged form), but the novel is satisfying on its own. Could it possibly surprise you how deeply you sympathize with a vengeful ancient rock god? absolutely. but part of the pleasure of reading leckie is discovering such surprises. —alexis gunderson
12. the city of bronze by s.a. chakraborty (2017)
the city of bronze, the first book in s.a. chakraborty’s daevabad trilogy is one of the most memorable and engrossing fantasy novels we have ever read. Set in the 18th century, the epic follows Nahri, a skilled con artist who makes her way through life by scamming…until she makes a mistake with magical consequences. When Nahri summons a djinn warrior, she finds herself thrown into a magical, mythical world she never knew existed. And at the heart of that world is the City of Bronze, where Nahri finds herself caught up in the growing tensions between djinn tribes. With lush world-building and prose that’s impossible to put down, Chakraborty’s debut novel is a refreshingly original take on a fantasy world that draws from the realm of Islamic folklore. —eric smith
11. the ocean at the end of the road by neil gaiman (2013)
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neil gaiman’s genius is in basing the fantastical on the all too real experience of childhood, which is as true as ever in the ocean at the end of the road. like coraline, her terror comes from a place primal for children: lack of parental trust, of feeling alone because the family you know and trust has magically changed. in this case, that terror comes from a visitor from the spirit world embodied in the most terrible of entities: the governess/housekeeper/babysitter, who puts the narrator’s father and sister under her spell. it’s a story of friendship, sacrifice, and family dysfunction, but more than that, it’s a cautionary tale about the pain that can come with the realization of our deepest desires. the villain here twists the world by fulfilling the evil desires that already live within us. we don’t need to live in a fantasy world to recognize it. —josh jackson
10. seraphina by rachel hartman (2012)
Dragons are a mainstay of fantasy as a genre, but rarely are they complex sentient beings that are integral to a story’s interpersonal dramas, which is how Rachel Hartman frames her coolly shape-shifting dragons. and Calculus in seraphina and its companion books. Everything about the world of the titular Seraphina is unique and compelling. But while the dragon-human political dramas and the various battles (ground and air) are exciting, it’s the central importance of art and music in dragon-human relations in public, and in Seraphina’s constant tension in private, what makes hartman’s storytelling so gripping. seraphina will encourage you to think about what it means to be human, and what we owe each other, long after you’ve finished the series. —alexis gunderson
9. an ember in the ashes by sabaa tahir (2015)
Set in a world resembling ancient Rome, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy novel of love and revenge. When a young soldier poised to take over the oppressive military government decides to turn his back on the regime, he clashes with a young student determined to save her brother. he is a soldier. she is a slave. together, they prepare to discover her freedom. Filled with political intrigue in a setting that’s as stunning as it is brutal, An Ember in the Ashes kicks off a series that digs into your heart and won’t let go. And by tackling serious topics like slavery and government corruption with force, Sabaa Tahir proves that compelling fantasy sagas that explore real-world issues are not only entertaining but essential when done right. : eric smith and frannie jackson
8. witch’s winter by katherine arden (2019)
Many English-language writers stumble when they tackle Slavic folklore or the history of the Rus’ in the Middle Ages, but Katherine Arden has a sure footing. arden’s winternight trilogy is luminous from page one. And in the final novel, Witch’s Winter, Arden’s protagonist is finally ready to take on the mantle of Vasilisa the Brave’s folkloric legacy. Featuring Russian nobles, witches, frost gods, and a magical horse with a bird’s soul, Witch’s Winter finds its best in Arden. her sharp, sly prose manages to bring the Russian soul to the heart of this epic tale of love and self-realization in full (winter) bloom. —alexis gunderson
7. who fears death by nnedi okorafor (2010)
From the akata witch to the binti trilogy, african futurist author nnedi okorafor has written powerful stories with wonderful prose. all of her fiction is worth reading (even her star wars story about the trash-compacting monster), but her standalone novel who fears to death is especially magnificent. Set in post-nuclear holocaust Africa, the book follows a son of rape destined to become a sorcerer. okorafor uses her protagonist’s journey to dissect topics that many avoid (sexual violence, genocide, war, religion), resulting in a riveting saga chronicling one woman’s extraordinary life. Ella’s riveting story won the World Fantasy Award in 2011, making Okorafor the first person of color to win the award for best novel. Trust us, Who’s Afraid of Death is a necessary read for the fantasy canon. —frannie jackson
6. the night circus by erin morgenstern (2011)
A Romeo and Juliet-esque love story between two powerful young wizards who can perform real magic, Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel is impressive. The titular night circus is a traveling extravaganza that arrives each year, and in this year’s traveling troupe, two enamored magicians unknowingly clash. their very lives are at stake; the people they have studied with and trusted for years are using them as pawns in a game. With various narratives weaving in and out of the magical romance, Morgenstern deftly crafts a beautiful tapestry of a novel that rises as high as the tops of the circus. the night circus is more than a book: it is a place you will want to return to again and again. —eric smith
5. the war of the poppies by r.f. kuang (2018)
Inspired by 20th century Chinese history, The War of the Poppies kicks off R.F. kuang’s epic fantasy trilogy. What begins as a magical school story: a Rhine peasant girl enters the best military academy in the country and perfects her mysterious powers with the help of drugs, gradually transforming into a brutal exploration of war and its cost. . this novel is not for everyone; Chapter 21 is inspired by the 1937 Nanjing Rape and makes for a devastating read. But if you can handle the content, Kuang’s novel offers an exciting and powerful saga that continues in the sequel, Republic of the Dragon. Kuang is one of the most exciting new voices in fantasy, and he is sure to leave a powerful mark on the genre for decades to come. —frannie jackson
4. the sage’s fear by patrick rothfuss (2011)
in 2007, patrick rothfuss introduced us to one of the great protagonists of fantasy literature, kvothe, in the name of the wind. but kvothe’s story had only just begun; four years later, the fear of the sage continued the trilogy the chronicle of the assassin of kings. The journey from young orphaned musician to feared wizard to king-slayer is chronicled in the final years of him as a humble innkeeper. he has everything one could ask for in epic fantasy: romance, villainy, adventure, and depth, and we want to hear the story as much as the historian hounding kvothe for details in the novel. Rothfuss’ epic is one of the best fantasy series of all time, even with a book to go. —josh jackson
3. the way of kings by brandon sanderson (2010)
Brandon Sanderson is a master of many facets of the fantasy genre: epic world building, consistent systems of magic, and unforgettable character development. They are all in top form in The Way of Kings, the first novel in his Storm Archive series. The book is told from the points of view of four loosely connected characters, but the main focus is on Kaladin, a soldier betrayed by his commander and sold into slavery. With every shred of humanity and challenge taken from him, the last indignity of him is forced to carry bridges to the front lines of endless war. being a bridgeman is a death sentence, but his crewmates find brotherhood and redemption in the most desperate places. The following books in the series are fantastic, but nothing compares to Kaladin’s heroic journey in The Way of Kings. —josh jackson
2. circle by madeline miller (2018)
madeline miller has mastered two specific skills: writing magnificent prose and reinventing ancient greek literature in powerful ways. Her 2011 debut novel, The Song of Achilles, built on The Iliad to weave a captivating saga with the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus at its center. And then she came back with Circe , a novel starring the scheming sorceress briefly mentioned in Homer’s The Odyssey . Through Miller’s lyrical writing, Circe is transformed from a sweet and ignored goddess into an extraordinary witch banished by Zeus to a desert island. Men may have achieved glory in Greek epics, but Circe is the most compelling protagonist in fiction today. —frannie jackson
1. the fifth season of n.k. jemisín (2015)
the first book in n.k. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy presents a stunning world in the midst of an apocalyptic event. To avoid major spoilers, let’s just say that season five is packed with gloriously intense family drama and includes one of the most phenomenal magic systems ever created. It also features a complex protagonist who is a mother, gifting us with one of the most formidable and fascinating characters of the 21st century. Jemisin made history by winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years in a row for this trilogy, cementing her status as an essential voice in fantasy literature. but critical success aside, simply immersing yourself in her luminous prose will be enough to discern why she is such a brilliant and must-read author. —frannie jackson
For more on the best of the decade, check out our lists of the best novels, best memoirs, best horror novels, and best young adult novels of the 2010s.
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