Fantasy Books & Fantasy Book Recommendations - Fable

Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.
- Lloyd Alexander

Skip to Fantasy book selections

What is Fantasy?

You could argue that fantasy is one of the earliest literary genres: Elements of fantasy can be found in folklore, mythology, and religious texts, which comprise humanity’s oldest forms of storytelling.

Today there are an ever-growing number of types and subgenres within fantasy — high or epic fantasy, dark fantasy, magical realism, fairy tales, and superhero fiction are popular examples — but one common aspect is that fantasy book authors are free to explore narrative themes without adhering to laws of science and reality that govern the real world.

Join Fable's free Fantasy Book Club to start reading today!

Authors explore characters and themes while crafting their own universes, where magic may exist, impossible creatures may roam, and supernatural abilities may influence a character’s destiny.

What are the top fantasy book recommendations?

For all of fantasy’s magical elements, however, at their core fantasy stories explore deeply human themes. Lloyd Alexander, whose award-winning high fantasy novels include The Black Cauldron and The High King, once succinctly described this nature of fantasy:

“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.”

Fantasy is a diverse genre with many classic examples. Here are a few of the most iconic fantasy novels:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

By Lewis Carrol

This timeless classic takes readers through Wonderland, where White Rabbits run late and Cheshire Cats tell riddles. A beloved example of the nonsense genre in fantasy, Lewis Carrol’s classic is available to read for free on Fable.

The City We Became

By N.K. Jemisin

We love this new urban fantasy classic. When a malevolent force straight out of H.P. Lovecraft begins to attack New York City, the city finds its champions in avatars representing each of the five boroughs.

Circe

By Madeline Miller

A favorite of Fablers, Madeline Miller’s Circe is a magical epic that takes a minor character from The Odyssey and lets her tell her story on her own terms.

A Game of Thrones

By George R.R. Martin

One of the most successful fantasy series in recent memory, George R.R. Martin’s work of epic fantasy brought medieval battles, dragons, and sorcery back to the forefront of popular culture.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

By V.E. Schwab

In exchange for freedom and immortality, a 16 year old girl in 17th Century France is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Her subsequent journey through time becomes an extraordinary adventure.

An Ember in the Ashes

By Sabaa Tahir

Year of the Snake: In a brutal world inspired by Ancient Rome, a young woman finds herself enrolled within the oppressive government’s military academy, with a deep secret: she’s there as a spy for the Resistance.

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

By C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis’s beloved children’s series remains an enthralling classic. Exploring a common fantasy trope — ordinary children thrust into a magical, and dangerous, world

Midnight’s Children

By Salman Rushdie

A modern classic, Rushdie’s magical realism novel ties the fates — and powers — of the 1,001 children born at the exact moment of India’s independence to the outcome of their country.

The Name of the Wind

By Patrick Rothfuss

A thorough and intricate fantasy world where magic is wielded only by the elite. The story of a heroic adventurer, Kvothe, begins to come into his own.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

By Haruki Murakami

Another classic of magical realism, Murakami’s most celebrated novel is a surreal and dreamlike journey through time, Tokyo, and a marriage.

American Gods

By Neil Gaiman

A blend of Americana, fantasy, and mythology, Neil Gaiman’s 2001 modern classic is an especially fun read for anyone familiar with various mythologies.

Children of Blood and Bone

By Tomi Adeyemi

A critically acclaimed debut, this YA fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyem weaves West African mythology into an epic tale of magic and vengeance.

Explore fantasy Folios and clubs on Fable

Fable is a social reading platform for online book clubs. Our community members enjoy the many benefits of reading while making deeper human connections with other readers.

Fable makes it easy for fantasy fiction fans to share their thoughts and connect with others through our Book Clubs. With our platform, you can host every aspect of an online discussion at a single destination, to reach readers and build safe online communities regardless of location or time zone.

BookTokker Caitsbooks hosts her Bookington Book Club on Fable as well, opening with the fantasy epic Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim.

Feel free to start your own fantasy club with any of the above books, or join a free public book club, like the Shadow and Bone Book Club, moderated by the hosts of the Grishacast podcast.

Looking for more fantasy fiction book recommendations? Check out our Folios: lists of books handpicked by tastemaking bookworms. See a few of our fantasy-filled Folios here:

MoonGirlReads: Diverse YA, curated by Selene Velez

Magical Realism 101, curated by Joe Meno

The Quest For Purpose, curated by Paulo Coelho

Padma’s Picks, curated by Padmasree Warrior

Short Story Masters, curated by Mimi Lok

And there are millions of more books for sale on Fable! Browse the Bookstore here.

Other categories