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15 Epic Fantasy Books to Lose Yourself In Right Now
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items If you're anything like me, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of opening a new book and falling headfirst into a world that makes you forget to check your phone. I’ve spent way too many late nights "just one more chapter-ing" my way through thes...
Sections
3
Modern Masterpieces You Can't Put Down
Lyrical Stories & Enchanting Worlds
Darker Edges & Gritty Adventures
Modern Masterpieces You Can't Put Down
This section is for those of us who love a fresh, unique take on magic and world-building that feels totally original. These are the books that have completely redefined what fantasy looks like for me in the last few years, featuring characters who f...
I remember finishing this and just sitting in silence for ten minutes because the world-building is that intense. It’s set on a planet that literally tries to kill its inhabitants with "Seasons" of geological disaster, and the way the magic is tied t...
The Fifth Season (Broken Earth Series #1) (Hugo Award Winner)|
This one completely hooked me with its "bone shard" magic, where the Emperor uses pieces of his subjects to animate creepy constructs. The mystery of the floating islands and the rebellion brewing in the shadows kept me turning pages way past my bedt...
The Bone Shard Daughter (Drowning Empire #1)
Think The Godfather but with magical jade that gives warriors superhuman abilities, and you've got this incredible story. I love how it focuses on family loyalty and the high cost of power, making it feel so much more grounded and emotional than your...
Jade City (Green Bone Saga #1)
I picked this up on a whim and fell in love with Kissen, a woman who literally kills gods for a living in a world where they’ve been banned. It’s got such a unique, gritty atmosphere and a found-family dynamic that honestly made me tear up a little b...
Godkiller: A Novel
The idea of multiple parallel Londons—Grey, Red, White, and Black—is such a brilliant concept that I’m jealous I didn't think of it first. Following Kell as he travels between these worlds is a fast-paced, stylish adventure that I couldn't stop talki...
A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic Series #1)|
Lyrical Stories & Enchanting Worlds
Sometimes I just want to be swept away by beautiful writing and a sense of wonder that feels like a warm hug (or a very vivid dream). These picks are a bit more atmospheric and focus on the "magic" of storytelling itself, which is exactly what I need...
I loved this refreshing take on dragons; it’s about an indigenous girl who finds a dragon egg and has to navigate a very rigid, colonial magic academy. It feels so personal and meaningful, and the bond she has with her dragon, Kukuu-pa’s, is absolute...
To Shape a Dragon's Breath: The First Book of Nampeshiweisit
If you want a massive, standalone epic with queens, dragon-riders, and hidden magic, this is your new best friend. I loved that it feels like a complete, rich history in one volume, and the female-led cast is exactly the kind of representation I want...
The Priory of the Orange Tree
This books is about a girl who steals her dead brother’s "greatness" and identity to survive. It’s a gorgeous, lyrical reimagining of the founding of the Ming Dynasty that feels both epic and deeply personal.
She Who Became the Sun
This is a total classic for a reason, and if you haven't read it yet, you're missing out on the roots of modern magic schools. It’s a shorter read but so incredibly deep, focusing on the consequences of our shadows and the power of true names.
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Series #1)
This book is a brilliant retelling of Rumpelstiltskin set in a snowy kingdom. The way three different women’s lives intertwine to outsmart a literal ice king is clever, cold, and utterly magical.
Spinning Silver|Paperback
Darker Edges & Gritty Adventures
For the days when I’m in the mood for something a bit more intense, morally grey, and "unputdownable," these are the books I reach for. They don't shy away from the darker side of magic and politics, which makes the stakes feel incredibly real every ...
Fair warning: this one gets heavy, but the way it explores war and shamanism through a historical lens is absolutely brilliant. I was fascinated by the protagonist’s journey from a poor orphan to a powerful, complex figure who has to make some truly ...
The Poppy War (Poppy War Series #1)
One of my personal favourites. This is hands-down the best "ensemble cast" I’ve ever read; every single character in this criminal crew is so well-developed and witty. It’s a high-stakes heist set in a grimy, bustling city, and the banter between the...
Six of Crows (Six of Crows Series #1)
I love a good "magic lawyer" story, and this follows a Justice who travels the empire to investigate crimes with his small team. It’s a perfect mix of mystery and epic fantasy, focusing on how a world starts to fall apart when the law no longer holds...
The Justice of Kings
If you like your characters to be "lovable jerks" and your action to be gritty, this is the series for you. It’s famous for its subversion of typical fantasy tropes, and I found myself laughing out loud at the dark humor while also being stressed abo...
The Blade Itself (First Law Trilogy #1)
It's a wildly fun, gory, and comedic story about a secret group of monsters used by the Church to do their dirty work—it feels like a dark fantasy version of The Suicide Squad.
The Devils
