Fantasy Novels You Won’t be Able to Put Down
Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash
Who doesn’t love escaping into a completely new world?
I had so much fun writing my last list—My Favorite Comfort Reads, so I decided to make another one dedicated to fantasy, which is one of my favorite genres. Of course I love the Harry Potter books and the Percy Jackson books, but there is already so much content out there about how great they are. And I wrote a whole series of posts on The Poppy Wars by R.F. Kuang (seriously, check those books out, they’re crazy good).
But I really wanted to make a list of fantasy books that are either newer, or not as well-known. These are five books that I’ve fallen head over heels for over the years. Some are inspired by fairytales, some are completely original, and some were books I never expected to love. All of them are spellbinding and filled with some unforgettable characters.
1.The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
This book is the first in the Winternight trilogy., and they’re all amazing. The writing is so magical and lush, and the story is impeccably researched. Set in medieval Russia, a young girl named Vasilisa has the ability to see the spirits of the forest and home, including Morozko, the Winter King. When a charismatic new priest comes to Vasya’s home, the villagers turn away from the spirits they used to honor, and look to the church for salvation. But something dark is stirring at the edge of the forest, waiting to seep into the village, something only Vasya can stop. This is one of my favorite books. The build-up is slow, but the author draws you in with characters you can’t help but fall in love with, and utterly gorgeous prose; you’ll feel the icy hand of the Winter King on your shoulder.
Great, now I want to go and read it all over again.
2. Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This is another book that’s rooted in mythology and folklore, but we move to Mexico in the 1920s. The story follows a young woman named Casiopea Tun, who mistakenly frees Hun-Kamé, the Mayan god of death. With the promise of freedom from her life of servitude, Casiopea becomes embroiled in a quest to help the god take back his throne from his twin brother; a quest that will take her all across the country, and deep into the underworld. God, this book is just phenomenal. I loved reading about the history of Mexico, and the Mayan folklore—definitely check out Moreno-Garcia’s essay about how she found her inspiration. The characters are so well-developed; I love that even the villains are not truly evil. Read this book, and then go read everything else that Moreno-Garcia has written.
3. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Two words: suffragist witches.
I loved everything about it; it was mesmerizing, and I can’t recommend it enough. In 1893, the three Eastwood sisters—Beatrice Belladonna, Agnes Amaranth, and James Juniper—find their way back to each other in the city of New Salem. There, they join the suffragists to fight for the right to vote, and find they may need to employ a little witchery to shake up the status quo. This is a long book, and definitely a slow-build; it’s very much a character-driven story, and Harrow delivers. It’s hard to go into too much detail, because I don’t want to give anything away. Just read it. Read it for the fierce, distinct characters, the feminist slant to history and folk tales, and the beautiful, beautiful writing.
4. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
I honestly don’t remember how I came across this book, I think I might have found it when I was at the library one day. All I know is that this book is a rare treasure. Everything about this story is exquisite; Valente’s writing is unlike anything I’ve ever read. (I’m trying hard not to go overboard with the gushing.) September is a 12-year-old girl who lives in Nebraska and finds herself bored with the routine of her mundane life. One day, she meets the Green Wind, who promptly whisks her off to Fairyland on his flying leopard. There, September meets a book-loving wyvern, a mysterious boy named Saturday, and runs afoul of Fairyland’s cruel new ruler, the Marquess. I read this book nearly weeping because I wished I could write with Valente’s deeply imaginative, lyrical voice. I kept reading because I fell in love with the characters and the world that she created. Bonus: This is the first book in a five-part series, so you’re welcome.
5. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A friend of mine was kind of enough to give me the first three books in this series, and I honestly never expected to like them so much, but the story pulled me in from page one: Set in the harsh island city of Camorr, we meet the legendary con man, Locke Lamora and his band of thieves. The Gentleman Bastards—as they call themselves—are trying to pull off the biggest heist in their careers. Instead, they’re drawn into a game that’s darker than they ever imagined. It’s like the love child of Ocean’s Eleven and The Godfather, with some Game of Thrones thrown in for good measure. The worldbuilding is complex and amazingly detailed without being overwhelming; the characters are so rich and colorful. Seriously, there are so many people in this book, but none of them feel like a caricature or flat. The amount of care and detail that Lynch puts into this story is truly staggering. And while it may start off a little slow, once it gets going, watch out. You’ll be up all night trying to finish it.