Written by: Nicholas Krzykowski
Fantasy literature has played a significant role in my life. Whether it be reading Harry Potter in elementary school or crawling under the covers—a cup of tea on the nightstand—and exploring long-forgotten civilizations with my dad, I was always enamored by some magical world.
So, for this blog post, I decided to highlight a few stories that profoundly impacted me, and, hopefully, they’ll have a similar effect on you. Or maybe you’ll find a new guilty pleasure? Either way, there should be something here for new and seasoned fantasy readers alike.
Beginner — Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Image from Amazon
Ah, Mistborn. What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Brandon Sanderson is the author of several highly respected epic fantasy series, and this is the novel that put him on the map.
It takes place in a world ruined and dominated by the Lord Ruler. Ash constantly falls from the sky. And select individuals—known as Mistings or Mistborn—can perform magic by ingesting metals. Pewter, for example, grants the user increased physical capabilities.
The story follows a girl named Vin and her mentor, Kelsier, as they attempt to overthrow and steal from the Lord Ruler.
This book is perfect for readers who love complex magic systems. It has a very well-written teen protagonist and ends just as strongly as it begins.
Intermediate — Mort by Terry Pratchett
Image from Terry Pratchett Books
Allow me to present Death—the black-robed skeleton who collects souls and wields his scythe with unbiased efficiency. But what if he loved cats? Or was fed up with his immortal career? Well, then you would have Mort, the fourth installment of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
The novel follows a young boy named, you guessed it, Mort, who spends more time fumbling around than working on his family’s farm. However, while visiting a local festival, Death appears and offers him an apprenticeship. Despite their different backgrounds, these characters learn to work together and impact each other in numerous unique ways.
If you love absurd comedy, this is the book for you. It features a ballistic and ludicrous world that only Terry Pratchett could pen.
Veteran — Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Image from Amazon
Okay, fine, you caught me. This novel is more science fiction than fantasy. But, you know what? It has dragons, so it’s going on the list.
Dragonflight is the first book in Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. It tells the story of Lessa—a royal who survived a violent uprising in her country—as she gains her freedom and becomes a capable Weyrwoman, fighting against parasite-like organisms called Thread. But what makes this novel so unique is how it subverts fantasy tropes. Pern isn’t a mystical, fantastical world but a futuristic colony of Earth. And dragons aren’t magical creatures but genetically modified ones that can breathe fire, teleport, and communicate telepathically.
Once you read this series, you’ll never look at dragons the same way.
Bonus — Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont
Image from Wikipedia.com
I couldn’t make a list of fantasy novels without including my favorite series.
Malazan started as a backdrop for Steven Erikson and Ian C. Esslemont’s roleplaying group, and over time, they began slowly building and creating stories in that world. Unlike the other entries on this list, Malazan doesn’t follow a single main character. Rather, it focuses on different regions of a massive world, depicting many devastating conflicts and the soldiers who fought in them.
The story is famously dense and hard to follow. But that’s what makes it so great. Malazan is a series you never fully understand but will nevertheless take your breath away.