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J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings trilogy exists as only a small part of his extensive lore and history collectively known as Middle-earth. The books came out in the 1950s, with a masterfully crafted movie trilogy released in the 2000s. The books are considered some of the most foundational works that shaped high fantasy and completely revolutionized fantasy as a whole. In fact, they are widely considered the best fantasy novels ever written.
In the years since, Tolkien has influenced many other writers with his work. The result is that several fantasy novels have come out that actually come quite close to the inherent quality Tolkien produced in every one of his works. These are the best fantasy books to come out since The Lord of the Rings trilogy was released seven decades ago.
10
‘The Name of the Wind’ (2007)
The Name of the Wind is book one of the unfinished Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy. Kvothe runs an inn under the alias of “Kote,” but reveals his true identity when he meets a Chronicler who is interested in his life story. Over three days, Kvothe recounts the tales from his youth: how he studied magic at the university, became an accomplished musician, and achieved great feats.
This book really knows how to keep readers hooked. It provides quite a few mysteries regarding a peculiar sealed door at the university, the mystical group of villains known as the Chandrian, and more. Sadly, it looks like Patrick Rothfuss never intends to finish the series. However, that doesn’t change the fact that this ambitious work is truly spectacular, establishing a fascinating character while only providing hints about the conclusion, prompting widespread theories and speculation.
9
‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ (2020)
Dungeon Crawler Carl is a title that has been absolutely blowing up lately. It’s sort of becoming a household name for how popular it is, and for good reason. Quite simply, the books are just very fun. They are unabashedly silly, quirky, and absurd, but this gives them so much more personality and really sets them apart from other fantasy stories. The book opens up in the near future, where aliens have invaded Earth, abducting a man named Carl and forcing him to endure an 18-level dungeon crawl out of classic RPGs.
Author Matt Dinniman has been quite prolific with his writing, producing eight books in the series within a seven-year span. Each entry proves to be just as wacky as the original, almost as if it is trying to one-up itself. While it’s more of a science-fantasy rather than a traditional fantasy, Dungeon Crawler Carl is among the most singular and influential fantasy works to come out in a long time. There’s just nothing else like it out there.
8
‘Assassin’s Apprentice’ (1995)
Robin Hobb‘s Assassin’s Apprentice is the first book in The Farseer Trilogy, which exists as part of the Realm of the Elderlings shared universe. It was a pleasant surprise, as it was the first novel to debut under the Robin Hobb pseudonym, so people didn’t know quite who she was, but ended up loving it anyway. The plot follows a young boy who is forced to become an assassin at a young age, only to find out he is the illegitimate son of the king.
Assassin’s Apprentice quickly became a favorite and oft-recommended novel in internet fan circles, with readers praising its character development, immersive world, and overall storytelling. Assassin’s Apprentice was just conclusive enough to serve as a stand-alone, but just open enough to warrant sequels if people wanted them (which they did). The book was so deep and moving that it became a highly influential piece of literature.
7
‘Prince of Thorns’ (2011)
Prince of Thorns is the first in the Broken Empire trilogy, which is set in Europe, centuries after it has been decimated by nuclear war and reverted humanity back to the Dark Ages. Ghosts prowl the landscape, and mysterious necromancers are gathering strength in the mountains. In the Rhineland, a young prince named Jorg Ancrath is desperately trying to escape his father’s legacy. Jorg is a self-described sociopath who commits horrific acts of violence at only 14. Leading a band of mercenaries across the devastated wasteland, he begins hatching a plan to earn a kingdom of his own.
This is one of the most disturbing fantasy books ever read. The evil that Jorg is capable of at such a young age is something as morally repulsive as it is intriguing. The story itself provides a unique setting and an extremely bleak atmosphere, but it really feels like a character study of Jorg himself — it’s where the book truly shines. Prince of Thorns is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it’s excellent for fans of grimdark fantasy.
6
‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ (2006)
The Lies of Locke Lamora is an urban fantasy. The central city is more medieval, technologically speaking, which is why it is crisscrossed with a series of canals and resembles Venice, though it is in a completely fictitious world. However, beyond the ancient architecture and picturesque canals lies a dark criminal underbelly. Deep within the city’s darkest corners is a crew of thieves and con artists.
The Gentleman Bastards are similar to stereotypical heist crews from crime thrillers. Each has a distinct role, personality, and talents, which they must use to overcome a new threat rising in their criminal underworld. Alternate chapters serve as pieces of lore, establishing the history of the Gentleman Bastards and of the city itself. This is such a good book not only due to its setting and character development, but also because its story is so different from other fantasy novels. It’s not about warring kingdoms, and it’s not about royal politics or magical mishaps; it’s about the hidden machinations of each fantasy world.
5
‘Gardens of the Moon’ (1999)
Gardens of the Moon is the first novel in the 10-volume epic, Malazan: Book of the Fallen. The main series may be 10 books, but it has since expanded to form a shared universe, including other sub-series and stand-alones. The story opens up in the Malazan Empire, an oppressive regime which has expanded via conquest to encompass basically an entire continent. But hey, when has any tyrant ever looked at what they had and said, “this is enough?” The Empire then sets its sights on a continent across the sea, planning to invade and execute a series of political maneuvers to bend them to the will of the regime.
Malazan is a very depressing series: extremely violent, cynical, and doesn’t shy away from showing the full extent of what war can do to people. Even in fantasy worlds, war remains a harrowing and nightmarish experience for all those involved. The world of Malazan is not just fascinating; it’s meticulously detailed, with extensive lore that is always developing. It wouldn’t be shocking if it eventually morphed to be just as detailed as Tolkien’s legendarium.
4
‘A Memory of Light’ (2014)
A Memory of Light is the epic conclusion to The Wheel of Time series, being the 14th entry (15th if you count the prequel novel). This saga is truly a monster to tackle, with a long, complex plotline, hundreds of characters, and a massive world to absorb. The payoff is totally worth it, though. The SparksNotes version of the story is that it’s about a Chosen One called the Dragon Reborn who has a split destiny: either he will save the world from the Dark One, or he will help him destroy it.
In this hefty volume, the long-awaited Last Battle finally reaches its boiling point. Though it technically started in the book prior, it really comes to a head in this one. The main chapter focusing on the Last Battle is well over 200 pages long. The book can be a big commitment and can feel daunting or exhausting for some people, but the bittersweet ending, major character deaths, plot developments, and cinematic scale make the effort worthwhile.
3
‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ (1968)
Ursula K. Le Guin‘s A Wizard of Earthsea has become a favorite for fans of fantasy literature, mainly due to its setting and overall plot. The worldbuilding is where the book shines the most. It is set on the eponymous oceanic planet of Earthsea. However, there is a small archipelago of islands in which the story takes place. Everything about the world feels so realistic. Even though the cultures, religions, and politics presented within the tale don’t have any real-world comparisons, they all feel like they could feasibly exist.
As if all that weren’t enough, the book also features dragons, which is always great in fantasy. The story is fairly small-scale, including a boy’s journey to escape his literal demons after a spell goes awry. However, it’s strangely relatable as it presents itself as a coming-of-age story, wherein the protagonist must endure the hardships and awkwardness of adolescence and growing up. The short version is, A Wizard of Earthsea is just a brilliant work of fantasy, and an all-time classic that will be remembered for generations.
2
‘A Storm of Swords’ (2000)
A Storm of Swords is the third book of A Song of Ice and Fire, an unfinished series which famously became the HBO smash-hit Game of Thrones. The longest novel in the series, the book picks up where the previous entry left off: nine noble families begin squabbling over the throne of the realm while an ancient, supernatural threat begins preparing an army far to the North, preparing to bring about the end of the world.
The series became famous (or perhaps infamous) for its unflinching violence, brutality, and cynical worldview. It shows the absolute evils that humans are capable of, often sought out in the pursuit of wealth, power, love, or fame. It’s a pretty bleak book, but one that has such an interesting plot that it’s hard not to love. Moreover, George R. R. Martin became renowned for how well he writes his characters. With how unique each and every player in Game of Thrones is, it’s actually quite easy to follow who’s who, even if there are hundreds of them. This is an epic fantasy that became legendary for a reason.
1
‘Oathbringer’ (2017)
Oathbringer is the third book of Brandon Sanderson‘s critically acclaimed epic, The Stormlight Archive. This series is part of his larger literary universe known as the Cosmere. Set on the barren planet of Roshar, Oathbringer follows Dalinar Kholin, a highprince of Alethkar, as he leads a war against the cristacean Parshendi. The war has escalated from petty squabbles to a full-on fight for survival, with both sides resurrecting ancient forms of magic to aid their conquests. Throughout the story, flashback chapters detailing Dalinar’s life and personal traumas build upon the character’s history and his relationships with others.
Oathbringer has one of the most thrilling and emotional climaxes fantasy has ever seen, or at least since The Lord of the Rings came out. The great thing about Sanderson is that not only does he write great stories; there’s some genuine moral wisdom to be found within, too. Featuring multiple battle sequences, a complex magic system, a fascinating exercise in worldbuilding, and some phenomenal character development, Oathbringer stands as one of the greatest fantasy books ever written.
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https://collider.com/best-fantasy-books-since-lord-of-the-rings/
Dawson Nyffenegger
Almontather Rassoul
