by Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible. But this sequel centers primarily not on the lives of kings and queens, but on ordinary people in the kingdom of Syhl Shallow, whose day-to-day lives are consumed with the simple needs of survival and whose families have paid the price for the nobles obsession with magic. published 2017, avg rating 4.07 8,972 ratings In this 21-book epic adventure fantasy series, each novel can act as a stand-alone book, but reading them in order takes readers on an epic high fantasy adventure that begins after Richard Cypher sets out to investigate his father's murder. But while Idris is the one burdened with saving the world, his friends on the Vulture God are tasked with saving Idris. published 2020, avg rating 4.24 Why Youll Love It: A popular secondary character from Kemmerers original Cursebreakers trilogy returns for this second series set in the same magical world. The "Blood and Ash" series has captured readers' hearts since the first book, which has over 150,000 five-star ratings on Goodreads. "Earthsea Cycle" series by Ursula K. Le Guin available on Amazon, $66.86, "A Wizard of Earthsea," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.29. The Architects, an alien species of moon-sized planet destroyers, are back, and the one thing that used to ward them off is no longer effective. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Now, years later, the space colonists have begun to return some to gentrify the neighborhoods their ancestors deserted and others as trauma tourists seeking to gawk at those whod been left behind. From classic stories like "The Chronicles of Narnia" to newer fan-favorites like "A Court of Thorns and Roses," the best fantasy series invite readers to follow their favorite characters through epic journeys, dire situations, and magical love stories book after book. Gods have returned to Vigri, throwing the balance of society into chaos. And while her follow-up Juniper and Thorn isnt a direct sequel, it is set in the same universe and tells a similar evocative, dark, and complicated story. Though the mission is dangerous and potentially impossible, Elena knows failure is not an option in this inaugural book of a gripping urban/paranormal fantasy series. "The Dark Tower" series by Stephen King, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $90.83, "The Gunslinger," the first book in the series, available on Amazon, $11.62, In this primarily dark fantasy series, Stephen King blends magical storytelling with elements of westerns, science fiction, and horror in this eight-book story which follows Roland of Gilead, the final gunslinger, on his mission to reach the Dark Tower and save the universe. . Publishers Description: Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. SG. by Get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. Sorasa, an outcast assassin, faces her past when it returns with sharpened teeth. We welcome your feedback. "An Ember in the Ashes" is a four-book dystopian fantasy series where Laia is a slave in a brutal and tyrannically ruled world under the Martial Empire, living in constant fear. Snow Whites Evil Queen has found out how her story ends, and shes desperate for a better ending. The Percy Jackson mythological fantasy series has thoroughly engrossed readers of all ages across its five books. Nicole Clark. 29,822 ratings Winner of the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, Fonda Lee's "Jade City" is the first in an urban fantasy trilogy about the Green Bone warriors who use jade to enhance their magic and defend the island of Kekon. Judy I. Lin, The City of Dusk (The Dark Gods, #1) As Csilla finds herself on the forefront of the Hungarian revolution, she navigates the dueling realities that have shaped her remembering and forgetting, survival and freedom, and loving a city that has never loved her back. All of the fantasy series on this list must have at least three books published so far though many still have upcoming additions in the works and are widely loved and shared by readers. Here are our picks for the new fantasy books you should make sure youre reading this month. Holly Black, Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned, #1) Email us at reviews@insider.com. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. 368 ratings But where A Spindle Splintered was very clearly a feminist reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, A Mirror Mended tackles Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and aims to reinvent the story of its Evil Queen, who, after all, is also just a woman trapped in a story she didnt choose. Rebecca Roanhorse, Kaikeyi published 2022, avg rating 4.07 Schwab is a renowned fantasy writer, most well-known for her "Shades of Magic" series, where readers cross parallel universes with varying degrees of magic alongside a talented smuggler and a cunning thief. published 2020, avg rating 4.23 Weve run through our favorite games, movies, and TV shows of the year to date, and now its time to talk about our favorite science fiction and fantasy books of the year. "The Poppy War" series by R.F. Together they must assemble an army to face Queen Erida and Taristans wicked forces. Why Youll Love It: The second installment in the Fractured Fables series of novellas from Alix E. Harrow, author of The Once and Future WItches, continues the story of Zinnia Gray, former Sleeping Beauty turned hero who has rescued dozens of similar sleeping princesses from different worlds, destroying countless would-be deadly spindles along the way. Daughter of the Moon Goddess sweeps through the years of Xinglins journey with efficient, effortless speed, chronicling her evolution from a sheltered child to the Celestial princes unlikely but dearest companion and a decorated archer serving the very emperor she despises. 90,077 ratings With infighting, power grabs, and petty squabbles. Publishers Description: Rising above the city of Collis is the holy Sanctum. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate her tyrannical, xenophobic father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. Anoor has been told shes nothing, no one, a disappointment by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the Empire. The best music, movies, TV, books, comedy and more. G. R. Macallister, Legends & Lattes V.E. She must travel through space to reach the school, surviving a furious alien race during her emotional journey. published 2006, avg rating 3.67 Publishers Description: Nola is a city full of wonders. Publishers Description: Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control. published 2021, avg rating 4.23 "Earthsinger Chronicles" series by L. Penelope, available on Kindle, $50.96, "Song of Blood & Stone," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $14.94. A fast pace, intricate worldbuilding, and multiple generally surprising twists help this one stands out. published 2021, avg rating 4.13 What follows is a journey from the gaslit streets of London, to an eerie estate outside Edinburgh, where other children with giftsthe Talentshave been gathered. If she isnt careful, the market might just end up claiming her too. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. 74,625 ratings There are six books and three companions to the series through which readers experience dramatic betrayals, unsuspected evil, and exhilarating love. The best fantasy books offer readers the perfect escape into another world. "The Chronicles of Narnia" series by C.S. In the first novel known for its intense plot twists Essun is on a mission to track down her husband who killed her son and kidnapped her daughter as the world deteriorates into devastation. ", "Guild Hunter" series by Nalini Singh, available on Kindle, $112.86, "Angel's Blood," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.99. SG. Being doubled and being a free agent both carry heavy burdens in Leopard culture, but throughout Akata Woman, Sunny discovers a strength and comfort in who she is and what she can do. Seemingly a world away, Day is the nation's most wanted criminal. You can find her on Twitter @LacyMB. 630 ratings published 2020, avg rating 4.35 NC. She is an Army veteran, an avid reader, and designs book-themed stickers for her Etsy shop., TIME Magazine's" Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time, Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Unexpectedly, Perry and his sister, Brendy, are tasked with saving the city. 124,250 ratings Here we share the best new fantasy novels of 2022 and take a look back at the must-read fantasy fiction of 2021 (in case you missed them). Daniel Abraham, Only a Monster (Only a Monster, #1) by While trying to survive at the academy, Rin finds she holds the magical and spiritual gift of shamanism the ability to interact with spirits and discovers a Third Poppy War may be closer than they imagined. This heartfelt, lyrical fantasy follows Xingyin, a young immortal raised in secret by her mother Change, the moon goddess exiled to a life of solitude by the cruel Celestial Emperor. Elegantly blending history with magical realism and Jewish folklore, Katherine Locke has created a profound tribute to those willing to risk everything for hope. With 12 books, four novellas, and 13 short stories published since the series launched in 2009, the "Guild Hunter" books are set in a world where angels rule over humans and vampires. 65,000 ratings SG. published 2020, avg rating 4.42 4,414 ratings 21,151 ratings "The Folk of the Air" series by Holly Black, available on Amazon $25.49, "The Cruel Prince," the first book in the series, available on Amazon, $9.46. Another doorstopper of an adventure, but one thats worth your time. But taken together, these small moments add up to a powerful look at Americas broken system and the harrowing trajectory we find ourselves on. published 2022, avg rating 4.59 41,008 ratings 96,058 ratings by published 2020, avg rating 4.18 "The Poppy War" is the first novel in this historical military fantasy series inspired by the second Sino-Japanese War in 20th-century China. Brian McClellan. published 2015, avg rating 3.81 Magic wont save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they cant pay what they owe. The series begins with "A Darker Shade of Magic," where readers inevitably fall in love with the story of Kell and Lila, two brilliant heroes who must save the worlds from a dangerous rise of magical power. Only now, its no longer just about mortals fighting for power, revenge, or family. All Rights Reserved. But Neve has an allythough its one shed rather never have to speak to againthe rogue king Solmir. SG. Since then, Chinese speculative fiction has gained popularity, making way for other literary talent. 19,551 ratings by With Orlu and Sasha tagging along, the covens treacherous journey to retrieve the ancient scroll leads them to discover breathtaking new worlds and the increasing limits of their juju abilities. published 2022, avg rating 4.19 A place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women keep the order, and where songs walk, talk and keep the spirit of the city alive. Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" series kicked off with the bestselling "City of Bones" in 2007, a paranormal fantasy novel where 15-year-old Clary Fray meets the Shadowhunters, a group of warriors who purge demons from the Earth. 70,652 ratings While characters storylines were largely separate in the first novel, here they weave in and out of each others lives as fate and (mis)fortune reveal how intricately their paths intertwined. Why Youll Love It: The highly anticipated sequel to Victoria Aveyards sprawling, multi-POV fantasy doorstopper Realm Breaker, Blade Breaker promises an even more intense and emotional story as our ragtag group of damaged heroes and multifaceted villains face off for the future of the Allwardand all the worlds it touches. Then the rhythm stutters. 17,362 ratings So, how does humanity respond? Just when Zinnias beginning to think she cant handle one more princess, she glances into a mirror and sees another face looking back at her: the shockingly gorgeous face of evil, asking for her help. published 2018, avg rating 4.04 by Travis Baldree, The Bone Orchard Why Youll Love It: Thanks to this incredible cover, I probably would have read this book whatever it was about, but the entire concept of YA medieval fantasy thriller was basically assembled in a lab for me, so here I am. When a tragedy forces Miles to expose his magical healing powers, he risks his freedom to investigate the murder in this series of magical battles, betrayals, and heartwarming romance. 841,668 ratings by Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. A complex, layered, and often uncomfortably bleak tale with a length that can occasionally feel daunting, but its rich, intriguing array of characters and consistently expanding scope make Ordinary Monsters anything but. 9,224 ratings The Ivory Key (The Ivory Key Duology, #1) Why Youll Love It: If you read Ava Reids magical fantasy debut The Wolf and the Woodsman last year then you already know how lush and gorgeous her prose is, and how skilled she is at taking the familiar bones of a fairytale world and the tropes that normally reside within it, and spinning both into something brand new. Error rating book. by published 2006, avg rating 4.29 Publishers Description: Lou never believed in superstitions or magicuntil her teenage aunt Neela is kidnapped to the goblin market. Looking for the best fantasy books? by by Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Refresh and try again. Sign UpYes, I would like to receive Paste's newsletter, 2022 Paste Media Group. With no hope of circumstances improving, theyve long ago come to accept that grief will be the primary constant in their inevitably short lives if the cancerous air doesnt kill them, the automated drone police will. Jemisin, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $25.49, "The Fifth Season," the first book in the series, available on Amazon, $14.39. "Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind, available on Amazon, $25.97, "Wizard's First Rule," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $9.29. Its a risk theyre both willing to take. Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, "Binti" is the first in a series of fantasy novellas featuring earthling Binti, who's been offered a place at the finest university in the galaxy. Goliath is simultaneously sprawling and intimate, exploring racism, classism, gentrification, the prison system, and the climate crisis through brief moments in these largely disconnected lives. by Why Youll Love It: A sweeping historical fantasy of a bleak Victorian London in which children with gifts known as Talents are being hunted by a monstrous man made of smoke. Although "The Lord of the Rings" series begins chronologically with "The Hobbit," "The Fellowship of the Ring" kicks off this epic, high-fantasy adventure with young hobbit Frodo Baggins and his journey across Middle-Earth. Andry, a former squire, continues to fight for hope amid blood and chaos. published 2014, avg rating 4.20 All the while, Xingyin must juggle the desires and duties she develops in her new life with her long-held determination to free her mother from under the emperors thumb. Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic . Its a great read for anyone who loves The Matrix movies or enjoyed Disneys Loki (but maybe wished it stuck the landing a bit better). 836,171 ratings Sixteen-year-old Charlie Ovid, despite a lifetime of brutality, doesnt have a scar on him. See our ethics statement. Discover our edit, here. The "Outlander" series was originally a practice novel for Diana Gabaldon in the 1980s, yet quickly became a bestselling historical fantasy series, with the ninth book due to be published later this year. Once youve rescued a dozen damsels and burned fifty spindles, once youve gotten drunk with twenty good fairies and made out with one too many members of the royal family, you start to wish some of these girls would just get a grip and try solving their own narrative issues. And Corayne, a pirates daughter with an ancient magic in her blood, steps closer to becoming the hero shes destined to be. published 2000, avg rating 4.24 N.E. "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series by Sarah J. Maas, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $42.49, "A Court of Thorns and Roses," the first book in the series, available on Amazon, $8.57. Tolkien, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.74, "The Fellowship of the Ring," the first book in the series, available on Amazon, $10.09. "The Chronicles of Narnia" is a seven-book fantasy series first published in 1956 that begins with a young girl named Lucy discovering a magical, wintry world in the back of a wardrobe in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." For the Throne is Whittens highly anticipated sequel, which turns the focus of her tale from Redarys, the Second Daughter promised to the Wolf of the Wood, to her twin sister Nevereh, promised to the Throne of the kingdom. Why Youll Love It: Music and magic intertwine in this sprawling debut about a fantastical alternate version of New Orleans where songs literally keep the city alive. by But something deadly waits in the shadows, something that might consume the world before theres any hope for victory. 20,061 ratings In this paranormal and post-apocalyptic fantasy series, Penryn is 17 when the angels of the apocalypse descend upon the earth and capture her little sister. Publishers Description: Zinnia Gray, professional fairy-tale fixer and lapsed Sleeping Beauty, is over rescuing snoring princesses. Discover our edit, here, Macmillan Code of Ethics for Business Partners. Haunting and great. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Katherine Fiorillo is a freelance content writer specializing in books, beauty, and e-commerce., Katherine has a B.A. by Looking for the verybest sci-fi books? This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. 13,501 ratings "The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $31.41, "City of Bones," the first book in the series, available on Amazon, $11.24. Tender and dystopian, the pandemic novel is told in a series of vignettes, each exposing a different pocket of future society and eventually connecting through characters and circumstances. Action-packed and gripping from the start, this faerie series is full of romance, mystery, humor, and features characters from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream. published 2022, avg rating 4.20 She wants Zinnia to help her before its too late for everyone. Our recommendations have won fantasy awards, been adapted to television shows, topped bestseller lists, and received rave reviews on Goodreads. A Gothic-themed retelling of The Juniper Tree, one of the Grimm Brothers most gruesome tales, Reids version doesnt bear much direct resemblance to the original story, but keeps its grim spirit intact, deftly exploring the trauma and oppression that seem too often be the lot of women trying to live in a world that doesnt respect their agency or autonomy. 521,326 ratings In addition to the stackers, Tochi Onyebuchi weaves in tales of a gay white couple leaving the colonies to play pioneer on Earth, a journalist hoping to tell the stackers story (but really, hoping to assuage her white guilt), an incarcerated Yale grad who becomes a negotiator in a prison protest, and a Black marshal dragging a slaver across the West to retrieve the body of a murdered boy. A monster with unquenchable appetites. by "The Daevabad Trilogy" by S.A. Chakraborty, available on Kindle, $30.97, "The City of Brass," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.79. And while Oblya flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. The inventive, adventurous novel follows Sunny during a period of great growth as she and Chichi are forced to uphold their bargain with the giant spider Udide to return her stolen ghazal. published 2020, avg rating 3.84 "Green Bone Saga" series by Fonda Lee, available on Kindle, $34.97, "Jade City," the first book in the series, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $12.99. Maybe its the escapist vibes of the season or the universal need for doorstopper size novels to get lost in on the beach or by the pool, but when I tell you were are spoiled for choice this month, I am not kidding. But when Catrin witnesses a murderer escaping the scene of his crime, shes pulled into the web of a dangerous man who will definitely strike again. avg rating 3.86 Welcome back. 81,173 ratings But though the powerful and privileged abandoned the planet, the system they profit off of remains intact. When she's kidnapped and taken to Oxford, a secret city ruled by a race of beings from another world, she must fight to regain her freedom in this original dystopian fantasy brought to life with elements of science fiction. by Fast-paced and full of complex moral questions about who, if anyone, should wield magical power, it also features brief returns of several favorites from the original trilogy, including Rhen, Harper, and Grey. The Way Spring Arrives is a collection of 17 Chinese science fiction and fantasy stories and all of them have been written, translated, and edited entirely by women and nonbinary writers. Sara A Mueller, A Magic Steeped in Poison (Book of Tea, #1) Impressive in its scale, ambition, and range of voice, Goliath is a shattering work that is so much more than the sum of its parts. As Marlinchens late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her fathers rage and magic. Dom, a grieving immortal, strives to fulfill a broken oath. in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. published 2000, avg rating 3.82 published 2021, avg rating 4.14 475,125 ratings Davenport, Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky, #2) With 12 books, four novellas, and 13 short stories published since the series launched in 2009, the "Guild Hunter" books are set in a world where angels rule over humans and vampires. To failed magician, Perilous Graves, its simply home. But after chance encounters with a student revolutionary and an angel of death, Csilla begins questioning what means more to her: fighting to survive or fighting for a better life. newsletter. 125,137 ratings If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. published 2022, avg rating 4.10 My favorite part of Sea of Tranquility is its wholesale embrace of one of my favorite science fiction tropes. Set in futuristic and post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, June is a prodigy being trained by the Republic's military. Wendii McIver, In the Shadow of Lightning (Glass Immortals, #1) 13,073 ratings A city in upheaval. Selected as one of "TIME Magazine's Best Fantasy Books of All Time," "Song of Blood & Stone" is a romantic fantasy novel where a crack in a magical vial threatens to tear two kingdoms apart. In 2020, "Angelfall" the first book in the "Penryn & the End of Days" series- ranked as one of "TIME Magazine's" Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it. "Earthsea Cycle" is a high-fantasy series of six books and nine short stories beginning with "A Wizard of Earthsea," where readers meet Ged, now the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea but once known as Sparrowhawk in his youth.