Lose Yourself In These High Fantasy Books And Series

On the Rock, Tress collects cups from sailors passing by and listens to stories from her friend Charlie. But one day, Charlie leaves for an arranged marriage, and her days of stories are exchanged for silence.

When she finds out that Charlie has been captured by a sorceress, Tress is determined to save her friend. With the help of a talking rat and a band of pirates, she ventures out beyond The Rock and into the unknown. 

This is part of Brandon Sanderson’s popular ‘Cosmere’ world, but it’s technically a standalone, and I find it a great introduction to his world, especially if diving into Mistborn or Stormlight Archives seems daunting.

Tress of the Emerald Sea is a whimsical adventure that is perfect for your upcoming summer days while you chill under a tree or on the beach.

This book is commonly, but accurately, compared to The Princess Bride because of its happily-ever-after romance and witty dialogue, which make it feel like a classic fairytale.

Magic used to exist in Orïsha, but after King Saran took power, magic and all the maji were killed for fear of an uprising.

Years later, by happenstance, Zélie discovers that magic could return to the land. With the help of a rogue princess, she must evade the prince and royal guards to set things right, all while time is running out.

Firstly, I would like to offer my congratulations to Adeyemi on the movie adaptation, which is coming out next year! It has an absolutely stacked cast, including Idris Elba and Cynthia Erivo.

Children of Blood and Bone is a great young adult fantasy book, one you’ll love if you enjoy grand adventures, strong female protagonists, and a ‘save the universe’ feel to the quests. 

If you like a dash of romance in your fantasy books, you’ll find that in this book as well.

It’s hefty, but couldn't get enough of it and I wanted it to be even longer so I could stay immersed in the world for as long as I could.

Lazlo Strange reads, studies, and dreams of seeing the city called Weep, even though it’s just a myth.

That is, until a fateful day gives him the opportunity to venture out beyond his home with a group of warriors and the Godslayer to find the city. But the journey is long, and the answers he gets at the end may not be the ones he expects or wants.

Taylor’s writing is poetic, with vivid descriptions of Zosma, Strange’s home, and, later, Weep. The worldbuilding was one of my favorite things about this story, and I loved how Tayloror delved deep into the city's unique history and the gods without ever making it feel overwhelming with too much information.

Strange the Dreamer is part of a duology, so it's not as big a time investment as some other books on this list that are part of a longer series. I think it’s a great one to pick up if you’re trying to dip your toes into the high fantasy subgenre.

Ash dreams of getting taken away to a fairytale land, away from her stepmother and sisters. On the night of the prince’s ball, she asks a fairy in the forest for help, and in exchange, she’ll belong to him. But plans go awry when she falls for Kaisa, the King’s huntress.

While this seems like a traditional Cinderella story, Lo subverts expectations. It’s a dark take on the classic fairytale, handling the heavy themes with tact and lush prose. There is, of course, romance in the story, but I would say the main storyline of this book is about overcoming grief, rather than the typical happy-ever-after you would expect from a romance.

The build-up to both the relationship and theme may seem slow-paced, but the ending makes finishing this book worth it.

Ged is a promising young wizard, wanting to do good, though sometimes his arrogance gets in the way.

When he ends up accidentally releasing a shadow creature, he must take all that he’s learned from his schooling and defeat the shadow to become a hero, though in the process, he learns that it may not be what it seems.

The full Earthsea cycle is beautiful and vast, arguably the foundation of the wizarding school plot. A Wizard of Earthsea definitely falls on the stricter side of high fantasy, and while the other books in this series can be considered adult fantasy, A Wizard of Earthsea is widely labeled as young adult fantasy because of its teenage protagonist.

Le Guin isn’t afraid to tackle heavy themes, but she balances adventure and philosophical questions with precision. This book will leave you pondering the question “Can something be good without evil inside?” and I loved it for that very reason.

When Bilbo Baggins settled down in Bag End, he expected to hear about adventures from the passerby, not be involved in one himself. But then a wizard shows up at his door, and Bilbo is thrust out of his cozy home and into a journey that will change his life forever.

Always a classic for a reason, The Hobbit is the prequel to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings but easily stands on its own. It’s a must-read if you're looking for a simple introduction to standard high fantasy, which checks all the boxes: fantastical characters like elves, orcs, goblins, wizards, different settings with new rules, and the theme of good versus evil.

Tolkien’s writing carries a whimsical tone that’s accessible to readers at all levels. I normally read this book once a year as a reminder that even the smallest person can make a difference. 

In this third book in the Shadow of the Leviathan series, Ana and Din are tasked with one of their hardest cases yet—trying to prove the innocence of a seemingly guilty suspect and prevent an all-out war.

Although their track record is impeccable, unseen forces pull the partners apart, and loyalties are tested as tensions boil over.

I adore Robert Jackson Bennett's writing, which is why I loved his Foundryside series (also high fantasy), and this series is no exception. If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, or really any witty detective book, you should add the books in this series to your list. They’re funny and brilliantly smart with rounded characters.

The series may not seem like high fantasy at first, since the main plotline focuses on murders, but Robert Jackson Bennett infuses the world with a larger mystery that carries over into each book. With this upcoming addition releasing late summer, it’s the perfect time to jump in and start reading! 

Brother Diaz is ready for his own congregation, and when he’s called to visit the Sacred City, he believes that this is his time. And it is, just not the way he expects.

Instead of a following, he’s given a band of misfits or ‘devils’ and tasked with safely transporting Troy’s long-lost princess home. Of course, those in line for the throne know about her existence, so safety may be an issue.

This book is a historical fantasy set in an alternate Europe, so it’s on the looser end of the high fantasy spectrum.

Abercrombie’s band of characters resemble a chaotic DnD group (somehow more chaotic than when I play, so that’s a bonus), and it’s even more evident as they go on their journey eluding family killers, almost like the new Ready or Not film. It’s a romp across medieval Europe but still holds a lot of heart with queer representation, morally gray characters, and a reluctant found family.

The movie adaptation directed by James Cameron was announced recently, so now is a great time to give this book a read!

As the first woman to ever learn magic and be admitted into the High Magistry, Scionia is no stranger to being the outcast.

Her way of understanding the system threatens her peers, who will do anything to see her fail, including giving her a janitor, Thomil, instead of an assistant.

But Thomil understands more than he lets on, and the two uncover a devastating secret that threatens Tiran’s entire way of life.

This is a dark academia fantasy, with emphasis on the ‘dark’. While it takes place in a completely different world than Earth, much of the world-building is indirectly based on or inspired by real historical aspects of colonization.

The combination of worldbuilding, a unique magic system, and moral themes about complicity in systematic racism makes Wang stand out in the high fantasy genre. Her writing is fast-paced yet descriptive, and her characters are viscerally complex. The ending is absolutely devastating, so be ready to rage. 

Vis is a liar. He lied about being an orphan, about his relationship with Magnus Quintus Ulciscor, and the reason he’s attending Catenan Academy.

But everyone at the Academy has secrets, and Vis may be the only one to unravel the conspiracy and uncover the mystery of the underground labyrinth.

Islington was inspired by other high fantasy books like Red Rising to create this world, and boy, does it pay off! Set in a Romanesque location, this book offers a perfect blend of mystery and high stakes that will keep you flipping pages.

I really enjoyed how this book leaned into the epic nature of the plot, going beyond good versus evil to universe-ending stakes.

The series is still ongoing, and with the third book, Justice of One, coming out next year, I’m eager to see where Islington takes Vis next.

A dragonrider, a queen, and a world split into two. Three stories entwine as a war threatens everyone and an enemy reemerges out of the shadows. Sometimes lost legends are found, and sometimes what seems bad happens for a reason.

While this book is part of The Roots of Chaos Trilogy, it was originally published as a standalone, which is great since it’s over 1,000 pages!

But don’t let this page count intimidate you (I say even though it definitely intimidates me). With its sprawling world, epic quests, and queer representation, Shannon is able to pack what could be a whole five-book series into one story.

On the island of Kekon, jade is the treasure, and the Kaul family oversees part of the production.

When tensions between them and the Ayt family begin to rise, secrets are revealed that threaten the entire island’s hierarchy.

I would say this is a halfway point on the scale of high fantasy stories, set in a location other than Earth, but more grounded in fantasy.

Marketed as a Godfather-esque story, it feels like a high fantasy version of Red City by Marie Lu, which I adore.

It’s an underrated trilogy, and with fast pacing, I’m sure that the read will fly by!