You probably have heard this genre in your English class or have seen this labeled in one of the aisles in bookstores. Fantasy fiction is indeed a popular literary genre that houses millions of books and series that can bring you to awesome worlds, meet different creatures, and have fun going through the stories as if you’re one of the characters.
What sets fantasy apart from other subgenres of fiction is the way it makes ordinary things extraordinary. In other words, it puts twists on normal stories and adds magic, supernatural, and other elements that elevate the whole storylines of each piece. If you are a fantasy fanatic, then we have compiled below some of the must-read books under this genre that you might want to add to your reading pile.
The Shadow of the Staff: A Wizard’s Revenge by M.A. Haddad
M.A. Haddad’s fantasy novel titled The Shadow of the Staff: A Wizard’s Revenge was published in 2011. It follows the story of the people of Hatu, a mythical place that was once a peaceful continent. Among the extraordinary creatures that live in the area are dwarves, elves, men, orcs, wizards, and trolls. Long before, a wizard named Porttia headed an evil army that terrorized all of Hatu, but he was defeated by Master Milton Brew. But after hundreds of years, another dark power has emerged to threaten the land once again. The last Brew descendant named Master Burton Brew is a diffident hero that will, later on, become a courageous fighter to help retain the peace in Hatu. So, watch out for his adventure.
Daughters of Twilight by Collette Jackson-Fink
Published in 2013 by Outskirts Press, Daughters of Twilight is the debut book of author Collette Jackson-Fink. It introduces the story of how a peaceful metropolis in the Midwest area of Waterloo, Iowa, is about to reawaken along with angels. After a strong earthquake occurred in Waterloo, a massive black pyramid-shaped tower emerged in a cornfield in Blackhawk County. Many thought that the peculiar tower is in slumber and inactive; but, when they sent people to investigate its interior, Danes Cole — a part of the special tactical team, encountered a beautiful being that has been damned and banished from the Garden of Eden. What would the creature bring to the little city?
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch is a horror fantasy novel co-authored by promising authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It was published in 1990 by Gollancz in the U.K. and Workman in the U.S. Moreover, it is a comedy book that centers on the birthing of Satan’s son and the approaching of the end times. There are two characters, an angel and a demon, who tried to hinder the coming of the end times after they become used to their comfortable environment in England. Good Omens also features different subplots, which added to the overall impact of the book. Because of the variety of colors and elements that the book showcases, it ranked 68th on BBC’s survey called The Big Read in 2003.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows is the first book of the duology that has the same name as the title. It was published in 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. and was followed by the Crooked Kingdom a year after its publication. The story is narrated using a third-person point of view of 7 characters. It focuses on the tale of a group of thieves in the city of Ketterdam — based on the Dutch Republic. Moreover, the book gained multiple recognitions and feedbacks from different platforms, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR Books, and The Times of India.
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
The Way of the Shadows is the first book of the fantasy series of Brent Weeks called The Night Angel Trilogy. It follows the story of an orphan named Azoth, who is an orphan. He always thought that survival is significant yet also dangerous; thus, you should never take it for granted. Azoth grew up in the slums of the city and developed a great sense of judgment and risk assessment. Then, the time has come for Azoth to leave his old life and start accepting his new identity. Would Azoth survive?
The Damsel’s Files 