When discussing classic works of literature, especially within thefantasygenre, big names likeThe Lord of the Rings,The Once and Future King, or even more modern works likeA Song of Ice and Firemight come to mind. However,the landscape of fantasy has been evolving quickly in the past few decades,and the contemporary works that will one day be considered classics are boundary-pushing works. Though there’s love for the old works, which remain heavily influential, authors have been exploring unheard voices and diverse stories that shine a light on what the genre does best.
Many of thebest fantasy books of the last ten yearshave the potential to join the fantasy canon and be remembered for years to come, making it an exciting time to be a fan of speculative fiction. It’s difficult to determine what exactly makes a novel worthy of becoming a classic, as art is subjective, and how a story will land on a reader depends on a variety of factors.While all of these books are well-written and imaginative, they also touch upon complex topicsand are unafraid to interrogate the larger cultural and societal issues of our time.
10Children Of Blood And Bone (2018)
Written by Tomi Adeyemi
Tomi Adeyemi includes romance, themes of coming-of-age, and intriguing magic systems in herLegacy of Orïshabook seriesthat begins withChildren of Blood and Bone. However, this doesn’t mean that Adeyemi passes up the opportunity to weave important cultural critique and amazing representation into the story, making it an essential piece of fantasy from the past several years. Following the protagonist, Zélie Adebola,Children of Blood and Bonesees Zélie embark on an epic quest to save herself and her culture from destruction.
Though the series is already enormously popular, the movie iteration will only increase the scope and scale of the project’s impact.
Joined by an amazing cast of supporting characters and a love interest who provides plenty of pangs of longing and is just forbidden enough,Children of Blood and Bonewill likely go on to be remembered with the same fervor and interest asThe Hunger Games.The movie adaptation ofChildren of Blood and Bonemight have Gina Prince-Bythewood attached to direct (viaDeadline). Though the series is already enormously popular, the movie iteration will only increase the scope and scale of the project’s impact.
Children of Blood and Bone
2018
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
2019
Children of Anguish and Anarchy
2024
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9The Way Of Kings (2010)
Written by Brandon Sanderson
Much of Brandon Sanderson’s work falls into the category oflong fantasy book series worth reading, and whileThe Stormlight Archiveis no exception, the first book will never be forgotten.The Way of Kingswas Sanderson’s stunning first installment of the beloved fantasy seriesthat is an amazing callback to the iconic works of speculative fiction likeThe Lord of the Rings. While Sanderson’s work hasn’t had the crossover reach of books likeGame of Thrones, he’s well-known within fantasy circles.
In all of his work,Sanderson is praised for his dedication to world-building and how well he balances the use of multiple perspectives,which has been a popular form in recent fantasy works. However, even though Sanderson writes in the style of more traditional works, this doesn’t makeThe Way of Kingspredictable or stale. Keeping high fantasy alive and bringing it to life for modern audiences will be the legacy ofThe Way of Kings.
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Wind and Truth
8Cloud Cuckoo Land (2021)
Written by Anthony Doerr
After finding great success with his earlier novelAll The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr penned a more experimental and fantastical novel,Cloud Cuckoo Land. Sinceit blends sci-fi, fantasy, and magical realism,there’s something for everyone inCloud Cuckoo Land. It’s a story that subtly interweaves the lives of different people throughout time who all see and understand the value of knowledge and the preservation of the beauty and terror of human history.
Though the narratives feel far away at first, they’re all deeply connected to the present moment but are timeless enough to be enjoyed forever.
Though there are plenty of tragic moments throughoutCloud Cuckoo Land,the central theme and undercurrent of the story is the importance of hope and connection.Deeply emotionally compelling and richly imagined, the multiple perspectives ofCloud Cuckoo Landcouldn’t be more different, but each feels just as real as the last. Though the narratives feel far away at first, they’re all deeply connected to the present moment but are timeless enough to be enjoyed forever.
7The Fifth Season (2015)
Written by N. K. Jemisin
The critically acclaimedBroken Earthtrilogy begins withThe Fifth Season,which has one of the best plot twists within fantasy in recent memory. Though the narrative turn grows clearer as the novel progresses, that doesn’t make the payoff any less satisfying. N.K. Jemisin creates a harsh and unforgiving world, but she also manages to find moments of light and beauty within this universe, allowing the reader to see every side of the three main characters thatThe Fifth Seasonfollows.
Climate issues have always been prevalent in speculative fiction, but these topics are only becoming more relevant as time progresses, and Jemisin successfully balances her important message with a thoroughly entertaining story. It’s no wonder thateach installment ofThe Broken Earthtrilogy won the Hugo Award for Best Novel,asThe Fifth Seasonsets up an action-packed and complex narrative that carries through all three works. However, accolades aren’t the only reason to readThe Fifth Season, even if they help cement its well-deserved reputation.
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6The Priory Of The Orange Tree (2019)
Written by Samantha Shannon
Combing dragons, queens, magic, and LGBTQ+ love stories, there’s a lot to recommend aboutThe Priory of the Orange Tree. The novel quickly rose to prominence after its publication and is doubtlessly a lengthy addition to Samantha Shannon’s work. Shannon also wroteThe Bone Seasonseries, which also demonstrates that she is deft at creating lived-in universes and interesting magic systems that draw the reader in.While tackling the novel is a commitment, it’s well worth itand provides plenty of nooks and crannies in the story to get lost in.
The Priory of the Orange Treewill be remembered for how seamlessly the LGBTQ+ relationships feel like a natural and expected part of fantasy, as this wasn’t the case for many years.
The Priory of the Orange Treeis frequently cited as a great work of romance;this is not the most important piece of the story, as the romance is slowly built over time to great effect. As the scope of fantasy broadens, projects likeThe Priory of the Orange Treewill be remembered for how seamlessly the LGBTQ+ relationships feel like a natural and expected part of fantasy, as this wasn’t the case for many years. However, the novel is also notable because of the strength of the characters and Shannon’s writing style.
5Babel (2022)
Written by R.F. Kuang
R.F. Kuang’s debut fantasy series,The Poppy War, quickly catapulted the author to fame within the fantasy world, and her follow-up standalone novel,Babel, demonstrates how important Kuang is becoming to the genre.Kuang is deeply in conversation with historical colonialism and how the so-called great empires of the world have all been built through the subjugation of others and the theft of ideas and talent. The protagonist ofBabel, Robin, must decide what his role will be in the revolution and what it means to him.
While the subject matter ofBabelis heavy and requires the reader to sit up and pay attention, this doesn’t make it less entertaining or mean that Kuang sacrifices character. If anything,Robin’s interrogation of himself and his friends is what deepens his development as well as the novel’s overarching critique.Additionally, the interest and exploration of language as a tool of power is an interesting facet ofBabelthat will make it timeless and refreshing for years to come.
4Circe (2018)
Written by Madeline Miller
AfterThe Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller’s first explosively popular retelling of classic Greek mythology, helped the author find her place in fantasy, she wroteCirce. WhileThe Song of Achillesis romantic and tragic, making it the perfect emotional tearjerker for fans of the romantasy genre,Circeis more concerned with being a character study of the titular woman.Historically misunderstood and always written as the villain, Circe is an interesting character to make readers love, but Miller succeeds with ease.
Though tragedy and terror befall her, Circe is able to look at the world with empathy and understand both gods and humans as imperfect beings that serve their purpose in the world.
One of thebest historical fantasy books, thanks to Miller’s interest and dedication to understanding the roots and intricacies of Greek myths,Circeretells them from the sorceress' perspective. Though tragedy and terror befall her, Circe is able to look at the world with empathy and understand both gods and humans as imperfect beings that serve their purpose in the world. Though she is the product of gods, Circe’s story is uniquely human and compels the reader to reflect on their own place in the world, as all great fantasy does.
3The Name Of The Wind (2007)
Written by Patrick Rothfuss
ThoughThe Name of the Windis a little older, it’s consistently cited as one of the best fantasy books of the 21st century for a reason and has already begun forming a legacy that will last a lifetime. Kvothe is an incredible protagonist who is skilled and powerful but deeply flawed and uncertain, making him both aspirational and relatable. ThoughThe Name of the Windand its sequel,The Wise Man’s Fear, are long and complex works,Patrick Rothfuss manages to balance his interweaving storylines.
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Unfortunately,it’s been over ten years since the last book was published, and anticipation is growing forThe Doors of Stone,Rothfuss' next work. Waiting for the final installment of Rothfuss' trilogy has been difficult, as the author has set up many mysteries and action-packed sequences that remain unwritten. However,The Name of the Windis full of so many small details and side quests that there’s more to uncover about Kvothe and his journey with every read, making it an ideal fantasy novel to reread.
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2Lapvona (2021)
Written by Ottessa Moshfegh
Though Ottessa Moshfegh is best known for her polarizing workMy Year of Rest and Relaxation, the author tried her hand at fantasy with her 2021 novelLapvona. However,Lapvonastill holds the many classic characteristics of Moshfegh’s other work,creating atmospheric tension within the medieval setting and touching upon issues of the corruption of the ruling class. The young shepherd Marek starts uncovering how faith and nature are struggling against each other and that there’s darkness within the lord’s castle that’s worse than he can imagine.
This is Moshfegh’s window into the universe ofLapvonaand helps cement the work as a blend of fantasy, horror, and cultural critique.
Some of the criticisms ofLapvonarevolve around how the characters and world of the story are dark and meandering, as Marek is continually lost within the nightmarish world he inhabits. However, this is Moshfegh’s window into the universe ofLapvonaand helps cement the work as a blend of fantasy, horror, and cultural critique. IfLapvonais an indicator of where Moshfegh is going with her future writing style,the book will hardly be the last classic she contributes to the genre.
1She Who Became The Sun (2021)
Written by Shelley Parker-Chan
She Who Became the Sunis one of thebest fantasy books not set in Western Europewritten in the past ten years and brilliantly grapples with identity, sexuality, and gender politics throughout time. The debut novel of Shelley Parker-Chan,She Who Became the Sun, is the first novel in theRadiant Emperorduology and sets an action-packed and explosive tone. The work starts similarly to many fantasy works, withthe protagonist, Zhu, fighting against insurmountable odds to claim her fate.
Set in an imaginedfantasyworld where the divine right is physically manifested through a shining light, Zhu grapples with the role of fate in determining her future. Determined not only to survive but to achieve greatness,Zhu is the perfect main character to inspire and delight the reader, making them just as excited to see her on the throne.Though the contemporary discussions of identity are a vital part ofShe Who Became the Sun, they’re seamlessly interwoven and elevate the immersive narrative.
