Best Fantasy (Non-LitRPG)
The best fantasy novels I've read, excluding the LitRPG subgenre.
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1

The Fellowship of the Ring
The greatest fantasy novel ever written. Tolkien created a genre and has never been surpassed.
A+ -
2

The Two Towers
The middle volume that shouldn't work as a standalone but does. Helm's Deep alone earns its place.
A+ -
3

The Return of the King
The perfect ending to the greatest fantasy trilogy. The Scouring of the Shire matters.
A+ -
4

The Blade Itself
I loved this book. The set up is just so great. Logan is one of the best characters in modern fantasy.
A -
5

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6

The Midnight Falcon
Pure Gemmell heroic fantasy. His conception of heroes and sacrifice is unmatched.
A- -
7

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8

Wyrd Sisters
Granny Weatherwax is one of the greatest characters of all time. Pratchett was a genius.
A- -
9

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10

The Book That Wouldn't Burn
Very well crafted. The way the two storylines come together is unexpected and satisfying.
A- -
11

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12

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13

How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It
Solid, professional fantasy. The ending made me want to read the next book.
B+ -
14

Blood Song
The best fantasy debut in years. Raven's Shadow starts with a master class in character building.
A -
15

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16

Feet of Clay
The best of the City Watch books. Pratchett uses golems to explore identity and free will.
A -
17

The Emperor's Blades
A strong debut with a genuinely interesting magic system and three compelling siblings.
A -
18

City of Stairs
Robert Jackson Bennett's best work. Gods as colonial history is a fascinating premise.
A -
19

Equal Rites
One of the best early Pratchett novels. Granny Weatherwax's first appearance sets the template perfectly.
A -
20

Traitor's Blade
Swashbuckling fun. The Greatcoats series is the best musketeer-style fantasy written in decades.
A- -
21

Hard Magic
Correia takes noir detective fiction into a 1930s alternate history with magic. It works brilliantly.
A- -
22

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23

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24

Son of the Black Sword
Larry Correia writing epic fantasy. The caste system world-building is genuinely original.
A- -
25

The Aeronaut's Windlass
Butcher's steampunk fantasy is pure adventure. The cats are the best part.
A- -
26

The Rage of Dragons
A stunning debut — brutal, fast-paced, and emotionally gripping from page one.
A- -
27

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28

The Blinding Knife
Weeks's Lightbringer series hits its stride here with jaw-dropping revelations.
A- -
29

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30

The Final Empire
Sanderson's Mistborn opener is a masterclass in magic system design and plotting.
B+ -
31

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32

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33

Kings of the Wyld
A love letter to classic fantasy with the best band-of-brothers energy in the genre.
B+ -
34

The Blacktongue Thief
Buehlman's voice is unlike anything else in fantasy — darkly funny and beautifully written.
B+ -
35

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36

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37

Gideon the Ninth
Like nothing else in the genre — necromancers in space with a voice that crackles.
B+ -
38

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39

The Shadow of What Was Lost
Islington's debut is dense and rewarding — one of the best recent epic fantasy starts.
B+ -
40

The Will of the Many
Roman-flavored fantasy with a razor-sharp protagonist and a gripping mystery.
B+ -
41

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42

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43

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44

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45

Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City
K.J. Parker at his best — the engineer-protagonist solves impossible problems with real ingenuity.
B+ -
46

Red Sister
Mark Lawrence's convent assassins story is dark, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted.
B+ -
47

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48

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49

The Mystery Knight
GRRM's Dunk and Egg novellas capture the warmth and wonder of Westeros before the war.
A- -
50

Before They Are Hanged
The First Law's middle book deepens every character and raises the stakes perfectly.
B+ -
51

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52

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53

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54

The Other Lands
Durham's Acacia sequel expands the world in unexpected and compelling directions.
B+ -
55

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56

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57

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58

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59

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60

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61

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62

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63

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64

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65

The Sheepfarmer's Daughter
Moon's Paksenarrion is the gold standard for paladin characters in epic fantasy.
B+ -
66

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67

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68

The Great Bazaar and Brayon's Gold
Brett's Demon Cycle short fiction — essential for fans of the series.
B+ -
69

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70

Johannes Cabal the Necromancer
Howard's sardonic necromancer is one of fantasy's great dry-witted protagonists.
B+ -
71

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72
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73

Twelve Kings of Sharakhai
Beaulieu's Arabian-inspired epic is lush and atmospheric from the first page.
B+ -
74

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75

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76

Off to Be the Wizard
Meyer's time-travel/fantasy comedy is relentlessly fun and endlessly quotable.
B+ -
77

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78

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79

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80

The Grey Bastards
French's half-orc riders are the kind of morally grey crew you can't help but love.
B+ -
81

Sword in the Storm
Gemmell's Rigante series opener is Celtic-flavored heroic fantasy at its best.
B+ -
82

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83

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84

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85

House of Assassins
Correia's Saga of the Forgotten Warrior keeps the action and invention flowing.
B+ -
86

The Knights of Dark Renown
An early Gemmell that showcases all his themes — honor, sacrifice, and redemption.
B+ -
87

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88

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89

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90

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91

Paladin of Souls
Bujold's Chalion companion is a rare thing — a fantasy about a middle-aged woman done right.
B+ -
92

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93

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94

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95

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96

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97

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98

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99

The Midnight Falcon
Revisiting Gemmell's Midnight Falcon holds up — the Rigante saga at full power.
B+ -
100

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101

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102

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103

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104

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105

A Tide of Black Steel
Ryan's Blood of Ambrose prequel delivers gritty action and strong characters.
B+ -
106

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107

The Memory Stone
A quietly impressive debut with an original magic system and likeable characters.
B+ -
108
