10 Must-Read Fantasy Books Recommended by 122 Readers

[@mythfary]

Your detailed and passionate description of each work makes me want to read all the ones I have yet to read. Congratulations on the channel and your work; it is simply a channel that is an excellent reference for those who like fantasy books.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Ahhh thank you so so much! It really makes me happy to read this!

[@laku_u]

I admire all the courageous souls who actually submitted their books, instead of spending days despairing over which one to choose and then giving up! On the topic of not having read the most popular series, there's an amazing essay by VE Schwab called “In Search of Doors” on never having read Tolkien even as a fantasy author, and on how everyone finds their door to the fantasy genre, and every door is valid because it gets you to the same place. It was ironically delivered at the Tolkien Lecture!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahahah despair is a very valid option!! Oh! I didn’t know about that!! Will search for it!!! 👀

[@fithfath3615]

It's interesting to see this top ten, but I think it would be good to explore less well known favourites, as there are many hidden gems out there.

[@zahldineh]

I love recommendation videos like this! Thank you. ❤️

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you for letting me knooooow!!! really brightens my day!

[@NOYFB982]

As to Robin Hobb’s books, I have listened to the first two Far Seer books rather than reading the text. This makes the long prose and descriptions better (not just less tedious, but literally better as they are spoken). There is also the possibility to listen at a speed greater than normal, which can be helpful for books dense with description. (As an aside, Murderbot is just really great to listen to given its style.)

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Ahhh thank you for letting us know! It’s definitely good to know when an audiobook enhances the experience!

[@marsmorg]

the sword of kaigen is available on kindle unlimited right now, for anyone who wants to read it!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

💕

[@Elga1976]

Thank you for the heads up!

[@marsmorg]

@@Elga1976 of course!🫶🏼

[@GabrielaSantos-ff7ij]

Love your videos. My favorites from your list are Robbin Hobb's (that woman makes me cry!!! )The sword of kaigen wich i read because you recommended, thank you for that it destroid me but i loved it...and Tolkien's books , Tolkien will always be my greatest love, read them they are so beautiful...

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahah I loved the phrase “it destroyed me, but loved it” haha describes so accurately the feeling!! Ahh I know! I need to read LOTR!!!

[@edwardsjarje]

I stopped another video the minute yours popped up. So good!! Buenísimo!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Jajajajajaj aww! Muchas gracias!!! Te lo agradezco un montón! 💕

[@edwardsjarje]

@@FunFantasyBooks me encantaría leer algunos de estas series en español, pero se me hace tan difícil encontrarlas. Me encanta ver las diferentes cubiertas de libros, por si las moscas las encuentro. 😂

[@vickilimbocker2505]

Live ship trilogy is fabulous and brilliant.

[@alusarmiento]

I'm so so happy that Mistborn made this list hahahahaha. Mistborn is my happy place, ash and all.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahaha ash and metals and all! 💕🥹

[@eneskursadyasar5393]

My favourite is Lies of Locke Lamora but list is not bad at all.

[@kerstinharold5420]

I just finished the first book in the bound and the broken series by Ryan Cahill, and if I'd finished it 1-2 weeks earlier, it definitely would have been on my list 😅. It was such a great read and I already started book 2. I'm very much looking forward to it, as everyone keeps saying that it only gets better and better. Such a great fantasy story!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Okay now I am getting fomo haha I also want to read book 2!!!

[@kerstinharold5420]

@FunFantasyBooks go for it 🤩. I have it on my Kindle and thus could go straight to book 2 🙂

[@Mxe00.]

If you want to read something original in fanatsy ficiton gener then you must read Voyagers of hell. Its awesome.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Ohhh that sounds really good! Let me add that to my TBR!!!

[@2.zef.758]

Hello, I'm a new subscriber :) I see that some titles are in Spanish, that's cool, do you speak Spanish? :o

[@elenahaszing9486]

That's such a gorgeous copy of the sword of kaigen. Where did you purchase that edition?

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you!!! I backed the project at Wraithmarked!

[@OverlyAverageBen]

I could sense Hobb in this list and well deserved. The thing I'm really shocked about is Abercrombie not being in the Top 10! Blasphemy lol

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahahahah blasphemy indeed!! First Law was mentioned, but not as often 🙈

[@CarolineMolyneux4491]

Ah, Lord of the Rings is the only entry I haven't read. This might be the year I finally get around to it. There's a very specific kind of guilt I feel about being a massive fantasy fan who has never read the original classic!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahah absolutely feel you with that guilt lol!

[@heidib4400]

I felt the same and then decided to try on audiobook just to get me started and it was absolutely fantastic! So glad I listened to it!

[@surpriseitsus9622]

Favorites that are hidden gems, lesser known. I'm predicting Hobbs, Tolkien, and Sanderson? I'm at 4:00 minutes.

[@mirelaivezic9702]

Where can I get The sword of Kaigen? At this point I would sell a kidney to get a copy 😂

[@PhatYeti]

I think i am heartbroken that you never read lord of the rings hahaha

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahahahahaha 😭👀🥲. I think this year I should at least start it and finally become part of this world

[@SimplementInefable]

I actually read The Lord of the Rings when I was too young, 11 maybe, and I remember liking it but not loving it. I've been meaning to reread it for ages now 0:02 (I've read the Silmarilion twice and seen the films countless times). I have not dared to pick up the original trilogy though because I'm scared of not loving it again. Have you had a similar experience with any book of not daring picking it up because you want to love it and don't want to be proven otherwise?

[@ghostkat92]

I liked the Hobbit way more that the Lord of the Rings but it’s been many many years ago. Lord of the Rings is so wordy.

[@PhatYeti]

@@FunFantasyBooks I somehow never saw this hahaha but I would love if you did!

[@pollys6192]

Io is the star of the channel, yo no hice las reglas. Also, where is my Shauna???? XD

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hajajajaj lo es!!!! Not mentioned enough I fear!!

[@xxMegha33xx]

How is Scythe not here...

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahaha it wasn’t mentioned enough sadly!

[@fiveminutesbook]

Must Watch Everything Inside By Edwidge Danticat Book Summary Bedtime Stories of Love, Loss, and Resilience

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you!

[@terabyter9000]

Wait, did she say she didn't read The Lord of the Rings?

[@FunFantasyBooks]

*subtly disappears from the screen in shame*

[@terabyter9000]

@@FunFantasyBooks It's okay I'm only on The Two Towers literally right now. I did read Fellowship back in 1999 though. Haven't really read in 20 years and only started back again last year and read like 66 books in 2023. Gotta get caught up on everything everybody is talking about on booktube. Currently reading (all at the same time): The Last Empire (Mistborn), The Two Towers (LOTR), Dead Beat (Dresden), The Great Hunt (WoT), Dune Messiah and finally The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Summarizing chapters helps me keep it all straight in my head and not get lost in all the plots and characters.

[@RugbyBluZ]

How are yall missing that she stopped reading Harry Potter at book 2?!? 😮‍💨😮‍💨 you didn’t get to the best part!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahahaha 🙈

[@caitlinl2750]

I’ve read all yayyy🎉 (I kinda think LotR is overrated but I think I will be massacred for this opinion)😂

[@Mimlou]

What is your top favorite?

[@caitlinl2750]

@@Mimlou dandelion dynasty!!!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

You continue being an epic beast in the best way possible Caitlin!!

[@DrunkenGyarados]

Anyone who’s favourite book is by Sarah J Maas is someone who has very questionable taste in reading 🤣🤣

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahahaha nooooooo! Reading is subjective and Throne of Glass definitely reached a wide audience!

[@MoniqueBernic]

Sarah J Maas and particularly Throne of Glass probably got a lot of people reading more fantasy. Throne of Glass is her best work by far and it shouldn’t be judged under the same banner as her other two series.

[@NevsBookChannel]

Come on Isa, just read Lord of the Rings already. It’s not even all that long! 😊

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahaha I know; I need to do this soon!

[@nisar8009]

I have been a fantasy book fan for 50+ years. I can’t understand how everyone raves over Sanderson. He’s just not the best. He shouldn’t be the author that others are rated against. You mention him every time you upload a video.

[@user-hu2hr1op3b]

You have 50+ years of wonderful memories and nostalgia attached to all the great books you have read. For many, Sanderson is the one creating those memories and nostalgia, and so he will always be a special author for them. I am one of those people. He was the first author that got me to read a book over 1,000 pages. I always loved reading, but was intimidated by epic fantasy. He broke that door down for me and he'll always be on my Mt. Rushmore for that. Your post would have been far more productive to just name the authors fans of Sanderson may also like.

[@ladansemakabre]

he's just not for you. you talk like he's bad and everyone likes him for no reason. he's a great writer and his books are very accesible, thus why he's so loved. also let booktubers talk about their favorite author all they want! would you be so bitter if she mentioned *your* favorite author? of course not. you're just mad it's Sanderson.

[@brandonc2839]

alot of the newer generation were introduced to fantasy through Sanderson therefore use his craft as sort of a benchmark in a way i suppose

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Ahhh I first read Sanderson when I was 16 and absolutely fell in love with his stories and fantasy! I get how there are other authors that are better for other readers, but he will always be special for me! Additionally I do believe he is making a constant effort to be close to his fans which just reinforces this!

[@ericF-17]

Sanderson is not for everybody. He is not perfect. There are things I wish he was better at (ex. prose, atmospheric writing - though I don't think he's actively bad at either of these). But as a very big fan of his works, here are a few of the reasons I like him: Extremely detailed and intricate plots with brilliant use of setup and payoff Skillful incorporation of magic and other worldbuilding elements into character and plot Complex and relatable characters Brilliant thematic work with (especially in Stormlight and Mistborn) lots of moral complexities and great use of dramatic irony Fast pacing Worldbuilding that is imaginative, realistic, internally consistent, and in some cases extremely detailed Its been a little while since I've read Stormlight and some of his other books, so I can't express my feeling quite as well as I will be able to on rereads, but I can still elaborate on most of these.

[@Pfff12]

Such generic recommendations.