Top Most Underrated Fantasy Books of All-Time

Some of the all-time best books of your favorite booktubers are really underrated! ✨ The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare:
skl.sh/funfantasybooks03241
Today we'll see 14 brilliant booktubers (yes, the ones of the thumbnail and more!!) sharing their best book recommendations to help us find 5-star fantasy books that are underhyped and underrated!
🪶 Thank you so much to my Patreons, for being the best and their continuous support! If you want to join the Wheel of Time readalong check it out here: / funfantasybooks
A huge, massive thank you to all of these incredible booktubers who made the effort of creating a clip recommending their best book for you, hopefully you find it useful! They are truly at the top of their game, and I can't feel more honored!
· @DanielGreeneReviews with Dungeon Crawler Carl: amzn.to/3TpzodM
· @mikesbookreviews with We Are the Dead: amzn.to/49KK3oY
· @CapturedInWords with Black Sun Rising: amzn.to/4c75oKP
· @libraryofaviking with Dandelion Dynasty: amzn.to/43bfrdL
· @PetrikLeo with Dandelion Dynasty: amzn.to/43bfrdL
· @HonestFiction with Entreat Me: amzn.to/48KHhim
· @LienesLibrary with Dawn of Wonder: amzn.to/3wI6zAd
· @the_fools_tale with Flames of Mira: amzn.to/49V7Ja2
· @AndrewsWizardlyReads with The Assassin of Grins and Secrets: amzn.to/3IA1pc9
· @Johanna_reads with A Song of Arbonne: amzn.to/3uZmkT3
· @ShelfCentered with To Ride Hell's Chasm: amzn.to/3IA1pc9
· @AbbySalter with Daughter of the Forest: amzn.to/3PACUQn
· @JimWilbourne with Kilhaven Police: amzn.to/437ofBq
(these are affiliate links- which means that it's the same cost for you but it helps the channel a little!)
Massive thanks also to @2ToRamble , @Bookborn , @MattsFantasyBookReviews , @HollyHeartsBooks and @hannahblackwellbooks who were not able to join this time, but they are absolutely amazing so please also go and check them out!
Here are all of the channels mentioned:
00:00 Hi!
00:14 Daniel Greene
01:48 Mike's Book Reviews
03:59 Captured In Words
05:02 Library of a Viking
05:53 Petrik Leo
06:56 Fun Fantasy Books (it's a me!)
07:52 Honest Fiction
09:18 Liene's Library
09:58 Andrew Watson
10:52 Johanna
11:54 Andrew's Wizardly Reads
12:53 Shelf Centered
13:37 Abby Salter
14:28 Jim Wilbourne

[@DanielGreeneReviews]

Thank you so much for having me on!! It slipped by me somehow so sorry for catching it late :)

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much for joining!! Currently reading Dungeon Crawler Carl and loving it! 🥰!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks a ton for including me in this one! What I learned is I apparently need to read Dandelion Dynasty.

[@anthonycline6744]

You rock Mike!

[@johannesbullesbach8721]

Oh you're gonna love this. I feel like I know your taste pretty well after watching all of your videos, and I've always wondered when you were gonna pick this up.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahahah I feel you should Mike!

[@yremogtnomnad]

You ABSOLUTELY should, it's incredible! I read it last year and it's my new favorite series.

[@weregretohio7728]

I'm reading it now and like it a lot.

[@Johanna_reads]

I almost chose GUNS OF THE DAWN! 😂 It really is a hidden gem. Thank you so much for inviting me to this collab, Isa! ❤

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahaha oh man i would have love that!! it is such a great book! Thank you so much Johanna for participating!

[@LienesLibrary]

Thank you so much for including me in this awesome project!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank YOU so much for participating! ❤️

[@CapturedInWords]

So many great recommendations here!! I really need to read Dandelion Dynasty haha! Thanks for inviting me to be part :)

[@celestialdemon1316]

Yes! Thank you for mentioning the Coldfire trilogy. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but this is one of my favorite series of all time, and I never see it mentioned anywhere. Gerald Tarrant is still one of my favorite characters in all of fiction.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

haha it was so funny to see both Petrik and Johan mentioning it! Please read it! it is an incredible read! Thank you so so much for participating! 🥹

[@bpuryea]

The Black Sun Rising trilogy was a great read. I read it during the summer of 2021 at the age of 57 and thought, why haven't I read this yet, it's been sitting on my shelf for twenty plus years. As a kid in my twenties, I really enjoyed the Belgariad and the Mallorean collections by David Eddings

[@CapturedInWords]

I'm happy to see another person that enjoyed Black Sun Rising! It's such an underrated trilogy that not many people even know exists

[@FunFantasyBooks]

How wonderful that this underrated series is getting some shine! Thank you Jay for picking it up!

[@edwardsjarje]

Thank you for highlighting all these content creators. I had never run across their channels and I’m so excited to view their content.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so so much to the amazing booktubers that joined forces to help us discover 5-star underrated books! ✨I am so fortunate to be part of this community!

[@the_fools_tale]

I almost picked Dungeon Crawler Carl! Thanks for having me on!

[@the_dragon_reread]

Your accent makes this video at least 50% better!

[@CapturedInWords]

I almost did too 😂

[@the_fools_tale]

@@CapturedInWords The DCC recommendation video haha

[@FunFantasyBooks]

He 100% increased the level of the video!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahaha i would love it thb!

[@AbbySalter]

Fully support the Dandelion Dynasty love! That series is epic! Thank you so much for having me be a part of this 🥰

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much Abby for participating! loved it!

[@codytierson845]

I stumbled on black sun rising at a goodwill 10 years ago, glad to see mentioned here, it deserves recognition!

[@CapturedInWords]

I'm always happy to see another person that's read it! :)

[@FunFantasyBooks]

So happy you agree with Jay's recommendation! I am sure this will help others as well to pick it up!

[@dustymetso]

Perdido Street Station. Need I say more? Go read it, fantastic blend of steampunk fantasy.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@CNavo.TheNextChapter]

Great collaboration. I can concur A Song for Arbonne is too notch. I'll be buddy-reading Dawn of Wonder in April with a couple of other booktubers. A few of these others I haven't read . I'll have to check them out. -Cheers!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you! I am so happy you found it useful!! Love it that you support Johanna's pick!

[@judelancelot]

What a great idea I took a ton of screen shots thank you

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Ahhh I LOVE THIS! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@gabijesus224q]

Everybody listen, this eBook called "Fortunes of the Chosen" has completely reshaped my understanding of Jewish wealth and prosperity. Every chapter is a poignant journey through the triumphs and tribulations of the Jewish spirit, evoking a whirlwind of emotions with each turn of the page. It is great, one of the best books I've read for the past month, worth every cent.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@SpacedOutWizard]

I think the fact that the Cosmere and Middle Earth aren’t included on this list, shows just how criminally underrated they are…😅😅😅😅😅

[@Zivilin]

True. The Children of Húrin is very underrated.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahahaha facts

[@Rumham7291]

i feel like Dandelion Dynasty is really not underrated in book communities at all lol. everybody likes Grace of Kings. Proven by the fact that multiple people chose this book. In fact I think most people got into it because Petrik kept talking about it.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahaha Petrik is definitely a supporter of the series. He and Johan were the drivers for me to pick it up! Can agree that it isn't super underrated in booktube, but overall outside our little beautiful niche... it is still pretty unknown!

[@jarodandrews7425]

This is a criminally underrated channel

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much for leaving a comment and helping me increase some reach! 🥰

[@DavidDecero]

So many great recs and booktubers here! I really need to check out Dungeon Crawler Carl.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Please do! I am reading it atm and really enjoying myself!

[@Alkemisti]

Booktubers should talk more about _The Tales of Alvin Maker_ by Orson Scott Card.

[@jeremysites4684]

Anything by Jasper Fforde needs to be read, especially the Thursday Next series.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much for sharing! I am sure other readers will also appreciate it!

[@nubbinthemonkey]

Hmmm, I have some work to do. The only one I've read is Juliet Marillier. I read all her stuff when I was a kid. All I remember was the frequent application of healing poultices

[@binglamb2176]

Some great books for my towering TBR. I will gladly second Johanna's and Mike's choices. Guy Gavriel Kay's A Song for Arbonne and Mike Shackle's The Last War Trilogy are just outstanding.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Ahh thank you for sharing your opinion! This really helps other readers pick series! so happy you loved those recs!

[@_LAKU_]

The Coldfire Trilogy sounds amazing, I'm adding that one to my list! But everyone needs to read Guns of the Dawn! Even you, person who is reading this comment. Go read it!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahaha thank you for sharing the love for Guns of the Dawn! it is really helpful for others to read that it's not only me the one gushing about it!!

[@Rhand007]

Bryce my man, I soooo expected you to mention John Marco though!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahaha

[@bobkeane7966]

Well done, an original way to interact with your collaborators.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much Bob! happy that you liked it!!

[@isaiahrussell5643]

Dawn of Wonder is AMAZING!!! So glad it got mentioned

[@FunFantasyBooks]

haha i love the passion of this comment!! Thank you for sharing! this really helps others sorting books!

[@martinleclerc4258]

Liene is the one who convinced me. Just bought DoW. Great idea for the video. Thanks

[@FunFantasyBooks]

She did such a great job!! So happy you loved the video!!

[@zuzanaochmanova2652]

Wow what a great video!! Have read only Guns of the dawn and must say it's top top tier book so if the rest of the books are even half as good ... 🤩 Have dandelion dynasty on my shelf waiting for me to finish Dragon reborn.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

ahh Zuzka!! thank you so so much!! Guns of the Dawn is such an amazing read! i feel so fulfilled you loved it!! Now onto Grace of Kings!!

[@archlectoryarvi2873]

Totally agree with Shelf Centered! Janny wurts is a prose magician and in a sane world would be a household name by now. My personal pick would be The Lotlands trilogy by Jonathan French. One of the most fun trilogies to be written in the past decade. First book won the SPFBO 2016 but other than that the series might as well not even exist as far as the wider SFF literature community is concerned.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Oh wow! thank you for sharing! I now have the urge to read Janny Wurts! I am sure your comment will also help other readers to pick it up!

[@surpriseitsus9622]

Thank you for these recommendations 😊

[@mattf.3365]

I thought Liene would go with Under the Northern Sky! That was probably a close second. Dandelion Dynasty has been sitting on my TBR shelf for too long. Time to pick it up.

[@LienesLibrary]

Thought I’d give the world a break from my love for that series 😛

[@FunFantasyBooks]

haha oh I love that you already know Liene's favorite books! I didn't know it, but thank you for bringing it up!!

[@mattf.3365]

I had never heard of that series until I saw Liene's review. I enjoyed it a lot. In Liene we trust! @@FunFantasyBooks

[@MrAelin]

My opinion on why Ken Liu is underrated is because not a lot of people are interested in medieval China. But I understand how well written it is, its just not for some of us. That's why game of thrones became so popular, it was set in a western like world. I think that one of the most underrated books or trilogy is Onmagier, with the first book "the towers of Romander" Which i think it was never published in English in first place because it's from the Netherlands. It is quiet famous in Europe tho being translated to several European languages but unfortunately not to English that i know of.

[@DuckRon626]

YAY!!! I've actually read a book on this list! OK, OK, I get it. Only 1? You ask? Well, I'm a newbie to fantasy, but, I've been reading mostly thrillers, crime novels and science fiction for the past 70+ years. A Song for Arbonne is one of the best books that I've ever read. Becoming a big fan of Guy Avrierl Kay and want to read much more of his books. The Lions of Al-Rassan is rising up on my TBR and I'm looking forward to reading it an my of GGK's books.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Oh wow!! Thank you so much for recommending arte Song of Arbonne! I really want to read it now!

[@joelindley5113]

You said the (for me) dreaded phrase love triangle but followed up with Guns of the Dawn and I was like - Oh yeah, I do actually like that one. Pride and Prejudice but Jane Eyre goes off to war instead of Mr Darcy. (Sorry for getting my period dramas confused).😂 The more I hear of Dungeon Crawler Carl the more I'm intrigued by it. I wholeheartedly second Mike's recommendation for the Long War trilogy by Mike Shackle. Brilliant stuff. Lot's of other underrated books out there but I have to mention Peter McLean's War For The Rose Throne series. (Apologies if I've already mentioned it). Great main character in Tomas Piety. Peaky Blinders with swords and sweary witches. Anthony Ryan has got some great series under his belt not the least the Covenant of Steel trilogy. He's just written a horror called Red River Seven which I'm looking forward to reading

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so so much Joe for sharing your thoughts on the books mentioned! This really helps other readers pick the series!!

[@mattgrosse943]

It's wild to me that no book tubers read Dennis L McKiernan's Mithgar series. There's like one guy and his videos have about a thousand views. McKiernan wrote The Silver Call in the late 70s as a sequel to The Lord of The Rings. Doubleday wanted to publish it, but they couldn't get the rights from the Tolkien estate. So, Doubleday asked him to rewrite it in his own world and write a Prequel series to support it. Because of that, the Iron Tower feels pretty derivative of LoTR. There are around 15 books that cover thousands of years of the setting's history. It's way more than just some knock off of LoTR. I feel like anyone that likes fantasy should read Dragondoom. It works fine as a stand alone, you don't need to read any of his other books to enjoy it.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@roseyg7064]

I'm shocked The Spear Cuts Through Water didn't make anyone's list. It is the best book of the millenium, and it's criminally underrated. It was short-listed for the Ursula K. Le Guin award, but it should have swept EVERYTHING

[@FunFantasyBooks]

I am currently reading it and really liking it! Feels like Grace of Kings!

[@jamieguffey9628]

You just like it because of the Cat... What about Forgotten Ruin ( maybe to Military for you) or The Land: Founding: A LitRPG Chaos Seeds

[@FunFantasyBooks]

I mean the cat having a role in the book is making all the difference lol

[@snowysnowyriver]

For me the most underrated fantasy novel is actually a trilogy. The Left Hand of God trilogy by Paul Hoffman. Shockingly underrated. It would make a great film, set of films or miniseries.

[@ayushyt762]

I am new reader in fiction, any recommendations on any fantasy or thriller books , looking for fast paced

[@RoyHagan-jh1rp]

I would suggest the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop. Absolutely wonderful characters.

[@eichhornchenwibbleflup7688]

Illusion by Paula Volsky. A really great fantasy take on the French Revolution.

[@middevelzorro]

My underrated book is Sordaneon by LL Stephens! Great world building characters you hate to love and love to hate.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much for sharing your underrated pick! it really helps others discover great books!

[@jandib4541]

RIP my TBR

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Bahahahaha!

[@WinterEC]

The Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust is WAY WAY underrated! Start with Jhereg. Last book coming out in the next year, but all 17 already penned are fantastic reads!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so much for sharing an underrated read! I am sure this will help other readers!!

[@formulaeternal]

Great video

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so so much!

[@CapAnson12345]

Aww kitty wants dungeon crawl.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Hahaha she wants it!!

[@Rishain]

dawn of wonder if fantatic, never getting a sequal tho .. its another stone door

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Dawn of Wonder!

[@Ketutar]

Well... Shardik by Richard Adams. 4,345 ratings and 348 reviews in GoodReads.

[@andybarker8787]

Coldfire! Yes yes yes!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahah i love this! thank you for supporting the pick and helping others to discover the series with your comment!

[@andybarker8787]

@@FunFantasyBooks de nada, gracias para tu contenido 🙂

[@pinnball7992]

What is Lit RPG?

[@FunFantasyBooks]

It's short for a literary role-playing game!

[@surpriseitsus9622]

I've never heard of it.

[@iamTREES]

⁠@@surpriseitsus9622 essentially the writer is writing from the perspective of a RPG character in a “game world” (for example, a D&D character). Characters will be aware of their stats and the “game mechanics,” kinda like in Jumangi

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Good collaboration. Best wishes on the next?

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you so so much! Hopefully we have more in the future!!

[@timothyburbage]

For me it has to be Legend of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Thank you for sharing!!!

[@pollys6192]

Voy a conseguir que Tchaikovsky te firme ese libro (a ser posible contigo delante) aunque sea lo ultimo que haga en esta vida. Ah y estoy 100% de acuerdo con Jess, Entreat Me es una pasada. Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters 1) is one of my favourite books EVER Isa, if that means something to you, go for it. Y no se por que narices mezclo idiomas, pero paso de cambiarlo A veces me haría booktuber solo para participar en estas cosas, pero luego me acuerdo de que no me gusta salir en camara y de que a quien narices le va a importar... y se me pasa XDDD

[@FunFantasyBooks]

jaja normal!!! tienes un gusto en libros increible y tu opinión le interesa a un montón de gente!!

[@pollys6192]

@@FunFantasyBooks que vaaaaaa

[@Jeanette_Medina]

¡Me gusta tu comment en "Spanglish"! 😆

[@caitlinl2750]

Only read 6 of these!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

WOW! I am going to screenshot this comment haha, first time that you haven't read majority of the books mentioned!

[@suryanarayanan1769]

Dandelion dynasty💚🔥🔥🔥

[@FunFantasyBooks]

hahah yeah! I love that it got so much love!

[@suryanarayanan1769]

@@FunFantasyBooks my first ever birthday gift from a facebook friend 🥹

[@beardfromtadcymru9714]

Daniel Green makes the book sound like Red Dwarf

[@whyonthefall5373]

Just needs a hologram

[@beardfromtadcymru9714]

@@whyonthefall5373 and someone from scrapheap challenge 😂

[@whyonthefall5373]

@@beardfromtadcymru9714 don't forget a talking toaster

[@tiananesbitt7156]

😮11:15

[@FunFantasyBooks]

🙌

[@robertogerendas]

Dandelion dynasty is good but is not that good, i dont think its underrated its properly rated as an ok book.

[@FunFantasyBooks]

noooooooooo robeeeeeeer!!! 💔 but yeah, haha everyone is different! shame it didn't work for you as well!

[@nazimelmardi]

No. It’s that good. Malazan fandom check approved. And it’s not a book, it’s a series.