Fantasy Book Recommendations
If a book has magic, dragons, and dangerous adventures, I’m probably going to read it. Something about fantasy has simply always appealed to me. I love jumping into new worlds and immersing myself in new magic systems, flying on the backs of dragons, and going on thrilling adventures.
Here are some of my top Fantasy book recommendations:
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Jones’s writing has always been cozy and charming to me, long before cozy fantasies were a buzzword in the literary world. Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, the eldest of three daughters who has already resigned herself to a spinster’s life working in her father’s hat shop, until the day she’s cursed by the Witch of the Waste and has to seek help breaking the curse before her family starts to worry. The best option is the Great Wizard Howl and his mysterious moving castle. She hires herself as his new cleaning lady and learns not only about the curse put on her, but secrets about herself as well.The book is an open love letter to dutiful children who might need a push to get out of their comfort zone and make a life worth living for themselves.
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
This was a recent read of mine, and I’ve been devouring the sequels since I finished book one. The lush fantasy and worldbuilding transport readers to a historical fantasy in eighteenth century Cairo, where a young con artist discovers she’s the last descendent of powerful djinn healers. With the help of an outcast immortal warrior, she’s whisked away to the magical city of Deavabad, and is immediately roped into the politics of a tumultuous society. If she wants to prevent war in this new home, she has to claim her magical birthright and become the next great healer of the city.The characters were all complex and a joy to read about, and Daevabad is a beautiful city that readers can’t help falling in love with.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
Yes, this is the same author as the last book. Chakraborty knows how to write a good book. If you get the chance, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version of The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi. The book is written as if a scribe is retelling the adventure, so there are moments the narrative is interrupted by either the scribe or the main character making remarks about what can be written down and how true to the original events they should stay, and the audiobook handled that beautifully. It was like being in the recording booth with them while they fought about it.The story itself focuses on a retired pirate captain, forced out of a peaceful life with her daughter for seemingly one last voyage to protect her family. Between the magic and mayhem, sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, Captain Amina Al-Sirafi finds she’s right at home on the high seas.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Presented as Emily Wilde’s diary, this book details her research into the elusive faeries of the world so she can present the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. Her latest venture takes her north, into the frozen backwaters of Ljosland (an alternate version of Iceland). The townspeople are wary of her poking her nose into faerie business and greet her accordingly, and Emily’s poor people skills don’t do much to change their opinion of her. But the faeries of the north have their own dark secrets, and her scientific persistence leads her into all new kinds of trouble.It’s a charming book, with an atypical main character. Emily Wilde is a curmudgeonly professor who cares little for her appearance or other’s people’s thoughts of her in general, and she was a refreshing change of pace from the typical heroine presented these days.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Arthurian legends mixed with unique Root Magic, plus a mystery so deep it goes back centuries? I couldn’t read Legendborn fast enough. The premise is that all of Arthur and his Knights have been reincarnated through their descendants for centuries, organizing in secret to keep dark magic creatures from devouring the world. Enter Bree Matthews, an early applicant at UNC-Chapel Hill college who should have absolutely nothing to do with this, except that Merlin’s attempt at erasing the memory of a magic attack fails and Bree has some questions. She’s more wrapped up in everything than she thinks, and the secrets they uncover turn the whole world upside down.This was hands down one of the best modern presentations of Arthurian legends I’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait for book three to come out this year!
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
The cozy fantasy book that started it all. This retired orc-for-hire might be ready to put up her sword, but the seedy underbelly in Thune risks upsetting all her dreams for a coffee shop and a fresh start. To build something that will last, this orc will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.Legends and Lattes is the low-stakes break from epic battles and saving the world adventures that the fantasy genre needs. As the book that started the trend, I think it’s definitely worth a read for any fantasy lover!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
I have a fascination with London. A Darker Shade of Magic gives readers four Londons in one book, each with different levels of magic. To say I was hooked from page one was an understatement. The book follows Kell, one of the last magicians able to Travel between Londons. He comes from Red London, which is teeming with magic. There’s also Lila, who comes from Grey London -our London, sometime in the 1800’s- which has little to no magic. There’s also White London, ruled by whoever has recently murdered their way to the throne, and quickly losing their magic. They border Black London, the remaining husk of a London that overflowed with magic to the point of self-destruction. But it’s not quite as barren and lifeless as everyone believes…Between the mystery, unique magic systems, and unforgettable characters, this whole trilogy had me hooked from the beginning and didn’t let go until the end of the final book.
Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti by Genevieve Valentine
Now this one, I’m sure none of you have heard of, and I’m pleased to be the one to introduce you to it. With charming characters and the intriguing backdrop of a mechanical circus, you’ll be sucked right into the audience as each of them perform. But of course, there’s more to this circus than meets the eyes. War surrounds the circus, and the magic within the tents is no accident. Boss builds her circus from the bones out, molding the mechanical company to survive an unforgiving landscape. Even ringmasters make mistakes, though.This book is unlike anything else I’ve read. There are hints of The Night Circus when they focus on the incredible routines, blended with tidbits of any dystopian fiction, all coming together to present a one-of-a-kind story you won’t soon forget.
-Lydia, Administration
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