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Great Fantasy Books

Fantasy Books Well Worth Reading
This list is simply a list of great fantasy books. And by great, I mean books that nearly but didn't quite make the Top 100 Fantasy List. Likely, you'll some of these are your own favorite fantasy.

Note, I am currently REBUILDING this list from scratch since I reorganized a number of the lists here, so bear with me while this list comes together over the next couple weeks. 

That means there won't be finished descriptions and the list is missing most of the entries.

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Comments
01

Master Of The Five Magics

(Lyndon Hardy)
Comments (4)




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02

The Hero And The Crown

(Robin McKinley)
Comments (5)




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03

Stardust

(Neil Gaiman)
Comments (0)
Award Nominations:1999 LocusF




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The Axe and the Throne (M. D. Ireman)

With a Martin-esque plot and Jim Butcher pace, The Axe and the Throne is a definite "must read" for even the pickiest fantasy fans.

In his stunning debut, Ireman has built the type of world so vivid and engrossing that leaving it at the end is agony. In spite of leaning toward grimdark, where authors often enshroud every scene in depressing darkness, there is no lack of cheerful moments or brilliant scenery. Yet the pangs of near-instant nostalgia that come after you put down a book like this have less to do with the inspired setting, and far more to do with those who inhabit it. 

From savage, unremorseful heroes, to deep, introspective villains, the cast of this story is comprised of believable characters capable of unthinkable actions. And it is these characters -- the ones you wish you could share a drink with or end up wanting to kill -- that forge the connection between fantasy and reality. Keethro, Titon, Ethel, Annora. These are names you will never forget, and each belongs to a man or woman as unique as they are memorable. 


No book would be complete without a its fair share of intrigue, however, and there is no lack of it here. Each chapter leaves you wanting more, and Ireman's masterful use of misdirection leads to an abundance of "oh shit" moments. Do not be fooled (or do -- perhaps that's part of the fun) by storylines that may appear trope-ish at first. This is no fairytale. 

Available on Amazon & Audible, Barns & Noble, iTunes, Google, and Kobo.

04

The Ruins Of Ambrai

(Melanie Rawn)
(Exiles, Vol. 1)
Comments (1)




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05

The Golden Key

(George Macdonald)
(A Sunburst Book)
Comments (0)
Award Nominations:1997 WFA




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06

Lord Of Light

(Roger Zelazny)
Comments (0)
Awards Won:1968 HUGO
Award Nominations:1967 NEBULA




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07

Low Town

(Daniel Polansky)
(Low Town, Book 1)
Comments (1)




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08

Song For The Basilisk

(Patricia A. McKillip)
Comments (0)




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09

The Sun Sword

(Michelle West)
Comments (1)




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10

The Curse Of The Mistwraith

(Janny Wurts)

(Wars of Light )
Comments (0)




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11

Swan Song

(Robert McCammon)
Comments (0)
Award Nominations:1988 WFA




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12

Cirque Du Freak

(Darren Shan)
Comments (0)




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13

Sailing To Sarantium

(Guy Gavriel Kay)
Comments (0)
Award Nominations:1999 WFA




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Tower of the Arkein (Chase Blackwood)

Tower of the Arkein is epic fantasy at its best; Chase Blackwood weaves a beautiful tale in an intricate world on the verge of collapse. Read what many have called the next Patrick Rothfuss... one of the greatest coming-of-age tales in modern fantasy.

Delve into what has been described as a vast and diverse world, filled with thoughtful, vivid, and unique characters. A place with multiple story threads, and an underlying mystery that builds with each part, growing into a masterful tale that sticks with you long after you've put the book down.

Tower of the Arkein was voted best Fantasy of 2017 by Philly Adventure and Fantasy Book Club...and for good reason: the depth of experience, in which Chase paints a vivid picture of the human experience through beautiful prose, is extremely rare in modern fiction. It's a story that hints at something greater than itself. Chase Blackwood's Kan Savasci Cycle is a rarity, and stands out among the ever-growing crowd.

Get Tower of the Arkein on Amazon in Kindle format or paperback now.

14

The Macht

(Paul Kearney)
(Macht Trilogy)
Comments (0)




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15

The Stress Of Her Regard

(Tim Powers)
Comments (0)
Award Nominations:1990 LocusF, 1990 WFA




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16

Shadow Ops Control Point

(Myke Cole)
Comments (0)




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17

The Picture Of Dorian Gray

(Oscar Wilde)

(Dover Thrift Editions)
Comments (0)




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18

The Graveyard Book

(Neil Gaiman)
Comments (2)
Awards Won:2009 HUGO, 2009 LocusYA
Award Nominations:2009 BFS, 2009 WFA




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19

Wheel Of The Infinite

(Martha Wells)
Comments (0)




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