10 Most Universally Beloved Fantasy Books Of All Time, Ranked

Fantasy fans have strong opinions about the genre. With various styles and decades of evolution, it's hard to reach consensus on the best books fantasy has to offer. That being said, certain novels come close to being universally beloved, or at least respected and appreciated, by readers. Popularity doesn't necessitate universal acclaim. Some of the best-selling series of all time have their fair share of vocal critics. Sales can be part of the equation, sure, but they don't tell the whole story. The most beloved books leave their stamp on the genre in other ways. The following are but a few of the most treasured fantasy novels ever written. Brandon Sanderson Redefines Fantasy Magical Systems With The Way of Kings The cover art for Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings. Image via Michael Whelan Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere sets a new standard for magic in fantasy. Published in 2010, The Way of Kings builds on what Sanderson established in his Mistborn series and expands it. Readers discover the powers Stormlight unlocks alongside the novel's characters. The Way of Kings is the first entry in Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series. Since its release, every subsequent novel in the series has debuted at number one on The New York Times bestsellers list. The Way of Kings is considered a defining modern fantasy book and a common entry point for fans looking to dive into Sanderson's work. The Name of the Wind Was Over a Decade in the Making Before Being Published The Kingkiller Chronicle The Name of the Wind book cover art. Image via Patrick Rothfuss Often referred to as The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One , Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind is one of the most original entries in the fantasy genre in recent years, both in its characters and its prose. The book follows Kvothe, a once near-mythic figure, as he recounts his youth after his best years are behind him. Rothfuss spent well over a decade working on the story before DAW Books published it in 2007. He first started the project in college and spent seven years drafting the original manuscript before enduring years of heavy editing and agent rejections. After its eventual publication, The Name of the Wind won the 2007 Quill Award and launched Rothfuss into bestseller status. The Kingkiller Chronicle series has been praised by George R.R. Martin and Ursula K. Le Guin for its original characters and Rothfuss' writing style. Assassin's Apprentice is Robin Hobb At Her Best The covert art for Robin Hobb's The Assassin's Apprentice. Image via Michael Whelan Widely regarded as one of the finest writers in modern fantasy, Robin Hobb introduced her best-known character with 1995's Assassin's Apprentice. The book kicked off the best-selling Farseer Trilogy , which is part of a much larger series, The Realm of the Elderlings . The novel also marks the first use of her pen name, Robin Hobb, after nearly a decade of writing under the name Megan Lindholm. Assassin's Apprentice is the first appearance of FitzChivalry Farseer, an eventual assassin and illegitimate son of Prince Chivalry. The story is told from the perspective of FitzChivalry as an older man looking back on his life. The book has sold millions of copies, largely due to Hobb's refusal to adhere to standard fantasy tropes. FitzChivalry is a victim of his circumstances and not the typical chosen one. The Lies of Locke Lamora Introduces the Ultimate Con Artist The Lies of Locke Lamora cover art. Image via Amazon The heist setup isn't uncommon in the fantasy genre, but when it's done well, it can lead to some of the most entertaining stories. Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora centers around a group of top-notch con artists known as the Gentleman Bastards. The group is led by Locke Lamora, whose greatest weapon is his ability to lie himself out of any situation. Lynch leans into the heist premise more than most. Deception and planning are more important than skills with a sword. It's a refreshing change of pace in a genre overflowing with powerful warriors. The Lies of Locke Lamora and the larger Gentleman Bastard series are praised for the unmatched chemistry between the group and Lynch's witty banter. A Wizard of Earthsea Paved the Way For Harry Potter A Wizard of Earthsea cover art. Image via Tom Kidd Though usually credited as such, Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea wasn't the very first literary work to feature a magical school; however, it was the first to become an influential classic. Published in 1968, the book focuses on the young wizard Ged as he travels to the school on Roke Island, where people study magic. While this is commonplace now, this was decades before this trope became a fantasy fixture. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea uses magic to impose limits on its characters just as much as it does to empower them. In many ways, magical abilities can become a burden. The success of the book ultimately led to Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle . At just under 200 pages, Le Guin managed to create one of the most influential fantasy books of the modern age. A Game of Thrones Changed the Landscape of Modern Fantasy A promo image of the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones. Image via HBO Beginning with A Game of Thrones in 1996, George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is responsible for a fundamental shift in fantasy, not just on the page, but on the television screen. Fans will know that Martin's work reads more like a historical drama than a typical high fantasy adventure. Told through character POV chapters, readers get inside the heads of each respective character. The POV style of Game of Thrones does more than give the reader more insight into a character. It allows Martin to paint events with certain biases through the eyes of a singular person. The reader's understanding of Westeros can change depending on who is experiencing the story. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a Foundational Piece of Children's Fantasy The cover of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Image via Amazon It's safe to assume that many readers were introduced to C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe early on in grade school and were fascinated by it. First published in 1950, the novel is the entry point to Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia . Lewis used an ordinary wardrobe to capture the imaginations of children across the world and create a global literary phenomenon. Lewis didn't have a series in mind when writing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , but its immense success changed that. The novel has seen various adaptations on stage, television, and film. It's hard to imagine a single children's novel leading to one of the most influential fantasy series of all time, but that is the legacy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Shifted the Most Popular Book Series of the Modern Age A Wanted poster of Sirius Black holding his prison number in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Image via Warner Bros. For readers, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the undeniable turning point in the series. Released in 1999, the book trades the childlike wonder and initial dive into the magical world for a darker look into Harry's past. It introduces characters such as Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, who have direct connections to Harry's parents, providing insight for readers and Harry himself. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban earned a nomination for the Hugo Award for Best Novel. It's effectively a bridge in the series, tying the early books to the more mature later entries. It's a special case of a book series evolving in tone and aging along with its intended audience. The Hobbit Is the Ultimate Comfort Fantasy Adventure The cover of The Hobbit. Image via Amazon J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has been the most common entry point for fantasy fans for decades, and for good reason. Published in 1937, Tolkien originally developed the story for his children before it eventually found its way to publisher George Allen & Unwin. Its immediate success led to the publisher wanting more stories, ultimately leading to The Lord of the Rings . The Hobbit resonates because Bilbo Baggins himself is a relatable character. Through his various adventures, he never loses sight of his home. Upon its release, the story drew comparisons to classics like Alice in Wonderland . As a century approaches since its release, The Hobbit has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, placing it among the best-selling books of all time. The Lord of the Rings Stands Alone in the Fantasy Genre A split image shows the Lord of the Rings Book Covers, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, J. R. R. Tolkien. Image via The Toliken Estate It's hard to fathom that one could follow up a near-overnight classic such as The Hobbit with an even more celebrated work, but that's exactly what J. R. R. Tolkien did with The Lord of the Rings . After the success of The Hobbit , Tolkien began working on what would become his magnum opus and forever change the fantasy landscape. Its subsequent influence cannot be overstated. Though it's considered a trilogy, Tolkien wrote the work as a whole. The publisher split the massive book into three separate parts due to printing costs. The scale and depth of The Lord of the Rings have yet to be matched in fantasy fiction; it's even spawned arguably the greatest film trilogy of all time.