Fantasy Recommendations - In Progress

These are the books I think are best to begin each subgenre, or just for getting started with fantasy in general.

General Adult Fantasy

My picks for the best books/series to get started in fantasy

  • Mistborn

    Great intro to adult fantasy, got me hooked into the rest of the Cosmere

Progression Fantasy

Fantasy where the main character gets progressively more powerful over time

  • Cradle

    The first few books are a little slow the but the series overall is fantastic, and each book is short so they are quick to read

  • Mother of Learning

    A time loop set at a magical academy. A super fun, easy read

Heist

Fantasy focused on a group of criminals trying to pull of a crime

  • The Lies of Locke Lamora

    One of my favorite books ever, with a super unique setting. Warning: Some people do not like the language

  • Kingdom of Grit

    A combination of Mistborn, Locke Lamora, and Earthsea in the best way

Grimdark

Darker, less moral characters where the good guys don't always win

Flintlock Fantasy

Fantasy set in a world with both guns and magic

LitRPG Fantasy

Falls under Progression Fantasy, but where there are explicit stats and levels for the characters

  • The Wandering Inn

    A portal fantasy that starts off as a LitRPG but expands into a massive, epic fantasy set across an entire world

  • The Ripple System

    The best example I have found of a story told within a video game

  • Ready Player One

    Part of the foundation of the genre, one of my favorite books growing up

Space Opera

generally Science Fiction, it is books covering multiple planets, with characters travelling between them

  • The Sun Eater

    Story of Hadrian Marlowe. It is awesome.

  • Red Rising

    I have several friends who got back into reading through this series

Academia

A fantasy story where the primary setting is a school the protagonist is working through

Young Adult

Fantasy written primarily for teenagers, but can be enjoyed by adults

  • The Thief

    Follows Eugenides, a talented thief, as we explore a cool Mediterranean inspired world

  • Ranger's Apprentice

    Will becomes a master of the bow and fights to save his kingdom

  • Eragon

    classic farmboy to hero fantasy great for young adults

Kids

Fantasy written primarily for kids

Will continue to be updated