List of famous high fantasy books, listed alphabetically with jacket cover images of the books when available. Information for these popular high fantasy books is included as well, such as the author's name and the book's publication date. This list includes the best high fantasy novels, textbooks, and stories, so use it to find books you haven't already read and add them to your reading list.
A list made up of books like The Lord of the Rings and The Diary of a Young Girl.
This list should answer the questions, "What are the best high fantasy books?" and "What are the most famous high fantasy books?"
Note that some books on this list might be currently out of print, but you can purchase most of these notable high fantasy titles on Amazon with just one click.
1
Academ's FuryJim Butcher Academ's Fury is a 2005 high fantasy novel by Jim Butcher. It is book two of the Codex Alera novel series.
2
Bleak SeasonsGlen Cook Bleak Seasons is the sixth novel in Glen Cook's ongoing series, The Black Company. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black ...more
3
Blood of the FoldTerry Goodkind Blood of the Fold is the third book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.
4
Bones of the DragonMargaret Weis, Tracy Hickman Bones of the Dragon is the first book in the new series Dragonships written by the fantasy duo of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It was released in hardcover on January 6, 2009.
5
BrisingrChristopher Paolini Brisingr is a book written by Christopher Paolini.
6
Brotherhood of the WolfDave Wolverton Brotherhood of the Wolf is the second novel in David Farland's epic fantasy series The Runelords.
7
Captain's FuryJim Butcher Captain's Fury is a 2007 high fantasy novel by Jim Butcher. It is book four of the Codex Alera. It takes place approximately two years after the events in book three, Cursor's Fury.
8
ChainfireTerry Goodkind Chainfire is the ninth book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth, and the first in a trilogy. It was nominated for the Prometheus Award.
9
ChaosboundDave Wolverton Chaosbound is the eighth installment in the Runelords series written by David Farland and was published October 13, 2009.
10
ConfessorTerry Goodkind Confessor is the eleventh novel in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth, and the last in the Chainfire trilogy bringing an end to the current story arc involving the Imperial ...more
11
Curse of the MistwraithJanny Wurts Curse of the Mistwraith is volume one of the Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts.
12
Cursor's FuryJim Butcher Cursor's Fury is a 2006 high fantasy novel by Jim Butcher. It is book three of the Codex Alera novel series. It takes place approximately two years after the events in book two, Academ's Fury.
13
Dark Lord of DerkholmDiana Wynne Jones The Dark Lord of Derkholm, simply Dark Lord of Derkholm in the United States, is a fantasy novel by the British author Diana Wynne Jones, published autumn 1998 in both the U.K. and the U.S. It ...more
14
Dark Wraith of ShannaraTerry Brooks The Dark Wraith of Shannara is a graphic novel produced by Terry Brooks in his Shannara series. The story is set several years after the events of The Wishsong of Shannara and Indomitable.
15
Darkwalker on MoonshaeDouglas Niles Darkwalker on Moonshae is a fantasy novel by Douglas Niles and the first novel written for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. ...more
16
Debt of BonesTerry Goodkind Debt of Bones is a short novel by Terry Goodkind. It was first published in the October 1998 anthology Legends then later published as a stand alone book in hardcover in 2001 and in paperback in
Dragon RiderCornelia Funke Dragon Rider is a 1997 German children's novel by Cornelia Funke. Originally translated by Oliver Latsch, Dragon Rider was published in 2004 by The Chicken House in the UK and Scholastic Inc. in ...more
19
Dreams of SteelGlen Cook Dreams of Steel is the fifth novel in Glen Cook's ongoing series, The Black Company. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, The ...more
20
Drowned AmmetDiana Wynne Jones Drowned Ammet is a fantasy novel for young adults by British author Diana Wynne Jones. It is the second book in the series Dalemark Quartet.
21
EldestChristopher Paolini Eldest is the second novel in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini and the sequel to Eragon. Eldest was first published in hardcover on August 23, 2005, and was released in paperback in ...more
22
EragonChristopher Paolini Eragon is the first novel in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, who began writing at the age of 15. After writing the first draft for a year, he spent a second year rewriting it and ...more
23
Faith of the FallenTerry Goodkind Faith of the Fallen is the sixth book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.
24
First King of ShannaraTerry Brooks The First King of Shannara is a 1996 epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks.
25
First Lord's FuryJim Butcher First Lord's Fury is a 2009 high fantasy novel by Jim Butcher. It is the sixth and final book of the Codex Alera novel series. For years he has endured the endless trials and triumphs of a man ...more
26
First Rider's CallKristen Britain First Rider's Call is the second novel written by Kristen Britain and is the second book in its series.
27
Fugitive PrinceJanny Wurts Fugitive Prince is volume four of the Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts. It is also volume one of the Alliance of Light, the third story arc in the Wars of Light and Shadow.
28
Furies of CalderonJim Butcher Furies of Calderon is a 2004 high fantasy novel by Jim Butcher. It is book one of the Codex Alera novel series.
29
Grand ConspiracyJanny Wurts Grand Conspiracy is volume five of the Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts. It is also volume two of the Alliance of Light, the third story arc in the Wars of Light and Shadow.
30
Green RiderKristen Britain Green Rider is the first novel written by Kristen Britain and is the first book in its series. It was nominated for the Crawford Award in 1999.
31
Hawk of MayGillian Bradshaw Hawk of May is the first installment in Gillian Bradshaw’s Down The Long Wind trilogy. Published initially in 1980 by Simon and Schuster, Hawk of May centers on Gwalchmai ap Lot and his ...more
32
In Winter's ShadowGillian Bradshaw In Winter's Shadow is the final book in a trilogy of fantasy novels written by Gillian Bradshaw. It tells the story of King Arthur's downfall, as recounted by his wife Gwynhwyfar.
33
Initiate's TrialJanny Wurts Initiate's Trial is volume nine of the Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts. It is the first volume of the fourth story arc, Sword of the Canon in the Wars of Light and Shadow epic series. ...more
34
J. R. R. Tolkien's influencesJ. R. R. Tolkien While highly creative, the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien was influenced by a number of sources. Tolkien was inspired by his academic fields of philology and early Germanic literature, especially ...more
35
Kingdom of SummerGillian Bradshaw Kingdom of Summer is the second book in a trilogy of fantasy novels written by Gillian Bradshaw. The novel tells of the ascendancy of King Arthur and the planting of the seeds of his downfall. ...more
36
Malazan Book of the FallenSteven Erikson The Malazan Book of the Fallen is an epic fantasy series written by Canadian author Steven Erikson, published in ten volumes beginning with the novel Gardens of the Moon, published in 1999. The ...more
37
The Master of WhitestormJanny Wurts Master of Whitestorm is a science fiction/fantasy book by Janny Wurts, published in 1992.
38
Naked EmpireTerry Goodkind Naked Empire is the eighth book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.
39
Peril's GateJanny Wurts Peril's Gate is volume six of the Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts. It is also volume three of the Alliance of Light, the third story arc in the Wars of Light and Shadow.
40
PhantomTerry Goodkind Phantom is the tenth book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth. Phantom debuted in the #1 spot on The New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, among others.
41
Princeps' FuryJim Butcher Princeps' Fury is a 2008 high fantasy novel by Jim Butcher. It is book five of the Codex Alera novel series. Tavi of Calderon, now recognized as Princeps Gaius Octavian and heir to the crown, ...more
42
Queen of DemonsDavid Drake Queen of Demons is a fantasy novel in the series, Lord of the Isles by author David Drake.
43
Servant of the DragonDavid Drake Servant of the Dragon is a fantasy novel in the series, Lord of the Isles by author David Drake.
44
Shadow GamesGlen Cook Shadow Games is the fourth novel in Glen Cook's ongoing series, The Black Company. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black ...more
45
Shadows LingerGlen Cook Shadows Linger is the second novel in Glen Cook's ongoing series, The Black Company. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, The ...more
46
She Is the DarknessGlen Cook She Is The Darkness is the seventh novel in Glen Cook's ongoing series, The Black Company. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, ...more
47
Ships of MeriorJanny Wurts Ships of Merior is volume two of The Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts. Arc II of The Wars of Light and Shadow was released in several different formats. The US hard cover edition of The ...more
48
Soldiers LiveGlen Cook Soldiers Live is the ninth novel in Glen Cook's ongoing series, The Black Company. The series combines elements of epic fantasy and dark fantasy as it follows an elite mercenary unit, The Black ...more
49
Sons of the OakDave Wolverton Sons of the Oak is the fifth installment in David Farland's fantasy series The Runelords. It chronicles the life of the Earth King Gaborn Val Orden's son Fallion as he matures and begins to ...more
50
Soul of the CityLynn Abbey, C. J. Cherryh, Janet Morris Soul of the City, written by Lynn Abbey, C.J.Cherryh, and Janet Morris, is Book 8 in the Thieves World shared fictional universe and the Sacred Band of Stepsons fictional universe. In this ...more
