Reading is something I try to do every day, even if that’s only a couple of pages on particularly busy days. One genre I always find myself drifting back to is fantasy, which is one I have loved ever since I was a child. Now all these years later, this is the genre that makes up the bulk of my book collection.
There are likely hundreds of books and series that have been released in the past 10 years, but some of these have certainly stood out over others. Whether they’re dramatic epic fantasies with dragons or fun-filled faerie romances, there are so many amazing books in this genre.
Looking at my bookshelves, there are certainly some fantasy books from the last decade that have very quickly become some of my firm favourites.
Here are my favourite fantasy books (and series) of the last 10 years…
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
Starting with The Bear and the Nightingale, which was published in 2017 and culminating two years later with The Winter of the Witch, this historical fantasy series mixes history with folklore, taking inspiration from traditional Russian folktales and fairytales.
I first read this series back in 2018, just a couple of months before the final book was released, and it quickly found its way onto my favourites list. This series is perfect for fans of all kinds of fantasy subgenres, with mythical creatures, historical battles, and, of course, romance, seen throughout its pages.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Published in 2015, An Ember in the Ashes kicked off the YA fantasy series of the same, and while it’s classified as YA it’s one that will appeal to readers of any age. A mixture of Ancient Roman society and Arabic folklore, this unique read kept me gripped from the first page of the first book to the last page of the final book, A Sky Beyond the Storm.
This series tells the story Laia, a slave girl from the oppressed scholars, while Elias is a soldier in the martial forces, and when their paths cross the history of their world is changed forever.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Don’t let the size of this book intimidate you, it’s one that you certainly won’t regret reading (even if might take you a while if you have a particularly busy life). The Priory of the Orange Tree has everything you’d want from an epic fantasy, from magical powers, dragons, and some romantic sub-plots.
Described as a “feminist successor” to Lord of the Rings, this book is truly one of the best I’ve ever read, not just within the fantasy genre and one I recommend to everyone in my life.
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
This Godfather-esque fantasy is one of the most unique book series I’ve ever read. Starting with Jade City, this series is set in a world in which Jade enhances a warrior’s natural strength and speed, with two families controlling the trade and mining of this substance. With twists and turns you’ll never see coming, this mafia-like fantasy will have you gripped from the very first page.
The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty
Another historical fantasy, which incorporates folklore, this time Arabic. Starting off in 18th-century Cairo, the first book, City of Brass, sees our protagonist Nahri discover the magical world of the Djinn when she accidentally summons an ancient warrior, who escorts her to the Djinn city of Daevabad where she discovers that she may not be quite as human as she thought.
I came to this trilogy, which was published in 2019, relatively late, reading them over a few weeks last spring. The story is full of twists and turns that you certainly won’t see coming. And for those looking for some romance in their fantasy, this series had me switching which character I was rooting for in the love triangle every couple of pages.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of those books I consider something of a guilty pleasure. The books may be somewhat predictable, but there’s just something about them—perhaps it’s the romance or the world of Prythian itself—that just keeps me hooked (and waiting for the next book).
Anyone who loves a romance has likely already picked up ACOTAR, but it’s one series that has proved somewhat controversial, and like marmite, for other fantasy fans — and unlike marmite, I actually do love this series.
Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas
Another Sarah J. Maas series that was published just a few years ago was the Crescent City series, starting with House of Earth and Blood in 2023. While this series has proved somewhat less popular the A Court of Thorns and Roses, it’s one that I still really love.
This series will have you feeling all of the emotions, with one chapter having you in hysterics, while the next will leave you crying your eyes out. It’s certainly an unmissable series for anyone who’s a fan of fantasy — and unlike Maas’s other series it’s not set in a medieval-inspired world, instead merging fantasy elements with a modern-style society.
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