The 100 Best Fantasy Books

The best fantasy books take you on the adventure of a lifetime, through fantastic worlds full of magical creatures and endless possibilities.

I’ve been reading fantasy books since… well since I could read! So I had lots of fun coming up with my Top 100 Fantasy Books. We’ll get to them in a minute. But first let me explain something about the list to help clarify things.

You see, many fantasy books are part of a series. And some series’, such as the Harry Potter series and The Chronicles of Narnia, include a few exceptionally good books. You can enjoy these fantasy books on their own without necessarily reading the entire series. I’ve listed such books separately.

The books from other series’, however, such as The Lord of the Rings and His Dark Materials, are more dependent on one another. You really need to read them all in the right order to fully enjoy them. I’ve listed these series’ as one entry. I hope that helps.

So without further delay, here are the 100 best fantasy books of all time, listed by title, author and year of publication, each with its very own (very short!) plot description:

Top 100 Fantasy Books

Here are the 100 best fantasy books of all time:

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

100. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (1990)
After losing his son in a battle against Tigana, a king places a curse on the land. All those born within it will be unable to remember its name.

Storm Front

99. Storm Front by Jim Butcher (2000)
Harry Dresden is the only openly practicing wizard in his country. He uses his talents to help the police fight crime. This is the first book in the Dresden Files series

Guy Gavriel Kay trilogy

98. The Fionavar Tapestry  trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay (1984-1986)
Five students are drawn into a magical world where they discover they each have a vital role to play in an epic conflict.

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

97. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl (1966)
A family that hunt ducks for fun have a change of heart after an eight-year-old girl forces them to switch places with their prey.

Over Sea Under Stone

96. Over Sea, Under Stone by  Susan Cooper (1965)
Three children try to decipher a mysterious map that leads them in search of a mythical treasure. This is the first of five books in The Dark is Rising series.

Coming up! The 95 best fantasy books:

Left Behind

95. Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B Jenkins (1995)
Biblical predictions come into play as all non-believers are left waiting for the apocalypse to wipe out Earth. This is the first of 16 book in the Left Behind series

The Wee Free Men

94. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (2003)
The Queen of the Elves is trying to invade the Discworld by stealing children and infesting dreams. When she steals the baby brother of a young witch, the witch goes to the elves’ world to steal him back. This is the second Story of the Discworld series, which is a series aimed at younger readers.

The Magic Faraway Tree

93. The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton (1939-1951)
This four-book series revolves around the adventures of four children who discover a host of magical lands on the top of the Faraway Tree. This is strictly speaking a children’s book, but it earned a place on this list of the best fantasy books by being my favorite childhood read.

On a Pale Horse

92. On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony (1983)
Death visits a man on the brink of suicide – and the man ends up killing Death instead of himself. Fate forces him to take up Death’s role and ride a mode of transport called Pale Horse weighing up people’s souls. This is the first of eight book in the Incarnations of Immortality series.

Dealing with Dragons

91. Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C Wrede (1992)
A young princess leaves her mundane life behind to marry a dragon. This is the first book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles series.

The 90 best fantasy books are as follows...

The Malloreon series

90. The Malloreon series by David Eddings (1988-1992)
This five-book series is a sequel to the Belgariad series, which comes in at Number 17 below. It documents the hero’s fulfillment of yet another prophecy.

The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

89. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003)
An unconventional love story involving a man who has a disorder that causes him to unintentionally time travel.

Sara Douglass trilogy

88. The Axis Trilogy by Sara Douglass (1995-1996)
Horned and winged creatures fight alongside humans to save their world from a dark ruler.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

87. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (2001)
It’s Britain in the 1980s. Well, almost. In this alternate version of Britain, people can time travel and literary homicide is a crime. A detective enters a Bronte novel to stop a villain killing off the heroine Jane Eyre.

Lloyd Alexander series

86. The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander (1968-1973)
A young pig keeper dreams of being a hero in this coming-of-age five-book series.

It's time for the 85 best fantasy books:

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

85. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (1983)
Alana has to disguise herself as a boy to begin training as a knight and become the hero she’s always hoped she would be. This is the first of four books in The Song of the Lioness series.

Roger Zelazny

84. The Chronicles of Amber series by Roger Zelazny (1970 - 1991)
Amber is the only true world. All other worlds, including Earth, are mere shadows. And the Royals of Amber have the power to alter reality. This series includes ten novels, short stories and several other works.

The Death Gate Cycle series

83. The Death Gate Cycle series by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman (1990-1994)
A seven-part series about the struggle between two powerful races, which branched off from the human race following a nuclear holocaust.

Elfsorrow by James Barclay

82. Elfsorrow by James Barclay (2003)
A statue breaks, unleashing a disease lethal to elves. The only way to stop the disease is to put the statue back together. This is the first book in the Chronicles of the Raven series by James Barclay

Dragonflight

81. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey (1968)
A young girl must embrace her destiny as a dragonrider to help save her planet from invasion. This is the first book in the Dragonriders of Pern series.

Here come the 80 best fantasy books:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

80. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1967)
A series of plotlines that explores the concept of time and revolves around the theme that it’s important for people to remember their history.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

79. Sabriel by Garth Nix (1995)
When Sabriel’s father disappears, she is forced to return to the magical land of the Old Kingdom and take his place as the killer of the undead. This is the first book in the Old Kingdom trilogy.

The Once and Future King by TH White

78. The Once & Future King by TH White (1958)
Go back in time and explore the life of King Arthur, including his childhood on the isle of Gramarye, his elevation to the throne and the romance between his best knight, Sir Lancelot, and his queen, Guinevere.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

77. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (2006)
Mercedes Thompson is a mechanic. She is also a shapeshifter who turns into a coyote. Her friends include werewolves, a vampire and other supernatural beings. This is the first book in the Mercedes Thompson series.

Tad Williams trilogy

76. Memory, Sorrow & Thorn trilogy by Tad Williams (1988-1993)
In this fantasy epic, a magician’s apprentice learns to be a hero following the death of his high king.

Now for the 75 best fantasy books of all time:

Nightchild by James Barclay

75. Nightchild by James Barclay (2001)
Lyanna is the only one who can unite the magic of the four colleges of Balaia. Some want her dead while others want to claim her powers as their own. The is the third book in the Chronicles of the Raven trilogy

Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb

74. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb (1995)
A stable boy with royal blood trains to become an assassin and is soon viewed as a threat to the throne. This is the first book in the Farseer Trilogy.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

73. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson (1994)
A struggle for domination ensues between various interests in the Malazan Empire, which has fallen under the rule of a ruthless empress. This is the first book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series.

Watership Down by Richard Adams

72. Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972)
A rabbit who can see into the future helps the fellow members of his warren to find a new home.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

71. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (1962)
When a carnival of freaks and oddities pull into town, it’s up to two boys to stop them damning the townspeople for all eternity.

The countdown continues with the 70 best fantasy books:

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

70. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (1982)
The women who played pivotal roles in the lives of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table give their own, female perspective on the Arthurian legends.

The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett

69. The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett (2001)
A boy piper, a talking cat and a band of intelligent rats travel from town to town scamming people for money. They fake a plague of rats and when the townspeople pay the piper to get rid of them, share the loot among themselves. This is the 28th book in the Discworld series and the first one aimed at a younger audience.

Redwall by Brian Jacques

68. Redwall by Brian Jacques (1986)
The Redwallers rise up to defend their abbey from attack by a rat and a young mouse embarks on a quest to recover the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior. This is the first book in the Redwall series, which has over 20 books and is still expanding.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

67. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988)
A shepherd boy has a life-changing dream and sets out to Egypt in search of treasure.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Alborn

66. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Alborn (2003)
An aging veteran dies while trying to save a girl’s life and discovers that heaven is a processing area designed to examine the meaning of life.

Here are the 65 best fantasy books:

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

65. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001)
A 12-year-old boy, who happens to be a criminal mastermind, kidnaps a fairy for a large ransom of gold. This is the first book in the Artemis Fowl series

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

64. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare (1600)
Follow the adventures of four young lovers from Athens and their interactions with the fairies of a magical moonlit forest in this superb Shakesperian drama.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

63. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman (1990)
The Earthly representatives of God and Satan have taken a liking to mankind – and to each other. So when they hear the end of the world is coming, they decide to work together to delay it for as long as they can.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle

62. The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle (1968)
A unicorn who believes she is the last of her kind sets out to discover what happened to the rest of her species and meets a host of colorful characters along the way.

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

61. His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik (2006)
A dragon called Temeraire prepares for battle against Napoleon’s aerial fleet. This is the first book in the Temeraire series, about intelligent thoughtful dragons who take part in aerial warfare.

It's time for the 60 best fantasy books:

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

60. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943)
A pilot crashes into the Sahara Desert where he meets a mysterious little prince. They journey into space together and visit a series of tiny planets, each of which has only one human inhabitant.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

59. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (1996)
Richard Mayhew is a young Londoner with a normal life until he meets a mysterious girl called Door. After inadvertently putting her life in danger, he journeys into the shadowy underworld of London Below to find her and put things right.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever trilogy by Stephen Donaldson

58. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever trilogy by Stephen Donaldson (1977-1979)
A diseased outcast finds himself in a magical world where he becomes a White Gold wielder and runs afoul of an evil lord.

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

57. A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett (2004)
A young witch becomes possessed by a dangerous creature who causes her to abuse her powers. This is the 30th book in the Discworld series.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

56. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (2002)
A teenage girl who’s been raped and murdered watches her family and friends from Heaven as she tries to come to terms with her own death.

The 55 best fantasy books:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

55. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001)
An Indian boy survives 227 days shipwrecked and stranded in the Pacific Ocean, where he explores issues of religion and spirituality.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

54. Matilda by Roald Dahl (1988)
A special little girl realizes she has psychokinetic powers and uses them to rid her school of its wicked headmistress.

The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

53. The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis (1942)
A devil called Screwtape tries to instruct his apprentice and nephew Wormwood on how to tempt a man to sin in a series of letters.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

52. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)
A scientist called Victor Frankenstein learns how to create life. He sets out to create a man but ends up creating a monster, with tragic circumstances for him and all those he loves.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

51. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (1997)
A retelling of Cinderella about a girl under a spell to be constantly obedient, something she must hide to protect her beloved prince.

We're halfway there! Get ready for the 50 best fantasy books of all time:

Animal Farm by George Orwell

50. Animal Farm by George Orwell (1999)
The animals on a farm overthrow its human owner only to discover far greater tyrants among their own ranks. This is a brutal story of corruption, cruelty and hypocrisy.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

49. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964)
Five children win golden tickets to visit a chocolate factory but only one of them can win the grand prize. This is the most famous book by Roald Dahl and the subject of two popular movies.

The 48 best fantasy books are...

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

48. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (1998)
A young man ventures into the magical land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star for the woman he loves.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

47. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (2002)
A psychic barmaid must solve the murder of a co-worker and find a missing vampire in this, the second book in The Southern Vampire Mysteries series.

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia by CS Lewis

46. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia by CS Lewis (1951)
The four Pevensie children return to Narnia to help Prince Caspian defeat a race of men determined to drive all non-human species from the land. This is the fourth book in The Chronicles of Narnia series.

More swordplay and adventure await you in the 45 best fantasy books:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

45. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (2003)
A young farmboy finds a blue egg, which hatches a few days later and produces a dragon called Saphira. The boy and the dragon set out on a dangerous journey that tests their courage, strengthens their bond and turns the young boy into the hero he was meant to be.

Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll

44. Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871)
Alice explores the world on the other side of the mirror where she discovers a book of looking-glass poetry, becomes a pawn in a chess game and captures a queen.

CLICK HERE to read Lewis Carroll quote s

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

43. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004)
The stubborn Mr Norrell and his colorful apprentice Jonathan Strange bring magic back to 19th century Britain.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

42. Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman (1984)
The Heroes of the Lance come together in this, the first of more than 190 books in the expansive Dragonlance series, which is based on a Dungeons & Dragons game session.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

41. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (1976)
The vampire Louis gives up his human form to escape the heartache of losing his wife and daughter and becomes a companion to the cold-hearted Lestat. This is the first book in The Vampire Chronicles series.

Here are the 40 best fantasy books:

Nation by Terry Pratchett

40. Nation by Terry Pratchett (2008)
Mau finds himself on a desert island, the last survivor of his nation. Then he meets a ghost girl and they make some remarkable discoveries together.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

39. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
The ancient gods of mythology battle against the modern gods of western technology.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

38. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (2003)
Meggie discovers her father can draw characters out of the pages of any book by reading from them aloud. But for everyone who comes out of the story world, someone else has to go in. This is the first book in the Inkworld series

The 37 best fantasy books are...

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

37. The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi (1883)
The story of the animated puppet Pinocchio who has to learn the grim realities of life before he earns his greatest wish, which is to become a real-life little boy.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

36. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (2006)
A teenager learns she is one of the Mistborn people, who can use ingested metal particles to enhance their abilities. She sets out on a journey of discovery – while trying to save the world at the same time.

Here come the 35 best fantasy books:

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin

35. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin (1968)
An apprentice wizard learns to embrace his powers as evil threatens to overcome his homeland. This is the first book in the Earthsea Cycle series.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

34. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)
Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean old miser until three ghosts appear to him on Christmas Eve and show him the error of his ways.

The 33 best fantasy books are...

The Horse and his Boy by CS Lewis

33. The Horse and his Boy by CS Lewis (1954)
A boy finds out his father isn’t really his father and flees to Narnia with his talking horse. There he discovers his true identity. This is the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia series

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

32. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks (1977)
Shea Ohmsford is the one man in the Four Lands who can wield The Sword of Shannara and use it to defeat the Warlock Lord. This is the first book in the Original Shannara Trilogy.

Dark Elf Trilogy by R A Salvatore

31. Dark Elf Trilogy by R A Salvatore (1990-1991)
Follow the adventures of the dark elf Drizzt in the Forgotten Realms universe as he struggles to reform his evil race. This is a prequel to Salvatore’s Icewind Dale Trilogy.

Ready for the 30 best fantasy books? Good, here they come:

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder

30. Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder (1991)
A series of dialogues between a young girl called Sophie and a mysterious man called Alberto Knox, who uses the most ingenious ways to teach her about the history of philosophy.

The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King

29. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King (1970-2004)
This series of seven books documents the journey of the Gunslinger as he makes his way towards the Dark Tower, a fabled building said to be the nexus of all universes.

The 28 best fantasy books are...

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

28. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling (1999)
Harry discovers that an escaped convict helped Lord Voldemort find and murder his parents – and now he’s coming to get him. This is the third book in the Harry Potter series.

CLICK HERE to read about the three main Harry Potter characters

Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb

27. Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb (1997)
In this, the third book in the Farseer Trilogy, the hero returns from the dead only to find himself changed forever.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

26. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (1973)
The brave and noble Wesley risks life and limb to avenge his father’s murder and rescue the woman he loves. This story is swashbuckling fun for all the family.

Enjoy more spectacular fun and fantasy in the 25 best fantasy books:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeliene L’Engle

25. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeliene L’Engle (1962)
A girl, her brother and best friend travel through time to find her father - and learn quite a bit about science, religion and other things along the way. This is a famous children’s book but is fun at any age.

Magician by Raymond E Feist

24. Magician by Raymond E Feist (1982)
Forget good and evil. This book deals with the eternal struggle between Order and Chaos and an apprentice magician called Pug who gets stuck in the middle of it. This is the first book in the Riftwar Saga series.

The 23 best fantasy books are...

The Witches by Roald Dahl

23. The Witches by Roald Dahl (1983)
A young boy faces terrible danger when he tries to bring down an organization of witches intent on ridding the world of children.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

22. Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)
A British solicitor recounts his encounter with the mysterious Count Dracula, who takes an unnatural interest in his beloved fiancé.

The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis

21. The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis (1955)
Two children find their way into parallel worlds and accidentally transport a wicked queen into the magical land of Narnia. This is the opening book in The Chronicles of Narnia series

The 25 best fantasy books continue...

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

20. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (1908)
Spoiled, rich Toad has a knack for getting his friends, Mole, Ratty and Badger, in trouble. But he can always rely on them to come to his aid.

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

19. Night Watch by Terry Pratchett (2002)
A policeman accidentally sends himself back in time where he has to change history to save the world from a devastating revolution. This is the 29th book in the Discworld series.

We're getting closer to the hot top spot! Here are the 18 best fantasy books...

Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind

18. Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind (1994)
A young woodsman’s investigation of his father’s murder leads him deeper into his world than he ever intended to go. This is the first book in The Sword of Truth series

The Belgariad series by David Eddings

17. The Belgariad series by David Eddings (1982-1984)
A five-book epic fantasy series about an orphaned farm boy and his relatives as they try to fulfill an ancient prophecy that will decide the fate of the universe.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

16. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (2001)
A psychic barmaid from a small town finds her life turned upside down when a handsome vampire takes an interest in her. This is the first book in The Southern Vampire Mysteries series.

The 15 best fantasy books are...

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

15. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900)
The heartwarming story of Dorothy Gale who, in a land somewhere over the rainbow, discovers that there’s no place like home.

CLICK HERE to read about the Wizard of Oz characters

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

14. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (1983)
An incompetent wizard is forced to guide a naïve tourist across the Disc and ends up leaving it behind. This is the first book in Terry Pratchett’s famous Discworld series.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling

13. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (2005)
In the fourth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry is forced to compete in a tournament that sees him battle a dragon, rescue his friends and navigate a labyrinth - only to find far greater danger awaiting him in the form of a resurrected dark lord.

The twelve best fantasy books are coming up:

Song of Ice and Fire series by George R R Martin

12. A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R R Martin (1996 - present)
An epic fantasy series that’s as yet incomplete, this is a must for Sword & Sorcery fans.

Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

11. Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (1990-present)
Another epic fantasy series, this one consisting of 12 books. Sadly Robert Jordan passed away while working on the final installment but another author, Brandon Sanderson, is finishing his work. The final novel in the series is due for release in late 2009.

We're almost there! Here are the ten best fantasy books:

Magic Kingdom for Sale – SOLD by Terry Brooks

10. Magic Kingdom for Sale – SOLD by Terry Brooks (1986)
A jaded lawyer has to give up his hopes for a quiet life when he ends up in the magic kingdom of Landover. This is the first book in the Magic Kingdom of Landover series

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

9. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979)
A boy is drawn into a book about the magical world of Fantastica and the book’s story soon becomes his own.

It's time for the eight best fantasy books...

Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

8. Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer (2005-2008)
It’s not easy dating a vampire! The romance between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen is at the heart of this fantastic four-book series.

CLICK HERE to read about the first Twilight novel
CLICK HERE to read about the final Twilight novel, Breaking Dawn

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien

7. The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien (1954-1955)
Follow the adventures of Frodo and friends as they struggle to destroy the One Ring and save Middle Earth from the evil Sauron.

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman

6. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (1997-2000)
Lyra Silvertongue journeys from the halls of Oxford to the snowy peaks of Arctic to worlds far beyond our own where she needs all her courage to overthrow a cruel dictatorship.

The five best fantasy books are...

Peter Pan and Wendy by JM Barre

5. Peter Pan and Wendy by JM Barre (1911)
The Darling children have a normal life until Peter Pan flies through their bedroom window and carries them off to Never Never Land, a magical place where children stay children forever.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (1950)
The four Pevensie children discover the entrance to another world in this, the second book (and not the first as some believe) in The Chronicles of Narnia series.

Here are the three best fantasy books:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

3. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)
Alice falls down a rabbit hole into a crazy wonderland where she shrinks herself, goes to a tea party and narrowly escapes execution.

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

2. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (1937)
Bilbo Baggins leaves his cosy home in The Shire to help a band of dwarves recover their treasure from the dragon Smaug.

CLICK HERE to read about The Hobbit characters

You've reached the end of the ten best fantasy books. The best fantasy book ever is (drumroll please!) …

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling (2007)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

Harry and his friends need all their wit and courage to solve the mystery that will help them save the world. This is the final installment in the Harry Potter series - and yes it did live up to expectations. In fact, it surpassed them in a big way.

CLICK HERE to read about the author of Harry Potter, JK Rowling

RETURN HOME from the 100 Best Fantasy Books to read more about the top 100 fantasy books and top 100 fantasy movies of all time