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Best Epic Fantasy Books

Recommendations from 17 articles, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Paul Krugman and 28 others.
Best Epic Fantasy Books
47 books on the list
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The Lord of the Rings book cover
The Lord of the Rings
50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition
J. R. R. Tolkien - 2005-10-12 (first published in 1955)
Goodreads Rating
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind themIn ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it t...
The Name of the Wind book cover
The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss - 2007-04-01
Goodreads Rating
This is the riveting first-person narrative of Kvothe, a young man who grows to be one of the most notorious magicians his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name o...
Recommended by
Anna AkanaChris Albon
The Eye of the World book cover
The Eye of the World
Robert Jordan - 1990-11-15
Goodreads Rating
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. But one truth remains, and what mortal men forget, the Aes Sedai do not ...What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow....
A Game of Thrones book cover
A Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin - 2005-08-01 (first published in 1996)
Goodreads Rating
Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a worl...
Recommended by
Elon Musk
Assassin's Apprentice book cover
Assassin's Apprentice
Robin Hobb - 1996-03-01 (first published in 1995)
Goodreads Rating
In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him s...
Recommended by
Tom Critchlow
The Way of Kings book cover
The Way of Kings
Book One of the Stormlight Archive
Brandon Sanderson - 2010-08-31
Goodreads Rating
According to mythology mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms. And the Voidbringers followed...They came against man ten thousand times. To help them cope, the Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and m...
Recommended by
Sahil Lavingia
Mistborn book cover
Mistborn
The Final Empire (Mistborn (1))
Brandon Sanderson - 2006-07-17
Goodreads Rating
Where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. Criminal mastermind Kelsier teaches Allomancy, the magic of metals, to another Mistborn, urchin Vin 16. The unlikely heroine is distracted by rich Venture heir Elend. Can Kelsier's thieving crew take on the tyrant Lord Ruler and bring back colour ...
A Wizard of Earthsea book cover
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula K. le Guin - 2004-09-28 (first published in 1968)
Goodreads Rating
Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to resto...
Recommended by
DanClara Jeffery
The Fellowship of the Ring book cover
The Fellowship of the Ring
Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings (1)
J. R. R. Tolkien - 2022-06-01 (first published in 1954)
Goodreads Rating
The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure THE LORD OF THE RINGS One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind themIn ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule ...
The Blade Itself book cover
The Blade Itself
Joe Abercrombie - 2007-03-08 (first published in 2006)
Goodreads Rating
The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie.Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian -- leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. Nobleman, dash...
Recommended by
Joel McHale
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
The Deed Of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Magician by Raymond E. Feist
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham
Acacia by David Anthony Durham
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
The Great Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Legend by David Gemmell
Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist
The Inheritance Trilogy by N. K. Jemisin
Abhorsen by Garth Nix
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon
Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
The Red Knight by Miles Cameron
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
The Iron King by Maurice Druon
Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Lyonesse by Jack Vance
King's Dragon by Kate Elliott