It’s the gift-giving time of year, and I love nothing more than giving books as gifts. As such, I’ve decided that I should take advantage of the season and give some recommendations of excellent books that you can share with your friends and families. To start the season off, I’m recommending some of my favorite fantasy novels.
1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
I loved this book. It’s the first in a trilogy, with the last novel coming out in February. See my review of it here. And see my review of its sequel, A Gathering of Shadows, here.
2. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
This was an unexpectedly lovely story about a golem (a clay figure who has been brought to life by magic) in a Jewish community and a middle-eastern jinni (or, genie) who meet each other in New York City in the late 1800s. These two form a unique relationship that gives life to a completely beautiful story.
3. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
This book is for the fairy-tale lover in your life. It is a retelling of the The Six Swans fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, and it is executed so well. This novel was one of my favorite books read of 2016.
4. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Shannon has created a super cool, underground world of clairvoyance set in a not-so-distant future London. This is just the first of 7 novels. The second novel, The Mime Order, is already out, and the third, The Song Rising, is set to come out in March 2017. I am obsessed with this series. See why I think you should read The Bone Season.
5. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
This is the first in a trilogy of all things fantasy: witches, vampires, daemons, magic, time-travel and more! It’s such a fun and engrossing story as you follow Diana, a smart and independent witch who tries to deny her powers, and Matthew, a temperamental vampire who falls in love with her. You get action, romance, suspense, and thrills all wrapped into one excellent series. Bonus? All three books are already out, so there’s no waiting!
What are some of your favorite fantasy novels that you recommend to your friends and family? Comment below so other people can browse your recommendations as well!
A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.
Renee
Although I tend to read mostly mystery/thriller, I’ve actually had Discovery of Witches sitting unread on my kindle for a couple years!Thanks for reminding me I need to read that trilogy:) Fantasy is one genre I want to try out in 2017 in an attempt to read outside of my comfort genre
Ali
And I’m the complete opposite! I read almost all fantasy/sci-fi and rarely read mystery/thriller. (: I enjoy them, but sometimes they’re just a tad to realistic and dark for me and make me all depressed, haha.
Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel
Thanks to you, I have added a few to my TBR
Ali
Hahaha, sorry about that! (;
Molly's Book Nook
Man…I haven’t read any of these. I really need to catch up though. I’ve been wanting to read ADSOM and The Bone Season for SO long. My favorite fantasies are LOTR, The Hobbit, anything by Leigh Bardugo, The Young Elites. And oh god, I’m sure theres more. Also, LOVING the photos! They’re so pretty.
Molly @ Molly’s Book Nook
Ali
Thanks girl! Haha, there are so many books out in the world and not enough freaking time!! That would be my Christmas wish: a time-stopper that allows us to stop time when we read books. Imagine how amazing that’d be?!
matxi_books
I am taking note of 4. And 5!!
The bone season is gonna be 7 books???!!! I thought it was gonna end with the song rising!! Damn!! I’ll have to wait then!
Ali
Hahaha, yes you have quite a long wait! And since it took 2 years to get to The Song Rising, we probably have 8-10 more years before it’s done, ahhhhhh!!!
matxi_books
That’s crazy!!!!! But now thinking about it… It’s actually been 25 years since outlander was published and it still hasn’t finished…
Ali
Omg 25 years!!! 😂😱
Esther
OHMYGOODNESS. I am so ashamed right now that I have only read ONE OF THESE FABULOUS BOOKS. I need all of them, stat. I love this post, and thank you for appeasing to my smol marshmallow heart 😀
Ali
Hahaha that’s okay, because I bet you could bust out your own list of fantasy recs that I’ve never read, so we won’t judge too harshly 😀
Esther
Um thank you you are most GRACIOUS! 😀
Jordon @ Simply Adrift
I love Juliet Marillier’s books! I also recommend Heart’s Blood, Wildwood Dancing and Cybele’s Secret for Fantasy lovers. Heart’s Blood is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, Wildwood Dancing is a cross between a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and The frog prince, and Cybele’s Secret is the sequel to Wildwood Dancing and is a fantasy story based on a different sister from Wildwood Dancing.
Juliet Mariller writes so well.
Jordon @ Simply Adrift
Jordon @ Simply Adrift
Heart’s Blood is actually a Beauty and the Beast retelling! Whoops, wrong fairytale lol.
Ali
Yay!! What awesome recommendations! I LOVE fairy tale retellings, so I bet I’d love Heart’s Blood and Wildwood Dancing. Thank you!! (:
Bec (@booktineus)
OH MY GOD JULIET MARILLIER!!! It makes me so happy to see her on this list. She’s such an amazing historical fantasy writer. I love everyone of her books I’ve read so much. Daughter of the Forest and Heart’s Blood (her brilliant Beauty and the Beast retelling) are my favourites.
All the others on this list I haven’t gotten around to reading yet. The Bone Season and ADSOM are on my tbr so I really have no excuse for those.
Ali
I just read Daughters of the Forest this year and loved it! I feel like other people would love it, too! Someone else recommended Heart’s Blood to me! I feel like I have to read that now. I’ll go add it to my TBR!