10 Best Fantasy Novels Ranked by an Avid Reader

Since being published in 1865, Lewis Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most celebrated fantasy novels of all time. It is the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantastical world of anthropomorphic animals. 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’s imaginative, nonsensical style helped end an era of didacticism in Victorian children’s literature. The story contributed to making children’s literature more accessible and entertaining. 

The novel has been translated into many adaptations including the well-known 1951 Disney film Alice in Wonderland. The novel’s legacy is insurmountable, making it one of the best fantasy novels ever. 

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Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is a time-travel, romance, fantastical war story. Outlander is the first book in a planned 10-book series first published in 1991 that has taken the fantasy publishing world by storm. 

Outlander follows WWII British nurse Claire Randall, who transports herself to the 18th-century Scottish highlands one day by mistake. This story resonates with so many readers which explains why it was translated into a 5 season (and counting) hit television series, making Outlander one of the best fantasy novels of all time. 

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers is one of the most classic children’s fantasy stories of all time. Following mysterious magical nanny, Mary Poppins, and her whimsical tales with the Banks children, this wondrous and heartfelt story has reached readers across the globe. 

These adventures have inspired movies and musicals for generations to come, including the 1964 film which brought viewers many beloved songs. The film starred Julie Andrews, a role in which she won Best Actress at the Academy Awards. 

The Phantom Tollbooth is a classic children’s fantasy book by Norton Juster. The story follows Milo, a perpetually bored young boy, who drives his toy car through a tollbooth that appears in his room, transporting him into the Kingdom of Wisdom. The Kingdom of Wisdom is a magical land divided by a feud about whether letters or numbers are more important. 

A story filled with magical companions, it emphasizes the joy of learning and has become a masterpiece in children’s literature. The novel inspired a 1970 animated film adaptation and continues to reach and resonate with young and older readers alike to this day, making it one of the best fantasy novels of all time. 

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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is a young adult fantasy novel about change. Infused with classic coming-of-age themes, the novel is about Meg Murry, an intelligent preteen outcast who struggles at school with bullies and longs to be reunited with her physicist father. Meg’s quest takes her younger brother, Charles Wallace, and her classmate, Calvin, on a journey examining conformity and the war between good and evil.

Not only does the novel discuss powerful themes, especially for teen readers, but when the novel was first published in 1962, female characters were very underrepresented within fantasy novels. L’Engle’s creation of Meg Murry provided girls across the world with a fantasy character that they could relate to. 

This highly influential novel won a Newbery Medal in 1963 and was translated to the screen first in 2003 as a television series and then a movie in 2018. A Wrinkle in Time’s impact spans far and wide, making it one of the best fantasy novels ever written. 

The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a fan favorite, especially after the 1987 Rob Reiner film adaptation. The story follows the most beautiful woman in the world, Buttercup, who is betrothed to an evil monarch. However, her long-lost love Wesley fights a series of mystical battles to save her, teaming up with giant Fezzik and swordsman Inigo Montoya. 

This love story has become a beloved classic with the narrator providing wry commentary and an analysis of the fantasy genre. 

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is part one of the seven-part series Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. This children’s classic follows a group of children who find a door into a secret, magical world behind a wardrobe. 

This tale is known to be one of the most influential fantasy series of all time, sparking many well-known series to come. Though the novel has received some criticism for its religious themes and its harmful portrayal of women, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’s impact on children’s literature can not be denied, making it one of the best fantasy novels of all time.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling is the first book of a seven-book series that has become known as one of the greatest fantasy series ever written. Following a young boy named Harry Potter who learns that he is a wizard and then attends a school for witchcraft and wizardry, the series has captivated millions of readers across the globe. However, this massive success all began with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. 

Resonating with fans of all ages, the novel became a global phenomenon and sparked one of the strongest fan bases we’ve ever seen. The novel eventually became a hit film starring Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is globally known as one of the best fantasy novels of all time. 

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The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is set in Middle-Earth and follows Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, who joins the wizard Gandalf and the 13 dwarves of Thorin’s Company to embark on a quest to reclaim the home of the dwarves and treasure from a dragon. 

Originally published in 1937, the novel has received widespread acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal along with being awarded by the New York Herald Tribune for best young fiction. Recognized as a classic in fantasy literature, The Hobbit is one of the best-selling books of all time with over 100 million copies sold worldwide. 

Also by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book in the Lord of the Rings fantasy book series. This first novel begins in Hobbit country at the birthday party of Bilbo from The Hobbit who is the uncle of Frodo and has been in possession of the Ring for a long time. The novel follows the journey of Frodo and other hobbits as they are tasked with accompanying the newly appointed Ring-Bearer on his journey. 

The Fellowship of the Ring is a genre-defining kind of novel. When discussing the fantasy genre, it would be impossible not to bring up this novel, as it has an everlasting impact, making it the best fantasy novel of all time.