Best Fantasy Books to Read Right Now

Looking for your next fantasy read? Here's a curated list of the best fantasy books organized by subgenre — epic, cozy, dark, and more.

7/26/20263 min read

a woman laying on a couch reading a book
a woman laying on a couch reading a book

Best Fantasy Books to Read Right Now

Fantasy is too broad a genre to have one single "best of" list that actually works for every reader — someone craving sprawling political epics wants something completely different from someone craving a cozy, low-stakes escape. Here's a curated list organized by subgenre and mood, so you can find your next read based on what you're actually in the mood for.

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If You Want Sprawling Epic Fantasy

For readers who want maximum scale — multiple kingdoms, huge casts, world-altering stakes — epic fantasy delivers scope that smaller-scale stories can't match.

Try: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon — a massive standalone with dragons, warring queens, assassins, and an ancient evil reawakening across four kingdoms. Rich political worldbuilding without requiring a multi-book commitment.

Amazon link: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

If You Want Dark Academia Fantasy

For readers drawn to elite institutions, secret societies, and morally complicated ambition, dark academia fantasy blends intellectual atmosphere with real consequences.

Try: Babel by R.F. Kuang — set in 1830s Oxford, where translation is literal magic powered by stolen silver and colonial exploitation. Dark academia that builds toward genuine revolution, from the same author behind The Poppy War.

Amazon link: Babel by R.F. Kuang

If You Want Cozy, Low-Stakes Fantasy

Not every fantasy read needs to be about saving the world. Cozy fantasy prioritizes warmth, gentle stakes, and comfort over high tension.

Try: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune — a by-the-book caseworker visits a magical orphanage and finds his rigid worldview quietly upended. Genuinely cozy, but with more emotional depth than the "cozy" label might suggest.

Amazon link: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

If You Want Mythology Retellings

For readers who love familiar myths reimagined with new depth and a different point of view, mythology retellings offer accessible worldbuilding (you likely already know the source material) paired with fresh emotional stakes.

Try: Circe by Madeline Miller — the witch from The Odyssey finally gets her own voice, turning a minor mythological figure into the center of a story about power, isolation, and choosing your own humanity.

Amazon link: Circe by Madeline Miller

If You Want Character-Driven Fantasy Over Plot-Driven

For readers who prioritize internal growth and voice over constant plot twists, character-driven fantasy takes its time and rewards patience.

Try: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss — one of the most acclaimed examples of prose-forward, character-focused fantasy in the genre. Read our full review here.

Amazon link: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

If You Want Something Darker and Politically Complex

For readers who want fantasy that engages directly with real historical weight and doesn't offer easy comfort, dark fantasy delivers moral complexity without softening the consequences.

Try: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang — a brutal, brilliant dark fantasy inspired by real historical atrocities. Read our full review here.

Amazon link: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

If You Want Non-European-Inspired Worldbuilding

Fantasy worldbuilding has traditionally leaned heavily on medieval European settings — these picks draw from different cultural and historical traditions instead.

Try: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse — a pre-Columbian Americas-inspired epic featuring crow gods, giant jaguars, and a solar eclipse prophecy, built around a wholly different mythological framework than most Western fantasy.

Amazon link: Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

How to Find Your Next Read

  • Search by mood, not just genre. "Cozy fantasy" and "epic fantasy" pull up very different books than a generic "fantasy books" search.

  • Check if it's a standalone or series-starter before committing, especially if you're not ready for a multi-book investment.

  • Read the first chapter before buying the full series — tone varies enormously even within the same subgenre.

Final Thoughts

The best fantasy pick depends entirely on what you're craving in the moment — sprawling political scale, cozy comfort, or something darker and more demanding. Rather than chasing one universal "best fantasy books" list, matching the subgenre to your actual mood tends to lead to far fewer books abandoned halfway through.