10 Greatest Fantasy Books of All Time, Ranked by Goodreads
Amanda M. Castro is a Network TV writer at Collider and a New York–based journalist whose work has appeared in Newsweek, where she is an Associate Editor, and The U.S. Sun, where she previously served as a Senior Consumer Reporter.
She specializes in network television coverage, delivering sharp, thoughtful analysis of long-running procedural hits and ambitious new dramas across broadcast TV. At Collider, Amanda explores character arcs, storytelling trends, and the cultural impact of network series that keep audiences tuning in week after week.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Amanda is bilingual and holds a degree in Communication, Film, and Media Studies from the University of New Haven.
Fantasy isn't limited to castles, dragons, and those chosen by destiny. It can twist a well-known tale of magic upside down, introduce readers to a magical circus, or even show ancient gods hiding in modern America. One of the best aspects of fantasy is that it builds worlds readers can get lost in while exploring highly relevant problems.
Goodreads’ list of the most popular fantasy books offers a snapshot of the stories readers keep returning to. This selection of titles, based on a minimum score of 3.5 stars, features various types of fantasy literature from the past decades, from classic children's fantasy novels to adult epic fantasies. Here are 10 titles that made the list, ordered from tenth to first place.
10. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
What if, perhaps, the Wicked Witch of the West wasn't wicked? Through the life of Elphaba, who is a green girl destined to be considered the most infamous villain of all time, Maguire's 1995 novel tells the story of the land of Oz in a new way.
Like Elphaba, Maguire's own life was entangled in relationships strong on circumstances and opinions and soft on empathy. The book inspired the hit Broadway musical, but its darker examination of prejudice and propaganda is an entirely different story.
9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus centers on Le Cirque des Rêves, a mysterious circus that appears without warning and opens only after dark. Behind its extraordinary attractions is a magical competition between two young illusionists, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair.
The novel's dreamlike quality is its strongest point, as Morgenstern creates a fascinating universe through shifting perspectives and a nonlinear plot. Here, love and antagonism intertwine because competition endangers everyone who lives in the circus.
8. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Patrick Rothfuss tells the story of Kvothe, an innovative musician, magician, and swordsman, known for his mysterious disappearance at the height of his fame. Now in hiding as Kote, the protagonist tells his fascinating life story, starting with his childhood with traveling performers and the disaster that turns his life upside down.
The first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle combines an intricate magic system with Rothfuss’ lyrical prose. Kvothe’s pursuit of knowledge takes him through poverty, university life, and encounters with the mysterious Chandrian.
7. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
In Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, ancient deities haven’t disappeared; they’ve simply lost their followers. After his release from prison, Shadow Moon takes a job with the mysterious Mr. Wednesday and discovers that his employer is recruiting the Old Gods for a battle against modern manifestations of belief.
Blending mythology, folklore, and Americana, Gaiman explores what happens when a country’s values change faster than its gods can keep up. The award-winning novel also inspired a television adaptation.
6. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Sword fights, romance, revenge, and kidnapping — all the elements of a classic adventure are present in William Goldman's The Princess Bride. At the center is the love story of Buttercup and Westley, surrounded by an unforgettable cast of heroes, villains, and unlikely companions.
By using Goldman's fictional framing device, in which the story seems to be an abbreviated version of an imaginary book, he adds an extra layer of commentary, as though the narrative were told in a relaxed tone. This unusual combination of fairy-tale romance and humor inspired the famous 1987 film adaptation.
5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
When Meg Murry’s father disappears, she sets out with her brother Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin O’Keefe to find him. Their journey takes them across space and time, where they encounter a terrifying force threatening entire worlds.
Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel blends science fiction, fantasy, and spiritual ideas into an adventure about love and individuality. Its Newbery-winning heroine remains memorable precisely because Meg is intelligent, determined, and far from perfect.
4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The political landscape of Westeros is treacherous, with the quest for power leading to the demise of battling families. In A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin depicts the fierce competition among clans like the Starks and Lannisters during the royal succession.
A Song of Ice and Fire shows how the first book became a key step in creating modern fantasy, with complex moral characters and surprising variations on familiar classical fantasy techniques. It also introduces the public to the supernatural danger of the present.
3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Four brothers and sisters discover the way to Narnia as they enter the magical kingdom, which has been under the rule of the White Witch in a state of eternal winter. In due course, the children join a battle for the country's future, where the great lion Aslan confronts the Witch.
First published in 1950, C.S. Lewis’ novel remains one of fantasy’s defining portal adventures. Its exploration of betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption has made it an enduring favorite for generations of readers.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
When Frodo receives the One Ring from Bilbo Baggins, he learns that he must destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom. He sets off from the Shire with Gandalf and the Fellowship on a journey that will determine Middle-earth's fate.
In the first volume of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s world-building is impressive, but what matters most is the relationships between the characters. Friendship, temptation, and a sense of duty make this epic unforgettable.
1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Before Frodo, there was Bilbo Baggins. Published in 1937, Tolkien tells the tale of Bilbo, a comfort-loving hobbit, joining Gandalf and a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland and treasure from the dragon Smaug.
On this journey, Bilbo faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and Gollum, who makes him realize he is far braver than he thought. First, The Hobbit was published as a children’s fantasy, and later, in its later editions, it became so famous that it laid the foundation for Middle-earth.
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