The 10 Greatest Medieval Fantasy Books, Ranked
Medieval fantasy is a subgenre of historical fantasy wherein the plot takes place in the Middle Ages, i.e., between the years 500 and 1500. This era is most commonly associated with knights and castles, though this is only a small part of what was truly a miserable time to be alive. Lots of books have been about Medieval fantasy since the setting works so well with the themes of swords and sorcery.
To clarify: Medieval fantasy does not include the like of Game of Thrones because those stories are high fantasy, taking place in unique worlds that just so happen to resemble the Middle Ages. That said, this list will focus exclusively on low fantasy books, meaning they are set in an alternate, more magical version of our own world. These are the best Medieval fantasy books of all time.
10 'The Children of Gods and Fighting Men' (2022)
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the first book in the Gael Song trilogy. The story is pretty concrete in its setting: the year is 981, and the place is Ireland. The king of Dublin has died, and his heir is set to succeed him. His wife is secretly one of the Fomorians, an ancient, immortal race of pyromancers who are constantly hunted by an order of warriors. One of these warriors is sent to spy on a public figure who intends to become king of Ireland, which is when her path intersects with the widowed queen.
This book dives heavily into themes of Celtic mythology and folklore, which is often overlooked compared to Greek or Norse mythologies. The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is full of political intrigue, magic, feuding clans, and brewing wars. Critics lauded the book for its setting, character development, and brilliant writing.
9 'Pilgrim: A Medieval Horror' (2023)
Pilgrim is a book that you probably haven't read. This diamond in the rough is set in the Levant region during the Crusades. Passing through the war-torn landscape, a Teutonic Templar is looking forward to returning home after seven years of brutal warfare. Things are not so simple, however, as demons have come to life and are determined to make his passage difficult.
The demons and supernatural beings in this book come from a variety of influences, mostly from folklore in the Abrahamic religions. This means Christian and Jewish demons, as well as Islamic djinn, are present, as are a variety of other nightmarish creatures from scripture. Though the title states it to be a horror (and it certainly is), it can also be considered a fantasy book due to its themes, so it still fits in with this list.
8 'Daughter of the Forest' (1999)
Daughter of the Forest is loosely based on the Irish legend of the Children of Lir, along with the classic fairy tale The Six Swans. The story follows a young girl whose brothers are cursed by a malevolent witch. In order to free them, the girl must sew six shirts made of nettle plants, which sting and cut her every time she touches them. Worse still, she is rendered mute by the witch, meaning she can't even scream from the pain. Despite her circumstances, she still finds the time to fall in love.
Set in Medieval Ireland, Daughter of the Forest is the first of the Sevenwaters series. Full of romance, familial sacrifice, and emotional moments, this book might be a little lighter on the adventure aspect, but it does a marvellous job of depicting Medieval superstitions and fears of witchcraft. It's an emotional odyssey and a superb foray into historical fantasy.
7 'The Bear and the Nightingale' (2017)
The Bear and the Nightingale is set not in Medieval England or Ireland, but in Russia. In the Siberian wilderness, winter reigns supreme for most of the year. A lone family living out in the sticks spends their nights huddled around the fire, listening to their nurse's stories about terrifying ice demons. When a tragedy rocks the family, their land is cursed: crops begin to die, monsters begin creeping out of the forest, and the neighbouring village is plagued by terrible luck. The only way to survive this supernatural assault is to call on magic abilities long lost to the ages.
The first book in the Winternight trilogy, The Bear and the Nightingale, was adored by critics for its unique setting. Fans were all over the book, nominating it for the Readers' Favourite Fantasy Award on Goodreads in 2017. Thousands of reviews describe how deeply captivating the story is, how its main character is lovable and relatable, and how engrossing its atmosphere is.
6 'The Winter King' (1995)
One of a few different books about King Arthur on this list, The Winter King is set on the cusp of the Middle Ages, right as things were transitioning into the new era from Antiquity. The first in The Warlord Chronicles trilogy, this story is about the warlord Arthur, who serves as a steward and caretaker for his infant nephew, Mordred, who has now become king following the untimely death of his father.
This is a much darker take on Arthurian legend than most people are used to, as it's largely about war, political assassinations, and gruesome violence. However, it is still a popular and highly successful book, to the point that it even received a TV adaptation. The show was fine, but it was promptly cancelled after one season. In any event, the book itself is awesome and is a fresh take on Arthurian myth that holds its own against an oversaturated market.
5 'The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, the "Good Parts" Version' (1973)
The Princess Bride was famously made into a movie in the 1980s, which became one of the most beloved fantasy/comedy films of all time. The book is quite a bit different, mostly because there are some parts of the story that just don't translate to film. The overall plot is the same: a princess falls in love with a farmhand, he disappears on an excursion, and she is forcibly betrothed to a prince that she despises. Shortly thereafter, she discovers her old flame is still alive, with the pair now determined to do anything to save the princess from her arranged marriage.
The tale is set very late in the Middle Ages, in the transitional period where it overlaps a bit with the Renaissance. Much like the movie, the book is filled with hilarious punchlines and wacky characters. It's also super meta. While the movie was framed as a grandfather telling the story to his sick grandson, the book actually talks about the writing process itself and how the book came to be. It's a really interesting read that's very lighthearted compared to some of the other books on this list.
4 'The Buried Giant' (2015)
The Buried Giant is set in Sub-Roman Britain, an era which spanned from the 5th to the 7th Centuries. It was sort of a transitionary period from Antiquity into the very early Middle Ages. Kazuo Ishiguro reportedly took 10 years to write it, but it certainly shows in how carefully it is constructed. The plot occurs shortly after the death of King Arthur and follows a couple as they head off in search of their long-lost son.
Not all fantasy critics were on board with the book: some hated it, some loved it. Author Ursula K. Le Guin stated she wasn't a personal fan of the book, and it seems a lot of other fantasy fans felt the same. However, many have praised the work for how deeply emotional and moving it is. Two years following the book's publication, Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize for Literature, which is quite an accomplishment, indeed. It's not a book everybody will like, but for Medieval fantasy fans, it's certainly worth checking out.
3 'Between Two Fires' (2012)
Between Two Fires was penned as a horror novel, but it can certainly be classified as a Medieval fantasy. This book is set during the 14th Century, during the first wave of the Bubonic Plague, the deadliest pandemic in human history, which killed roughly a third of Europe. During the Hundred Years' War (as if the pandemic weren't bad enough), a French knight saves a young girl from a fate worse than death. Sticking to his sense of duty and honour, he promises to see her to safety.
The problem is, Heaven and Hell are at war, and demons are prowling the French countryside. This is not meant in a metaphorical sense, but in a rather literal one. This book is extremely dark and gritty, and is most certainly not for the faint of heart. Still, it's an excellent bit of grimdark fantasy that earns every bit of praise it's received over the years. It's truly a remarkable piece of fiction.
2 'The Once and Future King' (1958)
The Once and Future King is basically the Medieval fantasy book, as it laid the foundations for many of the other books on this list. In actuality, this book is one massive collection of five smaller novels all smashed into one, a summarized version of the King Arthur myth, detailing everything from his origins to his final battle with Mordred. It also details how Arthur formed the Round Table, met his famed knights, and studied with the wizard Merlin.
The whole series took about 20 years to complete, but it really shows that T. H. White cared about his story. The first part of the book, The Sword in the Stone, was even made into an animated Disney movie, and the book has seen countless other adaptations, too. The first two parts of the book are light-hearted and comical, but the latter half of it is quite dark and foreboding. It's a true rollercoaster of emotions and the defining pillar of the Medieval fantasy subgenre.
1 'Divine Comedy' (1321)
Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy is a trilogy of epic poems that was actually written during the Middle Ages. While it wasn't intended to be a part of the Medieval fantasy genre at the time, by today's standards, it can certainly be considered that. The trilogy consists of Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, though the first part is by far the most famous. Inferno is about the narrator, a pilgrim who traverses through the nine circles of Hell to rescue his lover from Satan's clutches.
The other two parts are more religious, political, and social commentaries, and are much more challenging to read, though they're still pretty good. This is one of the most famous stories of all time, which has been reworked and adapted many, many times over the years across a variety of media. Due to its sheer influence and the fact that it's still popular a whopping 700 years later, it has to be considered the best Medieval fantasy book ever written.
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