Fantasy is one of the oldest literature genres, involving magical elements set in a fictional universe inspired by mythology and folklore. The popularity of fantasy books and novels has accelerated over the last several years. People read all kinds of fantasies to escape reality and for fun.

The fantasy genre gained popularity after the hit of series like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Narnia Books, and more. In the following novels, authors have created their own fantasy worlds that are grounded in history and abided by some rules with well-defined characters. 

There are numerous fantasy books and novels out there; however, mentioned below are some of the essentials. 

So, let’s have a look at them.

Best Fantasy Books and Novels to Read in 2023

• Harry Potter

Harry Potter is one of the popular series of seven fantasy novels written by J.K. Rowling. The first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was released on 26th June 1997. The first series was a success globally and sold more than 120 million copies, and by 2017, it was translated into 80 languages. The success of the novels expanded with derivative works, which resulted in 6 more successful releases of the books.

The entire series of Harry Potter is described as a cultural phenomenon and has grown exponentially. Since the release of Harry Potter, it has continued to achieve many awards, including a platinum award, Whitaker Gold, and Platinum Book Awards. In November 2019, BBC listed the Harry Potter series as one of the 100 most influential novels. 

• A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones is another widely popular novel of all time. It is a series of fantasy novels by American author George R.R. Martin. The first series was published on 1st August 1996, called ‘A Song of Ice and Fire.’ 

In 1997, the novel won the Locus Award and was later nominated for both Nebula and the World Fantasy Awards. The story starts with the plot lines of the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryens. The author has described the recounting of events in a very descriptive manner from different perspectives. 

• The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games is written by Suzanne Collins. It is a series of young adult dystopian. The novel has three parts- The Hunger Games (2008), Catching Fire (2009), and Mockingjay (2010). 

The first two parts of the novel are New York Times bestsellers, whereas Mockingjay was a US bestseller. In August 2012, the novel was ranked second, following the series of Harry Potter. On 17th August 2012, Amazon announced ‘The Hunger Games’ as the top seller, and till date, the book has been sold in 56 territories in 51 different languages. 

• The Chronicles of Narnia 

British author C. S. Lewis is the creator of the seven high fantasy books in the Chronicles of Narnia series. The Chronicles of Narnia, first published between 1950 and 1956 with illustrations by Pauline Baynes, has been adapted for radio, television, theatre, film, and video games. 

The Narnia series takes place in a make-believe world filled with magic, creatures, and talking animals. It tells the stories of the exploits of several kids who take center stage in the developing narrative of the Narnian universe. 

Except for The Horse and His Boy, the main characters are all kids from the real world who are magically transported to Narnia, where the lion Aslan occasionally summons them to defend Narnia from evil. 

Conclusion

The above-mentioned are globally popular fantasy novels and books of all time that you must read. If you are a book lover and haven’t read any of the above, read it now.

Also, what fantasy book or novel would you recommend?