11 fantasy book series and novels
Published on Tweak India, September 2020
I have a wand-shaped pen that I use to scribble in my journal. An angry Cersei Lannister glares at me any time I look up from my computer and yawn. And yes, I’m a 31-year-old in the middle of re-reading The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. So, sue me — I’m obsessed with fantasy series and novels. And I have been ever since I was eight years old and discovered that maths homework and PE lessons didn’t exist in the Enchanted Forest. And neither did scary Sir Mishra.
Fantasy series and novels are the perfect escape route for kids with active imaginations (and no cell phone access) — and they also instil good values (to be a loyal friend like Ron Weasley, to be brave like Samwise Gamgee and curious like Matilda). We imbibe them passively, only realising much later how they may have informed our choices.
The books urge you to keep your inner child alive. In a world where bad news is piling up like the stack of rejected bio datas from Sima aunty, they are homes of hope — the alternative realities that guarantee you the happy ending real life does not.
So, if you’re an ardent fan of classics like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, you’ll find more fantasy series and novels to will feed this frenzy. And for the curious Carinas ready to make the jump from feel-good fiction and romance novels, this list offers up some starter series.
Most importantly, they’re for the world-beaten, weary adult who needs a dose of magic because, ‘Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.’
P:S: Twinkle Khanna’s a fan too.
The fantasy series and novels to read if…
You love Hogwarts, but are ready to graduate to college
The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman
If you’ve been a fan Harry Potter’s PG-13 shenanigans and are ready to step into the dark world of college, and well, adulthood, welcome to Brakebills College For Magic Pedagogy, in upstate New York.
Protagonist Quentin Clearwater, a gifted but troubled teen, obsessed with magic, thinks he’s found his place in the world when he’s accepted to this mysterious university.
He discovers that magic is real (and way more tedious than the algebra equations we thought were hard), finds love and camaraderie in his misfit classmates — with secrets, skills and emotional scars of their own.
Across the three novels authored by the American author, Quentin and his grown-up Scooby Gang graduate, get up to all sorts of hedonistic pursuits and discover other worlds. Including a fantasy land that he read about as a child that now poses a massive threat to humanity.
These novels about getting what your heart’s desires remind you that often times what we need is diametrically different from what we wanted.
You’re looking for familiar characters, but want a whole new story
The Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire
“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
In fact, this four-book series by the American novelist takes place mostly in the Land of Oz and is decidedly not the fairy tale L. Frank Baum wrote.
Riddled with violent imagery and sexual situations, the socio-political commentary addresses religion, racism and politics. The first book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, follows Elphaba (titular witch), a misunderstood social reformer with an allergy to water. It forces you to rethink everything you believed as a child.
Son of a Witch focuses on Elphaba’s son, Lilir, as he follows in his mother’s footsteps. The third, A Lion Among Men, introduces the Cowardly Lion as the protagonist, named Brrr — giving a three-dimensional aspect to the lion we all loved and didn’t fear. And he’s as annoyed by Dorothy’s naïve idiocy as we were.
The final tome Out of Oz, follows Lilir’s daughter Rain in the land of Oz, which is now the hotbed of political unrest. It’s also where our much-loved Dorothy makes a little cameo.
With this series, Maguire creates a dark, cynical, multi-layered alternate universe, reminding us that history is always written by victors — and that doesn’t mean it’s always true.
You’re ready to have the world you think you know, turned upside down
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass — a coming-of-age trilogy by the English novelist that follows two seemingly ordinary children, Lyra and Will, as they adventure through parallel universes.
Described as a ‘religiously sceptical trilogy’ by The New York Times, the book series, like Harry Potter features magic, witches, spirit animals and like Potter, was criticised by factions of the Church.
A retelling of Milton’s Paradise Lost, the poem that tells the story of Adam and Eve, and of Satan’s banishment from heaven. In this series, Pullman turns the concept on its head, with God turned into a petty, complicated deity named The Authority and instead of focusing on Lyra’s fall from grace, it celebrates her defying an all-powerful order called The Magisterium.
A deep dive into theology, philosophy and physics, and the concept of original sin, it plunges you into an unfamiliar world, one that you thought you knew.
You dream in comic technicolour — and prefer graphic novels to actual novels
The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is to the fantasy genre, what vada pav is to Mumbai. Essential, inseparable, iconic and approachable.
His writing has depth, vigour and the power to lure you into complex, detailed worlds. His well-known books like American Gods, Stardust and Good Omens (in association with Terry Prachett), are suitable for even non-fantasy lovers, as they’re standalone, each imparting a valuable real lesson. (You can start with any one of these if you’re new to the fantasy genre)
A comic book series (composed of 10 paperbacks), The Sandman is his seminal work. It follows the adventures of Dream of the Endless aka Morpheus, who rules over the realm of dreams. Dream is one of seven siblings who have existed since the beginning of time — the Endless. Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium (once Delight), and Destruction. Their names describe their function and the realms that they are in charge of.
The series is about stories, the concept of dreams, and follows Dream as he is captured, and upon escape, is tasked with facing the realities of a changing world.
Dip into this pool of history and mythology to see the anthropomorphic personification of entities and dream a little dream of your own.
If twilight has set on your love for vampires, but you’re ready for a new dawn
The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris
Before the pale-faced Edward Cullen stole bland Bella from under the nose of over-eager werewolf Jacob, there existed another love triangle of magical creatures, that was far more deliciously dangerous, X-rated and well, complicated.
The inspiration behind the dark, devious True Blood TV show, the Sookie Stackhouse series is composed of 13 novels by American author Harris. They follow a telepathic waitress living a quiet life in Louisiana, in a world where vampires have decided to emerge from their coffins and made themselves known to the world.
Harris creates a rich detailed, complex world of the supernatural (there are fairies, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters) coloured with realistic problems, like Sookie’s love life, money issues, even approaching the concept of sexual assault.
You’re Thor-sty for Norse Mythology
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
Chris Hemsworth’s abs made Thor the god we all pray to, Neil Gaiman gave Norse mythology his own twist. And when Netflix jumped on the bandwagon with the Norwegian-language, Ragnarok, Norse went mainstream. But the man behind the best-selling Percy Jackson series not only wrote his own version, he connected them to his titular character, Percy.
In The Gods of Asgard trilogy, Magnus Chase is a cousin of Annabeth Chase, Percy’s girlfriend. And he just happens to be the son of the Vanir god of fertility, Frey. The three books, The Sword of Summer, The Hammer of Thor, The Ship of The Dead follow homeless Bostonian orphan and petty thief Magnus as he discovers he’s a Norse god.
And inevitably, the thread through the three novels is the delaying of the inevitable Ragnarok (destruction of the world).
An easy introduction to Norse mythology, the series features gender-fluid characters of diverse racial backgrounds, references to psychological issues and the found family trope.
It is a layered, deeper look at the gods that live above us — but insinuates that perhaps they aren’t different, after all.
You’re ready to play the Game of Thrones
A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin
Yes, this is us recommending you get over the trauma of the series finale of Game of Thrones, and turn your attention to the epic fantasy books that shaped it.
Be warned, this series is not for commitment-phobic fantasy amateurs. The richly detailed novels are a deep, deep dive into the mythology of what we saw on TV, with more characters and intricate storylines. Making little notes in a diary might help you follow along.
Five of the planned seven books have been written, starting with A Song of Ice and Fire. The books for the most part, set in the fictional continents of Essos and Westeros follow three main stories that are ultimately woven together.
A war among several families for control of Westeros, the rising threat of the supernatural Others (aka White Walkers) in northernmost Westeros, and the ambition of Daenerys Targaryen, the fallen king’s exiled daughter, to take over the Iron Throne.
Here’s the kicker — each of the chapters in the novels is told from the perspective of different characters, meaning Martin plunges you deep into the psyche of the people playing the game.
Are you ready to throne yourself into this masterful series?
PS: The graphic novel version of the series is out, for those who prefer picture books.
Real life is absurd, so you may as well have life as you know it turned upside down
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Discworld — A flat planet balanced on the backs of four elephants which in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle — that’s the premise of British author Pratchett’s seminal work. The arguably absurd concept, made him one of the foremost fantasy fiction writers of the genre.
Sure, JK Rowling made witches mainstream, and JRR Tolkien forever changed the definition of obsession. But Pratchett brought wit to the genre of fantasy fiction.
The Discworld novels (41, in total) have common themes that run through them — they parody fantasy clichés (vampires, witches) and address religion and pop-culture concepts like rock music, cinema and historical events. He even parodies everyone’s favourite Bard.
Characters include Rincewind — a cowardly wizard with no skill or desire to be a hero, and Death, who rides a pale horse called Binky.
And while it’s not necessary to read the novels in order, it helps. If you’re just looking to experiment, pick any out of the series and start spinning.
This fun book generator quiz should help you decide.
You’re looking for fierce female inspiration
Asiana by Rati Malhotra
Fantasy writer Malhotra describes her Asiana series as, “A post-apocalyptic version of Asia, if you will. It is the year 853 of the Kanun and the Orders keep the peace – barely. Armed outlaws roam the Thar Desert, and a young woman seeks revenge for a horrific crime.”
The first book, Markswoman follows Kyra, the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a trained sisterhood of warriors sworn to protect Asiana. Her life is thrown into disarray when the Order is taken over by a dangerous new foe. The second Mahimata, sees Kyra on another quest, hungry for justice. We won’t share more details because *spoiler*.
Read the books to find out more about these modern day goddesses.
You want a feminist take on done-to-death fairy tales
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novak
The Rumpelstiltskin redux we deserve. The original story had the titular tormentor help a poor woman weave straw into gold, and emotionally blackmail her when she became queen.
In this version, set in Lithvas, a kingdom in imaginary medieval eastern Europe, Miryem, a moneylender’s daughter, takes over his failing business — and turns silver into gold her dayum self. Eventually grabbing the attention of the ruling Staryks that are making winter last longer and impoverishing the kingdom. (Sound familiar?)
She crosses paths with Wanda, a peasant from her village, when the latter is sent over to work at her shop, and Irina, the daughter of a duke, who engages Miryem in a plan to help save the kingdom.
A tale of family, greed and the eternal battle of good over evil, but ultimately of three women who take their destinies in their own hands, and fight, not knowing what the outcome will be.
You want a classic good vs evil narrative
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
A standalone novel by the iconic creator, that plunges you straight into the good versus evil debate, the novel follows two 13-year-old boys, whose lives are turned upside down when a traveling carnival comes to their Midwestern home of Green Town, Illinois.
The carnival’s leader Mr Dark seemingly has the power to grant everyone’s innermost desires — naturally chaos ensues. Plunging both, the residents of the town and the readers into a study of the good versus evil that exists within all individuals. It dabbles with the concept of growing up and even fear itself.
Are you ready to look inside yourself?
