9 Fantasy Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump
Reading slumps suck. It happens to me at least once a year, and it usually its just after finishing a really good book – or a really bad book.
But reading slumps are essentially just a state of mind – one that you can overcome by giving your brain a reboot with a highly satisfying book. For that reason, I have compiled this list of the best fantasy books to get out of a reading slump.
Not only will these fantasy book recommendations renew your love for reading fantasy stories, but I hope that you’ll be eager to keep going – and so in anticipation of that, I have also included suggestions on what to read after you’ve finished the initial slump-buster!
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links below, which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one, I may earn a commission. Full disclaimer here.
A Darker Shade of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab
Best to read if: You want a well-rounded fantasy that bridges YA and adult fantasy
Book highlights: magic competitions, multi-dimensions, 1800s vibe, slow-burn romance
A Darker Shade of Magic is one of the most absorbing, well-rounded fantasy series I’ve ever read. It is an adult book, but has a YA feel to it that makes it accessible while chock full of gorgeous writing.
The trilogy is mostly about Kell, a powerful antari magician who can travel between dimensions of different Londons, and Lila, a feisty cutpurse with big ambitions. Although the first installment is great on its own (and is satisfying enough without reading the whole trilogy) each book in this series is better than the last, especially the final book, A Conjuring of Light. Kell and Lila are two of my favorite fictional characters of all time.
What to read after the Shades of Magic trilogy:
The Fragile Threads of Power
Strange the Dreamer
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Best to read if: You need to fall back in love with the fantasy genre.
Book highlights: pirates, adventure, dragons
If you want something that is pure fun that is written well without being the least bit overwhelming, Tress of the Emerald Sea ticks all the boxes. It follows a girl named Tress as she ventures a sea of magical (and deadly) spores to rescue her beloved. Think of Princess Bride-eque fairy tales, but its the woman who goes on the adventure.
Although this book technically takes place in Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, you don’t have to know any of the lore to thoroughly enjoy this book. It was one of my first Sanderson reads and not only did it bust a months’ long reading slump, but it sucked me into cosmere and I have since read the man’s entire 18+ book epic fantasy series.
What to read after:
Yumi & the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Best to read if: You want a quirky, mysterious, easy read that is short but gripping
Book highlights: Labyrinths, mystery, unreliable narrator
If big chunky books tend to dampen your will to read, there are plenty of top tier fantasies that are are well under 300 pages.
Out of all of those, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is my number one suggestion. It’s one of those books that has you scratching your head within the first page, but as you the endearing, befuddled protagonist, more and more become clear about the strange environment he’s in and what’s gong on.
The journal-style, unreliable narration is part of what makes this book so fun to read!
What to read after:
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Jonathan Strange. & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Best to read if: You prefer YA fantasy romance
If YA romantasy floats your boat, you will love Divine Rivals, the first book in the Letters of Enchantment YA duology. It’s has a high fantasy setting reminiscent of World War 2 and is about two rival journalists who unwittingly end up getting to know each other through a magical typewriter.
Ruthless Vows is the sequel and is a satisfying ending to the duolgoy. I love Rebecca Ross’s writing and highly recommend all her books.
What to read after:
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Best to read if: You’re new to fantasy and want to ease in with some magical realism
Book highlights: time travel, romance
I just finished this one this week, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty time-travel to the past with magical realism and love story at its heart. This is the first book I’ve read by Adrienne Young (although I’ve had her Fable series sitting on my bookshelf for some time) and now I’m inspired to read the rest of her stuff.
Follow June as she tries to understand the mysteries of the family curse while trying to figure out a decades-old murder mystery and falling in love.
It has a great concept and ideal reading slump-buster material for sure!
What to read after:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Best to read if: You want something low-stakes and lighthearted
Book highlights: faeries, folklore, historical, romance
Let’s face it, most of us read to relax, but some books are anything but relaxing! And so, it’s only natural that “Cozy fantasy” happened; a new subgenre that focuses on characters and storylines with lower stakes, which makes it wholly fun to read without getting stressed out about what’s going to happen.
This first book in the Emil Wilde series is about Emily as she arrives to the remote village of Hrafnsvik to study rare faeries for her encyclopedia. She’s a very scholarly, hyperfocused, neurodivergent character who I loved immediately. Her colleague and friend, Wendell Bambleby shows up unannounced, and adventure (and a touch of romance) ensues.
What to read after:
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
Best to read if: Dark academia and big feels are your jam
Book highlights: dark fantasy, romance, steampunk vibes, heartbreaking
This is one of my favorite reads of the world (Cosmere books not withstanding). If you love dark academia, gritty politics, and unlikely romance, you will love this book as much as I did. It grabbed me from the very opening chapter, which is unusual for me.
The main character is Sciona, the first woman to graduate to high mage status within the city of Tiran. Looked down upon by her colleagues, she is given a janitor for an assistant instead of a trained researcher. But there is more to the Kwen man than meets the eye. They become unlikely friends as they begin unraveling the mysterious of Tiran and the otherrealm.
Filled to the brim with fantastic writing and heartwrenching moments, this is one book that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.
What to read after:
The Will of the Many by James Islington
Babel by R.F. Kuang
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Best to read if: You enjoy a true enemies-to-lovers romance
Book highlights: Enemies-to-lovers relationship, alter egos,
Heartless Hunter is another YA romance, but it reads on the mature side of that. This book is about Rune, a witch, and Gideon, the witch hunter charged with capturing her. The cat-and-mouse between the main characters is what makes this book so fun to read!
One of my favorite fantasy romances of 2024. Rebel Witch is the sequel and is coming out in 2025.
What to read after:
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L Jensen
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Best to read if: You are new to fantasy or reading in general
Book highlights: Fae, romance, spice
SJM is the mother of contemporary romantasy, and A Court of Thorns and Roses is the gateway series into the genre. Feyre is a young woman living in a hovel with her poor family, trying to make ends meet as a hunter. She shoots and kills a wolf that turns out to be fae – and soon she is taken prisoner by the fae of Prythian as punishment.
It starts off with strong Beauty and the Beast vibes, but quickly evolves into an epic journey involving courtly fae politics and intrigue!
Although it is very much a romance, the world-building and plot are just as strong which is why the series is so popular. This first novel is just a warm-up to the world though – the second book, A Court of Mist and Fury is in my top 10 reads of all time.
What to read after:
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Final Thoughts
There are so many more fantastic fantasy books to discover, but these are my top recs for any reader who has lost excitement for books. I can nearly promise you picking up one of these books is only the beginning. Before long your TBR will be taller than the CN Tower and you’ll be excited about reading every last one!
I have plenty more book recs on the blog so be sure to take a look through my rec lists for even more great books!
FAQ
How do I get out of a reading slump?
It starts with determining the reason for the slump. Check out my post about reading slumps for more info!
What should I read if I hate reading?
Usually, people who hate reading haven’t discovered the author or genre that does it for them yet. Start with shorter books and experiment with different authors and genres until you come across something you enjoy.
How long can a reading slump last?
Honestly? It could be days. It could be years. I went nearly 10 years hardly reading anything before I discovered fantasy novels. It comes down to your reasons and what you’re doing to address them.
What is the best fantasy book of all time?
Of course it is a matter of opinion, but for me, it is The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. But don’t start with this book (it’s the third in a trilogy). Start with one of his Standalones and then read Mistborn. See my Full cosmere reading guide for more info.
