How to Read Fantasy Books When You’re New to the Genre

I once tried reading Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien as a teenager, and I didn’t make it through the first chapter. Something about the writing style just turned me off. And so, for many, many years, I thought I didn’t enjoy fantasy books.

It was only within the last two years that I realized how much I love the fantasy genre – I just didn’t ease into it the right way. So, if you feel like you should enjoy the idea of fantasy, but don’t know where to start or can’t seem to get into it, here is a beginner’s guide for how to read fantasy books so you don’t get overwhelmed.

My qualifications? Going from a casual fiction reader to an avid fantasy reader of 100+ fantasy books within the last two years.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links below, which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one, I may earn a commission. Full disclaimer here.

Consider Warming Up with Low Fantasy

The best place to dip your toe into the fantasy genre is with Low Fantasy books. Low fantasy is typically classified as stories that include magical elements, but take place in a normal setting. For example, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and American Gods by Neil Gaiman are good examples of low fantasy, as they take place on Earth but have a secret magical world completely separate from the norm.

Low fantasy is not my favorite sub-genre, but it’s a great entry point if you feel intimidated by fantasy reading because there is much less world-building involved, which makes it easier to follow the story. At the same time, you’re introduced to magic systems within these normal worlds.

Try Standalone High Fantasy Novels or Novellas

There’s no overwhelm like the feeling of picking up a book like The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson only to realize that it’s over 1000 pages long and has four more installments of even greater length. Some people can jump into the deep end with fantasy, but I certainly wasn’t one of those people so don’t feel bad if you aren’t either.

It’s totally okay to start small! There are plenty of bite-sized novellas and standalone novels under 300 pages to give you a taste of what high fantasy is like without having to commit to an untold number of books.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, Piranesi by Susana Clarke, and The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi are all excellent reads but well under 300 pages.

Read Contemporary Authors

Don’t get me wrong, the classics like Lord of the Rings are renowned for a reason and you should certainly consider adding them to your TBR at some point. But sticking with contemporary authors in the beginning, will make it easier to fall in love with the genre because they write books using language that is easy to consume.

Here are a few of my favorite authors you should check out.

Brandon Sanderson

If you want to read a book that gives you chills while still being written in language that’s easy to understand, pick up a Brandon Sanderson book. He is by far and away my favorite fantasy author, and his books will change your life. However, he writes a lot big fat books which are intimidating to many, so you may want to start with one of his novellas or standalones.

V.E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab started out as a YA writer and has become a master at writing beautiful prose without being too wordy. I adore her writing style and some of her adult books are some of my favorites of all time (namely, the Shades of Magic trilogy).

R.F. Kuang

Anything this author writes, I will buy. She has published one trilogy and one standalone thus far, with another slated for publication in 2025. Babel should be mandatory reading for all, in my opinion!

Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb is the author of the Realm of the Elderlings series of books, which were published between 1995 and 2017. Many people say that Hobb paved the way for contemporary high fantasy, and I would have to agree – her writing style is one of my favorites, and you will fall in love with her characters. Like Brandon Sanderson, her work can be a little intimidating for beginners so work your way up to her after you’ve read a few other authors.

Sarah J Maas

The queen of contemporary “romantasy” SJM is your first stop if you enjoy easily consumable fantasy with a heavy helping of romance.

Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor is a YA fantasy author, but don’t let the YA classification put you off her books if you’re an older adult; hers is some of the most beautiful writing I have ever read, and her stories will capture your heart.

Some other contemporary authors you can check out that most people love (although not my personal favorites) are George RR Martin (Game of Thrones), Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time), and Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind).

Experiment with Different Subgenres

Fantasy genres don’t end at high fantasy and low fantasy; there is a plethora of subgenres within those categories, and you need to figure out which ones you enjoy the most. I recommend reading a book or two from each subgenre and you will find out pretty quickly which are your favorite.

Some books fit into more than one genre.

Some subgenres to check out:

Gothic Fantasy

This subgenre of fantasy features a blend of dark atmosphere and otherworldly fantasy elements. They usually include monstrous beings of some sort (whether figuratively or literally) who are misunderstood in some way.

Examples:

• One Dark Window by Rachel Gilleg

• Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

• Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Grimdark Fantasy

Grimdark has a morally ambiguous tone, tending to forgo the idealism found in traditional fantasy. The main characters are usually complicated and morally grey, and the line between good and evil is blurred.

Examples

• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

• The First Law by Joe Abercrombie

• A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin

Medieval Fantasy

Medieval fantasy takes place in a setting reminiscent of the Middle Ages and is the subgenre often what most people think of when referring to high fantasy. Dragons, knights, kings, feuding nations, magic, and sorcery are staples and often include a generous helping of elves, dwarves, and/or fae. Some take place on an alternate version of Earth – such as King Arthur retellings – or on other worlds entirely.

Examples:

• The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

• Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

• Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill

Romantic Fantasy

Romantic fantasy, sometimes referred to as “romantasy” is essentially a romance story that takes place in a high fantasy setting. In this genre, the love story usually takes the front and centre stage, although the best romantasy authors know how to support it with an equally gripping plot.

Examples:

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carrisa Broadbent

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

• Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Urban Fantasy

Books in the urban fantasy subgenre take place in a contemporary, familiar setting, although it is not always Earth. There is usually a hidden magical world juxtaposed against the normal “mundane” world, with main characters that bridge both worlds.

• Crescent City Series by Sarah J Maas

• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Historical Fantasy

As you might imagine, historical fantasies take place in a setting during Earth’s past. Sometimes, they are based on historically accurate events but with magical elements, like The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherin Arden. Other times, it’s an alternative history, where specific fantasy elements have changed the course of history, like in Babel by R.F. Kuang.

Examples:

• Babel by R.F. Kuang

• The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherin Arden

Cozy Fantasy

Most fantasy books are high-stakes and tackle big topics. If the hero doesn’t succeed, the world is doomed!

Cozy fantasy is the counterpoint to such plots, with lower stakes and less stressful situations that offer the reader more light-hearted adventures.

Examples:

• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

• Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Fantasy Science Fiction Hybrids

Some books combine fantasy with science fiction elements. The combination of advanced technology and magic and hybrid worlds are common elements in this type of fiction.

Some examples include:

• Dune by Frank Herbert

• The Dark Tower by Stephen King

• The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

Graduate to Epic High Fantasy Trilogies

Once you’ve read a few novellas, standalones, and duologies in different subgenres and have an idea of what kind of fantasy you like best, you’re ready to graduate to books with more complex world-building and more involved plots.

Enter the fantasy trilogy.

You’ll quickly find that trilogies are a very popular format for fantasy books and that there are no shortage of them to choose from. They allow the reader to get sucked further into the world without having to worry about there being no end in sight.

Some of my favorite trilogies that I’d recommend you start with are:

• Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

• Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab

• Farseer by Robin Hobb

My Suggested Reading List to Ease into High Fantasy

If you’re still scratching your head wondering where to start, I took all the guesswork out of it for you by putting together a fantasy reading list that you can work your way through. This has a good mix of different subgenres so you’ll get a feel for what you like best, and it gradually works its way up into more epic works.

Be sure to also check out my list of best books for fantasy beginners!

1. Nettle & Boneby T. Kingfisher (short standalone,dark fairytale vibes)

2. Tress of the Emerald Seaby Brandon Sanderson (standalone, high fantasy adventure)

3. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (duology, YA romantic fantasy)

4. One Dark Window by Rachel Gilleg (duology, YA gothic romantic fantasy)

5. Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab (trilogy)

6. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas (5-book romantic fantasy series)

7. The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (chunky standalone high fantasy with martial arts)

8. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (trilogy, grimdark fantasy)

9. Babel by R.F. Kuang (chunky standalone, alternate-universe historical fantasy)

10. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (trilogy, epic fantasy)

11. The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb (trilogy, medieval epic fantasy)

By the time you get to the end of this reading list, you’ll be well-versed in the fantasy genre and will have the confidence to take on longer fantasy series!

Final Thoughts

Reading fantasy has enriched my life in so many ways. Being to explore these fantasy worlds every day has caused my creativity to explode and has brought me so much comfort during stressful times. I truly hope that discovering fantasy will do the same for you, too!

FAQ