If you love to escape the issues of the real world and visit lands that may include wizards, unusual underground activities or just plain weird storylines, then you need a great fantasy book.
If you have never read one before, fear not, they are pretty amazing and will at the very least get your imagination spinning into overdrive. Here is a list of our top ten picks for the best fantasy books of 2020 you must read this year.
1. Dune (Dune Chronicles Book 1) by Frank Herbert
Originally published in 1965, this is a futuristic look at life on a desert planet where water is the most valuable commodity.
To survive the elements, you must wear moisture-preserving jumpsuits and if you aren’t at war with a neighboring family, you could get eaten by a giant worm creature that pops out from under the ground. Yes, a bit on the sci-fi side, but mostly fantasy.
This classic was partly responsible for inspiring the Star Wars series of movies.
2. The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
The first book in this series is an interesting combination of fantasy, westerns and sci-fi.
The series extends to a total (so far) of seven books which follow the life of Roland, a gunslinger who chases a strange presence across the landscape of an equally strange world.
Expect a journey that is laced with the author’s unusual imagination and a healthy serving of horror to keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s not your usual Stephen King book but it will keep you riveted.
3. A Game of Thrones: A Song Of Ice And Fire, Book 1 by George R.R. Martin
A Game of Thrones was the first in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series and although the TV show has lost a lot of fans resulting from the disastrous final season, the books have not suffered.
This volume sets the pace for the series by revealing themes of violence and adult nature that are typically untapped territory for fantasy books.
Each character’s point of view is focused in each of the chapters giving this book an unusual way to tell the overall story.
4. The Complete Wheel Of Time by Robert Jordan
Author James Oliver Rigney Jr. wrote this book under the pen name of Robert Jordan. In the seventeen years before his death in 2007 he had written an epic 14 novel saga, plus a prequel novel and two companion books in this series.
A distant version of Earth is the focal point which happens to be both epic and magical and filled with a massive cast of characters.
The series has produced a video game, a roleplaying game, and soundtrack album and an upcoming TV series.
5. Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy) by Marlon James
From an author that is not known traditionally as a fantasy writer, the book covers a lot of different topics.
Essentially, the political tensions between warring states is the main topic set in a strange world. The world is populated by magical creatures, cannibals, witches, vampires, sorcerers and ghosts.
The author has won the Booker Prize for one of his other titles which should tell you that there is some quality in the writing you will find in this fantasy volume.
6. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel by Susanna Clarke
The story is set in 19th-century England at about the same time as the Napoleonic Wars. The plot follows two men – Strange and Norrell – who happen to possess magical powers.
The book took the author ten years to write and has a comedic flavour to it to keep things moving. Essentially, the storyline traces the many different circumstances the two men encounter in their daily life that causes them to resolve situations with a touch of magic.
It’s a strange one, but a good one.
7. A Wizard of Earthsea (Book 1) by Ursula K. Le Guin
Originally published in 1968, this classic is from an author who has since become well-known as a master of the fantasy and sci-fi genres.
This particular book follows the story of a teen in magic school named Ged. Ged has a habit of causing various levels of destruction from his dabbling in the dark arts.
You may see similarities between the setting of the magic school and Hogwarts, but that is purely coincidental. This is a must-have in your best fantasy books of 2020 collection.
8. Mort: (Discworld Novel 4) by Terry Pratchett
Part of the authors Discworld series, this volume traces a teen named Mort who has been taken under the apprenticeship of Death.
If you have been following the series you will already be acquainted with the character Death which has made appearances in each of the books in the collection.
Thanks to Mort, Death experiences a slight change in personality becoming more sympathetic and a likeable character. The rest you’ll have to discover on your own.
9. The Accursed Kings Series Books 1-3 by Maurice Druon
Okay, maybe not exactly about fantasy directly, but this book does focus on the 14th century French monarchy.
The strange goings on range from iron kings and strangled queens to battles, betrayals, lies, lust, deception, babies switched at birth, she-wolves, sin, swords, doom and gloom and all kinds of issues that would be common at that point of history.
Did we mention this author was considered a “hero” by George R. R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame?
10. Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1) by Robin Hobb
This is truly an epic fantasy series of books that follow Fitz Chivalry Farseer, or Fitz.
He happens to be the bastard son of the crown prince and having been raised in a stable and trained as an assassin. You can pretty much imagine where it goes from there.
There are many adventures detailed throughout the volume and include such elements as murder, magic and political intrigue. There’s also a zombie curse tossed in for good measure. It’s a fun trip for sure.
Best Fantasy Books Wrap Up
If the next getaway you plan is one that involves curling up in a comfortable chair with one of the best fantasy books of 2020 to take you away, the list above should provide you with some great reading. Plus, many of the books featured on this list come from series’ and if you find one you like you can add to them easily.
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