Fantasy is one of the pillars of modern literature, arguably far more than any other genre. Logically, it’s also among the most overcrowded genres, producing countless titles each year, almost all of them overshadowed by the big bestsellers. Sadly, it’s also full of undiscovered gems and cult classics. These books are the focus of this list.
The titles below range from joyful adventures to the grittiest grimdark, action-packed romps to deeply philosophical character studies. While they’re not all that obscure, they’re the kind of novels that many fantasy fans might not have gotten around to reading yet (or, indeed, in some cases, perhaps never even heard of).
‘The Serpents of Arakesh’ (2003)
“Some cities devour souls long before they devour bodies.” Overshadowed by other blockbuster fantasy series in the 2000s, The Karazan Quartet by V.M. Jones is a charming saga for young readers. The main character is Adam Equinox, an orphan who wins a chance to work alongside the mysterious and brilliant software developer Quentin Quested. However, the prize turns out to be dangerous, sending Adam and his companions into a parallel world where the fearsome Serpents of Arakesh protect a treasure of immeasurable value.
Breezy and packed with fun moments, The Serpents of Arakesh riffs on a bunch of inspirations, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Harry Potter, Deltora Quest, and even some hints of Indiana Jones. It’s classic fantasy stuff: magic, portals, puzzles, healing potions, an underdog hero, and non-stop, fast-paced adventure.
‘The Book of Three’ (1964)
“There are those who believe that all things are possible with courage.” This warm high fantasy adventure served as the basis for the Disney cult classic The Black Cauldron. It centers on Taran, an assistant pig-keeper living in the magical land of Prydain who dreams desperately of becoming a great hero. When the prophetic pig Hen Wen disappears, Taran embarks on a dangerous journey involving princes, enchantresses, warriors, and the rising threat of the evil Horned King.
Structurally, the novel follows familiar fantasy-adventure rhythms, but it stands out with its heart and sincerity. The protagonist, in particular, is remarkably earnest, and his fears and insecurities make him relatable. His character grows a lot throughout the story. The supporting cast is memorable too, including characters like the fiercely independent Princess Eilonwy and the endlessly boastful Fflewddur Fflam, a king turned wandering bard.
‘His Majesty’s Dragon’ (2006)
“We may be creatures of instinct, but that does not make us beasts.” The book starts with a juicy premise: what if the Napoleonic Wars had been fought with dragons as aerial military forces? In this alternate history, young British naval captain William Laurence unexpectedly bonds with a newly hatched dragon named Temeraire, forcing him to abandon his career and enter Britain’s dragon corps during the wars against Napoleon.
The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire quickly becomes the heart of the novel. Bucking genre convention, the dragon is intelligent, curious, stubborn, and morally perceptive in ways that constantly challenge the rigid hierarchies of human society. Meanwhile, Laurence must slowly reevaluate his understanding of class and duty. All in all, His Majesty’s Dragon is a charming fusion of historical fiction, military adventure, and draconic fantasy, told through rich prose that evokes nineteenth-century literature.
‘A Brightness Long Ago’ (2019)
“We remember people by the stories attached to them.” Another gem loosely inspired by real-world historical wars, A Brightness Long Ago takes place in Batiara, a realm based on Renaissance Italy. The protagonist is tailor’s son Danio Cerra, who is admitted to a prestigious school and soon becomes entangled with all sorts of colorful and dangerous figures, including powerful mercenary commanders, political rulers, and even assassins.
The worldbuilding here is very impressive. Batiara feels it feels rich and lived-in; the historical influences are clear, but the slight fantasy distance allows author Guy Gavriel Kay to reshape events and themes in ways that serve the story and up the ante. Crucially, he keeps the characters front and center; they’re psychologically complex, and their decisions drive the action. The book’s conflicts emerge from politics, ambition, loyalty, love, and war rather than supernatural forces.
‘The Dragonbone Chair’ (1988)
“There are no simple truths in the world.” Epic fantasy owes an enormous debt to Tad Williams. The Dragonbone Chair is the first installment in his ambitious Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. In it, kitchen boy Simon finds himself swept up in the political instability and ancient supernatural forces threatening the kingdom of Osten Ard. What initially appears to be a relatively traditional coming-of-age fantasy gradually expands into a massive, richly layered story involving forgotten histories, immortal races, magical swords, prophecy, and civil war.
The book excels at balancing familiar fantasy elements with fresh ideas. Although a lot of the narrative beats are classic genre fare, Williams approaches these elements with greater complexity than many of his predecessors. Characters often possess mixed motives, political tensions matter more than magical threats, and the story emphasizes history and culture as much as action.
‘Night of Knives’ (2004)
“Empires die slowly, then all at once.” Night of Knives is a book set in the sprawling world of the Malazan Empire, but it’s much shorter and punchier than most of the massive tomes in that series. Indeed, the whole plot takes place over a single catastrophic night. We follow characters like the ambitious soldier Temper and former assassin Kiska as they navigate a city descending into supernatural chaos during the mysterious Shadow Moon event.
These dual protagonists are very compelling, and their contrasting perspectives add a lot of depth to the tale. Taken together, Night of Knives is one of the most accessible Malazan books. The smaller cast, simpler plot structure, and shorter length make it a useful entry point for readers curious about the world but hesitant to commit to a ten-volume epic. It’s enjoyable on its own terms even if you never check out the sequels.
‘The Dying Earth’ (1950)
“There are worlds beyond wisdom and suns beyond memory.” The Dying Earth is a collection of interconnected stories set so far in the future that the sun itself is nearing extinction. Civilization has decayed into strange fragments of magic, forgotten science, bizarre creatures, and morally dubious wanderers drifting across a dying planet. Author Jack Vance, a giant of the genre, conjures up a world that feels decadent, surreal, and faintly absurd, where ancient knowledge survives only in scattered remnants, but human folly knows no bounds.
The Dying Earth was influential in a number of ways, solidifying certain post-apocalyptic tropes and even lending ideas to the magic system in Dungeons & Dragons, particularly Vance’s concept of wizards memorizing a limited number of spells that vanish from memory once cast. Story aside, the book simply charms with its elegant and drily witty writing style.
‘The Black Company’ (1984)
“Soldiers live. Soldiers die. And no one remembers.” Few books have reshaped fantasy’s tone as dramatically as The Black Company. It’s the foundation of the whole grimdark subgenre. The novel revolves around an elite mercenary company employed by the terrifying Lady, ruler of a dark empire feared across the land. But rather than focusing on chosen heroes or noble kings, the story unfolds through the perspective of Croaker, the company physician, whose weary narration gives the novel its distinctive voice.
Author Glen Cook essentially pioneered modern military fantasy by treating warfare as brutal labor carried out by morally compromised people trying simply to survive. The tone is one of fatalistic camaraderie: the soldiers argue, joke, complain, and struggle through muddy campaigns like exhausted veterans. They also make mistakes, sometimes even commit terrible acts. Countless fantasy writers since have borrowed from this approach.
‘Till We Have Faces’ (1956)
“How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?” C.S. Lewis is world-famous for his Narnia books, though they represent only a fraction of his writing, both within fantasy and without. Till We Have Faces is one of his most profound projects, a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Psyche’s jealous sister Orual. We follow her as she struggles with love, possessiveness, faith, beauty, and resentment across decades of political and personal turmoil.
Unlike Lewis’s more straightforward fantasy works, this novel is intensely psychological and philosophical. Orual herself is remarkably three-dimensional, simultaneously deeply intelligent and painfully self-deceptive, but also courageous, and sometimes even compassionate. Through her, the book asks sharp questions around the difference between genuine love and mere possessiveness. Lewis was deeply concerned with spiritual and ethical themes, and this book explores them with grace.
‘Midnight Over Sanctaphrax’ (2000)
“The sky is deeper and stranger than anyone knows.” Midnight Over Sanctaphrax is perhaps the finest book in The Edge Chronicles, a series written by Paul Stewart and illustrated by Chris Riddell. Our hero, Twig, is a young sky pirate captain living in a world built upon floating cities, airborne ships, monstrous creatures, and dangerous skies filled with storms and floating rocks. After discovering that the floating city of Sanctaphrax faces catastrophic destruction, Twig becomes entangled in political conspiracies and scientific mysteries threatening the future of the entire Edge.
The Edge is an almost absurdly imaginative place, replete with its own strange ecosystems, social norms, and peculiar technologies, all lovingly brought to life by the detailed black-and-white artwork scattered through the book. At the same time, the plot is killer, rarely wasting any time, and the characters are all memorable in their own ways. Just a banger all round.
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