Books are a great way to distract yourself from the stressful outside world. Fantasy books are especially able to transport you to a new world. Fantasy books usually take place in an alternate/make-believe world or in our world but with magical or non-normal characteristics. There are high fantasy books and low fantasy books. High fantasy books have lots of magical elements like made-up creatures or technology and are set in alternate worlds. Low Fantasy books do include magical elements but they appear in our world and can be less intense. Fantasy also has many of its own subgenres. Examples of these subgenres are dragon fantasy, historical fantasy, medieval fantasy, mythic fantasy, sword and sorcery, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy. There are so many options to choose from. Also diving into a good fantasy book can be a great way to boost your mood or spend some free time. The following books listed are five fantasy books that are a great start if you want to dive into the fantasy genre.
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
The Crown’s Game made my list because the storyline is very intriguing and was different from other fantasy books I’ve read. This book takes place in an alternate magical Russia. There are only two enchanters in all of Russia. These enchanters have to compete with their powers to see who can become an imperial enchanter. The king will choose the winner and the loser will die. Our enchanters’ names are Vika and Nikolai. Nikolai is an orphan who lives in the city, in Galina’s house, the women who took him from his village when they didn’t want him because of his powers. He has been training his whole life to prove to everyone that he belongs there and he plans on becoming the imperial enchanter. Vika has lived on an island her whole life and has been practicing her magic for a long time as well. Both hope that they will be able to win the game but killing each other might be the hardest part. Their magic calls to each other so once their lives intertwine things become more complicated because neither wants the other to die. This book falls under the urban or contemporary fantasy subgenre and becomes suspenseful towards the end when things become more complicated. If you want to read a less common fantasy concept and something that keeps you on the edge then this book is a good fit.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Shadow and Bone was another book that made my list because of its magical elements and the way the world is built throughout the story. It takes place in the Grishaverse universe which was inspired by an early 19th century Russia. The city of focus is called Ravka which is war-torn. We follow Alina who’s an orphan and how quickly her life changes when she discovers she has one of the rarest powers. She discovers it when she and her regime are attacked as they cross the shadow-fold area of land that is always dark and filled with monsters. Alina’s life quickly changes from living in camps to living in the lavish world of the Grisha who live like royalty. There she trains with the other Grisha but she begins to discover secrets that can threaten the nation. This book falls under the subgenre of adventure fantasy and is a very intriguing story worth the read if you want something with a fascinating magic system.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl made the list because it was a fun and interesting story to follow along with. We follow Artemis Fowl who is a 12-year-old genius, millionaire, and criminal mastermind. He has discovered that high-tech elve fairies are living deep in the ground. These fairies are dangerous but also have a lot of gold. He captures one of these fairies, Holly Short. He holds her for ransom so that he can restore his family’s fortune. He thinks everything will go according to plan but he has underestimated the fairies’ power. He might just start a war between the fairy and the human world. This book is a good read if you want a fun short story that doesn’t get too complicated but is still interesting to read.
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. It made the list because the book really intrigued me with its unique magic system. We follow Clary whose life drastically changes when she witnesses three people kill someone. She learns that they are shadow hunters and dedicate themselves to killing evil creatures like the one they killed in front of her. Clary’s life completely changes in the next few hours as her mother disappears and Clary almost dies from a creature attacking her. Clary slowly discovers more about the shadow hunter world and how her mother’s disappearance might be connected to it. This book and the series all together are very intriguing. So if you want to dive into a complex story with an interesting magic system the Mortal Instruments series is a good choice.
The Sisters Grimm: The Fairytale Detectives by Michael Buckley
The final book that made the list was The Sisters Grimm: The Fairytale Detectives. This book made the list because it was nice to see the references to other classic fairytale stories. In the first book, we follow Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. They are going to live with their grandmother after their parents disappear but they had never heard of their grandma before. They also discover they are descendants of the brothers Grimm and that the book that they wrote was never a fairytale book but a history book. The sisters soon discover that the people living in the town are the characters from the fairytales. When a giant becomes loose in the town they have to go stop him and figure out who set him free. Soon they realize that most of the fairy-tale characters are out to get the sisters though they don’t know why. This book and the series are great for someone looking for a fast-paced read filled with whimsical magic.
These five books are great reading options for someone who wants to test out the fantasy book genre. Reading is such a great way to destress yourself and take a break from our chaotic lives. Fantasy books especially can be a great way to distract yourself because of the magical elements they have.
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