The best fantasy

Magic, invented worlds and fairy-tale settings. Ranked by tier, then by how often the lists chose them.

20 novels, ranked best first

The Lord of the Rings is the highest-rated fantasy novel, on 9 of the 17 lists it could have made.

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The Lord of the Rings

J. R. R. Tolkien, 1954

All-Time Canon

Stood the Test of Time

On 9 of the 17 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK Bookshop.org

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll, 1865

All-Time Canon

On 6 of the 13 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £4.89 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

The Master and Margarita

Mikhail Bulgakov, 1966

Essential

On 3 of the 11 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £8.99 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

The Chronicles of Narnia

C. S. Lewis, 1950

Acclaimed

On 3 of the 16 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £15.37 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke, 2020

Rising Star

Readers' Favourite
Prize Winner

On 3 of the 12 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £9.49 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

The Midnight Library

Matt Haig, 2020

Rising Star

Readers' Favourite

On 3 of the 11 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £8.99 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

Babel

R. F. Kuang, 2022

Rising Star

Readers' Favourite
Prize Winner

On 2 of the 12 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £9.99 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

His Dark Materials

Philip Pullman, 1995

On 3 of the 20 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £14.03 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

A Game of Thrones

George R. R. Martin, 1996

Readers' Favourite

On 3 of the 18 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £3.42 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

C.S. Lewis, 1950

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 16 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £7.35 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

The Fifth Season

N. K. Jemisin, 2015

Critics' Darling

On 2 of the 15 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £8.98 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

Circe

Madeline Miller, 2018

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 15 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £9.77 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

J. K. Rowling, 2000

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 21 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £9.24 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

Artemis Fowl

Eoin Colfer, 2001

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 17 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £7.71 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

Night Watch

Terry Pratchett, 2002

On 2 of the 19 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £9.99 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:41, 10 Nov · Details

The Colour of Magic

Terry Pratchett, 1983

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 19 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £7.99 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

How to Stop Time

Matt Haig, 2017

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 14 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £7.59 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

J. K. Rowling, 1997

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 21 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £6.00 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

The Snow Child

Eowyn Ivey, 2012

Readers' Favourite

On 2 of the 15 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK £10.27 Bookshop.orgPrice as of 13:42, 10 Nov · Details

The Harry Potter series

J. K. Rowling, 1997

On 2 of the 21 lists it was eligible for

Amazon UK Bookshop.org

Lists used on this page

The 100 best novels of all time, The Guardian (2026). Original list
The 100 best novels written in English, The Guardian / Observer (2015). Original list
The 100 greatest novels of all time, The Observer (2003). Original list
The 100 best books of the 21st century, The Guardian (2019). Original list
The 100 greatest British novels, BBC Culture (2015). Original list
100 novels that shaped our world, BBC Arts (2019). Original list
100 novels everyone should read, The Telegraph (2009). Original list
All-Time 100 Novels, Time (2005). Original list
The 100 best books of the 21st century, The New York Times (2024). Original list
100 books of the century, Le Monde (1999). Original list
Women's Prize for Fiction (winners and shortlists), Women's Prize Trust (1996-). Original list
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (winners and finalists), Columbia University (1918-). Original list
Costa (Whitbread) Novel Award (winners and shortlists), Costa (1971-2021). Original list
British Book Awards: Fiction Book of the Year (winners and shortlists), The Bookseller (1990-). Original list
The Big Read top 100, BBC (2003). Original list
Readers' top 100 novels, The Guardian (2026). Original list
The Great American Read, PBS (2018). Original list
Goodreads Choice Awards: Fiction and Historical Fiction winners, Goodreads (2009-). Original list
Richard & Judy Book Club picks, Richard & Judy / WHSmith (2004-). Original list
Waterstones Book of the Year (winners and shortlists), Waterstones (2012-). Original list
100 Books to Read in a Lifetime, Amazon.co.uk (2014). Original list