Best Epic Fantasy Books

The Lord of the Rings. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind themIn ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths

The book that started it all.

The George R.R. Martin Song Of Ice and Fire.
George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has become, in many ways, the gold standard for modern epic fantasy. Martin--dubbed the American Tolkien by Time magazine--has created a world that is as rich and vital as any piece of historical fiction

The Chronicles of Narnia [C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes].

Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures and epic battles between good and evil—the book that has it all is the lion

The bastard sons of kings play a noble role in fantasy: not only were King Arthur and Modred by-blows, but it is often suggested that Merlin himself came to power from the "wrong side of the bed." While Hobb's offering has a few too many illegitimate heirs backstabbing around, this is still a delightful take on the powers and politics behind the throne.

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass (Everyman's Library (Cloth)) [Philip Pullman, Lucy Hughes-Hallett].

Philip Pullman's trilogy is a masterpiece that transcends genre and appeals to readers of all ages. His heroine

A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1) [Ursula K. Le Guin].

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea,  but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless  youth

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine.

Starred Review. Reviewed by Megan Whalen Turner If there really are only seven original plots in the world, it's odd that boy meets girl is always mentioned, and society goes bad and attacks the good guy never is. Yet we have Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, The House of the Scorpion-and now, following a long tradition of Brave New Worlds, The Hunger Games.

Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen) [Steven Erikson]The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations with ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions

The Silmarillion [J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, Ted Nasmith]
The tales of The Silmarillion were the underlying inspiration and source of J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginative writing; he worked on the book throughout his life but never brought it to a final form. Long preceding in its origins The Lord of the Rings

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) [Stephen King]. Eerie, dreamlike, set in a world that is weirdly related to our own, The Gunslinger introduces Roland Deschain of Gilead

The Children of Húrin [J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, Alan Lee]

Long before the One Ring was forged in the fires of Mount Doom, one man—Húrin—dared to defy Morgoth

The veil between the worlds is narrow here. Twists and turns on almost every page right from the gory beginning to the intriguing finale.
If Bryony cannot save Sheean in time, the Human and Faerie realms will be destroyed and her dreams of becoming a queen along with them.

Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword

Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera, Book 1) [Jim Butcher]. For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world