The best fantasy books to read again and again

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been a huge fan of fantasy since I was a child, starting off with high fantasy before trying out urban. The genre helps me escape from the real world for a while and fires my imagination. I write fantasy books because there is no limit on what you can do with characters and storyline. I write for pleasure and I hope others get enjoyment out of my work. I read a lot, not to get ideas, but just for the pure pleasure of reading. There is just something about the feeling of turning the pages of a printed book you can’t get anywhere else.


I wrote...

The Guide

By Trudie Collins,

Book cover of The Guide

What is my book about?

The king is dead, leaving no clear successor. Prince Tor and his brothers must take part in a quest full of cryptic clues, the winner of which will earn the right to claim the throne. Already Tor has lost companions and witnessed the death of one of his brothers. 

In a world full of witches, wizards, mythical creatures, and monsters, Tor and his team must use all of their wits, skills, and magical ability to solve the remaining puzzles before any more of them die. When the latest clue requires them to seek "a guide from another world," finding the person is the easy part; persuading them to risk their life for a group of strangers is a much greater challenge.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Daughter of the Blood

Trudie Collins Why did I love this book?

This is the first in the Blood Jewels series, all of which you will want to read again and again. The characters are so addictive you just want to keep reading about them. The story draws you into a world you can lose yourself in and the way magic works doesn’t rely on spells, but on the strength of the person wielding it. You won’t be able to stop yourself from reading every book in the series. For me, the sign of a good book is it contains a character to fall in love with. This has a few.

By Anne Bishop,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Daughter of the Blood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*NOW CELEBRATING IT'S 25TH YEAR IN PRINT!*

In the first novel in New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s beloved Black Jewels Trilogy, a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels will meet their once and future queen…
 
Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to…


Book cover of Pawn of Prophecy

Trudie Collins Why did I love this book?

I first read this book (and the rest in the series) when I was in middle school and have read them all many times since. I get more out of them with each read. The first book builds up the characters and the history of a world that fires your imagination. The reader learns more as the main character does and you feel you are growing up with him. This is the book that first got me interested in Fantasy and I have become addicted to the genre. 

By David Eddings,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Pawn of Prophecy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The first part of a saga set against a history of 7000 years of struggles of gods and kings and men. Long ago, the evil god Torak sought dominion and drove men and gods to war. Belgarath the Sorcerer led a quest to reclaim the Orb of Aldur - but so long as it lay at Riva, men would be safe.


Book cover of Magician: Apprentice

Trudie Collins Why did I love this book?

This is the first book in a series that goes on and on, following the life of a couple of characters as the world changes around them. Spanning two different worlds, this first book builds up a number of characters you want to keep reading about. As the series continues through time, new threats to the two worlds introduce new characters. What I like most about this series is it keeps moving the worlds forward instead of stagnating.

By Raymond E. Feist,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Magician as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the westernmost province of the Kingdom of the Isles, upon the world of Midkemia, an orphan kitchen boy named Pug was made apprentice to the magician Kulgan.

Here starts an adventure that will span lifetimes and worlds. Discover where the story begins.

The world had changed even before I discovered the foreign ship wrecked on the shore below Crydee Castle, but it was the harbinger of the chaos and death that was coming to our door.

War had come to the Kingdom of the Isles, and in the years that followed it would scatter my friends across the world.…


Book cover of Michael's Passion

Trudie Collins Why did I love this book?

This urban fantasy about angels blew me away. I liked it so much I had to read everything in the series as soon as it was available. It was completely different to anything I had read before in regard to the storyline. It is so well written you can easily picture the characters and the scenes and you feel you are part of the story as you read. Each character is unique and you just want to keep finding out more and more about them.

By Joel Crofoot,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Michael's Passion as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"I loved this book so incredibly much, beyond my wildest expectations. I cried and cried, and read the entire book in one night." ★★★★★

"This book is life!"  ★★★★★

"This book had it all for me and I absolutely loved it. I laughed out loud, I nearly cried (twice), and I was gripping my phone because of action or a tense scene. If you like paranormal romances this is a must read!" ★★★★★



He'd follow her into hell, but will she lead him there?

When the Archangel Michael captures a demon he can’t bring himself to kill he must decide…


Book cover of The Colour of Magic

Trudie Collins Why did I love this book?

Once you start with Terry Pratchett, you won’t be able to stop. His books are highly entertaining and he has a unique style of writing that makes them something special. He develops a number of different characters throughout the books, but this first one contains my favourite: Rincewind, the most inept wizard ever created (and don’t get me started on the Luggage). The world the discworld series is set in is so far beyond anything anyone else has done it is amazing. Ridiculous, but amazing.      

By Terry Pratchett,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Colour of Magic as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There's an avaricious buy inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who only exist if you believe in them, and of course The Edge of the planet...


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Conditions are Different After Dark

By Owen W. Knight,

Book cover of Conditions are Different After Dark

Owen W. Knight Author Of The Visitors

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Visionary Compassionate Imaginative Conspiracist Apophenia (or apophenic)

Owen's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

In 1662, a man is wrongly executed for signing the death warrant of Charles I. Awaiting execution, he asks to speak with a priest, to whom he declares a curse on the village that betrayed him. The priest responds with a counter-curse, leaving just one option to nullify it.

Over four centuries later, Faith and James move to the country to start a new life and a family. They discover their village lives under the curse uttered by the hanged man. Could their arrival be connected? They fear their choice of new home is no coincidence. Unexplained events hint at threats or warnings to leave. They become convinced the village remains cursed despite their friends’ denials. Who can they trust, and who are potential enemies?

Conditions are Different After Dark

By Owen W. Knight,

What is this book about?

In 1660, a man is wrongly executed for signing the death warrant of Charles I. While awaiting execution, he asks to speak with a priest, to whom he declares a curse on the village that betrayed him. The priest responds with a counter-curse, leaving just one option to nullify it.
Over four centuries later, Faith and James move to the country to start a new life and a family. They learn that their village lives under the curse uttered by the hanged man. Could their arrival be connected?
Faith and James fear that their choice of a new home is…


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