The best fantasy books to make you love the world you live in

Who am I?

I am a 68-year-old Emergency Room Physician who deals with life and death and tremendous stress every hour at work. When I read, I want to relax and be entertained I personally like YA fantasy books. I do not want to read adult fictionized stories about the life I live every day. I want to be taken off to a new world. Emersed in it. And made to believe the unbelievable. 


I wrote...

Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw

By D. A. Mucci,

Book cover of Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw

What is my book about?

Fifteen-year-old Iggy is prepared to face his first days of high school...but is he ready to face mythical creatures, black magic wizards, and sword fights where people get killed?

Iggy’s never thought of himself as a fighter. But as he learns more about the strange place he’s landed, one thing becomes abundantly clear, I the World of Skye needs a hero. And Iggy just might be the one they’re looking for, even if he’s not so sure.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Elizabeth's Legacy

By Victor Kloss,

Book cover of Elizabeth's Legacy

Why did I love this book?

The Royal Institute of Magic was a story that was character driven. Victor Kloss did such a great job distinguishing each character from the other that I felt I knew them personally. At the end of each book, I found myself ordering up the next installment because I wanted to find out what happened to each character and how they grew into adults and as friends. It was pure entertainment.

By Victor Kloss,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Like most normal people, Ben hadn't the faintest idea there was an Institute of Magic...

Two years after his parents’ sudden disappearance, Ben Greenwood stumbles upon a cryptic letter that could shed some light on their whereabouts. But before he can track them down, he’ll need to find the mysterious organization that sent the letter:

The Royal Institute of Magic.

To succeed, Ben will have to navigate a land filled with fantastic creatures and Spellshooters, where magic can be bought and sold, to unravel an ancient family secret that could hold the key to defeating an evil the Institute has…


Neverwhere

By Neil Gaiman,

Book cover of Neverwhere

Why did I love this book?

How can one not like this book? It sucks you in without you realizing what life’s moral story it is based on. There is no preaching or in your face. Just excitement and entertainment. In the end when you realize the story is about homeless people who are totally ignored in everyday life you say “Wow” and realize the moral of the story. And it hits many of us one way or another and how we look at those less fortunate. What a master Neil is, to entertain and teach

By Neil Gaiman,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

THE EXTRAORDINARY FIRST NOVEL BY THE MASTER OF STORYTELLING

'Prose that dances and dazzles . . . Gaiman describes the indescribable' SUSANNA CLARKE

'It's virtually impossible to read more than ten words by Neil Gaiman and not wish he would tell you the rest of the story' OBSERVER

'Much too clever to be caught in the net of a single interpretation' PHILIP PULLMAN

ACCLAIMED BBC RADIO 4 DRAMATISATION WITH ALL-STAR CAST INCLUDING JAMES MCAVOY, NATALIE DORMER, DAVID HAREWOOD, SOPHIE OKONEDO AND BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

---

'I love doors. Anything that leads to possibilities' NEIL GAIMAN

---

Under the streets of London…


Artemis Fowl

By Eoin Colfer,

Book cover of Artemis Fowl

Why did I love this book?

Artemis Fowl is simply a fun and relaxing story. As an adult, I enjoyed how Eoin Colfer was able to take a YA story and write it so an adult in his 60s kept turning the pages. It was well thought out and the science behind it was completely believable, for a fantasy. 

By Eoin Colfer,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Now an original movie on Disney+!

Twelve-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl has discovered a world below ground of armed and dangerous--and extremely high-tech--fairies. He kidnaps one of them, Holly Short, and holds her for ransom in an effort to restore his family's fortune. But he may have underestimated the fairies' powers. Is he about to trigger a cross-species war?

Disney's “Artemis Fowl” is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, with Josh Gad, and Judi Dench.


The Eye of the World

By Robert Jordan,

Book cover of The Eye of the World

Why did I love this book?

Adventure awaits you in each and every book in this series. It is easy to see why they made a TV series around the books. However, the books are much better than the series. The weaving of the plot with the wonderful characterization makes this series a page-turner. 

By Robert Jordan,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked The Eye of the World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the Two Rivers seeking their master's enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al'Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light .

Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel…


The Mortal Instruments: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1

By Cassandra Clare, Cassandra Jean (artist),

Book cover of The Mortal Instruments: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1

Why did I love this book?

I loved this series because it took a person who was struggling in life and brought them into a new and more deadly world where her struggles became more intense and real. She had to grow, trust herself, and learn how and who to trust in this new world. It was filled with Runes magic and though character driven it had a plot that pulled you along. 

By Cassandra Clare, Cassandra Jean (artist),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Mortal Instruments as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Cassandra Clare's bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments, is adapted into a graphic novel series!


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in good and evil, magic-supernatural, and business leaders?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about good and evil, magic-supernatural, and business leaders.

Good And Evil Explore 119 books about good and evil
Magic-Supernatural Explore 551 books about magic-supernatural
Business Leaders Explore 55 books about business leaders