The best wizard books

Who picked these books? Meet our 198 experts.

198 authors created a book list connected to wizards, and here are their favorite wizard books.
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Dark Lord of Derkholm

By Diana Wynne Jones,

Book cover of Dark Lord of Derkholm

Jinn Nelson Author Of Traveler

From the list on underrated humorous fantasy with happy endings.

Who am I?

As a fantasy writer, I love to play with possibilities and invent new words for our experiences. I find that humorous fantasy is especially powerful in this regard because it pairs possibilities with absurdity, coming at reality sideways or backwards, putting everyday life into a new and more interesting light. Humor has the unique ability to transcend genres, from thrillers to cozy mysteries. It helps you process difficult emotions, or lift your spirits when the world feels a little too dark. These are some of my favorites within this category, and they all happen to be the first books in a series (you’re welcome). I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Jinn's book list on underrated humorous fantasy with happy endings

Discover why each book is one of Jinn's favorite books.

Why did Jinn love this book?

This is a high fantasy adventure that does hilarious things with classic RPG tropes.

A magical kingdom grows fed up with hosting epic fantasy adventures for tourists from the world next door, complete with Wizard Guides, tavern stays, dragons, and epic battles with a Dark Lord.

Wizard Derk is assigned to be this year’s Dark Lord and—while he’s at it—save the world from these destructive tours.

The story romps across countries and continents, includes plenty of action, and doesn’t hold back when it comes to the somewhat messy familial relationships between Derk, his wife, and his children.

This is one of those books that reveals something new every time you read it.

By Diana Wynne Jones,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Dark Lord of Derkholm as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Everyone - wizards, soldiers, farmers, elves, dragons, kings and queens alike - is fed up with Mr Chesney's Pilgrim Parties: groups of tourists from the next-door world who descend en masse every year to take the Grand Tour. What they expect are all the trappings of a grand fantasy adventure, including the Evil Enchantress, Wizard Guides, the Dark Lord, Winged Minions, and all. And every year different people are chosen to play these parts. But now they've had enough: Mr Chesney may be backed by a very powerful demon, but the Oracles have spoken. Nw it's up to the Wizard…


The Colour of Magic

By Terry Pratchett,

Book cover of The Colour of Magic

James Tyler Ball Author Of A Fantasy Novel That Gets Straight to the Point: An Utterly Ridiculous Journey

From the list on to get started with fantasy.

Who am I?

I’ve always been somewhat of an idiot optimist coming up with new and frivolous ideas. Yet, despite trying to inject my last three books with humour representative of myself, I feel a certain sense of seriousness in them. The fantasy genre has helped me shirk that feeling, allowing me to write uninhibited by regular boundaries. Without becoming captivated by George R.R. Martin and Terry Pratchett, I’d probably still be stuck trying to carve out a place in literary fiction—how serious. Fantasy works better for me—I like to make things up, and I like light-hearted books. 

James' book list on to get started with fantasy

Discover why each book is one of James' favorite books.

Why did James love this book?

The Colour of Magic is the first entry in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and it’s a classic—it being a children’s book should not put you off.

In fact, if you’re new to fantasy, enjoying the light-hearted nature of Pratchett’s work and his appeal to the child’s mind only makes the book more fantastic. I don’t believe I’ve found another fantasy novel that matches the imagination found in The Colour of Magic.


It’s this imagination of Pratchett’s—and his unrelenting self-awareness—that inspired my latest book.

By Terry Pratchett,

Why should I read it?

6 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...


Uprooted

By Naomi Novik,

Book cover of Uprooted

Sara Raztresen Author Of The Glass Witch

From the list on bringing folk, magic, and fantasy off the page.

Who am I?

I’m a fantasy writer and Christian witch with over 10 years of research, practice, and passion under my hat. Discovering the fantastical concept of “real world” magic as a youth—and the ways in which the institutions in power have tried so hard to stamp it out, despite it being an undeniable part of our cultural and spiritual psyche—has inspired me to explain all I know in my fantasy and seek out all the magic and wonder in my reality. After all, our fantasy stories must get their inspiration from the real world—from all the magic, mysticism, and struggle hidden under the pretty face of mainstream religion.

Sara's book list on bringing folk, magic, and fantasy off the page

Discover why each book is one of Sara's favorite books.

Why did Sara love this book?

Uprooted has it all: the cultural Easter eggs, the adventure and fantasy, and of course, the touch of enemies-to-lovers romance that, to me, completes any story set in its own world. The main character was a gem, as was her counterpart, the Dragon. Both of them were spunky in their own way, grating against each other as they held their ground in a relationship neither of them expected to develop the way it did. 

I also tend to learn quite a bit from my fantasy books as much as my academic books when it comes to my own magic, and this here was a fantastic example of ceremonial magicians vs. witches. Whereas the Dragon spend a lot of time holed up over grimoires and texts by their predecessors, those who take a more personal and fluid approach to magic, like Agnieszka, are making magic with whatever’s available, to serve their…

By Naomi Novik,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A dark enchantment blights the land in the award-winning Uprooted - a enthralling fantasy inspired by fairy tales, by Naomi Novik, author of the Temeraire series.

Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel
Winner of the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
Winner of the British Fantasy Society Award for Best Novel

Agnieszka loves her village, set deep in a peaceful valley. But the nearby enchanted forest casts a shadow over her home. Many have been lost to the Wood and none return unchanged. The villagers depend on an ageless wizard, the Dragon, to protect them from the forest's…


Book cover of The Girl & the Galdurian

Eric Grissom Author Of Goblin

From the list on adventure and strange mystery fantasy.

Who am I?

I’ve always been drawn to the woods. There’s something strange and mysterious about the trees. It’s a place where true magic feels possible. I enjoy stories that recreate this feeling. That keep that sense of mystery. That don’t feel the need to explain every detail or every strange occurrence within their pages. Stories that build deep worlds over time, but maintain a sense of wonder. I love stories that are funny, that aren’t afraid to be weird or dark, and that have a strong heart. They are the type of stories I try to tell in my own work and the ones I most love to get lost in.

Eric's book list on adventure and strange mystery fantasy

Discover why each book is one of Eric's favorite books.

Why did Eric love this book?

Lightfall is a gorgeous tale and one of those wonderful fantasy adventures that takes place in a world peppered with hints of a larger mythology. One that grows and deepens with each re-read. Tim Probet has crafted a touching and heartfelt tale of overcoming fear and anxiety. He’s an author whose sensibilities are similar to my own and I immediately connected with it.  

A new volume is due soon and I highly recommend this to anyone, both kids and adults, who love epic adventures in fantastical worlds.

By Tim Probert,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Girl & the Galdurian as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times bestselling author Kazu Kibuishi says of Lightfall: "Beautifully drawn. Tim Probert has created a world readers will want to visit."

For fans of Amulet and middle grade readers who love sweeping worlds like Star Wars, the first book of the Lightfall series introduces Bea and Cad, two unlikely friends who get swept up in an epic quest to save their world from falling into eternal darkness.

Deep in the heart of the planet Irpa stands the Salty Pig's House of Tonics & Tinctures, home of the wise Pig Wizard and his adopted granddaughter, Bea. As keepers of…


Book cover of The Secret of Platform 13

Melissa Marr Author Of The Hidden Dragon

From the list on if you want to go on a magical adventure.

Who am I?

I grew up on fairy tales and folklore in the Appalachian Mountains. Stories of adventure and dusty fairy tale books in my grandmother’s attic were my entertainment. The library trips we took “into town” added to my reading. I discovered that the step from fairy tales to classics wasn’t as wide as folks argue. Years later, when I went off to college, I became an English major, then a graduate student, and then started teaching literature at college. From childhood to adulthood, magic and fiction were my life... which led to selling a book of my own. Over the last 17 years, I’ve been writing fantasy.

Melissa's book list on if you want to go on a magical adventure

Discover why each book is one of Melissa's favorite books.

Why did Melissa love this book?

Long before Harry Potter came The Secret of Platform 13, and the idea of a railroad station where a magical doorway existed.

I grew up in a town built on the railroad. My grandfather worked as a mechanic at the railyard. My field trips were to train museum or train-related locations, so the idea of hidden portal there made perfect sense to my childhood heart.

Trains take us places, why not a magical world? It simply makes sense to me to find a magical world beyond a train station.

By Eva Ibbotson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Secret of Platform 13 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Under Platform 13 at King's Cross Station there is a secret door that leads to a magical island . . .

It appears only once every nine years. And when it opens, four mysterious figures step into the streets of London. A wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young hag have come to find the prince of their kingdom, stolen as a baby nine years before.

But the prince has become a horrible rich boy called Raymond Trottle, who doesn't understand magic and is determined not to be rescued.

Shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, The Secret of Platform 13…


Tehanu

By Ursula K. Le Guin,

Book cover of Tehanu

Adina Rishe Gewirtz Author Of Blue Window

From the list on literary fantasies for young adults.

Who am I?

I’ve always been a daydreamer – I spent a lot of my childhood imagining the different places I could go if I just crawled through some magical crack in the universe or discovered a hidden tunnel under my bedroom floor. So fantasy has been at the top of my reading list forever. Fantasy does what all great books do, just more explicitly – they take you somewhere new, and by leaving this world behind, they give you a fresh perspective on everything that’s old and familiar. My favorite fantasies take big ideas and play them out in language rich enough to make me love that new and alien place with a passion. 

Adina's book list on literary fantasies for young adults

Discover why each book is one of Adina's favorite books.

Why did Adina love this book?

Ursula K. LeGuin was the first writer who taught me that words can transport you not just into other worlds, but into other people. In this book, she continues the story of Tenar, the escaped priestess of the Wizard of Earthsea series, as she adopts and cares for a brutalized child. Of all the Earthsea books, this one is my favorite for the way in which LeGuin takes the seemingly mundane details of Tenar’s life as she struggles to protect Tehanu and turns them into something deeper and more profound than even the magic her companion Ged wielded as the great wizard leader in the earlier books in the series. 

By Ursula K. Le Guin,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The fourth book of Earthsea in a beautiful hardback edition. Complete the collection with A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Furthest Shore.

With illustrations from Charles Vess

In this fourth novel in the Earthsea series, we rejoin the young priestess the Tenar and powerful wizard Ged. Years before, they had helped each other at a time of darkness and danger. Together, they shared an adventure like no other. Tenar has since embraced the simple pleasures of an ordinary life, while Ged mourns the powers lost to him through no choice of his own.
Now the two…


Sunny and the Seven Streams of Income

By Andrea N Pope, Naomi Amevinya (illustrator),

Book cover of Sunny and the Seven Streams of Income

Leslie Clark Author Of O is for Ownership! The ABCs of the Stock Market for Beginners

From the list on children’s stories for financial wizards-in-training.

Who am I?

Growing up I noticed that a lot of my friends would avoid conversations about the stock market mainly because a lack of confidence or knowledge around how it works. I also saw a visible gap in financial literacy among kids that I volunteered with. The school system is doing the best they can, but we can’t rely on them to plant every seed within our kids. With the knowledge gained from friends and countless hours of research from taking classes on the stock market, I created a book that focused on teaching kids about all things stock related but also could be used as a tool of learning for all ages.  

Leslie's book list on children’s stories for financial wizards-in-training

Discover why each book is one of Leslie's favorite books.

Why did Leslie love this book?

I really love Sunny and the Seven Streams of Income book.

Growing up I was not aware of multiple streams of income and I think as parents it's our job to ensure that the next generation is better off than we were. This book plants seeds of things that kids enjoy and can be turned into a way to make money and I love that!

By Andrea N Pope, Naomi Amevinya (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sunny and the Seven Streams of Income as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Every child should know the path to building wealth. Follow Sunny as she learns about the seven streams of income and how they can help her earn enough money to reach her dream goal.


Book cover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

James Tyler Ball Author Of A Fantasy Novel That Gets Straight to the Point: An Utterly Ridiculous Journey

From the list on to get started with fantasy.

Who am I?

I’ve always been somewhat of an idiot optimist coming up with new and frivolous ideas. Yet, despite trying to inject my last three books with humour representative of myself, I feel a certain sense of seriousness in them. The fantasy genre has helped me shirk that feeling, allowing me to write uninhibited by regular boundaries. Without becoming captivated by George R.R. Martin and Terry Pratchett, I’d probably still be stuck trying to carve out a place in literary fiction—how serious. Fantasy works better for me—I like to make things up, and I like light-hearted books. 

James' book list on to get started with fantasy

Discover why each book is one of James' favorite books.

Why did James love this book?

All the Harry Potter books are relatively easy to read, but as the first in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone takes the win as the best introductory fantasy book.

In fact, the Harry Potter series has introduced millions of people to the fantasy genre who wouldn’t otherwise read such books. It’s clear why: the Philosopher’s Stone is light-hearted, funny, relatable, and ten times better than the film. 

By J.K. Rowling,

Why should I read it?

35 authors picked Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Galloping gargoyles ... 2022 is the silver anniversary of J.K. Rowling's magical classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone!

The boy wizard Harry Potter has been casting a spell over young readers and their families ever since 1997. Now the first book in this unmissable series celebrates 25 years in print! The paperback edition of the tale that introduced us to Harry, Ron and Hermione has been updated and dressed in silver to mark the occasion. It's time to take the magical journey of a lifetime ...

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping…


Her Majesty's Wizard

By Christopher Stasheff,

Book cover of Her Majesty's Wizard

P.G. Badzey Author Of Whitehorse Peak

From the list on fantasy with mystery, intrigue, and dash of faith.

Who am I?

Tolkien and Lewis got their hooks into me when I was a teen and this led me to spend many hours playing RPGs, devouring fantasy novels by the armful. Unfortunately, many books were disdainful of faith (particularly of the medieval European variety) but the respectful ones inspired me. Years later, I decided to write my own novels and add a science-based perspective from 20+ years as an engineer. The result is a series of 5 epic fantasy novels. I have plans for more, branching out into sci-fi, romance, children’s books, and historical fiction. My recommendations showcase a few of the writers who inspired me and still provide a model for my work.

P.G.'s book list on fantasy with mystery, intrigue, and dash of faith

Discover why each book is one of P.G.'s favorite books.

Why did P.G. love this book?

A young college student with confidence issues and a knack for verse is transported to a fantasy world where he finds a beautiful queen under siege by a multitude of malevolent actors, a set of unusual companions, and an environment wherein poetry is literally magical. Stasheff’s treatment of faith and magic is thoughtful, his characters interesting and the plot engrossing. I particularly like rooting for the protagonist as he grows, learns, and overcomes. The magic system based on poetry is pure gold and the series has stood the test of time: it’s still as fun of a read now as it was when it first came out.

By Christopher Stasheff,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The first of a light fantasy series, by the author of the "Warlock" series. Matt Mantrell finds himself suddenly transported to a world where magic is worked by the reciting of rhymes. Thrown into jail for practising sorcery, he conjures up a drunken dragon and falls in with a beautiful princess.


Book cover of Master of the Five Magics

Jason Lancour Author Of Rise of the Red Hand

From the list on fantasy featuring a well-structured magic system.

Who am I?

In today’s world we have unprecedented access to knowledge and science. We are increasingly unsatisfied with seemingly impossible things that have no plausible explanation. Speculative fiction is known for asking one simple question “What If?” Science fiction leans toward scenarios that might be possible, whereas fantasy dwells in the world of the impossible. In early fantasy writing we would read about impossible things, and the author would wave it away with a simple “It’s just magic – don’t think about it.” Modern audiences want more. Hard fantasy (where magic systems have a logical and rules-based premise) dares not only to ask “what if” but also suggests “here’s how.”

Jason's book list on fantasy featuring a well-structured magic system

Discover why each book is one of Jason's favorite books.

Why did Jason love this book?

Master of the Five Magics delivers exactly what the title suggests. Hardy creates not only one, but five distinct and well-thought-out systems of magic. Each discipline is different from the next in practice, application, and style. The mechanics of how each of the systems functions is logical, precise, and adheres to a well-planned set of rules. The reader explores the world of magics through immersive storytelling and the reader can enjoy the journey without the perception of having attended a university course on the subject material.

The trilogy is seen as ahead of its time and is often credited as having influenced later authors as they explored the subject of magic in fantasy in their own writings.

By Lyndon Hardy,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Master of the Five Magics as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


Vendora, the crafty queen under siege in a castle that had never fallen.

Alodar, the mere journeyman, learning the least of the five crafts of magic.

He had no right to aspire for her hand --- but aspire he did!

Wizards, sorcerers, dragons, castles, and more!

Alodar's quest takes him from one magical craft to another—each with its own distinct powers and pitfalls. Aided by a mysterious eye from deep within the earth, at a college for magicians, he discovers the secret lying behind the hypnotic flicker of common flame.


Volume 1 of the Magic by the Numbers series


Some…


Wizard's First Rule

By Terry Goodkind,

Book cover of Wizard's First Rule

J.L. Jackola Author Of Adrift

From the list on where romance is as significant as world-building.

Who am I?

As a reader, I have always been partial to fantasy—the sweeping worlds, the heroics, the adventures, and the characters. I grew up immersed in fantasy, and as I began my writing journey, I remained immersed in it. I love being transported to another world and escaping the mundane of life, exchanging it, if only briefly, for a life of excitement and magic. I am a fantasy romance writer at heart, and my writing personifies my love affair with both fantasy and romance. To me, romance is just as tantalizing as world-building. My books consist of powerful romances that weave perfectly with the magical world in which they bloom.

J.L.'s book list on where romance is as significant as world-building

Discover why each book is one of J.L.'s favorite books.

Why did J.L. love this book?

Richard and Kahlan—a match made in fantasy and perfected in adversity.

If there is one book where the romance kept me reading as much as the world-building, it was each book in The Sword of Truth Series and the Richard and Kahlan novels that followed the series.

Wizard’s First Rule pairs the characters after unexpected circumstances. Danger and adventure face them as they venture through a fantasy world that is jaw-dropping in its breadth. As their journey progresses, the challenges they face become more daunting, and with them, the romance blossoms until we can’t imagine Richard without Kahlan by his side.

Terry Goodkind does a phenomenal job pulling our heartstrings, making us gasp and sometimes cringe as the couple’s relationship progresses. This love story is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely worth the investment.

By Terry Goodkind,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Wizard's First Rule as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A beloved fantasy classic and the beginning of one of the most breathtaking adventure stories of all time

One man, Richard Cypher, holds the key to the fate of three nations and of humanity. But until he learns the Wizard's First Rule his chances of succeeding in his task are slim. And his biggest problem is admitting that magic exists at all ...

A novel of incomparable scope and brimming with atmospheric detail: in a world where heart hounds stalk the boundaries for unwary human prey, blood-sucking flies hunt on behalf of their underworld masters, and where artists can draw…


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

By J.K. Rowling, Mary Grandpré (illustrator),

Book cover of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Sean McMahon Author Of Fir Lodge

From the list on time travel you need to read yesterday.

Who am I?

I’ve always been fascinated by time travel as a framing device in stories. Having spent my childhood hoovering up anything I could get my hands on in both the science fiction and straight-up fiction genres, an unexpected byproduct was that I found myself becoming increasingly fascinated with merging the two, eventually wrapping my head around what it would mean if time itself became more than just a construct of our own creation. Asking myself regularly the question; what if it was terrain? It took me thirty-four years to translate all of those ideas into a solid hook for a book. And a further four years to turn that hook into a fully-fledged series.

Sean's book list on time travel you need to read yesterday

Discover why each book is one of Sean's favorite books.

Why did Sean love this book?

Total gear shift, I know, but this is going somewhere, I promise.

I was late to the party with the Potter series, and whilst not many will have the luxury of experiencing this book spoiler-free, the reason I’m recommending this is because of the impact it had on my writing.

There I was reading a book about a magic school and then out of nowhere (okay there was some allusion and one helluva Chekhov’s Gun with that necklace Hermione was rocking) it went full-on sci-fi! This wasn’t just a brief foray into time travel either, it was an entire arc that as a time travel fan I did not see coming and I hoovered up every glorious page of it like a Dyson*.

*Other brands of hoover/vacuum are available.

By J.K. Rowling, Mary Grandpré (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It's time to PASS THE MAGIC ON - with brand new children's editions of the classic and internationally bestselling series The third book in the global phenomenon series that changed the world of books forever When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it's the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run - and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of…


Book cover of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Shea Swain Author Of Heaven on Hell Island

From the list on bad guys who will steal your heart.

Who am I?

As a lover of all things love and being a published author who has read and watched countless romance books and movies, I wanted to recommend bad/gray characters who have stolen my heart because it’s not easy writing a bad guy who deserves your undying love. Most think a bad guy should redeem himself. I believe some should but I also believed some should remain as they are, bad and proud. If I can write a dark character who can steal your heart, then I’ve won a fan for life. Even through bad guys, we can learn life lessons. So, embrace the dark souls in my recs and the ones I’ve written. 

Shea's book list on bad guys who will steal your heart

Discover why each book is one of Shea's favorite books.

Why did Shea love this book?

The Harry Potter series is so good but this particular installment gave you the backstory of one of my favorite characters. Harry is a great character and so are most of the cast but one always stands out. The half-blood prince is a layered character who, by the end of the series, you will realize deserved your love more than anyone else. Who doesn’t love a character who will sacrifice it all, even their whole being for love.

By J.K. Rowling,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New, repackaged audio editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series, read by Stephen Fry containing 17 CDs with a total running time of 20 hours and 45 minutes. With irresistible new jackets by Jonny Duddle to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers.

When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a…


Dealing with Dragons

By Patricia C. Wrede,

Book cover of Dealing with Dragons

Eileen Troemel Author Of Marelo

From the list on dragons for all ages.

Who am I?

Oh, Dragons. They have invaded my life. They’re in every room in my house – it gets crowded in the bathroom but there are a couple in there. They feature in my meditations and once I started reading fantasy, they feature in many of my books. I’m always happy to look at a book with dragons in it. If I could turn into a dragon – I would. 

Eileen's book list on dragons for all ages

Discover why each book is one of Eileen's favorite books.

Why did Eileen love this book?

Everyone knows the story – the princess is kidnapped by a dragon and a knight comes to rescue the princess. Cimorene is the princess of a king who is very traditional. The problem? She’s not. She has no interest in a Prince. So off she goes to find the dragons and be properly captured. I love how Wrede breaks the traditional mold in this trope. It shows girls/women can find their own way in a traditional world. This pushes the boundaries and teaches our kids they can break the boundaries too. 

By Patricia C. Wrede,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Dealing with Dragons as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Meet Princess Cimorene-a princess who refuses to be proper. She is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart . . . and bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon. And not just any dragon, but Kazul-one of the most powerful and dangerous dragons around. With a new look and new introduction from the author, this story is sure to acquire a new generation of fans. AGES: 10-13 AUTHOR: Patricia C. Wrede has written many novels, including all four books in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles as well as 'Sorcery and Cecilia', 'The…


The Legend of Holly Claus

By Brittney Ryan, Laurel Long (illustrator),

Book cover of The Legend of Holly Claus

Alexandria Miracola Author Of Penelope Grace and the Winter Carousel

From the list on fantasy to reignite your sense of wonder.

Who am I?

I’ve been captivated by wonder for four years now, but it’s my family’s experience of grief that convinced me that wonder is essential. On a dark December day, my grandpa, John, passed away. There was an emptiness that would not go away, until God broke through the darkness that was suffocating our hearts and home. I was reminded that wonder is a gift from a loving, intentional Father and a sword that cuts through the lies that tell us faith is pointless, childish, and weak. I hope that my own story, as well as the others I’ve shared here, helps reignite your own desire to fight for wonder.

Alexandria's book list on fantasy to reignite your sense of wonder

Discover why each book is one of Alexandria's favorite books.

Why did Alexandria love this book?

This is the book that taught me not to dismiss wonder as something that’s only for children. This warmest of winter tales helped me see that wonder is a light to illuminate times of grief and loss; a fiery hope that combats fears; and a faith that defies the circumstances that seek to steal our joy. I have never encountered a fictional world that felt more like home.

By Brittney Ryan, Laurel Long (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Santa Claus's daughter, Holly, comes to Earth seeking an end to the curse cast upon her and the Land of the Immortals by an evil wizard, whose own punishment will end only if Holly willingly gives him her pure heart.


Rivers of London

By Ben Aaronovitch,

Book cover of Rivers of London

Ann Claycomb Author Of Silenced

From the list on fantasy to achieve dazzling feats of storytelling.

Who am I?

When you grow up believing in magic, you inevitably face a moment when the world invites you to stop. Books are the reason to keep believing. Fantasy novels specifically give their readers magic to dive into and savor. What makes these fantasy novels so important to me is that they don’t just tell stories about magic, they tell their stories with such verve, such daring, such commitment to achieving the impossible, that they make magic. Reading these books, you will hold your breath, unable to believe that what feels like it’s about to happen could possibly happen when you turn the page... but don’t worry.  It will.

Ann's book list on fantasy to achieve dazzling feats of storytelling

Discover why each book is one of Ann's favorite books.

Why did Ann love this book?

When I recommend this series (as I do regularly), I don’t go with the obvious description: “imagine Harry Potter meets Sherlock Holmes.”  

I mean, sure, these books follow British police detective Peter Grant as he learns magic and pursues criminals both human and not.  But they also throw our hero up against an insidiousand uniquely British—master villain and bring the landscape of London itself to life—literally. 

And the real wonder is that Aaronovitch’s brilliant world-building would be nothing without the real magic that is Peter’s voice: smart, perceptive, observant, and often infused with wonder that he invites the reader to share.

By Ben Aaronovitch,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Book 1 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.

My name is Peter Grant, and I used to be a probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth.

My story really begins when I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead...

Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police. After taking a statement from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost, Peter comes…


Cecile & The Kingdom of Belamor

By Marilyn F. Churchill,

Book cover of Cecile & The Kingdom of Belamor

Sarah Scheele Author Of Ryan and Essie

From the list on children’s adventure books on family and exploring.

Who am I?

I am a farm girl who lives in rural Texas, surrounded by big blue skies, cornfields, and winding gravel roads. After avidly reading every children’s book and young adult novel I could find, including classics like Louisa May Alcott and J.R.R. Tolkien, I took to writing without thinking twice about it. I’ve published over 10 MG, YA, and New Adult books and I alternate between writing realistic family dramas and high fantasy, with a dose of science fiction that sprang up on its own and fits neatly somewhere between the other two. And then I read more books and plan to write more of them too.

Sarah's book list on children’s adventure books on family and exploring

Discover why each book is one of Sarah's favorite books.

Why did Sarah love this book?

This beautiful volume of three stories about a princess who deals with a spider-enchantress, a pair of feuding wizards, and a benevolent old dragon in her kingdom features pristine, gorgeous illustrations and a sweet-but-strong heroine. I just really love how Princess Cecile is a brave and sensible person and the twist that the real Cecile actually lives in our world and writes about Belamor was really smart, gently suggesting that princess stories are not just escapist fantasy, but an important part of self-expression for young girls as they grow up. It’s rare for me to find anything that so perfectly captures this idyllic genre. Marilyn Churchill has created a new fairy tale.

By Marilyn F. Churchill,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cecile & The Kingdom of Belamor as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this three-part epic adventure, Cecile wakes up in a dream, and finds herself in the Kingdom of Belamor. The fourteen-year-old is unaware that she is, in fact, the Princess of this realm. She soon discovers that a beautiful enchantress has cast a spell over the kingdom and usurped her throne! And when she confronts this compelling, and powerful opponent, she learns what it really takes to be the Princess of Belamor. 
    Now fifteen, Cecile's dream of a peaceful reign is literally shaken when a dragon hidden under the castle awakens after five hundred years of slumber. She must decide…


Book cover of An Illusion of Thieves

Elise Stephens Author Of Forecast

From the list on compelling, likeable, and gutsy characters.

Who am I?

My family loudly expressed emotions as a normal way of life. We shouted, we laughed, we wept, we sang (think My Big Fat Greek Wedding!). Emotional intelligence helps me understand the world and learn empathy for others. I illustrate dynamic character emotions through my science fiction and fantasy, and often through the themes of family, memory, and healing. Emotional roller coasters and high-stakes adventures are my jam! The books on this list got my feels firing on all cylinders and didn’t leave me bereft on their final page. Enjoy these gems!

Elise's book list on compelling, likeable, and gutsy characters

Discover why each book is one of Elise's favorite books.

Why did Elise love this book?

I have a tender spot for heroines who experience such strong emotions that they’re prone to being tossed by their own inner tempests. (I…ahem…might resemble that last comment). Romy had to make a wretchedly hard choice to protect her brother and the fallout separates her forever from the man she loves. She’s a determined, fiery woman and her diligence helps her survive in a city where her magical gift is forbidden. Her past could easily have made her bitter, but she fights with hope for second chances and a ferocious love that makes me adore her! When Romy teams up with other magically gifted people for a complicated heist, she’s consistently kind, unifying, and bravely vulnerable. I just love her!

By Cate Glass,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked An Illusion of Thieves as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A ragtag crew with forbidden magic must pull off an elaborate heist and stop a civil war in An Illusion of Thieves, a fantasy adventure from Cate Glass.

In Cantagna, being a sorcerer is a death sentence.

Romy escapes her hardscrabble upbringing when she becomes courtesan to the Shadow Lord, a revolutionary noble who brings laws and comforts once reserved for the wealthy to all. When her brother, Neri, is caught thieving with the aid of magic, Romy's aristocratic influence is the only thing that can spare his life―and the price is her banishment.

Now back in Beggar’s Ring, she…


Storm Front

By Jim Butcher,

Book cover of Storm Front

Davis Bunn Author Of Island of Time

From the list on urban fantasy that bend time and reality.

Who am I?

My first mentor was Arthur C Clarke, the science fiction megastar. I’ve always been drawn to epic fantasy, science fiction, and techno-thrillers. Stories that push the boundaries of reality. While I’ve been a professional author for over thirty years in multiple genres, I keep returning to speculative fiction, much of which is published under my pen name “Thomas Locke”. I serve as Writer In Residence at the University of Oxford. In writing Island of Time, my aim was to apply a classical heroic structure to neartime fantasy. Use the naturally occurring elements of light and dark, good and evil, and magnify them by adding magic to this world.

Davis' book list on urban fantasy that bend time and reality

Discover why each book is one of Davis' favorite books.

Why did Davis love this book?

A captivating blend of detective noir and urban fantasy, this one kept me on the edge of my seat.

Set in the bustling city of Chicago, the story follows wizard detective Harry Dresden as he navigates through a world filled with magic and mystery. I found everything I look for in crime fiction, mixed up with fun and creepy, larger-than-life supernatural elements. For example Bob, a spirit of intellect bound to a skull serves as Dresden’s advisor – great comic relief.

I appreciated Dresden’s struggles with his own magical abilities and his determination to do the right thing, even when it may mean sacrifice. 

By Jim Butcher,

Why should I read it?

15 authors picked Storm Front as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series, Harry Dresden’s investigation of a grisly double murder pulls him into the darkest depths of magical Chicago…

As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put…


Ptolemy's Gate

By Jonathan Stroud,

Book cover of Ptolemy's Gate

Anya Leigh Josephs Author Of Queen of All

From the list on fantasy to break your heart.

Who am I?

A lot of people feel intimidated by fantasy. Admittedly, the classics of the genre can be hard to get into, with their epic worldbuilding and thousand-page counts. But what made me fall in love with fantasy was the way it made me feel. Growing up queer, Jewish, fat, and chronically ill in the American South made it impossible for me to relate to the people around me. But fantasy, with its stories of outcasts becoming saviors, resonated with me. That’s why I started writing Queen of All when I was only twelve years old—I wanted to make people feel seen and understood. That’s what these books have done for me. 

Anya's book list on fantasy to break your heart

Discover why each book is one of Anya's favorite books.

Why did Anya love this book?

The conclusion to a charming middle-grade trilogy about a quick-witted demon named Bartimaeus, this book also depicts love and loss with an intensity and realism that resonates with readers of any age. I first read this book when I was about nine years old, eager to find out what would happen to the hilarious characters I’d loved so much in the first few books. I’ll never forget how hard I cried on that school bus home. I was just old enough to understand what that kind of loss would feel like, and still young enough to be moved by the story’s idealism and for the fantastical world to feel real for me. But I think, no matter who you are, this is a story at once heartbreaking and hilarious. 

By Jonathan Stroud,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Ptolemy's Gate as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The tremendous climax of the Bartimaeus sequence.

Three years on from the events in The Golem's Eye, the magicians' rule in London is teetering on a knife-edge, with strikes, riots and general unrest. The Prime Minister is largely controlled by two advisers, one of whom is 17-year-old Nathaniel. Meanwhile, living under a false identity, Kitty has been researching djinn; she has come to believe that the only way to destroy the magicians is with an alliance between djinn and ordinary people.

Kitty seeks out Bartimaeus and embarks on a terrifying journey into the djinn's chaotic domain - the Other Place…