Looking for an escape from the real world? Ready to get utterly hooked on characters from fantastical realms and lose yourself in their lives, loves and battles? You’re in the right place. We’ve curated the most spellbinding fantasy and romantasy reads – from African-inspired worlds to Chinese history and Indian myths and legends – each crafted to transport you somewhere entirely new. Whether you’re a longtime fantasy devotee or just dipping your toes into romantasy, these stories will captivate your imagination, tug at your heart and stay with you long after the journey is over.
The Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb
First up is Robin Hobb’s The Liveship Trader’s Trilogy, a masterpiece of fantasy writing set in a maritime world. It’s got it all: pirates, sea serpents and sentient trading vessels named liveships – but it’s the emotional intensity and the character arcs that will transport you to another world entirely, with brilliant, nuanced and complex female characters of all ages. Critically acclaimed and beloved by readers, this chunky trilogy should keep you going for a good while.
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters
Evan Winter’s The Rage of Dragons is the first in Winters’ gripping The Burning quartet, and reinvents the fantasy genre through its Xhosa-inspired world. Set in a harsh society of perpetual war, the novel follows Tau, a young man from the Omehi people. In this society, magical powers are reserved for the ‘gifted’, while ordinary soldiers are treated as expendable. Tau’s intensity, his thrilling quest to seek revenge on those who murdered his family, and the ferocious pacing of the novel mean you won’t be able to put it down.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
This epic historical military fantasy is inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century. We follow Rin, a dark-skinned peasant girl who defies all odds to earn a place at the empire’s elite military academy and discovers she possesses powerful shamanistic abilities. As the spectre of a Third Poppy War looms over the fractured nation of Nikan, Ria faces prejudice, political upheaval and the creeping horrors of war. The Poppy War is the first in this legendary series which explores magic, violence and the cost of one’s humanity. You’ll be hooked on this wild ride across fantasy China.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
This next pick is a popular, genre-blending historical fantasy that follows a young woman in 18th-century France who is desperate to escape her life. She strikes a bargain to make her immortal but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. An epic novel which spans centuries and continents, Addie leaves her fleeting marks on art, history and memory, until she finally meets a man in a bookstore who, after almost 300 years of total anonymity, remembers her name. This book will capture your soul, and is one read you won’t forget.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Fiercely women-led and rooted in Indian mythology, The Jasmine Throne follows Malini, a princess imprisoned by her brother in an ancient temple, and Priya, her maidservant who possesses a dark secret magic. They join forces, with the ruthless princess seeking revenge on her brother, and the maidservant-turned-magical-priestess searching for her family. Plus, they start to fall for each other. The romance is a slow-burner, and so worth it (the waterfall scene? Iconic). It’s a gorgeous, sapphic South Asian fantasy that will have you cheering for the girls and wanting more.
