Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten All Time Favourite Fantasy Books

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week’s theme is Top Ten all time favourite books of X genre. So I kind of just had to chose fantasy. I’m going to aim to keep this a little shorter than last week’s TTT, because that post was LONG.

1. A Darker Shade of Magic

As you’ll know if you’ve read my review for this book, I LOVED ADSOM and it’s been one of my favourite reads of this year. I’m hoping to get to the seuqle A Gathering of Shadows soon because  it’s sitting on my shelf staring at me and I know it’s going to be just as incredible as the first book.

2. Snow Like Ashes

In this book the four seasons are each a kingdom and the kingdom of Winter is under attack by the kingdom of Spring. I thought this was such an unusual idea when I first heard about this book, but oh boy is it brilliantly developed. I got so attached to the characters of SLA that my heart tried to leave my chest several times while reading it. I honestly can’t believe I haven’t got round to reading the sequel yet.

3. The Name of the Wind

This is epic, high fantasy at its absolute finest. The novel delves into the power of language and explores how our use of words can change the world around us (which, as a Linguist, I love). The plot is masterfully woven together and at it’s heart TNOTW is incredibly clever.

4. The Magician’s Guild

The Magician’s Guild was a series I read years ago, but loved the world-building and dynamic characters so much that it remains one of my favourites to this day. I love a good bit of magicians/magic training/high school drama and this has every one of those elements.

5. Graceling

I have a weakness for books about 1. resilient women and 2. individuals with unique magic powers. This novel delivers on both. Katsa is a badass and thoroughly likable protagonist and the idea of ‘graces’ – special innate abilities that give individuals an enhanced ability – is so up my street. You’ll never be bored with the pace and twists of this story.

6. Rebel of the Sands

I read Rebel earlier this year and fell in love. It’s got a Middle East-inspired setting, diverse characters and witty dialogues that will leave you dying for the sequel. Which sadly isn’t out until next year. *weeps*

7. Throne of Glass

When I say Throne of Glass, I mean the entire series. Because if I didn’t include them all as one, they would have taken up four spots on this list (I haven’t read Empire of Storms yet because my copy hasn’t arrived, so I feel I can’t count it as of yet). This series is just everything and it has my heart.

8. A Game of Thrones

Again, when I say Game of Thrones, I mean the series so far, because damn these books are intricate, complex and excellent. The way George R. R. Martin weaves the story together is astounding because to have that many characters, plot arcs, and timelines going at once and to be able to keep all the threads together is nothing short of brilliant.

9. The Hobbit

I think I was 11 years old when I read this book and I remember being completely swept up in the adventure. The dwarves are such eccentric characters and Middle Earth itself is a magical creation.

10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Although I want to include the whole series in this list, I know in my heart that this was my favourite book. The final showdown in the great hall is one of the most memorable scenes of any book I’ve ever read, and proved to be such a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful series.

So that’s my ten guys!

Let me know if any of these would be on your list of favourite fantasies or what your top ten would be!