Fantasy is having its biggest moment in decades. Dragon riders, faerie courts and post-apocalyptic dungeons now dominate bestseller charts that used to belong to literary fiction and thrillers, and the conversation has spilled onto social media, into book clubs and onto screens. If you want to know which best fantasy books everyone is actually reading, Amazon’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Best Sellers list tells the story clearly.
We used that list to build this guide, mixing the romantasy series that sparked the boom with brand-new releases and a couple of genre-bending favorites. Whether you want swoony slow burn, epic world-building or pure, ridiculous fun, there is a book here for you, and several make wonderful holiday gifts in special editions.
The Best Fantasy Books at a Glance
- Best overall: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- Best romantasy classic: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- Best new release: A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas
- Best urban fantasy: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
- Best for Empyrean fans: Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros
- Best for laughs: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- Best sci-fi crossover: Red Rising by Pierce Brown
- Best epic standalone: The Fires of December by Brandon Sanderson
The 8 Best Fantasy Books Everyone Is Reading
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
If one book defines the current fantasy boom, it is Fourth Wing. Violet Sorrengail is pushed into Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider, where the cadets are ruthless and the dragons choose who lives. The publisher notes it was a number one New York Times bestseller, and a TV series is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. The Wing and Claw Collection edition features stenciled edges designed to match the sequels, which makes it one of the best fantasy books to give this year.
Read it if: you want dragons, high stakes and an enemies-to-lovers romance.
Fourth Wing (Wing and Claw Collection) by Rebecca Yarros
- First book in The Empyrean series
- Stenciled-edge collector edition
- Dragon riders and romance
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The series that made “romantasy” a household word. Feyre, a young huntress, kills a wolf in the woods and is taken to the faerie lands of Prythian as payment, in a story that begins with echoes of Beauty and the Beast and grows into something much larger. The full series remains a fixture of Amazon’s fantasy charts, and many readers say the second book is where it earns its place among the best fantasy books of the century.
Read it if: you want a long, immersive series with faerie courts and slow-burn romance.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- First book in the ACOTAR series
- Faerie courts and romance
- Paperback
3. A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas
The newest ACOTAR installment shot to the top of Amazon’s overall Books chart. The publisher describes it as the sixth book in the series and the first movement of the Valkyrie Cycle: deep in the continent, Koschei the Deathless, bound to a mountain lake for millennia, is stirring, and the threat of his return spreads across the Fae territories. It is the one fans will be asking for this holiday season, and it already ranks among the best fantasy books of 2026.
Read it if: you are caught up on the series and ready for the next chapter.
A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas
- Book six of A Court of Thorns and Roses
- Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I
- Hardcover
4. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Maas’s Crescent City series moves fantasy into a modern city of angels, shifters and Fae. Bryce Quinlan’s life is upended when a demon murders her closest friends, and when killings start again she is pulled into the investigation. It blends mystery, urban fantasy and romance, and it is one of the best fantasy books for readers who usually prefer contemporary settings.
Read it if: you like crime plots, nightlife and magic in one package.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
- Crescent City, book one
- Urban fantasy with a murder mystery
- Paperback
5. Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros
Set in the world of The Empyrean, Threshing Day centers on the brutal trial at Basgiath War College where would-be riders fight to earn a dragon’s bond or die trying. According to the publisher, it follows thirteen cadets on that battlefield, with Xaden Riorson among the characters. It is a must for fans waiting for the next main series installment, and it reads quickly between longer best fantasy books.
Read it if: you have read the Empyrean books and want more time with the dragons.
Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros
- Set in The Empyrean world
- Basgiath War College trial
- Wing and Claw Collection hardcover
6. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
One of the most unexpected bestseller stories of recent years, this series occupies several spots on Amazon’s fantasy chart at once. After an alien invasion destroys every man-made structure on Earth, Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning show cat are forced into a deadly, televised dungeon. It is violent, absurd and very funny, and the print edition includes bonus material, according to the publisher.
Read it if: you like video games, dark humor and a talking cat with attitude.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- First book in an eight-book series
- LitRPG with dark humor
- Print edition with bonus material
7. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Technically science fiction, Red Rising is beloved by fantasy readers for its epic scale and brutal school-of-war setup. Darrow, a miner on Mars, discovers his society is built on a lie and infiltrates the ruling elite. The publisher compares it to The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game, and it keeps appearing on lists of the best fantasy books as new readers discover the series.
Read it if: you loved the competition and politics of Fourth Wing.
- First book in the Red Rising saga
- Dystopian sci-fi with fantasy appeal
- Paperback
8. The Fires of December by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is one of the most prolific names in epic fantasy, and his new Cosmere standalone is already charting. In it, the storyteller Hoid shares the tale of a young woman named December in a forgotten land sustained by colorful rivers of demon blood, according to the publisher. As a standalone, it is a great entry point to Sanderson’s connected universe and one of the best fantasy books for newcomers to epic fantasy.
Read it if: you want inventive magic systems without committing to a long series.
The Fires of December by Brandon Sanderson
- Cosmere standalone novel
- Narrated by Hoid
- Several formats on Amazon
How We Chose the Best Fantasy Books
We worked from Amazon’s Best Sellers in Science Fiction and Fantasy and the overall Books list in October 2026, then selected a mix of series starters, new releases and crossover favorites. We have not reviewed these titles in a formal way; our summaries draw on publisher descriptions and widely shared reader opinions. Read more about our approach in our editorial policy.
Romantasy, Epic Fantasy and Everything Between
Fantasy literature has always covered a huge range, and today’s best fantasy books fall into a few broad camps.
Romantasy
Romantasy puts a love story at the center of a fantasy plot. Fourth Wing, ACOTAR and Crescent City are the genre’s giants. Expect high emotion, banter and spicy scenes in some books.
Epic fantasy
Epic fantasy emphasizes world-building, magic systems and big conflicts. Brandon Sanderson is the modern master, and his standalones are ideal for newcomers.
Genre-blending fantasy
Books like Dungeon Crawler Carl and Red Rising mix fantasy with sci-fi, gaming or dystopia. They are some of the best fantasy books for readers who think they don’t like fantasy.
Why Fantasy Is Booming Right Now
Several forces explain why the best fantasy books now outsell many other genres. Social media communities have made it easy to discover series and share fan art, special editions have turned books into collectibles, and screen adaptations keep pulling new readers in. Above all, fantasy offers escape: in uncertain times, a world with clear stakes, loyal friends and a little magic is deeply comforting. That is why so many readers who once preferred contemporary fiction now reach for dragons and faerie courts.
How to Choose Your Next Fantasy Book
Start with a series opener
Most of the best fantasy books are part of a series. Begin with book one, and if you love it, there is plenty more to read.
Check the content level
Some romantasy titles include mature content. If you are buying for a teen, read reviews and descriptions carefully.
Consider special editions
Sprayed or stenciled edges, deluxe hardcovers and boxed sets have become collectible, and they make the best fantasy books even better as gifts.
Tips for Gifting Fantasy Books
- Ask where they are in a series. Gifting book three to someone who hasn’t started is a miss.
- Choose a collector’s edition. Fans love matching sets on their shelves.
- Pair with a Kindle. Long series are easier to carry digitally. See our Kindle comparison.
- Order early. New releases sell quickly in December, so check the current price on Amazon ahead of time.
FAQ: Best Fantasy Books
What are the best fantasy books right now?
Based on Amazon’s Best Sellers, popular titles include Fourth Wing, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, A Court of Splintered Harmony, Crescent City, Dungeon Crawler Carl and Red Rising.
What is romantasy?
Romantasy is a blend of romance and fantasy in which the love story is as important as the magical plot. It is one of the fastest-growing genres in publishing.
Which fantasy book should a beginner read first?
Fourth Wing is fast-paced and accessible, while a Sanderson standalone offers epic fantasy without a long commitment.
Are these fantasy books suitable for teens?
Some are aimed at adults and include mature themes. Check the publisher’s description and age guidance before gifting to younger readers.
Final Thoughts
The best fantasy books transport you completely, whether to a dragon war college, a faerie court or a dungeon full of alien game-show hosts. Start with Fourth Wing or ACOTAR if you want romance, try Sanderson for epic world-building, and pick up Dungeon Crawler Carl if you just want to laugh. These best fantasy books are worth every late night.
If you love a twisty plot, explore our picks for the best thriller books, or turn to our edit of the best romance novels for more love stories.
