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Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century
Your favorite fantasy books of the 21st century.

*Books originally published before 2000 will be removed*
Tags: 21st-century, best, and fantasy

1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) 189 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
2
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke 136 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
3
The Name of the Wind
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads author) 128 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
4
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) 122 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
5
American Gods
American Gods
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author) 96 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
7
Twilight
Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer 64 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
8
Anansi Boys
Anansi Boys
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author) 42 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
9
Eragon
Eragon
by Christopher Paolini 41 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
10
Breaking Dawn
Breaking Dawn
by Stephenie Meyer 37 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
11
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Mistborn: The Final Empire
by Brandon Sanderson 35 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
12
Eclipse
Eclipse
by Stephenie Meyer 34 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
13
Kushiel's Dart
Kushiel's Dart
by Jacqueline Carey 33 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
14
The Eyre Affair
The Eyre Affair
by Jasper Fforde 33 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
15
The Lies of Locke Lamora
The Lies of Locke Lamora
by Scott Lynch 31 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
16
New Moon
New Moon
by Stephenie Meyer 29 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
17
A Feast for Crows
A Feast for Crows
by George R.R. Martin 27 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
18
Eldest
Eldest
by Christopher Paolini 26 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
19
A Storm of Swords
A Storm of Swords
by George R.R. Martin 25 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
20
Coraline
Coraline
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author) 24 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
21
The Scar
The Scar
by China Miéville 22 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
22
The Blade Itself
The Blade Itself
by Joe Abercrombie 22 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
23
Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author) 21 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
24
His Majesty's Dragon
His Majesty's Dragon
by Naomi Novik 20 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
25
The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower
by Stephen King 17 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
26
The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author), Dave McKean (Illustrator) 17 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
27
A Great and Terrible Beauty
A Great and Terrible Beauty
by Libba Bray 15 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
28
Elantris
Elantris
by Brandon Sanderson 13 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
29
The Briar King
The Briar King
by Greg Keyes 13 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
30
The War Of The Flowers
The War Of The Flowers
by Tad Williams 13 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
31
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
by Susanna Clarke, Charles Vess (Illustrator) 12 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
32
The Goose Girl
The Goose Girl
by Shannon Hale 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
33
Artemis Fowl
Artemis Fowl
by Eoin Colfer 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
34
The Amulet of Samarkand
The Amulet of Samarkand
by Jonathan Stroud 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
35
Fool's Fate
Fool's Fate
by Robin Hobb 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
36
Last Argument Of Kings
Last Argument Of Kings
by Joe Abercrombie 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
37
Red Seas Under Red Skies
Red Seas Under Red Skies
by Scott Lynch 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
38
In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden
by Catherynne M. Valente 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
39
The Book of Lost Things
The Book of Lost Things
by John Connolly 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
40
Abarat
Abarat
by Clive Barker 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
41
The Curse of Chalion
The Curse of Chalion
by Lois McMaster Bujold 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
42
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
by Robert Jordan 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
43
City of Bones
City of Bones
by Cassandra Clare 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
44
The Sweet Far Thing
The Sweet Far Thing
by Libba Bray 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
45
Fool's Errand
Fool's Errand
by Robin Hobb 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
46
Before They Are Hanged
Before They Are Hanged
by Joe Abercrombie 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
47
The Darkness That Comes Before
The Darkness That Comes Before
by R. Scott Bakker 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
48
Magic for Beginners
Magic for Beginners
by Kelly Link 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
49
Night Watch
Night Watch
by Terry Pratchett 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
50
Perdido Street Station
Perdido Street Station
by China Miéville 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
51
Tithe
Tithe
by Holly Black 8 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
52
Memories of Ice
Memories of Ice
by Steven Erikson 7 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
53
Flesh and Spirit
Flesh and Spirit
by Carol Berg 7 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
54
Paladin of Souls
Paladin of Souls
by Lois McMaster Bujold 7 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
55
Throne of Jade
Throne of Jade
by Naomi Novik 7 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
56
Iron Council
Iron Council
by China Miéville 7 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
57
The Golem's Eye
The Golem's Eye
by Jonathan Stroud 7 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
58
The Bone Doll's Twin
The Bone Doll's Twin
by Lynn Flewelling (Goodreads author) 6 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
59
Kafka on the Shore
Kafka on the Shore
by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel (Translator) 6 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
60
Book of a Thousand Days
Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale 6 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
61
Rebel Angels
Rebel Angels
by Libba Bray 6 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
62
The Amber Spyglass
The Amber Spyglass
by Philip Pullman 6 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
63
The Children of Húrin
The Children of Húrin
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (Editor) 6 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
64
Trickster's Queen
Trickster's Queen
by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads author) 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
65
Shadows Return
Shadows Return
by Lynn Flewelling (Goodreads author) 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
66
Wolves of the Calla
Wolves of the Calla
by Stephen King 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
67
The Naming: The First Book of Pellinor
The Naming: The First Book of Pellinor
by Alison Croggon 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
69
Child of the Prophecy
Child of the Prophecy
by Juliet Marillier 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
70
The Knight
The Knight
by Gene Wolfe 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
71
The Way of Shadows
The Way of Shadows
by Brent Weeks (Goodreads author) 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
72
Nation
Nation
by Terry Pratchett 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
73
Song of Susannah
Song of Susannah
by Stephen King 5 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
74
The Confessions of Max Tivoli
The Confessions of Max Tivoli
by Andrew Sean Greer 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
75
The Singing: The Fourth Book of Pellinor
The Singing: The Fourth Book of Pellinor
by Alison Croggon 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
76
The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
77
Dreamquake (The Dreamhunter Duet, Book 2)
Dreamquake (The Dreamhunter Duet, Book 2)
by Elizabeth Knox 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
78
The Stolen Child: A Novel
The Stolen Child: A Novel
by Keith Donohue 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
78
The King of Attolia
The King of Attolia
by Megan Whalen Turner 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
80
Tales from Earthsea
Tales from Earthsea
by Ursula K. LeGuin 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
81
The Dragons of Babel
The Dragons of Babel
by Michael Swanwick 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
82
A Shadow in Summer
A Shadow in Summer
by Daniel Abraham 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
83
Banewreaker
Banewreaker
by Jacqueline Carey 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
84
Ink Exchange
Ink Exchange
by Melissa Marr (Goodreads author) 4 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
85
Breath and Bone
Breath and Bone
by Carol Berg 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
86
City of Ashes
City of Ashes
by Cassandra Clare 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
87
Territory
Territory
by Emma Bull (Goodreads author) 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
88
City of Glass
City of Glass
by Cassandra Clare 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
88
Princess Academy
Princess Academy
by Shannon Hale 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
90
Marked
Marked
by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
91
Summerland
Summerland
by Michael Chabon 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
92
Empire of Ivory
Empire of Ivory
by Naomi Novik 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
92
Untamed
Untamed
by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
94
Scar Night
Scar Night
by Alan Campbell 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
95
Hunted
Hunted
by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
96
The Etched City
The Etched City
by K.J. Bishop 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
96
Poison Study
Poison Study
by Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads author) 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
98
The Wizard
The Wizard
by Gene Wolfe 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
99
Wicked Lovely
Wicked Lovely
by Melissa Marr (Goodreads author) 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
100
Priestess of the White
Priestess of the White
by Trudi Canavan 3 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
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Brandy
Brandy
50 books
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0 friends
Mikael
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233 books
2 friends
Kelly
Kelly
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3 friends
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114 books
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102 books
1 friend
Jmoran2007
Jmoran2007
292 books
1 friend
Brittany
Brittany
327 books
16 friends

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comments (showing 1-12 of 12) (12 new)

dateDown_arrow    newest »

message 1: by Wealhtheow (new)

76129 I wish I could vote for Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell a million times.


message 2: by Kelly (new)

94602 Amen.


message 3: by Don (new)

664182 If it's the best of the 21st century, why is "Lord of the Rings" on here?


message 4: by Greyweather (new)

1154130 These all were published before the year 2000:

The Lord of the Rings
Neverwhere
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Sandman, The Dream Hunters
Wizard and Glass
The Darkest Road
Support Your Local Wizard
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever
The Eye of the World
The Fionavar tapestry
The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
Tigana
Winter's Tale
Darkfall
Gardens of the Moon
Daughter of the Forest
The Wood Wife

That's 17 out of the currently 84 books, or 1/5th of the books. Try harder people.


message 5: by Wealhtheow (new)

76129 Beggars in Spain is not fantasy.


message 6: by Stuart (new)

Nophoto-u-25x33 I'm pretty sure The Host by Stephanie Meyer is sci-fi, not fantasy.



message 7: by Greyweather (last edited Jul 08, 2009 04:54PM) (new)

1154130 Had to cut A Clash of Kings as it was published in 1997, The Thief as it was published in 1996, The Light Bearer as it was published in 1994, The Dragon Waiting : A Masque of History as it was published in 1983, The Land of Laughs as it was published in 1980, and Wild Seed because it was published in 1980.

I also removed the Viriconium omnibus as not only was it first published in 1988, but the individual novels it consists of were published in 1971, 1980, 1982, and 1984 respectively.

Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was by Angélica Gorodischer was originally published in 1983 as Kalpa Imperial - El Imperio Mas Vasto. I haven't removed it yet because it wasn't translated to English until 2003, so I thought I'd ask for some feedback before I cut it.

Same issue for Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko, published as Nochnoi Dozor in 1998 but translated in 2006.


message 8: by Travis (new)

1729891 It really amazes me how so many people, particularly on a site dedicated to reading, seem to lack the ability to comprehend what they read. It's like some people just see a list for fantasy and don't bother to read the rest and just throw whatever fantasy book they love on there whether it fits the list or not.


message 9: by Cutebabys (new)

Nophoto-f-25x33 I would like to say something. Some of these books are not fantasy so I have no idea where they came from. No offence though...


message 10: by Greyweather (new)

1154130 I cleaned out the obvious non-fantasy ones.


message 11: by Susanna (new)

1109068 The first two volumes of His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife) were both published before 2000.


message 12: by Xenophon (new)

2026345 If it were possible, I would include high on my list Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files taken as a unit. Together, the individual novels are an impressive achievement. Each novel makes up a complete story in itself, but it is also part of an overarching narrative. If Butcher maintains the quality as his project continues, I believe the series is destined to be a perennial classic.


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