Heroic Fantasy

Heroic fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy which chronicles the tales of heroes in imaginary lands.

Characteristics:

Frequently, the protagonist is reluctant to be a champion, and/or is of low or humble origin, may have royal ancestors or parents but does not know it. Though events are usually beyond their control, they are thrust into positions of great responsibility where their mettle is tested in a number of spiritual and physical challenges. Although it shares many of the basic themes of Sword and Sorcery the term 'Heroic fantasy' is often used to avoid the garish overtones of the former.
...more

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)
Legend (The Drenai Saga, #1)
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2)
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
Waylander (The Drenai Saga #3)
The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
The King Beyond the Gate (The Drenai Saga, #2)
The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1)
The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, #1)
Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1)
White Wolf (The Drenai Saga, #10)
Sword in the Storm (The Rigante, #1)

Most Read This Week

Marshal Arcane (The Spellmonger, #15)
Master of Furies (The Firemane Saga, #3)
The Free Bastards (The Lot Lands, #3)
Ténébreuse, Livre premier
Ténébreuse, Livre second
Le Tournoi des preux (Le Chevalier aux épines #1)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Lightning Thief by Rick RiordanGuards! Guards! by Terry PratchettGoing Postal by Terry PratchettThe Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
SFF: Best Characters
97 books — 20 voters

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. MartinA Storm of Swords by George R.R. MartinA Clash of Kings by George R.R. MartinThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienA Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Medieval Fantasy Books
499 books — 908 voters
The Complete Chronicles of Conan by Robert E. HowardBran Mak Morn by Robert E. HowardShardik by Richard  AdamsThe Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. HowardThe Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Barbarians!
139 books — 43 voters


Kaoru Kurimoto
It was as if he had two faces, one of utmost calm, one of furious action; and he wore both with ease. He was like the animal whose face he wore, able to sit in silence for hours, without moving a muscle, then flying like a raging storm into battle, returning again to perfect calm when the fight was over.
Kaoru Kurimoto, The Leopard Mask

Priya Ardis
Soft sun shone down on a misty cathedral at the opposite end of a football-field length courtyard. The cathedral had a long pointed tower with beautiful rose and ivory stained glass windows. Pink-petal flowers and deep green ivy climbed the stones from the ground to it’s roof. A large fountain stood in the middle of the courtyard with water falling from several lion’s heads. Between the misty air and rolling slope of the earth, the grounds reminded me of a long lost fairy tale.
Priya Ardis, My Boyfriend Merlin

More quotes...
The Riyria Revelations WIN the audio version of The Death of Dulgath on signed CDs This group is for Michael J. …more
428 members, last active one year ago
Lindsay is answering your questions about writing, self-publishing, and her books.
129 members, last active 5 years ago
The We Drink and We Read Things Book Club A book club based in Central Mississippi that orbits around works in the Fantasy, Science Fictio…more
28 members, last active 44 days ago
Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" Readers, authors, illustrators, and editors aggregate here to discuss Sword & Sorcery books and …more
1,123 members, last active 8 hours ago