From the perilous volcanic Mount Doom to the desolate desert planet of Arakis, we’ve traveled to places that are far beyond our imaginations through the best fantasy books. Fantasy books are basically a form of escapism from our mundane life. They have larger-than-life characters in a lore-filled world that is rich and so addictive that you can’t stop geeking about it. There are thousands of such fantasy books out there, but only a fraction of them have been made into a movie(s).
Fantasy has always been one of the most popular genres in both books and movies. Unfortunately, books have only two mediums of storytelling — description through words or, in some cases, illustrations. But movies have a lot more dimensions to storytelling. They include factors such as screenplay, actors playing out roles, practical sets or visual effects to create the worlds, soundtracks to match the scene, and the big one being watching it on the big screen in theaters. For this reason, when one of our favorite stories gets picked up by a movie studio to translate those pages on the big screen, it becomes such an overwhelming feeling. It is our chance to see how everyone else perceives the characters from the books that we have built an image of in our heads.
In this article, we’re going to be talking about 7 best fantasy books that were adapted for the big screen and continued to grow their fan base.
What Is the Most Popular Fantasy Book Series?
Despite Harry Potter beating every other franchise in the world in terms of book sales, the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien has been the most popular and influential fantasy book series. J.R.R. Tolkien has created an intricate world of fantasy with iconic characters and complex histories that people find fascinating to this day. It has stood the test of time and has proved over and over again about its cultural impact on the world. And with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, this impact was magnified.
What Are the Different Genres of Fantasy Books?
The fantasy genre is quite a big genre that has many sub-genres under it; some even say it has over 50 sub-genres. We are not going to be listing them all, but only a few that are common. We’ve based our list on these sub-genres, too.
Fantasy Literature
This sub-genre involves a world where magical and supernatural elements are a common thing. Some of the worlds depend on these factors to even exist. The stories based on this world are mainly written but not limited to pander to kids. The hero’s journey is filled with adventures as he fights a battle of good vs evil.
Sci-Fi Fantasy
Sci-Fi stories blend elements of science and fantasy, opening up the genre for space travel, time travel, futuristic settings, advanced technology, and so much more. It could be set on our planet or a planet in a completely different universe; the possibilities are endless.
Horror Fantasy
This genre is about combining elements of horror and fantasy in an eerie and unsettling way. It explores the themes of supernatural, paranormal, dark magic, and a lot of other terrifying concepts.
Dystopian Fantasy
Here, the story is set in a distant future where human civilization will have failed. This allows for factions to be born in a bleak and oppressive world. Generally, there is also an authoritative faction that tends to work to claim control of the entire civilization.
High Fantasy
High fantasy is a genre of fiction in which the story takes place in a fictional world that is very different from ours. Every detail of this fantasy world, like the map, the mythology, and the languages used, is made up by the author. The stories may take inspiration from the real world but not include any real-world locations or history.
Children’s Fantasy
Stories in this genre are written mainly for younger audiences, featuring fun and imaginative elements. Sometimes, they also include some themes that teach them themes of friendship, bravery, moral responsibilities, and more.
Best Fantasy Books 2025
The following are some of the best books in the fantasy genre. You get to delve into a world where magic and ancient creatures come to life, where human societies have failed to co-exist, and where you will have to fight with all your might to ward off dark forces — these are the journies that are worth going on.
BEST OVERALL
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
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“My friends, you bow to no one.”
Ever since the first J.R.R. Tolkien book, The Hobbit, was released in 1937, his work has been admired by millions of people. From kids to the elders, everyone was hailing about how good the story and its characters were. This entire genre later went on to become a main source of inspiration for other great books. Based on Tolkien’s work, director Peter Jackson gave the audience a journey of a lifetime. His The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is one of the greatest book-to-movie adaptations that have ever existed. Years later, he returned to direct The Hobbit trilogy, which left fans somewhat satisfied. But as a whole, these six movies are still a top contender for movie marathons.
In the first book, The Hobbit, we follow Bilbo Baggins, a humble and peace-loving hobbit living in the Shire. His life takes a wild turn when, one day, he is visited by a wizard named Gandalf and thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. They are in dire need of his help to reclaim their homeland, the Lonely Mountain, which is claimed by the dragon Smaug. This is also where he discovers an artifact, The One Ring, whose powers are yet not known by him.
In the next three books, Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, the story takes years after the events of The Hobbit. We follow Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s nephew. He is given a task that is far more dangerous than what Bilbo had to endure — he and his companions must take the One Ring to its birthplace, Mount Doom, the only place where it can be destroyed. This series is easily one of the best fantasy books of all time.
Best Fantasy Literature Book
Harry Potter
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“After all this time?”
“Always”
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling is a name that pretty much everyone on this planet has heard of, and it is a testament to how successful this franchise is — it is one of the best fantasy books for adults and kids alike. The movies managed to adapt the essence of these books and portray the world, creatures, and characters on the big screen beautifully.
The story begins with Harry Potter, an eleven-year-old orphan living with his aunt and uncle. On his 11th birthday, he learns that he is a wizard and that his parents actually died. He returns to the hidden magical world to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During his first year, he and his friends uncover the secrets of their school and Lord Voldemort’s, the dark wizard who killed his parents, intentions of returning to power. The books are filled with twists, humor, duels, drama, and everything in between. The book goes from a light-hearted read to an epic war between good and evil.
For obvious reasons, they weren’t able to include everything from the books in the movie as some of the books are massive and would’ve required multiple movies for just one book. The movies took the liberty to change around a few things to suit the narrative, which worked in a lot of cases and failed to hit the mark in a few. But all in all, this is some of the best fantasy book series that no one should miss.
Best Sci-Fi Fantasy Book
Dune
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“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration…”
Writer Frank Herbert’s Dune is a series of sci-fi novels that put the genre on everybody’s radar. Since its release in 1965, these books have been celebrated as one of the best sci-fi stories of all time. The story involves a lot of intricate world-building with complex characters in a world where every step can be life-ending, literally. The books have had many adaptations in the form of movies and TV series since their release, some of which were not well received. It was
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune that found major success, and if you’ve seen the movie, you will know why. Denis Villeneuve has a talent for creating beautiful visuals and portraying interesting worlds from a raw perspective.
The story of Dune majorly takes on the desert planet of Arrakis, where its naturally occurring substance, “spice melange” or “the spice,” is the most important resource in the known universe. When the control of the Arrakis is taken from the Harkonnes and given to the House Atreides, it sends them into a state of war. After a night of betrayal, the Duke of Atreides dies, leaving his son, Paul Atreides, and wife, Lady Jessica, to seek refuge among the desert wanderers known as Fremen. This entails a journey of politics, prophecies, and religions that play an important role in shifting the balance of power. If you’re new to sci-fi stories, then these are good books to read that will get you started on the genre.
Best Horror Fantasy Book
The Shining and Doctor Sleep
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“Monsters are real. Ghosts are, too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win.”
The Shining by Stephen King is an excellent psychological horror book that does more than just scare you. The events and the quotes from the book linger in your mind for a very long time. The movie, released in 1980, however, took a different approach and made it a supernatural horror. Despite its changes, Stanley Kubrick, the director, impressively managed to deliver a fantastic gothic horror that is considered a classic horror movie even today.
The Shining is a story about Jack Torrance, who takes a job as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. He moves into the hotel with his wife, Wendy, and his son, Danny. The boy, Danny, possesses a psychic ability, “the shining,” that allows him to see the remnants of the Overlook Hotel’s past. Meanwhile, due to Jack’s mental health issues, he slowly gets influenced by the hotel’s evil presence, which pushes him into a downward spiral.
The book Doctor Sleep continues the story of Dan Torrance as an adult, who is suppressing his shining as he is still haunted by the memories of the hotel. Miles away, a young girl, Abra, is discovering her shining and manages to connect with Dan. Both of them have a friendly relationship until Abra becomes the target of a millennia-old vampire group, Ture Knot. Now, Dan must gain power over his inner demons and help and protect Abra from the group. Thrilling stuff!
Where Stanley Kubrick focused on making a supernatural horror, Mike Flanagan stuck to the source material and also incorporated Kubrick’s work in the sequel. We take it that it wasn’t an easy feat, but he delivers.
Best Dystopian Fantasy Book
The Hunger Games
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“May the odds be ever in your favor.”
Written by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is an extremely popular dystopian fantasy novel series among young adults. With its first book being released in 2008, the series quickly rose to high fame. It’s an extraordinary story about politics, government control, and survival of the fittest. The first three books feature Katniss Everdeen as the main character, played by Jennifer Larence in the movies.
Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic region in North America, which is now known as Panem, a capital surrounded by 12 districts. As a punishment for a rebellion against the Capitol during the “dark days,” each district is required to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to take part in the Hunger Games. The game hosts a series of dangerous tasks where the players have to outsmart each other and survive the longest. During the choosing ceremony, Katniss volunteers to take part in the game instead of her sister. Over the course of three books, Katniss becomes a part and later the face of a new rebellion against the Capitol. The story involves a lot of twists and turns, with some cold betrayals from the trusted allies.
In the books, the story was strictly told from Katniss’ perspective, whereas in the movies, we get a narrative that shows us Katniss’ progress while also of the people who are watching the games. Since the last book of the trilogy was crucial, they split the book into two movies. If you want to delve more into this world, you should definitely read the books. This is also one of the best fantasy books for teens, so if you’re in that age group, you have to pick it up.
Best High Fantasy Book
The Chronicles of Narnia
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“Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen.”
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of books written by C.S. Lewis, with the first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, being published in 1950. The Narnia books were written for kids, and after over 70 years, they’re still relatable and as good as we remember reading them for the first time. It’s one of those series that you read as a kid and stays with you for a long time.
To escape the blitz, the four brothers and sisters, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are shifted to the English countryside under the care of Professor Digory Kirke. It is where Lucy finds an ordinary-looking wardrobe that leads to the extraordinary land of Narnia. She tells her siblings about the wardrobe, and although skeptical at first, they quickly discover themselves in Narnia as well. They soon learn that they are a part of the prophecy that will bring down the White Witch and her reign on the land. This is when they find Aslan, the great lion, and join his army to bring down the White Witch.
Unlike the books, its movie adaptations did not receive their share of love quite enough. The first one was a massive success, but it only dwindled with each sequel. The cast was perfect, and the visual representation of Narnia and its beings was like it was right out of the book, but the movie’s pacing couldn’t retain its audience. If you’ve seen only the movies and have not read the book, this box set of the Narnia collection is a great way to continue the journey from where the movies left off — definitely worth having.
Best Children’s Fantasy Book
Howl’s Moving Castle
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“A heart’s a heavy burden.”
If you’ve ever seen any of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, you know how beautiful they are, and Howl’s Moving Castle is one of the best ones he has ever made. The movie is actually an adaptation of the book of the same name, written by Diana Wynne Jones and published in 1986. The book is primarily for children and has plenty of themes and messages that adults can enjoy as well. It’s a beautiful story about how two people’s stories get entangled with each other. Hayao Miyazaki and this team at Studio Ghibli, like usual, work magic and bring every character in the book to life along with all the magic in it.
The story follows a young woman, Sophie Hatter, living in the fantasy land of Ingary, who works in her family’s hat shop. But one day, her life changes completely when she is cursed by a witch, turning her into a 90-year-old woman. Desperate to lift the curse, she travels to the countryside to find the infamous wizard, Howl. It is said that he resides in a giant castle with legs that keep the castle moving around. During her time there, she discovers the many intriguing secrets of the castle and how it is connected to Howl. Her relationship with Howl also evolves as time passes, and she gradually uncovers his dark secrets.
The book and the movie beautifully expand on this relationship, bringing deeper meaning to magic, love, and sacrifice. The story also explores themes of how war impacts everyone’s lives. All of these themes are combined with humorous and magical elements in a very imaginative and entertaining way. This is a story for all ages, so give it a try if you haven’t already.
How We Chose the Best Fantasy Books
These fantasy books were chosen by our team of avid readers, who have spent a lot of time reading different genres of books throughout their lives. These books were chosen based on their story, world-building, characters, how successfully they were made into movies, and many other factors. They also did a lot of research on online forums and websites to understand what other readers and movie enthusiasts think of book adaptations. After a lot of research and understanding, the team finalized the list of the seven mentioned books. So, when you pick one from here, you’re going to be entertained thoroughly.
FAQ
What is the best fantasy book ever?
According to us, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, fantasy or otherwise, is one of the best book series to exist.
What is the most popular fantasy book right now?
The Folk of the Air and The Song of Ice and Fire are leading the genre right now.
What is the most famous fantasy series of all time?
Lord of the Rings is undoubtedly the most famous series.
What should I read if I like fantasy?
Pick any book from the above list, and you’ll be sorted.
Who is the king of fantasy books?
J. R. R. Tolkien is considered as the king of fantasy stories.
Is fantasy good to read?
Yes. If you like made-up worlds with larger-than-life characters, then fantasy is an excellent genre for you.
Which is the best fantasy world?
Middle Earth from the Lord of the Ring is one the most intricately crafted fantasy worlds that we absolutely love.
What was the first popular fantasy book?
The Princess and the Goblin and Phantastes, released in 1858, was the first fantasy book.
Why are fantasy books the best?
Fantasy books are highly imaginative, providing us with a form of escapism and delving into otherworldy lands and creatures.
Who is the best fantasy author ever?
J. R. R. Tolkien.
