Most, if not all, aspiring fantasy writers are readers, and there is no better place to draw inspiration, technique, or understanding of a genre than the pages upon which it thrives. These 12 fantasy novels have something to teach every writer about generating depth in their world-building, characters, plot structure, and magical features that make the genre what it is. If you are just getting started or need to learn more, these books will help.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz027q2203u98s8z7hia48cy.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3A4HalT" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3A4HalT', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">1. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. TolkienPlot: In this classic novel - Bilbo Baggins embarks from the pastoral bliss of The Shire on an epic adventure to aid a pack of dwarves in recovering their homeland that Smaug, a dragon, seized.Craft Focus: Dig deeper into Tolkien storytelling techniques using his path (and the Journey often as a narrative structure) and how it impacts how characters are built, particularly with such dense themes thematically. The world-building is meticulous and sets a high bar for what to aim at when creating a fully realized fantasy setting.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz02b8fj03tk6y8ze6rv6ki3.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/4cTXQLs" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/4cTXQLs', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">2. A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. MartinPlot: Trouble is afoot in the land where summers can last decades and winters an entire lifetime. Winter's unrelenting cold is creeping in, and the icy breaths of transcendental evils are swirling around their southernmost outpost on the Wall.Craft Focus: Martin weaves an entwined tapestry of many character arcs in a huge and intricate political world. It is a masterclass in juggling the people needed to bounce ideas off each other, bringing enough edge to keep everyone on their toes, and then illustrating plotting layers.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz028ru203weu89n6clq6rhc.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3WlcMv0" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3WlcMv0', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">3. Name of the Wind, by Patrick RothfussPlot: The story of a young, gifted wizard who becomes the most notorious wizard in his world, from Lebenin in a band of strolling players to being taken into the poverty-stricken streets as an orphan, from his reckless but grafted attempt for a spot at the fabled magic school.Craft Focus: The novel uses first-person narration to delve deep into character psychology and motivation and how Rothfuss makes this work. We hope you find his well-laid-out magic system helpful as an example of how to organically weave magical elements into your story.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz029erg03ww0s9nhy3b2o5b.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3Yiz5Eq" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3Yiz5Eq', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">4. The Fifth Season, by N.K. JemisinPlot: This novel starts a trilogy in Stillness, where everything ends. The continent shakes with non-stop earthquakes that threaten extinction at every turn.Craft Focus: Any writer looking to incorporate themes of race, oppression, and the environment into their magic systems could learn something from Jemisin's unconventional use of storytelling devices and layered critique of society.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz028lvf03v01i9n8nj28720.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/4bTba1n" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/4bTba1n', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">5. Mistborn: The Final Empire, by Brandon SandersonPlot: In a world where ashes fall from the sky and mist dominates at night, an orphaned street urchin named Vin discovers that she has innate magical abilities when she is taken in by rebels fighting against the immortal ruler known as The Lord Ruler.Craft Focus: All things Sanderson-like; hard-magic systems. The way he does structure in fight scenes can serve as an example for making action engaging but also logical at the same time.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz028fid03u7sw9n2yy0fiyt.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3WymmMD" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3WymmMD', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">6. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, by Lewis, C. S.Plot: Four siblings discover a wardrobe that allows them to enter the magical world of Narnia, where they get involved in the conflict between the noble lion Aslan and the evil White Witch.Craft Focus: Demonstrating how allegorical writing in fantasy works, offering a story that can be consumed as is while carrying deeper moral or religious subtext.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz0288s303u7yh9n6etb5g04.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3YisPg6" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3YisPg6', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">7. Assassin's Apprentice, by Hobb, RobinPlot: Young Fitz is the illegitimate son of the noble Prince Chivalry and grows up to the shade of the royal court under the care of his father's cynical stable master. He is hated by every royal family member except the cunning King Shrewd, who secretly has the boy tutored in the arts of an assassin.Craft Focus: Character development and the degree to which characters become protagonists and antagonists, as well as politicking between royal family members.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz0282f603tg7y8zgn6x91oo.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/4cOLaWi" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/4cOLaWi', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">8. American Gods, by Gaiman, NeilPlot: The novel blends different mythologies in an American setting and follows the mysterious character known as Shadow.Craft Focus: How reality intermixes with fantasy and how a modern mythos can be built using pop culture and religious identity.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz029327040dtw9nfe1g5e5n.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3Wl0GlG" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3Wl0GlG', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">9. The Blade Itself, by Abercrombie, JoePlot: In the war-torn world's Empire, the cripple, war hero, and the wizard must set their past aside and become the unlikely heroes who would have a significant part in the upcoming struggle for dominance.Craft Focus: Well-developed characters, dark humor, and anti-heroes.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz0298dv03t5vk9ncyyffk7s.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3WA6Tvl" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3WA6Tvl', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">10. The Bone Season, by Samantha ShannonPlot: When Lilith Lyapo is abandoned on an island by marauding humans, a lone alien lands near her home compound and saves the woman who will bring three sperms to motherhood.Craft Focus: This novel's mix of dystopian tropes with fantasy tropes gives it a fresh take on genre blending. It can be a great teacher for suspense and plot in high-stakes writing.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz028xcg03wewe9natore2ag.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/4c212n4" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/4c212n4', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">11. Sabriel, by Garth NixPlot: Sabriel has spent all of her young life outside the safety and protection of a magical school that was left to crumble into ruins when she was still quite small. Now, years later, she must brave its road, as well as others, to find him and defeat an evil on the rise.Craft Focus: This book is about how you incorporate old schools' fantasy tropes in new and amazing ways.<img src="https://letcheck.b-cdn.net/3109/clz027x5h03viv59n7wi25h5e.jpg" data-href="https://amzn.to/3SnRFHn" onclick="window.open('https://amzn.to/3SnRFHn', '_blank')" style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: auto; cursor: pointer;" draggable="true">12. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://amzn.to/3SnRFHn">Uprooted, by Naomi Novik</a>Plot: A girl from a tiny village is selected to be one of the servants for her local wizard and becomes embroiled in a symbolic fight against encroaching darknesses associated with an enchanted forest near by.Craft Focus: Novik makes her background so rich and mythically dense with the inclusion of Slavic folklore. A great book if you are interested in how to bend folklore into an organic narrative.ConclusionThese novels offer different takes on what elements work best in fantasy writing. They are a great tool for any writer to study to better grasp the nuanced narrative techniques and strategies that affect character development or world-building.Disclaimer:The book links in this post are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you decide to purchase through these links. Thanks for backing my work on NovelPlots.com!

Discover 12 essential fantasy novels that every aspiring writer must read to master the art of crafting compelling, magical worlds.

Crafting Worlds: 12 Novels That Teach the Art of Fantasy Writing

Explore expert tips, techniques, and insights on writing compelling fiction. From character development to plot twists, learn how to craft stories that captivate and engage readers on NovelPlots.com.

Crafting Worlds: 12 Novels That Teach the Art of Fantasy Writing

Crafting Worlds: 12 Novels That Teach the Art of Fantasy Writing

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