For me, opening a book and jumping head first into a brand new world is something truly magical and wonderful. When it comes to Fantasy worlds, nothing compares. The magic, the lore, the world I find to be so captivating and perfect for the times where life just isn’t the best.
I’m finding myself drawn to a lot of Fantasy books so far this year and I am living for it.
So get yourself a cuppa, or something stronger if you are so inclined, and read on for 5 fantasy books on my TBR. You may just find yourself adding them to yours.
The Priory Of The Orange Tree
Now, I’ll be honest, I tried to read this a couple of years ago but I Did Not Finish (DNF).
Why? Honestly, I’m not sure… I think I just couldn’t get my head around the world and the MASSIVE build up. At the time I just wanted dragons and I made it 200 pages in with little to no dragon sightings…
This being said, I have heard it is EPIC and worth the read. So of course, I will be giving this another chance.
When I originally put it down I was very much into my thrillers which are a lot more fast paced than high fantasy so I believe that also influenced my decision at the time.
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door.
Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.
Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.
Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep…
The Ember Blade
The Ember Blade By Chris Wooding seems to be a hidden gem amongst Fantasy book lovers as I haven’t saw a lot on Bookstagram/Booktok about this.
However, what I have seen is nothing but great reviews. A good friend of mine Meg (@PepsiPages – Instagram) highly recommends this, so much so she kindly gifted me a copy so a massive shout out to her. My go to for Fantasy Book recommendations.
With this being said, this book comes with high expectations and I am so ready to explore this world. The cover alone gives me epic fantasy vibes but let’s not get into the “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” debate.
Empires rise, civilisations fall and one culture comes to subsume another. It’s the way of the world . . . sometimes ways of life are improved, sometimes they are not. But the progression of change is huge and – usually – unstoppable.
In this story, the Ossian way of life is fading and the Dachen way is taking its place and Aren is comfortable with that. Even when his parents are accused of treason he supports the establishment and maintains there’s been some mistake . . . which is all it takes to get himself and his best friend arrested . . .
Thrown into a prison mine they plan their escape – only to be overtaken by events when they’re rescued, and promptly find themselves in the middle of an ambush. By the time they’ve escaped, they’re unavoidably linked to Garric – their unwelcome saviour – and his quest to overturn to Dachen way of life.
If they leave Garric now, they’ll be arrested or killed by their pursuers. If they turn him in, Garric will kill them. If they stay with him, they’ll be abetting a murderous quest they don’t believe in. There are no good options – but Aren will still have to choose a path . . .
The Poppy War
The Poppy War seems to be one of those Fantasy books that is hit and miss. Some readers absolutely love the world, whilst some say its over-written and over-hyped.
This is something I’m excited to find out for myself and I will not be deterred from picking it up.
One day, hopefully soon I will see for myself but so far it’s sat on my shelves for over three years and I’ve barely looked at it…
A brilliantly imaginative epic fantasy debut, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.
When Rin aced the Keju – the test to find the most talented students in the Empire – it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who had hoped to get rich by marrying her off; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free from a life of servitude. That she got into Sinegard – the most elite military school in Nikan – was even more surprising.
But surprises aren’t always good.
Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Fighting the prejudice of rival classmates, Rin discovers that she possesses a lethal, unearthly power – an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of psychoactive substances and a seemingly insane teacher, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive – and that mastering these powers could mean more than just surviving school.
For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most people calmly go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away…
The Bone Season
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon – the second book by this author on this list. There’s a reason why she is so well loved by fantasy lovers and I just need to find out why! I’ve heard she writes such intricate stories, just like what I love from Brandon Sanderson.
From what I understand this doesn’t involve dragons like Priory and somehow, I’m more drawn to this series.
Welcome to Scion. No safer place.
The year is 2059. For two centuries, the Republic of Scion has led an oppressive campaign against unnaturalness in Europe.
In London, Paige Mahoney holds a high rank in the criminal underworld. The right hand of the ruthless White Binder, Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare and formidable kind of clairvoyant. Under Scion law, she commits treason simply by breathing.
When Paige is arrested for murder, she meets the mysterious founders of Scion, who have designs on her uncommon abilities. If she is to survive and escape, Paige must use every skill at her disposal – and put her trust in someone who ought to be her enemy.
The Empire Of The Vampire
Yet another book in the list that I originally DNF’d. In the books defence, I was very much enjoying it but as a mood reader I find if i’m not hooked I’ll lose interest fast. At the time I picked this up I was in a massive thriller mood so this influenced why I put this down.
The storyline was so interesting so I can’t wait to get the urge to pick this one back up.
It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise.
Ever since, vampires have waged war against humanity building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Gabriel de León, half man, half monster, and last remaining silversaint – a sworn brother of the holy Silver Order dedicated to defending the realm from the creatures of the night – is all that stands between the world and its end.
Imprisoned by the very monsters he has vowed to destroy Gabriel is forced to tell his story – a story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the War of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:
The Holy Grail.
What's on your Fantasy TBR?
Let me know what Fantasy books you’ve loved or ones that are on your TBR
Have you read any of the above, what did you think ?
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