Everyone knows (or should know) I love fantasy books. I'm afraid this list may be long. Some books were hard to classify so forgive any confusion. Notice, this list contains children's, young adult, and adult books.

By Author: A B C D F G H K L M N P R S W Y

Alexander, Lloyd - These are fantasy. I like them well enough to put on here. Especially the first two. They're kind of similar because they're about traveling nobility. Both characters in the books are sent on quests and eventually find their way home. The Rope Trick isn't bad either. I think I need to read more his books. There's like 30 of them.
- The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen ****
- The Iron Ring ****
- The Rope Trick ***
- Time Cat **

 

 

Allende, Isabel - Did you know? Isabel Allende was one of the women who carried the Olympic flag in Torino, Italy. These books are about Alex and Nadia, two teens who meet for the first time in City of the Beasts. The trilogy is about their adventures while traveling around the world with Alex's energetic grandmother. The books are a blend of science fiction and fantasy set on our modern world. Highly recommended.
The Alexander Cold trilogy:
- City of the Beasts ****
- Kingdom of the Golden Dragon *****
- Forest of the Pygmies ****

 

 

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia - These books are about the shapeshifters, beings who are human in appearance but can change into their corresponding animals at will. The series begins as Zane and Danica resolve to bring peace to their people so they can end the ancient war that has left countless dead and many more grieving. Each book is told from a different character's point of view. So far, it depicts two generations. Highly recommended.
Volumes of the Kiesha'ra:
- Hawksong *****
- Snakecharm ****
- Falcondance *****
- Wolfcry ****

 

 

Avi - These books are for younger readers. They're just fantasy novels. I also read Crispin: the Cross of Lead, but that sucked beyond words.
- Midnight Magic ***
- The Book Without Words **

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Bass, L.G. - This takes place in China long ago and delves into the myths and legends about a certain monkey, gods, and the Emperor's heir. As far as I know, this is the only book in the "Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh" series. Highly recommended.

The Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh:
- Sign of the Qin ****


Bell, Hilari - Amazing author. Fall of a Kingdom used to be called Flame. The trilogy takes place in Farsala, comparable to Persia. The land-hungry Hrum wage war against Farsala and Jiaan, Soraya, and Kavi must set aside their differences and work together to save their country from the slavery and cruelty the invaders bring with them. Very highly recommended.
The Farsala trilogy:
- Fall of a Kingdom *****
- Rise of a Hero *****

- Forging the Sword *****

 

- A Matter of Profit ****
- The Goblin Wood ****


Bray, Libba - Set in Victorian England, Gemma moves to London from India when her mother dies. Soon after she settles at Spence Academy, she is visited by a messenger of a brotherhood. As she and her friends find a diary and dig deeper into the magical world they discover, Gemma learns some shocking news about her mother. There's supposed to be another book to complete the trilogy. Highly recommended.
- A Great and Terrible Beauty *****
- Rebel Angels *****


Browne, N. M. - Living in a world with strict regulations, two teens discover a diabolical plot their dictator would kill for to keep secret. I thought the dream segments were boring but other than that, the story was good. Recommended.
- Basilisk ****

 

 

Bujor, Flavia - Other people liked this book. I didn't think it was that good. Three girls are given to guardians at birth, destined to meet each other once they are given stones that hold power. A prophecy is told and the girls must fulfill it. And of course, what would a book be without enemies?
- The Prophecy of the Stones ***

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Cabot, Meg - In Avalon High, Ellie moves to a new school where some people may be reincarnations of King Arthur's court.

 

Carman, Patrick - Pretty good books with a kinda predictable (at least for me) plot. They are about Alexa and the quest to save her city (and eventually the Land of Elyon) with the help of Jocastas, the stones that allow the bearer to speak with animals. Hmm... Jocasta... relation to Greek mythology? Maybe.
The Land of Elyon:
- The Dark Hills Divide ****
- Beyond the Valley of Thorns ***
- The Tenth City ***


Colfer, Eoin - These books are good sci-fi/fantasy. The Artemis Fowl series deals with a teenage criminal mastermind and fairies with some pretty awesome technology... it's cooler than I make it sound :) I'm surprised that the books didn't stop at the third one, but I'm glad they continued. Recommended.
The Artemis Fowl series:
- Artemis Fowl ***
- Artemis Fowl: the Arctic Incident ***
- Artemis Fowl: the Eternity Code ****
- Artemis Fowl: the Opal Deception ***
- Artemis Fowl: the Lost Colony ****

- The Supernaturalists ****
- The Wish List **


Constable, Kate - I thought these were great but still lacking something and there are still many questions left unanswered. I do like the idea of singing magic though. Very cool. No pun intended ;) Recommended.
The Chanters of Tremaris trilogy:
- The Singer of All Songs ****
- The Waterless Sea ****
- The Tenth Power ***


Coville, Bruce - Great book & sequel. They are about Cara, who is dropped in the world of Luster with a mission to fight Beloved, the enemy of unicorns. I can't say more without giving anything away. The author still hasn't written the next book. Highly recommended.
The Unicorn Chronicles:
- Into the Land of the Unicorns ****
- Song of the Wanderer *****


Croggon, Alison - The story is supposedly the translation of a manuscript from the lost civilization of Edil-Amarandah. Maerad, born free, but now a slave, remembers little of her past. With only a lyre and scattered memories to keep her company, Maerad has never ventured out of Gilman's Cot. When a magical Bard, Cadvan, appears and offers to take her away, she goes with him. The outside world is new to her and she has many quetions. In time, she realizes "that she is the geatest riddle of all." Very highly recommended.
Books of Pellinor:
- The Naming *****
- The Riddle *****

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Dunkle, Clare B. - In Part One of The Hollow Kingdom, two sisters move to live on Hollow Hill, the family estate they have inherited. When they discover the Goblin King wants Kate for a bride, no one will believe them. Then Emily goes missing and Kate turns to the Goblin King for help and strikes a bargain with him. The rest of the story is about what happened after the bargain... which is worth reading to find out.
the Hollow Kingdom trilogy:
- The Hollow Kingdom ****
- Close Kin ***
- In the Coils of the Snake ***

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Farmer, Nancy - These are great books. The first two books are a great example of futuristic fiction and last one has Norse mythology. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm takes place in Africa. Three children of a powerful man are kidnapped and African legends come to life... House of the Scorpion follows the life of a clone of an extremely rich and powerful opium dealer. It seems that there are plots within plots... Very highly recommended.
- House of the Scorpion *****
- The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm *****
- The Sea of Trolls ****


Fisher, Catherine - Snow-Walker is actually three books in one. The Oracle Prophesies trilogy is amazing. It is centered around the Oracle, which speaks the words of the Archon (or god) and the Nine, the priestesses of the Oracle. But what happens if the Oracle is corrupted? It is up to Mirany, one of the nine priestesses, and her friends to save the people from the wrath of the divine powers while fending of Argelin, the power-hungry general. Very highly recommended.
The Oracle Prophesies:
- The Oracle Betrayed *****
- The Sphere of Secrets *****
- Day of the Scarab *****

- Snow-Walker ***


Funke, Cornelia - Read these, they are mostly adventure and fantasy. The "Ink" books are about Meggie and her father who can "read" characters from books to life. Things get complicated from there. I'll bet you anything the next book will be called Inkdeath.
- The Thief Lord ****
- Dragon rider ****

Ink trilogy:
- Inkheart ****
- Inkspell ****

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Gardner, Sally - Very interesting, a tad bit creepy, and kinda hard to understand at times. Coriander was a young girl when her mother died. When she "disappears" and turns up years later questions are sparked...
- I, Coriander ***

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Hanley, Victoria - This was really good. It's got action, clever characters, and an awesome plot. Part One: When Princess Torina's father brings home an enslaved prince named Landen to be her sevant, she sets him free and they become friends. Her father also brings her a crystal ball in which she can see things happening. When she sees a plot to kill her father, it is too late and she is compromised. The murder is blamed on Landen and he must flee the country. Torina also flees to save her life. How? I'm not telling, you have to read :) Years later in Part Two, they are each working separately to make the world better in their own way when fate finds them once again. Very highly recommended.
- The Seer and the Sword *****
- The Light of the Oracle ****


Harrison, Mette Ivie - Recognize this? It's the story of Snow White with the whole "Mirror, Mirror on the wall" thing. Mira is a witch imprisoned within a mirror by her sister. Imprisonment has left Mira as cold as the mirror; she now has no emotions. Years later after the sister's disappearence, a peasant girl discovers the mirror and Mira manipulates her and a merchant's daughter to find more magic only to be met with fate that will bring her face to face with her sister once more...
- Mira, Mirror ***


Hendry, Frances Mary - This is a good story. Meg is given a quest to retrieve a young girl, now Queen of Scotland, after the king has been murdered. Meg's sister eventually turns against her so now she is on her own. There is a plot to murder the new queen and Meg and her friends must get her to safety.
- Quest for a Maid ***


Hightman, Jason - Simon learns that he is a decendant of knights who have orders to slay dragons, the evilest creatures. He and his father set out to kill the last dragon and along the way, they meet Alaythia, who has been painting dragon signs but doesn't know why... Just when they think they've killed the last dragon, it turns out there were more they never knew about and these dragons have a diabolical plan. Recommended.
- The Saint of Dragons ****

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Lackey, Mercedes - Set in the world of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, this new series form Mercedes Lackey centers around a force called the Tradition. As the books' heroines try to control their own destiny, the Tradition fights them and tries to force them down a path most suited to it. Recommended.

- The Fairy Godmother *****

- One Good Knight ****

- Fortune's Fool ****

 

 

Larbalestier, Justine - I thought these books were very good "modern fantasy" as I call it. They take place in Austrailia and New York City. Magic or Madness: Her whole life, Reason Casino has traveled around Austrialia with her mother. When her mother becomes insane, she goes to live with her grandmother Esmerelda, whom she distrusts. She learns that her mother's side of the family has magic but using it is tricky; either use the magic and die young, or don't use the magic and become insane. She is reluctant to learn and finds herself in trouble and very alone, stranded in New York City. Very highly recommended.
Magic or Madness trilogy:
- Magic or Madness *****
- Magic Lessons *****


Lee, Tanith - These books are in a kinda modern-ish, magical-ish, different universe. They are the journals of Claidi, a maid in the House, possibly royalty. Wolf Tower: Claidi escapes from the House and travels with a handsome stranger only to find that she must escape yet again... Wolf Star & Wolf Queen: On the day of her wedding, Claidi is kidnapped and brought to a fortress, when she finally goes, she only to finds more mysteries. Wolf Wing: Just who was Ustareth? What did she want? Claidi and Argul search for answers. Highly recommended.
The Claidi Journals:
- Wolf Tower ***
- Wolf Star ****
- Wolf Queen ***
- Wolf Wing ****

 

 

Levine, Gail Carson - Ella Enchanted is an elaborated (and very good) version of Cinderella. Poor Ella must fight her evil stepmother's dominace over the household, escape from ogres, survive boarding school, and do what is best for Prince Char all while obeying every order she is told without choice. Good thing she has a fairy godmother... right? Highly recommended. By the way, they made a movie and absolutely ruined it. Fairest is set in the world of Ella Enchanted and it is about a girl named Aza in a retelling of Snow White.
- Ella Enchanted ****
- Fairest ****
- The Two Princesses of Bamarre ****

- The Wish **

 

 

 

 

- Od magic *****

 

McNaughton, Janet - A retelling of the ballads "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight" and "Tam Lin" by way of medieval marriage. Lady Jeanette must take her sister's responsibilities when Isabel is disgraced. At first Jenny is optimistic. When she is pressed into a marriage to a despicable man, she finds herself in need of Tam Lin's help.
- An Earthy Knight ****


Melling, O. R. - These books take place in Ireland. Two girls (one in the first book, one in the next) must rescue their loved ones that get caught in the Realm of Fairy. Evil makes their task difficult and they must go into battle with the help of friends. The next book will be The Light-Bearer's Daughter.
The Chronicles of Faerie:
- The Hunter's Moon ***
- The Summer King ***

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Napoli, Donna Jo - Retold fairy tales. Bound is about Xing-Xing, who lives with her stepsister and cruel stepmother. It is based on Chinese Cinderella tales. Zel is a retelling of Rapunzel, the girl with really long hair. It is told from the points of view of Zel, her mother, and the prince. Sirena is Greek mythology.
- Bound ***
- Zel **
- Sirena **


Nix, Garth - This trilogy takes place in the world of the Old Kingdom and the Land of the Dead. Sabriel journeys into the Old Kingdom in search of her father, the necromancer Abhorsen, who is trapped in the Land of the Dead. With help, she confronts a certain relative of hers... Lirael takes place years after Sabriel. Lirael and Prince Sameth must battle to stop the evil that is coming out of the Land of the Dead. With the mischievous cat Mogget and the Disreputable Dog to help them, they travel south towards the Wall. However, their own identities may shock them... Abhorsen: Once Lirael and Sam know their true identities, their purpose is clear. Time is running out so they must bind the Destroyer before all life perishes. Very highly recommended.
Old Kingdom trilogy:
- Sabriel *****
- Lirael, Daughter of the Clayr *****
- Abhorsen *****

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Paolini, Christopher - Made into a movie. Adventures galore! In the land of Alagaesia, Eragon finds a mysterious dragon egg and to his surprise, he now has his own dragon: Saphira. Unknown to him, there are others searching for this dragon... others that are willing to kill. Eragon, Saphira, and Brom look for safety while Eragon struggles with his identity. The adventure continues in Eldest when the group goes to the Elves for help. Very highly recommended.
Inheritance series:
- Eragon *****
- Eldest *****


Pattou, Edith - This is based on the myth "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" but I don't think anyone's heard of that. Anyway, a great white bear shows up to take a girl to an enchanted castle where she is kept a virtual prisoner. In a search for answers, she tries to gain information from the castle's mysterious servants. Only after she makes a fatal mistake does she realize what she has done and now she must fix what she started. Recommended.
- East ****


Pierce, Tamora - Read all of her books. She's one of my favorite authors. Her books revolve around two different worlds. If you don't have time to read everything, read Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen. Summaries would take all day, so suffice it to say that everything is very highly recommended.
The Realm of Tortall:
- Song of the Lioness quartet *****
- Immortals quartet *****
- Protector of the Small quartet *****
- Trickster's Choice *****
- Trickster's Queen *****
- Beka Cooper: Terrier *****

The Circle of Magic:
- Circle of Magic quartet *****
- The Circle Opens quartet *****
- The Will of the Empress *****


Pullman, Philip - Wonderful. The first book takes place in parallel universe and the others travel between worlds. Following the disappearance Lyra's friends, she joins an expedition to the north. With the help of her daemon and her friends, she travels in hope of discovering and stopping the evil that has already been set into motion. The next two books follow Lyra and Will, a boy whose father has been missing for years. With the discovery of a special knife, the two, with their daemons, find themselves drawn into something much larger than they are. Very highly recommended.
His Dark Materials trilogy:
- The Golden Compass *****
- The Subtle knife *****
- The Amber Spyglass *****

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Rees, Celia - Female pirates! Also, an interesting look at how early settlers viewed "witchcraft." Pirates! is "the true and remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, female pirates." After her father's death, Nancy moves to her family's Jamaican plantation. When she discovers certain secrets have been kept from her, she escapes with Minerva, one of the slaves. The girls become friends as they adventure on a pirate ship. When her past haunts her once again, they all may be in danger. Recommended.
- Pirates! *****
- Witch Child ***
- Sorceress **


Rowling, J.K. - Do I really need to explain the Harry Potter books? Recommended.
Harry Potter series:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ***
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ***
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ****
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ****
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ***
- Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince ***


Russon, Penni - Undine is a girl and it seems that a magical power which had been dormant is now awakened. In the second book, we find out who Max is.
- Undine **

 

Snyder, Maria V. - On the day of her execution for murder, Yelena gets a chance to live. She is offered a job as the food taster for the Commander of Ixia. She'll have all the perks of a palace servant... and the risk of dying as her predecessor did. So she cannot escape, Yelena is fed a poison and she will only live if she shows up for the antidote every day. As rebels plot to assissinate the Commander, Yelena's life is in danger... not to mention she is literally being haunted by her past. Good thing she has some helpful friends ;) Very highly recommended.
the Study series:
- Poison Study *****
- Magic Study *****

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Wells, Martha - Master criminal Nicholas Valiarde is bent on avenging the wrongful execution of his godfather by a certain count when he stumbles upon an evil plot that involves the work of his deceased godfather. With his friends, he sets out to discover the root of the plot while fleeing from the law. Highly recommended. Years later, with the help of a mystical sphere created by Ile-Rien's greatest sorcerer, Nicholas's daughter Tremaine must discover a way to protect their country which is under attack from the invading Gardier. She must unearth the secrets of the sphere before time runs out. Recommended.

- Death of the Necromancer *****

 

the Fall of the Ile-Rien:

- The Wizard Hunters ****

- The Ships of Air ****

Wrede, Patricia C. and Caroline Stevermer - Set in Regency England, cousins Cecelia and Kate write letters to each other during the Season in Sorcery and Cecelia. Strangers, mysterious spells, and the strange chocolate pot make life interesting... to say the least.

 

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Yolen, Jane - Typical King Arthur story. What happens if someone else pulls the sword out first?
- Sword of the Rightful King ***