As I said last week, when I shared my favorite ten contemporary novels of 2018, today you’re getting my favorite ten fantasy books! My two main genres deserve separate posts, no doubt. Especially since I read 185 books last year, so making top tens is hard enough as it is!
Let’s dive into this!
All covers link back to Goodreads! There is no particular order to this list.
The Girl King by Mimi Yu
The world-building is one of the aspects I loved most in this one. The mention of hard topics is something that drew me in as well. Absolutely lived for the presence of shapeshifters though!
The Novice by Taran Matharu
I will never, ever forget how proud the author was when he described his book as “a combination of Pokémon, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings”. It’s what had me curious and what I loved most! Now.. If only I wasn’t so bad at sequels..
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
Speaking about sequels.. This is one I did read in 2018! I must admit that people saying it’s way better than Caraval helped motivate me and they ended up being right!
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Need I say more? His writing-style, his sarcasm, his world-building.. Pretty much everything is right up my alley and I will never not read anything he writes. There. I’ve said it.
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
Although I also read Stalking Jack the Ripper last year, it’s the sequel I love most. I didn’t really feel the romance in the first installment, but was blown away by every single aspect of Hunting Prince Dracula. The only thing I still don’t agree with are the spiders. Hate those creatures.
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Slow-burn sapphic romance. That’s all I need to say about this because it’s the main reason I fell entirely in love with this novel. That and the world-building. The plot. All the characters. Everything.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
What I remember best about this book is how the author used present-day issues in her fantasy novel and I really appreciated that. Apart from that, I also liked the characters, the history and the way the action kept on coming.
Consort of Secrets by Eva Chase
This was my introduction to reverse harem and, even though I haven’t read an awful lot of the genre still, I’m still so intrigued by it! Apart from that – very important – aspect, the presence of witches definitely helps things as well!
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
This retelling! You all know I love retellings, queer ones most of all but.. another winner are the really dark ones and this one fits the bill perfectly. I didn’t expect it, which made it an even better reading experience.
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
I finished the entire Throne of Glass-series last year, but I have to say.. this is probably still my favorite! Maybe, just maybe, I’ll change my mind once I reread them but.. We’ll see!
Harry Potter-series by J.K. Rowling
And an honorary mention for Harry Potter since I reread all the books and I can’t not mention these!
Are any of these on your favorites as well?
Or maybe you’re still planning on reading some of the books I mentioned?
Any new books I put on your radar with this post?
[Just saying I’ll be hosting a giveaway for any of the books on this list on Twitter later today!]
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Escaping From Houdini since you loved HPD! HPD is still my fave in the series, but I thought EFH was so good, too.
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I’m pretty sure I’ll end up agreeing with you. I’m kind of missing.. the dark and eerie vibes I got in HPD?
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Right! Yeah, I felt like SJTR and HPD were both much more atmospheric and creepy~ than EFH.
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Yuuuup. No doubt about it. Like, I got pulled into EFH at the end of the book, but throughout the rest of it? I was totally missing the darkness. [And I also seriously did not get a hint of chemistry between Audrey Rose, Thomas and Mephisto? Like. Ugh.]
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I didn’t really get into Caraval, but I enjoyed Legendary a lot! I’m so glad I gave it a chance
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Same! If it hadn’t been for all the amazing reviews on Legendary, I don’t think I would’ve picked it up by myself to be honest.
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I’m really excited for The girl king and girls of paper and fire!
I also really loved Nevernight and Legendary!
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Ooh, I hope you end up loving them as much as I do!! ❤
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I’ve only read To Kill a Kingdom but I am super curious about Girls of Paper and Fire. Just that cover alone!
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I looove that cover! I was stoked when I had read the ARC and then found out there’d be an exclusive cover in my FairyLoot, haha.
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OOOH YES YES YES! I agree with so many of these! Legendary, TKAK, Children of Blood and Bone, and Harry Potter are all so amazing! I was shocked by how much I enjoyed Legendary. I can’t wait for Finale! 🤗
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Saaame! Finale and CVV! Two of the sequels I needed yesterday, haha!
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Nevernight and Children of Blood and Bone were so good 😍😍 and Harry Potter! YAS!
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It stinks that the sequel to CBB has been pushed back a bit! I neeeeed it!
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What 😭 I didn’t know that. I need it too, I really wanna know what’s gonna happen
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Almost all of these are on my TBR. The only ones I’ve read are Harry Potter and Children of Blood and Bone. I haven’t seen many positive reviews for The Girl King and so I’ve been a little put off by it, but it’s always interesting to get another take on it so I’m off to go check your review out of that now. Great post – I cannot wait to start reading the rest of these books! They all sound so amazing.
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Oh, I hope the ones you haven’t read yet end up on your favorites as well then! 🙂
I’ve noticed the reviews on The Girl King.. I haven’t read those thoroughly yet, but maybe I should. See if there are things I simply didn’t notice myself that should be mentioned and such.
Thank you!
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it’s amazing to me how many genres Pokemon can be mixed into…the concept being used here in a fantasy novel, and then in the trailer I recently watched for the WTF factor, DETECTIVE PIKACHU, lol!
and high five, fellow, um, bad-at-sequels-er 😛
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Haha, right? I do love seeing Pokémon mixed into things. Nostalgic every single time.
I’m trying to be better at it but.. well.. Y’know.. 😛
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I haven’t heard of Novice but that description has gotten me curious!
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Oh, do check it out! I’ve only read the first book so far, but I did enjoy it tons!
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Queen of Shadows is totally my favorite in the series too!
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Whooop! 😀
I do wonder whether I’ll ever change my mind about that should I reread the entire series though, haha.
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I just did it when Kingdom of Ash came out.
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I had only read the books not too long before that for the first time so a reread wasn’t in order yet, haha.
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Rereads are fun, especially once you have the whole series.
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Definitely true! Which is why I want to reread all Shadowhunter books this year. Although with Clare, there just seems to be an endless stream of Shadowhunter books, haha.
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Seriously! I thought TDA was going to be the last but I sure was wrong!
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Never-ending!!
Although I do wonder when it’ll start feeling like “too much” – not yet but.. eventually it might happen?
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I need more Fantasy in my life!! I’ve heard so many great things about NEVERNIGHT and the THRONE OF GLASS series!
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Those are DEFINITELY two series you need to pick up – no doubt! 😀 Some of the best fantasy I’ve read these last years I think
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I really enjoyed Children of Blood and Bone, and I’m happy the sequel is coming out later this year.
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Same! Although it’s a bummer the release date was pushed back a bit, hah.
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Yes, but at least it gives the author more time to perfect it.
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That’s true. 🙂
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Girls of Paper and Fire! That’s one book I keep forgetting to add to my TBR which… fixed! Impatiently waiting for the paperback which will be a looong time but it’ll come. It’ll come. *sighs*
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Gaaah, I feel so sorry you have to wait for the paperbacks every single time. 😦
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It’s a hard life **sniff** but I try to be strong.
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I enjoyed Caraval, still need to get Legendary- glad to hear it’s even better!
The hype had me put off To Kill a Kingdom but I’ve seen so many trusted bloggers mention it now I’m starting to rethink..
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Ooh, I hope you enjoy!
Ha, I ignored the entire hype and focused on how it’s a fairy tale retelling – which I love so much. And it’s a dark one at that, something you rarely see, in my opinion. I do hope you love it should you pick it up anyway!
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So many of theses are in my TBR. The only ones I’ve read are Harry Potter and Stalking Jack the Ripper which you know all about my love for that series!!
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I do! And I started Escaping from Houdini yesterday so I’ll probably be raving about that one pretty soon! 😀
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I can’t wait to see your thoughts on that one.
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Yes! I could’ve written this list as my faves too!
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Hahah, awesome! 😀
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This is such a great list, Kathy! I really loved Children of Blood and Bone and I can’t wait to read Girls of Paper and Fire, I’ve been hearing SO much about this one, I just CAN’T wait 😀 ❤
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Thank you!
Oooh, it’s sooo good! I know you don’t usually read fantasy but I honestly can’t imagine you not liking Girls of Paper and Fire!
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I’m so, so, so excited to get my hands on this book, fingers crossed I’ll read it soon 😀
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Glad to see Girls of Paper and Fire + Legendary on here. Both of those are on my TBR for next month so I’m excited!
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Oooh, awesome! I hope you enjoy them! Legendary is way better than Caraval in my opinion; but Girls of Paper and Fire is definitely higher on my favorites than Legendary, haha.
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From these books I only read To Kill a Kingdom and it DEFINITELY deserves its spot on this list 🧡
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Right?! Great minds love the same books – HA. [And sometimes they don’t but that’s okay.]
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I’ve seen To Kill a Kingdom on so many lists, I just HAVE to read it now! Great list:-)
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Yes you do! Dark retellings are my downfall and that’s a brilliant one, in my opinion!
Thank you 🙂
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I loved Hunting Prince Dracula, and I can’t wait to continue on with the series. Harry Potter is always a favorite of mine!
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I started Escaping from Houdini yesterday! I forgot how quickly you get thrown into a murder case, ha.
Same! HP is everything!
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