Fantasy allows authors to showcase the human experience in a best, worst or shades-of-grey scenario. Setting is not the be-all of a good fantasy novel, but a truly original world with internally coherent rules can prove to be as interesting and/or thought-provoking as more complicated character development.

This list is for "must read" books simply because they are so different. They don't have to be the best at plot or character development; you and I love them because--while we also love the characters and what happens to and with them--as readers, we celebrate anyone who can provide us with a different frame of reference, even if it falls a little short in some other regards.
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4.06 avg rating — 480,820 ratings
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3.97 avg rating — 1,946,766 ratings
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4.25 avg rating — 274,162 ratings
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4.02 avg rating — 84,486 ratings
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4.28 avg rating — 450,719 ratings
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3.91 avg rating — 393,963 ratings
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4.28 avg rating — 709,957 ratings
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4.30 avg rating — 343,598 ratings
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4.27 avg rating — 301,095 ratings
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638 books · 496 voters · list created August 9th, 2009 by Jennifer (votes) .
72 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Jennifer 46 books
4 friends
Greyweather 2660 books
65 friends
Mir 15070 books
447 friends
Holly 668 books
34 friends
Tom 88 books
0 friends
Yuki 81 books
0 friends
Yurinsan 77 books
0 friends
Thom 6022 books
294 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-3 of 3 (3 new)

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message 1: by Michaelbrent (new)

Michaelbrent Collings For consideration on this list:

Billy: Messenger of Powers by Michaelbrent Collings (check it out at www.whoisbillyjones.com)


message 2: by Molly (new)

Molly For consideration: The Court of the Air.


message 3: by Anjali (new)

Anjali Negi For consideration : A face like glass and gullstruck island by frances hardinge, Belgariad by david Eddings, the chronicles of prydain by Lloyd alexander


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