4.54 avg rating — 729,813 ratings

"If you like fantasy, then you like Lord of the Rings. This trilogy is the father of modern high fantasy in more ways than one, influencing so many other novels and series like the Wheel of Time, the Inheritance Cycle, and the Fionavar Tapestry. You have to have at least a slight respect for what Tolkien accomplished here."

4.66 avg rating — 665,895 ratings

"Sanderson really took the idea of fantasy and ran with it, creating a truly unique world and a cast of memorable characters to carry a large, overarching story that's bigger than meets the eye."

4.46 avg rating — 1,148,944 ratings

"Six of Crows tells the story of a caper in the fashion of Ocean's 11 with lovable characters, a twisting and turning plot, and the interesting world of the Grisha universe to boot. It is a massive improvement over its prequel trilogy, taking a premise not typically found in YA fantasy and doing its own thing with it."

3.94 avg rating — 89,298 ratings

"The second book in this duology is sadly disappointing, but the first book takes one of the most interesting looks at dragons, making them into more than just eye candy and investing the reader in their society and personal conflicts."

4.47 avg rating — 11,386,119 ratings

"It's hard to deny the influence Harry Potter has had on the fantasy genre, taking classic staples of fairy tales and weaving them into well-developed characters and a story that develops and grows alongside a maturing audience."

4.28 avg rating — 706,681 ratings

"The Chronicles of Narnia takes classic Christian stories and themes and weaves them into an epic children's narrative deserving of its fame."

3.97 avg rating — 377,686 ratings

"Butcher's series is nearing the point where it becomes unavoidable to anyone with even a passing interest in the fantasy genre. The Dresden Files blends mystery, mysticism, fantasy, and humor into a truly engaging series with memorable characters and unforgettable set ups. And yes, the series does get progressively better with each book."

3.96 avg rating — 62,796 ratings

"A YA high fantasy with fascinating, Asian influences that brings something unique and thought-provoking to the table. Too bad that, like Seraphina, its sequel was disappointing."

3.83 avg rating — 123,273 ratings

"This anti-hero story is a strange mixture of medieval fantasy and science fiction, and it takes a look at the darker side of both genres, presenting difficult themes, quandaries, and crimes that make you question who you should be rooting for."

4.23 avg rating — 76,974 ratings

"A good, swash-buckling adventure with a heavy influence from Tolkien that can keep audiences dancing on their toes."

4.14 avg rating — 128,970 ratings

"Probably one of the most iconic of anthropomorphic animal fantasies, Redwall is one of the most accessible yet interesting war stories I have ever read. It is not without its flaws, but it is still well-worth the read."