**Lil disclaimer: the following books have not necessarily been published in the last decade, just that I have read/loved them during this time!**
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
No need for an introduction here...
Okay, I'M SORRY! I told myself I wasn't going to do it; told myself I really, really, really didn't need to include Harry Potter (because everyone knows your love for it already, Rachel, so enough!!) but I JUST COULDN'T DO IT! I owe a lot to these books for many (MANY) different reasons but one is most assuredly for opening my heart up to the fantasy/magical genre. I mean, just looking for this gif and thinking about these books nearly made me cry and then want to re-read them (for the MILLIONTH time!!) so if that doesn't show you the extent of my love for this series, I don't know what will. But okay, okay, I'm done, let's move on!
Inkworld Series by Cornelia Funke
12 year-old Meggie lives with her father, Mortimer, a bookbinder. Mo never reads stories aloud to Meggie because he has a special gift: when he reads a book aloud, the characters come out of the book and into the real world...
I can not begin to describe to you how much I loved these books. They just completely enraptured me at the time I read them and the whole storyline just full-on captured (*ahem*CLUNG ON TO*ahem*) my imagination. I LOVED them. I also loved the movie of the same name, which starred Brendan Fraser. I'm mildly obsessed with Brendan Fraser (especially his old movies) and, in all honestly, I think it's because he was in the movie adaptation of this book.
Please, just read these books. Then watch the movie. I feel like they deserve way more hype!!
The Lost Island of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar
...when a violent storm hits and Maya's parents are washed overboard, life becomes anything but normal. The children manage to steer the boat toward a mysterious island, to a place that doesn't exist on a map.
Welcome to Tamarind, where fish can fly, pirates patrol the waters, jaguars lurk, the islanders are at war, and an evil, child-stealing enchantress rules the jungle.
Welcome to Tamarind, where fish can fly, pirates patrol the waters, jaguars lurk, the islanders are at war, and an evil, child-stealing enchantress rules the jungle.
Okay, if you (or your niece, nephew, daughter, son etc) are looking for an extremely enchanting and magical read, make it this one. I honestly feel like everyone should read this book. It just has one of the most vividly fantastical settings I've ever come across and it makes me so nostalgic. I adored it with my whole heart and it is so special to me, I've never parted with my bruised, battered and well-loved copy.
The Dragonfly Pool, Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan, all by Eva Ibbotson
To read the synopsis of The Dragonfly Pool, click HERE, Journey to the River Sea, click HERE, and The Star of Kazan, click HERE (please do, you will fall in love!)
Now I really don't know if these even count as fantasy, but I just don't care - they gave me the most magical feeling whilst reading them. These three, specifically, are my favourites of Ibbotson's. All three are standalones and all three are just... mesmerising. Three equally magical tales to go with three equally magical book covers. Again, these are books very close to my heart. Gift them to your children, to yourself, to your 80 year old neighbour, it doesn't matter, just read them!
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
So it goes without saying I am a hard-core fan of this series over Clare's Mortal Instruments one. Yes, I still enjoyed TMI but nowhere near as much as The Infernal Devices. I fell completely head over heels in love with the characters and their relationships in this series and there was honestly a time, they were all I could think about. I've not actually read any of Cassandra Clare's other/more recent series' set in the Shadowhunter world yet - I think I'm just scared they'll never live up to this one! So please tell me if I should!
The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove
Boston, 1891. Sophia Tims comes from a family of explorers and cartologers who, for generations, have been traveling and mapping the New World—a world changed by the Great Disruption of 1799, when all the continents were flung into different time periods...
I'm only giving little snippets of synopsis' so this post isn't too long but honestly, go look this one up! The world in this book was unlike anything I'd ever come across - so unique and well-developed and insane. I loved every minute of reading this book and it's another one I'd really recommend people gave a shot - it deserves so much more hype!
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest.
Now on to my more recent favourites... This series is one of my all-time favourites just now. I loved everything about it. The concept, the world, the characters, the ROMANCE, the intensity... Everything! I'd go so far as to say this series - JUST NOW - is probably my absolute favourite. So no pressure if you haven't read it yet y'know... *eyeballs*
Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales...
Another one of my top favourite series just now. This one was just so beautifully crafted with such fascinating, amazing characters and beautiful, poignant story arcs. I ended up marathoning the whole trilogy in one go and just falling in love.
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
...when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real.
My latest read and one of my new top favourites. I've just started reading the second book in this trilogy (book three isn't out until June!) so can't yet say if it's one of my favourite fantasy series of all time but I do have a very good feeling... Not to jinx it! Anyway, the world and story in this book is one of the most rich and vibrant I've ever come across and I was pretty much hook, line and sinker within 10 pages... I've just recently reviewed this one so if you want to know more of my thoughts, simply scroll down!
Of course, I'm hoping to be adding to this list as the year goes on, but I'll keep you all updated!
Until next time,
Happy reading!
Have you read any of these books? Do you agree or disagree with me? What are your top fantasy picks from the past decade?
It goes to exhibit that their books are great and worth reading for since they've become famous of what they did. You are able to check for the author's background at the trunk page or leading page of the book. time traveler books You may also read the trunk percentage of the book to gain an insight in what the book is focused on or what the story is all about. It provides you with a notion whether you will like the story or not. Trying to find good and great books is hard you know.
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