Best Fantasy Books of 2021

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2021 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

  1. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan

    She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan book cover

    Shelley Parker-Chan's "She Who Became the Sun" is a searing, queer re-imagining of the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Set in 14th-century China, it follows an orphan who steals her dead brother's identity - and his great fortune - to escape starvation. The book is fantastic because it treats "fate" as a tangible, agonising force. By weaving ghosts and divine mandates into a gritty military campaign, Parker-Chan explores gender and ambition with brutal honesty. It is a masterpiece of historical fantasy that balances epic political manoeuvres with an intimate, raw look at what one is willing to sacrifice to exist.

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  2. The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

    Now that the intro is out of the way, let me get to the subject I really wanted to talk about: Orka. One of the three main voices in the book and one of the greatest fantasy characters of all time (yep, I’m making that call). I am obsessed. She’s earned her place on my favourites list and I can’t see anyone moving her (I’d like to see them try). Anyone who has read Gwynne before will know that his characterisation is superb, his books populated by characters that readers genuinely care about. We love them because they’re an emotional investment that always pays off, even if it sometimes comes in the form of uncontrollable sobbing.

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  3. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

    Let me put my cards on the table. I loved every part of this book. From the hoity-toity English to the queer romance to the UF style murder investigation - all of it was utterly perfect and so much fun to read.

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  4. The God is Not Willing by Steven Erikson

    In the end, I don’t think you’ll find a better book to read: Not just a better fantasy book, but a better book. And if you have yet to dip your toe into the Malazan world created by Erikson and writing partner Ian C. Esslemont, then I encourage you to pick up ‘The God is Not Willing’. It is beautiful, it is captivating and utterly enthralling, and it is a high-water mark for literature.

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  5. The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

    Kinch quickly became one of my favorite first-person characters in as long as I can remember, and its supporting cast of deep, rich characters combined with Buehlman’s creativity and wit brought this exciting book to life. I give The Blacktongue Thief my highest recommendation.

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  6. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

    The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri book cover

    The Jasmine Throne is a magnificent triumph. Suri creates a complex cultural experience rooted in South Asian mythologies. The hypnotic world-building of the Parijati empire, coupled with an authentic, rage-fueled revolutionary partnership between Malini and Priya, offers unparalleled emotional and political depth. A required, unforgettable read.

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  8. The Hand of the Sun King by JT Greathouse

    Greathouse has written a memorable character in Wen Alder and Forbidden Cur. He is a man whose life has been divided in two since his birth and given no choices of his own along the way, and I found it hard to root against him. When he fails, he fails through action, not lack of it. He has a constant drive to succeed, no matter where life places him, and his brilliance that outshines his peers doesn’t always go over so well in each environment. It’s all compelling stuff. Add in a very cool magic system with weighty consequences, a cast of meaningful, well-developed characters, and a lush world that carefully considers its lore, economic struggles, and religious history, it’s easy for me to call The Hand of the Sun King one of my top reads of 2021.

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  9. A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark

    A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark book cover

    P. Djeli Clark's A Master of Djinn is a vibrant, inventive triumph that reimagines 1912 Cairo as a global superpower fueled by the return of the supernatural. It follows Fatma el-Sha'arawi, a dapper agent of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, as she investigates a mass murder linked to a man claiming to be a legendary prophet. The book is fantastic for its "steampunk-meets-mythology" aesthetic, replacing Victorian soot with desert sun and clockwork djinn. It is a stylish, fast-paced mystery that masterfully explores themes of anti-colonialism, gender, and the blending of ancient folklore with modern progress.

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  10. Master Artificer by Justin Call

    If Master of Sorrows established a fresh new mark on modern epic fantasy, then Master Artificer carves a brightly burning glyph that will attract a bigger and bigger following for years to come. I can say through experience that there are numerous mysteries and rewards to unpack upon re-reads of these books. There’s more than enough content to establish a fan base of theorists, linguists, fan fic writers, artists, game designers and forum posters, which should flourish as Annev’s story continues to unfold in the years ahead. Call has created a rare blend of story innovation, authentic characters, and a finely-crafted, diverse world that elevates the bar of what epic fantasy can achieve.

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  11. Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky

    Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky book cover

    This brilliant novella plays with the boundary between magic and technology. It features two perspectives: a princess who believes she is seeking a sorcerer's help to save her kingdom, and the "sorcerer" himself, who is actually an anthropologist from Earth struggling with depression and advanced tech he cannot explain to her. Tchaikovsky uses this dual narrative to explore the evolution of language and how we interpret the "miraculous" through our own cultural limitations.

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  12. The Black Coast by Mike Brooks

    The story's threads weave a bigger and bigger tapestry throughout the book as it covers all the major beats of what makes a memorable epic fantasy story. There are high levels of adventure, love, danger, politics, and so forth, but the consistent focus on humanity's struggle to survive together in an increasingly uncomfortable atmosphere was the book's biggest draw. An easy recommendation for a brilliant and thoughtful start to what promises to be a watershed epic fantasy series. I loved it.

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  14. The Free Bastards by Jonathan French

    Jonathan French is a Crafty one, wrapping up Jackal, Fetching, and Oats’ stories with the heart and loss and depth it deserves, but it also leaves the door open for more Lot Lands stories to explore. No matter what the future may bring, for three books I’ve lived in this saddle, and with the killer conclusion of The Free Bastards, I’m fortunate to die on this hog.

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  15. Bacchanal by Veronica G Henry

    Bacchanal takes the dark carnival/circus setting and reinvigorates it, blending the fantastic and the mundane with a perfect touch of horror.

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  18. Risen by Benedict Jacka

    Sad as I am to say goodbye, I think Jacka did his series justice, both in the high-action battles and in the character outcomes for all those who are left alive. At that, I'll say no more. A wonderful series that I'm already looking forward to reading again. Recommended.

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  20. The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

    The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison book cover

    Katherine Addison's "The Witness for the Dead" is a haunting, quiet masterpiece of "clerical noir." It follows Thara Celehar, a prelate who can hear the final thoughts of the deceased, as he solves murders and resolves the estates of the forgotten in the city of Amalo. The book is fantastic because it treats "necromancy" as a weary, bureaucratic burden rather than a dark art. Addison excels at building a world where the "forensic" magic is grounded in empathy and rigid tradition. It is a sombre, deeply moving procedural that prioritises the dignity of the victim over flashy action.

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