10 Fantasy Books You Should Read Before You DIE

June 25, 2020

As an avid Fantasy books reader, these are my some recommendation for you to read. And psst!! Harry Potter is not included! I mean... it’s already people’s favorite so i’m not going to include it here.

I’ll go by sequence from i read them first to the latest, so the number is not the rank, okay? Just read them all. And ooh! these are books in YA, so no adult fantasy included here, but i included a bit dystopian books here too! and a bit spoiler : my recommendations probably controversial!

1. The Bartimaeus Trilogy + The Ring Of Salomon by Jonathan Stroud

This series is probably the first fantasy book that impress me with the wicked yet fun character as Bartimaeus the Djinni. this is the book about magic within a normal world, about great adventure of young magician Nathaniel met the smart, sarcastic demon Bartimaeus, include some Thievery and outsmarting the stronger one. The Sequel tho, the Ring Of Salomon, tho i can’t say it as a sequel it’s more like a book set before Bartimaeus meets Nathaniel, way before that. It was set on 950BC when Bartimaeus enslaved by King Salomon. Yes, the Wise King Salomon guys. So it’s more like Historical fiction which also sparks more because it brings a bit juice in the book comparing to the trilogy before. 

Personally i read the trilogy first then the sequel because The Ring of Salomon was released years after the trilogy released (it’s like LOTR and Hobbit, LOTR released first then Hobbit released tho the timeline in the story was suppose to be Hobbit terist then LOTR), but if i can suggest you, i’d go to the sequel first then the trilogy, just because i hate spoilers (not that big spoiler, this sequel story doesn’t really relate to the trilogy). But!!! reading it just like me is also fun, because i got to meet Bartimaeus again in the sequel.


2. Eragon Series by Christopher Paolini

Eragon Series is probably the oldest book i've read after Harry Potter, but because Christopher Paolini Released Inheritance (the last book) six years after eragon, i end up finish the Bartimaeus Trilogy first.

 THIS! everyone, is the best Dragon Books ever! if you a fan of this magical creature, i can’t suggest you more!Christopher Paolini is the best author for describing the world he built, when you read his book it feels like you are exactly in there, the smells around it, the feel of the air, everything! no wonder he didn’t release each book every year, it’s all worth it. this series follows Eragon as the one that discover Dragon when the world doesn’t really believe of Dragon really exist anymore. Eragon become the Dragon rider and boom! Epic adventure.

  

3. The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

This one, is probably the one that takes me to the emotional roller coaster i remember i literally throw the second book when i finish it. i remember i cried more that 3 times in almost the end of the book three (please notice, i'm not a cry baby!)

This book is about Tedd adventure of discovering something that completely destroy everything what he used to believe. I'd say you probably gonna struggle a bit in the first book because this is a dystopian book, which if you didn’t really understand the term, is the book with special kind of world in it. the system is different, specially the language.

But imagine, if you can read (like, LITERALLY read) people’s mind, how cool is that?? also probably a bit scary because of no “privacy” in it. You’s find the beauty of love, sacrifice and loyalty in this book also betrayal! Like i said, an emotional roller coaster!

4. A Monster Call by Patrick Ness

This book is one of my fave of all time that i would suggest even for my non reader friends to read it.
This story follows Connor who his mom is sick and always love the Yew tree outside the house, while Connor think he hates that Yew tree. 

He got several nightmare, wake up in same time few times, meet a monster who tells him a story each time it visits.
This is the story of a kid who struggle with his mom terminal illness and how he cope with it. 

I definitely suggest everyone to read it because it lefts a lot of message to me after i finished reading it.
This book actually written by Patrick Ness by the Idea from Siobhan Dowd who is terminally ill with cancer just like Connor's mother.



5. The Golem and the Jinni by Hellen Wekcker

This one right here probably the one that i didn’t expect to be a good read at first. To be honest i got this book because of the cover at first, (well that’s mostly happen to me all the time, i judge book by its cover because i hate spoiler and reading synopsis is counted as spoiler to me).

Chava which is a Golem, magical creature made of clay made by a wicked rabbi met Ahmad the Jinni who was trapped in a copper flask. They both living in New York. I always love historical Fiction, with magical creature in it.

The story is so magical to me. how they try to fit in among people, how they discover their ability, their interest and more. You might find it a bit dark, but not so dark. I love Chava’s character a lot. Ahmad is an interesting character too.

 

6. Percy Jackson Series By Rick Riordan

For all the Beginners in Fantasy books, this is the book for you. Rick is one of my fave author because of how easy to read his books are. 

 This is a story about “The Chosen One” name Percy, he’s a dyslexia student at first before he discover that he actually a son of a Greek God, which he discover that he actually can read Greek words, so he’s not actually a dyslexia!

This series include Greek mythology that adapted to modern world which is so fun to meet the Greek Gods with their “Normal” human form. Prophecy is a must for this series. You’ll find it’s a fun and thrilling read but also funny at some part. i really love Rick’s joke, he’s always know how to lower the tension, also how to built it up too.


7. Shadow and Bone Series by Leigh Bardugo

This Shadow and Bone series is the one if you are a fan of elemental controlling and magic. This story follows Alina the normal girl before she discover her ability when she cross the shadow fol, a dark place with lots monsters who eat human and the magic happen. she met the famous magician name Darkling who made her his second (or, well…you can guess it here, a bit romance already?) 

This book is also included some unique character, love triangle, or probably more. Definitely check this one out. Full of plot twist!


8. Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is another book set in Grishaverse (same world with the Shadow and Bone series) by Leigh Bardugo but completely different. It’s not all focus about Elemental controlling, it’s more about a pack of smart people (well.. not all of them smart but each has their own ability) trying and scheming of thievery that lead them to save the Grishaverse. 

Lots of unique character here, you definitely love this one too if you are a fantasy book lover. A bit warning, this book also deals with PTSD but you’ll find it acceptable even completes the whole story of it.


9. Heroes Of Olympus By Rick Riordan

If you love Percy Jackson series you probably should read this one because it’s the continuation of that series tho the main focus not only in Percy. The first two books was set in different character POV the rest was the one when the whole characters met, which amaze me how Rick Riordan kind of putting all the puzzle together in the last book. 

I always love when the author knows what exactly what they are doing from the beginning of the book to the last of the series not just keep it going and let it flow one. Putting all the puzzle together has its own satisfaction. Honest opinion? i’m team LEO!

  

10. The Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare

if you are a fan of balance fantasy with love line this one is one for you. Set in Victorian era, so it’s kind of a fun read when a heroine in action but also in such a dress!

This story follow Tessa Gray the one who move to London in order to find her brother after their aunt died.Tessa discover that she is not a normal human, also not a shadowhunter, this is an adventure of Tessa to discover the secret of her identity, met two young man in progress, fall in love, of course and i gotta say, her love for books is just one of her merit. I love her character because of it. 

I love Will’s Character too! Wicked man always an interesting one to read, also Jem’s love for music. this is a whole package deal, i just can’t really decide which ending is the best, i guess i’d love all of the possible ending for it. it shows how well written this series is.

 
 So that’s all for my book recommendations, and yes i’m not including LOTR too this time. A good Series indeed, you should read it but i just decided to not include it here for now.

Tell me what you think about this recommendation, also your top 10 books to read too!

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About Me

Hello! I'm Dee.

I'm a booknerd who loves mostly fantasy books and think that sci-fi is my jam although i haven't really read sci-fi much. I tend to read more other genre but i guess i'm kind of sucks at them. I love collecting beautiful books, and yes i do judge book by its cover. Fell free to leave a comment, let's talk! Or you can reach me out in my socials below.

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