--- title: 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2018 description: Want to escape? Read one of the best fantasy books of 2018 including epic fantasy books like Tomi Adeyemi's "Children of Blood and Bone." canonical: https://time.com/5476044/best-fantasy-books/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-12-18T20:42:05.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:57:22.082Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: The 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2018 og:description: From "Children of Blood and Bone" to "The Fall of Gondolin" og:url: https://time.com/5476044/best-fantasy-books/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ed592df4205a263/698940eddb2987ee8f261617/featured-image-template1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Fantasy Book List 2018 Featured Image og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2018 twitter:description: From "Children of Blood and Bone" to "The Fall of Gondolin" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ed592df4205a263/698940eddb2987ee8f261617/featured-image-template1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2018 > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Dec 18, 2018 8:42 PM UTC   by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Dec 18, 2018 8:42 PM UTC Whether it’s to [J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth](http://time.com/4087650/tolkien-annotated-middle-earth-map-discovered/) or Homer’s ancient Greece, the [best fantasy books](http://time.com/5333651/best-books-like-game-of-thrones/) can take readers on journeys to faraway lands. This year, fantasy bookworms got to travel to a variety of imaginary realms, including war-torn kingdoms and magically industrialized cities, in some of the top fantasy books of 2018. This year’s most superb fantasy offerings ran the gamut from fantasy books for adults, like Tolkien’s [_The Fall of Gondolin_](http://time.com/5376610/fall-of-gondolin-jrr-tolkien/), to fantasy books for teens, like Naomi Novik’s _Spinning Silver_. See TIME’s picks for the top 10 best fantasy books of 2018 below. ## _Children of Blood and Bone_, Tomi Adeyemi  Children of Blood and Bone Tomi Adeyemi Described as “[_Black Panther_ ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079S4NZ2R/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B079S4NZ2R&linkId=c5a138040bebd612a80c940fb487a5ce)with magic” by its author, _Children of Blood and Bone_ chronicles teen diviner Zélie’s quest to bring magic back to the nation of Orïsha after her mother and the rest of the maji are murdered on orders of the king. Tomi Adeyemi’s West African-inspired fantasy debut is a powerful rumination on race and social justice that Adeyemi told [The _Huffington Post_](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tomi-adeyemi-children-of-blood-and-bone%5Fus%5F5af5d71ae4b032b10bfa735f) she was motivated to write after seeing racist reactions to the casting of actors of color in [_The Hunger Games_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008602KQI/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B008602KQI&linkId=c26293fdd90051f8a718113c790a6d6f) movies. _Children of Blood and Bone_ was also featured on TIME’s list of the [best YA and children’s books of 2018](http://time.com/5453063/best-ya-kids-books-2018/). **Buy now:** [_Children of Blood and Bone_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250170974/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1250170974&linkId=d9867c5624a9e8e0fb13dff968404ece) ## _The Poppy War_, R.F. Kuang  The Poppy War RF Kuang Inspired by the [turbulent history of 20th century China](http://departments.kings.edu/history/20c/china.html) — a time period characterized by revolution and war — R.F. Kuang’s ambitious debut novel draws on an era worth charting. The historical military fantasy — the first in a trilogy — centers on Rin, an impoverished orphan who escapes a life of servitude by acing a test designed to identify the Nikara Empire’s most talented youth and earning a spot at an elite but brutal military academy. But her problems are far from over once she arrives at school. Not only does she have to contend with hostile rival classmates who ridicule her for her darker skin and gender, but she also must learn to master her newfound powers in the art of shamanism — the ability to act as a conduit for the gods — as war looms on the horizon. **Buy now:** [_The Poppy War_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072L58JW6/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B072L58JW6&linkId=1bab956b1cb138aaa93b0ccbebfb33f3) ## _Kingdom of Ash_, Sarah J. Maas  Kingdom of Ash Sarah Maas The story of Aelin Galathynius — formerly known as assassin Celaena Sardothien — and her valiant companions’ quest to save the kingdom of Erilea from annihilation under the evil reign of Valg king Erawan comes to a thrilling conclusion in the eighth and final installment of internationally popular YA author Sarah J. Maas’ bestselling [_Throne_ _of Glass_](http://time.com/5333651/best-books-like-game-of-thrones/) novels. With a twisting and turning plot that ultimately leads its expansive cast of characters to a long-fated collision, _Kingdom of Ash_ is a worthy finale to one of the best fantasy book series of the past decade. **Buy now:** [_Kingdom of Ash_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619636123/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1619636123&linkId=b1ea5846e8f1964d5d44d042f092b80a) ## _Circe_, Madeline Miller  Circe Madeline Miller The sorceress known for turning men into beasts in Homer’s _Odyssey_ shares her side of the story through this powerful feminist retelling of an ancient Greek myth. As a woman living alone in a world ruled by men, Circe must rely on her own resilience — and talent for witchcraft — to survive as she passes an eternity in the murky gray space between humanity and divinity. Madeline Miller’s bestselling follow-up to her 2011 debut, [_The Song of Achilles_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062060627/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0062060627&linkId=f561747bc168d0c8580bac5d4dbad38d), is not only one of the best fantasy books of 2018, but also one of TIME’s picks for the [best fiction books of the year](http://time.com/5454708/best-fiction-books-2018/). **Buy now:** [Circe](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316556343/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0316556343&linkId=6c8e97fcb69d7a939969ad539fb345f9) ## _Empire of Sand_, Tasha Suri  Empire of Sand Tasha Suri The illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor of the Ambhan Empire and an exiled Amrithi woman — a member of a race of nomads persecuted for the magic in their blood — finds herself at the center of a deadly struggle for power after the emperor and his cohort of mystics discover she has inherited her mother’s abilities to compel the dreams of sleeping gods. Tasha Suri draws on the [history of persecution](https://www.britannica.com/place/India/The-Mughal-Empire-1526-1761) and power in India’s Mughal Empire for an epic debut that has earned [enthusiastic acclaim](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tasha-suri/empire-of-sand/) as one of the best new fantasy books of the year. **Buy now:** [_Empire of Sand_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B8J34CC/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07B8J34CC&linkId=2f8819d839ded10f494428ec7f55c0a2) ## _Spinning Silver_, Naomi Novik  Spinning Silver Naomi Novik The award-winning author of [_Uprooted_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804179050/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0804179050&linkId=3d42741d186ba97bce072ad6e9a8186e)turns her attention to the magical realm of fairy tales in a fresh retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin. With her family in dire straits, Miryem, the daughter of an ineffectual moneylender, sets out to collect the debts he is owed herself. But when the nameless king of winter hears of her talent for turning silver into gold, he calls upon her to complete an impossible challenge. If she succeeds, he promises to make her his queen. But should she fail, he will turn her to ice. **Buy now:** [_Spinning Silver_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399180990/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0399180990&linkId=278ce65c0fcfc60dac614437bdc39e45) ## _Foundryside_, Robert Jackson Bennett  Foundryside Robert Jackson Bennett In the city of Tevanne, a form of magic called scriving — using a coded alphabet to imbue everyday objects with sentience — has been industrialized to the point that society has become an extreme capitalist dystopia. So when master thief Sancia Grado is sent to steal a golden key that, unbeknownst to her, has the power to effectively remake the world, she finds herself on a crash course to the most dangerous heist of her life. _Foundryside_ is the first in acclaimed [_Divine Cities_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BD2B1CT/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07BD2B1CT&linkId=0b065db4644a03df1eb21473db660210) author Robert Jackson’s Bennett’s new sci-fi fantasy series, _Founders_. **Buy now:** [_Foundryside_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077RG422Z/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B077RG422Z&linkId=2b5c6865d1fd8c80aee5fb2e51ca52ed) ## _The Fall of Gondolin_, J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien  The Fall of Gondolin JRR Tolkien As the last of the three “Great Tales” of the Elder Days of Middle-earth, [_The Fall of Gondolin_](http://time.com/5376610/fall-of-gondolin-jrr-tolkien/)marks what J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, has said will “[indubitably” be the final book](https://ew.com/books/2018/08/27/fall-of-gondolin-jrr-tolkien/) that he compiles from his late father’s writing. Completing the loose trilogy of 2007’s [_The Children of Húrin_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618894640/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0618894640&linkId=9d2bdc334facb282150062ff06a946ac)and 2017’s [_Beren and_ _Lúthien_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1328791823/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1328791823&linkId=61ecc6e8c43fcef4b51a6eef8834f881), _Gondolin_ follows the man Tuor as he journeys to and makes a life for himself in Gondolin, an elvish city that has remained hidden from the dark lord Morgoth for nearly 400 years. That is, until it’s betrayed by one of its own. The collection contains several versions of the story, a precursor to [_The Lord of the Rings_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0395489326/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0395489326&linkId=b21140ec290236eb801864cd3236403d) that, according to his son, Tolkien felt he never perfected. **Buy now:** [_The Fall of Gondolin_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1328613046/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1328613046&linkId=926632cd3ce5b91b08ddf7e76c03abd7) ## _Song of Blood & Stone_, L. Penelope  Song of Blood and Stone L Penelope When Jasminda, an orphan outcast for the color of her skin and her healing gift of Earthsong, learns that the magical veil separating the kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar has begun to weaken, she must join forces with Elsiran spy Jack to unravel an ancient mystery and give her homeland a chance of survival. L. Penelope’s first installment in the _Earthsinger Chronicles_ is a master class in fantasy world-building. **Buy now:** [_Song of Blood & Stone_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SMWXJQN/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07SMWXJQN&linkId=b1fe4e45a4187a21027c3fe83ad1edea) ## _An Easy Death_, Charlaine Harris  Charlaine Harris An Easy Death From the bestselling author of [_The Southern Vampire Mysteries_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R5JSWY/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B005R5JSWY&linkId=469c9dc18f2b07e2c9a38bc82462e32d), the literary inspiration for HBO’s [_True Blood_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037MNKDC/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0037MNKDC&linkId=0ef7519bfd15489848b3f1679830c6e5), comes a new female-led thriller centered on a young gunslinger who is hired to track down a descendant of Rasputin. Set in a lawless alternate America where Franklin Roosevelt was assassinated before he could be sworn into office, _An Easy Death_ is the alluringly gritty opener of Charlaine Harris’ new _Gunnie Rose_ series, fantasy books for adults. **Buy now:** [_An Easy Death_](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CLC9G2G/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=time-books-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07CLC9G2G&linkId=790ff945fa043ff9b47e92a85207368a) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5476044/best-fantasy-books/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5476044/best-fantasy-books/"},"headline":"The 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2018","datePublished":"2018-12-18T20:42:05.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:57:22.082Z","description":"From war-torn kingdoms and magically industrialized cities, a fantasy book for everyone","url":"https://time.com/5476044/best-fantasy-books/","keywords":["Books","Best of Everything 2018"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ed592df4205a263/698940eddb2987ee8f261617/featured-image-template1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Megan McCluskey","jobTitle":"Staff Writer","url":"https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3ed592df4205a263/698940eddb2987ee8f261617/featured-image-template1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Fantasy Book List 2018 Featured Image","caption":"","creditText":"","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/books/","name":"Books"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5476044/best-fantasy-books/","name":"The 10 Best Fantasy Books of 2018"}}]}] ```