Top 5 Fantasy Books | Top 5 Tuesdays

Hello again! It’s Tuesday, and of course that means it’s time for a Top 5 post. Top 5 Tuesdays and their topics are brought to you by Shanah @ the Bionic Bookworm. Check out her blog, she’s awesome, and this page for the list of topics for June!

I’ve been looking forward to this post, because I absolutely love fantasy stories. There’s something even more escapist about reading a fantasy story. Not only are you visiting another world, it’s one that is often completely different from your own! Some really special books (to me) are fantasy ones. This was a really difficult post, since I had to pare down my choices to just FIVE!!!

Anyway, here are my Top 5 fantasy book choices:

1. Ella Enchanted – Gail Carson Levine

If you read my blog, it should come as no surprise that Ella Enchanted makes it on this list. Ella is my go-to comfort book, escape book, nostalgia book…it’s everything. And I fully accept that it’s a middle-grade book, but sometimes those are the best. I hope that many of you readers have come across this book already and love it like I do. If you haven’t read it, I can’t recommend it enough!

2. Sabriel – Garth Nix

THIS BOOK!!!!! If you’re ever looking for some hardcore fantasy, with magic and evil creatures and necromancy – look no further. Not only is Garth Nix one of my favorite authors, especially in the fantasy genre, he’s also brilliant and coming up with completely amazing new worlds. This is the first book in the Old Kingdom series. I love the series, but especially this first book. Give it a look!

3. The Golden Compass – Philip Pullman

I can’t tell you how excited I am that this series is getting a mini-series production! And with big name stars (like Lin-Manuel Miranda, no less!). I loved this series the moment I came across it. When they came out with a movie of it, I was ecstatic! And then seriously let down. And they only made the first one. But this story, this world that Pullman has created is so magical and so epic! I read it when I was almost too young to understand what was going on. I plan on re-reading the series in preparation for seeing the mini-series, so I can’t wait! Plus, now that I’m older and wiser, I think I’ll get more references, especially the British ones.

4. Dealing with Dragons – Patricia C. Wrede

I’ve talked about this book before, as well, but I’ve recently re-read it (well, listened to the audio, which is amazing, by the way!) and I enjoyed it so much! Not only is there a gender stereo-breaking, kickass heroine, but there’s also such cool world building in this book, and series. I love the dragons in this book and I particularly enjoy all the witty banter that Cimorene can dish out.

5. Damsel – Elana K. Arnold

I just read this book this year and it really appealed to me. I think it’s a combination of the world being so familiar, yet so new, the characters playing up stereotypical fantasy tropes and then setting said tropes on fire, and just the overall feminist tones throughout. It’s just a really well-written book and I was completely fascinated by it, and still am! I almost wish I had a book club so I could suggest this book and we all read it and talk about it, because I have some THOUGHTS.

Thoughts & Thanks!

I did it! My Top 5 (for now) favorite fantasy reads. I feel pretty good about my choices and I’m excited to see what you all think and hear about your favorites!

What do you think of my selections? Did any of your favorites make it on this list? Thank you for reading this post. Let’s chat in the comments! And, as always, happy reading!