What are some good fantasy books to read?

Question: What are some good fantasy books to read!?

I enjoy Harry Potter!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Lord of the Rings by: J!.R!.R Tolkien
This book is simply amazing!! Great characters, a very unique plot, fabulous imagery, and its a very well developed trilogy!. Tolkien was a fantastic writer, and he did a marvelous job!.

The Hobbit by: J!.R!.R Tolkien
This book isn't nearly as good as LOTR, but its still a great book!. It sort of gives you a peek at what is to come in LOTR, so it kind of gets you used to Middle Earth!. Its very entertaining, and a quick read!.

Children of Hurin by: J!.R!.R Tolkien
Again, not nearly as good as LOTR, but its very entertaining!. I think its a lot better than The Hobbit, because its a bit more action-y and a faster paced read!. Definately worth a read!!

Rune Marks by: Joanne Harris
This book is one of my absolute favorites! The author has a very unique novel, because she incorporates Norse Mythology into her novel!. After reading this book, I actually became quite interested in Norse Mythology!. I think a book that can incorporate folk lore or mythology into the plot is definately an interesting read!. One of my favorites, so give it a try!!

Cry of the Icemark by: Stuart Hill
This book is amazing!! Another one of my favorites! Sometimes when writing fantasy, its hard to create your own ideas, especially in modern times because it seems like everything was already covered by Tolkien or Lewis!. But Stuart Hill managed to make a truly unique novel with COTI!. Its a great, quick, and entertaining read, so definately give it a try!. A classic fantasy novel, so you'd love it!!

Blade of Fire by: Stuart Hill
This is the sequel to COTI, and its not nearly as good!. I think this is so because it doesn't focus on the loveable characters from the first book as much, so its a little less interesting!. Its still a great read, but the idea he used was a bit excercised by the end of this book!. Its still really good!!

East by: Edith Pattou
This is one of my favorites!! This novel is similar to Rune Marks in the fact that it incorporates folk lore (rather than mythology) into the plot!. This story is a retelling of a classic Norwegian folk tale, but it has a few twists that shows the writer's unique style!. also, this novel is interesting because with each chapter, the author writes from a different character's perspective!. Like, in one chapter she writes from the main character's point of view, then the next chapter is her brother, than the third is her father, etc etc!. I think this adds a lot to the novel, so I could hardly put it down!!

Chronicles of Narnia by: C!.S!. Lewis
This is another great, epic fantasy series! I absolutely love the Narnia series, because Lewis had his own unique style which made Narnia such a magical place!. These books are really good (except for the last one, ha ha ha) And Lewis has his own way of interpreting fantasy!. He used some unique ideas that weren't already in other great fantasy epics like Tolkien, or whoever!. So definately worth a read!!

His Dark Materials Trilogy by: Philip Pullman
Here's another modern day writer who managed to create his own unique fantasy world that differs from great epics like Tolkien or Lewis!. These books are pretty entertaining, but not nearly as engrossing or fantasic as Hill, Tolkien, Harris, or Lewis!. But still, they are definately good!. I read through them relativey quick, so they aren't truly time consuming like LOTR!. But still worth it!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey
The Seal of Solomon by Rick Yancey
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
The Magician by Michael Scott
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Looking For Alaska by John Green
Lock And Key by Sarah Dessen
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock
The Off Season by Catherine Murdock
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
When Lightning Strikes by Meg Cabot
The Mediator: Shadowland by Meg Cabot
First Test by Tamora Pierce
Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

All of these are amazing books and I think you'd enjoy them!. I especially recommend City of Bones by Cassandra Clare and its sequel, City of Ashes!.
~~MP

PS: Some of these books (about 3) aren't fantasy, but I just left them on there because even though I love fantasy, I thought those books were excellent too!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Mercedes Lackey (almost everything by her is great! You could start with Arrows of the Queen [Valdemar] or Fire Rose [Elemental Masters], which are my 2 favorite series by her)
Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern
David Eddings' Belgariad & Mallorean
Katherine Kurtz's Deryni series
Christopher Stasheff's Warlock books (starts with Warlock in Spite of Himself)
Tanith Lee's Tales from the Flat Earth (kinda dark)
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series (not strictly fantasy, but has "organic" time travel--no machines--and some supernatural-type elements with the rest!. Don't be put off that a lot of bookstores put her in romance)
Tamora Pierce's Tortall books (technically young adult, but still very good)

Tam Lin by Pamela Dean--retelling of the ballad set on a college campus
Magic Lost, Trouble Found & Armed and Magical by Lisa Shearin (new author)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series is amazing; she's one of my all-time favorites!.

Terry Brooks' Shannara series is also excellent!. This has more magic than McCaffrey's Dragonriders, and might be a good start if you're looking for something in a similar vein as HP!.

Piers Anthony's Xanth series is also a great read!.

All of these writers create an entire world and develop rich and complex characters!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I have answered this question so many times, I decided to dedicate a web site to answer this question!. Here it is:

http://www!.life-after-harry-potter!.com

Included is a list of only the best sorcery fantasy books, grade reading level, a short review of each book along with a brief summary of adult content!. There is also a "Readers' Choice" list of favorite books, and a list of heroine sorcery fantasy books, plus a full review of "The Golden Compass"!.

I hope this helps!.

Jim, http://www!.jimpettis!.com/wheel/Www@QuestionHome@Com

Bookworm you need an avatar!. I don't like answering questions from people that don't have one!.

As for book suggestions this question has been asked and answered tons of times (and with more details given), so check out the discover area of YahooAnswers or just type it into the search!.

Here's one just for the hell of it!.
"The Golden Compass" by Pullman
or for the younger crowd "Eragon"Www@QuestionHome@Com

The greatest fantasy book ever written was the first telling of King Arthur by Edmund Spencer, The Fairy Queene!. It's written in Olde English, but if you don't wish to give that a try you can get modern transcriptions of it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Melanie Rawn's Exiles series, Dragon Prince / Dragon Star series
George R R Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series
Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth series
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series
Jack Whyte's Camulod seriesWww@QuestionHome@Com

Not the Twilight series!. That disgraces vampires!.

Anything by Anne Rice or Natasha Rhodes!.<3

Read Dante's Girl by Natasha Rhodes!.
One of the best fantasy books I've read lately!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series
Kelley Armstrong's series
Simon R Green- Something from the nightside series!.

Those are my top three!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse

They are all by Stephanie Meyer and are amazing!Www@QuestionHome@Com