The World of Epic Fantasy

Any story from any genre can give you a place to escape to, but only epic fantasy can open the door to an entirely new world! 🏰

With vast casts of characters, intricately crafted magic systems, and plenty of political intrigue, these stories let authors’ imaginations run completely wild! With no limits to what they can dream up, anything feels possible, and readers get the chance to embark on epic quests in sprawling realms unlike their own. ⚔️

J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, first published in 1937 and 1954 respectively, are widely accepted as the first novels that established the foundational tropes of secondary-world settings. But whilst they may be the works that made epic fantasy it’s own distinct genre, its roots can be traced back to the mid 19th century, for there are several other novels that laid the groundwork for traditional fantasy stories with their structure and themes. These include George MacDonald’s Phantastes, published in 1858, William Morris’ The Well at the World’s End, published in 1896, and E. R. Eddison’s The Worm Ouroboros, published in 1922.

Other influential works in the epic fantasy genre are The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin, A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, and The Broken Earth by N. K. Jemisin.

Full-Immersion and Escapism

For book lovers who read to escape reality, epic fantasy is the perfect genre! Set in entirely imagined realms, these stories let you fully immerse yourself in their landscapes, culture, and history. Their sheer scale and detail makes it easy to forget the world around you, sweeping you up in the mystery and magic of somewhere new.

Steady Reading Experience

While some readers love a snappy book they can race through in just a few sittings, others prefer to take their time to relish in the journey. If you’re the latter and looking for something to truly sink your teeth into, epic fantasies give you the chance to linger in their worlds, savour special moments with their characters, and truly revel in the details. Often stretching across several books, there’s no shortage of pages for you to get absorbed in!

Complete Character Arcs

Epic fantasy gives characters plenty of time to learn and grow. As we journey alongside them across multiple books and through countless challenges, we become ever so fond of them, and there’s something truly rewarding about seeing a character evolve into their very best self.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds. Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters, and the mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin because in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill.

The Book of Fallen Leaves by A. S. Tamaki

Sen, the exiled son of a traitor, is determined to restore his decimated clan to their former power at any cost. But when his path collides with that of Rui, a lowborn woman who once saved his life, he discovers his family ambitions may have paid a darker price than he ever knew. And as vengeful demons rise throughout the lands again, he’s torn between loyalty to the family he’s searched for his entire life and the love of his closest friend.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan, her lady-in-waiting, is loyal to a hidden society of mages and keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

The Tower of the Tyrant by J. T. Greathouse

The world beyond the City of the Wise is fraught with danger. But Fola, a talented sorceress who has left the safety of its walls, is unconcerned. She’s on the hunt for magical remnants left behind by the First Folk – ancient beings who are but the whisper of a memory. Only by finding them might she uncover the secret to their power and a way to pull the riven lands out of the darkness.

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

When war orphan Rin aced the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies, it was a shock to everyone. The fact she got into the most elite military school in Nikan was even more surprising. But surprises aren’t always good, and she is targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her colour, poverty, and gender. But Rin soon discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power, and that mastering control over that power could mean more than just surviving school.

Mortedant’s Peril by R. J. Barker

Irody is a Mortedant, a cleric tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead. No Mortedant is popular, but Irody is scarcely tolerated even by the other members of his own guild, and rarely selected for anything but the lowliest of jobs. This impoverished existence would be dismal enough, but Irody’s troubles quickly multiply when his own apprentice is murdered, and all fingers point to him as a suspect.

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

Nahri has never believed in magic. On the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent, but she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by are all tricks, sleights of hand, and learned skills. But when Nahri accidentally summons a darkly mysterious djinn warrior, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real.

Our Quarterly Epic Book-Only Subscription is perfect for readers who enjoy rich world-building, layered characters, and epic storytelling. Each quarter, you’ll receive a beautifully customised edition of a new release that’s carefully selected to stand out on your shelf and immerse you in a whole new world. Spots for this subscription are currently closed, but you can sign up to the waitlist here. 💜