Bookbag's Fantasy Picks

There's something thoroughly enjoyable about losing yourself in a fantasy world - being immersed in a world so new and exciting, and yet with familiar motifs that make connections to real life. Amongst our top ten, we've got some classics like Tolkien and Pratchett, as well as some more recent releases that you may not have heard of - yet. Why not tell us about your favourites? We're always looking for new reviewers, so if you'd like to review a classic fantasy novel and join our team, please get in touch.

Review of Abarat by Clive Barker Fantasy An imaginative journey through a young girl's fantastic world which shares more than a passing resemblance to The Wizard of Oz. Highly recommended here at Bookbag Towers. Full Review

Review of A Feast for Crows by George R R Martin Fantasy This is the fourth in George R R Martin's epic 'Song of Ice and Fire' series and is highly recommended by Bookbag. If you've not read the three earlier books you really should start with 'A Game of Thrones' - the first book in the series. Full Review

Review of A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L'Engle Fantasy A Wrinkle In Time is a classic piece of sci-fi fantasy for children. It's a very fashionable genre for the young ones just now and Bookbag recommends it as of considerably better quality than much of the gubbins currently on the bookshop shelves. Children will very likely want to read it more than once. Full Review

Review of The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas Fantasy The first in a projected trilogy of books, Thief is a stunning debut from new author Sarah Prineas. Young Conn, thief, lock pick and gutterboy, is a resident of Wellmer, a town experiencing rather strange happenings. Full Review

Review of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin Fantasy Short but very rich novel that tells the first instalment of the story of Ged Sparrowhawk, a Mage and a dragon lord from Earthsea. If you read fantasy at all but don't know it, go and read it at once. For somebody not acquainted with fantasy it wouldn't be a bad place to start sampling. Full Review

Review of The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien Fantasy Bilbo, a respectable peace-loving hobbit, is somehow persuaded to embark on a dangerous venture with thirteen dwarfs and a wizard. Full Review

Review of Emissary (Percheron) by Fiona McIntosh Fantasy The jostling for position in the court takes second place to the jostling for position between nations and you can't take your eyes off either. Full Review

Review of The Iron Dragon's Daughter by Michael Swanwick Fantasy An outstanding, original fantasy, with a terrifyingly convincing picture of Faerie world mixing alchemy, high technology and esoteric magic. All of this mixed with trials and tribulations typical of a bildungsroman, bitter love, sex and youth culture. Fantasy punk, if there is such a thing. Highly recommended. Full Review

Review of Scar Night by Alan Campbell Fantasy Dark fantasy with hints at horror and s-f too, this debut conveys a superb industrial/gothic atmosphere, has an action-packed plot, rich, many-dimensional characters and a city to have nightmares of. Could be shorter, but what fantasy couldn't? Highly recommended. Full Review

Review of Mort by Terry Pratchett Fantasy Many consider Mort to be the finest of Pratchett's Discworld novels and this reviewer is no exception. It's funny, it's meaningful and it's interesting. In this book, in the Discworld, and in our world, it all comes back to DEATH. Don't miss it. Full Review

Check out Bookbag's exciting features section, with interviews, top tens and editorials.

Comments

Like to comment on this feature?

Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.