In Ep. 188, we are kicking off our new “Best of…” series with Sarah’s Bookshelves Live team member, Chrissie, for the Best of Fantasy. Today, Chrissie brings you her all-time top ten favorite fantasy novels. Also, as a long-time reader and evangelizer of the genre, Chrissie talks about how she started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, and ways those new to fantasy might jump in!

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• How Chrissie got started reading fantasy.
• What draws her to the fantasy genre.
• From sci-fi fantasy to epic, high fantasy, Chrissie talks about the wide scope of the genre.
• Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn’t work for her.

Chrissie’s All-Time Top Ten Fantasy Books [16:36]

• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:44]
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[22:11]
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:24]
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:10]
• A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:36]
• Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [37:35]
• Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [39:58]
• The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [42:15]
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:16]
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:40]

High-Profile Fantasy Books That Did Not She Didn’t Love [48:39] 

• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:52]
• Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:55]

Other Books Mentioned

• Fourth Wing (2023) [25:07]
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012) [25:43]
• Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews (1979) [26:36]
• Heaven by V. C. Andrews (1985) [26:46]
• The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June 2025) [31:27]
• A Game of Thrones (1996) by George R. R. Martin ([33:04])
• The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (2011) [33:09]
• The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss (TBD) [33:15]
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1982) [37:16]
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020) [39:46]
• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (2005) [50:03]
• The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (2024) [50:28]

Books from Our Discussion

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997) [4:23] 
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952) [6:23] 
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) [6:26]  
• The Dream Book by Meg Wolitzer (1987) [6:37] 
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [11:15] 
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [12:10] 
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1950) [12:30] 
• The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [14:29]
• The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) [14:30]  
• The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979) [15:36]