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Beginner’s Guide to Fantasy

June 30, 2025 by Aubree Lanman in Beginner's Guide

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” 
― Bilbo Baggins, The Lord of the Rings

Fantasy books let us escape from the everyday. I will never forget my first time reading Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief and how it transported me to Percy’s world full of magic, Greek gods, and monsters. After reading that book, I grew up with the fantasy genre, entering the Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen and exploring Middle-Earth with Bilbo Baggins and having my life forever changed afterward. 

I continue to be astonished by all the ways fantasy transports me to new places, encourages me to expand my imagination beyond the bounds of what I thought possible, and causes me to yearn for grand adventure and magic in everyday life. From pirate adventures to magical coffee shops, there is a place in fantasy for everyone who is looking for an adventure.

What Is Fantasy Literature?

Fantasy is fiction that includes imaginary worlds, magic, mythical creatures, or other paranormal elements. Fantasy often follows the main protagonists on an adventure, and there is usually a struggle between good and evil. Often, fantasy novels are influenced by folklore or mythology from various cultures. This genre covers a wide range of stories, from wizard schools to quests with dragons. Epic fantasy, cozy fantasy, dark academia fantasy, and romantasy are a few of the most popular subgenres, and there are many more to explore.

History 

Fantasy stories have been told since the beginning of human civilization. For example, did you know that ancient Mesopotamians had myths about dragons? For thousands of years, fantasy stories have very often been fueled by the mythologies of their region. Some of the earliest examples of fantasy literature include Journey to the West (a novel written in 16th-century China) and 1001 Arabian Nights (a collection of short stories written in multiple Middle Eastern countries in the 18th century). They both include tales of grand and magical quests. 

Fantasy stories are crafted around the lessons the characters learn, which are meant to teach the reader as well. Some examples from the 1800s include Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tales, like The Little Mermaid and Cinderella (which were much darker than Walt Disney’s modern version of the tales), and The Brothers Grimm fairy tales.  

J.R.R. Tolkien transformed modern fantasy, and specifically “high fantasy,” with his publication of The Hobbit and his Lord of the Rings trilogy in the mid-1900s. By creating Middle-Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien introduced the idea of crafting an expansive, alternative world for characters to explore. He also sent his heroes on grand quests. Both qualities define “high fantasy.” 

His stories had complex problems that surpassed the basic struggles European fairy tale characters faced. He had his characters face problems that would take months and miles to solve. His characters are also often flawed and fall into a morally grey category, giving them complexity and depth. His influence can be seen in many popular high fantasy works such as George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s Wizard of Earthsea. 

Why We Read Fantasy Literature 

Upon asking my coworkers, I discovered that everyone had a unique take on why they read fantasy books. 

“Fantasy was always my first love because I loved how many different directions authors can take in terms of worldbuilding. Some books have whole glossaries, maps, and pronunciation guides, and some are just Earth vibes with some magical creatures. The genre is so expansive that there really is something for everyone.” –Amber H.

“ESCAPISM! I love world-building fantasy reads that immerse. They activate those hidden parts of the brain that engage creativity and the "what-ifs." I feel they also allow adults to access their playfulness when they otherwise might feel stymied by the weight of reality.” –Brittany

“I read fantasy to discover how different authors create new worlds with endless possibilities. I love the boundless creativity; how incredibly rich and thoughtful the world/characters/story can be. It allows me to think about things without the limitations of the real world.” –Audrey

“I like the concept of magic, dragons, flying, adventures! (Dungeons and Dragons new movie with Chris Pine was right up my alley).” –Heather

“All of my favorite fantasies deal with strong emotions, power dynamics of political systems, misunderstood people who are unfairly “othered” by the mainstream, and many other elements of our actual world. In fact, I particularly like stories where the magical system is somehow connected to something—elements, natural history, chemistry, etc.—that does really exist. Fantasy gives us examples of unlikely heroes who take down bullies even though they were scared and outmatched, and that’s something that bolsters me in the small (and big!) battles I face in these times.” –Jane

Best Fantasy Book or Series You’ve Ever Read 

"The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is probably my favorite. It is an epic journey across numerous volumes that I spent the better part of 10 years following and reading.” –Chris F.

“I’m gonna have to go with Ursula K. Le Guin and Wizard of Earthsea. The series is exceptional, but that first book is like the textbook on what good fantasy is. Plus, the writing is good. Don’t get me wrong, I love a clearly written fast and furious, getting paid by the word, action and adventure series, but a masterpiece of storytelling, with an exceptionally creative world, plus almost lyrical prose? You can’t beat that.” –Vinny

“I really enjoyed Babel by R.F. Kuang. I loved the historical elements, character relationships, and absorbing worldbuilding.” –Brenna

“Discworld, Discworld, and Discworld. The late Terry Pratchett's riff on fantasy transcended mere parody to become one of the greatest feats of worldbuilding in all of fiction, encompassing the sublime as well as the sublimely ridiculous.” –Andrew

What Subgenre of Fantasy Would Be a Good Match for You?

Fantasy doesn’t fit into one specific box (The Hobbit is very different from Twilight, as you can imagine), and there are many subgenres. In the past five years, there has been a rise in popularity of romantasy and cozy fantasy, which demonstrates that the genre is constantly growing and expanding, and how our taste in fantasy stories continues to evolve. 

See some of the examples below to see what type of fantasy book might interest you.

Epic Fantasy 

Are you looking for a grand adventure? Maybe far-off worlds, a magical quest, daring adventurers? Or maybe a complex magic system, or even an immortal conqueror to slay.  

Romantasy 

Are you usually a romance reader, but want to try a story with magical protagonists? Would you be interested in exploring a world with fae, elves, or vampires? 

Dark Academia Fantasy

Do you enjoy fictional stories that fall into an academic setting, such as in a magic school?  

Dragon Novels

Do you just really, really want to read about dragons (like me)?

Fantasy Retellings  

Do you enjoy learning about a wide range of mythology or folklore? Or maybe you really enjoy classic fairy tales. 

Cozy Fantasy 

Are you really in need of a cozy, relaxing read? Maybe you want a story with a guaranteed happily ever after. 

Urban Fantasy

Maybe you like stories rooted more in the modern world, but you would be up for a magical twist.

Paranormal Fantasy

Are you a fan of all things paranormal, such as werewolves, witches, ghosts, and vampires?

Graphic Fantasy Novels

There are many fantastic fantasy graphic novels to choose from. 

Ready to give fantasy a try? Check out our staff lists to find your next read. 

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