11 best fantasy books for otherworldly escapism
11 best fantasy books for otherworldly escapism
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Many may already be a fan of the TV adaptation but, whether you’ve watched it or not, the Game Of Thrones series by George RR Martin truly encapsulates everything you could possibly want from the fantasy genre. With plenty of magic, battles, prophecies, supernatural creatures, and, of course, dragons, its fantasy elements unfurl gradually to draw you in. As do the expertly conceived characters, who you’ll be rooting for and abhorring in equal measure. Some of the storylines will be familiar to viewers of the hit TV show but, as you might expect, the first book in the series delves deeper into the motivations and undercurrents of what is happening in the characters’ lives.
Once you’ve immersed yourself in the world of Westeros, there are four additional books – with two being split into part one and two – to make your way through. Plus, the series has always been a seven-part series, according to the author, with two additional books planned for the future. You might not want to hold your breath for their release anytime soon, though.
A novel that’s gone viral (to say the least) on #BookTok and beyond, Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses is a world of fairies (or faeries, as she pens them) split across the seven ‘courts’ of the realm of Prythian. The book hones in on Feyre – the human protagonist – who ends up entwined in the immortal life of Lord Tamlin, the high-fae ruler of the spring court.
The tale is jam packed with vivid landscapes, romance, magic, and twists and turns galore. It’s a page turner at every stage and the ultimate post-work escapism, without the requirement for the utmost concentration as with the likes of Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
