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BEST OF · 20 BOOKS · RANKED · ZERO SPOILERS

20 Best Fantasy Books of 2024 (2026)

The fantasy novels that transported us in 2024. New worlds, new obsessions.

20 books 🌶️ Avg 1.4/5 Epic FantasyDark FantasyYA FantasyFantasyLGBTQ+Romantasy EpicClimacticEmotionalDark
THE RANKING

Every book, ranked

Ranked by reader rating, mood alignment, and overall quality. Every book on this list has been read cover to cover by our team.

#1

Wind and Truth

A epic, climactic Adult epic fantasy built around final battle, oaths, cosmere. 1300 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 1300 pages ★ 4.55 Epic Fantasy
Standalone
#2

Empire of the Damned

A dark, epic Adult dark fantasy built around vampire hunter, war, sacrifice. 848 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 848 pages ★ 4.3 Dark Fantasy
Standalone
#3

Dark Heir

A dark, epic Adult ya fantasy built around betrayal, war, dark magic. 480 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 480 pages ★ 4.22 YA FantasyDark Fantasy
Standalone
#4

The Burning Crown

A epic, political Adult fantasy built around war, revolution, resolution. 544 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 544 pages ★ 4.2 FantasyLGBTQ+
Standalone
#5

A Court of Thorns and Roses Collector's Edition

A lush & atmospheric, romantic tension New Adult romantasy built around beauty and the beast, forbidden love, enemies to lovers. 432 pages with a moderate to high-heat romance and a HEA conclusion.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 432 pages ★ 4.19 RomantasyFae FantasyNew Adult Fantasy
Standalone
#6

House of Flame and Shadow

A epic, dark Adult romantasy built around fated mates, found family, war. 832 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 832 pages ★ 4.15 RomantasyFantasy
Standalone
#7

Sunbringer

A dark, epic Adult fantasy built around war, sacrifice, found family. 416 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 416 pages ★ 4.1 FantasyDark Fantasy
Standalone
#8

A Fate Inked in Blood

A action-packed, romantic Adult romantasy built around forced proximity, fated mates, norse mythology. 400 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 400 pages ★ 4.06 RomantasyNorse Fantasy
Standalone
#9

The Dawn Chorus

A dark, epic Adult fantasy built around revolution, war, resolution. 480 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️ 1/5 480 pages ★ 4 Fantasy
Standalone
#10

A Novel Love Story

A whimsical, romantic Adult contemporary romance built around book world, romance reader, small town. 384 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 384 pages ★ 3.99 Contemporary RomanceFantasy
Standalone
#11

Wrath of the Triple Goddess

A fun, adventurous Middle Grade middle grade fantasy built around pet sitting, hecate, percy returns. 320 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 320 pages ★ 3.98 Middle Grade FantasyMythology
Standalone
#12

Bride

A steamy, fun Adult paranormal romance built around arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, werewolves. 400 pages with moderate to high-heat romance and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 400 pages ★ 3.97 Paranormal RomanceFantasy Romance
Standalone
#13

The Love of My Afterlife

A funny, sweet Adult contemporary romance built around afterlife, second chance, time limit. 368 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️ 1/5 368 pages ★ 3.95 Contemporary RomanceFantasy
Standalone
#14

The Familiar

A dark, atmospheric Adult historical fantasy built around forbidden love, dark magic, historical setting. 496 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 496 pages ★ 3.94 Historical FantasyDark Fantasy
Standalone
#15

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

A heartwarming, political Adult cozy fantasy built around found family, sequel, lgbtq+. 416 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 416 pages ★ 3.92 Cozy FantasyLGBTQ+
Standalone
#16

Court of the Shy Flame

A atmospheric, romantic Adult fantasy built around fae, forbidden love, music. 416 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️ 1/5 416 pages ★ 3.9 FantasyRomance
Standalone
#17

The Prisoner's Throne

A dark, political Young Adult ya fantasy built around fae court, sacrifice, war. 288 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 288 pages ★ 3.84 YA FantasyFae
Standalone
#18

All This Time

A epic, romantic Young Adult ya fantasy built around final battle, love conquers, prophecy. 480 pages and a satisfying conclusion.

❄️ 0/5 480 pages ★ 3.7 YA Fantasy
Standalone
#19

A Dark and Drowning Tide

A atmospheric, romantic Adult fantasy built around enemies to lovers, murder mystery, sapphic. 416 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️ 1/5 416 pages ★ 3.68 FantasyRomanceLGBTQ+
Standalone
#20

Heavenly Tyrant

A epic, dark Young Adult ya science fiction built around revolution, polyamory, mecha. 512 pages with a gentle romantic thread and a satisfying conclusion.

🌶️🌶️ 2/5 512 pages ★ 3.65 YA Science FictionChinese Fantasy
Standalone
FAQ

Common questions

What is the #1 pick on this list?

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson takes our top spot. It earned its rank through reader ratings, mood alignment, and overall quality.

How spicy are the books on this list?

The average spice level is 1.4/5. Spice ratings range from 0 to 4/5, so there is something for every heat preference.

How did you rank these books?

Every book on Sort By Cravings is read cover to cover. We rank by reader rating, mood fit, and overall quality. No publisher sponsorships influence our picks.

How often is this list updated?

We review and update our best-of lists quarterly. New releases that meet our criteria get added, and rankings shift as we profile more books.

What genres are represented here?

This list spans Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, YA Fantasy. The average page count is 511 pages. Browse by genre pills on each card to find your ideal match.

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How this list was built

Every book on Sort By Cravings is read cover to cover before being profiled. This list ranks 20 books by reader rating, mood alignment, and editorial quality. No publisher sponsorships influence our rankings. Read our editorial standards.

📚 Updated: March 2026 20 books ranked 23 total matches in our library