50 Fantasy Novels (of the non-bloodsucking variety)

So originally this was supposed to be a general non-genre-specific list. Then I realized I read way too freaking much to fit all that in one list, so I've split it into a bunch of separate lists.

And naturally, since I've been a nerd for as long as possible it is to be a nerd, I'm starting off with fantasy. 

If you liked Harry Potter and A Song of Ice and Fire, you'll thank me for this. So you're welcome, in advance. 

Also, you're allowed to buy me cupcakes. Nothing says, "You're my new goddess and I worship you" like a nice red velvet cupcake.

1.  Children/YA Fantasy:

There is a difference okay? There is a huge fucking difference between what kids should be reading and Game of Thrones. Call me conservative, but I would be massively uncomfortable with 12 year olds reading about Jaime/Cersei's incestuous f***kfest.

So this is for the 8-14 crowd, but if I'm going to honest, I read them too so.... Yeah, whatever:

• The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis 

I've heard people say Harry Potter was their childhood, but Narnia - and not the movies - NARNIA has always defined growing up for me.

• His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

• Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan - Warning, part 2 sucks ass, but otherwise, hell yeah, who doesn't like Greek heroes going to battle in the 21st century?

Also, Riordan converts the 'Pen is mightier than the sword' to amusing (literal) effect. *coughRiptidecough*

• Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer 

Warning for slight suckiness in parts 3 and 4, but otherwise, there are battle recon teams of leprechauns, and a foul-mouthed centaur who happens to be a computer geek. Oh and Artemis Fowl, the protagonist? Evil boy genius turned heroic boy genius.

• A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin 

This is actually Part 1 in the Earthsea saga, but I've only finished this one and I'm currently reading Part 2: Tombs of Atuan, which is awesome but not as awesome, and I really was hoping for better.

• The Heroes of Olympus Series, again by Rick Riordan,

And HOLY SHIT PEOPLE, this is better than Percy Jackson! Still, you need to read Percy Jackson to know what's happening here, so go buy/download your copy already.

• The Kane Chronicles, yes Rick Riordan. AGAIN.

I can't get enough of Riordan, I'm afraid. He took up Egyptian mythology in this series, and if you enjoyed running with the Greeks and the Romans, you'll like this too.

• The Fire Thief trilogy by Terry Deary for sheer, epic snarky awesomeness. Also because Prometheus is the hero and how often does that happen in Greek mythology?

• The Inheritance Saga (Eragon) by Christopher Paolini

Because hello? DRAGONS.

Of the seriously, epicly cool/wise/sarcastic/funny variety, as opposed to the boring-as-all-hell versions Daenerys Targaryen has. 

• Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

It is known fact amongst the fantasy fiction community that Eragon is a thrilling mashup of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Dragonriders of Pern. And Pern, by far, is the most fun to read. Why? DRAGONS.

Haven't you been paying attention? Also interplanetary war and alien invasions and all that jazz. Like it? Read it.

2.  YA/Adult Fantasy:

When I say fantasy, I mean of the Dragons and Dungeons variety okay?

NO!

NOT that kind of dungeon! I mean the kind where you're chained and bleeding and starve to death! NOT the sexy-fun kind, with a half-naked Ian Somerhalder.

My God. Y'all read way too much 50 Shades.

....or maybe that's just me.

• HARRY POTTER.

'Nuff said.
Seriously, how else did you think I'd start this list?

• A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R. R. Martin

• The Denarian Renegade (The Denarian Trilogy #1) by shezza88

LOL, you thought this list was just books? NO. There's fanfiction too.
And the fanfiction's better than the actual Harry Potter books. Link here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3473224/1/The-Denarian-Renegade

• Harry Potter and the Wastelands of Time (Wastelands Trilogy #1) by joe6991

Summary on fanfiction.net:
"Take a deep breath, count back from ten… and above all else – don't worry! It'll all be over soon.
The world, that is.
Yet for Harry Potter the end is just the beginning. Enemies close in on all sides, and Harry faces his greatest challenge of all - Time."
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4068153/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Wastelands-of-Time

• Fate's Favourite by The Fictionist

THE SINGLE GREATEST TIME TRAVEL STORY YOU WILL EVER READ. EVER.

And that's saying something because Wastelands of Time, is, as the name suggests, a time travel story.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5725656/1/Fate-s-Favourite
Okay. You're welcome. You may grovel.

• Tied for Last by Speechwriter

There are no words.
I don't have, literally, the right words to describe how important this story is to me.
So I can't tell you, and I apologize for that, but I'm putting a little bit of soul out there, for you, to tell you, that this story will irrevocably change you.

Perhaps not for the better.

But I hope you read it anyway:
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6031176/1/Tied-for-Last

• The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

You know how nearly everyone in Game of Thrones is kind of an asshole?
EVERYONE in The First Law is an asshole.

But they're badass, hardcore assholes. That makes up, right?

PS. Joe Abercrombie used to be joe6991. That says something about why you should really be reading Wastelands of Time, link above.

• Angelology by Danielle Trussoni (Part 2, Angelopolis has been released, but only in the US or something, and my heart is officially shattered.)

• The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King (I bought these in the eighth grade and was so horrifically scarred, I couldn't read beyond Part 2. Still now that I'm older and wiser and in love with Cersei Lannister, might be time to revisit.)

So, in summary, here's what I recommend:

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of The Dawn Treader
4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair
5. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle
6. His Dark Materials: Northern Lights 
7. His Dark Materials: The Subtle Knife
8. His Dark Materials: The Amber Spyglass
9. Inheritance Saga: Eragon
10. Inheritance Saga: Eldest
11. Inheritance Saga: Brisingr
12. Inheritance Saga: Inheritance
13. DragonRiders of Pern: Dragonflight
14. DragonRiders of Pern: Dragonquest
15. DragonRiders of Pern: Dragonsong
16. Artemis Fowl
17. Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident
18. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
19. Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex
20. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
21. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
22. Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth
23. Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero
24. Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune
25. Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena
26. The Kane Chronicles: Red Pyramid
27. The Kane Chronicles: Throne of Fire
28. A Wizard of Earthsea
29. The Tombs of Atuan
30. Fire Thief Trilogy: The Fire Thief
31. Fire Thief Trilogy: Flight of the Fire Thief
32. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
33. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
34. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
35. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
36. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (skipped OoTP on purpose. Why? Cause it sucked is why.)(also, skipped DH, because let's face it, the only reason to read it would be to find out how it all ended. The actual book was terrible.)
37. A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones
38. A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings
39. A Song of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords (these are the only books I've actually read. While I'm sure the rest are equally brilliant, including them here would be cheating so...)
40. Denarian Saga: The Denarian Renegade
41. Denarian Saga: The Denarian Knight
42. Denarian Saga: The Denarian Lord (there are two more parts to this series, and just as popular, but again, I haven't read them myself. Apologies.)
43. Harry Potter and the Wastelands of Time
44. Harry Potter and the Heartlands of Time
45. Fate's Favourite
46. Tied for Last
47. The First Law: The Blade Itself (this is a trilogy, but I'm actually reading TBI right now, so I can hardly provide an opinion about the rest of the series)
48. Angelology
49. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
50. The Dark Tower: The Naming of the Three

So that's that. 50 stories, and I'm sure you've read half of them, and bitching about how utterly useless this list was to you, but whatever okay?

Also, a heart-breakingly wonderful bonus for all Potterheads reading this:

Cauterize by Lady Altair

""Of course it's missing something vital. That's the point." Dennis Creevey takes up his brother's camera after the war."

Snapshots from after the war, of loss and pain and recovery, and of death.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4152700/1/Cauterize

Thank you for reading, and don't forget to google+ and add me to your google circle, if you enjoyed reading this and want updates on next post!

Next week, YA fiction: The Good, The Bad and The Dirty