When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Fantasy novels include mythological retellings, epic adventures, and magical romances.
We turned to Goodreads to rank the best fantasy novels published this year.
These are the most read and highest rated fantasy books of 2022.
Goodreads is the world's largest platform where readers track their favorite books, find recommendations, and participate in annual reading challenges. There, readers rate and review books of every genre, including all kinds of fantasy novels, from highly anticipated sequels to magical new releases.
Fantasy novels let readers experience mythical worlds with daring characters on adventures for love, justice, or vengeance. These fantasy reads are the best and most popular of 2022, ranked by a combination of how often they were read and how highly they were rated. From fantastical romances to gripping historical reads, here are 19 of the best fantasy books of 2022, according to Goodreads reviewers.
Inspired by the Slavic folklore of Baba Yaga, "Thistlefoot" is the story of the Yaga siblings who are reunited when they learn of a mysterious inheritance: a sentient house on chicken legs called Thistlefoot. Now in America, Thistlefoot came from their ancestral home in Russia and was followed by the Longshadow Man, who brings destruction and terrible secrets as he pursues the house and the siblings on their final tour of their family's traveling theater show.
"The Lost Metal" is the seventh novel in "The Mistborn Saga," a fantasy heist series set in a land ruled by the Dark Lord for a thousand years where a gang of thieves take destiny into their own hands instead of relying on a prophecy that failed to save them. In this new addition, new leads are discovered, strange abilities arise, and someone must step up to save Scadrial before the planet faces inevitable ruin.
Set in 1882 England, Charlie and Marlowe each have mysterious powers and are part of the Talents, a group of children with gifts like theirs. In this nearly 700-page historical fantasy, the dead and the living collide with terrible monsters, a dark Victorian world, and the truth about the children's abilities.
Loulie al-Nazari hunts and seals illegal magic but, after saving the prince's life, is blackmailed into finding an ancient lamp for the sultan. In "The Stardust Thief," Loulie teams up with the prince and her bodyguard to embark on an epic but dangerous adventure where they'll encounter more than they bargained for.
In a fantastical world, there lies a line of book eaters who retain a book's content once it is consumed, from helpful maps to fun spy novels. Devon is a book eater whose brothers were raised on adventure stories while she was raised on fairytales, but when her son seems to be born with a darker genre of hunger, she must protect her son in this dystopian, feminist read.
On the magic isle of Cadence, young girls have begun to disappear and Jack Tamerlaine must help find them, though he hasn't returned in 10 years. Adaira isn't thrilled to be working with her childhood enemy but knows the spirits will answer to his music. Together, they unearth trouble far greater than they expected as the fire that fuels their rivalry turns into something more.
Set in an alternate 1950's America, hundreds of thousands of women inexplicably transformed into dragons in the Mass Dragoning of 1955. Now, young Alex has countless questions and must face a world in which the Mass Dragoning isn't spoken of yet has affected nearly every aspect of life.
"Kaikeyi" is the retelling of the Indian epic "The Ramayana," and follows Kaikeyi as she uses secret magic to transforms into a warrior and queen in a world controlled by men. But when her path clashes with fate, Kaikeyi must choose her legacy in this story of family, destiny, and courage.
Elektra, Clytemnestra, and Cassandra are three women whose lives have been cursed and irreversibly affected by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance. In this imaginative retelling of a Greek myth, Elektra is determined to break the cycle as a war devastates Troy.
The bestselling "Scholomance" trilogy concludes with "The Golden Enclaves," where El has escaped Scholomance, but her journey isn't done: She must return to the school to save everyone once and for all as war threatens to rise. Readers love this young adult urban fantasy novel and find the cliffhanger ending delightfully evil.
Loved for its dark but humorous tone, "Nettle and Bone" is the story of Marra, the third-born daughter, who seeks to kill the prince who's been torturing her sisters. As she finds help from an unlikely group that includes a fairy godmother and a chicken possessed by a demon, Marra must accomplish the impossible if she hopes to save her family.
In this slice-of-life fantasy novel, Viv, an orc barbarian, wants to leave her warrior life behind to open the first coffee shop in Thune. Hugely popular on TikTok, "Legends & Lattes" is a sweet and cozy fantasy romance about friendship, community, and the chance to start anew.
7. "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna
Mika Moon is used to hiding her magic except for her online account, where she "pretends" to be a witch. When she's summoned to a remote house to teach three young witches how to control their magic, she finds a protective librarian, a host of secrets, and a place she may finally belong.
6. "The Daughter of the Moon Goddess" by Sue Lynn Tan
Inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, "The Daughter of the Moon Goddess" is the story of Xingyin, who grew up on the moon, unaware she was being hidden from the Celestial Emperor. When her existence is discovered, Xingyin is forced to flee and leave her mother behind, but quickly hatches a plan to disguise her identity, learn how to fight alongside the emperor's son, and save her mother.
Every 10 years, six of the most talented magicians are chosen to qualify for initiation into the secret Alexandrian Society. As the six candidates spend a year together to prepare, they know five will join the ranks — and one will be eliminated.
"Babel" is an epic fantasy novel set in 19th-century England that follows Robin, who is taken from his home in China to study at the Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford University, more commonly known as Babel. There, Robin studies languages and learns silver working, which transforms translation into magic, and discovers how Britain is using this power against the world. In this historical fantasy, Robin must choose between supporting the institution or siding with an underground organization determined to bring them down.
Written by the beloved "King of Horror," "Fairy Tale" is the story of a 17-year-old boy named Charlie Reade who is left a strange inheritance including gold, a cassette tape with an unbelievable story, and a house on a hill with a locked shed in the backyard. When Charlie discovers the key to a parallel world, he finds good and evil at war in this suspenseful novel that blends fantasy and horror.
2. "The War of Two Queens" by Jennifer L. Armentrout
In this highly anticipated fourth novel in the "Blood and Ash" series, Casteel is reeling from recent revelations while Poppy plans to destroy what the Blood Crown stands for to create a peaceful future. Together, they must stop the powers that have already begun to rise — even if it means Poppy must face the prophecy.
"House of Sky and Breath" is the highly anticipated sequel to "House of Earth and Blood," following Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar as they search for a moment of peace after all the upheaval in the first book. But as they're pulled into rebel plans, the two know they can't stay silent while others are oppressed. Readers love this book for its gripping tension, plot twists, and satisfying ending.
Касаткина о выступлении за сборную Австралии: «Это вопрос, который Tennis Australia должна решать с ITF – это уже совсем другой разговор, и я не буду в нем участвовать»
Справится ли Калинская с соперницей? Калинская — Боузкова: прогноз и ставка
Елена Рыбакина сделала признание о работе со скандальным тренером
Первая ракетка Казахстана рухнул в мировом рейтинге ATP
В суд направлено уголовное дело о незаконной охоте с причинением крупного ущерба на территории Ненецкого автономного округа
Архангельские гребцы завоевали две медали на первенстве России в Краснодаре
Заместитель прокурора Архангельской области и Ненецкого автономного округа Павел Матанцев и Уполномоченный по правам ребенка в Ненецком автономном округе Галина Гуляева проведут личный приём жителей Ненецкого автономного округа по вопросам защиты пра
Село Субботник частично останется без электричества: в Симферополе, Евпатории, Алуште, Ялте, Керчи, Джанкое, Феодосии и Севастополе отключат свет 29 мая 2025
Встреча друзей «Библиотека – волшебное место, где книгам не скучно, где всем интересно».
Касаткина о выступлении за сборную Австралии: «Это вопрос, который Tennis Australia должна решать с ITF – это уже совсем другой разговор, и я не буду в нем участвовать»
