Notice! This article contains major spoilers for many popular fantasy book series!
One of the reasons I love reading fantasy books is because of how magical worlds lend themselves so well to incorporating exciting plot twists. Although many of these narrative developments involve deaths or present terrible tragedies for the characters, they make the stories interesting and compel the reader to stay with the series. The effectiveness of a plot twist depends on how well the author foreshadowed the shocking turn of events. without revealing the secret of what is to come. A plot twist shouldn’t come out of nowhere, but the audience shouldn’t be able to predict it too easily.
When done well, a plot twist is an incredibly satisfying and exciting addition to a fantasy story and is sometimes framed as a cliffhanger to encourage readers to continue on to the next chapter in the franchise. Many of the best fantasy books of the last ten years use twists and turns to engage readers and differentiate their narratives from other offerings in the genre. However, many of the most iconic works of fantasy use plot twists, as this literary device has been a mainstay in an author’s toolbox since the beginning of storytelling.
10
Feyre transforming into a High Fae – A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Written by Sarah J. Maas
At the end of the first book in the series by Sarah J. Maas, Cutting thorns and rosesthe protagonist, Feyre, is a victim of the villain Amarantha and is killed after completing her trials. This in itself was a plot twist, as the reader spends the entire book with Feyre and expects to see her triumph at the end. However, it soon becomes clear that Maas has other plans for Feyre, such as her sacrifice does much more for her and the fairies than expected.
Most Cutting thorns and roses revolves around the importance of her being human and how that makes her different from the Fae.
The High Lords see how much Feyre has done and decide to use their magic to not only resurrect her, but also to make her a Fae and immortal. While this makes sense in the context of the remaining books, after reading this passage and realizing that Feyre will never be human again, it was surprising. Most Cutting thorns and roses revolves around the importance of her being human and how that makes her different from the Fae. The remaining books show Feyre struggling with this change and her future as a Fae.
9
Nezha is a shaman – Republic of the Dragon (2019)
Written by RF Kuang
RF Kuang has written some of the best historical fantasy books in recent years, with The Poppy War trilogy contributing a lot to the genre. The series follows Rin, an unlikely hero who enters a military training school to a fictional kingdom similar to ancient China and soon discovers his shamanic abilities and his connection to the pantheon of gods. Although she wields this power with reckless abandon thanks to her considerable skills, she is far from the only shaman in the novels.
However, the most unexpected twist was the revelation that Nezha, Rin’s rival at school and later on the battlefield, has his own god to whom he answers. After Nezha’s contempt for Rin and supposed fear and distrust of shamans, discovering that he can tap into a similar source of power upends both our world as the reader and Rin’s as his enemy. However, I couldn’t help but feel emotional and feel for Nezha and her anxieties after learning about the trauma that accompanied her connection to her god.
8
Kvothe has lost his magic – The Name of the Wind (2007)
Written by Patrick Rothfuss
The Kingslayer Chronicles started with Patrick Rothfuss The Name of the Windwhich introduced readers to the incredible story of Kvothe, a hero worthy of his fantastic reputation. However, the novel’s story reveals the sad truth of where Kvothe ended up. Now known as Kote, the legendary man runs an inn and hides from his many enemies, where a storyteller finds him and convinces him to share his story for the record.
However most The Name of the Wind focuses on Kvothe’s early years and discoveries of magic and power, the novel returns to Kote’s present. In the final moments of the book, we learn that Kote lost his abilities and power when he was unable to stop an attack on the inn. Although it was clear that something was going on beneath the surface, I was devastated that the Kvothe I spent so much time with was a shell of himself. It becomes clear how far he has come when Kvothe’s companion tells Chronicler to remind Kvothe of his heroic past.
7
Xaden is Venin – Iron Flame (2023)
Written by Rebecca Yarros
As Violet investigates her new reality as a dragon rider in the first book of the Empyrean series, Fourth Wingshe grows closer and closer to Xaden Riorson, an older cadet with many secrets of his own. As the chemistry between them becomes increasingly explosive and Violet is drawn into the web of their rebellion, some, but not all, of these mysteries are uncovered. In the second installment, Iron FlameXaden and Violet are on separate paths, but both work to help foment the rebellion and keep the Venin’s attacks in check.
However, the final twist at the end of Iron Flame makes the wait for the third book even more difficult, as the story ends with Xaden channeling too much power to save Violet and being transformed into Venin. How Violet saves Xaden and helps him get back to normal will be a big part of the next chapter, as Xaden’s change was a heart-pounding cliffhanger. As the screen adaptation approaches, Amazon Fourth Wing The TV show must adapt the characters’ relationships, as well as the dynamics between humans and pilots.
6
The Death of Ned – Game of Thrones (1996)
Written by George R.R. Martin
There are many twists and turns in the story of George RR Martin A Song of Ice and Fire series to count, but one of the first books remains the most impactful. Telling the story from multiple perspectives, A Game of Thrones uses Ned Stark, the Lord of House Stark, as one of the main characters in the story. His kindness and innate sense of justice immediately set him apart from the other players on the court, who would lie, betray and kill anyone who stood in their way to power.
It’s a lesson that stays with you throughout the next four books and makes it easier to predict when things are about to go wrong for a character.
Of course, Ned’s execution after discovering that Cersei’s children are not the rightful heirs to the throne is what communicates to the audience that the noble and true are rarely the winners in Game of Thrones. It’s a lesson that stays with you throughout the next four books and makes it easier to predict when things are about to go wrong for a character. His death was a tragic and shocking turn of events. Game of Thronesbut it was a necessary moment for the tone of the series.
5
The Narrators Are the Same Woman – The Fifth Season (2015)
Written by NK Jemisin
The critically acclaimed Broken Earth NK Jemisin’s trilogy only increases in play and tension with each installment of the story. However, the first book, The Fifth Seasonhas my favorite twist in the narrative that is almost impossible to predict. The presumption of The Fifth Season and that three different women, Essun, Damaya and Syenite, are the narrators of the plot and are at different stages of their lives. Despite this, they all share the characteristic of being Orogenes.
Orogens have the power to control Earth’s energy, making them valuable but highly feared and hunted by others. As they navigate their lives and the facets of their power, the three women experience stress and loss on their journeys. However, these events become even more tragic when we realize that they are all the same woman at different times. I was fascinated by the strength and power of the three, and knowing that they are one made me more connected to the story.
4
The Existence of Rephaites – The Season of Bones (2013)
Written by Samantha Shannon
Before Samantha Shannon wrote The Priory of Laranjeirashe started to sweep Season of Bones series. Following the story of Paige, a clairvoyant from the fictional Republic of Scion, the existence of energy and psychic power in The season of bones It’s just the beginning. Although Paige is hunted by her own government and has to hide in everyday life, it soon catches up with her, and she is transported from her beloved criminal underworld to somewhere much worse.
Although this revelation comes at the beginning of the book and is fundamental to the development of the series, it does not make it any less confusing.
Although I believed that the formidable threat that The season of bones was government surveillance after Paige was captured, I discovered that it’s actually an alien race that rules Earth behind the scenes. Put to work as an abused servant in a hidden city, Paige is as shocked as the audience to discover what the story’s true thrust is. Although this revelation comes at the beginning of the book and is fundamental to the development of the series, it does not make it any less confusing.
3
Sazed is the hero of all ages – Mistborn: The Hero Of Ages (2008)
Written by Brandon Sanderson
In The Hero of All Agesthe last book of the first Born from the mists trilogy, the answer to the prophecy of who the Hero of the Ages is is finally revealed. While Ruin’s betrayal and interruption of the prophecy was one of the series’ biggest plot points, the shocking discovery of the true Hero of All Time was one of the most surprising twists. One of the main characters of Born from the mists, Vin, seemed prepared to be the hero, as she fought tooth and nail to claim her destiny, but not every protagonist should be the chosen one.
Sazed, who is a Terran and scholar throughout the books, turns out to be the Hero of the Ages, which was prophesied from the first installments. There were tips throughout the Born from the mists novels about how the Hero of Ages could be anyone of any gender, making the audience believe that Vin was the Hero. However, all along, Sazed was the one who possessed the power to return the world to its former glory. After losing loved ones and sacrificing much, Sazed gives everything he has once again to the role of Hero.
2
Mrs. Coulter is Lyra’s mother – Northern Lights (1995)
Written by Philip Pullman
In most of Philip Pullman’s novel, Aurora Borealisthe brave and precocious Lyra considers herself an orphan, because that’s what everyone told her growing up. The series Your dark materials focuses on coming of age and the loss of innocence, and Lyra’s character arc plays a big role in that. Every step she takes towards her future in Aurora Borealis sees her approaching maturity and moving away from the piece of childhood that gives her certain powers.
One of the most devastating moments for Lyra is when she realizes that the terrible and cruel Mrs. Coulter is actually her mother and that Lord Asriel is not her uncle, but her father.
One of the most devastating moments for Lyra is when she realizes that the terrible and cruel Mrs. Coulter is actually her mother and that Lord Asriel is not her uncle, but her father. The fact that they both lied to her for years and practically abandoned her It would be difficult enough if it weren’t for the fact that they were both willing to experiment on children to promote their scientific discoveries. Although Coulter and Asriel may be her biological parents, they rarely become the people Lyra needs them to be.
1
The Shadow Shares Ged’s Name – A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)
Written by Ursula K. Le Guin
One of the biggest fantasy writers of all time, Ursula K. Le Guin has written many iconic books for adults, but her children’s series, Earthseastands out as some of his best work. The first book, A Wizard of Earthseafollows the rise to power of Ged, a wizard who becomes a legend in the series. However, when reading about Ged for the first time, I realized how young and naive he was and how easily he was manipulated into making mistakes because of his pride.
A coming of age story, A Wizard of Earthsea sees Ged grow old and slowly realize the error of his ways as a young man, as he tirelessly tracks down the shadowy creature he unleashed as a young man. The creature’s existence torments him for years and haunts his every move, but Ged can’t seem to ward off the shadow forever, no matter how powerful he becomes. That’s when Ged realizes that naming the shadow will drive it away and that he calls him Ged, as the creature arose from his mistakes, that he can beat him.