10 Fantasy Books That Are Almost Perfect

Some popular fantasy novels exhibit one (or multiple) flaws that keep them from true perfection. The world of BookTok is dominated by romantic, A genre that relies on several tropes that don’t hold up to scrutiny. But, that would be it “guilty pleasure” Genre delivers exactly what it promises. On the other hand, even the flagship novels of long fantasy book Sagas People tend to demonstrate some fundamental narrative problems despite their widespread critical acclaim.

With classic fantasy literature, some parts of the story probably haven’t aged well. In the case of more modern examples, many fantasy book boyfriends would be hated in real life when arrogance is often one of their key traits. however, There are many more ways that an allegedly amazing fantasy novel can disappoint readers, From lackluster protagonists, underused supporting characters, weird dynamics and plot holes. With some of these titles being upcoming fantasy movie or TV adaptations, they have the question of what elements can be changed to improve the story.

10

The cruel prince

By Holly Black

Contributing to a very popular subgenre of young adult fantasy, Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series is another saga of fairy politics and determined young protagonists trying to take down the royal family and aristocrats who dominate the setting. The only problem is that Jude and Cardan are not as smart as they think they are. in The cruel princeJude manages to make Cardan the king of Eflhame, keeping power out of the hands of her cruel adoptive father. However, according to her bargain with Cardan, this plan has an expiration date, while Madoc will continue his scheming.

Meanwhile, Cardan carries himself with the authority of a prince and king, acting as if he has the measure of Judah. However, his countermoves towards her are impulsive, built as if they will have lasting consequences, but ultimately fall apart soon after. Many people read The cruel prince Have likely read its natural contemporaries, facilitating a lot of comparisons. After seeing Aelin Galathynius and Kaz Brekker imagine every possible scenario, Jude and Cardan seem like they don’t know what they’re doing.

9

Dracula

By Bram Stoker

Dracula is famous for establishing many of the tropes of the vampire genre, while the character himself has come to life in various forms in other vampire properties. It’s a must-read for anyone invested in the classic horror genre of Frankenstein And The Picture of Dorian GrayThat set the bar for psychological monster thrillers that evolved into today’s pop culture. Dracula has a full cast of interesting characters, its biggest fault is that the female characters are underdeveloped, A byproduct of the time. Namely, Mina and Lucy’s arcs are both primarily concerned with who they will marry.

The women are also the characters threatened with becoming vampires, allowing the men to save them or decide to kill them. The disadvantage of Dracula is evident when many modern adaptations focus more on Mina and Lucy. It is essentially a new one Dracula troupe for it to be a romance between Dracula and Mina, Possibly because she looks like his lost love. Mina also lives as a vampire in The League of Extraordinary GentlemenWhile Lucy UndyingDepicting an alternate life for Lucy as a vampire, is one of the biggest fantasy novels of September 2024.

8

The eye of the world

by Robert Jordan

The Wheel of Time books are also genre-defining, recognized as milestones for the epic fantasy genre with incredibly detailed world-building. Although they are larger than life, these complex characters continue to capture hearts and minds through the acclaimed Wheel of Time TV show. The magical rules are so detailed that Wheel of Times One Power needs extensive explanation. Because Robert Jordan died before the series was completed, The Wheel of Time is notably remembered as the work of two great fantasy authors, Both Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

However, the foundation for the setting introduced in The eye of the world is a gendered magic system. Men can typically channel more of the One Power than women, but only women can use it safely, while men become more mentally unstable each time they use it. The true source comprises two halves, one accessed by men and the other by women, and their magic tends to different elements. The eye of the worldThe magic system is fascinatingly complex, But the inherent assignment of affinities according to gender implies non-negotiable gender roles.

7

The Alchemist: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

By Michael Scott

Michael Scott struck gold with the conceptualization of The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel. in The alchemistTwins Sophie and Josh discover that their boss and his wife are immortals with supernatural abilities, Due to Nick actually being Nicholas Flamel, the creator of the Elixir of Life. Flamel pulls the twins into a vibrant magical adventure where they meet other historical figures who have also achieved immortality, including scholar John Dee, Joan of Arc and William Shakespeare.

How magic manifests itself in this world is great, requiring another person to awaken the twins’ powers, which give off separate scents and colored auras. However, this is a very demanding series to read. The world of The alchemist is filled with some of the most brilliant minds in history and an increasingly complex magic system, Make for a fantasy book that rewards readers for paying attention. However, as the series continues, it becomes far too complicated and metaphysical; The strengths of the first book are overwhelmed by the intellectual needs to understand what is happening.

6

Play The Magician Elephant

By Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo Play The Magician Elephant Exhibit some of the same tone and beats as her masterpiece The story of DespereauxStressing the need for hope and magic in a bleak world. However, the former decidedly fails to live up to the latter. The finer points of the story work well enough, but the rules of the world are off. The story of Despereaux is a stronger novel when the entire setting adheres to fairy tale conventions while The plot of Play The Magician Elephant Happens because of one isolated instance of magic in an otherwise mundane world.

With a career as long as DiCamillo’s, few novels will stand out as having the biggest lasting impact. Play The Magician Elephant Has the familiar feeling of whimsy and ends with forgiveness and redemption, but the whole plot is a bit contrived. The inciting incident is that a magician accidentally summons an elephant instead of lilies, Prompting a sequence of events where others conspire to free the elephant and, in the process, find what they are looking for. It’s a cozy book, but a little too funny.

5

Eragon

by Christopher Paolini

Eragon was the makings of another epic fantasy saga, resulting in it being quickly adapted into a disastrous movie after the publication of the first book by people trying to capitalize on the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings. Eragon introduces fantasy fans to another captivating, traditionally medieval world, With the added bonus of sentient dragons that bond to riders of their choosing. Average farm boy Eragon is launched on a dangerous adventure to realize his destiny and save his kingdom, along with his dragon Saphira.

It may not tell the reader anything particularly profound about their own lives, but it is a perfectly acceptable fantasy saga. however, Eragon Takes too much from other fantasy series. This world is as close as a setting can get to being Middle-earth without copyright infringement, while the magic system copies the Earthsea Series. standing up Eragon is a great book and the start of another enjoyable series. In the broader context of fantasy literature, it makes the most of others’ work.

4

Tuck forever

By Natalie Babbitt

Tuck forever Shows a vignette of Winnefred’s life “vinnie” Foster, during one strange summer when she discovers a family of immortals who drank from a magical spring on her family’s land decades ago. There is an isolated lesson in which Winnie is given the chance to live forever and chooses not to; A strange, quick event in her life that no one will ever know about. The incident with Countryside Aesthetics is only a moment in Winnie’s long life, How she lives to be nearly 100 and becomes a wife and mother.

Winnie is 10 years old when the events of the novel take place, at which time Tux’s son Jesse adds to her, Saying that she should wait until she is 17 years old and then drink from the spring and come live with him. Jesse is a youthful and likeable character, but the interaction is still awkward. The 2002 Disney adaptation of Tuck forever Finally understanding what doesn’t work about the story, and age Winnie for a proper romance with Jesse, also gives her more agency in her decision to ride on immortality.

3

The Past and Future Witches

By Alix E. Harrow

The Past and Future Witches Billed as where history meets magic, it tells the tale of a trio of estranged witch sisters embroiled in magical conflict against the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement in the late 19th century. After being banned from suffrage headquarters, the sisters form a secret society that uses magic to give women more autonomy. The Past and Future Witches Includes a diverse cast that showcases different experiences Relating to race, gender and sexuality, intertwined with how they use magic and classic witch iconography.

striking, The Past and Future Witches Subvert the assumption of a gendered magic system. However, it would have been a stronger book if it had been more connected in its historical half. The sisters and their cohorts leave the suffrage office when the leaders there think their ideas are too radical, and the goal of winning the vote falls out of the story. The Past and Future Witches It would be especially interesting if the votes were as important as the magic conflict, But is hindered because women will not achieve the election for another few decades.

2

Shadow and bone

By Lei Bardugo

Shadow and bone Introduced the world to Ravka and its surrounding lands, setting up one of the most successful YA fantasy series of the 2010s and 2020s. The magically gifted soldiers known as the Grisha inherit a long history of power politics About how the rest of the world views them, and in the extreme cases, persecutes them. The young soldier Alina Starkov discovers that she has the special and unique gift of summoning light, which has the potential to destroy the fold, a territory of monsters and darkness that eat away the earth.

Shadow and bone Has everything that fans of romances are looking for in their next novel. However, Alina is not as interesting as some of the supporting characters. Notably, she loses her powers and drops out of the story after the original trilogy, living a peaceful, mundane life with Mal. Far More charismatic characters such as Kaz and his crows, Nikolai and Zoya take over From there. Alina never had the desire to rule the world like the other young people, which makes them more suitable to be in the center of the story.

1

A discovery of witches

By Deborah Harkness

The author of A discovery of witches And his sequel is a real scientist who teaches the history of science at the University of Southern California. Deborah Harkness creates one of the most vibrant vampire-witch stories by using her academic knowledge To delve into hypotheticals of the relationship between science and magic. The witch Diana Bishop and the vampire Matthew Clermont both have doctorates and meet at the University of Oxford, where they conduct research and where Diana calls up a strange manuscript that sets the story in motion.

Few fantasy series have this kind of scientific and historical research in them. However, the romance storyline is Twilight All over again. It tries to convince the reader of love at first sight between Diana and Matthew when their dynamic is somewhat awkward, And they were essentially married after a short time together. It is even more ridiculous when they are not sheltered teenagers. Like many flawed fantasy novels, A discovery of witches Has a lot to offer – and one flaw that detracts from everything else.