Warning! This article contains major spoilers for many popular fantasy book series!
One of the reasons I love reading Fantasy Books are because of how magical worlds lend themselves so well to incorporating thrilling plot twists. Although many of the story developments involve deaths or have terrible tragedies for the characters, they make the stories interesting and compel the reader to stick with the series. The effectiveness of a plot twist depends on how well the author has foreshadowed the shocking turn of events Without giving away the secret of what’s coming. A plot twist should not come out of nowhere, but the audience should not be able to predict it too easily.
When it’s right, 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 pick up the next installment of the franchise. Many of the best fantasy books of the last ten years use twists to engage readers and set their stories apart from the other offerings in the genre. however, Many of the most iconic works of fantasy use plot twists, How this literary device has been a mainstay of an author’s toolkit since the beginning of storytelling.
10
Feyre Turning Into A High Fee (2015)
Written by Sarah J. Maas
At the end of the first book in the series by Sarah J. A yard of thorns and rosesThe protagonist, Feyre, falls victim to 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 in the end. However, it soon becomes clear that Maas has other plans for Feyre, viz Her sacrifice does much more for herself and the fairies than expected.
most of A yard of thorns and roses Revolves around the importance of her being human and how different it makes her from the Fae.
The high lords see how much Feyre has done and decide to use their magic not only to resurrect her but 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 amazing. most of A yard of thorns and roses Revolves around the importance of her being human and how different it makes her from the Fae. The remaining books see Feyre grappling with this change and her future as a Fae.
9
Nezha is a Shaman – The Dragon Republic (2019)
Written by RF Kuang
RF Kuang has written some of the best historical fantasy books of the last few years, with The poppy war Trilogy contributing greatly to the genre. The series follows Rin, an unlikely hero who enters a military training school For a fictionalized realm similar to ancient China and soon discovers her shamanic skills and connection to the pantheon of gods. Although she wields this power with reckless abandon thanks to her considerable abilities, she is far from the only shaman in the novels.
However, the most unexpected twist was the discovery that Nezha, Rin’s rival in 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 power source enhances both our world as the reader and Rin’s as his frenemy. However, I couldn’t help but be moved and feel for Neza and his anxiety after learning about the trauma that accompanied his relationship with his God.
8
Kvothe Lost His Magic – The Name of the Wind (2007)
Written by Patrick Rothfuss
The Kingkiller Chronicles began with Patrick Rothfuss’ The name of the windwho introduced the readers to the incredible story of Kwata, a hero worthy of his fantastic reputation. However, the frame story of the novel reveals the sad truth, where quota ended. Now known as Kote, the legendary man runs an inn and is hiding from his many enemies, which is where a storyteller finds him and convinces him to share his tale to be recorded.
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Although most of 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 has lost his abilities and power when he fails to stop an attack at the inn. While it was clear that something was going on under the surface, I felt devastated that the person I had spent so much time with was a shell of myself. It is made clear how far he has gone when Quote’s companion tells the Chronicler to remind Quote of his heroic past.
7
Xaden Is Venin – Iron Flame (2023)
Written by Rebecca Yarros
As violet delves into her new reality as a dragon rider in the first book in the Empiran series, Fourth wingShe grows closer and closer to Xaden Riorson, an older cadet with many secrets of his own. As their chemistry becomes increasingly explosive and Violet is drawn into the web of his rebellion, some of the mysteries are uncovered, but not all. in the second part, Iron flameXaden and Violet are on separate paths, But they both work to help support the rebellion and keep the attacks of the Venin at bay.
However, the final three at the end of Iron flame Makes the wait for the third book all the more difficult, like The story leaves off with Xaden channeling too much power to save Violet and being turned into a Venin. How Violet will save Xaden and help him return to normal will be a huge part of the next installment, as Xaden’s change was a breathtaking cliffhanger. When the screen adaptation approaches, Amazon Fourth wing TV shows must adapt the character relationships as well as the dynamic between humans and riders.
6
Ned’s Death – A Game Of Thrones (1996)
Written by George RR Martin
There are also many plot twists throughout George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire Series to count, but one of the first of these books remains the most impressive. Chronicle 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 differentiate him from the other players in the court, Who would lie, betray and kill anyone who stands in their way to power.
It’s a lesson that stays with you for the next four books and makes it easier to predict when things will go horribly wrong for a character.
Obviously, Ned’s execution after his discovery 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 Game of Thrones. It’s a lesson that stays with you for the next four books and makes it easier to predict when things will go horribly wrong for a character. His death was a tragic and shocking twist Game of ThronesBut it was a necessary moment for the tone of the series.
5
The Stories Are the Same Woman – The Fifth Season (2015)
Written by NK Jemisin
The critically acclaimed Broken Earth NK Jemisin’s trilogy only increases in stakes and tension with each installment of the story. However, the first book, The fifth seasonHas my favorite twist in the story that is almost impossible to see coming. The assumption of The fifth season is this Three different women, Essun, Damaya and Syenite, are the narrators of the plot And are in different phases in their lives. Despite this, they all share the trait of being orogenes.
Orogens have the power to control the Earth’s energy, making them valuable but greatly feared and hunted by others. As they navigate their lives and the facets of their power, all three women undergo stress and loss along their journey. However, the events are made even more tragic when we realize that They are all the same woman at different times. I was entranced by the strength and power of all three, and knowing they were one only made me more connected to the story.
4
The Existence of the Refaites – The Bone Season (2013)
Written by Samantha Shannon
Before Samantha Shannon wrote The Priory of the Orange TreeShe began the sweep bone season Series. Following the story of Paige, a clairvoyant in the fictional Republic of Scion, the existence of psychic energy and power in The bone period is only the beginning. Although Paige is hunted by her own government and has to hide in daily life, this soon happens to her, and She has been transported away from her favorite criminal underworld to somewhere much worse.
Although this revelation comes early in the book and is instrumental in developing the series, it doesn’t make it any less confusing.
While I believed that the formidable threat in The bone period Is the government surveillance after Paige was captured, I learned that It’s actually an alien race that rules Earth from behind the scenes. Paige, who works as an abused servant in a hidden city, is just as shocked as the audience to discover what the real thrust of the story is. Although this revelation comes early in the book and is instrumental in developing the series, it doesn’t make it any less confusing.
3
Sazed Is The Hero Of Ages – Mistborn: The Hero Of Ages (2008)
Written by Brandon Sanderson
in The hero of agesThe last book in the first Mistborn trilogy, the answer to the prophecy of who is the hero of ages is finally revealed. While the betrayal and disruption of the prophecy by Ruin was one of the biggest plot points in the series, the shocking discovery of the true hero of ages was one of the most dumbfounding twists. One of the main characters of Mistborn, Win, was primed to be the hero, How she fought tooth and nail to claim her destiny, but not every protagonist is meant to be the chosen one.
Sazed, who is a geographer and scholar throughout the books, is the hero of the ages, What has been prophesied since the first installments. There were hints all over the place Mistborn Novels about how the hero of ages can be anyone of any gender, making the audience believe that Vienna was the hero. But at all times Sazd was the one who possessed the power to return the world to its former glory. After losing loved ones and sacrificing a lot, 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
For most of Philip Pullman’s novel, Northern LightsThe frugal and precocious Lyra thinks of herself as an orphan, as that’s what everyone told her growing up. The series His dark materials focuses on coming-of-age and the loss of innocence, And Lyra’s character arc plays a big part in that. Every step she takes towards her future Northern Lights You see yourself approaching maturity and beyond the childhood that gives you certain powers.
One of the most devastating moments for Lyra is when she realizes the horrible and cruel Mrs. Coulter is really her mother and that Lord Azriel is not her uncle but her father.
One of the most devastating moments for Lyra is when she realizes the horrible and cruel Mrs. Coulter is really her mother and that Lord Azriel is not her uncle but her father. The fact that Both of them lied to her for years and almost left her Would be difficult enough if it were not for the fact that they are both willing to experiment on children to continue their scientific discoveries. While Coulter and Asriel may be her parents biologically, they rarely step up to be 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 greatest Fantasy Writers of all time, Ursula K. Le Guin wrote many iconic books for adults, but her children’s series, EarthseaStands out as some of her best work. The first book, A Wizard of EarthseaFollows the rise to power of Gad, a wizard who becomes a legend in the series. However, when I read about Ged for the first time, I knew how young and naive he is and how easily people are manipulated into making mistakes because of his pride.
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A tale of old age, A Wizard of Earthsea Ged grows older and slowly realizes the error of his ways as a youth, as he mercilessly tracks down the shadow creature he freed as a young man. The existence of the creature plagues him for years and dogs his every move, but Ged cannot seriously reject the shadow for good, no matter how strong he becomes. It is when Gd realizes that to name the shadow will drive it away and that He calls it Gd, as the creature rose from its mistakes, That he can catch it.