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Description

In Ep. 188, we are kicking off our new “Best of…” series with Sarah’s Bookshelves Live team member, Chrissie, for the Best of Fantasy. Today, Chrissie brings you her all-time top ten favorite fantasy novels. Also, as a long-time reader and evangelizer of the genre, Chrissie talks about how she started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, and ways those new to fantasy might jump in!

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• How Chrissie got started reading fantasy.
• What draws her to the fantasy genre.
• From sci-fi fantasy to epic, high fantasy, Chrissie talks about the wide scope of the genre.
• Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn’t work for her.

Chrissie’s All-Time Top Ten Fantasy Books [16:36]

• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:44]
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[22:11]
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:24]
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:10]
• A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:36]
• Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [37:35]
• Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [39:58]
• The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [42:15]
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:16]
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:40]

High-Profile Fantasy Books That She Didn’t Love [48:39] 

• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:52]
• Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:55]

Other Books Mentioned

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (2023) [25:07]
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012) [25:43]
• Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews (1979) [26:36]
• Heaven by V. C. Andrews (1985) [26:46]
• The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June 2025) [31:27]
• A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (1996) [33:04]
• The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (2011) [33:09]
• The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss (TBD) [33:15]
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1982) [37:16]
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020) [39:46]
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005) [50:03]
• The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (2024) [50:28]

Books from Our Discussion

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997) [4:23] 
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952) [6:23] 
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) [6:26]  
• The Dream Book by Meg Wolitzer (1987) [6:37] 
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [11:15] 
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [12:10] 
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1950) [12:30] 
• The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [14:29]
• The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) [14:30]  
• The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979) [15:36]