We’ve all been there: finishing a good book, letting it marinate as we linger in its imaginary world, probably with a cold coffee.
That’s what fantasy books do best: they give space to breathe, and forget problems.
For those readers craving books that make time blur, here are seven high fantasy books to get lost in.
Assassin’s Apprentice opens with Fitz, a royal bastard at the court’s edge. This is not a tale of epic battles or grand quests, but of a boy trained to serve a power that barely claims him. The story unfolds in human moments; magic, politics, and the ache of belonging weave through each page.
Robin Hobb did a remarkable job. She took the familiar shape of high fantasy: a royal bastard, a kingdom in danger, secret magic, and turned it inward. Instead of giving readers a story about destiny or prophecy, she shared a tale about survival and selfhood.
Hobb slows the pace, focusing on Fitz’s growth, pain, and identity. Through his eyes, the world is tangible; magic, politics, and intrigue filter through a vulnerable mind unsure of belonging.
The world feels lived-in, not flashy. The Six Duchies don’t sparkle: they creak, smell, and bleed. Magic systems are secretive and consequential. This book starts slowly, but lingers long after the last page.
If you want to disappear into a story, this book is it. It starts quietly in the Shire and grows into something vast and rich with history. Every detail draws you deeper.
It follows Frodo Baggins, a humble hobbit with an impossible burden: destroy a powerful ring in Mount Doom. What begins as a simple errand evolves into a journey of courage, friendship, loss, temptation, and struggle against dark forces.
The slow pace and pauses make it immersive, letting the world unfold and choices resonate. Beyond magic and war, it’s about small acts of courage and holding onto hope in the face of despair.
If what you want memorable book, this is the one to start with.
The Hobbit starts with Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant protagonist content with quiet, tea, and second breakfasts. Then Gandalf arrives, dragging him into an adventure well outside his comfort zone.
The charm lies in the plot and hero: intimate storytelling and Bilbo’s choice between comfort and risk.
What follows is full of wonder; dwarves, wizards, dragons, and the paparazzi that make fantasy alive. It’s funny, simple, and quietly moving in unpredictable directions.
This is the kind of plot with a build-up. The story follows Kvothe, an underprivileged, borderline cocky boy who grows into a man chasing knowledge and power in a world that challenges him. The spark in this world feels real, like something that could be studied if the rules were understood.
The writing has rhythm: beautiful, indulgent, and deliberate, always drawing readers in.
The story lags, sure, but that’s the point. It is one of those high fantasy books that doesn’t just tell a story. It invites readers to live inside it for a while.
This is a masterclass in openings, characterization, setting, and stakes, unfolding across kingdoms where honor and betrayal share equal risk, and power is always elusive.
It isn’t the kind of fantasy built on identifiable heroes and villains. Here, everyone carries a little light and a little darkness, and that’s what makes the story special.
The world feels visceral: Winterfell’s cold halls, King’s Landing, beyond the Wall: every place carries unique danger.
Few books immerse readers like A Court of Thorns and Roses. Every step Feyre takes in Prythian feels tense and alive. The characters aren’t predictable. Each one carries their own fears, secrets, and desires, and the story shows how even small choices can ripple into something much bigger.
Feyre’s journey from struggling mortal to learning courage and strength grabs attention and doesn’t let go. The magic, curses, and politics shape her path and keep readers on edge.
Sarah J. Maas weaves trust, love, betrayal, and sacrifice into a personal story. It pulls readers into a vivid, magical place, making them feel every victory, heartbreak, and twist.
This book inundates readers in a world of dragons, magic, and destiny. The story follows Eragon, a young farm boy who discovers a stone that hatches into a dragon, setting him on the path to becoming a Dragon Rider. On his journey, Eragon faces trials that test his courage, loyalty, and understanding of power.
Readers discover Alagaësia, a land of many races and histories. The land shapes Eragon’s growth and the conflicts between good and evil.
The plot isn’t perfect; it lingers on detail. But careful attention to names, languages, and politics elevates it beyond action. It’s both adventure and conversation, a story that balances excitement with rich dialogue.
High fantasy books are notorious for countless late-night and office-hour binges with no assurance of decorum. And because there is no such thing as too much reading, here are seven more to indulge in, because why not?
