7 Good Medieval Fantasy Books You Must Read In 2025

Medieval fantasy has an enduring pull. It speaks to something ancient in us—the clang of steel, the hush of candlelit halls, the weight of honor, faith, and fate. When we open a truly great medieval fantasy novel, we’re not just escaping reality; we’re stepping into a world shaped by feudal politics, chivalric codes, myth, and moral consequence.

Below is a list of 7 good medieval fantasy books you must read in 2025. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned reader searching for your next obsession, this list is designed to inform, inspire, and guide you toward books that truly matter.

1. Tigana – Guy Gavriel Kay

Tigana is a powerful standalone medieval fantasy inspired by Renaissance-era Italy, infused with lyricism and emotional depth. The novel explores identity, memory, and cultural erasure through a land conquered by sorcerer-kings. One kingdom’s very name has been magically removed from memory, a striking metaphor for historical annihilation. Kay’s world reflects medieval political fragmentation, artistic pride, and the consequences of tyranny. The book demonstrates how fantasy can illuminate the trauma of conquest and the resilience of cultural identity.

2. The Buried Giant – Kazuo Ishiguro

The Buried Giant is a quiet, haunting medieval fantasy set in post-Arthurian Britain. Rather than focusing on battles or heroics, Ishiguro examines memory, collective trauma, and the cost of peace. The medieval setting—fog-shrouded villages, monks, and fading legends—creates a dreamlike atmosphere where myth and history overlap. The story asks whether forgetting past violence is necessary for societal harmony. Its restrained prose and philosophical depth set it apart from conventional fantasy, offering a reflective exploration of medieval ethics, forgiveness, and the fragility of truth in societies built on unspoken wounds.

3. The Sword of Kaigen – M.L. Wang

The Sword of Kaigen blends medieval fantasy with elemental magic and a strong emphasis on family, duty, and tradition. Though influenced by East Asian history, the novel embodies classic medieval themes: honor-bound warriors, rigid social roles, and the devastating cost of war. At its core is a mother-son relationship that challenges cultural expectations and inherited myths. The book’s battles are intense and realistic, but its emotional power lies in confronting propaganda and generational trauma. As a standalone novel, it delivers the scope and impact of an epic while remaining deeply personal and morally reflective.

4. The Last Unicorn – Peter S. Beagle

The Last Unicorn is a poetic medieval fantasy that reads like a timeless folktale. Drawing on medieval romance and mythic symbolism, the story explores loss, immortality, and the fading of magic from the world. Beagle’s prose is lyrical and deceptively simple, echoing the oral storytelling traditions of the Middle Ages. The novel balances melancholy with hope, asking what it means to love and suffer as a mortal. Though gentle in tone, its themes are profound, making it a deeply moving meditation on change and remembrance within a classic medieval fantasy framework.

5. The Raven Tower – Ann Leckie

The Raven Tower is a unique standalone medieval fantasy told partly from the perspective of a god bound by strict rules of truth and consequence. The setting reflects a feudal society shaped by ritual, oath-taking, and divine obligation. Leckie explores how power functions when words carry literal, irreversible weight—an idea rooted in medieval concepts of sacred vows. The narrative examines leadership, inheritance, and the burden of tradition. Its innovative structure and philosophical depth distinguish it from conventional fantasy, offering a fresh yet deeply medieval meditation on authority, faith, and responsibility.

6. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke

Set in an alternate England shaped by medieval fairy lore, the novel explores how magic once intertwined with feudal power, land ownership, and ancient pacts. Clarke’s world feels steeped in medieval superstition, with footnotes mimicking historical manuscripts and chronicles. At its core, the book examines rivalry, class, and the dangers of reviving forgotten powers. Its slow-burning narrative rewards patient readers with one of the most intellectually ambitious and immersive fantasy novels of the modern era.

7. Ash: A Secret History – Mary Gentle

Ash: A Secret History is a bold, genre-defying medieval fantasy that blends alternate history with supernatural elements. Set in a meticulously researched 15th-century Europe, the novel follows a female mercenary leader navigating warfare, politics, and faith. Gentle’s portrayal of medieval life—its brutality, hierarchy, and superstition—is uncompromisingly realistic. The fantasy elements emerge subtly, blurring the line between divine intervention and madness. What makes Ash exceptional is its scale and ambition, presenting medieval warfare and leadership with scholarly rigor while challenging traditional fantasy narratives.

Conclusion

Medieval fantasy endures because it speaks to timeless human struggles—power, faith, love, and loss—set against worlds that feel both distant and familiar. The seven books we’ve explored represent the genre at its best: rich in history, bold in imagination, and honest about the cost of heroism.

Our recommendation? Choose one—and commit. Let the world unfold slowly. Medieval fantasy rewards patience, just as the Middle Ages themselves did.