8 High Fantasy Novels In 2025

High fantasy is the genre of limitless imagination, where heroes rise against dark lords, mythical beasts roam wild, and ancient magic pulses through the land. These stories don't just take place in another world—they create them. From sweeping kingdoms torn by war to mystical lands brimming with prophecy, the high fantasy genre invites readers into realms that feel as vast and intricate as our own. Below is a list of 8 high fantasy novels that offer immersive world-building, complex characters, and legendary adventures worthy of their place among the genre’s finest.

1. The Wood Wife by Terri Windling

Set in the magical deserts of Arizona, The Wood Wife is a modern myth with ancient roots, blending Southwestern folklore, art, and mysticism into a hauntingly original tale. The story follows Maggie Black, a poet who inherits a reclusive writer’s estate in the Sonoran wilderness—only to discover that the land is alive with spirits, shape-shifters, and forgotten gods.

The novel is infused with themes of art, creativity, healing, and the magic of place. It’s not high fantasy in the traditional swords-and-sorcery sense, but it delivers a level of mythical resonance and wonder that earns its place in the genre.

2. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

With a refreshing blend of court intrigue and heartfelt character development, The Goblin Emperor offers a unique entry into high fantasy. The novel follows Maia, a half-goblin, half-elf youth who unexpectedly ascends to the imperial throne after a tragic airship crash kills his estranged father and siblings.

Thrown into a world of backstabbing courtiers, deadly etiquette, and complex politics, Maia must navigate his own insecurities and isolation while learning to rule with wisdom and compassion. Addison creates a rich, original world full of elegant culture, detailed customs, and a quietly magical atmosphere.

3. Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock

Winner of the World Fantasy Award, Mythago Wood is a psycho-mythological high fantasy unlike any other. Set in post–World War II England, it centers on a seemingly ordinary forest—Ryhope Wood—which turns out to be a portal to the unconscious mind, where myths and archetypes physically manifest based on the beliefs and emotions of those who enter.

As protagonist Stephen Huxley ventures deeper into the wood searching for his lost brother and the truth about their father's obsession, he encounters living mythagos—beings born from ancient folklore and collective memory. The forest warps time, reshapes identity, and confronts visitors with their own inner mythologies.

4. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

Blending time travel, Egyptian magic, and Victorian adventure, The Anubis Gates is a genre-bending high fantasy that plunges readers into a surreal and vivid past. When academic Brendan Doyle is invited to a literary time-travel event, he’s accidentally stranded in 19th-century London—where sorcerers, body-snatchers, werewolves, and ancient curses collide.

Tim Powers creates a world as wild as it is intellectually brilliant. The novel is meticulously researched, using real historical figures and mythologies, but adds layers of chaotic magic and eerie mystery. Its fast pace and imaginative set pieces make it a whirlwind of fantasy, horror, and historical fiction.

5. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Few fantasy novels are as elegantly written and timelessly poignant as The Last Unicorn. First published in 1968, Peter S. Beagle’s lyrical tale follows a unicorn who sets out to discover the fate of her kind, only to find herself tangled in a world of lost magic, forgotten stories, and bittersweet beauty.

Alongside a bumbling magician and a strong-willed woman, the unicorn journeys to confront the Red Bull and the sorrowful King Haggard, who has trapped her brethren. Despite its fairy-tale style, the novel is layered with philosophical depth, existential reflection, and poetic melancholy.

6. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Though not a traditional novel, The Silmarillion is a foundational high fantasy epic that stands entirely on its own. This mythic tapestry of gods, elves, and fallen kingdoms lays the groundwork for Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings universe and reads like a fusion of epic poem, creation myth, and tragic legend.

Within its pages are stories of Beren and Lúthien, Fëanor and the Silmarils, and the first great war against Morgoth, the dark power who preceded Sauron. The language is grand, almost biblical, and the scope is monumental, detailing the rise and fall of entire civilizations.

7. Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Set in a decadent city where politics are played with blades as much as words, Swordspoint is a courtly fantasy of manners, power, and personal freedom. Ellen Kushner crafts a sophisticated world of duels, whispered intrigue, and aristocratic games, centering on Richard St. Vier, a skilled swordsman who sells his services to the highest bidder in the noble quarter.

Unlike traditional epic fantasies, there’s little overt magic here—but the tension, elegance, and razor-sharp dialogue bring a different kind of enchantment. Kushner’s writing is both intimate and stylish, offering readers a rich, character-driven narrative set against a backdrop of dangerous politics and subtle romance.

8. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Before Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, Brandon Sanderson introduced the fantasy world to his genius with Elantris, a bold, self-contained epic that showcases his early flair for unique magic systems and complex politics.

Set in a kingdom where once-godlike beings have become cursed and rotting husks, Elantris follows three interwoven narratives: Prince Raoden, who is afflicted by the magical curse; Sarene, his politically sharp bride-to-be; and Hrathen, a fanatical priest trying to conquer the city through religious conversion.

Final Thoughts

These eight novels and series represent the pinnacle of high fantasy storytelling. They take readers on unforgettable journeys through vividly imagined worlds, profound themes, and character arcs that resonate across time and space. Whether you're seeking classic heroism, gritty realism, or innovative world-building, these books offer the depth, scope, and power that define the genre.