20 Best Action Fantasy Books (2023 Update)

“i have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year […] i have absolutely no doubt that [kuang’s] name will be up there with the likes of robin hobb and n.k. jemisin.” — booknest – a library journal, paste magazine, vulture, book – bub, and entropy best books of 2018 pick! washington post "5 best science fiction and fantasy novel of 2018" pick! a bustle "30 best fiction books of 2018" pick! a brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of china’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic, in the tradition of ken liu’s grace of kings and n.k. jemisin’s inheritance trilogy. – when rin aced the keju—the empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from rooster province could pass without cheating; to rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. that she got into sinegard—the most elite military school in nikan—was even more surprising. – but surprises aren’t always good. – because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at sinegard. targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school. – for while the nikara empire is at peace, the federation of mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. the militarily advanced federation occupied nikan for decades after the first poppy war, and only barely lost the continent in the second. and while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a third poppy war is just a spark away . . . rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. but as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.

Get ready for samantha shannon's new novel, a day of fallen night, coming in february 2023! the new york times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of game of thrones" (bustle). named a best book of the year by:amazon (top 100 editors picks and science fiction and fantasy) * chicago public library * bookpage * autostraddlea world divided. – a queendom without an heir. – an ancient enemy awakens. – the house of berethnet has ruled inys for a thousand years. still unwed, queen sabran the ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction–but assassins are getting closer to her door. – ead duryan is an outsider at court. though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. ead keeps a watchful eye on sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. – across the dark sea, tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. – meanwhile, the divided east and west refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

Soon to be a major netflix original series! this special boxed set includes the first three novels in andrzej sapkowski's nyt bestselling epic fantasy saga — the books that introduced the world to the witcher and inspired the hit video games. – for over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. but times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. the only good elf, it seems, is a dead elf. – geralt of rivia, the cunning assassin known as the witcher, has been waiting for the birth of a prophesied child. this child has the power to change the world – for good, or for evil. – as the threat of war hangs over the land and the child is hunted for her extraordinary powers, it will become geralt's responsibility to protect them all — and the witcher never accepts defeat. – in blood of elves, the time of contempt, and baptism of fire, sapkowski brings a fresh new voice to fantasy fiction, creating something wholly dark and exciting in this world of monsters and witchers.

Naofumi iwatani, an uncharismatic otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! he discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction. as the shield hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. with no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. now, naofumi must rise to become the legendary shield hero and save the world!

New york times bestseller * the stunning conclusion to robin hobb's fitz and the fool trilogy, which began with fool's assassin and fool's quest "every new robin hobb novel is a cause for celebration. along with millions of her other fans, i delight in every visit to the six duchies, the rain wilds, and the out islands, and can't wait to see where she'll take me next."–george r. r. martin more than twenty years ago, the first epic fantasy novel featuring fitzchivalry farseer and his mysterious, often maddening friend the fool struck like a bolt of brilliant lightning. now new york times bestselling author robin hobb brings to a momentous close the third trilogy featuring these beloved characters in a novel of unsurpassed artistry that is sure to endure as one of the great masterworks of the genre. fitz's young daughter, bee, has been kidnapped by the servants, a secret society whose members not only dream of possible futures but use their prophecies to add to their wealth and influence. bee plays a crucial part in these dreams–but just what part remains uncertain. as bee is dragged by her sadistic captors across half the world, fitz and the fool, believing her dead, embark on a mission of revenge that will take them to the distant island where the servants reside–a place the fool once called home and later called prison. it was a hell the fool escaped, maimed and blinded, swearing never to return. for all his injuries, however, the fool is not as helpless as he seems. he is a dreamer too, able to shape the future. and though fitz is no longer the peerless assassin of his youth, he remains a man to be reckoned with–deadly with blades and poison, and adept in farseer magic. and their goal is simple: to make sure not a single servant survives their scourge.

From #1 new york times bestselling author brandon sanderson, warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the god king one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. – their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in hallandren's capital city and where a power known as bio – chromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. – by using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. it will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing vivenna and siri, princesses of idris; susebron the god king; lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious vasher, the warbreaker. – other tor books by brandon sanderson the cosmere the stormlight archive the way of kings words of radiance edgedancer (novella) oathbringer the mistborn trilogy mistborn: the final empire the well of ascension the hero of ages mistborn: the wax and wayne series alloy of law shadows of self bands of mourning collection arcanum unbounded other cosmere novels elantris warbreaker the alcatraz vs. the evil librarians series alcatraz vs. the evil librarians the scrivener's bones the knights of crystallia the shattered lens the dark talent the rithmatist series the rithmatist other books by brandon sanderson the reckoners steelheart firefight calamity

Andrzej sapkowski created an international phenomenon with his new york times bestselling epic fantasy series about geralt of rivia, which has gone on to inspire the hit netflix show and the blockbuster video games. for over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. but times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and now the races are fighting once again. geralt of rivia, the hunter known as the witcher, has been waiting for the birth of a prophesied child. this child has the power to change the world–for good, or for evil. as the threat of war hangs over the land the child, ciri, is hunted for her extraordinary powers. geralt and his allies, including the powerful sorceress yennefer, must find a way to protect her, and to protect the world. and the witcher never accepts defeat. witcher novels blood of elves the time of contempt baptism of fire the tower of swallows lady of the lake season of storms (stand alone) witcher story collections the last wish sword of destiny hussite trilogy the tower of fools warriors of god light perpetual the malady and other stories: an andrzej sapkowski sampler (e-only) translated from original polish by danusia stok and david french

Chaos walking 3 books young adult collection paperback box set by – patrick ness titles in this set the knife of never letting go the ask and the answer monsters of men the knife of never letting go imagine you're the only boy in a town of men. and you can hear everything they think. and they can hear everything you think. imagine you don't fit in with their plans… todd hewitt is just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man. but his town has been keeping secrets from him. secrets that are going to force him to run… the ask and the answer fleeing before a relentless army, todd has carried a desperately wounded viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, mayor prentiss. immediately separated from viola and imprisoned, todd is forced to learn the ways of the mayor's new order. but what secrets are hiding just outside of town? and where is viola? is she even still alive? and who are the mysterious answer? and then, one day, the bombs begin to explode… the ask and the answer is a tense

"scoring a job at square enix, sasaki shogo's dream of producing a final fantasy game finally seems within his grasp! but after he starts, he quickly discovers that the work has nothing to do with his favorite franchise at all… disillusioned, his enthusiasm for ff begins waning despite his sister / co-worker yuko's attempts to lift his spirits. their conversation is cut short, though, when a runaway truck suddenly careens toward the two of them…! when shogo comes to, the first thing he sees is…a moogle?! wait, was that a cure spell? and chocobos…?! hurled into a final fantasy world unbound to any particular installment, how will an uber-fan like shogo survive?!"–

"clay has lived his whole life under the mountain. the mudwing dragonet knows war is raging between the dragon tribes in the world outside- a war that he and four other dragonets are destined to end, according to the mysterious prophecy they have been taught. the five "chosen" dragonets were stolen from their homes while they were still in their eggs, and hidden away for years, all to fulfill the prophecy. but not every dragonet wants a destiny. and when danger threatens one of their own, clay and his friends may choose freedom over fate … leave the mountain … and set the dragon world on a course that no one could have predicted"–jkt.

The apocalypse is over, but the journey is only beginning.the world may not have ended after the meteor fell, but life has forever changed for the survivors of the cataclysm. mako is no longer a viable source of energy, and an incurable new disease is spreading amid the societal upheaval. but even when brought face-to-face with grief, regret, and despair, people will find a way to pave their own path to the future-to stand tall and live.this collection of short stories serves as an epilogue to one of the most beloved installments of the hit final fantasy video game series, as well as a prequel to the cinematic follow-up, final fantasy vii: advent children. a must-own for enthusiasts and newcomers alike!

Soon to be a major netflix original series! geralt the witcher — revered and hated — holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures in the nyt bestselling series that inspired the blockbuster video games. geralt is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. but not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good…and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth. – andrzej sapkowski, winner of the world fantasy lifetime achievement award, started an international phenomenon with his witcher series. the last wish short story collection is the perfect introduction to this one of a kind fantasy world. witcher collections – sword of destiny – witcher novels – blood of elves the time of contempt – baptism of fire the tower of swallows – lady of the lake – season of storms – the malady and other stories: an andrzej sapkowski sampler (e-only)translated from original polish by danusia stok

Instant #1 new york times bestseller! irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning new fantasy series from victoria aveyard, #1 new york times bestselling author of the red queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: when the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword? a strange darkness grows in allward. – even corayne an-amarat can feel it, tucked away in her small town at the edge of the sea. – she soon discovers the truth: she is the last of an ancient lineage–and the last hope to save the world from destruction. but she won't be alone. even as darkness falls, she is joined by a band of unlikely companions: a squire, forced to choose between home and honor. – an immortal, avenging a broken promise. – an assassin, exiled and bloodthirsty. – an ancient sorceress, whose riddles hide an eerie foresight. – a forger with a secret past. – a bounty hunter with a score to settle. – together they stand against a vicious opponent, invincible and determined to burn all kingdoms to ash, and an army unlike anything the realm has ever witnessed.

A high-fantasy memoirs of a geisha, chupeco's latest excels in originality –kirkus reviews – a story of scorned witches, sinister curses, and resurrection, the bone witch is the start of a dark fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of serpent & dove and the cruel prince. – tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price… when tea accidentally resurrects her brother, fox, from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. but tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes tea and her brother to another land for training. – in her new home, tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha–one who can wield elemental magic. but dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice. – riveting and atmospheric, the bone witch is perfect for readers looking for witch novels for adults and teensstories with diverse representation and multicultural influencesdark fantasy ya books and seriesoriginal worldbuilding and captivating writing – praise for the bone witch: a fantasy lover's fantasy –foreword reviews – mesmerizing. chupeco (the suffering) does a magnificent job of balancing an intimate narrative perspective with sweeping worldbuilding, crafting her tale within a multicultural melting pot of influences as she presses toward a powerful cliffhanger.–publishers weekly, starred review – chupeco delights us with a fascinating world and a rich atmosphere for a story that is exceptionally written from beginning to end.–buzzfeed – readers who enjoy immersing themselves in detail will revel in chupeco's finely wrought tale. game of thrones fans may see shades of daenerys targaryen in tea, as she gathers a daeva army to unleash upon the world. whether she is in the right remains a question unanswered, but the ending makes it clear her story is only beginning. –booklist the bone witch trilogy: the bone witch (book 1)the heart forger (book 2)the shadowglass (book 3)

In the next installment of the new york times bestselling throne of glass series, follow chaol on his sweeping journey to a distant empire.chaol westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the captain of the guard. but all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the king of adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.his only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the torre cesme in antica–the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. and with war looming over dorian and aelin back home, their survival might lie with chaol and nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.but what they discover in antica will change them both–and be more vital to saving erilea than they could have imagined.

Danger lurks within the roots of forest of souls, an epic, unrelenting tale of destiny and sisterhood, perfect for fans of naomi novik, susan dennard, and netflix's the witcher!" a tantalizing beginning to a rich new fantasy series.” —traci chee, nyt bestselling author of the reader trilogy"absolutely enchanting.” – natalie c. parker, author of seafire"you won’t want to escape.” – sarah henning, author of the sea witch"will leave you shouting sisters unite!” – mindee arnett, author of onyx & ivory and avalonsirscha ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. after years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend saengo.and then sirscha, somehow, restores saengo to life. unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, sirscha is summoned to the domain of the spider king. for centuries, he has used his influence over the dead wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. as war looms, sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim saengo, the friend she would die for.

Danger lurks within the roots of forest of souls, an epic, unrelenting tale of destiny and sisterhood, perfect for fans of naomi novik, susan dennard, and netflix's the witcher!" a tantalizing beginning to a rich new fantasy series.” —traci chee, nyt bestselling author of the reader trilogy"absolutely enchanting.” – natalie c. parker, author of seafire"you won’t want to escape.” – sarah henning, author of the sea witch"will leave you shouting sisters unite!” – mindee arnett, author of onyx & ivory and avalonsirscha ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. after years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend saengo.and then sirscha, somehow, restores saengo to life. unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, sirscha is summoned to the domain of the spider king. for centuries, he has used his influence over the dead wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. as war looms, sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim saengo, the friend she would die for.

The great modern classic and prelude to the lord of the rings deep down here by the dark water lived old gollum, a small slimy creature. i don’t know where he came from, nor who or what he was. he was gollum—as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face. he had a little boat, and he rowed about quite quietly on the lake; for lake it was, wide and deep and deadly cold. whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole in bag end by gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, bilbo baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of smaug the magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. this brand-new unabridged recording is narrated by the acclaimed actor, director and author, andy serkis.

Six days ago, astronaut mark watney became one of the first people to walk on mars. now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. after a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal earth that he's alive–and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. the damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first. but mark isn't ready to give up yet. drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills–and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit–he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

See the grishaverse come to life on screen with shadow and bone, a #1 netflix series – season 2 coming march 16, 2023! six dangerous outcasts. one impossible heist. the gripping six of crows and crooked kingdom duology, by #1 new york times-bestselling author leigh bardugo, is now available in a stunning hardcover boxed set. follow kaz and his crew into a world of magic and mayhem as they attempt to pull off–and survive–the job of a lifetime. six of crowsketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy kaz brekker. kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. but he can't pull it off alone. . . . kaz's crew of six is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction–if they don't kill each other first. crooked kingdom kaz brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. but instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. as powerful forces from around the world descend on ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.