Do you want to read a fantasy book but you don’t have a lot of time to complete a series? No worries, we are here to help you with the 15 best standalone fantasy books for those who can’t commit to a series. It makes sense if you can’t keep up with a huge series, especially, because it’s not something that you have to read as a subject. So, grab whatever you want to satiate your soul that wants to escape from reality.
15 Best Standalone Fantasy Books for those Who Can’t Commit to Series:
The Goblin Emperor – Katherine Addison (Sarah Monette)
The Goblin Emperor is about Maia. Maia is half-elf and half-goblin. Maia is a man of mixed Elven and Goblin heritage. He unexpectedly becomes the Emperor of the Elfland. Maia’s father hates him. The possible reason is that Maia was born out of an arranged marriage. He was the result of an unwanted pregnancy. It was a loveless marriage for political advantage.
Stardust – Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s adult fairytale Stardust is about Tristran Thorn. Thorn is a young man who vows to the woman he loves to bring back a fallen star. But, he is not the only one; other people are after this precious star for their own reasons.
Gingerbread – Helen Oyeyemi
The title of the book makes it inevitable that a fairytale is involved in the story such as the popular Hansel and Gretel tale. Moreover, there are talking dolls, utilization of folklore, deployment of magical realism, feel of gothic, literary references, and words of Gingerbread that hints at our present-day contemporary issues. Harriet Lee lives in London with Perdita, her teen daughter. Perdita is quite interested in Harriet’s past and her childhood friend Gretel Kercheval from Druhastrana, located in Eastern Europe. This motivates Predita’s journey to search for Gretel.
The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
A circus arrives without any notice. The circus is known as Le Cirque des Reves and it is only open during the night. There is a violent competition going on between two young magicians named Celia and Marco. Later in the story, the enemies will fall in love. So, as they say, the show must go on. The fate of all the people involved in the arrangement of the circus depends on the game.
Vassa in the Night – Sarah Porter
This book is a powerful, haunting, and creepy retelling of a Russian folktale named “Vassilissa the Beautiful”. Vassa lives with her stepmother and stepsisters. Babs Yang is the landlord of the local convenience store. He has a policy of executing shoplifters which also often includes innocent shoppers. So, when Vassa’s sister sends her out in the middle of the night for light bulbs, she is certain this is easily a case of suicide. But Vaasa has a speck of luck with her, but how will it help Vassa?
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld – Patricia A. McKillip
Sybell is 16-years-old and she lives alone on a mountain. She is not entirely alone because she has mythical creatures that her dead father Ogam summoned for company. Sybel cares a lot about the creatures and also shares a telepathic connection with them. However, in the darkness of night, a man named Coren of Sirle presents her with a baby to take care of.
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Once upon a time, Elantris was a land of magic. The immortal Elantrians were like gods in the eyes of people because they had the divine gift to produce and cure with a mere movement of the hand. Anyone present in Arelon had the probability to become an Elantrian with the help of a magical transformation called Shard.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Susanna Clarke is a British writer and this is her debut novel. The story is about an alternative history set in 19th century England around the period of the Napoleonic Wars. Its basis is that magic was once present in England and it has come back with two men: Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange.
The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon
The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Queen Sabran the Ninth is still unmarried. She must conceive a daughter to guard her realm from devastation. And, assassins are not far from the door. Ead Duryan is an outsider in court. She is keeping an eye on Queen Sabran and without her knowing she is protecting her with forbidden spells. So, what will happen when the ancient stands on the threshold?
Among Others – Jo Walton
This fantasy literature by Jo Walton is described as a semi-autobiographical novel by the author. It is about the coming-of-age familiarity of being around Books instead of people for company and comfort. Walton discovered after publishing the book that is more common in readers than she had expected.
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
The city of New Crobuzon lies above the ribs of a dead ancient beast. Issac is an eccentric and gifted scientist who has spent all his life doing research quietly. But when a half-human and a half-bird creature known as Garuda comes to him from afar, Issac is flabbergasted. Soon, a metamorphosis will happen that will permeate every cell of New Crobuzon.
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
Nimona is a fantasy graphic novel by cartoonist Noelle Stevenson. The story of the book focuses on Nimona, a shapeshifter. She joins the villain Ballister Blackheart in his conspiracy to devastate the over-controlling institute. Blackheart tries to follow his code of ethics, while Nimona has no issue with murdering.
Good Omens – Neil Gaiman
According to the only entirely accurate book of prophecies in the world written in 1665, the world will come to an end on a Saturday, in fact, next Saturday right before dinner. So, the good and evil armies are amassing, frogs are falling, Atlantis is rising, and a lot is happening. Everything seems to be going according to the prophecy – the Divine Plan. Other than a somewhat picky angel and a fast-living demon, both of them have lived among the mortals since the very beginning and are quite fond of their lifestyle.
The Library At Mount Char – Scott Hawkins
Carolyn had lived with eleven siblings under the guidance of a godlike man known to them as Father (he is also known as Adam Black or Ablakha). Adam is prone to acts of sadistic malice. All of them have odd powers and they learned them from books available in Father’s library.
Magic for Liars – Sarah Gailey
Ivy Gamble is perfectly satisfied with her life. She has a career as a private investigator, a vacant apartment, and a slight drinking issue. It is a great life for her and she does not wish to be anything like her sister Tabitha, a magically gifted professor. But when Ivy gets hired to investigate a case of the gruesome murder of a member at Tabitha’s private academy, she starts to lose herself in the case.
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