There's 'Circe' by Madeline Miller. This Fantasy 2018 novel focuses on the figure of Circe from Greek mythology. It gives her a more in - depth backstory and character arc. It's beautifully written with vivid descriptions of the mythical world. And also, 'Spinning Silver' by Naomi Novik is great. It weaves together different fairy - tale elements in a unique way, with strong female characters driving the story.
A really interesting Fantasy 2018 novel is 'Kingdom of Ash' by Sarah J. Maas. It's the final book in a series. It has a large - scale epic story with battles, magic, and complex relationships between the characters. It ties up many plot threads from the previous books in the series and provides a satisfying conclusion to fans of the series.
One of the well - known 18th - century fantasy novels is 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift. It takes readers on a journey through strange lands with unique societies. Another is 'The Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole, which is often considered the first Gothic novel, filled with elements of mystery and the supernatural.
In the 1920s, 'The Lost World' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was quite popular. It's about an expedition to a plateau in South America where prehistoric creatures still exist. It combines elements of adventure and fantasy. Also, 'Theosophy' influenced some fantasy works of that decade. Some novels incorporated ideas from it, like the concept of hidden spiritual realms and ancient wisdom, which added a different flavor to the fantasy genre at that time.
One of the notable 1900s fantasy novels is 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum. It introduced the magical land of Oz and characters like Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. Another is 'Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie, which took readers to the magical world of Neverland where children never grow up and there are pirates and fairies.
A great 1940s fantasy novel is 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' by Walter M. Miller Jr. It's a post - apocalyptic fantasy that weaves together themes of religion, science, and the cyclical nature of history. Also, there are the works of Lord Dunsany like 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' which are full of rich, dreamy, and otherworldly fantasy elements.
One of the notable science fiction fantasy novels in 2018 was 'Children of Blood and Bone' by Tomi Adeyemi. It combined African mythology with a richly imagined world of magic and adventure. Another was 'Vengeful' by V. E. Schwab. It continued the dark and exciting story from her previous work, filled with complex characters and a unique magic system. And 'Skyward' by Brandon Sanderson was also great. It had an interesting take on space adventure with a strong female lead.
One of the notable pre - Tolkien fantasy novels is 'The Faerie Queene' by Edmund Spenser. It's a complex and rich work filled with allegorical elements and fantastical adventures in a world of knights, dragons, and magic. Another is 'Le Morte d'Arthur' which details the legends of King Arthur and his knights. It has had a huge influence on the fantasy genre, with its tales of chivalry, quests, and the search for the Holy Grail.
In 'the shepherds fantasy novels', perhaps the plot twists are a big feature. These twists keep the readers on their toes and make the story exciting. Also, the writing style might be very descriptive, allowing readers to easily visualize the scenes, like the enchanted forests or the grand castles described in the novels.
Among the 20th century fantasy novels, 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum is very well - known. It tells the story of Dorothy's journey in the magical land of Oz. 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame is also a lovely fantasy. It's about the adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger in the English countryside. And 'The Once and Future King' by T.H. White is a retelling of the Arthurian legend in a 20th - century way.
One of the most famous first lines is 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.' from 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien. This line immediately draws the reader into a world of mystery and a unique setting.
The 'oathbringer epic fantasy novels' often have complex world - building. They typically create vast and detailed fictional worlds with unique cultures, magic systems, and political landscapes.