A grimdark, character-driven adult fantasy tale full of morbid wit and deft turns of phrase, but too many POV characters which make the pacing suffer.
Summary
A war hero turned crippled torturer. A barbarian war leader turned refugee. A fop turned unworthy fencing champion. Three extremely different men face wars past and present, uncover political schemes, and get dragged around by the machinations of an entitled old wizard.
Characters: 4/5 stars
This book follows 3 POV characters for the first half of the book and then eases in 3 more in the second half. Glokta, the Inquisitor, is cynically hilarious and a refreshingly realistic take on the “tortured survivor turned torturer” trope. Logan Ninefingers is your lonesome barbarian, trying to find redemption after a very bloody life. Luthar, a noble fencing fop, is insufferable and I wondered why we had his POV at all.
Of the 3, only Glokta gets a real character arc. The problem with stories with so many POVs is that often the first book can feel like only the first act of every character’s story. That’s mostly what this book felt like.
The modern reader will also likely feel dissatisfied with the lack of female representation. The only female character in the first half is the object of Luthar’s sexual fantasies. A vengeful warrior woman is introduced much later, but that’s 2 total women we follow across 3 continents of characters.
Plot: 3/5 stars
I love a character driven story (which this is), but there really isn’t much plot in this book except in Glokta’s arc. The problem mostly lies in the fact that all the characters are in different parts of the world or are introduced before they really become relevant to the plot.
Logan spends the entire book traveling from over the mountains to the main city (where Glokta and Luthar are), thinking about his past and getting caught up in petty fights on the way. If this book was told only from his POV, everything that happens to him in this book would take up only a third of a standalone book.
Similarly, Luthar is a shallow narcissist who spends the whole book sort of fencing and really drinking. He’s the frat boy we know must eventually mature, but it would have been perfectly fine plot-wise to introduce him an entire book later, so little does his POV do for the story (besides irritate us). Glokta gets to chase mysteries and rediscover a friendship he thought lost, which was genuinely moving.
Worldbuilding: 3/5 stars
Nothing special. All the familiar late-medieval/renaissance era equivalents. Faux Viking barbarians in the north. Faux European castles and trade guilds, full of infighting and politicking. Faux “evil Muslims” in the south. Wizard orders and tales of old world demons and magic.
There are some interesting focal points in the soft magic system – the laws forbidding certain practices (hence the title of the series – The First Law), but I won’t spoil that. 😉
Writing: 5/5 stars
I was the most impressed by Joe Abercrombie’s writing style which is truly masterful! It’s why I kept reading. I usually can’t stand books with over 3 POV characters, but he managed them so deftly that I quite enjoyed it. He is an expert at pacing. That may sound strange since I said the plot was slow, but on a scene-by-scene level, Abercrombie is excellent at starting and ending in just the right places.
Everything that needs to happen in a chapter happens – no more, no less. Each segment feels like a full part of the character’s journey, not just a step to get somewhere else. He uses, but does not abuse cliffhangers. He switches between POVs at natural places in a way that doesn’t make the reader distracted and frustrated waiting to get back to them.
We receive just enough information about the characters’ pasts and mysterious plot points to keep us aching for more, and he then reveals the next piece in quite an enjoyable way. His sentence structure and style itself is quite refreshing, not bloated like that of many modern fantasy authors. Great turns of phrase, humor, purposeful descriptions that don’t take a full page to get through, and a great clip at the sentence level.
I went on to complete the trilogy because of how much I enjoyed Abercrombie’s writing style.
Logen Ninefingers, worn down by years of feuds and bad luck, flees the North with more enemies than allies.
In the civilized Union, Jezal dan Luthar coasts on privilege towards a fencing tournament, while Glokta—once a proud soldier himself, now a crippled torturer—cuts through thickening treason cases.
When old Magus Bayaz pulls all three men into his schemes, their paths collide amid political rot and rising conspiracies which threaten the fate of kingdoms.
CONTENT WARNING: Readers may like to know that the book is very R-rated for graphic violence, swearing, and sexual content, in that order of frequency.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
I love reading fantasy books influenced by a vast range of storytelling methods, mythologies, cultural traditions, and locales! It’s fascinating to encounter entirely new monsters, folk legends, turns of phrase, and psychological approaches to age-old story elements.
In this list, I’ve focused more on authors who live in each region than on members of a diaspora, as there are some great lists out there already for the latter! It can be harder to find English versions of fantasy books from international authors.
Some of these works have been written in the author’s native language and later translated into English, while others were first written in English. A number of these stories feature a world inspired by the author’s cultural mythology or land, but not all. I favor adult epic fantasy, but you’ll also find urban and young adult fantasy, plus some magic realism and mythological retellings.
I hope you enjoy this challenge to read fantasy from around the world:
When Elān traps a salmon-thieving raven, he discovers it holds the secret to stopping the shapeshifting Koosh, and must lead a strange crew of beastly allies across storm-lashed seas to recover a lost weapon of power. As giants, monsters, and crumbling alliances close in, the reluctant storyteller must decide whether he’s willing to become the hero his dying homeland needs.
Cliopher Mdang, the reserved secretary of the Sun-on-Earth, risks everything by inviting the Emperor of Astandalas to his remote Island home—an act of friendship that could either spark his execution or upend the world.
But years after the devastation wrought by a black curse, a handful of courageous men and women embark upon a dangerous crusade to overthrow their despotic conquerors and bring back the brilliance of a long-lost name… Tigana.
Carl Corey wakes up in a secluded New York hospital with amnesia. He escapes and investigates, discovering the truth, piece by piece: he is really Prince Corwin, of Amber, the one true world of which our Earth is just a shadow. He is one of nine men who might rule Amber, if he can fight his way past the armies of his older brother Eric.
Raised to survive the brutal Tournament of Heirs, siblings Acalan and Metztli Amos must outwit rival houses and deadly trials to keep their empire from falling heirless—yet the deeper they go, the more they uncover a destiny far darker than victory alone. In a contest where only two blood-bound tributes can win, the heirs of the House of Life soon learn that triumph will demand sacrifices neither ever wished to make.
When Casiopea Tun accidentally frees the Mayan god of death from a mysterious box, she must help him reclaim his throne—or die trying—sending her on a perilous journey from Yucatán’s jungles to Mexico City and deep into the shadowy Mayan underworld.
In this haunting classic of Latin American literature, a young man’s search for the father he never knew leads him into the ghost-ridden town of Comala, where the corrupt legacy of Pedro Páramo has poisoned every soul and memory lingering there.
Exiled warrior Colibrí and her son Narune must confront a corrupting curse that has plagued their world since its dawn, resisting the maddening effects of their own magic to become the champions their people desperately need.
Born conjoined, daughters of a mortal woman and a demigod, twins Makeda and Abby grew up inseparable—until Abby’s magic blossomed and Makeda was left feeling painfully ordinary. Makeda strikes out on her own, only to be drawn back into her family’s tangled supernatural world when their father disappears, forcing her to uncover her own hidden strengths—and mend the bond with her sister—to save him.
A liberating, avant-garde recreation of popular tales and characters from the Guatemalan collective unconscious—including, from the Mayan sacred text, the Popol Vuh—this book contains a riot of folklore, colonial resistance, animistic nature, and ethnic identity.
South American Fantasy
Fantasy from Latin America heavily favors magical realism. There are few examples of epic fantasy translated into English, but many highly acclaimed literary works that incorporate folk legends and hints of the spiritual world.
Ursula K. Le Guin’s translation of Angélica Gorodischer’s award-winning Kalpa Imperial brings to English a sweeping, many-voiced chronicle of a legendary empire that rises and falls across ages. Fairy tales, oral histories and political commentaries are all woven tapestry-style into Kalpa Imperial: beggars become emperors, democracies become dictatorships, and history becomes legends and stories.
With his characteristic piercing irony, inventiveness, and skepticism, Borges sends us journeying into a bizarre yet resonant realm; we enter the fearful sphere of Pascal’s abyss, the surreal and literal labyrinth of books, and the iconography of eternal return.
When omens foretell a mysterious fleet approaching the Remote Realm, the seven tribes gather in a perilous council where betrayal, prophecy, and impending doom collide as they face the terrifying question of whether salvation—or the Son of Death—has finally arrived.
Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits follows three generations of the Trueba family, blending political upheaval, forbidden love, and quiet magic into a sweeping portrait of a nation in transformation. From Esteban’s fierce ambitions to Clara’s otherworldly grace and Alba’s revolutionary destiny, this modern classic entwines the intimate and the epic into an unforgettable saga.
One Hundred Years of Solitude chronicles the rise and fall of the mythical town of Macondo and the Buendía family, weaving love, war, lust, and death into a dazzling saga that mirrors the history, myths, and humanity of Latin America—and, ultimately, the world.
In a land ruled by war and love and strange enchantments, Cuchulain—torn between gentleness and violence, haunted by the croakings of a sinister raven—fights for his honor and his homeland and discovers too late the trap that the gods have set for him in the fatal beauty of Deirdre and the brutal jealousy of King Conor.
This gentle story takes us to a simpler time and place where Princess Irene and her best friend Curdie must save the kingdom from a evil Goblin plot. Join them as they outwit the Goblins and save the day.
Follow Ophelia, a plainspoken young woman who can read the history of objects and slip through mirrors, as she’s forced into a political marriage that drags her from her warm home ark to the treacherous, ice-bound Pole. There, amid secretive clans, hidden agendas, and a world fractured into floating realms ruled by immortal ancestors, Ophelia must survive a dangerous game where she is both pawn and unexpected power.
Full of philosophical and allegorical themes, The Little Prince tells the story of a young prince who travels from planet to planet, meeting different inhabitants and learning important life lessons along the way.
Ahren’s miserable life changes forever when he’s chosen as apprentice to Falk, the forest guardian—learning archery, battling Dark Ones, and unexpectedly illuminating the Stone of the Gods. Joined by a prickly wizard and racing toward the elven kingdom for aid, Ahren must face a destiny that has already drawn the eye of a relentless, ancient force.
When a merciless demon wreaks havoc across human and elven realms, Northlander Jarl Mandred joins forces with the elf queen Emerelle and the legendary warriors Farodin and Nuramon to hunt it down through a series of brutal battles that span parallel universes.
Abandoned as a child and raised among humans, Tungdil the blacksmith must embrace his hidden dwarf heritage to face a threat no one has ever survived—and save Girdlegard from destruction.
When sickly Karl Lion loses his beloved brother Jonathan, he longs for the afterlife paradise of Nangiyala—only to find it threatened by a tyrant and a fearsome beast once he arrives. Reunited at last, the brothers must summon courage neither knew they possessed to defend their new world from darkness.
When fifteen-winter-old Hirka discovers she’s an “Odin’s child”—a tailless outcast from another world—she’s thrust into a brutal storm of prophecy, xenophobia, and hunted secrets that could shatter her Norse-rooted realm and ignite a war between worlds.
When a beloved friend vanishes before their annual reunion, three men return to their Puglian hometown and uncover rumors of miracles, mafia entanglements, and a mysterious “Book of Hidden Things” that suggests Art has crossed into a realm far darker, and more wondrous, than any of them imagined.
Set in modern Moscow, Night Watch blends urban fantasy with spy-thriller intrigue as Light and Dark Others—magicians, shapeshifters, and vampires bound by a fragile truce—quietly war for advantage. When mid-level Light magician Anton Gorodetsky encounters a cursed young woman whose allegiance could tip the balance, he’s drawn into a dangerous struggle where a single misstep could doom the city—or the world.
After a thousand-year exile meant to break him, Hedin—Sage of Darkness—returns armed with forbidden magic and a vengeful resolve to overthrow the mages who condemned him and even challenge the gods themselves.
Determined to rid herself of the magic she fears, Liska ventures into a demon-haunted forest to claim a mythical fern flower—only to strike a perilous bargain with its warden, the enigmatic Leszy. But in his crumbling manor, where past bargainers have vanished and something far more terrifying stalks the woods, Liska must uncover the Leszy’s secrets and confront the monster within herself if she hopes to survive.
Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have prepared him for a sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good…
Hunted by her monstrous ex (the Tsar of Monsters), and dying without the shadow that fuels her magic, witch Kosara has just twelve days to reclaim her power—forcing her into a perilous alliance with a too-honorable detective as every clue drags her back toward the one monster she fears most.
Ukraine
Vita Nostra by Marina Dyachenko and Sergey Dyachenko
Chosen for the enigmatic Institute of Special Technologies, Sasha Samokhina enters a nightmarishly strange school where unreadable books, surreal lessons, and brutal consequences reshape both her and her reality. A complex blend of adventure, dark magic, science, and philosophy that probes the mysteries of existence
In this sly, illustrated fairy-folk exposé, gnomes and pixies hilariously dissect the absurd rituals and baffling anatomy of humankind, turning classic folklore on its head to reveal the uncanny truths hiding inside our strangest behaviors.
Four desperate warrior heroes swash and buckle and slay across the exotic landscapes of original, Asian-inspired settings in these novella-length, action-packed tales. From serpent-goddess temples in the jungle lands tot he snowy peaks and hidden valleys of the Drokpa Mountains, Swords of the Four Winds delivers rousing sword and sorcery adventure in the classic vein, rife with cruel schemes, betrayals, grisly magic and swift, savage swordplay.
Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land—at the cost of sacrificing all jinn.
They took his daughter, so Micah comes to take their kingdom. Fifty thousand gun-toting paladins march behind him, all baptized in angel blood, and only the janissaries can stand against them. But their living legend, Kevah, is drowning in grief over the loss of his wife – whose side will the gods choose?
Once a brilliant cultivator turned feared demonic master, Wei Wuxian is resurrected in another man’s body and thrust back into a world that still hunts the shadows of his past. As old mysteries resurface, he must confront them alongside the steadfast Lan Wangji—an ally whose loyalty, strength, and shared history may finally illuminate the darkness that once consumed them both.
Sun Wukong, the mischievous Monkey King, must redeem himself by protecting the monk Tripitaka on a perilous fourteen-year journey to India, facing dragons, demons, and gods while using every trick, transformation, and daring stunt to survive.
Rin, a war-orphaned peasant girl who surprises everyone by entering the elite Sinegard military school, must master her lethal shamanic powers and confront the vengeful god Phoenix to survive deadly rivalries at school and a looming war that could cost her her humanity.
When fifteen-year-old Saya learns she is the reincarnated Water Maiden—and heir to the very Darkness she was raised to hate—she’s thrust into the center of a generations-long holy war. Hunted by both sides as the only one who can awaken the Dragon Sword, she must choose between Light and Dark…or face the fate that doomed every Water Maiden before her.
Naruto Uzumaki, a spirited young ninja, is ostracized for housing the Nine-Tails demon who attacked their village, but he trains hard and battles formidable foes to gain acceptance and fulfill his dream of becoming Hokage, the leader of his village.
In a necromancy-driven empire where even death means servitude, a young sorceress, a chained seven-eyed dragon, and a determined swordswoman must rise against dark magic and imperial tyranny—or watch the world burn.
Sung Jin-Woo is the weakest of all hunters, until he gains the ability to grow stronger without limits, and embarks on a deadly journey against dungeons, monsters, and conspiracies to become the world’s most powerful hunter.
When a boy discovers his father’s diary, he is transported to an enchanted alpine world of talking animals, tree spirits, and fleeting magic, where friendship, loss, and the passage of time intertwine in a hauntingly beautiful fable.
Bled by war and on the brink of collapse, the Mathuran Republic is caught in a deadly web of ambition, vengeance, and prophecy. As senators, pirates, warriors, and gods maneuver for power, old scores, forbidden desires, and forgotten deities collide, setting the stage for the rise of the fabled Son of Darkness.
The illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor, and born with the blood of desert spirits, Mehr must navigate a world that both covets and persecutes her, using cunning and magic to survive the Ambhan Empire’s ruthless mystics.
Ambitious lone wolf Phi Hunter, Ex is hired by the pregnant runaway Arinya to escort her through a ghost-haunted forest to the safety of the Capital, but there’s more than men and monsters chasing her, and the secrets could unravel the whole Kingdom.
When the djinn king Melek Ahmar awakens after millennia expecting to conquer Kathmandu, he instead finds a perfectly managed techno-paradise ruled by the omniscient AI Karma—one its citizens have no desire to overthrow. Only exiled Gurkha soldier Bhan Gurung burns for vengeance, drawing Melek into a spiraling conflict that will expose buried crimes and shake the city to its core.
The Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz refashions the classic tales of Scheherazade into a novel written in his own imaginative, spellbinding style.
Ten years after Jasad’s royal family was slaughtered and magic banned, hidden Heir Sylvia’s magic is exposed, forcing her to strike a deal with enemy prince Arin. Can she keep her identity, and her growing attraction, secret as she helps him hunt rebels in exchange for her life?
Nigeria
I was delighted to discover how many fantasy books are being written by Nigerian (and Nigerian-American) authors, including Son of the Storm, Raybearer, The Rage of Dragons, Black Leopard Red Wolf, and the ones listed below!
Step into a world true to Yoruba cosmology, full of warriors, sages and kings; magical trees and snake people; spirits, Ghommids and bog-trolls. Here are the adventures of Akara-ogun—son of a brave warrior and wicked witch—as he journeys into the forest, encountering and dealing with all-too-real unforeseen forces, and engaging in terrifying spiritual and moral relationships with personifications of his fate.
A small boy wanders into a fantastical African forest filled with grotesque and terrifying beings, survives ghosts, burials, and spider webs, and faces a chance at escape when a “television-handed” ghostess appears.
They killed my mother. They took my magic. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Twelve-year-old albino Sunny discovers her latent magical powers and joins a quartet of young mages learning to bend reality—but when a cunning magic-wielding criminal strikes, she must discover if her new skills are enough to stop him.
When a woman follows a dazzling blue-headed bird to the timeless village of Sonokrom, she unwittingly sparks an invasion from the modern city of Accra, led by a young pathologist determined to explain the unexplainable. Tail of the Blue Bird is a poetic, darkly funny fable where ancestral spirits, forest magic, and the power of storytelling defy scientific logic and challenge the very boundaries of truth.
The founders of the Gĩkũyũ people set cunning challenges for the 99 suitors of their ten extraordinary daughters, “The Perfect Nine,” in this tale that blends narrative verse, folklore, mythology, adventure, and allegory.
In a crumbling apartment in the Angolan city of Luanda, the melancholic Odonato searches for his lost son, but as his hope fades and his city changes beyond all recognition, Odonato’s flesh becomes transparent and his body increasingly weightless – a captivating, experimental portrait of urban Africa quite unlike any before yet published in English.
Three gifted outsiders—a “cursed” African woman who cannot die, a runaway Virginian with incredible strength, and a half-Jamaican boy who can vanish—chase their dreams of freedom and acceptance in a fledgling Liberia.
In Itakaa, where gods and kings play a deadly game, Crown Princess Ekara Amaare faces the Prancing Ceremony and an unexpected summons to the Oracle Asylum—the trials that will choose the next ruler. With the newly risen Oracle Kazani hiding secrets that could unravel the kingdom, every choice in the trials carries stakes that will shape or destroy Itakaa.
When Sabriel’s father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, she must journey into the perilous Old Kingdom, where Free Magic and the restless Dead threaten at every turn, and only with the reluctant help of a cunning cat and a haunted young mage can she hope to face the forces of life and death.
Young Kahu, the only potential heir in a line of male chiefs, must harness her magical bond with whales to challenge tradition, win her great-grandfather’s respect, and secure the future of her Māori tribe.
Putera Mikal has spent his life seeking the Amok Strength, the divine power that his impious father somehow wields effortlessly, but when prophecy plunges him into captivity, he must win Kudus’ favor, reclaim his throne, and save his people from certain doom.
In a world where the seadragon’s egg—the dragonfruit—can erase a person’s deepest sorrow, Hanalei of Tamarind must navigate exile, ancient magic, and deadly rivals to reclaim her home and undo a terrible wrong. Alongside Prince Sam, who seeks a cure for his mother and a chance at hope, they confront not only enemies but the perilous cost of the dragonfruit itself.
Queen Talyien’s bloody rise to power nearly tore her nation apart, and her attempt at peace fails when her fiance, the son of a rival clan, disappears. Years later, he sends her a mysterious invitation, but when Talyien journeys across the sea to meet him, an assassination attempt strands her alone and untrusting in a strange land.
Sixteen-year-old Emma, long aware of a mysterious “between-worlds” hidden in the Hawaiian forests, discovers a strange boy from Hilo who has stumbled into that realm—and into the path of the ancient Menehune, the islands’ first people.
As old magic stirs and the Menehune’s purpose becomes clear, Emma and the boy must unravel their intentions before their home—and the worlds—are changed forever.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Some of the most compelling dynamics in fiction are the ones that aren’t so clear cut, or that mix many different emotions together. When two characters – strong, intelligent, and full of conviction – face off through combat, a clash of ideals, or political and strategic maneuvering, they bring out the best and worst in each other.
Famous pairs include Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, Charles Xavier and Magneto, Yagami Light and L, and Anakin and Obi Wan. Many more fantasy books feature thrilling dynamics between commanders, mages, nobility, warriors, assassins, and more.
I’ve included books that feature:
Individuals who respect each others’ skills – perhaps grudgingly, or perhaps they’re the other’s biggest fan boy
“Met my match,” “fated showdown,” and “I’m most alive when facing you” vibes
Mutual obsession and delight in the contest
Honoring or grieving the other if they defeat them
A mixture of brotherhood and enmity (often these dynamics start as one and end as the other)
What this list does NOT include:
Pure enmity – characters who only hate each others’ guts and just want to destroy the other and move on with life
Antagonists the reader is meant to loathe and we’re nothing but happy when they’re gone (even if the protagonist doesn’t loathe them – see F*** Moash for details)
Rivals that don’t appear until later in the series
I’ve organized these books by the 4 major ways they tend to play out:
These are the raw physical conflicts, the characters who live for the thrill of the fight, who demand “he’s mine, no one else touch him,” and then hold the other in their arms as they lay dying (though not all these examples end in death).
Ammar Ibn Khairan and Captain Rodrigo Belmonte are famous warriors on opposite sides of a brewing war. But when each of them stumbles into a political mess, they find themselves exiled to the same city where they are hired as mercenaries.
An unlikely friendship develops in a single summer, but when Belmonte’s King marches south to retake the land conquered by Ammar’s people, they must decide what’s truly worth fighting for.
2. Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archives #4) by Brandon Sanderson
The Stormlight Archive is an incredible series and I highly recommend reading the whole thing. There are excellent duels (Szeth) in previous books, but several astonishingly excellent ones in the 4th.
Spearman, Windrunner, and idealist Kaladin faces off against 2 enemies – one who shares his sense of honor and enjoys their duels, and another cruelly neurotic enemy who is obsessively determined to end him.
This book also features the only compelling intellectual rivalry I’ve ever seen between two women. When the immortal Raboniel takes Queen Navani captive, they develop mutual respect for one another as they investigate properties of magic that could destroy them all.
Kuni Garu and Mata Zyndu fight together to overthrow the emperor in a world inspired by China’s warring states period.
At first, they respect each other deeply—Kuni is the cunning, street-smart bandit who wins people over with charisma and adaptability, while Mata is the towering, idealistic warrior-noble obsessed with restoring honor and the old aristocratic order.
But their visions for the postwar world diverge completely, and they end up opposing one another ideologically and across the battlefield.
4. Heroes Die (The Acts of Caine #1) by Matthew Woodring Stover
Caine (real name Hari Michaelson), is an Actor and warrior who travels to a brutal alternate reality called Overworld, livestreaming his adventures back to Earth. He’s skilled, vicious, and extremely pragmatic, but completely under the control of a dystopian caste-system only too happy to send him to die.
When his wife and fellow Actress goes missing in Overworld, his masters give him the chance to rescue her, but only if he’ll agree to assassin Ma’elKoth, a charismatic and terrifying mage Emperor. But Ma’elKolth gets to Caine first, and they have a history…
Strategic Maneuvering and Intellectual Sparring
Politics, mind games, secretive plots, genius war tactics, cat and mouse games, you name it! The characters in these stories may not face off in a grand duel, but all their focus still lies in maneuvering and outmaneuvering the other through cleverness, subterfuge, manipulation, or more.
A group of ancient, magically powerful siblings vie for the throne at the heart of all universes after their father vanishes mysteriously. The siblings are all fixated on each other, sparring verbally, fuming about centuries old slights, setting traps, and chasing each other through universes of their own constructing.
Corwin is clever, funny, and out for revenge against his brother Eric, who has nearly killed him on several occasions. There are sword duels and strategic battles, but above all else, it is a mind game between these two brothers who are the only real 2 choices for the throne.
Honestly, despite this series being recommended by most hardcore fantasy readers, I have no idea what it’s about. The blurb mentions so many players and conflicts that the “main” plot always escapes me. It seems the driving force is Empress Laseen’s ruthless expansion, particularly her latest campaign against the free city of Darujhistan.
But the cast is massive, including imperial commanders, mages on various sides, assassins and thieves from feuding guilds, warriors, and gods. I’ve heard readers mention various characters that could be called rivals or nemeses. Since this series is known primarily for its sprawling, interconnected plot, I thought I’d stick it in the mind games category!
Anasûrimbor Kellhus, a monk-warrior-philosopher from a secretive, almost superhuman order, is intelligent, manipulative, and charismatic. Drusas Achamian is a weary, cynical sorcerer and spy for the Mandate School, burdened with prophetic dreams of an ancient apocalypse, guilt, and doubt.
Kellhus is playing chess on ten boards at once and Achamian knows it but can’t break free. This is more of a mind duel—one man is essentially conquering the other’s will while appearing to be his friend. It’s all the more tense because both are on the same side (for now), fighting in a massive holy war.
Field Marshal Tamas begins the book by orchestrating a coup, executing his king, and dismantling the monarchy’s ruling structures. This puts him in direct conflict with the Privileged, the elite sorcerers who were loyal to the king, who he continues to hunt down.
One of the surviving loyalist mages, Borbador, commands devastating sorcery, able to level battalions with a gesture. Tamas dominates military logistics, espionage, and large-scale troop movement. Their rivalry is played out mostly through military campaigns, political maneuvering, and indirect confrontations, which become more personal in later books.
Temrai, a cunning and ruthless Chief from the Plains, infiltrates Perimadeia, the Triple City, to learn how to conquer it through siege. Opposite him stands Bardas Loredan, a skilled fencer, and the surviving member of a legendary band of soldiers who killed Temrai’s family.
For the past 12 years Loredan has worked as a “lawyer,” representing clients in duels to the death. But his past comes back to haunt him as a curse tightens around him and Temrai sets his scheme into action.
In the Calderon Valley of Alera, young Tavi is the only boy without a fury—no elemental power to command wind, flame, or stone. When a surprise Marat invasion shatters the peace, Tavi must rely only on his resourcefulness to turn the tides of war.
In later books, Tavi encounters Varg, a towering Marat war leader—brutal, cunning, and sworn to the destruction of Alera. In Varg, he finds something unexpected: a gadara—an adversary whose skill, honor, and unflinching candor make him, in some ways, more reliable than Tavi’s supposed allies.
11. The Red Knight (The Traitor Son Cycle #1) by Miles Cameron
The Red Knight, Gabriel Muriens, the cocky captain of a mercenary company is hired to defend a nunnery against the Wild, a host of inhuman creatures. The Wild’s leader, the sorcerer Thorn, quickly becomes aware of the Red Knight’s presence and takes a personal interest in breaking him. The two face off in battles and political maneuvering, but do not come face-to-face until later books.
Enemies to Allies or Friends
The characters start out simply as enemies (though perhaps already have respect for the other), but their dynamic shifts throughout the story. Sometimes, a conflict like a civil war has ended, and former opponents realize they need not hold onto old grudges not of their making. Often, such characters must work together to defend against or defeat a greater evil.
The opposite dynamic – friends to enemies – exists as well, of course. But I often find those dynamics feature more bitterness (betrayed war buddy out for revenge) than satisfaction in the clash – though this list does feature a few friends to opponents.
Ryo inGara’s clan, hunted and outnumbered by the invading Warlord Aras, leaves him behind as a “tuyo” – a scapegoat prize upon which their enemies can take revenge, in exchange for the clan’s safety. But Aras spares Ryo’s life and asks for his fealty, eager to understand the mentality of the Northern winter clans who have been raiding his southern villages. Beginning to suspect the influence of a dark sorcerer, Aras and Ryo must work together to prevent war between their peoples.
13. Honored Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar #1) by Raymond E. Feist
Mercenary commander Dennis Hartraft and Captain Asayaga, leader of an invading Tsurani force, have circled one another for years. But when a group of dark elves threatens to annihilate both war bands at the start of a brutal winter, they join together in an unlikely alliance. Filled with mistrust and plagued by cultural misunderstandings, the two groups are barely held together by the leaders’ grudging respect for one another.
Damien Vryce, a human priest from a technologically advanced but faith-driven society, and Gerald Tarrant, the infamous Hunter, an immortal being who is both monster and man, form an uneasy alliance of necessity, filled with ideological clashes and mutual manipulation.
Damien sees Tarrant as an abomination, while Tarrant sees Damien as naïve. Neither trusts the other’s motives, and each believes the other will betray him if given the chance, but they need the other’s skills as they and a small team set out to defeat a greater supernatural threat.
The demon Aziraphale and the angel Crowley spend thousands of years upon the earth, doing the work of Hell and Heaven respectively. But sometimes they bend the rules a little, giving each other a helping hand, and subtly subverting the agendas of each party. Over time, they form their own side, facing heaven and hell together to save the planet they both love. Each is the other’s only true friend. Not that they’d ever admit it!
Clash of Ideology
These stories often feature rivals on the same side of a conflict who disagree about how a country should be run, a war should be waged, or what ends justify the means. These conflicts are often slow-burn, with philosophical discussions and disagreements, and fallout from consequences that escalate to more open fights.
Shadow mage and pirate prince, Arithon, would much rather ditch the politics to live as an itinerant bard. Proud and charismatic, Prince Lysaer longs to fulfill his duty to his people, but is devastated by his inability to develop his light magic. Half-brothers, Arithon and Lysaer are mortal enemies – until their father’s quest for vengeance casts them through a portal and into a world from which they cannot return.
Alone in a land where they are hunted for their bloodline, an immortal wizard takes them under his wing as the subjects of an ancient prophecy – only if they pair their shadow and light magic together can they overcome the mistwraith’s curse upon the land. But their ideological differences are far from over.
17. Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen #1) by John Gwynne
Corban and Nathair, crown prince of Tenebral, are being shaped by opposite sides of a much larger prophecy about the coming God-War — one foretold to pit the Bright Star (savior) against the Black Sun (destroyer).
The rivalry grows in the background through political moves, battlefield encounters, and each one’s conviction that they’re in the right. This one is a slow build, with the final showdown not happening till later books.
Mr. Gilbert Norrell is a reclusive, book-hoarding scholar who believes magic should be controlled, respectable, and kept in the hands of a few (preferably just himself).
Jonathan Strange is young, impulsive, and brilliant—more interested in exploring the wild, dangerous side of magic and bringing back the legendary “old ways” tied to the mysterious Raven King.
They start with mutual respect, but their differences in temperament and philosophy quickly lead to friction, and a dueling of egos and ideas.
Who are your favorite rivals, nemeses, and frenemies in fantasy books?
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Books with a massive set of multiple POVs drive me crazy. I prefer stories with a tighter focus that invite readers to enjoy (and work to unravel) some mysteries about the larger world. Sometimes less is more.
But these days, multi-POV fantasy books seem to be the norm, especially in adult fantasy. It’s so hard to find books that feature only one point-of-view character, but I’ve done some legwork for you!
Note: this list focuses on male protagonists and dark, mythic, political, and military fantasy, rather than romance, satire, or coming-of-age.
I’ve read about half of these so far, and all others have at least a thousand 4+ star reviews. Most of these authors have a larger body of work which also feature a similar style.
Ok, technically this is science fantasy, but it FEELS so epic, and most of the story takes place in a medieval setting. The main character is a centuries-old mage poet and swordsmaster who stepped out of literal golden age Avalon! One of my absolute favorites!
Corwin is a prince of Amber, the “immortal city from which every other city has taken its shape.” All other worlds, including Earth, are shadows of that reality. Corwin has spent centuries on Earth with no memory of his birth.
But when someone in the family tries to kill him, Corwin begins a search for his past, discovering the universe itself will bend to his shaping. He is one of nine men who might rule Amber, if he can fight past the armies of his brother and nemesis Eric.
Young Fitz is the bastard son of Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill.
As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz grows to manhood and soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.
Elric is the brooding, albino emperor of the dying Kingdom of Melnibone. With Melnibone’s years of grandeur and decadence long since passed, Elric’s amoral cousin Yrkoon sets his eyes on the throne. Elric, realizing he is his country’s best hope, must face his nefarious cousin in an epic battle for the right to rule.
A man broken in body and spirit, Cazaril returns to the noble household he once served and is named secretary-tutor to the strong-willed princess. It is an assignment Cazaril dreads, for in the royal court of Cardegoss, the powerful enemies who once placed him in chains now occupy lofty positions.
Worse yet, a sinister curse hangs like a sword over the blighted House of Chalion. And only by employing the darkest, most forbidden of magics can Cazaril hope to protect his royal charge.
The writing style in this one is quite dense, and absolutely packed with complex vocabulary. The language is masterful, but it’s no light read. Keep a dictionary tab open!
Severian is a torturer, born to the guild and with an exceptionally promising career ahead of him… until he falls in love with one of his victims, a beautiful young noblewoman. Severian helps her commit suicide and escape her fate. For a torturer, there is no more unforgivable act.
He is exiled from the guild with little more than Terminus Est, a fabled sword, to his name. Along the way, a strange gem falls into his possession, which only makes his enemies pursue him with ever-more determination…
This was published back in 1993, but the link will take you to an updated Kindle version that the publisher released in 2019, which is why it has apparently few reviews.
He has been known by countless names and deeds – thief, swordsman, assassin, adventurer. But chief among those personae is that of Nightfall, gifted with unique powers which any sorcerer would kill to possess.
Yet even the cleverest of beings must occasionally slip. When Nightfall falls prey to a royal trap, he is bound by sorcery and oath to guard a young prince on his quest. He will need every trick and talent to keep both himself and his idealistic charge from death at the hands of unknown betrayers.
Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last god Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth.
He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. But he has never once touched his lord, nor called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation.
One day, Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the Wide Seas for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
The Greatcoats are travelling magistrates bringing justice to all… or at least they were, before they watched the Dukes impale their King’s head on a spike. Now the land’s heroes are reviled as traitors, their Greatcoats in tatters.
Facio, Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as mercenaries, but when they find their employer dead – and are forced to watch as the killer plants evidence framing them for the murder – they realize the royal conspiracy is spreading.
A siege is approaching, and the city has little time to prepare. The people have no food and no weapons, and the enemy has sworn to slaughter them all.
To save the city will take a miracle, but what it has is Orhan. A colonel of engineers, Orhan has far more experience with bridge-building than battles, is a cheat and a liar, and has a serious problem with authority. He is, in other words, perfect for the job.
Seyonne is a man waiting to die. He has been a slave for sixteen years, almost half his life, and has lost everything of meaning to him: his dignity, the people and homeland he loves, and the Warden’s power he used to defend an unsuspecting world from the ravages of demons.
But from the moment he is sold to the arrogant, careless Prince Aleksander, the heir to the Derzhi Empire, Seyonne’s desperately crafted apathy crumbles. When he discovers a demon lurking in the Derzhi court, he must find hope and strength in a most unlikely place…
Prince Jalan Kendeth—drinker, gambler, seducer of women—has a secret. He can see the Red Queen’s, his grandmother’s, greatest weapon: The Silent Sister. But content with his role as a minor royal, Jal pretends that the hideous crone is not there.
After escaping a death trap set by the Silent Sister, Jal finds his fate magically intertwined with a fierce Norse warrior. But war with the undead is coming, and as the two undertake a journey to undo the spell, they realize they are but pieces in a game—and the Red Queen controls the board.
Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes wall-scaling, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics.
But today, Kinch has picked the wrong mark. Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death.
Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds himself braving krakens and giants with Galva in an epic journey to find her missing queen.
Drothe is a Nose, an informant who finds and takes care of trouble inside his criminal organization. On his latest assignment, Drothe unearths that someone is trying to stir up trouble between lower-level criminal organizations, including Drothe’s.
Rumors stir of a book containing imperial glimmer (or magic), and two crime bosses known as the Gray Princes are on the hunt. Drothe discovers the book, gaining the power to bring down emperors, shatter the criminal underworld, and unlock forbidden magic – if he can survive long enough to use it.
Fantasy Books with Predominantly 1 POV – but with brief cutaways
These books are told almost entirely (95%) from 1 point of view, with only brief cutaways to secondary characters. Note that some of these, like The Night Angel Trilogy and the Codex Alera, start incorporating more perspectives later in the series.
For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art – and he is the city’s most accomplished artist.
For Azoth, survival is precarious. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly – and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.
But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins’ world of dangerous politics and strange magics – and cultivate a flair for death.
Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order to be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a warrior of the Faith.
Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the Unified Realm—and Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright knows no bounds. Even his cherished memories of his mother are soon challenged by what he learns within the Order.
But Vaelin cannot escape a future that will alter not only the Realm but the world.
Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.
Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her…
Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best, the most feared and renowned crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.
Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk, or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay’s door with a plea for help – the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.
Among the Omehi, one in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.
Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the 200 year war. Young, gift-less Tau plans to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land.
But when those closest to him are murdered, his grief turns to vengeance. He’ll become the greatest swordsman to ever live for the chance to kill the three who betrayed him.
For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal. But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting.
At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy—the Marat horde—return to the Valley, Tavi’s courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war…
Girton Club-foot has no family, a crippled leg, and is apprenticed to the best assassin in the land. He’s learning the art of taking lives, but his latest mission tasks him with a far more difficult challenge: to save a life.
Someone is trying to kill the heir to the throne, and it is up to Girton to uncover the traitor and prevent the prince’s murder.
In a castle thick with lies, Girton finds friends he never expected, and a conspiracy that could destroy an entire kingdom.
Lukan Gardova is a cardsharp, academy dropout, and—thanks to a duel that ended badly—the disgraced heir to an ancient noble house.
When Lukan discovers that his estranged father has been murdered, he finds fresh purpose. Deprived of his chance to make amends for his mistakes, he vows to unravel the mystery behind his father’s death.
His search for answers leads him to Saphrona, fabled city of merchant princes, where anything can be bought if one has the coin. But the price of truth is the deadliest of all.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Fantasy as a genre has long captured the imaginations of readers with its thrilling adventures and heroic narratives. But if you’ve spent any time in the trenches of Reddit, BookTok, or even Threads, you’ve likely come across a question echoing throughout the zeitgeist:
Does fantasy suffer from a lack of diversity?
That, however, is the wrong question.
At the heart of this conversation lies a more critical distinction. The real question we should be asking is:
What do we even mean by “diversity”?
Is it simply about including characters of various races and socioeconomic backgrounds?
Or does true diversity dig deeper?
This article explores that very question while offering insights into how diversity can (and should) transform the realm of fantasy. Along the way, you might come to love me, or you might come to hate me. But one thing you won’t accuse me of is being a vapid wanderer with nothing but clouds for thoughts.
What Does Diversity Mean in Fantasy?
When we think about diversity in fantasy, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many, in a culture increasingly unmoored from classical philosophical foundations, “diversity” is often reduced to outward traits: ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.
And yes, those factors matter.
But they shouldn’t overshadow what truly makes stories vibrant and enduring: diversity of thought. Because a book, at its core, is a well assembled stream of consciousness. A meditation and confrontation with ideas.
Diversity in My Own Career
This subject is actually quite dear in my own author journey and not for the reasons you might suspect. Whenever diversity comes up, it’s often along the lines of: “Hey, Izaic, why don’t you mention you’re Black? That could really help spotlight you or bring money in the door.” Every time I hear that, it feels like an arrow to the heart.
Why?
Because it screams the bigotry of low expectations. Ideas that stand the test of time are based on merit. To have mine judged by skin tone or assumed hardships might grant me a short‑term dopamine hit but, in the end, would leave me wondering: did I earn X or Y, or was that just the result of someone’s assumption about me?
So, over and over again, I have declined grants or invitations that hinge solely on my skin tone. At times it’s been hard and a challenge to the life of virtue. Undoubtedly I am leaving money on the table, but I have faith that I am more than the base materials of my physical body. What remains, and what is important, is the diversity of my mind and soul, which God made perfectly to His design.
Beyond Biometric Metrics
Reducing diversity to metrics like race, gender, or class oversimplifies a much richer and more vital conversation. Biometric diversity does not automatically guarantee depth or quality in storytelling.
True diversity emerges from exploring nuanced ideas, conflicting beliefs, and different cultural frameworks for understanding universal human experiences.
Imagine a world where fantasy novels challenge readers to see the world differently—to entertain new possibilities and reflect deeply on their own beliefs.
That is authentic diversity.
More Than Skin Deep
Reducing diversity to physical characteristics is a form of tokenism, where characters are included as symbolic gestures rather than meaningful contributors to the narrative.
Instead, let’s consider stories whereideas and beliefs are the defining elements of uniqueness.
For example, a Black author can skillfully craft a European medieval fantasy steeped in knights, castles, and folklore. Likewise, a White author can authentically write a story centered around urban Black youths navigating the challenges of Chicago through the lens of portal fantasy.
The richness of a story stems not from the biometric traits of its characters or creators, but from the depth and clarity of its ideas.
Biological factors ≠ Diversity.
They are merely a potential starting point from which diversity might emerge.
This is not to deny the importance of representation but to elevate the conversation.
Our ultimate goal as lovers of literature should be compelling storytelling that speaks to the human condition. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, what matters most is “the content of their character.”
For fantasy, this means content that challenges, inspires, and transports readers into the vast frontiers of imagination.
The Reader’s Role in Seeking True Diversity
Writers aren’t the only ones responsible for cultivating meaningful diversity. Readers play an equally crucial role in shaping demand for more thoughtful and expansive narratives.
When audiences seek out stories that offer fresh perspectives and complex characters, they help pave the way for a broader, richer literary landscape.
Supporting Authentic Storytelling
Here’s how readers can contribute:
Explore New Authors: Seek out voices from various cultural and social backgrounds. But celebrate them not for their skin or heritage—celebrate them for the merit of their thoughts and craft.
Foster Conversations: Discuss books with others. Unearth the deeper themes and perspectives within a story.
Prioritize Depth: Choose books that offer intricate world-building, moral complexity, and provocative ideas over ones that simply check superficial boxes.
By demanding authenticity and intellectual richness, readers uplift authors and help shape a publishing culture centered on excellence.
Raising the Next Generation of Readers
Creating a culture where diversity of thought thrives doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with nurturing a love for reading in young minds. Exposing children of all backgrounds to a range of high-quality, diverse literature helps expand their worldview and strengthens critical thinking.
How to Foster a Love for Diverse Literature:
Start Early: Introduce imaginative fantasy stories that stretch the mind and expose kids to different ideas.
Align with Values: Share stories that reflect your core values but don’t avoid those that challenge or stretch them.
Create a Rich Literary Environment: Fill homes or classrooms with books spanning genres, cultures, and philosophies.
Celebrate Curiosity: Encourage kids to ask hard questions about characters, themes, and conflicts.
Train for Excellence: Stop paying lip service to mediocrity. If you’re invested in the future of Black youth—or any youth—invest in their craft. Train them rigorously. Push them to be extraordinary.
A sustained effort to introduce children to rich, diverse storytelling shapes a generation that values both creativity and authenticity. Excellence is the only foundation that ensures diversity lasts beyond trends.
Building a Future of Excellence in Fantasy Literature
Fantasy offers endless room for exploration, creativity, and connection. But for the genre to thrive, it requires intentional effort from writers, readers, and publishers alike.
Christian authors, especially, have a unique opportunity to contribute by anchoring their work in faith and reflecting the boundless creativity of God’s design.
The future of fantasy doesn’t rest on superficial representation. It depends on cultivating excellence and allowing the diversity of ideas to compete in all aspects of storytelling.
Yorks spent six years as a professional Track athlete, earning silver in the United States championships, among several other distinguishing awards. Now, he seeks his true passion for authoring fantasy works with a heart for virtues that chase the Good, True, and Beautiful.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Yorks is now happily lost in Hillsborough, living the small-town life and raising a growing family with his wife Courtney.
Check out his book!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Good reviews are absolutely essential for the sales of your book. Readers want to find out if your book is worth reading without having to expend much time upfront. The opinion of readers like them is a huge factor in decision-making.
But Christian fantasy, sci-fi, and horror are niche genres which have a relatively small audience. It’s already hard enough for authors of mainstream fiction to find reviewers, but you might feel incredibly frustrated trying to find the small crowd of readers who won’t condemn your themes of faith OR accuse you of “condoning witchcraft.”
So I’ve compiled a list of resources to help you gain reviews for your Christian SFF book – all of them are friendly toward indie and self-published authors:
ARC Websites DO Accept Christian Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books
Top advanced reader copy (ARC) websites include NetGalley, BookSirens, and BookSprout. Publishers list their upcoming releases and readers can create an account and request free copies, in exchange for leaving an honest review.
These websites accept all types of genres and any reader can sign up for a free account. I’ve seen Christian fantasy and sci-fi listed on these sites (I’m a reviewer on BookSirens). It’s quite possible that other Christian readers of sci-fi and fantasy browse these websites and will request your book.
The MOST important factor which affects your book’s likelihood of approval on these sites is your release date. If your book was published more than 6 months ago, they will not consider it eligible. Ideally, your book should be available on these sites at least 3 months before publication so that you gain some positive reviews by the time your book goes live. That’s why they’re called advance reader copies.
Note that you are not paying for a review. You are paying these companies to connect you with their list of reviewers.
This is the go-to location for the Big 5 Publishers, so indie authors have to compete with many famous authors and books in high-demand. However, the publishers are also picky about which reviewers they send free books, so there are many readers on the platform who want free books and will keep browsing if they don’t get their top choice.
Prices: $60-800+ depending on what type of plan you purchase. Kindlepreneuer has a great article summarizing the best NetGalley deals.
This is my favorite ARC site because I think they have the best search function – this makes it easy for me, as a reader, to narrow down their choices and find exactly the type of book I’m looking for.
They also keep a public database of reviewers which allows authors to search for good matches and reach out in-person to readers they think will enjoy their book.
Prices: $10/ARC plus $2/reader or $100/year for unlimited ARCs – learn more
BookSprout is similar to BookSirens, in that it’s very friendly to indie authors. Their plans offer a certain amount of reviewers per month. For instance, if you pick their $9/mo plan, you can receive up to 25 reviews. With their $29 and $59/mo plans, you get unlimited potential reviews.
This is a popular site that reviews indie and bestselling authors alike. They state that, “more than half of the books submitted for a free review will receive one within three (3) months. Some books are reviewed in less than a week while others are never selected for review.”
The Independent Book Review exclusively reviews indie release in a wide variety of genres. They’re composed of a team of reviewers, with varied preferences. They note that they do not accept: “some religious books.” But that likely does not exclude SFF with themes of faith, redemption, and the like.
This site helps library professionals choose which books to stock. They state, “As the book review journal of the American Library Association, Booklist connects library and education workers to the books and resources needed to support and enrich their communities.” They also have a branch of their site oriented toward library patrons who are searching for their next read.
Since they receive over 60K review requests per year, I suggest only submitting to them if you think your book has wide appeal. This could be a great option for children’s book authors as well.
Lorehaven is currently the only major website completely dedicated to writing about Christian sci-fi, fantasy, and other speculative fiction. They maintain a database of Christian SFF books, and authors and readers alike can submit books to be included.
They have a team of reviewers and for your book to be considered it must be: Christian-made, fantastical in genre, and professionally published (indie or traditional). Lorehaven also runs a podcast and has an active discord server for readers.
They review both secular and Christian-made sci-fi and fantasy, but focus on works released by major publishers. So this is not a good option for self-published authors. They review mostly middle grade and YA, aiming their reviews at parents, though you can submit books aimed at adults as well.
Jon Dykstra, the editor of Reformed Perspective, has reviewed a number of Christian fantasy books, including the Wingfeather Saga and The Dark Harvest Trilogy. There’s not an official way to request reviews on this website, which emphasizes curated and reflective content, but there is no harm in bringing your series to their attention.
PluggedIn is aimed at parents and mostly reviews popular media. Their intent is to help parents filter through the (often secular) content their children are most likely to encounter and request to read or watch. But they have reviewed Christian-made fantasy novels.
They do not have an official way to request reviews, but you can email them directly at letters@pluggedin.com. Keep in mind that the more requests they receive for a certain type of review (or specific work of fiction), the more likely they are to see it as a high demand and expand into that area.
This is our blog, and we’re glad you’ve found your way here! We love reviewing science fiction and fantasy of all types, including those with Christian themes!
You may submit a review request here. Please be sure to check out my reading wishlist first! Note that I do not review books with more than 2 POVs.
Periapsis Press is one of the most prolific reviewer sites of Christian SFF, run by Katie and David Roome! They also offer author interviews and invite guest posts from reviewers.
Chris Solaas writes concise reviews that include: an analysis of each story, a summary of the Christian content, and estimated ratings for mature content. He notes that he receives way more requests than he can ever accept or even respond to, and is also behind on the books he has chosen to read.
Kristi notes: “As a self-published author myself, I realize the need for reviews and certainly empathize with the difficulty of self-marketing. I read some fantasy, but not really paranormal. I read sci-fi, but not so much space operas.” She has a list of her preferred genres.
Leah is a Christian and avid book lover who reviews books clean in language and content, though she will read dark and violent content – which she will then warn of in her reviews.
Coralie reads and reviews both Christian fantasy and classics. She notes in her book review index that you can reach out on her contact page if you’d like to see specific reviews.
Tressa only reviews clean books and notes, “I pretty much read all sub-genres (contemporary, historical, fantasy, dystopian, scifi, steampunk, etc., except most thrillers).” She is backlogged with requests, so be sure to compare her recent reads with your book to see if you’ll be a good fit.
Be aware that YouTube videos rarely focus on reviews of individual books, and are more likely to include a list of recommendations or a discussion and comparison of a genre. It’s still a great way to reach a wider audience of readers!
Celestria says, “I talk about clean and Christian books here. Subscribe to watch me fangirl about fictional characters, drink too much coffee, and sing the occasional song.”
Rochelle is a vlogger based out of South Africa! She makes videos about her faith, her daily life, and books. Here’s a video she made about Christian fantasy.
Her bio says she’s “a teenage author, book lover, and Christian with a big dream and an even bigger God.” She reviews and recommends Christian fantasy, definitely on the cleaner side.
Valicity Elaine used to run this BookTube channel, but transformed it into an indie publishing company with the same name! She still actively reviews on Goodreads. I encourage you to get in touch with her!
Christian Fantasy Reviewers on Instagram
There are many great book reviewers on Instagram who mention that they’re Christian and love to read sci-fi and fantasy! Try searching with tags like #Christianbookblogger, #christianfantasy, and #bookreview. It might take you a while to filter through, but it’s well worth it. I find reviewers on IG to be incredibly friendly, excited, and open to helping share the work of new and indie authors!
Note: I am actively researching and expanding this section.
These individuals have left Goodreads reviews on multiple major works of Christian sci-fi and fantasy and most note on their profile that they are interested in both genre fiction and Christian works. I only included accounts of people who have been active on the platform within the past year.
You could certainly friend them and send a message, but keep in mind that most of these people are readers who do not run “official” reviewer blogs. So be sure to browse through some of their favorites to make sure that they’d actually be interested in your book, BEFORE reaching out to them.
Find more individual readers by scrolling through positive reviews left on your favorite Christian SFF books!
Who Are Your Favorite Reviewers?
If you’re an author of Christian SFF and have some favorite reviewers who love your work, please share so I can keep expanding this list! If you yourself are a reviewer of Christian SFF, please let me know if you’d like to be featured!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Let’s face it. When we write our debut novel, we expect the world to be as excited about it as ourselves. At least our family and friends. Mine did make a big deal of my achievement. But when I told them it was a fantasy novel, their smiles became polite, baffled, or embarrassed. Not everyone, but enough to dampen my enthusiasm. True, peoples’ reading tastes vary, so it could just be the genre. But after conversations and consideration, I came to a disturbing conclusion. Few people in my circle of acquaintances read fiction. A common denominator among those acquaintances is that they are Christians. Could there be a correlation?
Christian fiction has gained more acceptance in the ecclesiastical fold in recent decades. Works from such authors as C. S. Lewis and Tolkien are even held in theological esteem. But most seem to be valued as clean entertainment, comfortable encouragement, or harmless escapes to restore mental health. All fine for the young, leisurely, and convalescent. But “serious” Christian growth happens from didactic doses of information, right?
Do we only glean the deepest insights from within the careful lines of logic, or can we also learn through the mysteries of the imagination? Is reason the only tutor of innovation, or must it co-create with abstraction? Consider science. It observes facts and imagines possibilities (hypotheses) which are tested to become theories (new facts). In the Christian life, we seek to grow in faith, which is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Yet, belief in the unseen requires believers to step into the realm of the imagination. So, if imagination is critical to expand all types of knowledge and faith, how can we cultivate it?
When we delve into a story and put ourselves in the shoes of fictional people, our minds summon images out of thin air. We experience events and desire outcomes that don’t exist. We are exercising our imagination. And we are learning another important life skill—empathy. Given these benefits, reading fiction should be an essential practice, especially for Christians. Yet the opposite seems to be true. Why would that be?
Why don’t More Christians read fiction?
Whether consciously or not, Christians may hold the mindset that theological textbooks or other expository writings alone can teach real spiritual insights. Perhaps there is some justification for such thinking, as many Christian novels contain little more than a sanctified dollop of sugar or shot of adrenaline. They may provide moments of distraction, but surely, we can offer more than euphoria that quickly evaporates. Following our Master Storyteller, who convicted scholars and laymen alike with life-changing parables, we too could weave profound truths into tales that lead to lasting hope.
Such stories are harder to write and to read. We must deal with murky concepts organically and often indirectly, all while negotiating a riveting plot. But like all things that are uncertain, we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And as with all things difficult, we keep practicing. Indeed, Christians ought to “look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). It may take time to build up a body of excellent Christian fiction, and to cultivate a reputation of edifying content. But we can do it if we push on in that good work.
There may be another reason that Christians shun the imagination. We fear it. Beyond being an intangible quality that we cannot define and confine, we have much evidence of its potential for evil in our world. Too often it is twisted by our sin nature and the Enemy to create vivid products of destruction. But these are not reasons to retreat.
Can You Imagine?
I believe that the imagination is a potent aspect of being created in God’s image. It is a touch of the divine to glimpse into the edges of eternity. Of course the Enemy wants to usurp it, corrupting it to focus us on hedonistic desires and to extol ourselves as gods. We, as God’s people, should not concede this mighty gift. We need to claim the imagination for the glory of God. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul tells us to be in the business of “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
We are not to abandon imagination, but to bring it into obedience to Christ. So, Christian should be at the forefront of penning magnificent speculations that sing His praises, ignite others to wonder at His goodness, and showcase His beauty and majesty. Stories of power and skill that draw people to His truth. And we should read those stories too, to enlarge our own faith and engage with others.
The imagination is a potent aspect of being created in God’s image.
When I was a 7-year-old immigrant in New York City, I learned to read in a public library. Stories opened the way to a new language and country for me. They normalized a strange culture and transported me to worlds of friendship and adventure. Yes, I relished the escape at first, but my mind was also training to see invisible things. So, when I heard the Greatest Story Ever Told, I could imagine Jesus and His salvation. I knew it was true. He had prepared me to believe.
Since then, faith is a constant journey of trusting God’s promises by seeing that which is not yet. Now, I want every story I write to convey an air of His transcendence, so that readers will long for it and recognize it when they encounter it in this world. Fantasy, more than any other genre, allows the supernatural to be a normal force in the narrative. Therefore, I see it as a perfect conveyance to reveal the most exalted One who surpasses all powers.
For readers, let me leave you with a challenge. Read a fantasy story today and let it take you on a quest. See yourself as the hero you never thought you could be. Find the evil in your world and surmount every danger to vanquish it in Jesus’ name. Do you dare?
About Willamette Sutta
Willamette Sutta is the pen name of a former academic librarian who has always been more fascinated with the worlds of imagination than the STEM books that she curated. Now she combines her love of information and speculation to create fantastic stories that nevertheless give an air of a world truer than the one we see. Find the story beneath the story.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
This is part 2 of my ongoing series of book lists featuring young adult books with male protagonists. Part 1 lists high/epic fantasy books with young male leads, which you can read here!
I personally prefer reading about male protagonists (I’m a woman). I also would rather read a book with 1 POV, rather than ones that switch back and forth between different perspectives. The pacing of young adult fiction is also perfect after a long day at work!
Or perhaps your son has outgrown Spiderman, but isn’t ready to pick up adult fiction yet.
However, since the young adult market is largely aimed at girls and women these days, it can be a bit hard to find fast-paced books with 1 male main character. So I thought I’d share my growing TBR list with you all to help you find this kind of story as well!
This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Science Fantasy Books
Science fantasy is the umbrella term for fantasy that doesn’t fit neatly into just one genre! From contemporary fantasy and superpowered characters, to fantasy that leans a bit more toward sci-fi, there are a lot of great stories that fall outside of the epic category.
John Smith seems like an ordinary teenager, living a normal life with his guardian Henri in Paradise, Ohio. But for John, keeping a low profile is essential, because he is not an ordinary teenager. He’s an alien from the planet Lorien, and he’s on the run. A group of evil aliens from the planet Mogadore, who destroyed his world, are hunting anyone who escaped.
Nine Loric children were sent to Earth to live in hiding until they grew up and developed their Legacies, powers that would help them fight back—and help them save us. Three of them are now dead. John is Number Four, and he knows he’s next….
2. Steelheart (The Reckoners 1) by Brandon Sanderson
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.
Nobody fights the Epics…nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart — the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David’s father.
Only his father knows the truth about Rigg’s strange talent for seeing the paths of people’s pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him—secrets about Rigg’s own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain.
Rigg’s birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead.
Among boiling volcanoes under Mira’s frozen lands, people like Ig are forced to undergo life-threatening trials that bind chemical elements to the human body. One of Mira’s most powerful elementals, Ig serves as an enforcer for Magnate Sorrelo Adriann, but is cursed with flesh binding magic that will kill him at the first sign of disobedience.
When Sorrelo is overthrown, Ig quickly learns he can do far worse than what has been asked of him so far. If he can’t escape the flesh binding in time, he will have to kill friend and foe alike to stop his master reclaiming the throne, or sacrifice himself trying.
Superheroes and Magic Academies in Fantasy
These books aren’t so different from the ones above, as they also feature superpowered individuals. But if you like the added structure of magic academies and secret organizations, or you’re looking for stories set in the superhero/supervillain “metaverse,” these ones are for you!
More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist, one who has the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings—merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake.
As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery.
6. The Never Hero (Chronicles of Johnathan Tibbs 1) by T. Ellery Hodges
Heroes are supposed to be the first to step forward. I didn’t. I was drafted. An Alien, Heyer, did this to me. I asked him once why I had to do all the fighting while he watched from the shadows. He said he couldn’t be replaced. But I could be.
My name is Jonathan Tibbs. I’m the one standing between Earth and the Enemy. They tell me every hero’s story follows a path. If I’m going to save the world, I have to find a different one.
Will West is careful to live life under the radar. At his parents’ insistence, he’s made sure to get mediocre grades and to stay in the middle of the pack on his cross-country team. Then Will slips up, accidentally scoring off the charts on a nationwide exam.
Now Will is being courted by an exclusive prep school . . . and followed by men driving black sedans. When Will suddenly loses his parents, he flees to the school. There he begins to explore all that he’s capable of–physical and mental feats that should be impossible–and learns that his abilities are connected to a struggle between titanic forces that has lasted for millennia.
Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But then he discovers that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, and his dad insists he come live with him.
Damien has to survive his dad’s “flying lessons” that involve throwing him off the tallest building in the city and keep his supervillain girlfriend in the dark. But when Damien uncovers a plot to turn all the superheroes into zombie slaves, a plan hatched by his own mom, he has to choose: let his family become zombies, or stand up to his mom and become a real hero.
In the shadowy underbelly of a futuristic city, Sammy, a fourteen-year-old fugitive, stumbles upon a secret: he possesses the extraordinary powers of a Psion.
Plucked off the streets, he is thrust into the rigorously disciplined environment of Psion Beta headquarters. As a new Beta, Sammy must hone his newfound abilities using holographic fighting simulations, stealth training missions, and complex war games.
But when things go horribly wrong on a routine training mission, he must rely on the other Betas to stay alive.
Hugh of Emblin is the worst student that the Academy at Skyhold has ever seen. He can barely cast any spells at all, and those he does cast tend to fail explosively. He’s also managed to attract the ire of the most promising student of his year – the nephew of a king.
When an unusual mage unexpectedly selects him as apprentice in the Choosing, however, his life starts to take a sharp turn for the better. Now all he has to worry about is the final test for the first years – being sent into the terrifying labyrinth below Skyhold.
Urban Fantasy & Supernatural Books
Most urban fantasy tends to jump straight to adult fiction, with adult characters and grittier scenarios and content. A lot of supernatural fantasy shifts towards paranormal romance. But I found a promising few. If you can think of any more urban fantasy examples with young male leads, please share!
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, all by the slightest touch. Since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got the magic touch, so he’s an outsider—the straight kid in a crooked family—as long as you ignore one small detail: He killed his best friend, Lila.
Now he is sleepwalking, haunted by terrifying dreams of a white cat. His brothers are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of one huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to outcon the conmen.
12. Infinity (Chronicles of Nick 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
At 14, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough, and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . . until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Now Nick has to hide his werewolf friends from his mom, his chain saw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended.
Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don’t quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there’s a visitor at his window. It’s ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.
Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.
There’s a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side—and that’s only the beginning. Of course, most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half-human.
His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares—and he and his entire otherworldly race are after Cal. Why?
He and his half-brother Niko have managed to stay a step ahead for three years, but now Cal’s dad has found them again. And Cal is about to learn why they want him, why they’ve always wanted him…
Steampunk Books
Classic steampunk mostly features adult characters, and a lot of contemporary steampunk has merged with the fantasy of manners sub-genre, featuring dashing young girls with pistols under their skirts. But here are a few that feature young men!
It is the cusp of World War I. The Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ genetically fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.
Aleksandar Ferdinand, a Clanker, and Deryn Sharp, a Darwinist, are on opposite sides of the war. But their paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure…. One that will change both their lives forever.
The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three half brothers are killed in an “accident,” he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.
Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and is surrounded by sycophants.
He is alone, and trying to find even a single friend . . . and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne–or his life.
Comedy/Parody Fantasy
I don’t read much comedic fantasy, so if you do, please help me fill out this section. You can’t go wrong with Terry Pratchett!
Seventeen-year-old Dodger is content as a sewer scavenger. But he enters a new world when he rescues a young girl from a beating, and her fate impacts some of the most powerful people in England.
From Dodger’s encounter with the mad barber Sweeney Todd, to his meetings with the great writer Charles Dickens and the calculating politician Benjamin Disraeli, history and fantasy intertwine in a breathtaking account of adventure and mystery.
As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don’t cause trouble. But this meek behavior doesn’t fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has had enough.
Now, sealed in his human form and banished to the DFZ–a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit–Julius has one month to prove he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test.
How to Find More YA Fantasy Books with Male Leads
Here’s the trick to finding young adult books with male protagonists. They’re NOT marketed as YA anymore. Use tags such as “coming of age fantasy” or “teen fantasy.” “Adventure fantasy” is a tag more often paired with high fantasy worlds, but can still be helpful if paired with other themes you’re looking for. For instance “superhero adventure fantasy” can filter through stories that primarily feature romance.
Why am I focusing on YA? Well, it’s not hard to find adult fantasy about male main characters. It IS hard to find contemporary adult fantasy with only 1 male POV, so I also made a list for those.
Until then, stay tuned for the next male YA lists which will feature dystopian, progression fantasy, and more!
These are affiliate links – I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
The Hands of the Emperor is a stunningly wrought tale of mythic friendship, set in a world of wild magic and serendipity, featuring rich diversity, epic cultural traditions, and tear-inducing moments of truth between family.
Synopsis
A magical cataclysm devastated the 5 worlds bound into the Empire of Astandalas, ending the 4000 year reign of the lion-eyed god Emperors. Upon the world of Zunidh, the last Emperor of Astandalas, now reduced merely to the lord magus of Zunidh, attempts to piece back together the magic and order of the world on which he was raised. At his right hand, Cliopher Mdang of the Wide Sea Islanders dismantles the lingering corruption of the Empire, establishing a new government and ushering in an era of peace and prosperity.
He loves his lord dearly, but magical and ritual taboos prevent them from truly being friends. Until Cliopher (Kip), seeing the deep loneliness and despair his lord has buried in his heart, invites him on a vacation to his home in the Wide Seas. His gesture, as simple as it is treasonous, changes the course of their lives and that of their world.
Characters
5/5 stars!
The characters are truly where this book shines! Most of the cast is composed of middle-aged characters, which is such a treat given the preponderance of 17-year-old heroes and heroines out on a bildungsroman. These characters know who they are, are solid in their positions in the world, and yet have half a life of choices and regrets behind them, and a whole world of unfulfilled goals before them. There are more and more layers to peel back as the story continues. Cliopher and the Emperor are the twin stars around which this story orbits, but there is a larger cast of strongly developed characters, including Cliopher’s (widely!) extended family and hometown friends and the other members of the Emperor’s household.
Kip is wicked smart, idealistic, and deeply passionate about his culture’s traditions. He’s one of those people that will-powered himself to the top through audacity and stubbornness, in addition to raw talent. In many ways, though, he’s a man at war with himself. He’s desperate for his family to understand why he’s worked so hard to improve the world but is also terrified of letting the prejudiced see what his heritage truly means to him. I related so deeply to his desperate desire to be asked about himself! His family says things like, “why didn’t you let us know how important you were,” and he says, “Because you told me I was boasting every time I mentioned something I cared deeply about!” I resonated with his deep urge to be seen and accepted for all parts of himself, but unsure of how to claim them all. Above all, he is a loyal friend who will do anything to see his Emperor smile, which is why some people have referred to this as a cozy fantasy, though I would call it a low-stakes political & mythic fantasy.
The Emperor, hereafter known as His Radiancy, as that is the title by which his personal household endearingly refers to him, is traumatized both physically, magically, and mentally due to the isolation and other side effects of his power. It’s heartbreaking to see and so rewarding to learn more about him throughout the story. Even Kip didn’t know him fully, despite spending half their lives together. In this way, it almost reads as a mystery (and there is one – if you know, you know, haha), as we piece together both his and Kip’s personal pasts, and their work to reshape the remnants of an empire.
I absolutely love the humor in this book! All these characters rib each other, often in the most subtle ways (satin anyone?).
“‘Come now, I hear you called him a soft-spoken hypocrite. What did he call you to prompt that?’ Cliopher bit his lip. ‘A reasonable man.’ ‘A strike to the heart! My dear Kip, do not look so mulish. I would never stoop so low as to call you reasonable. You are quite the most radical idealist I have ever known-or at least, the only sane one.’”
Some people have complained that this book has a rather meandering plot. I didn’t mind that, since it is decidedly a character-driven story, not a plot-driven one. I wouldn’t even call it straight political fantasy, since while Kip is essentially the Secretary of State of his whole planet, we mostly see his big picture ideas for changing the world, rather than the nitty gritty day-to-day details. All scenes and actions circle around the relationships between Kip and the Emperor, and Kip and his family. In some ways it can almost feel like slice-of-life.
I’d put it this way: the plot felt unpredictable, yet not unplanned. It feels true to life – surprises happen and throw a wrench in your plans, you have a fight with your oldest friends, get an unexpected visitor, nearly lose someone to an illness, and yet still push forward each day in service to others. And yet all of the mini conflicts and revelations propel the characters toward a unified resolution at the end, which is incredibly emotionally rewarding.
Some of Kip’s later accomplishments stretched my suspension of disbelief (establishing a universal income for an entire planet in about 5 years… and there were no major problems?). But because the story was truly about Kip and His Radiancy’s promises to each other, I pushed such doubts aside. However, the vagueness of the explanations (“Kip had contingency plans in place if things did go wrong”) would likely frustrate readers that are more interested in plot and worldbuilding than bromance.
“I have been fortunate beyond the lot of many men that not only can I, do I, admire and respect my lord and my master, but that I could, that I do, also love him. My lord, my… Tor… if you were my brother or my cousin I could not love you more. When you are no longer sitting on the Lion Throne, I would like to know the man behind the Serenity. As a friend.”
The Hands of the Emperor
Worldbuilding
5/5 stars!
What absolutely phenomenal worldbuilding! How rare to find a book that is so incredibly character-focused, yet has such intricately spun magic systems, cultures, traditions, and history! There is so much here, and yet I kept wanting to learn more. Kip’s culture is based around our world’s Pacific Islander culture. I’ve never read a fantasy book like that! So refreshing. There are many uniquely invented cultures too!
The Upper Aristocracy of Astandales feels somewhat like a mix between Roman, Egyptian, and Chinese governance systems, and yet in many ways entirely unique. The rulers are black, descended from both the Sun and Moon, only marry close relatives, and enact a strictly hierarchical system of taboos, blessings, and curses. They conquered and bound their empire together with wild magic yet now employ a rigid schooled magic system. What a delicious set of contradictions and delightfully tormented family history!
I did initially find discussion of “The Fall,” the cataclysmic event which broke the magical connections of the multi-world Empire, to be confusing. The main characters are all intimately familiar with the event, and no one in the world likes talking about it – it was deeply traumatic for everyone. There’s hardly a person who didn’t lose multiple family members and friends in the event, and even time was distorted, causing strange effects on the mind and body in ways even master magicians don’t understand. So basically, the characters are still confused about it, which made me kind of confused about it. The author would mention things like, 100 years ago, or 1000 years ago, so-and-so who’s still alive did x, which had me lost before I realized that time literally broke and who knows why aging didn’t happen.
I was also a bit confused about the world’s level of technology, and which world was which. Characters mention trains, universities, healthcare, and instant mail, but still carry around spears and swords and wear grass skirts if they want. I guess they feel like a 20th century society achieved through magic. The different worlds are essentially planets connected by magic “portals”in-between places,” which wasn’t explicitly stated, so at first I thought the names mentioned were other countries, not entirely separate worlds! But that’s kind of par for the course when it comes to learning about not just one world, and one prior Empire of many worlds, but also about what all those worlds are like after everything broke.
Victoria Goddard’s prose is artful in some places, and surprisingly dense in others. One moment feels like a fairy tale or scene from an old myth, where the gods materialize and issue a challenge in a voice of thunder. Then other scenes felt rather bloated with description, like a pages-long explanation of the structure of the Palace’s throne room. Kip is one of the loremasters of his culture’s oral tradition and lives out their poetry through his actions! He will absolutely walk into a room and declare, “I sing the Wide Seas!” or respond gleefully to the challenge, “Who is this who comes out of the sunrise?” So, in many ways the dialogue of the story is what’s the most artful. His Radiancy also enjoys songs and stories and can be poetic in speech (he is so into it when Kip gets into it, which is utterly adorable).
But at times I felt frustrated that Goddard didn’t go “all in” with the lyrical style and that some passages almost felt journalistic in the way information was conveyed. Yet I also think this was a complex attempt to marry two styles into one, which reflected the character’s personal journey perfectly. After all, Kip is a bureaucrat who has “elevated the report to an art form.” We see him wandering the beach under the full moon, calling upon a goddess’ blessings, and we also see him corralling politicians and writing memos in his office. It would feel strange if the latter scenes were written in a way worthy of an epic. In the second book (minimal spoilers ahead), the plot leans much more toward the mythical, so in turn, so does the writing itself. But I do find myself skipping over some chunks of description when I reread this.
Impact
5/5 stars!
Sometimes, the greater the impact a story has on you, the harder it is to write a book review. It’s a matter of exposing the sticky webs that have woven themselves around your heart and laying them out in order. I fell in love with The Hands of the Emperor on my first read and immediately went on to devour the next 4 books (plus several short stories) in her world! Then I went back and reread my favorite parts of The Hands of the Emperor. Then I fully reread both it and its sequel At the Feet of the Sun.
Each new time, I feel like my heart grows larger as these characters fill my imagination with passion, beauty, and joy. They’re the type of books that richen with each read, revealing more layers to Goddard’s world, the inner lives of these characters, and the philosophies and cultures which define them. The more books you read in life, the harder it is to find a book that truly lights a new spark in your heart (metaphor intended). This is one of those!
“I suppose we always hope that those closest to us can see into our hearts—but unless we invite them, or show them in words or deeds, how can they?”
The Hands of the Emperor
Conclusion
If you enjoy character-driven stories, diverse, sprawling worlds packed with history and magic, deep friendships and found family, and emotional and philosophical conversations, then you will love The Hands of the Emperor! Warning: you will become addicted. Writing this got me all fired up. I need to go read it a fourth time!
You can find books set in the rest of Victoria’s universe on her website! And buying books directly from her site will allow the majority of profits to go to her, not to retailers!
But if, like me, you find it hard to pass up the convenience of Prime, here you go.
P.S. I always advocate supporting authors by buying their books! But for those of you who can’t, I found almost all of Goddard’s books on Hoopla. If your library doesn’t carry them, there is a Discord fan server called the HoTE Support Group and you can request that someone gift you a copy (sub-channel: Crowdfunding the Nine Worlds)! Such a gem of a fandom!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Where are all the young adult fantasy books with one male lead?
YA fantasy has largely skewed towards romantasy in recent years. Nothing wrong with that, but it means that boys who loved reading in elementary school may have difficulty finding books now that they’re in middle or high school (of course boys and men can enjoy stories about female leads, but there’s nothing wrong with preferring to read about your own gender). Male protagonists are as common in adult fantasy as they’ve always been, but jumping straight from Percy Jackson to Game of Thrones would be quite a shock.
Young adult books not only feature younger characters (generally between 12-17), but also an accessible writing style and fast pacing. They’re easy for kids (and tired adult brains) to read. I wouldn’t want to come home after work and pick up Steven Erikson, but I do look for books more mature than Ranger’s Apprentice.
Note: a lot of people DO list Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and Ranger’s Apprentice as YA since the main characters fall within the 12-17 age range (I highly recommend all those series!). However, the simpler writing style, at least at the start of each series, is much more in line with middle grade books. Style separates genres just as much as character ages. After all, Game of Thrones includes children as point-of-view characters, but is certainly not YA because of both R-rated content and the dense writing style.
So I searched Goodreads, Amazon bestseller lists, review blogs, and recommendations on sub-reddits to compile a list of exciting, classic-feeling YA fantasy books with 1 male lead (I’ve read half of these myself). I hope you find some great reads!
Prefer other sub-genres of fantasy (urban, superhero, etc.)? Find part 2 here!
This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
When fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.
Overnight his simple life is shattered, and, gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.
Eugenides, the queen’s thief, can steal anything—or so he says. When his boasting lands him in prison and the king’s magus invites him on a quest to steal a legendary object, he’s in no position to refuse. The magus thinks he has the right tool for the job, but Gen has plans of his own…
I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.
To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Catenan Academy’s ranks. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.
Twin brothers separated at birth and raised as enemies… Neither brother feels they belong. Cal is human, fighting against becoming a beastly Draco Sang. Ferth yearns to push back his humanity and transform into a worthy Draco warrior.
Before ever meeting in open battle, Ferth is sent to kill Cal. Then he discovers they are brothers.
Raised and trained in seclusion at a secret fortress on the edge of the northern wilds of the Kingdom of Ashai, a young warrior called Rezkin is unexpectedly thrust into the outworld when a terrible battle destroys all that he knows.
With no understanding of his life’s purpose and armed with masterful weapons mysteriously bestowed upon him by a dead king, Rezkin must travel across Ashai to find the one man who may hold the clues to his very existence.
Ward is a Crumb, a low born servant to the nobles of Alcorn. He was never meant to be anything more than a field hand. He definitely was never meant to wield the power of Ilamantium. Fate had other plans.
Chosen at the Affinity Ceremony and sent to train at The House of Fire, he must fight every step of the way.
Six rare powers govern the land of Adamah. Possessing one demands entrance to the king’s army. To refuse means death. When seventeen-year-old Nolan Trividar witnesses the transformation of his brother from kind to cruel after entering the king’s army, he vows never to follow the same path.
In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother won’t last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city.
All Putera Mikal wants is to gain the Amok Strength, the supernatural power granted by Kudus to the Mahan royal family. No matter how religiously Mikal keeps his vows, Kudus still denies him the Strength—whilst his father, Sultan Simson, flaunts the Strength despite his blatant defiance of the Temple and the priests’ visions of coming doom.
Then the prophecies come true. Taken captive, Mikal must find a way to liberate his people and restore his throne in Maha—and the key to this is the Amok Strength.
Jorrin has only five days to find his missing friend. But it won’t be easy to find a lost star in the dangerous city of Bash-al Feret, ruled by Rahim Padishah, the immortal ruler who hungers for stardust. His reckless search brands him a slave and brings with it a fatal consequence: the stars he fought so desperately to protect are now within the padishah’s grasp.
Nouri Shah lost his brother long ago. But when he discovers that Rakhshan is alive and their father has finally hunted him down, Nouri must face the past that he’s run from for years.
When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems.
The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation’s royal academy – a whole world of secrets in itself.
In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving – a test of courage and skill that not all survive.
But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.
Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a king with two sons…
Thus begins a sprawling fantasy of dark magic and the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty. Through this enthralling masterpiece of mythical adventure, intrigue, and terror, you will thrill to this unforgettable narrative filled with relentless, wicked enchantment, and the most terrible of secrets…
15. Banished (Street Rats of Aramoor 1) by Michael Wisehart
Desperate to become the youngest warrior of his clan, Ayrion will stop at nothing to reach his goal, not even the one thing all Upakans fear… Magic. However, when a fatal accident forces him to flee, Ayrion barters passage aboard the only ship willing to take one of his kind – A Cursed Ship.
Ayrion sets sail for the royal city of Aramoor in hopes of making a name for himself. Little does he know how deadly those streets can be.
Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Rivals since childhood, they are drafted into a horrific war led by a madwoman-Prophet.
When the brothers’ simmering feud explodes into violence, and holy blood is spilled, Kandri and Mektu are taken for contract killers and must flee for their lives—to the one place where they can hope to disappear: the sprawling desert known as the Land that Eats Men.
16-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every 6 years to entrust the magical Scroll of Heaven to a new protector. Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s pride—righting a mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.
But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating, for he is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and special abilities, like his twin. So Jun stows away with Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital.
18. Dragon Prince (The Last Free Dragon 1) by Jada Fisher
Kashir has lived his whole life in the shadow of his older brother who is now the king. When the young prince saves a dragon in distress, it appears he has finally done something to help his brother and his kingdom.
He soon learns that the power of a dragon is something not to be trifled with. Or controlled. Will the dragon help Kashir become the prince he has always hoped to be, or will it destroy everything he sought to protect?
Find More YA Fantasy with a Male Protagonist
If you’re looking to build your own TBR list, here’s the trick: these types of books are NOT marketed as YA. They’re usually tagged as “coming of age fantasy adventure,” and sometimes as “teen,” so use those search parameters instead. You can also search for “new adult” or “college” fantasy books, which feature characters aged 18-20s, a similarly quick-paced writing style, and a PG-13 rating (though generally with more sexual content than YA).
Right now, indie houses publish more books about boys going on adventures than big traditional presses do, since romantasy sells better. So you’ll have a better chance finding this sort of book on Kindle Unlimited than at your local bookstore.
Please comment below with your recommendations so I can keep expanding this list! Happy reading!
P.S. I’m working on similar lists for sci-fi, dystopian, progression fantasy, and more, so subscribe if you’d like to be notified when those go live!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about writing and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
