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Home » 30 Inspirational Quotes from Fantasy Books for Everyday Heroism

30 Inspirational Quotes from Fantasy Books for Everyday Heroism

By Author Ivana Zlomislić

Posted on Published: February 26, 2021  - Last updated: January 4, 2024

Categories Quotes

Who hasn’t wanted to be as brave as Aragorn, as wise as Gandalf, or as determined as Geralt of Rivia? While we’re not leading armies into Mordor or overthrowing corrupt regimes in our daily lives, that doesn’t mean we can’t channel some of that epic energy! This collection of inspiring quotes from fantasy books is here to help you tackle your everyday challenges, whether they be as simple as Monday blues or as grand as life decisions. So grab your metaphorical swords and shields, and let’s conquer our real-world quests one wise word at a time!

1. “We are always more afraid than we wish to be, but we can always be braver than we expect.” – Robert Jordan, Lord of Chaos ( The Wheel of Time )

2. “Courage is about learning how to function despite the fear, to put aside your instincts to run or give in completely to the anger born from fear. Courage is about using your brain and your heart when every cell of your body is screaming at you to fight or flee – and then following through on what you believe is the right thing to do.” – Jim Butcher, Ghost Story (The Dresden Files)

3. “There’s a wide world out there, for those willing to brave the dark.” – Peter V. Brett, The Warded Man (Demon Cycle)

4. “You can cry about how things aren’t fair, or you can stand tall and make things fair.” – David Dalglish, Magic, Myth & Majesty

5. “Being terrified but going ahead and doing what must be done – that’s courage. The one who feels no fear is a fool, and the one who lets fear rule him is a coward.” – Piers Anthony, Castle Roogna (Xanth)

6. “Courage is found in unlikely places.” – J.R.R. Tolkien , The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings)

7. “There is one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet.” – Robert Jordan, The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time)

8. “There is no doom so black or deep that courage and clear sight may not find another truth beyond it.” – Stephen R. Donaldson, Against All Things Ending (The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant)

9. “The most important step a man can take. It’s not the first one, is it? It’s the next one. Always the next step.” – Brandon Sanderson , Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive)

10. “I don’t need to be a hero. I’d settle for feeling that what I did every day had significance to someone besides myself.” – Robin Hobb, Fool’s Errand (Tawny Man)

11. “You cannot change what you are, only what you do.” – Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)

12. “Ambition is not a dirty word. Piss on compromise. Go for the throat.” – Steven Erikson , Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

13. “There’s no freedom quite like the freedom of being constantly underestimated.” – Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard)

14. “Faith is about what you do. It’s about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It’s about making sacrifices for the good of others – even when there’s not going to be anyone telling you what a hero you are.” – Jim Butcher, Changes (The Dresden Files)

15. “I will take responsibility for what I have done. If I must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” – Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive)

16. “Bones mend. Regret stays with you forever.” – Patrick Rothfuss , The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle)

17. “Hope can be a source of strength, but when it fails to deliver what I want, I’ve found a good degree of stubbornness to be an appropriate substitute.” – Andrew Rowe, On the Shoulders of Titans (Arcane Ascension)

18. “An ordinary archer practices until he gets it right. A ranger practices until he never gets it wrong.” – John Flanagan , The Kings of Clonmel (Ranger’s Apprentice)

19. “Take a rest and the world catches up with you. Lesson in life – keep moving.” – Mark Lawrence , Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire)

20. “You’re alive. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything.” ― Neil Gaiman , The Graveyard Book

21. “When training is hard, the battle is easy.” – David Dalglish, Magic, Myth & Majesty

22. “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” – George R.R. Martin , A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire)

23. “In failure, may we find dignity. In loss, may we find wisdom. In pain, may we find growth. May our souls rise. Ever rise.” – Phil Tucker, The White Song (The Chronicles of the Black Gate)

24. “When hope dies, you breathe it back to life again! No matter how long it takes, or what time’s required to heal the wound. Disappointment will not last a lifetime unless you lie down and give in.” – Janny Wurts, Initiate’s Trial (Wars of Light and Shadow)

25. “There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.” – Guy Gavriel Kay, Tigana

26. “If the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way.” – Terry Goodkind, Soul of the Fire (Sword of Truth)

27. “You have ambition. Never apologize for that.” – Samantha Shannon, The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos)

28. “Only when we admit to our failures and recognize our weaknesses can we rise above them.” – R.A. Salvatore, Passage to Dawn (Legacy of the Drow)

29. “All you can do is take each day as it comes. Try and do the best you can with what you’re given. You won’t always do the right thing, but you can try. And you can try to do the right thing next time. That, and stay alive.” – Joe Abercrombie , The Heroes (First Law World)

30. “You should act, be brave, seize life by the scruff of the neck. Believe me, you should only regret inactivity, indecisiveness, hesitation. You shouldn’t regret actions or decisions, even if they occasionally end in sadness and regret.” – Andrzej Sapkowski, Time of Contempt (Witcher Saga)

READ NEXT: Funny and Insightful Quotes From Fantasy Books

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50 Marvelous Quotes about Fantasy

Fantasy fires our imagination and fills us with awe, wonder and terror. It is the landscape of beautiful dreams and creative impulse. Through out history humans beings have been fascinated by its power. Here are 50 quotes on fantasy from famous authors, poets and even scientists telling us about the importance and power of fantasy and how it changes our lives.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. ―  Dr. Seuss

Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it. ― Lloyd Alexander

Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one. ― Terry Pratchett

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it. ― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

When I was your age, television was called books. ― William Goldman, The Princess Bride

Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild With a faery, hand in hand, For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.  ― William Butler Yeats, The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats

  Closed in a room, my imagination becomes the universe, and the rest of the world is missing out. ―  Criss Jami,  Diotima, Battery, Electric Personality      

When you compare the sorrows of real life to the pleasures of the imaginary one, you will never want to live again, only to dream forever. ―  Alexandre Dumas,  The Count of Monte Cristo

Because nothing is as good as you can imagine it. No one is as beautiful as she is in your head. Nothing is as exciting as your fantasy. ―  Chuck Palahniuk,  Asfixia

When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.  ―  Albert Einstein

One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again. ―  C.S. Lewis,  The Chronicles of Narnia

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform a million realities. ―  Maya Angelou,  Poems

Don't forget - no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell. ―  Charles de Lint,  The Blue Girl

Children know perfectly well that unicorns aren’t real, but they also know that books about unicorns, if they are good books, are true books. ―  Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction

Lovers and madmen have such seething brains Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend More than cool reason ever comprehends. ―  William Shakespeare,  A Midsummer Night's Dream

As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood. ―  Jim Henson

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand. ―  Michael Scott,  The Warlock

Classic fairy tales do not deny the existence of heartache and sorrow, but they do deny universal defeat. ―  Greenhaven Press

I live in a world of fantasy, so keep your reality away from me. I see what I want, I want what I see and that is all okay with me. ―  Itzah C. Kret

All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it. ―  Gene Wolfe

Without this playing with fantasy, no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of the imagination is incalculable. ―  Carl Gustav Jung

Fantasy love is much better than reality love. Never doing it is very exciting. The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet. ―  Andy Warhol

“People need stories, child. They bring us hope, and that hope is real. If that's the case, what does it matter whether people in them actually lived?”  ―  Brandon Sanderson,  Skyward

A man’s greatest treasures are his illusions  ― Brent Weeks, The Way of Shadows

Set your fantasies in the here and now and then, if challenged, claim to be writing Magical Realism. ―  Neil Gaiman

The ability to "fantasize" is the ability to survive. It's wonderful to speak about this subject because there have been so many wrong-headed people dealing with it.... The so-called realists are trying to drive us insane, and I refuse to be driven insane.... We survive by fantasizing. Take that away from us and the whole damned human race goes down the drain.” ― Ray Bradbury

When you have indulged a lust, your wing drops off; you become lame, abandoned by a fantasy. …People fancy they are enjoying themselves, but they are really tearing out their wings for the sake of an illusion. ―  Rumi

Fantasy love is much better than Reality Love. ―  Andy Warhol

It is frightfully difficult to know much about the fairies, and almost the only thing for certain is that there are fairies wherever there are children. ―  J.M. Barrie,  Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens

Science fiction deals with improbable possibilities, fantasy with plausible impossibilities. ―  Miriam Allen de Ford

Dismissing fantasy writing because some of it is bad is exactly like saying I'm not reading Jane Eyre because it is a romance and I know romance is crap. ―  China Miéville

Love is a cunning weaver of fantasies and fables. ―  Sappho

I have abandoned my search for truth and am now looking for a good fantasy  ―  Ashleigh Brilliant

Dealing with the impossible, fantasy can show us what may be really possible. If there is grief, there is the possibility of consolation; if hurt, the possibility of healing; and above all, the curative power of hope. If fantasy speaks to us as we are, it also speaks to us as we might be. ―  Lloyd Alexander

Your fantasies define you, so dream carefully. A man with no imagination is a man with no future in today’s world—and no past in tomorrow’s. ―  Jarod Kintz,  This Book is Not for Sale

If you did not indulge in fantasies, how else would you know if you were living an interesting life? ―  Alethea Kontis,  Enchanted

The use of imaginative fiction is to deepen your understanding of your world, and your fellow men, and your own feelings, and your destiny. ―  Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction

Fantasy is one of the soul's brighter porcelains. ― Pat Conroy, Beach Music

Don't get me wrong, magic is cool. But a nervous mother singing to her child at night while something moves quietly through the dark outside her house? That's a story. Handled properly, it's more dramatic than any apocalypse or goblin army could ever be. ―  Patrick Rothfuss

there is no such thing as fantasy unrelated to reality ―  Maurice Sendak

We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, we create it to be able to stay. ―  Lynda Barry

Fantasy is the impossible made probable. Science Fiction is the improbable made possible. ―  Rod Serling

Children do live in fantasy and reality; they move back and forth very easily in a way we no longer remember how to do. ―  Maurice Sendak

And it is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming wild things. ―  Maurice Sendak

There is a rule for fantasy writers: The more truth you mix in with a lie, the stronger it gets. ―  Diane Duane

We live in a world full of people who are satisfied with pretending to be someone they are not. ―  Tommy Tran

In the privacy of my dreams, I'm a warrior. ―  Kimberly Derting,  The Essence

Fables should be taught as fables, myths as myths, and miracles as poetic fancies. To teach superstitions as truths is a most terrible thing. The child mind accepts and believes them, and only through great pain and perhaps tragedy can he be in after years relieved of them. In fact, men will fight for a superstition quite as quickly as for a living truth — often more so, since a superstition is so intangible you cannot get at it to refute it, but truth is a point of view, and so is changeable.  ―  Hypathia of Alexandria

This is, in part, why there is less magic in the world today. Magic is secret and secrets are magic, after all, and years upon years of teaching and sharing magic and worse. Writing it down in fancy books that get all dusty with age has lessened it, removed its power bit by bit. ―  Erin Morgenstern,  The Night Circus

A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people   ―  Edgar Degas

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25 amazing quotes from YA fantasy novels and authors

is week I’ll be taking a look at some of the amazing and inspiration quotes from Young Adult (YA) fantasy novels and authors.

As a genre, I’ve always loved reading YA fantasy, and some of the stories I’ve read have had a huge impact on the novels that I’m planning to write in the near future.

In case you missed the last instalment, this article’s a follow on from the 25 quotes I gathered from fantasy authors last week . Once again, these are a mix of quotes from the novels themselves and quotes from the author, but hopefully you enjoy them either way!

“Too many adults wish to ‘protect’ teenagers when they should be stimulating them to read of life as it is lived.”   ― Margaret A. Edwards

“Sometimes what we don’t want is actually what we need.”  ― Nikolas Lee, The Iron-Jawed Boy

“I was a wildflower that would continue to grow in the most unexpected weather.”  ― Taisha DeAza, Frail

“You can actually accomplish all that you desire in life.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

“…I can’t promise you that we will live ‘happily ever after’….however..I can promise you the adventure of a lifetime.” ― H. R. Kasper, The Mirror

“Maybe I was wrong. Maybe there really is some goodness here in our world. But if goodness existed, that must mean that darkness existed as well.” ― Erica Sehyun Song

“Magic is all about words and believing. If you believe then anything is possible.”  ― Jennifer Loiske, Black Diamond

“Just write what YOU want to write; how YOU want to write it!”  ― K.D. Faerydae

“But do not take this responsibility lightly, my boy. The Gauntlet casts an ominous shadow.”  ― Casey Caracciolo, The Shadow of the Gauntlet

“Because…sometimes I think you meet people and they make you better, even if you’re not with them forever.”  ― Kris Noel, Lionhead

“You know, the world is all about balance. You lose something here… maybe somebody else picks it up over there.”  ― Natasha Larry, The Day The World Went Orange

“They were rebellious through their artistic expression and their uplifting spirits”  ― Evan Meekins, The Black Banner

“If there’s anything I hate, it’s someone telling me ‘don’t’ without saying why.” – Anna Thayer, The Traitor’s Heir

“Nay, this is not wise at all. But sometimes the heart tells us to venture where the mind fears to tread” ― Azalea Dabill, Falcon Heart

“The courage to live brings its own rewards.”  ― Rachel L. Schade, Silent Kingdom

“They were like lightning and rain, existing together but clashing at their very natures.”  ― T.S. Pettibone, Hatred Day

“The only thing more unpredictable than magic is language.”  ― Sully Tarnish, The Dragon and the Apprentice: A Wizard’s Wager

“The impossible is only a step in the right direction.”  ― Gary Grasso

“Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them.” — Tahereh Mafi, Ignite Me

“Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you go on even though you’re scared.” —Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give

“What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?” — John Green, An Abundance of Katherines

“Words are how others define us, but we can define ourselves any way we choose.” — Shaun David Hutchinson, We Are The Ants

“Ah coffee. The sweet balm by which we shall accomplish today’s tasks.” — Holly Black, Ironside

“When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel.” — Kasie West, Pivot Point

“Libraries were full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” — Sarah J Maas, Throne of Glass

So there you go, a round up of my favourite 25 inspiration quotes from YA fantasy authors. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them, and they’ve inspired you as much as they do me.

But I’ve got one last question for you, what’s your favourite YA fantasy author quote? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so make sure you let me know in the comments below.

But if you’d rather than let me know on social media, then that’s fine too! Make sure you come and find me on  Instagram , Twitter or via my free newsletter . I’ll keep you updated on the progress of my fantasy and science-fiction novels, which I’m currently in the process of editing and writing respectively.

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Ten Inspirational Quotes from Fantasy Novels

Books have the amazing ability to inspire readers to improve their personalities, to face their fears, to make difficult choices and achieve their goals. Fantasy writers, especially, have their characters’ actions and words reveal to readers how they can not only be taken to an entirely different world but also face any challenge that life throws at them and come out better people.  Here are some quotes from famous fantasy novels that can definitely inspire readers to be the best that they can be.   “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our …

Books have the amazing ability to inspire readers to improve their personalities, to face their fears, to make difficult choices and achieve their goals. Fantasy writers, especially, have their characters’ actions and words reveal to readers how they can not only be taken to an entirely different world but also face any challenge that life throws at them and come out better people. 

Here are some quotes from famous fantasy novels that can definitely inspire readers to be the best that they can be.

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

“Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.” – C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 

“Once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.” – George R.R. Martin, A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones

“Even the smallest person can change the course of history.”- J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings:The Fellowship of the Ring

“Begin at the beginning,” the King said, very gravely, “and go in till you come to the end: then stop.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

“Just remember who you are… The world will try to change you into someone else. Don’t let them. That’s the best advice anyone can give you.” – Cinda Williams Chima,  The Warrior Heir

“I believe that life is a game, that life is a cruel joke, and that life is what happens when you’re alive and that you might as well lie back and enjoy it.” -Neil Gaiman, American Gods

“Go and you will see that nothing is as wonderful as our dreams can make it” – Carolyn Turgeon, Mermaid

“Affection is when we can’t find any flaws in the other. Maybe I could if I really wanted to, but I don’t want to, I accept you as you are.” – Erika M. Szabo, Acceptance  

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Hopefully these quotes can inspire you to live better and be better everyday. 

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The 15 Best Modern Fantasy Authors Who Are Writing Today

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Today's fantasy books have the capacity to hook you like never before. The hard part is sifting through the extensive number of fantasy books published every year to find the real gems.

Modern authors have honed the ability to craft entire worlds with distinct characters, unique creatures, and fascinating magic systems in ways that classic authors could only dream of.

Who are the heavy hitters of today's fantasy books genre? Not just the major names everyone knows, but also the lesser-known writers who have great stories that feel fresh and exciting?

Here are my picks for the best modern fantasy authors who you should check out right away. You won't regret it!

15. Laura Sebastian

Primary genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Debut novel: Ash Princess (2018)

Notable works: Half Sick of Shadows (2021), Castles in Their Bones (2022), Into the Glades (2022)

Laura Sebastian 's Ash Princess series—which consists of Ash Princess , Lady Smoke , and Ember Queen —follows the story of Theodosia. She must fight to reclaim her lost throne, which was taken from her when her mother was murdered and she was left imprisoned.

After the Ash Princess , Laura Sebastian gave us some standalone greats in Half Sick of Shadows and Into the Glades , as well as the Castles in Their Bones series that's even better than Ash Princess .

At a rate of one new novel published every year, Laura Sebastian has impressed me and I believe she'll only get better.

14. Melissa Albert

Debut novel: The Hazel Wood (2018)

Notable works: Our Crooked Hearts (2022)

Melissa Albert gave us a wholly unique world in her The Hazel Wood trilogy. The first book in the series introduces us to Alice and the world of the Hinterland, where the stories of her grandmother's book are set.

When her mother warns her against returning there, she (of course) does return—to enter that world of dark fairy tales.

Albert's story ebbs and flows and continues into The Night Country , with the dark fairy tales expanding out even further in the final book Tales From the Hinterland. The whole thing pulls you in with creepy tales and a strong heroine.

With her publishing Our Crooked Heart in 2022, it's clear that she has what it takes to become one of the best modern fantasy authors.

13. Stephanie Garber

Debut novel: Caraval (2016)

Notable works: Once Upon a Broken Heart (2021)

Stephanie Garber 's debut three-book fantasy series—consisting of Caraval , Legendary , and Finale —is a magical ride through mysteries, a dangerous game, and illusions.

Sisters Scarlett and Tella dream of leaving their small island in search of adventure, namely to see the once-a-year performance of Caraval. Caraval involves the audience as participants, and if they win the game, they also win something they deeply desire.

But her second series—starting with Once Upon a Broken Heart —is even better than the first, proving that she has a solid future ahead of her as one of the most promising modern fantasy authors.

12. Emily R. King

Primary genres: Fantasy

Debut novel: The Hundredth Queen (2017)

Notable works: Before the Broken Star (2019), Wings of Fury (2021)

As of this writing, Emily R. King has two completed fantasy book series and a third one still in progress.

Her first two series are The Hundredth Queen (about an orphan girl who competes with a rajah's 99 wives and courtesans) and The Evermore Chronicles (about a girl with a clock for a heart, living on borrowed time as she seeks revenge before it runs out).

And then there's her current fantasy series called Wings of Fury (about a girl who wants to claim her destiny by crushing the tyrannical god named Cronus who controls the world).

Emily R. King has proven herself to be an imaginative and clever fantasy writer, with strong girl protagonists who are caught up in stories that are captivating for more than just girl readers.

11. Victoria Aveyard

Debut novel: Red Queen (2015)

Notable works: Cruel Crown (2016), Realm Breaker (2021)

Victoria Aveyard caught the notice of fantasy book fans worldwide with her four-book fantasy series that started with Red Queen .

Red Queen centers on Mare Barrow, a strong heroine who discovers that she wields a special power—the ability to create and control electricity—and uses that power to free others from oppression.

While Mare leads a rebellion and helps her people, she attracts the attention of two princes who each have conflicting motives, and that complicates matters for her.

In 2021, Victoria Aveyard launched a new series called Realm Breaker , centering on a young woman who has the power to either save the world or destroy it.

10. George R. R. Martin

Primary genres: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi

Debut novel: Dying of the Light (1977)

Notable works: Fevre Dream (1982), A Game of Thrones (1996), Fire & Blood (2018)

George R. R. Martin is one of the most famous modern fantasy authors, primarily for his A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series that was adapted into the hit TV show Game of Thrones .

Inspired by the real Wars of the Roses, A Song of Ice and Fire involves dozens of sprawling families across a fictional medieval world, who each play a role in securing the Iron Throne that rules over the Seven Kingdoms. There are also dragons and ice zombies!

So, why is he ranked so low on our list? Because ever since the success of Game of Thrones , Martin's writing has slowed to a crawl and there's also zero chance he'll ever finish A Song of Ice and Fire .

Even so, we can't ignore his massive body of work that started way back in 1977 with Dying of the Light . George R. R. Martin is obviously a very skilled storyteller. We just wish he'd keep writing!

9. Naomi Novik

Primary genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Debut novel: His Majesty's Dragon (2006)

Notable works: Uprooted (2015), Spinning Silver (2018), A Deadly Education (2020)

Naomi Novik 's first novel, His Majesty's Dragon , set the fantasy book fandom alight when it released in 2006 and launched her popular Temeraire book series.

In this alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars, dragons are used in aerial combat! Just from that, you can tell she writes the kinds of stories that you wish you'd had in your early teens.

After that, Novik published the standalone novel Uprooted in 2015, which was inspired by her Polish heritage. It tells the story of Agnieszka, a village girl who's selected by the local wizard for her magical powers—which she doesn't know she has.

And most recently, we have Novik's The Scholomance series that started with A Deadly Education in 2020. In this trilogy, we follow the destiny of Galadriel "El" Higgins, a dark sorceress who must learn how to keep her destructive powers under control.

Naomi Novik is a standout modern fantasy author for her blend of fantasy with less-explored European elements. These stories aren't your usual medieval fantasy!

8. Philip Pullman

Debut novel: The Haunted Storm (1972)

Notable works: The Golden Compass (1995), The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (2010), La Belle Sauvage (2017)

Philip Pullman has been around as a fantasy writer for a long time now. Even if you don't know his name, you probably know his most famous work: the His Dark Materials trilogy.

His very first novel, called The Haunted Storm , was published back in 1972, and he's been a big influence on the fantasy genre since then. In 2017, he started a new series called The Book of Dust that also takes place in the same world as His Dark Materials .

Philip Pullman doesn't just stand out for his fictional stories, but also his conceptual and academic contributions to the world of writing as a whole, having shared important insights into his creative process.

The works of Philip Pullman have shaped more than one generation of readers, many of whom have gone from being fantasy readers to fantasy authors themselves.

7. Nnedi Okorafor

Primary genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Young Adult

Debut novel: The Shadow Speaker (2007)

Notable works: Who Fears Death (2010), Lagoon (2014), The Book of Phoenix (2015), Binti (2016), Akata Warrior (2017)

Nnedi Okorafor is a science fiction and fantasy author who writes for both children and adults. She's a prolific author who writes novels and novellas in equal measure.

Mostly known for her Binti novella series and novels like Who Fears Death and Lagoon , Nnedi Okorafor's works have brought the Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism genres to a broader audience.

While most of fantasy has long taken place in white European settings, Nnedi Okorafor takes us to far-distant lands inspired by Africa, which feel fresh and original while also being insightful.

6. Andrzej Sapkowski

Primary genres: Fantasy, Historical

Debut novel: Blood of Elves (1994)

Notable works: The Tower of Fools (2002), Season of Storms (2013)

Andrzej Sapkowski is best known for his six-novel The Witcher series, which started with Blood of Elves in 1994 (translated to English in 2008) and was eventually adapted into the award-winning video games.

The series centers on a man named Geralt of Rivia, one of many witchers who have been trained to become supernatural monster hunters for hire.

The expansive worldbuilding in The Witcher was inspired by Andrzej Sapkowski's Polish heritage, resulting in a genuinely unique universe that's unlike most medieval fantasy stories.

The Witcher actually started as a short story that was written for a writing contest held by Polish fantasy magazine Fantastyka in 1986. It has since grown into one of the most beloved fantasy franchises in modern entertainment.

5. Holly Black

Primary genres: Children's, Fantasy, Young Adult

Debut novel: Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale (2002)

Notable works: The Field Guide (2003), White Cat (2010), The Iron Trial (2014), The Cruel Prince (2018)

Holly Black has been writing for over two decades, but she didn't explode in popularity until 2018 when she published the first book in her The Folk of the Air series.

The trilogy—which consists of The Cruel Prince , The Wicked King , and The Queen of Nothing —centers on the character of Jude and her adventures in the dangerous High Court of Faerie.

There's also The Spiderwick Chronicles , which started in 2003 with The Field Guide , written collaboratively with Tony DiTerlizzi.

Those might be great entry points, but don't overlook her other stories. She's written quite a bit over the years, including the Curse Workers series, the Modern Faerie Tales series, and the Stolen Heir series.

4. Ilona Andrews

Primary genres: Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi

Debut novel: Magic Bites (2007)

Notable works: On the Edge (2009), Clean Sweep (2013), Iron and Magic (2018), Blood Heir (2021)

Ilona Andrews is no stranger to fantasy and magic. She's already penned five different book series—including Hidden Legacy , Innkeeper Chronicles , Ryder , Kate Daniels , and The Edge —and each one is a unique world with memorable characters.

What you might not know is that Ilona Andrews is actually the pen name used by a husband-and-wife duo! Given both perspectives, that might explain how they do romance fantasy so well.

But whether you like romance or not, you won't be disappointed by their stories, which are all framed by magic in inventive ways.

I'm particularly partial to the Innkeeper Chronicles series, which has a wonderful premise about an inn that fronts as a bed-and-breakfast while housing otherworldly visitors.

3. Sarah J. Maas

Primary genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Debut novel: Throne of Glass (2012)

Notable works: A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), House of Earth and Blood (2020)

Sarah J. Maas is a huge name in the fantasy genre right now. You might know her for either Throne of Glass or A Court of Thorns and Roses , which are her two most successful series.

She's currently wrapping up her acclaimed Crescent City series, which started with House of Earth and Blood in 2020 and blew everyone away. It's one of the highest-rated modern fantasy series on Goodreads!

And why wouldn't it be? Sarah J. Maas has the incredible talent of writing stories that are fun to read, led by strong female characters, with elements of romance woven in without being overly tropey.

Sarah J. Maas has proven herself, not just as one of the greatest female writers in fantasy, but as one of the strongest modern fantasy authors, period. Give her a read if you haven't already!

2. Neil Gaiman

Debut novel: Good Omens (1990)

Notable works: Stardust (1999), American Gods (2001), Coraline (2002), The Graveyard Book (2008), The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013), Norse Mythology (2017)

How could we not include Neil Gaiman ? With works like American Gods , Stardust , and The Graveyard Book under his belt, he's easily one of the most uniquely creative fantasy writers out there today.

And what's more impressive is that he doesn't just stick to traditional novels, novellas, and short stories.

Gaiman's talents have served the world in many forms, including comic books ( The Sandman ), graphic novels ( Norse Mythology ), illustrated children's books ( Coraline ). He's even read four of his own audiobooks!

Neil Gaiman's works often involve identity as a core theme, while engaging with other prominent themes like belonging, family, the nature of evil, and supernatural entities in the real world.

All of this comes together to make Neil Gaiman one of the most popular current fantasy authors, and I personally see no end in sight for him.

1. Brandon Sanderson

Debut novel: Elantris (2005)

Notable works: Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006), The Way of Kings (2010), Steelheart (2013), Skyward (2018), Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)

Brandon Sanderson is perhaps the most famous of modern fantasy authors, and for many good reasons.

First and foremost, there's the existence of the Cosmere, Sanderson's fictional universe that ties together most of his fantasy works, including Elantris , Mistborn , The Stormlight Archive , and Tress of the Emerald Sea .

He's also notable for completing Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time epic fantasy series after Jordan passed away. He was hand-picked by Jordan's own wife Harriet McDougal, and he used Jordan's notes to bring a satisfying conclusion to the sprawling series.

He's also respected for his aid and encouragement towards budding writers, including his Writing Excuses podcast and his creative writing lectures that are freely available on YouTube.

He's also known for Sanderson's Laws of Magic, which describes the difference between "hard magic" and "soft magic" in speculative fiction, along with how to make magic serve the story well.

But he's perhaps most famous for being a prolific writing machine. In less than two decades, he's published 31 novels, 18 novellas, four graphic novels, and many short stories.

Love him or hate him, Brandon Sanderson has grown into the face of modern fantasy literature and his influence stretches far beyond the genre, inspiring writers of all kinds to write more.

There's no doubt about it: of all the best modern fantasy authors who are writing today, Brandon Sanderson is the most iconic.

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12 Beautiful Quotes From Fantasy Authors

There’s a reason that some of our oldest and most important stories start with “Once upon a time . . .” Tucked among the fantastical characters and magical other-worlds are profound truths. Lloyd Alexander, author of the beloved Chronicles of Prydain, said, “Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It’s a way of understanding it.” With that, we present to you this collection of wise and beautiful quotes from some of the greatest authors in the fantasy genre.

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Fantasy Novels Quotes

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All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.

FEAR IS THE MIND-KILLER. FEAR IS THE LITTLE-DEATH THAT BRINGS TOTAL OBLITERATION.

Children are dying." Lull nodded. "That's a succinct summary of humankind, I'd say. Who needs tomes and volumes of history? Children are dying. The injustices of the world hide in those three words.

Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.

All that is gold does not glitter.

Remember, despite the fact that this book is being sold as a 'fantasy' novel, you must take all of the things it says extremely seriously, as they are quite important, are in no way silly, and always make sense. Rutabaga.

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

I believe that I have now experienced the lifetime maximum exposure to bottom spanking in fantasy novels.

As an adolescent I wrote comic books, because I read lots of them, and fantasy novels set in Malaysia and Central Africa.

There are two novels that can transform a bookish 14-year-old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish daydream that can lead to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood ...in which large chunks of the day are spent inventing ways to make real life more like a fantasy novel. The other is a book about orcs.

I could go off into the wilderness and write fantasy novels for the rest of my life and probably be happy; but I always want to challenge myself.

No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.

Im a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play World of Warcraft, Im a massive gamer, I have Star Trek outfits.

Not merely one of the finest fantasy novels of recent years, but one of the finest ever. Should not be missed

We have more brilliant fantasy novels than brilliant fantasy movies. Movies and TV are done by committee. But with a novel, it's really just one person running the show. That allows for a clarity and unity of vision that's pretty unique, artistically.

When you read a fantasy novel part of the fun is getting to explore a new world. Everyone knows that. But I believe the same is true about characters. You can explore interesting people in the same way that you explore a town or a culture.

I was heavily influenced by my first attempt at a novel. I started a fantasy novel back in high school, and... well... it really sucked. It was a plotless, clichéd mess.

My writerly aspirations are pretty simple: to provide as many readers as possible with the same sort of wonderful immersion that I myself get from fantasy novels - and to make enough money to help feed my kids while doing so.

Guy Gavriel Kays Tigana is, in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best fantasy novel ever written. Its beautifully written, the characters are unforgettable, the worldbuilding is exquisite.

I was someone who really loved fantasy novels and science fiction novels.

I started to write a series of fantasy novels when I was eleven. I have never taken anything artistic as seriously; since then, writing has felt like an attempt to get back there, to my bedroom, my maps, those races and languages and runes.

'The Golden Compass' became a bad experience because the studio didn't have faith in the strength of the ideas of the novel, which is ironic because it's one of the greatest fantasy novels ever written, if not the greatest, and they took the religion out of it and tried to turn it into a popcorn movie.

Many fantasy novels - 'Lord of the Rings', for instance, or 'Lavondyss' by Robert Holdstock - are beautifully written. Geoff Ryman's 'The Child Garden' is exquisite and utterly beguiling. Mervyn Peake's 'Gormenghast' trilogy is an astonishing piece of multi-faceted storytelling. So quality of writing does not condemn the genre.

I'm not constrained by being a genre writer. Any story I can imagine, I can cast as a fantasy novel and probably get it published.

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