The Greatest "Fiction, Low Fantasy" Books Since 1980

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Fiction

Low Fantasy

Low Fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy literature that is characterized by its grounding in the real world or a world very similar to ours, with the inclusion of magical or fantastical elements being minimal and often more subtle than in high fantasy genres. Unlike high fantasy, which transports readers to entirely different worlds or realms filled with magic and mythical creatures, low fantasy stories are set in a recognizable world where magic intrudes on reality but does not dominate it. This genre often explores the juxtaposition of the mundane with the extraordinary, focusing on how ordinary characters react to and interact with the slight, often unsettling, supernatural or magical elements that enter their world. The magic in low fantasy can serve as a metaphor for real-world issues, and the stories often delve into themes of moral ambiguity, realism, and the complexities of human nature, making them appealing to readers who enjoy nuanced storytelling that blurs the lines between the fantastical and the plausible.

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  1. 101. The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

    The book is a gripping fantasy novel centered around Baru Cormorant, a young woman from a colonized island who is thrust into the heart of the empire that conquered her home. With her family torn apart by the empire's influence, Baru becomes an agent within the imperial bureaucracy, driven by a deep-seated desire to dismantle the colonial system from within. As she climbs the ranks, she must navigate treacherous political waters, conceal her true intentions, and make devastating sacrifices. Her journey is one of strategic brilliance, emotional turmoil, and the complex interplay between power, identity, and resistance, as she becomes entangled in a web of rebellion and deceit, questioning the price of her own soul in the quest for justice.

    The 11134th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 102. City Of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett

    In this dark and gripping fantasy sequel, a retired general is called back into service to investigate the disappearance of a government agent in a city that was once the heart of a magical civilization. The city, now ruins from a devastating war, holds a dangerous secret that could change the world—a miraculous technology that once powered an entire civilization, now sought by various factions for their own purposes. As the general delves deeper into the mystery, he encounters old adversaries and unearthly forces, and he must confront his own demons and the cost of his past actions while trying to prevent a cataclysm that could once again engulf the world in conflict.

    The 11238th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 103. Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire

    In a narrative that blends fantasy with a touch of the macabre, the story unfolds in a boarding school for children who have returned from magical worlds where they felt they truly belonged. These wayward souls struggle to adapt to their mundane lives, yearning to find their way back to the fantastical realms from which they were expelled. The protagonist, a girl who once wandered a land of the dead, must navigate the complex dynamics of her fellow students while the school becomes the setting of a mysterious and sinister series of events. As she delves into the investigation, the school's purpose and the students' stories intertwine, revealing the painful reality that not all doors to magical worlds can or should be reopened.

    The 11238th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 104. Beneath The Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

    In this fantastical novella, readers return to a whimsical world where doors lead to magical lands reflecting the true nature of the children who find them. The narrative follows a diverse group of friends who embark on a quest across these fantastical realms to resurrect a friend who has died before her time. Their journey is one of self-discovery, facing the complexities of identity and belonging, and challenging the very rules of life and death. With its vivid world-building and poignant exploration of what it means to find one's place in the world, the story weaves a tale of adventure, friendship, and the lengths one will go to right the balance of the universe.

    The 11257th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 105. Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee

    In the final installment of a science fiction trilogy, the universe is still reeling from the aftermath of a vast interstellar war, where calendrical mathematics dictate the nature of reality itself. An artificial intelligence with the memories of a brilliant tactician is resurrected in a cloned body to serve a faction seeking to maintain its dominion over the remnants of the shattered empire. Meanwhile, a soldier who has survived against all odds must navigate the shifting allegiances and political machinations of various factions, as they all converge on a looming, final confrontation that could reshape the fabric of society and the very stars they inhabit. With intricate world-building and complex characters, the narrative explores themes of identity, memory, and the cost of war.

    The 11257th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 106. In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

    This novel follows the journey of a young girl who discovers a magical doorway that leads her to the Goblin Market, a realm where fair value must be given for fair value received. As she navigates this enchanting yet strict world, she finds a place where she truly belongs, with rules that make sense to her. However, the girl must balance her life between the Market and her reality at home, grappling with the consequences of her choices and the price that must be paid for the life she desires. Her story is a poignant exploration of the sacrifices we make for the places we call home and the sometimes painful decisions involved in growing up and finding where we belong.

    The 11264th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 107. Harrow The Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

    In this darkly imaginative and complex sequel, the protagonist, a necromancer with unmatched powers, confronts the aftermath of an epic space battle and the loss of her mentor. Now, she must navigate the treacherous politics of an immortal empire as its empress's right hand. While grappling with unreliable memories and a mind that seems to be unraveling, she faces internal and external threats, including potential madness and a lingering, enigmatic enemy. As she trains in the arcane arts of the dead, she must solve the mysteries of her past and the riddles of her present to protect the future of her world.

    The 11279th Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download