The Dragon’s Gold: 20 of the Greatest Award-Profitable Fantasy Books

Winner of the Locus Award 1980

McKillip was the primary feminine author to win a Locus Award, which she did with Harpist within the Wind! It’s the third and remaining installment within the Riddle-Grasp sequence. The story follows prince Morgon of Hed and his companion Raederle of An as they got down to lastly uncover the identities of the form changers who observe them — which leads them in a single final thrilling journey throughout the realm.

Winner of the Hugo Award, Locus Award, Nebula Award, and Bram Stoker Award 2002–2003

Neil Gaiman has a number of award-winning fantasy books beneath his belt, however American Gods specifically has gained loads of awards! The story follows a person named Shadow, who simply obtained out of jail when his spouse is killed in a automotive accident. Grieving, Shadow takes a job because the bodyguard of the mysterious Mr. Wednesday. This man is definitely an incarnation of one of many Outdated Gods, and their mission throughout the U.S. is to recruit extra deities in a battle in opposition to the New Gods.

Winner of the Hugo Award, Locus Award for Greatest First Novel, and World Fantasy Award 2005

That is an alternate historical past sort of fantasy that introduces a magical England within the early nineteenth century. The guide follows the mysterious Mr. Norrell, the final magician left within the nation. Or so he thinks. For it seems that one other man, Jonathan Unusual, also can wield magic. Regardless of being full opposites, Jonathan turns into Mr. Norrell’s apprentice. This kickstarts a historical past of feuds and antics between the 2 that may change the course of historical past without end.

Winner of the Locus Award 2009

Lavinia is an unbelievable character research that reimagines a basic character from Greek fantasy. Particularly, Ursula Okay. Le Guin makes use of this novel to discover a lady who’s underrated in The Aeneid — the titular Lavinia! This lady was the daughter of King Latinus, destined to marry none aside from the hero Aeneas and located an empire. On this guide she already is aware of this — and way more about her future. Lavinia will take issues into her personal palms and at last inform her personal story.

Winner of the Hugo Award, British Fantasy Award, and Nebula Award 2011-2012 

Amongst Others is the one epistolary guide on this record — written because the diary of the primary character. The creator describes it because the story of “a science fiction reader who has fantasy issues.” All of it begins with twins Morwenna and Morgana, who grew up within the hills of Wales with magic and the occasional fae. However their lives are turned the other way up when their mom, a power-hungry witch, makes an attempt to take over the world. The battle with their mom goes sideways, and Mori runs away in an try to start out over.

Winner of the British Fantasy Award, Crawford Award, and World Fantasy Award 2014

A Stranger in Olondria follows Jevick, the son of a service provider who takes yearly promoting journeys to Olondria. This can be a magical place during which books are all over the place — and Jevick loves listening to tales about it. So when his father dies, Jevick very willingly takes his place. The issue is, he’s now haunted by the ghost of an illiterate woman. Jevick seeks the assistance of two Olondrian clergymen, who as an alternative make him a pawn of their battle. And to set himself freed from them, he should let loose his personal ghost as properly.

Winner of the Nebula Award and the Locus Award and the British Fantasy Award 2015–2016

Uprooted is a extra basic type of epic fantasy full with dragons and wizards! The story follows Agnieszka, who lives in a village close to the evil woods. Their solely protect in opposition to this darkish place is a wizard often called Dragon, and he comes at a horrible value. Each ten years, a younger lady should be part of the wizard and serve him for the next decade. Agnieszka fears he’ll select her beloved good friend Kasia this time — solely it’s not Kasia’s flip to affix his ranks.

Winner of the Hugo Award 2016 

I selected so as to add The Fifth Season to this record, however the complete Damaged Earth trilogy truly gained the Hugo Award! Jemisin took the trophy dwelling for 3 consecutive years. The story is ready in a damaged world that’s about to see the worst Fifth Season in its historical past. It’s on this context that we observe three girls named Essun, Damaya, and Syenite. Essun is a villager whose husband simply murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Damaya is a strong orogene, and her household has despatched her to the Fulcrum — a spot the place they’ll educate her to manage her powers after which use her as a weapon. Lastly there’s Syenite, who’s already a trainee on the Fulcrum camp. The three of them have their very own journeys, and every one is as spectacular as relaxation.

Winner of the Nebula Award and the Locus Award 2017

This guide is a superb mixture of sci-fi and fantasy that really pits magic in opposition to science! All of the Birds within the Sky follows two childhood pals named Patricia and Laurence. Patricia is a witch, and Laurence a mad scientist. They parted methods after a mysterious battle in center college and hadn’t seen one another since. Now, as adults, they meet as soon as once more in San Francisco and their actions may assist save the world — or finish it.

Winner of the Goodreads Alternative Award for Debut Writer 2018 and the Lodestar Award 2019

Shifting on to an unbelievable YA fantasy impressed by African mythology! Youngsters of Blood and Bone follows a woman named Zélie, whose mom was killed when all of Orïsha’s magic customers had been persecuted by the monarchy. Now, years later, Zélie comes nose to nose with Princess Amari. The princess has in her possession a magical scroll that may awaken any maji’s powers. Decided to convey again magic to Orïsha and with newfound powers, Zélie groups up with Amari on the search of their lives.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award 2018

Jade Metropolis is what you get whenever you put The Godfather in an city fantasy setting — which is to say, a kick-ass story filled with martial arts, magic, and loads of motion! The story follows the Kaul household, one of many most important crime syndicates that rule the island of Kekon. They’re additionally a Inexperienced Bone clan, which suggests they’ve the power to make use of jade to realize these unbelievable powers. The issue is, tensions are brewing between the Kauls and one other clan — and each households are highly effective sufficient to find out the destiny of the entire island.

Winner of the Goodreads Alternative Awards and Guide of the Month Guide of the Yr Award 2018

Madeline Miller’s Circe is well one of many best-known Greek mythology retellings you may learn! This guide offers a brand new voice to the character of Circe, who was typically thought-about a villain within the authentic Greek tales. She was the daughter of the Titan Helios and lived in his realm till she dedicated an unspeakable act along with her magic. From that time on, Circe needed to carve her personal approach via the world, typically having fun with the corporate of mortals regardless of her banishment. However regardless of residing alone on her island, hazard lurks within the shadows and Circe must struggle to guard what she loves.

Winner of the Lodestar Award and Locus Award for Greatest Younger Grownup Novel 2018

The primary guide to earn the Lodestar Award for YA fantasy was Okorafor’s sequel to Akata Witch! The story continues the adventures of Sunny Nwazue, who joined the key Leopard Society and helped save the world. Now, she continues to check her Nsibidi guide so as to unlock its secrets and techniques. Every thing appears calmer now. However Sunny can’t escape her future without end — and her street results in one other epic battle that might change the destiny of the world as soon as extra.

Winner of the Goodreads Alternative Awards 2019

Ninth Home was extremely popular when it got here out in 2019, so it’s no marvel readers selected it as the very best fantasy guide of the 12 months within the Goodreads Alternative Awards! This guide kicks off the adventures of Alex Stern, a member of Yale’s Ninth Home. They’re in control of preserving the opposite secret societies and their occult actions in line — and Alex was particularly chosen for this function because of her potential to see ghosts. However her mentor Darlington simply disappeared, and it’s as much as Alex to seek out him and unearth the darkish secrets and techniques of her new college.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award 2020

Queen of the Conquered is a Caribbean-inspired fantasy that explores the devastating results of colonial oppression. The story follows a younger lady named Sigourney Rose. She has the ability to manage minds, and a plan to enact her revenge on the individuals who killed her household. This plan includes infiltrating the ranks of her island’s ruling colonizers. However somebody is killing them off one after the other to clear themselves a path for the throne — which signifies that Sigourney is on their path of rampage.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award 2021

Bother the Saints is a darkish but magical historic fantasy set Nineteen Forties New York, proper initially of WWII. The story follows a lady named Phyllis. She’s employed as a hitwoman by one in all Manhattan’s cruelest boss mobs — all because of her powers. Phyllis has “saints’ palms”, which permits her to swiftly kill her boss’s enemies. However she doesn’t like being a cold-blooded killer, and a go to from her previous could be the key to altering her entire life.

Winner of the Lodestar Award and Locus Award for Greatest Younger Grownup Guide 2021

The following YA guide on this record has a brilliant distinctive and enjoyable mixture of baking + magic. A Wizard’s Information to Defensive Baking follows the story of 14-year-old Mona. She makes use of her magical powers to create probably the most scrumptious concoctions for her household’s bakery. However in the future she finds a corpse on the bakery flooring. It’s rapidly obvious that somebody is focusing on magical individuals within the metropolis — and Mona might be the subsequent sufferer. To make issues worse, town is beneath assault and Mona is charged with defending it. What may presumably go incorrect?

Winner of the Nebula Award 2022

Shifting on to this extremely enjoyable fantasy that’s set in an alternate 1912 Cairo and has probably the most immaculate steampunk vibes! A Grasp of Djinn continues the adventures of Agent Fatma, which started with the quick story “A Useless Djinn in Cairo“. Fatma works for the Ministry of Alchemy, and this time she’s tasked with investigating the homicide of the mysterious Brotherhood of al-Jahiz, a.ok.a. the person who introduced magic into the world. The issue is, the assassin claims to be al-Jahiz himself. Is it actually him or is it an imposter? Fatma must uncover the reality earlier than town descends into absolute chaos.

Winner of the British Fantasy Award 2022

That is an unbelievable literary fantasy that reimagines the rise of emperor Zhu Yuanzhuan, who based the Ming dynasty in 14th century China! She Who Turned the Solar follows an unnamed woman of the Zhu household, who’s given the destiny of nothingness whereas her brother is destined for greatness. However when their father dies, her brother dies of grief. Zhu is now left alone, and so as to survive she decides to take her brother’s identify and his destiny.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award 2022

Final however not least, that is an unbelievable fantasy impressed by the historical past and epics of India! The Jasmine Throne is stuffed with political intrigue because it follows a princess and a maidservant who should work collectively to resolve the destiny of an empire. The princess is known as Malini, and she or he was imprisoned by her dictator brother. Priya is one in all her maidservants, and she or he hides a harmful secret — she will be able to wield forbidden magic. When Malini discovers Priya’s secret, the 2 strike a deal in order that Malini can depose her treacherous brother and Priya can lastly discover her household.