Fantasy Reading Challenge for Beginners
If you’ve ever wanted to immerse yourself in the world of fantasy — now is the time! Although classical fantasy can turn people off sometimes due to the length and complexity of the worlds and characters, many who try and give up do so because they start in all the wrong places. Unless you grew up reading fantasy, the genre can be intimidating and unfamiliar at first. This article is for those who want to give fantasy a try but aren’t sure where to start.
The challenge consists of five fantasy books to be read in succession. First, you’ll do a warm-up with an anthology, then go knee-deep with some YA and modern fantasy, and finally, you’ll dive headfirst into a classic fantasy adventure!
This challenge is purposed with the goal of reading each book in order, as each book is selected to introduce various types and themes of fantasy. You must think of this challenge as it’s own adventure or quest, and challenge yourself to the completion of each book, even if for some reason you are struggling to finish it. Think of it as a workout; you sometimes don’t want to finish, but in the end, usually, you are glad you did. This will build reading endurance and fortitude. It will also help you learn what tastes and styles you like and dislike, so you can focus your search for books in the future. In most books that I read, I get bored or irritated at some point, but in the end, I’m always glad I finished because usually it all comes together and I can find some meaning or insight from the story.
When you make it to the final book, know that this is the final test of your quest. You must master a classic epic fantasy saga. It is not a difficult read, but it is more intricate and will challenge your reading endurance. If you can tackle this book, you’ll be successfully indoctrinated into the world of fantasy and ready to set out on your next adventure.
- The Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy, edited by Mike Ashley.
This is a beautiful and fun anthology with 35 stories from big fantasy writers, including Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. The stories range in theme and charter and include Wizards, talking machines, vampires, fairylands, time travel, and trolls. This is the place to start your adventure in fantasy and discover who’s writing style you like the most. Plus it’s just a fun book to have and is beautiful. Don’t feel like you have to read every story cover to cover because this is your warm-up, and is meant to get you even more excited about fantasy.
2. Skyhunter, by Marie Lu.
See my full review here. This book is a young adult novel about a female protagonist who is recruited as a soldier and assassin to hunt monsters (called ghosts) to save her country. Along the way, she forges a relationship with a Skyhunter, a being with special powers and psychic ability. Filled with adventure and action, this book is similar to many in the fantasy genre in terms of its pacing, elements of magic and mysticism, and character development. It is beautifully written and perfect for new fantasy readers.
3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.
This book will introduce you to dragons and worldbuilding. See my full review here. With more worldbuilding than Skyhunter and more intricate and mature writing, this book is slightly more challenging than Skyhunter and will challenge your vocabulary and ability to pay attention to the long list of characters, a frequent theme in the fantasy genre. Not to worry, though! She was kind enough to include an index of characters, in case you forget who’s who.
4. The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern
This is a highly imaginative literary work of fiction about a young man who sets on a quest through a maze of time and space to find a man lost in time, and to save the secret place known as “The Starless Sea.” This book does not contain your typical fantasy tropes, which is why I think it’s important to read because it shows us that fantasy can still exist in the absence of the word “magic.” This book is hated by some for the lack of a clear plot, but I see it as a work of art, and saying it’s bad because it doesn’t have a clear plot is like criticizing abstract art for not having rigid lines or physical objects. This book is a complete work of art that feels like a mixture of Alice and Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the movie Inception. The mysteriousness and wonder of this book introduce the new fantasy reader to soft magic, which is magic that doesn’t have to be called “magic,” and doesn’t have to be explained. That’s the true beauty of art — There are no rules! This is also what makes soft-magic fantasy so enthralling and exciting. This book will challenge you to just go with the flow without trying to understand everything that is happening. Like abstract art, you’ll have to find your own meaning, a skill necessary in the reading of fantasy.
5. The Deed of Parkenarrion by Elizabeth Moon.
This is the final test in your quest. It is an epic high heroic fantasy, with a whopping 1024 pages. With classic fantasy themes of good vs. evil, adventure, and magic, this book is your initiation into the fantasy genre, and you should be very proud of yourself when you complete this long and adventurous novel. Why did I choose this book and not Lord of the Rings or The Wheel of Time? Well, because it features a female protagonist, a headstrong girl of 18 years-old who leaves her small town to join a mercenary company. Through her journeys and hardships, she comes to realize that she is a gifted Paladin. She works, fights, and sacrifices herself until she can see the rightful king established over the opposition of evil forces, gods, and evil humans. I found her character growth and virtues to be much more appealing than some other protagonists. Besides, I don’t think anyone should tackle Lord of the Rings or The Wheel of Time without gaining an underlying knowledge and appreciation for the fantasy genre.
Don’t forget: Reading should be fun! And part of what makes reading fun is setting reading goals, and completing these reading challenges. The best part of your reading journey is when you get to talk with others along the way about your adventures!
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