So you’ve turned the final page of The Return of the King and watched the last dragon blaze across Westeros — now what? That post-epic emptiness is rEal, and Polygon understands the struggle. The outlet has put together a collection of 10 perfectly written high fantasy books aimed squarely at fans of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, serving up tales of wizards, assassins, and magical beasts. If your to-be-read pile needs an infusion of magic, here’s why this roundup deserves a spot on your radar — plus our take on where to begin.
What Makes High Fantasy So Irresistible?
High fantasy swaps our world for an entirely invented one: new continents, new histories, and new rules of magic. J.R.R. Tolkien essentially wrote the blueprint with Middle-earth’s constructed languages, deep lore, and sweeping quests, while George R.R. Martin proved the genre could be just as much about political knives in the dark as it is about dragons. The best modern high fantasy fuses both traditions — immersive worldbuilding paired with morally gray characters who feel painfully human. That’s precisely the sweet spot Polygon’s list occupies, gathering stories that honor the classics without ever feeling like pale imitations of them.
Wizards, Assassins, and Magical Beasts: What Awaits on the Shelf
The roundup spans the full spectrum of the genre, and a few corners of it deserve special attention.
Classic Wizardry for Tolkien Devotees
If it’s Gandalf-adjacent energy you crave, the genre’s crown jewels still include Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, an elegant coming-of-age tale about the mage Ged and the shadow he must face. For a more modern take, Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind follows the magnetic, famously unreliable Kvothe as he recounts his rise from orphan to legend — a masterclass in voice-driven storytelling.
Gritty Intrigue for Westeros Loyalists
Meanwhile, readers who miss the treachery of King’s Landing have plenty to sink their teeth into. Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice remains the gold standard for court intrigue through the eyes of a royal bastard, while Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself delivers cynical, darkly funny brutality. For something fiercer still, R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War blends military fantasy with shamanic magic and unflinching depictions of war.
Wildcards for Adventurous Readers
Those wanting to break the mold can look to N.K. Jemisin’s Hugo-sweeping The Fifth Season, which reinvents epic fantasy structure entirely, or Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, a standalone gem steeped in Slavic folklore and one very memorable enchanted forest.
From Fantasy Pages to Fantasy Worlds
Let’s be honest: reading epic fantasy has a way of sending you straight back to your controller. Genre giants like The Witcher 3, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Elden Ring scratch many of the same itches as these novels — sprawling worlds, dangerous magic, and morally complicated heroes. If the reading list above sparks your appetite for adventure, you can grab game keys and gift cards for your favorite platform at TURGAME.com, often at prices far friendlier than a trip to the local game store.
Whether you ally yourself with wizards or assassins, one thing is certain: Middle-earth and Westeros are only the beginning. These books prove the high fantasy genre is richer, stranger, and more inventive than ever.
Source: Polygon