Did you grow up reading Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia and now you're all grown up and ready to branch out into "fantasy books for adults"?

Or maybe you loved Game of Thrones and you want to start reading books in the fantasy genre, but you're not ready for the emotional trauma of reading five mammoth books and not knowing if you'll ever actually be able to complete the series...just me?

Thankfully, there are plenty of spellbinding fantasy books adults can enjoy that will catapult readers into equally expansive worlds to experience in their own imagination.

But, with so many fantasy novels to choose from, where does one even begin on their quest to conquer these stories?

Well, one of our fantasy-loving store managers "who-shall-not-be-named" curated a magical list of adult fantasy novels that should keep you entertained for the ages.

Explore the romance, royalty, magic and mythology of these epic adventures below. 

Dive Into These 6 Fantasy Books For Adults to Read

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

The Empire of Quur is vast and has a storied history. Within the large Capital is Khirin, a young thief whose luck seems to have run dry. The story is told from three perspectives – an older, jailed Khirin; his mimic jailer, Talon; and an unknown commentator who leaves footnotes throughout the book.

In this book you encounter krakens, slavers, a grumpy dragon, deities and more than a few prophecies. This epic adventure is a must-read! 

“Problems are opportunities with thorns attached.”

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

The story follows Touraine - a conscript soldier who struggles to find her identity after returning to her homeland for the first time since she was kidnapped at as a child - and Luca, the disabled princess of Balladaire who had been sent to the southern colonies to prove her readiness to rule. 

This is one of those fantasy books about royalty that gives you the perspective of the colonizer and the colonized, with strong themes and messages inspired by the colonial history of North Africa. It’s not all just political subterfuge and attempted assassinations, there’s also a smidge of romance. 

This book is great for fans of military and political fantasy. 

 “Know a person's desires, and you have leverage- Give a person their desires, and you have an extension of your own will”

Magician by Raymond Feist

The Riftwar saga begins with Pug, a kitchen boy who is made apprentice to a great magician, causing the destinies of two worlds to change forever.

Suddenly the peace of his Kingdom is destroyed as mysterious alien invaders swarm the land. Pug is swept up into the conflict but for him and his warrior friend, Tomas, an odyssey into the unknown has only just begun.

Tomas will inherit a legacy of savage power from an ancient civilization. Pug’s destiny is to lead him through a rift in the fabric of space and time to the mastery of the unimaginable powers of a strange new magic.

Raymond Feist's exquisite writing brings this richly imagined world to life. 

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

The newest epic fantasy from Tasha Suri takes place in the lush empire of Parijatdvipa, a land unified under the religion of the Flame Mothers. Not all is peaceful in the empire, for Ahiranya, a land once feared and widespread in the Age of Flowers, has been reduced to a pleasure city teeming with a disease known as the rot. 

This story has multiple POVs, none of which feel boring and each add to the story. The main POVs follow Priya, a maidservant who had tried to forget her past, but finds herself face-to-face with it as she takes a job at the ancient temple of Hirana; and Malini, sister to the emperor, who had recently been imprisoned in the Hirana. Even in her forcefully induced drugged state, she plans vengeance. 

With lyrical prose, a plant-based magic system, a world based on Indian mythology and ancient epics, and strong-willed, well-written female characters, what's not to love?

For fans of The Unbroken, The Seven Realms and Elizabeth Lim books. 

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

One of Brandon Sanderson’s earliest novels, this standalone fantasy is a great introduction to his writing style. This is a book packed with political intrigue, humor and a character-driven story.

This is a multiple POV story which follows two princesses, Vivenna and Siri; Vasher, a vagrant who wields a talking sword; and Lightsong, a god who doesn’t believe in his own divinity.  

This fantasy book with magic runs on a system of Breath. Every person is born with one Breath and can give it away to another. The more Breaths one accumulates, the more intricate magic can be performed. The gods of this world are also changed frequently as new ones are reborn from mortals who have performed noteworthy acts before their deaths. The gods are able to have prophetic visions, and are visited by the populace in hopes of favorable divination in exchange for offerings.

Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan

When Tyen - a young sorcery student - unearths an ancient book, it opens the door to a realm of mystery and danger. For it contains a clue to a disaster threatening the world.

Elsewhere, in a land ruled by priests, Rielle has been taught that to use magic is to steal from the Angels. Yet she has a talent for it, and desperate times may force her to risk the Angels' wrath.

But not everything is as Tyen and Rielle have been raised to believe. Not the nature of magic - and not even the people they trust.

The first book in the four-book Millenniums Rule series, Thief's Magic is a spellbinding fantasy adventure filled with danger, intrigue, and forbidden magic. Perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Brandon Sanderson, and Peter V Brett.

That rounds up our recommendations of fantasy books for adults for those of you looking to add some more mature novels to your TBR. These noteworthy titles are perfect to get going yourself or to gift that fantasy fanatic in your life.

What's your favourite fantasy series of all time? Have a specific character that you relate most to? Let us know in the comments below.