Another year, another towering pile of epic fantasy books hitting the shelves.
Let’s shine a spotlight on 22 brilliant fantasy novels from 2022 that you simply mustn’t miss.
No tedious prologues here, just top-notch action, imagination, and maybe the odd goblin who meets the business end of a battleaxe.
Babel by R.F. Kuang
In this dark academia fantasy, students at a university hold dangerous secrets that could unleash catastrophe, if rival factions don’t tear each other apart first.
The Soul Keepers by Lori Titus
Dark fantasy at its twisty, atmospheric best. A young woman must harness dangerous powers to unravel the mysteries of an ancient order of soul keepers.
Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau
A banished princess joins forces with a charismatic monster hunter, uncovering secrets and sparks along the way in this action-packed adventure.
The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart A mind-bending science fantasy adventure in which a hotel’s janitor stumbles upon its many interdimensional secrets and paradoxes.
The Blood Tartan by Raymond St. Elmo
A Celtic clan chieftain embarks on a mystical odyssey, braving otherworldly fae and monstrous forces. Lush worldbuilding steeped in folklore.
The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore
Two teens come together amid trauma and mystery in this lyrical magical realist tale that blends fantasy with gritty contemporary themes.
The Price of Magic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Inspired by Aztec mythology, this intricate fantasy novel subverts expectations at every turn. The price of forbidden magic proves steep.
The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso
An unusual setting of criminals conscripted to fight in a war between rival mages highlights Caruso’s fresh epic fantasy debut.
The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards
Edwards continues the intimate yet ambitious Tarot Sequence series, focusing on personal relationships amid sweeping threats.
The Cursed Titans by Ricardo Victoria
Mexican mythology meets military fantasy as an Aztec peasant becomes an unlikely hero. Blends mythic quests with gritty action.
The Sea Between by Elizabeth Bear
Epic fantasy collides with bohemian urban fantasy in this wonderfully unique novel following a magician hiding from his dangerous past life.
Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng
Mythical intrigue and faerie politics unfold in a richly imagined Victorian Gothic fantasy brimming with theological drama.
Storm Weaver by Elle Katharine White
Epic fantasy plus Jane Austen etiquette? White’s charming debut follows a young lady unwittingly caught up in magical intrigues. Witty and romantic.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Creepy and fascinating dark fantasy about a mysterious ancient order who consume the magic within ancient books.
Lions and Traitors by J.E. Grace
Shakespearean intrigue takes a darkly fantastical twist as assassins and spies collide in this tense historical thriller.
The Compass Rose by Gail Dayton
High seas fantasy filled with swashbuckling adventures and the wonder of discovery in a world where Compass Roses control the winds.
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
Slatter spins a gothic tale of dark family secrets, lost souls, and witches in Victorian London. Spooky magic abounds.
The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
Suri’s follow-up to Realm of Ash continues the epic yet character-driven tale inspired by Indian mythology.
God of Gnomes by Demi Harper
Whimsical, bite-sized fantasy stories following a gnome prophet and his quirky magical companions. Perfect for light-hearted adventuring.
The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
Sisters divided by magic must unite to open mystical portals and save their homeland in this expansive Indian-inspired fantasy.
The Rise of the Red Hand by Olivia Chadha
A layered work of South Asian inspired gaslamp fantasy set during an uprising against colonial oppressors in 33rd century India.
The Resurrectionist by L. Jagi Lamplighter
Demons both literal and metaphorical haunt the pages of this philosophical urban fantasy.
What were your top reads of 2022? Let me know in the comments?
