Most fantasy novels are part of long series that take a while to get through. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the idea of diving into a big series—trying to keep track of dozens or even hundreds of characters and worldbuilding concepts—you’re not alone. Like most avid fantasy readers, I love being immersed in a long series, but sometimes I need a break. Something I can pull off the shelf and read (relatively) quickly without having to commit to weeks or even months ploughing through several books to see how the story turns out.
That’s where standalone fantasy novels shine. Because the author isn’t painting on such a large canvas, they’re able to dazzle us with truly original ideas within a more a focused tale. So whether you’re dipping your toe into the genre for the first time, or you’re a seasoned fantasy reader in need of a break between series, here are five of the best modern standalone fantasy novels.
1. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
This one has a clever concept. It’s about a half-goblin called Maia who is unexpectedly thrust into power as the Emperor of an elvish kingdom. Most of the elves look down on, or openly hate, goblins, so it’s a miracle that Maia survives his first week in charge—never mind that he eventually excels in the role.
What I love about The Goblin Emperor is that it fully commits to telling a story of courtly intrigue and political maneuvering. Yes, most fantasy novels include these elements, but usually they are pushed into the background while flashy magic and action are at the forefront. Not so here. Addison manages to make every scene feel tense because we know that the odds are stacked against Maia and one wrong move could see his reign—and his life—end for good. This is a true political fantasy story, and a must-read for those who love the politicking and intrigue in A Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire.
2. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
What can I say about The Priory of the Orange Tree? It’s a modern masterpiece. Some have described it as a feminist Lord of the Rings, but strangely I think this undersells it. Yes, there are familiar fantasy elements, and women are certainly front and centre in the narrative. But what truly impressed me was the way Shannon creates an utterly believable world with different cultures (including a distinct East/West divide) and a shared, intricate mythology, while still delivering a plot that moves forward at a good pace to a thrilling climax.
But never mind all that. What you really want to know is that there are loads of dragons (both the flying kind and those who dwell in the ocean) and a very cool magic system which centres on the eponymous Orange Tree. Be warned: at over 800 pages, this is no quick read, but it is self-contained and well worth the effort.
3. Babel by RF Kuang
Babel, or the Necessity of Violence is a blend of several fantasy subgenres (historical fantasy, urban fantasy, academic fantasy) and something quite unique. Set in the Victorian era, it focuses on a Chinese orphan from Canton who is whisked away by a Professor to study at Oxford University. But this isn’t quite the same Oxford University you might be familiar with. The orphan (who adopts the name Robin Swift) and his friends study a form of magic based on translation—or, more specifically, based on what is lost in translation when a word is translated from one language into another. This magic is encoded on silver bars, and it is through control of the silver economy that the British Empire is able to flourish and dominate the world.
Babel weaves together a lot of big themes such as colonialism, racism and capitalism together through its narrative but does so with a light touch. Real events like the Opium Wars are threaded through this coming-of-age tale, yet this remains a fantasy novel where magic is used to illuminate real-world politics and social issues. There are shades of A Wizard of Earthsea and Harry Potter in the early stages of the book as we see Swift and his friends attend classes at Oxford to learn the fundamentals of magic.
I didn’t quite know what to expect from Babel when I started reading, but I soon found I couldn’t put it down. This is one of those books that shakes up the established rules of the fantasy genre—and that’s a good thing. I have a copy of Kuang’s next fantasy novel, Katabasis (also a standalone), on my bookshelf, and I’m looking forward to diving into it soon.
4. The Magician’s Apprentice by Trudi Canavan
From an unconventional fantasy novel to one that grounds itself in more familiar territory. I wasn’t sure where to start with Trudi Canavan, author of the The Black Magician series, so I decided to read her standalone prequel novel, The Magician’s Apprentice, and I’m glad I did. While those who have read her previous books will no doubt see connections, I can confidently say that this one is easy to dive into if you have not read anything else by this author.
The Magician’s Apprentice follows a fairly typical ‘chosen one’ structure, but something about Canavan’s writing style makes even the most magic-soaked scenes feel grounded and real. Her worldbuilding layers-up to create a world that feels convincing. I particularly liked the fact that the main character, Tessia, is a healer, so much of her story revolves around her attempts to use magic to heal rather than harm others (similar to Kaladin in The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson). If you’re looking for a well-written, traditional, slow-burn fantasy tale in a single volume, you’ve found it.
5. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
OK, I’m cheating with this one, but only slightly. When I read Legends & Lattes it was an entirely standalone book. It has since become part of a series with a prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, and a forthcoming sequel, Brigands & Breadknives, but the original book still works perfectly as a standalone. And, unlike some of the other doorstops on this list, Legends & Lattes is a quick read.
The hero, Viv, is an orc barbarian who wants to retire from adventuring and settle down to run her very own coffee shop. That pretty much sums up the whole story. Of course there are sub-plots and hurdles for her to overcome along the way, but Legends & Lattes never strays far from its central premise. Viv really does spend most of her time patiently building up her business from scratch, renovating the building, purchasing a state-of-the-art gnomish coffee machine, and hiring staff who soon become her friends. Despite the popularity of ‘cozy’ videogames and other media, there still aren’t that many cozy fantasy novels that eschew the usual sword and sorcery plots. Legends & Lattes remains one of the very best in this fledgling sub genre.
There you have it—five of the best fantasy novels to read before you get stuck into that giant series you’ve been meaning to read for ages. But if you need one final recommendation, why not check out my own standalone collection of fantasy short stories, Dragon Sight?
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