Best Fantasy Books of 2007

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2007 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson (A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen: Book 7)

Rating a book is inherently dangerous. Well beyond the normal trials of dealing with authors who believe they’re the next Tolkien but are lucky to know how to spell Tolkien, it’s the really good authors that provide the greatest problems. For example, I finished my review for the Bonehunters by Steven Erikson over a week ago. At the time it was a 10 out of 10 book. I still believe it is. However, what happens when the next book is just as good?

Published: 2007

Shadowplay by Tad Williams (Shadowmarch Quartet: Book 2)

This book is based around journeys: Briony Eddon is now on the run from Southmarch with no way of knowing where to go or how to solve her problems, but this is a good thing as she also has to grow up and experience the world as others do rather than the princess regent. Barrick Eddon is behind the Shadowline with Ferras Vansen on a journey of discovery, although he doesn’t grow in character as much as Briony both characters are less annoying as they are thrown into action that they would never have previously experienced. Qinnitan is also on the run from Xand and arrives in Hierosol only to meet Olin Eddon, who is being held prisoner there and we start to understand how she could be important as well as connected to the Eddon’s.

Published: 2007

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Book 1)

David Gemmell Award for Fantasy Winner: 2012 (The Wise Man’s Fear)

The Name of the Wind and Wise Man’s Fear are the very finest examples of first-person storytelling. It’s comparable to sitting across from someone, in a comfy chair, before a log fire, listening to them recount one of the most intricate and fascinating stories you’ve ever heard. To quote Ursula Le Guin: “It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing... with true music in the words”.

 

Published: 2007

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

The leading man, one Meyer Landsman, is a festival of flaws and possibilities. The characters are alive, dynamically three-dimensional, and refreshingly complicated. Chabon’s world and its collapsing-star reality you completely buy. The analogs of human behaviour are poetic, tenderly ironic and brilliantly designed. Chess is key, but not in such a fashion that it bans the non-chess playing reader. And there is a seemingly self-perpetuating sense of devilish humour that had me choking every other page.

Published: 2007

The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper

Susan Cooper is a natural storyteller, and all five The Dark is Rising novels grip the reader tightly, helped in this with copious amounts of mythology and spectacular prose. The prose of the second book in the series, The Dark is Rising, is some of the best in its genre. The sequence is an absolute classic, and should be required reading for children between the ages of seven and fifteen. Those who are older who haven't read them yet are really missing out on something wonderful. Highly recommended.

Published: 2007

First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde (Thursday Next: Book 5)

More questions and answers are waiting for you in this great book, the Thursday Next novels are going from strength to strength without any sign of flagging - they just get more intriguing as the series continues. Where this series will end I have no idea and look forward to being continually surprised, but at the same time I hope that there are many more books to look forward to reading in the coming years (I don’t ask for much).

Published: 2007

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling (Harry Potter: Book 7)

Harry has left Hogwarts to dedicate himself to the quest for final Horcruxes, together with his friends Ron and Hermione. Harry is also searching for the answers he feels Dumbledore has left unanswered and his feelings for his beloved old headmaster veer from anger and bitterness to painful loss. Voldemort continues his rise and nowhere seems to be safe anymore. With three gifts, bequeathed by Dumbledore to our intrepid trio, they set off on their deadliest task yet and know that this could be the end of everything they hold dear, even themselves. With Voldemort ever closer our hero must not hesitate; the final battle is coming and no one knows what the outcome will be.

Published: 2007

Moonshine by Rob Thurman (Cal Leandros series: Book 2)

Another author (Patrick Rothfuss I believe) once said that one of the hard parts of writing is not getting too involved in your ‘world’. ‘It is a classical error to pour all the love and information into a book.’ I must say that I agree, but it is a debatable subject. But getting back to this story, even I was slightly unsatisfied with the lack of information about some parts of the story. There were multiple parts, like the Kin and the working of the werewolf-community that I really wanted to know but that just felt slightly neglected. But perhaps this will all be part of the following books, which just adds to my expectations…

Published: 2007

Acacia by David Anthony Durham (War with the Mein: Book 1)

Acacia is a captivating and entertaining novel for an author’s first foray into the fantasy genre and one that has me catching back up on the world of fantasy after a year or two away. The characters, while following a formulaic path do not take the routes treaded in other fantasy novels. It perhaps could have had a little more humour thrown in and a better handling of the action scenes and this would have completed the novel for me. As it is though, it is a stellar novel and whilst I have yet to discover the likes of Erickson, Abercrombie, Rothfuss and Sanderson this book was instrumental in reigniting my passion for fantasy. Ultimately, it was a book that I was unable to put down and had me ordering the sequel immediately. I urge you to try it, but please be aware of my disclaimer as I have not yet discovered many of the newer fantasy authors.

Published: 2007

The Riven Kingdom by Karen Miller (Godspeaker: Book 2)

Like Empress this book is a very thick book and but every minute of reading it was worth it. The further you go into the book the more you fear not only for Rhian but for Zandakar, Dexterity and the kingdom of Ethrea. I had more difficulty putting this book down as I became more attached to these characters than I did to the characters of Empress.

Published: 2007

Shout for the Dead by James Barclay (The Ascendants of Estorea: Book 2)

Following in the wake of its predecessor, Shout for the Dead continues James Barclay’s magnificent step away from his impressive Raven series. No longer are we watching masses of enemies being slaughtered. This time we’re in for a political ride akin to the latter days of the West Wing (I love Barclay, but I’m not giving him political prowess similar to Aaron Sorkin).

Published: 2007

Making Money by Terry Pratchett (The Discworld Series: Book 36)

Following on from his successful introduction of the character Moist von Lipwig, Terry Pratchett decided that he would bring the ex-con artist back in an attempt to restore the Ankh-Morpork Mint. In short, Pratchett once again gets an entire book to have his way with the utilities and the running of a city.

Published: 2007

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson: Book 2)

Something is wrong in the Tri Cities. A shadow has fallen across its inhabitants just as surely as if the sun hid behind a cloud. A new vampire has come into town with out stopping by the local seethe to pay his respects which is a very bad thing as Mercy is about to find out. Stefan, a vampire (who comically painted his VW bus to look like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo) and friend of Mercy’s is to stand trial for murder and be executed if she can’t get to the bottom of what is going on in the cities. Its left to Mercy to discover who and what she truly is before things go to far and more people die. The more she digs the more trouble Mercy finds herself in and the more trouble she finds herself in the more she wonders if it’s just a vampire she’s hunting.

Published: 2007

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Southern Vampire Series: Book 7)

Sookie's beginning to get used to being surrounded by all varieties of undead, changeling, shapeshifting and other supernatural beings - but even she has her limits. She'd really like to take a while to get over being betrayed by Bill, her long-time vampire lover, and get used to her new relationship with the sexy shapeshifter Quinn - but instead, she finds herself attending the long-planned vampire summit, the destination of choice for every undead power player around, as a sort-of human 'Geiger counter' for Sophie-Anne Leclerq, vampire queen of Louisiana. But the job is fraught with difficulties. Sophie-Anne's power base has been severely weakened by Hurricane Katrina, and she's about to be put on trial during the event for murdering her king. Sookie knows the queen is innocent, but she's hardly prepared for other shocking murders: it looks like there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. With secret alliances and backroom deals the order of the day - and night - Sookie must decide which side she'll stand with, and quickly, for her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

Published: 2007

Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl Series: Book 5)

Ten millennia ago, the fairy People were defeated in a great battle with mankind, forcing them to move underground. Only the eighth family of fairies remained undefeated: the demons. But now one demon has discovered the secrets of the fairy world, and if humans get hold of this information the fairies are in BIG trouble. Only one person can prevent this disaster - teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl. Action packed and full of humour - a must-read for boys and girls aged 10+.

Published: 2007

Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey (Treason�s Heir: Book 2)

Imriel is torn between escaping his past and creating his future. The memory of his mother’s betrayal still lingers in his memory and his life. Imriel has faced many dangers in his young life, and the one he faces now doesn’t fall short.

Published: 2007

Empress by Karen Miller (Godspeaker: Book 1)

Anyone who liked Kingmaker and Kingbreaker will love this book. It is a very hefty read at 688 pages but it rarely felt like a chore, which can happen sometimes with long books. The only complaint I would make is that sometimes Hekat’s single-mindedness can get a little but annoying but that is a minor complaint compared to the quality of the book and story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this sort of fantasy.

Published: 2007

The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker: Book 2)

Few could forget the mind-blowing last chapter of The Innocent Mage, which turned the whole world upside down. Immediately picking up the pace, the Awakened Mage continues directly after the dreadful accident. Grief-stricken, Gar and Asher try with all their might to keep everything together. The odds are not in their favour though, since they are still completely unaware of the actual threat; focused instead on preventing Conroyd from getting more influence. Everything goes downhill as Morg (successfully) continues to plot their demise and another strike of misfortune hits Gar. There's only one person standing in the way of total annihilation, our beloved yet overworked Asher...

Published: 2007

Starcross by Philip Reeve (Larklight Trilogy: Book 2)

Starcross is a joy to read with the added bonus of the detailed and delightful illustrations courtesy of Mr. Wyatt. A book that every household with a boy, whether he likes to read or not, should have.

Published: 2007

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Maddy Smith has always been an outsider. Born with a rusty-coloured rune on her hand - what the villagers call a ruinmark - she is scarred by this symbol of the old gods, a sign of magic. And everyone known that magic is dangerous. Except for Maddy who thinks it’s rather fun. Until now. For suddenly her friend One-Eye, a rascally Outlander, want her to open Red Horse Hill and descend into World Below - a world filled with goblins and far worse - to retrieve a relic of the old gods...

"With Runemarks Joanne Harris has written a great addition to the fantasy books that integrate mythology. Norse mythology is something that I was not that familiar with but I was pleased with how everything came together in the end. In Runemarks you are invited to travel between the Nine Worlds from the World above to the Netherworld." Stuart E Wise, Fantasy Book Review

Published: 2007

The Heart of Valour by Tanya Huff (A Confederation Novel #3)

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is a Confederation Marine's marine. Side-lined since her last mission, she jumped at the chance to go to Crucible - the Marine Corps training planet. While the exercise is underway, the drones begin acting aggressively, without regard to fail-safes or their programming. Kerr finds herself caught in a desperate fight to keep a platoon of Marine recruits alive...

"I am enjoying this series which is now at the half-way mark in the series. Torin Kerr is as strong as ever, still trying to make sure that whatever disaster befalls her she gets everyone home alive, even if that’s not always the case. She is continually resourceful when having to make tough calls. As usual she is surrounded by a strong cast of characters."

Published: 2007

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law: Book 2)

Bitter and merciless war is coming to the frozen north. It's bloody and dangerous and the Union army, split by politics and hamstrung by incompetence, is utterly unprepared for the slaughter that's coming. Lacking experience, training, and in some cases even weapons the army is scarcely equipped to repel Bethod's scouts, let alone the cream of his forces. In the heat-ravaged south the Gurkish are massing to assault the city of Dagoska, defended by Inquisitor Glokta. The city is braced for the inevitable defeat and massacre to come, preparations are made to make the Gurkish pay for every inch of land... but a plot is festering to hand the city to its beseigers without a fight, and the previous Inquisitor of Dagoska vanished without trace. Threatened from within and without the city, Glokta needs answers, and he needs them soon.  And to the east a small band of malefactors travel to the edge of the world to reclaim a device from history - a Seed, hidden for generations - with tremendous destructive potential. A device which could put a end to war, to the army of Eaters in the South, to the invasion of Shanka from the North - but only if it can be found, and only if its power can be controlled...

"Gripping, thrilling, gritty and pretty damn awesome."

Published: 2007