Best Fantasy Books of 2005

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2005 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud (The Bartimaeus Trilogy: Book 3)

The Bartimaeus Trilogy is one of the finest trilogies found in the fantasy genre. Although often classed as young-adult fantasy there is no upper-age limit for books this good, all ages will enjoy it. This sublime mix of alternate history and magical fantasy features magnificent characterisation and dialogue; it is always funny and often hilarious. Ptolemy’s Gate’s perfect ending will move many to tears. We highly recommend.

Published: 2005

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (Harry Potter: Book 6)

Voldemort is and growing stronger as is his following and dangerous times are ahead for our hero and his friends. Dumbledore enlists Harry’s help, to convince his old friend and retired professor Horace Slughorn to return to his old teaching post at Hogwarts.

Published: 2005

Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness: Book 2)

Torak still misses Wolf. He is now part of the Raven Clan and when disease hits forest clans he sets out to find the Seal Clan and a cure. Torak must learn to spirit walk and become another creature to discover the truth behind the Soul-Eater.

Published: 2005

Cry of the Newborn by James Barclay (The Ascendants of Estorea: Book 1)

With his Raven series, James Barclay made himself a cult hero. With the Ascendants of Estorea, Barclay stepped away from the action adventure realm and settled into a very fantasy style book. More character focus and interestingly enough styled after the Roman Empire, Cry of the Newborn – the first in the series – makes for an interesting introduction to a new realm for Barclay to play in.

Published: 2005

Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl Series: Book 4)

The Artemis Fowl books are a guilty pleasure of mine, one that I'm feeling less guilty about because each book keeps getting better and better. These books might be marketed towards middle-grade kids, but the storytelling is of a universal quality, and I highly endorse these books for readers of all ages.

Published: 2005

Shadowfall by James Clemens (Godslayer: Book 1)

Four millennia have passed since the gods came to Myrillia, creating the nine lands of peace as a haven from the nightmarish, accursed Hinterlands. In all this time nothing has disturbed the harmony of the nine lands.But now the goddess of the Summering Isles has been murdered. The only witness is Tylar de Noche, a crippled and disgraced former Shadowknight. As he holds the dying goddess, her last breath bestows a powerful blessing on him-a mark that heals his broken body. A mark that many see as proof that he killed a god. A mark that unleashes a powerful force of darkness within him. Chased across Myrillia by enemies both human and ethereal, Tylar must uncover and face down a being powerful enough to kill an immortal-the true godslayer. For if he fails, all of Myrillia will fall into shadow.

"I like finding books that I really enjoy. I come away refreshed and happy, knowing that if ever I need to go back and reread a book to make myself feel better – to hide myself from the wealth of mediocrity that rocks up on my doorstep each year – I have yet another book to read, and from first appearances, Shadowfall by James Clemens is just such a book."

Published: 2005

The Limits of Enchantment by Graham Joyce

England, 1966: Everything Fern Cullen knows she's learned from Mammy - and none of it's conventional. Taught midwifery at an early age, Fern becomes Mammy's trusted assistant in a quaint rural village and learns through experience that secrets are precious, passion is dangerous, and people should mind their own business. But when one of Mammy's patients allegedly dies from an induced abortion, the town rallies against her. As Fern struggles to save Mammy's good name, she finds communion with a bunch of hippies living at a nearby estate... where she uncovers a legacy spotted with magic - one that transforms her forever.

"To anyone who’s run into this sort of thing, as it seems clear Graham Joyce has, the depiction is both powerful and familiar. The less said, the better, for it is instinct and acceptance of what lies beyond the conventional that bring our internal discussions and progressions into specific relief. It’s not a better way, this so-called enchantment. It’s just a way, and the people who find themselves asking are ultimately very much like everyone else, in need of love, understanding, healing, and tomorrow."

Published: 2005

In the Ruins by Kate Elliott (Crown of Stars: Book 6)

The long-awaited cataclysm has reshaped the very land and seas, and disrupted the war for the empire. Now all who have survived the return of the spell-exiled Aoi lands must find a way to mend their shattered territories and take a stand against their enemies in a power struggle that may forge new alliances-or doom them all.

"Elliott's barely disguised early-medieval world draws heavily on that social, geographical and religious structure and is delightful drawn, excellently characterized and possessing of a heavily built plot in a Jordan-esque fashion. Effortlessly building suspense and engendering real empathy in her characters with Hugh, Alain and Liath the stand-out people, the author has created a fantasy world that resides in the top echelons of the genre."

Published: 2005

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Although The Book Thief is set in such dark times, when almost unimaginable atrocities were being commited, it manages, by its end, to be an uplifting, life-affirming book due to the kindness, love and bravery of its many characters.

Published: 2005

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go is a slow burner of a book; initially readers may wonder if the book is what they expected, with it being labeled as a dystopia. But as the narrative progresses, as the characters come to life and their world is unveiled, the true dystopian nature of the book is revealed. This is a thought-provoking, beautifully written book and a must-read for fans of the dystopian genre.

Published: 2005

Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb (The Soldier Son Trilogy: Book 1)

Nevare Burvelle was destined from birth to be a soldier. The second son of a newly anointed nobleman, he must endure the rigors of military training at the elite King's Cavalla Academy--and survive the hatred, cruelty, and derision of his aristocratic classmates--before joining the King of Gernia's brutal campaign of territorial expansion. The life chosen for him will be fraught with hardship, for he must ultimately face a forest-dwelling folk who will not submit easily to a king's tyranny. And they possess an ancient magic their would-be conquerors have long discounted--a powerful sorcery that threatens to claim Nevare Burvelle's soul and devastate his world once the Dark Evening brings the carnival to Old Thares.

"It happens far too often that books that are not worthy of wide recognition achieve it, and those that are worthy of it only achieve success in smaller amounts. It is a never ending source of frustration for fans of those books and authors, for they see actual talent being ignored in place of flashy and insubstantial books that do nothing but cater to the lowest common denominator."

Published: 2005

The Spook's Battle by Joseph Delaney (The Wardstone Chronicles: Book 4)

In Pendle the witches are rising and the three most powerful witch clans are rumoured to be uniting in order to conjure an unimaginable evil. Together they will be capable of raising the dark made flesh – the Devil himself. Tom and the Spook need to set off for Pendle to avert the unthinkable. Before they go, the Spook tells Tom to journey home and collect the trunks Mam left behind for him. But what dark family secrets are contained in the trunks? And will they place Tom’s family in even greater danger or provide the help Tom and his master need in Pendle?

"The delightfully dark Wardstone Chronicles continues with the fourth instalment in the series, The Spook’s Battle. In Pendle the witches are rising and the three most powerful witch clans are rumoured to be uniting in order to conjure an unimaginable evil. Together they will be capable of raising the dark made flesh – the Devil himself."

Published: 2005

Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris (Southern Vampire Series: Book 5)

Sookie's got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead - and to stop the fiend! Sookie Stackhouse enjoys her life, mostly. She's a great cocktail waitress in a fun bar; she has a love life, albeit a bit complicated, and most people have come to terms with her telepathy. The problem is, Sookie wants a quiet life - but things just seem to happen to her and her friends. Now her brother Jason's eyes are starting to change: he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. She can deal with that, but her normal sisterly concern turns to cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population. She afraid not just because Jason's at risk, but because his new were-brethren suspect Jason may be the shooter. Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks - unless the killer decides to find her first. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night.

Published: 2005

The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker: Book 1)

When I first stumbled across this book I was only killing time in the bookshop, and was intrigued by the title and the cover. I wasn’t expecting much. I wasn’t even planning to buy it. I certainly wasn’t expecting that I would be unable to put it down or get it off my mind until I had read both book one and two. The story follows the life of a prophecy, and a fisherman named Asher. His mother has died and his father is growing old fast without her, so he plans to make his fortune and buy a boat for him and his Da thus escaping his older brothers. Heading for the richest city in the kingdom of Lur, he reaches Dorana, as far from the coast as he has ever been.

Published: 2005

Boudica: Dreaming the Hound by MC Scott (Boudica #3)

To the Eceni tribe of Britannia, nature is the ultimate god, and warriors are joined in battle by the voices and spirits of their ancestors. But the proud Eceni are running out of time. Nero’s army, long since out of patience with Britannia’s wild tribes, is becoming increasingly oppressive. And Boudica’s family is at the center of a gathering storm: Cunomar, Boudica’s son, who longs for the mettle to kill as fiercely as his mother… Graine, her young daughter, gifted with the power of dreamers, scarred forever by the horrors of war...and Boudica’s brother, born Bán of the Eceni, turned the traitor Valerius—a man caught between worlds: warrior and dreamer, Roman and Eceni. As conflict erupts between the tribes and their brutal invaders, Boudica is forced to make a bold sacrifice. Cloaking her identity, she will travel directly into the stronghold of an enemy who longs for her crucifixion. What happens next—in a brutal drama of betrayal, heroism, and sacrifice—will leave Boudica with no options but one: to raise and arm every warrior, every dreamer, every tribe…and push the invader and its legions back into the sea.

"I criticized Manda Scott's opener of this series as a somewhat directionless fantasy. However, the massive improvement that commenced with her sequel is surpassed in this stunning third. Here, for the first time, Scott was going to be measured against historical fact and has not been found wanting. Emotive characterisation, a solid merging of ancient Celtic culture and mythology with Roman modernization, gripping plots, effusively described battle scenes and rending portraits of personal and familial pain make this everything Conn Iggulden is not."

Published: 2005

The Giant's Dance by Robert Carter (The Language of Stones Trilogy #2)

In the peaceful village of Nether Norton life goes on as it has for centuries in the Realm. Will looks back fondly on the two years since he and his sweetheart Willow circled the fire together. But a feeling of unease is stirring inside him.

"Carter spent much of the first novel creating this superb alternative Britain, aptly showing how word of mouth tellings can subtly warp stories as they are handed down. In this second he delivers an improved story telling performance. The plots are entirely crisp, the characterisation effortless and fifteenth century England lingers in the senses throughout the entire novel as it delivers punch after punch, maturing as his main character does. A simply stunning series is in the making here and you would be well advised to read it."

Published: 2005