Best Fantasy Books of 2009

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2009 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

  13. Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

    Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey book cover

    Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim is a high-octane, visceral explosion of supernatural noir. It follows James Stark, a hard-boiled magician who crawls out of Hell after eleven years of gladiatorial combat, seeking bloody vengeance in a gritty, neon-soaked Los Angeles. The book stands out for its unapologetic "punk rock" attitude and breakneck pacing. Stark is a uniquely jagged protagonist - powerful, scarred, and utterly done with celestial politics. Kadrey's prose is lean and mean, blending pitch-black humour with a creative reimagining of heaven and hell. It is a raw, cinematic masterpiece for those who prefer their fantasy with more cigarettes and switchblades than wands.

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  14. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

    The Magicians by Lev Grossman book cover

    Lev Grossman's The Magicians is a brilliant, adult evolution of the portal fantasy genre. It subverts the "chosen one" trope by asking a gritty question: what happens if a magical land doesn't solve your problems? Quentin Coldwater is a relatable, restless protagonist whose journey to the Narnia-like realm of Fillory is marked by disillusionment and danger rather than pure wonder. The book shines through its intellectual rigour, complex magic system, and psychological depth. It is fantastic because it treats magic as a difficult craft and portrays the emotional reality of people searching for meaning in two different worlds.

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  30. Soulless by Gail Carriger

    Soulless by Gail Carriger book cover

    Gail Carriger's Soulless is a breath of fresh, albeit soot-stained, air. Alexia Tarabotti is a magnificent protagonist - sharp-tongued, tea-obsessed, and Refreshingly practical. The Victorian setting is rendered with exquisite detail, but it is the clever integration of the supernatural that truly shines. By making Alexia 'soulless', Carriger provides a brilliant mechanical foil to the vampires and werewolves of London society. The chemistry between Alexia and Lord Maccon is electric, balanced perfectly with witty dialogue and high-stakes dirigible drama. It is a delightful, flirtatious romp that proves steampunk can be as much about manners as it is about machinery.

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