Best Fantasy Books of 2011

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2011 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

  2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

    The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller book cover

    In The Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller transforms the jagged edges of the Iliad into a shimmering, lyrical masterpiece of devotion. Narrated by Patroclus, the story strips away the cold marble of myth to reveal a raw, intimate portrait of his bond with the "best of all Greeks," Achilles. Miller's prose is breathtakingly poetic, capturing the golden haze of youth against the inevitable, looming shadow of the Trojan War. It is a profound exploration of legacy versus love, proving that even amidst gods and gore, the most immortal force is the human heart. Simply devastating.

  14. Deathless by Catherynne M Valente

    Deathless by Catherynne M Valente book cover

    In Deathless, Catherynne Valente delivers a haunting, surrealist masterpiece that weaves Russian folklore into the brutal tapestry of the twentieth century. This is a breathtaking reimagining of "Koschei the Deathless," following Marya Morevna as she transitions from a girl in revolutionary Leningrad to the bride of a mythical tyrant. Valente's prose is lush and labyrinthine, capturing the intersection of historical atrocity and magical whimsy. It is a staggering meditation on the cyclical nature of war, desire, and the stories we tell to survive. Brutal, poetic, and deeply strange, Deathless is a definitive work of modern myth-making.

  32. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

    Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence book cover

    Jorg Ancrath is one of the most polarizing protagonists in the genre. At just fourteen, he is a leader of murderous "brothers," driven by a singular, sociopathic desire for revenge and crown. Lawrence creates a world that is a literal post-apocalyptic wasteland disguised as a medieval kingdom. The book is a fast-paced descent into the mind of a monster, forcing the reader to question if they can root for someone truly irredeemable. It is short, sharp, and leaves a lasting, bitter taste.