Best Fantasy Books of 2012

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2012 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

  1. Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce

    Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce book cover

    Graham Joyce's Some Kind of Fairy Tale is a haunting, deeply human masterclass in modern folklore. When sixteen-year-old Tara Martin vanishes into Charnwood Forest and reappears twenty years later without having aged a single day, her sudden return fractures her family. Her claim of being abducted by fairies forces everyone to navigate the delicate line between mental breakdown and genuine enchantment. Joyce crafts a keenly observed family drama that blends psychiatric intrigue with eerie fantasy. It is an unsettling, beautiful, and emotionally resonant novel that challenges our understanding of truth, grief, and the old magic lingering just out of sight.

    Buy on Amazon | Read our full review of Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce

  10. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

    Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman book cover

    Christopher Buehlman delivers a rare triumph that feels like a nightmarish vision recorded by a medieval monk. Following Thomas, a disgraced knight, and a mysterious girl, we travel across a desperately grim 14th century France where the Black Death is merely an opening salvo in a war between Heaven and Hell. The historical detail is immaculate, bringing the desperate reality of the age to life. Yet the horror shines brightest through terrifying folklore rather than tidy magic systems, where statues weep blood and river monsters scream like humans. It is a brutal, vivid, and deeply redemptive dark fantasy genre masterwork.

    Buy on Amazon | Read our full review of Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

  34. Alif the Unseen by G Willow Wilson

    Alif the Unseen by G Willow Wilson book cover

    G. Willow Wilson's Alif the Unseen is an intoxicating blend of modern cyber thriller and ancient Islamic myth. Set in the dusty streets of the Persian Gulf, the story follows a brilliant hacker fighting state censors. When an ancient book of djinn folklore collides with digital code, the plot shifts into high gear. Wilson grounds this magical tension in rich atmospheric detail, from calls to prayer to oppressive dust storms. It reads like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Arabian Nights, delivering a vibrant, fast, and thoughtful adventure that proves modern fantasy can still feel wonderfully fresh and vital.

    Buy on Amazon | Read our full review of Alif the Unseen by G Willow Wilson