Best Fantasy Books of 2016

Below you will find a list of the fantasy books published in 2016 that we enjoyed most. Click on a book title to read the full review.

  18. The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

    The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North book cover

    Claire North's The Sudden Appearance of Hope is a brilliant, intense piece of speculative fiction that trades traditional escapism for sharp social commentary. It follows Hope Arden, a woman cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets the moment she leaves their sight. North uses this brilliant supernatural premise to explore deep, modern anxieties regarding social media manipulation, the pursuit of unattainable perfection, and the fear of leaving no footprint on the world. Told in a gripping, stream-of-consciousness style, it is a demanding, thought-provoking read that leaves you utterly absorbed in Hope's lonely, desperate crusade.

    Buy on Amazon | Read our full review of The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North

  29. The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

    The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz book cover

    Anthony Horowitz's The Magpie Murders is a brilliant meta-fiction masterpiece that offers two clever stories in one. First, you get a pitch-perfect homage to Golden Age detective fiction, featuring detective Atticus Pund investigating a death in a quaint English village. Then, the main plot kicks off when editor Susan Ryeland notices the final chapter of the manuscript is missing. After the author's death, Susan turns detective herself, searching through the fictional world to unlock real-life secrets. Horowitz expertly weaves these twin narratives into an utterly ingenious love letter to the genre that keeps you guessing until the end.

    Buy on Amazon | Read our full review of The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz