27 Subgenres of Fantasy: Find the Perfect Books for You

All lovers of the fantasy genre know that it’s a venture into the realm of the fantastic and offers a range of books as vast as the imagination. It encompasses everything from stories about teens on a magical quest in present-day Virginia to Parshendi bonding spren on one of the planets of the Cosmere. As a fantasy writer and obsessive reader of the genre, I think that’s awesome. But the genre’s huge scope also presents a problem: It is so varied that it becomes complicated to find books that match our tastes.

That’s where the subgenres of fantasy come to the rescue.

Imagine asking a friend about their eating preferences so you can invite them over for dinner and having them say something like, “Food is great” or “I like everything.” The first answer is too general to be helpful, and the second isn’t honest because, in truth, they abhor eggplant, have an allergy to nutmeg, and won’t touch liver with a four-foot fork. It would be so much easier to meal plan if they could tell you, “I adore Tex-Mex” or “I’m a sucker for Ethiopian cuisine.”

Just as “Tex-Mex” and “Ethiopian” are sub-categories of food that give you a clear indication what kind of ingredients and spice profiles you’re in for, subgenres help us describe distinct flavors or sub-categories of fantasy.

What do I mean by flavors? Well, if you like stories set in grim dystopian worlds full of monsters and spine-tingling chills, you might like dark fantasy. Whereas if you’re craving a nutty, off-the-wall tale that makes you laugh out loud, you’ll want to try comic fantasy.

Think of subgenres as powerful search tools that help you find books to suit your tastes. For example, I love adventure and political fantasy, but don’t care for grimdark or romantasy. And last year, I found one of my new favorite books thanks to a subgenre list.

The whole point of subgenres is to help you find books you like. I’m certain you have preferences, too, even if you don’t know what they are yet or aren’t sure how to describe them.

By the end of this article, you’ll be able to say which subgenres you like, which you’re curious to sample, and which land on your “Do Not Ingest: Risk of Vomiting” list, with curated book recommendations for each. If a subgenre sounds fun, jot it down, buy or borrow some of the books I recommend, and/or ask fantasy book clubs and communities for recommendations in the subgenres that pique your interest.

Disclaimer: Think of subgenres as tags rather than boxes. Defining them is subjective. To borrow a line from Pirates of the Caribbean, these classifications are “more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.” And just as a recipe can fall under “vegan” and “Thai” and “dessert”, fantasy books can be tagged under multiple subgenres.

1. High Fantasy

Books that are high fantasy take place in completely different worlds from our own. Tolkien called these “secondary worlds.” They often include magic, mythical creatures, characters from different races, invented cultures, and landscapes that range from the familiar to the fabulously refreshing.

This subgenre invites us into the weird, wild, and brilliant, into terrifying darkness and breathtaking beauty. It is the best kind of escape, the most arresting by its strangeness. In it, we not only leave behind our present troubles and concerns, but we leave behind the world as we know it.

High fantasy is, as Tolkien says in his essay “On Faerie Stories”, one of the hardest to write well because the farther we get from the rules and characteristics of our primary world, the more challenging it is to maintain an “inner consistency of reality”.

Ah, but when done well, these secondary worlds offer an allure like no other. They promise something captivating: a voyage into places crafted from pure imagination, founded upon a stringent inner logic, and developed by delicious innovation.

I’m a fan. Can you tell?

Examples of High Fantasy

The Lord of the Rings is classic high fantasy. Tolkien’s Middle-earth is a world unto itself with a detailed and complex history, and over fourteen languages invented by Tolkien himself. There’s a good reason he’s called ‘the father of fantasy.’ Or, to riff on Brandon Sanderson, “Grandpa Tolkien.” My parents read The Lord of the Rings to me and my siblings when we were kids, with my dad voice-acting the characters. That’s probably where my love for the genre began.

Other high fantasy books I love include pretty much all of Brandon Sanderson’s books (I once read 25 of his books in one year.) The worlds he comes up with are unique, from the strange mists of Scadriel in The Mistborn Saga to the fascinating crustacean-inspired world of Roshar in The Stormlight Archives. That series is my favorite of his so far, starting with The Way of Kings.

They are perfect for readers who like big casts of characters and complex plots, and who don’t mind hefty books with hundreds of pages. Most of the audio versions are 50-60 hours—cue me listening at 1.75 speed so I could finish before my library loan was due. But, Sanderson also has a short story collection called Arcanum Unbounded with one of my all-time-favorite short fantasy stories: The Emperor’s Soul. Start there for an intro.

Beyond by Mercedes Lackey is another great high fantasy book.

In YA, I’ve enjoyed the African-inspired world of Aritsar in Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko.

In middle grade, I found The Trials of Morrighan Crow entertaining. The story takes place in Nevermoor, a city in the First Pocket of the Free State.

2. Low Fantasy

Standing in counterpoint to high fantasy, low fantasy is set in worlds much like our own. Low fantasy feels more grounded in reality, more familiar. It’s recognizable, but with a flair, a twist, something unexpected. It is our grandma’s shortbread with a swirl of lime zest and a burst of lavender flowers.

In low fantasy, the world behaves like ours in some respects, but in others is shot through with the mystical, the supernatural, the magical. Often, the magic in these books is hidden or only accessible to a few people. Here we find secret societies, sentient libraries, and realms that are invisible to all but those who have eyes to see.

Part of the appeal and delight of low fantasy is that the stories are about people much like us, with jobs and TVs and homework… but who encounter something fantastical: dangerous, scary, wild, enchanting, and almost plausible. It makes us feel like something magical could happen to us, too. Just now, as we’re going about our mundane lives. It could happen at any time, when we least expect it. And that is a delightful thought, is it not?

Low Fantasy books often fit into other subgenres. Some common ones include modern, historical, urban, paranormal, and portal fantasy novels (which usually begin in the real world). More on those shortly.

Examples of Low Fantasy

The Harry Potter series contains aspects of low fantasy because every summer, Harry is forbidden from doing magic and is stuck in the non-magical, everyday world of regular Britain with his relatives.

The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater is set in the fictional modern-day town of Henrietta, Virginia. Much of the world feels familiar but with the addition of ley lines, mythical Welsh kings, and dream magic.

3. Urban Fantasy

Although it seems pretty darn obvious that urban fantasy books take place in—you guessed it—cities, not ALL fantasy books set in cities are urban. Yeah, it’s weird, I know. To be an urban fantasy, the book has to be set in a modern or modern-adjacent, real-world city, one where magic is hidden to all but a few. 

The key thing to remember is that urban fantasy is a subset of low fantasy. So even though The Lies of Locke Lamora takes place entirely in the city of Camorr, that city is not part of our world. Camorr is in a secondary (high fantasy) world. Thus… the book is not urban fantasy.

Urban fantasy has a particular mystique. It’s dark with an edge of complexity that catches in the throat like molasses. Here we enter vampire lairs, solve mysteries, get lost in labyrinths, and cross into alternate versions of the neighborhoods we think we know. There could be escaped tigers in the sewers, speakeasies behind graffiti, adventures, mysteries, romance—toss it back like a strong drink and hit the streets.

Examples of Urban Fantasy

Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere is about a man from regular, real-world London who falls into the fantastical world of London Below. There, a girl named Anesthesia acts as his guide, assassins trail in his wake, an angel sends him on a quest, and a young woman named Door opens doors to the unexpected.

Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series is set in modern-day New York City, where a secret society of human-angel hybrids protects the city from demons and rogue werewolves, vampires, and warlocks. Teenager Clary Fray was living an ordinary life in Brooklyn and had no idea this whole other world existed. Until one night, she witnesses a murder no one else can see…

Fun, right?

4. Epic Fantasy

While the subgenres we’ve focused on so far are primarily defined by their setting, epic fantasy describes the story’s scope. Epics are epic. They are high-stakes adventures about characters who face overwhelming antagonistic forces: The Dark Lord Sauron with his far-seeing eye and hordes of orcs, immortal emperors who are impossible to kill, gods, armies, kingdoms…

History is made on the pages of these stories. Lone warriors take up arms, join forces, and stand like with swords raised against forces that strike at their ideals, endanger their loved ones, and threaten the fabric of their worlds.

Usually, epic fantasies are also high fantasies, but not all high fantasies are epics. For example, The Goblin Emperor is a very personal story about one half-goblin’s unexpected rise to power and his personal and political struggles. It’s very much a high fantasy, but not an epic.

Examples of Epic Fantasy

By contrast, in The Lord of the Rings Frodo and Sam toil toward Mount Doom while Aragorn, Gandalf, and the men of Gondor draw Sauron’s eye (and his forces) in a last-ditch effort to give Frodo the chance he needs destroy the one ring and save the world from Dark Lord’s domination. Epic.

Sanderson’s Mistborn Saga and Stormlight Archives books also fall solidly under the epic fantasy subgenre, with the fate of the world (and the Cosmere itself) falling into the hands of the cast of characters.

Likewise, in Raybearer, Tarisai is wrapped up in the politics of Aritsar, the fate of the empire, and of the world itself.

5. Adventure Fantasy

Daring quests, intrepid explorers, action-packed escapades, and fantastic feats. Welcome to adventure fantasy, flavored with boldness, salted with heroics, and shot through with danger. I love this subgenre, probably because I love stories about journeys and wild lands and mythic beasts.

Adventure fantasies let us ride on the backs of massive birds, wyverns, and dragons, cross rapids, fight battles, sneak through castle windows, climb snow-drowned peaks, find our courage (possibly after running away screaming), and encounter luminous wonders we won’t forget.

The stakes grab us by the throat. The villains steal our breath. We encounter death time and again, and are slapped in the face by horrors. But we don’t give up. We keep walking, keep fighting, keep hoping, until eventually, we prevail.

Examples of Adventure Fantasy

Adventure fantasies can be fun, high-flying, comedic tales like Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians or Howl’s Moving Castle or they could involve kidnappings, dangerous journeys, captivity, and warfare, like The Remnant Chronicles.

The Hobbit is a classic, with trusty mushroom-loving Bilbo Baggins embarking on a journey that takes him through spider-infested woods, down a river in a barrel, and into the lair of the dragon Smaug.

There are SO MANY adventure fantasies I cannot begin to list them all.

A note before going on:

If there’s one thing you’ll notice on this literary foray, it’s that some subgenres of fantasy are broad, like massive umbrellas, while others are much tinier and more specific, like cocktail parasols.

You’ll also notice (either here or in online bookish communities) that people have different opinions about what defines different subgenres. But don’t get lost in the fire swamp with Westley and Buttercup. You don’t need to memorize these names (unless you want to).

My ultimate goal is to help you find fantasy books you like. That’s it. Discovering and loving The Moorchild matters a whole lot more than whether it’s better categorized as a mythic or fairytale fantasy.

6. Portal Fantasy

Quick! Into the Wardrobe, past the thick fur coats, and onto the scrunch of snow. Look, there is a lantern shining in the woods, and here comes a faun to invite you to tea. And here is a strange bridge to an island covered in drifting leaves, where lies a princess fast asleep. And there is a man who has the power to read characters of stories, and read people into stories.

In portal fantasies, the characters start in the normal world and then travel through a portal or doorway into a magical world where they must adapt, confront dangers, and deal with magical forces. Portals merge the allure of low fantasy with high fantasy’s deep immersion into imaginary worlds. They bridge the magical and the completely ordinary. Perhaps one of us, by reading beautifully, could vanish into the Inkworld. And another could stare into the painting of a ship and be drawn suddenly aboard the Dawn Treader.

Examples of Portal Fantasy

My favorite portal fantasy is Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. It’s an adult fantasy about Ivan, a modern-day scholar who crosses a bridge into medieval Russia, where he meets a princess and must help her defeat Baba Yaga. Coming from a cross-cultural background, I love Card’s treatment of the cultural tensions and misunderstandings between the two main characters.

One of the most well-known portal fantasy series is the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In the first books, the Pevensie siblings travel through a magic wardrobe into the land of Narnia, where they help defeat the White Witch.

Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart series is a standby. What better way to enter a book world than through the power of language itself?

Guy Gavriel Kay, another seminal fantasy author, wrote a portal fantasy trilogy called The Fionavar Tapestry. In the books, five university students from Toronto travel to the magical world of Fionavar, where they are caught up in a mythic conflict.

7. Political Fantasy

Political fantasy books are about power and intrigue, the subtle machinations of governance, courts, empires, and countries. Despotic sorcerer kings, court scheming, military campaigns, and rebellious plots abound.

I love the quiet tensions, the incremental shifts in power, the bold coups, and the dialogue brimming with subtext and verbal ripostes. At its best, it shows the complexities of governance, the masks we put on, and the human longings that lie beneath.

Several of my favorite books fall under this umbrella.

Examples of Political Fantasy

The Goblin Emperor is a political fantasy through and through. So is The Queen’s Thief series (another favorite), especially The Queen of Attolia (book 2), The King of Attolia (book 3), and Return of the Thief (book six). 

Crown Duel, the second book in Sherwood Smith’s Crown Duel duet, is another of my political fantasy standbys. Spunky Meliara Astiar is probably the most unsubtle character you can ask for (her go-to behavior is to run at things with sticks and say whatever crosses her mind), so placing her at court leads to some fabulous mishaps.

Other political fantasies I’ve enjoyed include Sherwood Smith’s Inda Series, and Guy Gavriel Kay’s The Sarantine Mosaic or standalone Tigana. All are excellent reads.

8. Dark Fantasy

Darkness, monsters, death, gore, fear, and foreboding are common characteristics of the subgenre. The characters may be complex with ambiguous morals, tortured heroes, or even villains. I don’t mind the move away from stark black and white, tales of good vs evil. I think it’s important to explore a state closer to reality.

Confession time: this is a subgenre I’ve only dipped my toes into. Dark fantasy merges fantasy with horror, and horror is not my go-to vibe. But… I have read a few. It’s good to mix things up now and then. And some people love dark fantasy. You might too.

Examples of Dark Fantasy

So, what dark fantasy books have I read and liked? Gideon the Ninth has a science fiction vibe and is about necromancers and their cavaliers (badass protectors) who have to solve a mystery in a decaying pocket world. The black humor and unique voice of the main character make this a standout book. I enjoyed it and would recommend it, even if the blood, guts, and blobs of fat grossed me out.

Vespertine is a young adult dark fantasy about Artemisia, a socially awkward teen with a traumatic past who has to defend her convent against the dead by wielding a relic possessed by a malevolent spirit. The setting is gritty, gray, and populated by corpses, but I enjoyed the character interactions, humorous breaks, and the snarky tone of the malevolent spirit.

The Witcher is probably one of the most well-known dark fantasy series out there, with monster hunting, moral ambiguity, violence, corruption, and a grim yet likable antihero. Although I liked the stories, they do have explicit sexual content, which was a detractor for me.

9. Paranormal Fantasy

Vampires, werewolves, warlocks, shadowhunters, demons, ghosts, and angels… It’s paranormal fantasy, popularized by the Twilight series (which, don’t shoot me, I haven’t read.) Paranormal fantasy is a subset of Urban fantasy, so they take place on our world, but are shot through with the supernatural.

Here you might strike up an uneasy alliance with a vampire named Moriarty, learn to draw powerful runes in the fight against demons, speak with ghosts, and traverse energy lines in search of Welsh kings.

Examples of Paranormal Fantasy

Despite not reading Twilight, I have read and liked The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Demon hunters in modern-day New York City, anyone?

 Another I’ve read is The Angel of the Crows, which is Sherlock Holmes-esque with a Paranormal twist, including angels, vampires, and other mythical creatures set in an alternate version of London.

For something a bit lighter and perfectly delightful, I recommend The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It is loosely based on The Jungle Book, but the little boy is raised by ghosts. It’s so well done that it won both the Newbery Medal and the Carnegie Medal—the first time both medals were awarded to the same book.

10. Romantasy

All the rage these days, romantasy is a mashup of the romance and fantasy genres. The term is new, but fantasy romance books have been around a long time. So what exactly is romantasy? Well, as with lots of things in the literary world, definitions are subjective.

I appreciated M. K. Lobb’s thoughts on this subgenre, and her suggestion that in a romantasy, the romance provides “a specific and captivating set of internal stakes” and that the plots often, “follow the traditional romance ‘beats,’ even if you’re not promised that happy ending!” (Beats are shifts in the plot or emotion of a story.)

Examples of Romantasy

While I enjoy romance subplots, romantasy, especially spicy romance, isn’t my jam. However, I have read Fourth Wing by Jessica Yaros and the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. They are highly popular series worth checking out if you don’t mind explicit scenes.

You can find lots of romantasy recommendations in online book communities and forums.

11. Sword and Sorcery

Small, personal stakes, sword-wielding rogues with questionable morals, a gritty vibe, and fast-paced action characterize sword and sorcery. The quests may not always succeed, love is easy but not necessarily lasting, and magic may be a danger to those who wield it.

Although sword and sorcery can take place in invented worlds, it focuses on the personal goals of one or two characters rather than the world-sweeping stakes and huge casts of characters of epic fantasy. The plots are straightforward, the technology is medieval as a rule, and the sorcery is usually nefarious.

Examples of Sword and Sorcery

Robert E. Howard kicked off this subgenre in the 1930s with his Conan the Barbarian pulp fiction stories (which I haven’t read yet).

Books I’ve read in this subgenre include Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock (one of the influential authors of sword and sorcery) and some of The Witcher books, which are also listed under dark fantasy.

12. Cozy Fantasy

Have you noticed that certain subgenres are all about settings, others are about scope, and others are about plot devices or the presence of particular creatures? Other subgenres zoom in on the emotional effect. 

So, what do you think of when I say the word “cozy”? I picture curling up in super soft blankets in front of a fireplace with hot butterbeer, a book, and a plate of Welsh Griddle cakes while fog drifts past the windows. Some Christmas lights wouldn’t hurt.

Cozy fantasy books embody the cozy vibe. They promise a certain kind of emotion: warmth, comfort, nothing too taxing, and are ultimately relational. The amount of conflict in a cozy can vary, but these books strive to maintain equilibrium between slice-of-life scenes and conflict.

If you’re the kind of person who avoids books because you don’t want to stay up all night reading (a valid fear), cozy fantasy could be perfect for you. In my limited experience, they are easy to pick up, not too hard to put down, and sort of… peaceful.

Examples of Cozy Fantasy

I’ve barely dipped my toes into cozy fantasy, though I’m not opposed to reading more. The only book I’ve read so far that I’m sure lands in this subgenre has been C.J. Klune’s House on the Cerulean Sea.

Although Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones includes some elements of danger and conflict, it is a fun adventure tale that is lighthearted enough to qualify as cozy, in my opinion. So does Brandon Sanderson’s Tress of the Emerald Sea, a whimsical tale of a girl who goes on a sea voyage to rescue her friend from an evil sorceress.

13. Mythic Fantasy

Here be fairies, creatures you’ve only heard about around the campfire at night or from the strange old crone with an unusual herb garden and eyes that have seen more than you can ever know.

Magic and myth mingle in mythic fantasy. Here you’ll encounter worlds populated by Greek and Roman gods, retellings of Norse myths, and series inspired by Slavic fairy tales.

Books in this subgenre draw from the legends, folklore, and deities of cultures around the world, from the Aztecs to the Chinese to the Irish, and everything in between. Mythic fantasy offers fresh takes on familiar stories, as well as fascinating introductions to different worldviews and belief systems you may not have encountered before.

Examples of Mythic Fantasy

One famous example of mythic fantasy is the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. They are quite fun.

Books I’ve loved in this subgenre include The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw, about a human changeling who doesn’t fit among the Folk or among humans and how she finds her way. Another favorite is Katherine Arden’s The Winternight Trilogy, which is set in Medieval Russia and draws inspiration from Slavic folklore and deities.

I also enjoyed Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Enchantment by Orson Scott Card probably fits in this genre as well, since Baba Yaga is the villain and there are several nods to Alexander the Great.

14. Historical Fantasy

If you’ve ever wished you could go back in time and change a historical event, you might love historical fiction. As you can guess, historical fantasy, much like historical fiction, is set during a particular historical period, and can involve real people, places, or events, but aside from that, pretty much anything goes. Magic, dragons, werewolves, battalions of sorcerers.

Examples of Historical Fiction

There are different approaches to historical fantasy, which writer E.S. Foster explains as follows: 

1. Those that take place during a specific period in history, like Novik’s Temeraire series about the Napoleonic wars with dragons (which I haven’t read but hear is good).

2. Stories that propose an alternate history, like Nadine Brandes Fawkes. I just read this recently and enjoyed it. It’s about the Gunpowder Plot, but the historical event takes place for magical reasons.

3. Lastly, they can include stories that interact with the historical world and a fantasy world, but separately (like C.S. Lewis’ portal fantasy where the Pevensie children leave WWII England and travel to Narnia).

If you enjoy viking stories with a strong focus on romance, you might enjoy Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young.

15. Fairy Tale Fantasy

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a young girl named Cinderella. Unfortunately, her mother had passed away, leaving her alone with her selfish stepmother and stepsisters… cue the singing mice, fairy godmother, pumpkins, and glass slippers.

Fairy tale fantasy includes classic fairy tales like Cinderella it also includes the whole realm of spinoffs and offshoots, and retellings. While mythic fantasy tends toward grandeur, I think of fairy tale fantasy as more grounded and whimsical, though they don’t necessarily have to be. Most of Grimm’s fairy tales are… well, grim.

I enjoy the light reads and twists on familiar tales afforded by this subgenre.

Examples of Fairy Tale Fantasy

For light fun reads that are very “fairy tale-esque”, check out Gail Carson Levine’s fairy-tale rewrites, including Ella Enchanted and Fairest. I’ve also really enjoyed Shannon Hale’s books, including The Goose Girl and Enna Burning.

My favorite of Hale’s novels is Book of a Thousand Days, which is loosely based on Grimm’s Fairy Tale about Maid Maleen, but is set in a secondary world inspired by Mongolia. How cool is that? I’ve read it many times, and it never gets old.

Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver is another fairy-tale fantasy worth checking out.

16. Nautical Fantasy

Salty breezes, sinewy sea beasts, enchanted islands, pirates, and scrambling in the rigging—find it in nautical fantasy. If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing the high seas, felt the allure of the ocean, or wanted to dive for treasure, you’ll love this subgenre.

I love nautical fantasy and need to find more books that take place at sea. The ocean is a world of its own, after all, full of dangers and the potential for high stakes conflict. Perhaps it has some cross-over with political fiction, too, since a ship at sea is a kingdom unto itself.

Examples of Nautical Fantasy

Here are a few of my favorites: The Liveship Traders series is a fantastic adult epic fantasy series about sentient ships, pirates, magic, and mystical islands.

Although the first book in Sherwood Smith’s Inda series takes place on land, the remaining three take place on the high seas, complete with politics, sea battles, and epic strategy. I highly recommend them! I found them so engrossing that it was hard to sleep… so maybe read them when you’re on vacation.

For a less epic and more personal story, Brandon Sanderson’s standalone novel Tress of the Emerald Sea is a fun easy read.

Fable by Adrienne Young is also set mostly at sea. It’s been quite a while since I read it, but I remember liking the unique setting, especially the more Caribbean vibe. Parts of the plot didn’t land for me, but it’s worth checking out if you enjoy young adult books. 

17. Academy Fantasy/Dark Academia

As you can guess by the name, academy fantasies take place in schools or academies. These are the books where we take potions class with Severus Snape (though I’d much rather Charms with Professor Flitwick or Herbology with Professor Sprout), complain about foot-long essays, convince strange school libraries to give us their most valuable tomes, and are turned into geese by our teachers.

We’ve all been students, harped about homework, had teachers we didn’t get on with (and others we did), and had to muddle through exams. Academy fantasy takes the familiar world of academics and transports it, making it more awful or more fun, or at least more fantastical. For people still in the throes of student-hood, there is a resonance among the pages. For the rest of us, there’s recognition, the spark of old memories, maybe a modicum of nostalgia.

Examples of Academy Fantasy

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Harry Potter series here, which is the most famous example. (I reread these shortly before writing this, and ah, they’re so good!)

Another book I love in this subgenre is A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith. It’s the military academy prequel to Crown Duel with nods to the Inda series, cross-cultural tensions, and great characterization.

For hilarious, dark-humored YA with a grouchy heroine that will steal your heart, look no further than The Scholomance Trilogy by Naomi Novik. Galadriel “El” Higgins is a half-Welsh, half-Indian sorceress with a chip on her shoulder and one goal: survive through graduation. (Here be monsters)

The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale is a light, fairytale-esque academy fantasy.

Dark Academia is the gothic cousin of academy fantasy. I haven’t read many books in this subgenre, unless Magicians by Lev Grossman and The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake count. I didn’t care much for either, mostly because I didn’t like the characters, but I’m not opposed to trying other books of a similar flavor.

18. Roguish Fantasy

Spies, thieves, pirates, assassins, and con artists let us live alternate lives, and you can find them all in roguish fantasy. These characters have often lived tough lives, been forced into morally compromised choices, or simply enjoy playing fast and loose with the rules and conventions of society.

They have a penchant for being unpredictable, getting into and out of frying-pan-to-fire situations, often have wits as sharp as their blades, are funny, charming, and capable. Not many of us could climb to the top of impenetrable towers to steal the loot out from under a sleeping monarch’s nose. And there’s part of us that can’t help admiring their feats. Plus, they are usually on the outskirts, the world is against them, and maybe they are waging solo wars in the only ways they can.

Examples of Roguish Fantasy

If you love heist stories, check out the Riyria Revelations series by Michael J. Sullivan. They are my favorite books in this subgenre. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo was a lot of fun and involved a heist as well.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a roguish fantasy revenge story about con men and thieves. (I’m not a big fan of revenge stories, but it was well done.)

Assassin stories I’ve read and enjoyed include the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

19. Comic Fantasy

We all need more laughter in our lives, and what better way to add a dose of endorphins than through comic fantasy? This subgenre encompasses the comedic, the light-hearted, the downright ridiculous, and the satirical. Just like I sometimes crave a funny movie, I love funny books with hints of the absurd, hilarious quips, and characters who bring tears of laughter to our eyes.

Examples of Comic Fantasy

Let’s all take our hats off to Sir Terry Pratchett. His Discworld novels are a universe unto themselves. I won’t go into which ones to read first and where to start because it’s too complicated to go into here. But please read some Pratchett. Guards! Guards! is my favorite of his so far.

Brandon Sanderson’s middle-grade fiction series Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians is also hilarious, ridiculous, weird, and wonderful. The chapter titles alone make this a gem. Seriously. I laughed out loud.

20. Medieval

Knights, castles, swords, feudal systems, quests, serfs, bards, and overlords—find all these and more in medieval fantasy. If you’ve ever dreamed of snarfing down hunks of black bread, oiling your chain mail, jousting, or pilfering a Lord’s pockets, the world of medieval fantasy has all this and more. There may be evil nights, dragons, magic swords, and dark lords.

These books are set in the Middle Ages, or in worlds that resemble the Middle Ages in terms of aesthetics, governments, class systems, and technology.

Examples of Medieval Fantasy

Lots of high fantasy books are Medieval, including The Lord of the Rings series, Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain, and the more recent The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

I also loved George McDonald’s children’s book, The Princess and the Goblin.

21. Gaslamp

Are you craving the delicate manners and horse-drawn carriages of the Victorian era, plus or minus hoop skirts? Enter Gaslamp fantasy.

This subgenre is all about Victorian-era vibes complete with historical settings, man servants, and strict standards of etiquette. These books may also have paranormal creatures, a gothic feel, and interweavings of magic.

Examples of Gaslamp Fantasy

Some gaslamp fantasy novels I’ve read and enjoyed include The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare (demon hunters in 1870s London), The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison (paranormal Sherlock Holmes), and The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman (dragons and alternate Victorian-esque worlds).

22. Steampunk

Sometimes, I want to read about sword-wielding warriors, and other times I think it’d be fun to enter a world of clockwork machines, airships, and pneumatic tubes.

Much like Gaslamp, steampunk fantasy is also inspired by Victorian-era settings, but the feel is less gothic and supernatural and more whimsical, adventurous, or dystopian. The technology in steampunk worlds can include airships, clockwork creatures or devices, steam technology, pneumatic tubes, goggles, and of course, some fantastical elements.

Examples of Steampunk Fantasy

I haven’t read a ton in this genre, but a series I enjoyed is Kenneth Oppel’s Airborn saga. It’s set in an alternate past with airships instead of airplanes. Protagonists Matt and Kate enjoy an airborne adventure that involves discovering fantasy creatures, combating pirates, and hunting for treasure.

23. Grimdark Fantasy

Grimdark = Grim/powerless characters and dark worlds. One person cannot make a significant difference.

Before we end… let’s chat about some additional subgenres you might encounter. These embody a certain ideal, and often, that ideal or worldview is written into the fabric of the fantasy world itself. They ask philosophical questions: Is the world ultimately dark or bright? Are we capable of effecting heroic change, or any change at all?

Disclaimer: These subgenres caused me the most trouble to define because there are A LOT of conflicting definitions and classifications. I saw the same book listed as either grimdark or grimbright, and others claimed by some as noblebright and as others as nobledark. I’ve done my best.

First stop: Grimdark.

The name says it all. Grimdark invites readers into worlds that are broken, violent, gray, and hostile. They are often about survival, corruption, and flawed protagonists. To win, the characters descend to the level of the villain.

In Grimdark, the world is bleak, humanity is cutthroat, and we embrace hopelessness and our “splendid destruction.”

Sound fun?

Not so much to me, but it’s a popular subgenre.

Examples of Grimdark Fantasy

Although I haven’t read them, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is on all the Grimdark book lists I encountered while researching this post.

24. Noblebright

Noblebright = Noble/heroic characters in bright worlds. A single hero can significantly alter world events.

On the opposite side of the spectrum from Grimdark, we have Noblebright. These worlds inspire awe and are filled with breathtaking landscapes and magical creatures. Although there is darkness and evil, virtuous heroes prevail. Love, hope, and redemption win out through noble sacrifices.

Examples of Noblebright Fantasy

This term was coined by author C.J. Brightly, so if you’re interested in this subgenre, exploring her books is probably a good place to start. (I haven’t read her yet myself.)

Much classic fantasy is considered noblebright, including The Chronicles of Narnia, The Chronicles of Prydain, and The Lord of the Rings.

25. Grimbright

Grimbright = Grim characters in a bright world. Characters fight for a better tomorrow, but can’t effect huge change.

To give people ways of describing stories that fall somewhere on the spectrum between Grimdark and Noblebright, we get two additional subgenres: grimbright and nobledark.

If your brain is spinning right now, I feel you! This article proved helpful in differentiating these subgenres.

In Grimbright, though the worlds are still dark, bleak, and broken, there’s still a moral grounding, a fight for good. Sacrifices mean something, justice exists, and the characters fight for change, but there’s a limit to what they can accomplish.

26. Nobledark

Noblebright = Noble/Heroic characters in a dark world. A single hero can significantly alter world events.

So, what’s nobledark? Author Jon Cronshaw says Nobledark stories are ones “where the hero, despite being dragged through the mud, still believes in a better tomorrow.”

I reckon The Witcher fits under this category because he tries to follow a moral compass, he has values, and his efforts on Ciri’s behalf make a difference. Granted, I didn’t read all the books, so I’m basing this on the ones I’ve read.

27. Hopepunk

Hopepunk is an emerging subgenre, and only time will tell if the term will stick around or if it’s too ambiguous to last, especially since it, too, has been called “the opposite of grimdark.” Confusing much?

This term was coined by author Alexandra Rowland, but definitions vary, so let me tell you what I think hopepunk is, and why I like it.

I think it’s clear to all of us how messed up and broken the world is. But that’s not all there is. There is beauty, and things worth fighting for. So even though we can look at the world and despair, hopepunk invites us to have a different response.

What if we decided that the very act of fighting for change is worthwhile? What if we looked the problem in the eye, linked arms, and tried to solve whatever small part of it we can? What if we summoned our guts and rage, refused to retreat, became resilient, and believed that even though the world isn’t perfect, it can be better?

That to me is hopepunk.

It’s less idealistic and black-and-white than noblebright, it rejects the despair and cynicism of grimdark, and instead, rebelliously embraces hope. But maybe it’s just an edgier version of noblebright? Join my Facebook group and tell me what you think!

Examples of Hopepunk Fantasy

As I mentioned in my intro, I found one of my favorite books thanks to the term “hopepunk,” so it’ll always hold a soft spot in my heart. That book is The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison.

Rowland, who coined the term, cites the character of Sam Vines in Terry Pratchett’s Guards! Guards! As the quintessential example of Hopepunk in an interview with Den of Geek:

“He’s tired, he’s flawed, he’s jaded and cynical… And yet he still, right at the basement foundations of his heart, believes in something. He gets out of the ditch, sobers up, gets his life in order. He holds onto his principles with a white-knuckled grip because he knows how easily they could slip away from him. He knows how easy and comfortable it would be to let himself become corrupted by his cynicism. But he stands up, sometimes against whole armies, and refuses to budge from what he knows is right and just. He is the very embodiment of: “No, you move.” And they do. The whole world does.” 

How Subgenres Helped Me Find A New Favorite Book

Last year, I found one of my new favorite books thanks to a subgenre list.

I was reading through and noticed a subgenre I’d never heard of before. Hopepunk? What is that? Intrigued, I found a list of books categorized as hopepunk and checked out The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison from my library app.

I read it once. Then, I immediately read it a second time (rare in itself). Next, I listened to the audiobook. I loved it. I added the paperback version to my Christmas wishlist, and my parents got it for me. So, of course, I read it again. And listened to the audiobook again, cause why not? From January to March, I re-read my favorite sections before bed each night.

In short, I was obsessed. It was fantastic. That book has been a comfort and a joy to me ever since I discovered it. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read it now. And although I’m not currently re-reading it obsessively, it’s on my shelf whenever I need it.

That, my friends, is the power of subgenres. And subgenre lists. And if you want to go even further, you can search for tropes as well.

Subgenres vs Tropes

If we think of subgenres as sub-categories of fantasy with particular flavor profiles, (like Italian, Caribbean, or Chinese are sub-categories in the realm of cuisine), we can think of tropes as the common ingredients that we find across a wide range of novels.

For example, the protagonists in many fantasy and young adult books are orphans. Because this story element is common across lots of books in the genre, it is considered a trope. And if it’s a trope you like, you can search for books with that particular story element. Or, if you are up-to-your-ears in orphan books, you might prefer a book that doesn’t include that ingredient.

Not all readers like to look for books this way, but others do.

Using tropes to search for books is no different than Googling a soup recipe that will use up the bean sprouts in danger of going bad in your fridge. Or requesting a focaccia recipe that includes rosemary and Dijon mustard because that sounds good to you right now. Or saying, “I want a pizza, but make it a bacon pesto sprinkled with smoked chile flakes.”

I’m a big fan of the “found family” trope, so when I’m perusing book lists or asking for recommendations, I might say something like, “I would love to read a nautical adventure fantasy with found family and a forced proximity romance subplot.” And somebody might be able to recommend one to me.

Cool, right?

FAQs

What genre is fantasy in the real world?

Fantasy novels set in the real world are low fantasy. These stories take place in the real world, where magic is and other fantastical elements exist, but are often hidden. Additional subgenres in the real world include historical, gaslamp, steampunk, urban, and paranormal.

Made It This Far? Here’s a Quick Win

The subgenres of fantasy can be hard to define with exactness, especially as new ones emerge, fuse, and spark variations. But don’t stress about it. In the end, they’re nothing more than search terms to help us describe our reading preferences so we can find the books we like, recommend books to others, and discover new flavors of fantasy we’d like to try.

Being able to say, “This book is a political steampunk-inspired high fantasy with personal stakes,” only matters if saying that inspires you to read it (or prevents you from reading it because you know you’d hate it).

An intro to some of my favorite subgenres:

This list of five young adult fantasy series includes political fantasy, academy fantasy, mythic fantasy, epic dystopian high fantasy, and a western-inspired high fantasy adventure series: