Collider has ranked the best fantasy books of the past decade, and the list runs from hopeful family drama to post-apocalyptic dungeon crawls. The 10 Best Fantasy Books of the Past 10 Years, Ranked is a mix of YA hits, veteran authors and standalone novels that refuse sequels.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) leads the list. Linus Baker, an employee of the Department of Magical Youths, investigates an orphanage rumored to be dangerous. He falls for the caretaker and learns about himself along the way. The book is hopeful and playful, bending genre rules rather than following them.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl (2020) earns the ninth spot. It’s a LitRPG novel set on a post-apocalyptic Earth destroyed by an evil alien corporation. Survivors enter an 18-level dungeon crawl inspired by old-school role-playing games. The book is intentionally chaotic and satirical, yet it carries depth beneath the parody.
Children of Blood and Bone
Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone (2018) opens the YA trilogy that launched her career. Set in Orïsha, inspired by Nigeria and West Africa, the story divides society into the magical Divîners and the iron-fisted Kosidán. After her village is attacked, a young DivÎner girl named Zélie fights to bring magic back. Adeyemi scored a Jimmy Fallon appearance and a major movie deal, with the first film due soon.
Crossroads of Ravens
Andrzej Sapkowski’s Crossroads of Ravens (2024) is the newest entry in the Witcher franchise, serving as a prequel to the character’s early days. It focuses on a young Geralt of Rivia before he became a Witcher. The book was nominated for the Janusz A. Zajdel Award, reserved for the best Polish fantasy writers.
The Jasmine Throne
Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne (2021) starts the Burning Kingdoms trilogy. Set in a high fantasy world inspired by Ancient India, it tells of an empire in chaos and a spreading disease. The story warns about the costs of absolute power. It became a hit on social media.
The Burning God
The fifth spot goes to The Burning God (2020). Collider does not name the author of this entry, but it remains one of the decade’s standout fantasy releases.
What the List Shows
The ranking moves from hopeful to cynical, from cozy to satirical. It includes standalone novels and series openers. The common thread is quality, not market dominance.
The list reflects a decade when fantasy surged in popularity.
Our View
This is a list worth reading. It rewards curiosity rather than familiarity, mixing genres and tones without losing focus. The inclusion of Dungeon Crawler Carl alongside The House in the Cerulean Sea shows the genre’s range.
The ranking is available at collider.com, where all ten entries are listed in full.
Key Facts Box
- The House in the Cerulean Sea: #1, T.J. Klune, 2020
- Dungeon Crawler Carl: #9, Matt Dinniman, 2020
- Children of Blood and Bone: #8, Tomi Adeyemi, 2018
- Crossroads of Ravens: #7, Andrzej Sapkowski, 2024
- The Jasmine Throne: #6, Tasha Suri, 2021
- The Burning God: #5, unnamed author, 2020
Notable Entries
- Dungeon Crawler Carl — intentionally non-serious, described as “trashy”
- Children of Blood and Bone — Adeyemi’s first published novel, major movie deal
- Crossroads of Ravens — nominated for the Janusz A. Zajdel Award
- The Jasmine Throne — inspired by Ancient India, praised for authenticity
The ranking is a reminder that fantasy is not one genre. It is many.
Source material: “10 Best Fantasy Books of the Past 10 Years, Ranked,” Collider.
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