What Are the Characteristics of the Best Fiction Fantasy Books?

Often, they have a made - up world. For example, in 'The Lord of the Rings', Middle - earth is a fully - fledged world with its own history, languages, and cultures. Magic also plays a big part. In 'Harry Potter', there are spells and potions. And they usually have unique creatures. Think of the dragons in 'Eragon' or the faeries in 'The Cruel Prince'.

Fantasy fiction books often have magical elements, like spells and mythical creatures. They also usually take place in made-up worlds that are very different from ours.

The writing styles can be quite diverse. Some might be more straightforward in their narration, while others, like 'Ulysses', are highly experimental with stream - of - consciousness techniques. This variety in style allows for different ways of exploring the human condition during that era.

Many of them are quite diverse in terms of themes. For example, some focus on social issues like inequality, while others are more about personal growth and self - discovery.

A common characteristic is also the exploration of important social or cultural issues. 'The Nickel Boys' delves deep into the issue of systemic racism and abuse in the reform school system. These books don't shy away from difficult topics and use the power of storytelling to make readers think about these problems. In addition, the writing styles are diverse. Some are written in a more traditional narrative style like 'The Testaments', while others like 'Daisy Jones & The Six' use unique formats to tell their stories.

One characteristic of the best 2017 fiction books was their ability to engage the reader on an emotional level. Books like 'Sing, Unburied, Sing' made the reader feel the pain, love, and hope of the characters. Another was their exploration of relevant social and political issues. 'The Underground Railroad' was a powerful commentary on the history of slavery in America. And many of these books had a high level of literary craftsmanship, with beautiful prose and well - crafted plots, as seen in 'A Gentleman in Moscow'.

One characteristic is the presence of dark themes. These can include things like death, destruction, and moral ambiguity. For example, in 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, characters often face difficult moral choices. Another is the use of magic or supernatural elements in a way that is often not as bright and shiny as in traditional fantasy. In 'The Kingkiller Chronicle', the magic has a certain mystery and danger to it. Also, the settings are usually more on the gritty and gloomy side, like the post - apocalyptic world in 'The Road' which has some dark fantasy elements.

Gay fantasy books in fantasy fiction often break traditional gender norms. In these stories, male and female characters may not conform to the typical roles society assigns them. The magic systems can also be unique in relation to the gay characters. For instance, in some books, a character's sexual orientation might be linked to their magical abilities or how they interact with the magic in the world. Also, these books usually have strong themes of acceptance and self - discovery, as the gay characters navigate their identities in a world that may or may not be accepting, like in 'Red, White & Royal Blue' where the two main characters have to deal with public perception of their relationship.

Some of the best fantasy fiction books include 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has a richly detailed world, complex characters, and an epic battle between good and evil. Another great one is 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling. It's loved for its magical school setting, relatable characters, and the coming - of - age story of Harry. Also, 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin is popular. It has a complex web of politics, power struggles, and a large cast of characters in a medieval - like fantasy world.

Some top fantasy fiction books include 'The Hobbit' also by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a more accessible prequel to 'The Lord of the Rings' with a fun adventure. 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman is another. It weaves together modern and ancient mythology in a very interesting way. 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss is great too. It has a very engaging narrator and a world full of mystery and magic.