BookNook's Top 10 Fantasy Books for 2025:
- Book Nook Retreats
- May 15
- 5 min read
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Plot Overview: Violet Sorrengail, born for a quiet life with books, suddenly finds herself thrown into the brutal world of dragon riders at Basgiath War College. With fierce trials, political tension, and jaw-dropping twists, this one’s an emotional rollercoaster.
Why We Recommend It: Ohhh, this one had us hooked. Pen says she was hesitant to read this one at first "Dragons are just not my cup of tea" but after being convinced to try a genre she normally pick up in the bookshop, she's now obsessed (IYKYK). We call it our number 1 for 2025. Think “Hunger Games” meets “How to Train Your Dragon” but with more spice and SO much tension. Violet is such a layered character, and the enemies-to-lovers vibe? Chef’s kiss. If you're into morally grey characters, political drama, and dragons, this book was practically made for you. We stayed up way past our bedtime reading this one and had to binge read the rest of the series immediately!
Ratings:
Smut: ★★★★☆
Romance: ★★★★☆
Storyline: ★★★★★
2. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Plot Overview: In a world threatened by a dark force, Queen Sabran must bear a child to secure her realm. Across the land, magic users and dragonriders are being drawn into a battle that spans continents, cultures, and faiths.
Why We Recommend It:This is epic fantasy at its finest. The kind of story you fall into and emerge from days later, a little stunned. There’s LGBTQ+ rep, amazing worldbuilding, and dragons (again – we love dragons). It’s a chunky read, perfect for a reading retreat weekend. Bring snacks and settle in.
Ratings:
Smut: ★★☆☆☆
Romance: ★★★☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★★
3. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Plot Overview:Zachary finds a mysterious book that leads him to an underground world full of stories, keys, bees, and doors that open to other lives. It’s a love letter to storytelling itself.
Why We Recommend It: Dreamy, lyrical, and a little bit magical. This one feels like wandering through a labyrinth in a velvet dressing gown, candle in hand. We loved how poetic it was—perfect if you like your books on the mysterious and mind-bendy side. Best enjoyed slowly, maybe by a crackling fire.
Ratings:
Smut: ★☆☆☆☆
Romance: ★★★☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★☆
4. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Plot Overview: Kvothe, a gifted but troubled figure, tells the tale of how he became a legend—from his tragic childhood to the legendary school of magic and beyond.
Why We Recommend It:If you love deep lore, poetic writing, and character-driven stories, this is a must. We adore Kvothe’s voice—funny, tragic, clever—and there’s a quiet beauty to the way Rothfuss writes. Definitely one to sink into.
Ratings:
Smut: ★★☆☆☆
Romance: ★★★☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★★
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Plot Overview: After killing a faerie wolf, Feyre is taken to a magical realm as punishment—only to find that not all is what it seems, and love may bloom where she least expects it.
Why We Recommend It: Is there ever one of these lists where ACOTAR isn't mentioned? This one has everything: brooding fae, forbidden love, magic, curses, and steamy scenes that had us blushing behind our bookmarks. It’s fairy-tale inspired but very much its own beast. This is our go-to comfort read on a rainy retreat day.
Ratings:
Smut: ★★★★☆
Romance: ★★★★★
Storyline: ★★★★☆
6. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Plot Overview: Viv the orc hangs up her sword to open a coffee shop in a city that’s never even tasted a latte. Cosy fantasy ensues.
Why We Recommend It: We adored this gentle, low-stakes read. It’s got found family, baked goods, and a sprinkle of romance. This one feels like a warm hug in book form—ideal for curling up with in a window nook at one of our retreats.
Ratings:
Smut: ★☆☆☆☆
Romance: ★★☆☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★☆
7. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Plot Overview: Six talented magicians are invited to compete for entry into the secretive Alexandrian Society. Only five will make it. Alliances form, tensions rise, and secrets unravel.
Why We Recommend It: Think "Dark Academia with a twist." This one’s a little chaotic in the best way—intelligent characters, magical ethics debates, and a fair amount of betrayal. Perfect if you like morally grey characters and clever dialogue. One of our retreat faves to spark discussion.
Ratings:
Smut: ★★★☆☆
Romance: ★★★☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★☆
8. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Plot Overview: Three sisters reunite in 1893 New Salem, bringing forgotten magic back into the world as part of the suffragist movement.
Why We Recommend It: We loved the sisterhood, the spells hidden in nursery rhymes, and the fierce, feminist magic. It’s historical fantasy with teeth, and it hit us right in the feels. Especially great if you want a story about reclaiming power.
Ratings:
Smut: ★☆☆☆☆
Romance: ★★☆☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★☆
9. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Plot Overview: Alina, a mapmaker, discovers a powerful magic within herself that could save her war-torn nation. But as she trains with the magical elite, dark forces begin to stir.
Why We Recommend It: Classic YA fantasy with magic, mystery, and an unforgettable villain (you’ll know who we mean). This one’s a great entry point into Bardugo’s Grishaverse, and it's great to buddy read on retreat—lots to chat about!
Ratings:
Smut: ★★☆☆☆
Romance: ★★★☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★☆
10. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Plot Overview: Bilbo Baggins embarks on an unexpected journey to reclaim a treasure from the dragon Smaug, meeting trolls, goblins, and a very curious creature along the way.
Why We Recommend It: An all-time classic. Cosy, humorous, and full of heart. Reading this at BookNook with tea and a blanket is an experience we think everyone should have at least once. It’s the book that launched a thousand adventures.
Ratings:
Smut: ★☆☆☆☆
Romance: ★☆☆☆☆
Storyline: ★★★★★
✨ Final Thoughts
Fantasy books have a magical way of sweeping us away from the real world and wrapping us up in adventures, quests, dragons, and a healthy dose of heartache and heroism. Whether you're new to the genre or a seasoned fantasy reader, we hope this list helps you discover something new, comforting, or completely epic to dive into.
At BookNook Retreats, we don’t just read books—we live in them. These are the titles we’d curl up with on a rainy retreat afternoon, hot cuppa in hand, surrounded by the scent of old paper and woodsmoke… or in the sun at one of our retreats, stretched out on a blanket with a book you just can’t put down. If you pick up any of these, do let us know—we love hearing what you’re reading too!
Happy reading, and may your next book be unputdownable 🐉📚✨
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