Recs if you like The Thief...

books that are so changed by the end that they're entirely different books on the re-read. books best entered blind, with a twist or gradual reveal that is not just surprising, but retroactively rewrites everything you've already read – the meaning, tone, genre, or intention of every page before it.

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."

recs so so welcome!

A list of First books in Fantasy series (or standalones) published in 1980s-2000s written by female authors. Many of these authors are/were prolific writers so most additions are limited to their debut book or most popular series. Go read more by these authors!

Fantasy titles that have become foundational to the genre and/or that are considered fantasy classics, written by women. Always open to suggestions!

Books where one of the main character(s) pretends to be someone they’re not—literally. Always open to suggestions!

less of the usual culprits if you please!

This list is for stories about stories, including the more obvious "books-about-books", but also books about who gets to tell stories, what versions of stories become "truth", and other story-based themes. *While not intended to be strictly fantasy, this list does lean heavily into this genre due to my personal reading tastes. **Suggestions welcome!

If you tell me it's political fantasy, I don't need to hear more, thank you

(I might add a few historical fiction as well if it's heavily political -in my opinion, or if it's recommended as such)

Unreliable narrator, my beloved (Fantasy edition)

fiction books with a main character or featured side character that fits the D&D Rogue class (or at least mostly vibes that way)! here for the sneaking, the out-witting, the dastardly plotting. open to any recs and input!

July is Disability Pride Month! Here's a big pile of books with disabled characters. All the books also have at least one queer character, and in most cases, the queer character and the disabled character are one and the same. (There are a few non-fiction titles in the mix as well; representation for queerness may be subtext/interpreted). (This list is presented by Duck Prints Press, the indie publisher focused on publishing queer art and stories by queer creators! A group of us collaborate to make these recommendations.)

As the name suggests this list is for my beloved fantasy thieves and criminals, lying, cheating, charming, their way out of situations. Yet we root for them, we love them.

Aka my favourite fantasy subgenre where we get both magic and intricate plannings to pull off something previously thought impossible (usually a break-in of some kind) and often everything then turns out to be much more complicated than previously thought

(For series I only included the first book of each)

Though there's plenty of names here that you'll recognize! I enjoyed plenty of these as a kid and wanted to share them, especially since most of these authors have other books that get more attention. Plus, books by smaller authors. How many did you read?

Books with iconic and crazy twists

Books featuring enclosed and dark settings. Claustrophobic much?

What it says on the tin. I've heard truly excellent things about all of these, so maybe give them a try if you haven't yet?

Complete as of August 2026.

there may be dark moments but the warm fuzzies prevail in these speculative novels ✨ note many of these are series!

Books that were nominated for the John Newbery Medal for distinguished contributions to juvenile literature but did not win Currently lists nominees up to 2024