This guest post about fantasy audiobooks is written by Sumedha from The Wordy Habitat. Sumedha is a software engineer in India by day and a blogger by night. She aims to create a friendly and comfortable space on the internet through her blog to connect with others and share passions. Check out more of her work on her blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
Fantasy audiobooks are perfect for when you want to get lost in another world.
Many of us read books to escape. Fantasy books with amazing world-building, great characters, and a cool plot never fail at allowing us to lose ourselves their pages. And when listened to as audiobooks? Fantasy books are unmatched.
There are many reasons why one should read audiobooks but one very important reason is that you can close your eyes and completely imagine yourself in that world. With good writing and the right narrators, it is almost as if you’re right in the middle of the book as the main character.
There are several better books out there compared to the mainstream fantasy that everyone is used to. So today you’re going to leave with a whole list of amazing fantasy audiobooks to enjoy.
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9 Fantasy Audiobooks That You Will Love
The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty
The first book in a trilogy, this book follows Nahri as she is suddenly thrown into a magical world with creatures she thought existed only in myths. She is whisked away to Daevabad against her will after being identified as a magical being herself.
Nahri has to use all her known skills, and learn new ones, to survive amongst cunning creatures who view her as a reminder of a legacy.
The writing is perfect to consume the book as an audiobook and the narrator does an incredible job bringing the characters to life.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Losing her cat in a hit-and-run accident is the last straw. Nora doesn’t want to live anymore and takes measures to end it all. But instead of dying, she finds herself in a library where each book is an alternate version of her life. The library contains an infinite number of possibilities and it is hers to choose and decide which life she wants to live in, or if she really wants to die.
A thoughtful and poignant book, The Midnight Library will have you thinking for days after you finish it.
An easy audiobook to lose yourself in as it takes you to multiple places and shows multiple lives.
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
Tarisai has always longed for love and affection from her mother. When her mother demands that she kill the Crown Prince, Tarisai doesn’t question it. But she finally receives the love and affection that she craves from the Prince and other friends. She has to choose between killing the one person who treats her like family or turning her back on her family. And this might not be the only obstacle she has to deal with.
A magical book that will completely transport you and make you feel. The audiobook is top-notch and will get you to add this book to your favourites list.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
A fantasy story born out of legends where characters fight demons and live among regular humans. Bree is still grieving her mother when she moves to a new and prestigious school. When she sees something she isn’t meant to, and almost doesn’t believe, on the first day, her life is changed forever. She gets caught up in the lives of the descendants of King Arthur and his knights and tries to uncover how her mother’s death is related to them. All while trying to survive and prove herself in this new world.
A fantasy story that is steeped with Black history and how Black people are never included in legends or are forcefully removed from them. One that is fast-paced and will take your breath away.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Set in 1889 France, the book follows a group of skilled friends as they track and try to obtain an ancient artefact. Severin wants his inheritance and this may be the key to it. But getting ahold of the artefact is harder than it seems and would require them to pull off an impossible heist in the glittering and cunning world of Exposition Universelle.
This is THE fantasy book to listen to if you’re a lover of heists and found families.
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
A fast-paced and engaging wuxia fantasy with an unlikely group of characters stuck protecting an object who eventually bond and become a found family. This short novella, with the audiobook lasting only 4 hours, is a refreshing fantasy that also talks about spirituality and gender fluidity.
A queer fantasy book that packs a lot in a short amount of time. It is short, refreshing, and surprising.
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Sia’s mother was deported by ICE and then lost her life when walking across the Sonoran. Three years later, Sia is still grappling with grief and guilt. She often sneaks away to a spot in the desert and talks to her dead grandmother (who visits her as a ghost) and dreams of her mother. One night, she notices something shocking that sucks her life into a whirlwind.
A genre-bending Science Fiction & Fantasy novel that will blow you away with sudden twists. Once the twists start, you will not be able to stop listening to the book.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Written from the point of view of Patroclus, Achilles’s partner, the book chronicles their lives from their former years till the end of the Trojan War. Although it is mostly a known story, especially for Greek mythology fans, the writing makes it entirely new and shows layers which we wouldn’t have thought of before.
The Song of Achilles is a very well-written book that you may not recover from. But that is why you should listen to it.
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Mainly following four characters of very different lives whose destinies intersect, Black Sun is an entrancing fantasy book that traps us in prophecies, magic, and myths. Serapio, a young blind and seemingly harmless man, sails for Tova with a Teek witch named Xiala. But his destiny is tied with the Black Sun and he means to kill the Sun Priest for it.
It is slow-paced as the entire book takes place over 10 days. The world-building and the descriptions make it perfect to be consumed as an audiobook. You will definitely lose yourself in this new world.
The Midnight Library is one book I’ve been itching to read for a while now, I like the sound of these other audiobooks! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I don’t often listen to fantasy on audiobook. I prefer contemporary or romance on audio so that if I miss a piece of worldbuilding it doesn’t impact the story too much. But I often both read and listen to fantasy books at the same time if I want to become really immersed.
Great post! I used to listen to audiobooks all the time, but kind of lost touch ever since lockdown began. These look like some interesting reads though, I’ve been meaning to get to Legendborn for a while. Thanks for sharing!
I have only heard of the Midnight Library off your luscious list, but being able to listen to a good story told by an engaging narrator means the world when it comes to finding extra motivation in more dreary tasks like cleaning. It is as enjoyable as listening to a favorite song.
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water enthralls me! Loving the title and the story.
Thanks for sharing.
I feel like an audio book would actually be a really good choice for me! I tend to listen to things when I’m working so why not listen to a book? 🙂 These are great choices!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
I don’t really listen to audiobooks – I prefer to read physical books or kindle. But I know The Midnight Library would be awesome because I’ve read it last month 😀 Thanks for sharing x
I have to admit that I tend to not enjoy audiobooks. I’ve tried them for several books and felt lost most of the time. I wonder if it’s because I’m the type of person that needs to focus on one thing at a time, or maybe I’m more of a visual learner. The Black Sun stood out to me here though, it’s been on my tbr for a while and I feel like I might enjoy it as an audiobook!
I’m typically not an audiobook fan in general, but I’ve found myself listening to them more since I’ve been doing more and more road trips. I think I’m most interested in checking out Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland next. Sounds like it’ll keep me on my toes!
I have never actually listened to an audiobook before, but I do think the concept of them are a great idea. I mean you can have one on and do your cleaning, or just be laying on your bed and just relaxing and listening to them. Writing this comment I think I might have convinced myself to try one haha! These books that you have recommended sound like some great finds, so I will note some of them down and then maybe give an audiobook version of them a try xx
I enjoyed The Midnight Library actually, since it is that thought we all have. What if I did X and then ended up at X? You always want to know which path you may have taken. Adding a few more of these to the list!
These sound like some great suggestions. I don’t usually listen to audiobooks but I definitely want to try some more out.
I haven’t gotten into audiobooks yet, but would love to one day. Thanks for sharing all these fantasy books!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
I’m not really an audiobook person but these sound really interesting! I love a good fantasy read. Will definitely check these out
I don’t listen to audiobooks but I reaaally need to try them. I sometimes struggle with Fantasy too so I think audiobooks would probably be a great option for me to get into Fantasty a bit more!