If I had to pick the genre that’s best-suited for audiobook adaptations, I would have to say fantasy.
Intricate worldbuilding, bloody battles of epic proportions, legendary heroes undertaking daring quests — the best fantasy audiobooks don’t just provide an enjoyable listening experience, they’ll actually transport you straight into the heart of otherworldly adventures.
Whether you prefer the type of whimsy and wonder found in Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper Chronicles or seek a darker world that doesn’t shy away from heartbreaking scenes of death and destruction (hello, The Poppy War), my top fantasy audiobook recommendations are ones that will undoubtedly infuse your life with a shot of magic.
From award-winning voice actors to Hollywood actors to the authors themselves, the skilled narrators you’ll find below breathe new life into the best fantasy audiobooks of all time.
1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Yarros took the fantasy world by storm in 2023 when she published the first of The Empyrean series, scooping up several “Best Book of the Year” accolades plus an options agreement with Amazon Studios.
GraphicAudio’s full cast narration is more than a reading: It’s a full-on performance, complete with background music and cinema-worthy sound effects. These audio enhancements deftly convey the danger lurking around every corner for a young dragon rider trying to survive the deadly Basgiath War College, where everyone and everything seems out to kill her.
2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
I would be completely remiss to put together a list of the best fantasy audiobooks without including Tolkien’s iconic trilogy.
With the help of actor Andy Serkis, you can immerse yourself in Frodo Baggins’ quest through Middle Earth to destroy a ring that possesses all-consuming power. Strangely enough, Serkis’ Gollum impression is uncannily spot on.
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Few do elaborate and long epic fantasies like Rothfuss. His masterpiece was an instant hit in the fantasy genre thanks to its lyrical prose, the seeming boundlessness of the world, and the endearing faults and follies, compassion and cunning of the heroic Kvothe.
When an audiobook is almost 28 hours long, you need an expert narrator who can keep listeners captivated from start to finish. Nick Podehl, a professional voice actor with a long list of fantasy audiobooks under his belt, more than meets the challenge of bringing the legendary Kvothe to life.
4. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
See America’s best sights along with Shadow and his otherworldly companions. American Gods is simultaneously a beautifully written and dark criticism of Western idolatry and a deeply emotional tale of love lost.
A full-cast narration commemorates the 10th anniversary of this fun, funny, and frightening page-turner that will have you hanging on every word until you make it to your destination.
5. Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
Nona Grey is your typical nine-year-old girl: She wants to make friends, do well in school, and find her place in the world.
There’s just one thing: She’s been sentenced to death for murder and is about to be hanged. Salvation comes in the form of the Red Sisters of the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a school that trains young girls in the dark art of assassination.
Under the tutelage of badass nuns, Nona must learn to harness her lethal and extraordinary abilities while also unraveling a mysterious past that’s inextricably intertwined with the fate of the empire. Lawrence’s unbelievable worldbuilding is made all the more enticing with the voice of Heather O’Neill, who adds a great deal of depth to an emotionally harrowing coming-of-age story.
6. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Kuang, winner of the 2020 Hugo Award for the Best New Science Fiction Writer, reimagines China’s history through the experiences of a peasant girl who gains entry into an elite military training academy, and discovers she has shamanic powers.
Narrator Emily Woo Zeller, whose brilliant and rich voice you can find in other works of speculative fiction like This Is How You Lose the Time War and Heroine Complex, boasts over 20 awards for her narration work, including the AudioFile Best Fantasy of 2018 for her outstanding voice work on The Poppy War.
7. Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Kaner’s action-packed debut went viral on Bookstagram and BookTok, drawing rave reviews from critics and fellow fantasy authors alike. Marked as a writer to watch by Publishers Weekly, the Northumbrian author delivers an explosive and grisly introduction to a world in which gods are outlawed and humans are paid to hunt them down.
Fascinating worldbuilding and a motley crew of characters led by a godkiller with a heart of gold make for a promising start to a dark trilogy. Godkiller was named a 2022 Audie finalist thanks to a sensational reading by Kit Griffiths.
8. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Pratchett and Gaiman’s collaboration is a cult classic for a reason. It’s an absurdly hilarious commentary on good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture, and the true meaning of free choice.
If you liked the Prime Video adaptation, you’ll adore HarperAudio’s audiobook production. David Tennant and Michael Sheen (AKA Aziraphale and Crowle) led the talented cast to two spots on the 2023 Audie Awards shortlist for Best Drama and Best Fantasy.
9. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
Where’s John Wick when you need him? Someone (or something) is prowling the neighborhood, killing dogs and threatening humans. Luckily, innkeeper Dina Demilla is on the case, along with the help of Sean, a local ex-military werewolf, Sean, and Arland, a vampire.
GraphicAudio’s dramatized adaptation of Andrews’ refreshing and entertaining urban fantasy will have you laughing out loud one minute and then waiting breathlessly on the edge of your seat the next.
As a whole, the Innkeeper Chronicles is one of the best fantasy audiobook series for adults looking for a lighter, more humorous blend of magic and mayhem.
10. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
I’m always impressed when an author can narrate their own story — and narrate it well at that. Baldree is one such figure: His narration of Legends & Lattes, a viral BookTok sensation, scored a 2023 Audie Award nomination for Best Fantasy.
Viv, an orc barbarian, just wants to hang up her sword and open a coffee shop. But getting out of the warrior business isn’t as simple as giving two weeks notice. This cozy fantasy pairs perfectly with your favorite caffeinated beverage and a shot of planning how you’ll put your passion to work.
11. Nation by Terry Pratchett
It’s a struggle to convey to others just how excellent Pratchett’s 2008 YA adventure fantasy is. A succinct plot synopsis — boy and girl join together in the wake of a devastating tsunami to rebuild the world — simply does not do it justice.
The Discworld creator himself stated that Nation is the best book he’s ever written or will write. What further recommendation is needed?
Stephen Briggs, longtime collaborator and friend of Pratchett, more than does right by the award-winning tale and expertly infuses the narration with Pratchett’s inimitable wit and humor.
12. The Gunslinger by Stephen King
This post-apocalyptic take on the Wild West is everything you would expect from King (gritty, epic, hauntingly surreal) and yet vastly different from his usual brand of horror. Roland Deschain, the last of the Gunslingers, is determined to hunt down the Man in Black and find the mythic Dark Tower — no matter the cost.
Boasting a resumé of over 1,300 narrations (including others on this list like The Golem and the Jinni) and the record for receiving the most Earphone Awards, George Guidall delivers an otherworldly narration that, as an experience, more than holds its own against the 2017 film adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.
13. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Stiefvater introduces readers to The Raven Cycle, a heady mix of YA romance and paranormal activity. It includes psychic powers, a king buried along ley lines, a doomed love story, and a handful of prep school boys (one of whom claims to be dead).
Despite being titled after the men in the novel, the main character is Blue, a teenage girl navigating burgeoning powers and feelings.
Actor Will Patton (Silo, Outer Range) might seem like an odd choice to narrate a young girl’s magical coming-of-age tale, but his charming Southern drawl is a perfect match for Stiefvater’s lyrical writing.
14. The Black Witch by Laurie Frost
A chosen one, a dark legacy, and a prestigious university where students can perfect their magical abilities — what more could you want in your next fantasy audiobook?
Elloren, the granddaughter of the powerful Black Witch, is eager to attend Verpax University and pursue her dream of becoming an apothecary. But ancient rivalries precede her and she arrives with enemies already on campus. To survive, she’ll have to put aside her prejudices, unravel her family’s complicated history, and embrace her heritage.
15. The Adventures of Amina al Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
Amina al-Sirafi, who left a daring life of piracy after becoming a mother, is pulled into a new adventure when a former crew member’s daughter is kidnapped.
This trilogy-starter by Chakraborty is an action-packed historical fantasy with a multi-layered mom-heroine we’ve all been waiting for. Chakraborty’s storytelling style lends itself well to narration, and voice actors Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal pull you into an immersive, magical experience.
16. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Wecker’s beautiful debut novel is steeped in Jewish and Arabian folklore. The golem and jinni’s attempts to blend in with the humans surrounding them form a refreshingly frank look at what it means to be human.
Just as he did in The Gunslinger, narrator Guidall uses his theater background to nail the subtle nuances of each character’s voice and makes this Jewish-inspired work of magical realism a truly delightful listen.
17. The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Feminist energy permeates every page of Huang’s gender-swapped, queer retelling of the Chinese classic The Water Margin. This high-stakes novel of social justice is packed with nonstop action and breathtaking fight scenes.
It’s no wonder Vulture said, “[The Water Outlaws] reads like a movie in the best way,” since Huang herself has worked as a Hollywood stunts performer and armorer. Though the novel hasn’t been picked up for a film adaptation (yet), Woo Zeller’s narration is akin to experiencing it as a martial arts movie.
18. Lonen’s War by Jeffe Kennedy
Kennedy’s high-fantasy Sorcerous Moons series begins with Lonen’s War. Right away it hooks you with a deadly battle that results in an arranged marriage between the scions of each opposing side.
The two enter into their union with mistrust and suspicion, and through the six-book series, must begrudgingly work together for the sake of peace.
