What Makes ‘Epic Fantasy’ so Epic?
By: Alyssa Aspiotis
Shop this article (*affiliate links): https://bookshop.org/lists/fantasy-sci-fi-readin-magazine Venturing into a new genre is one of the most intimidating parts of reading, but trying fantasy where there are so many different subgenres to choose from? Even more intimidating! Everyone talks about fantasy as a whole, but no one ever dives deeper into what individual subgenres are and what they entail. How are we supposed to start a new genre if we don’t understand the subgenres first?
Since there are many subgenres, this is a beginner’s guide to epic fantasy, one of the most common subgenres! Epic fantasy is part of many books, shows, and even movies you love, but there are certain features that make it special. I have put together a guide for understanding this subgenre and some recommendations to start your epic fantasy journey!
Epic Fantasy 101: The Basics
Understanding the characteristics of epic fantasy is incredibly important in determining if it’s right for you. Think of these as your building blocks. Once you understand the structure, there's no telling where your reading tastes will go next!
Building Blocks of Epic Fantasy
Epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is typically characterized by large-scale stories set in a fictional world, grand narratives that are focused on heroic journeys and battles, and themes such as good versus evil. Now, let’s dive deeper into the characteristics!
Worldbuilding: Epic fantasy stories take place in a completely imagined, fictional world with intricate cultures, history, languages, and geography.
Magic Systems: Magic is often a central aspect - where it has complex rules, various theories/connections, and different forms of magical abilities.
Mythical Creatures: Common mythical creatures include dragons, elves, orcs, phoenixes, griffins, and many more!
Large Cast of Characters: Epic fantasy stories often include a vast, diverse group of characters that all have different backgrounds and motivations to the story.
Heroic Journey: Most feature a main character who must defeat evil forces to save the world. They also may go on an extensive quest or journey to gain the appropriate knowledge and skills.
High-Stakes Conflict: There is always a high-stakes conflict that typically puts the entire world in jeopardy. It involves the fate of the world, universe, or civilization.
Epic Fantasy 101: Recommendations
Now that we have gone through the basics and building blocks of epic fantasy, it’s time for some recommendations so you can start building the ultimate epic fantasy TBR!
Start your Epic Fantasy Journey
If you’re looking to start your epic fantasy journey, here are some amazing recommendations to help you dive into this subgenre!
An African-inspired fantasy about a world caught in an eternal, unwinnable war, and the young man who may become the only hope for his people’s survival.
*quartet with two books currently out*
A Japanese-inspired fantasy that follows a mother and her son as a threat of an impending invasion looms over their country.
*standalone*
A blend of science-fiction and fantasy where the inhabitants of a supercontinent endure a catastrophic climate change every few centuries.
*completed trilogy*
Set in a world inspired by the epics and history of India, a maid servant with forbidden magic and a captive princess become unlikely allies to save their empire.
*completed trilogy*
Follows a scholar girl spying for the rebels against the reigning empire and a student struggling to break free from the tyrannical regime he grew up in.
*completed quartet*
Time to Read!
The “epics” of epic fantasy can be highly intimidating, especially to a new fantasy reader. Here are some of my tips for starting your journey: use the map to see their locations, listen to the audiobook to follow along, use sticky tabs to keep track of important terms, and read along with a buddy!
