15. Laura Sebastian
Laura Sebastian’sAsh Princessseries—which consists ofAsh Princess,Lady Smoke, andEmber Queen—follows the story of Theodosia. She must fight to reclaim her lost throne, which was taken from her when her mother was murdered and she was left imprisoned.
After theAsh Princess, Laura Sebastian gave us some standalone greats inHalf Sick of ShadowsandInto the Glades, as well as theCastles in Their Bonesseries that’s even better thanAsh Princess.
At a rate of one new novel published every year, Laura Sebastian has impressed me and I believe she’ll only get better.
14. Melissa Albert
Melissa Albertgave us a wholly unique world in herThe Hazel Woodtrilogy. The first book in the series introduces us to Alice and the world of the Hinterland, where the stories of her grandmother’s book are set.
When her mother warns her against returning there, she (of course) does return—to enter that world of dark fairy tales.
Albert’s story ebbs and flows and continues intoThe Night Country, with the dark fairy tales expanding out even further in the final bookTales From the Hinterland.The whole thing pulls you in with creepy tales and a strong heroine.
With her publishingOur Crooked Heartin 2022, it’s clear that she has what it takes to become one of the best modern fantasy authors.
13. Stephanie Garber
Stephanie Garber’s debut three-book fantasy series—consisting ofCaraval,Legendary, andFinale—is a magical ride through mysteries, a dangerous game, and illusions.
Sisters Scarlett and Tella dream of leaving their small island in search of adventure, namely to see the once-a-year performance of Caraval. Caraval involves the audience as participants, and if they win the game, they also win something they deeply desire.
But her second series—starting withOnce Upon a Broken Heart—is even better than the first, proving that she has a solid future ahead of her as one of the most promising modern fantasy authors.
12. Emily R. King
As of this writing,Emily R. Kinghas two completed fantasy book series and a third one still in progress.
Her first two series areThe Hundredth Queen(about an orphan girl who competes with a rajah’s 99 wives and courtesans) andThe Evermore Chronicles(about a girl with a clock for a heart, living on borrowed time as she seeks revenge before it runs out).
And then there’s her current fantasy series calledWings of Fury(about a girl who wants to claim her destiny by crushing the tyrannical god named Cronus who controls the world).
Emily R. King has proven herself to be an imaginative and clever fantasy writer, with strong girl protagonists who are caught up in stories that are captivating for more than just girl readers.
Related:The Best Fantasy Books for Adults, Ranked
11. Victoria Aveyard
Victoria Aveyardcaught the notice of fantasy book fans worldwide with her four-book fantasy series that started withRed Queen.
Red Queencenters on Mare Barrow, a strong heroine who discovers that she wields a special power—the ability to create and control electricity—and uses that power to free others from oppression.
While Mare leads a rebellion and helps her people, she attracts the attention of two princes who each have conflicting motives, and that complicates matters for her.
In 2021, Victoria Aveyard launched a new series calledRealm Breaker, centering on a young woman who has the power to either save the world or destroy it.
10. George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martinis one of the most famous modern fantasy authors, primarily for hisA Song of Ice and Firefantasy series that was adapted into the hit TV showGame of Thrones.
Inspired by the real Wars of the Roses,A Song of Ice and Fireinvolves dozens of sprawling families across a fictional medieval world, who each play a role in securing the Iron Throne that rules over the Seven Kingdoms. There are also dragons and ice zombies!
So, why is he ranked so low on our list? Because ever since the success ofGame of Thrones, Martin’s writing has slowed to a crawl and there’s also zero chance he’ll ever finishA Song of Ice and Fire.
Even so, we can’t ignore his massive body of work that started way back in 1977 withDying of the Light. George R. R. Martin is obviously a very skilled storyteller. We just wish he’d keep writing!
9. Naomi Novik
Naomi Novik’s first novel,His Majesty’s Dragon, set the fantasy book fandom alight when it released in 2006 and launched her popularTemerairebook series.
In this alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars, dragons are used in aerial combat! Just from that, you can tell she writes the kinds of stories that you wish you’d had in your early teens.
After that, Novik published the standalone novelUprootedin 2015, which was inspired by her Polish heritage. It tells the story of Agnieszka, a village girl who’s selected by the local wizard for her magical powers—which she doesn’t know she has.
And most recently, we have Novik’sThe Scholomanceseries that started withA Deadly Educationin 2020. In this trilogy, we follow the destiny of Galadriel “El” Higgins, a dark sorceress who must learn how to keep her destructive powers under control.
Naomi Novik is a standout modern fantasy author for her blend of fantasy with less-explored European elements. These stories aren’t your usual medieval fantasy!
8. Philip Pullman
Philip Pullmanhas been around as a fantasy writer for a long time now. Even if you don’t know his name, you probably know his most famous work: theHis Dark Materialstrilogy.
His very first novel, calledThe Haunted Storm, was published back in 1972, and he’s been a big influence on the fantasy genre since then. In 2017, he started a new series calledThe Book of Dustthat also takes place in the same world asHis Dark Materials.
Philip Pullman doesn’t just stand out for his fictional stories, but also his conceptual and academic contributions to the world of writing as a whole, having shared important insights into his creative process.
The works of Philip Pullman have shaped more than one generation of readers, many of whom have gone from being fantasy readers to fantasy authors themselves.
7. Nnedi Okorafor
Nnedi Okoraforis a science fiction and fantasy author who writes for both children and adults. She’s a prolific author who writes novels and novellas in equal measure.
Mostly known for herBintinovella series and novels likeWho Fears DeathandLagoon, Nnedi Okorafor’s works have brought the Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism genres to a broader audience.
While most of fantasy has long taken place in white European settings, Nnedi Okorafor takes us to far-distant lands inspired by Africa, which feel fresh and original while also being insightful.
Related:The Best Standalone Fantasy Books Worth Reading This Year
6. Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowskiis best known for his six-novelThe Witcherseries, which started withBlood of Elvesin 1994 (translated to English in 2008) and was eventually adapted into the award-winning video games.
The series centers on a man named Geralt of Rivia, one of many witchers who have been trained to become supernatural monster hunters for hire.
The expansive worldbuilding inThe Witcherwas inspired by Andrzej Sapkowski’s Polish heritage, resulting in a genuinely unique universe that’s unlike most medieval fantasy stories.
The Witcheractually started as a short story that was written for a writing contest held by Polish fantasy magazineFantastykain 1986. It has since grown into one of the most beloved fantasy franchises in modern entertainment.
Related:The Best Classic Fantasy Books That Are Still Worth Reading
5. Holly Black
Holly Blackhas been writing for over two decades, but she didn’t explode in popularity until 2018 when she published the first book in herThe Folk of the Airseries.
The trilogy—which consists ofThe Cruel Prince,The Wicked King, andThe Queen of Nothing—centers on the character of Jude and her adventures in the dangerous High Court of Faerie.
There’s alsoThe Spiderwick Chronicles, which started in 2003 withThe Field Guide, written collaboratively with Tony DiTerlizzi.
Those might be great entry points, but don’t overlook her other stories. She’s written quite a bit over the years, including theCurse Workersseries, theModern Faerie Talesseries, and theStolen Heirseries.
4. Ilona Andrews
Ilona Andrewsis no stranger to fantasy and magic. She’s already penned five different book series—includingHidden Legacy,Innkeeper Chronicles,Ryder,Kate Daniels, andThe Edge—and each one is a unique world with memorable characters.
What you might not know is that Ilona Andrews is actually the pen name used by a husband-and-wife duo! Given both perspectives, that might explain how they do romance fantasy so well.
But whether you like romance or not, you won’t be disappointed by their stories, which are all framed by magic in inventive ways.
I’m particularly partial to theInnkeeper Chroniclesseries, which has a wonderful premise about an inn that fronts as a bed-and-breakfast while housing otherworldly visitors.
3. Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maasis a huge name in the fantasy genre right now. You might know her for eitherThrone of GlassorA Court of Thorns and Roses, which are her two most successful series.
She’s currently wrapping up her acclaimedCrescent Cityseries, which started withHouse of Earth and Bloodin 2020 and blew everyone away. It’s one of the highest-rated modern fantasy series on Goodreads!
And why wouldn’t it be? Sarah J. Maas has the incredible talent of writing stories that are fun to read, led by strong female characters, with elements of romance woven in without being overly tropey.
Sarah J. Maas has proven herself, not just as one of the greatest female writers in fantasy, but as one of the strongest modern fantasy authors, period. Give her a read if you haven’t already!
2. Neil Gaiman
How could we not includeNeil Gaiman? With works likeAmerican Gods,Stardust, andThe Graveyard Bookunder his belt, he’s easily one of the most uniquely creative fantasy writers out there today.
And what’s more impressive is that he doesn’t just stick to traditional novels, novellas, and short stories.
Gaiman’s talents have served the world in many forms, including comic books (The Sandman), graphic novels (Norse Mythology), illustrated children’s books (Coraline). He’s even read four of his own audiobooks!
Neil Gaiman’s works often involve identity as a core theme, while engaging with other prominent themes like belonging, family, the nature of evil, and supernatural entities in the real world.
All of this comes together to make Neil Gaiman one of the most popular current fantasy authors, and I personally see no end in sight for him.
Related:The Best Neil Gaiman Books, Ranked
1. Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sandersonis perhaps the most famous of modern fantasy authors, and for many good reasons.
First and foremost, there’s the existence of the Cosmere, Sanderson’s fictional universe that ties together most of his fantasy works, includingElantris,Mistborn,The Stormlight Archive, andTress of the Emerald Sea.
He’s also notable for completing Robert Jordan’sThe Wheel of Timeepic fantasy series after Jordan passed away. He was hand-picked by Jordan’s own wife Harriet McDougal, and he used Jordan’s notes to bring a satisfying conclusion to the sprawling series.
He’s also respected for his aid and encouragement towards budding writers, including hisWriting Excusespodcast and his creative writing lectures that are freely available on YouTube.
He’s also known for Sanderson’s Laws of Magic, which describes the difference between “hard magic” and “soft magic” in speculative fiction, along with how to make magic serve the story well.
But he’s perhaps most famous for being a prolific writing machine. In less than two decades, he’s published 31 novels, 18 novellas, four graphic novels, and many short stories.
Love him or hate him, Brandon Sanderson has grown into the face of modern fantasy literature and his influence stretches far beyond the genre, inspiring writers of all kinds to write more.
There’s no doubt about it: of all the best modern fantasy authors who are writing today, Brandon Sanderson is the most iconic.
Read next:The Best Fantasy Book Series That Are Longer Than a Trilogy
