5 High Fantasy Novels You Almost Certainly Haven't Read Discover five critically acclaimed high fantasy novels that are flying under the radar, each with unique magic systems and compelling plots. From the ice and sorcery of The Crimson Queen to the twisted road trip of The Lost War, these books are sure to captivate fans of the genre. It doesn't matter how well-read you are, there are always so many more great high fantasy books to read. Masters of the high fantasy genre are among some of the greatest writers in history; when you think of high fantasy, you inevitably come up with names like J.R. R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, or Brandon Sanderson. But there's so much more to this genre than the masters everyone knows. Here, then, are five high fantasy novels you almost certainly haven't read. To select these, we began by searching popular fantasy novels on Goodreads; we looked for high fantasy with 4 stars or higher, but with between 3,000 and 10,000 ratings.Criteria For Selecting High Fantasy NovelsThen, to double-check, we checked through reviews online to verify that they'd been well-received by critics in the field as well. Although time-consuming, it turned out to be quite a sophisticated methodology, because few books ticked all three boxes. Still, if you're a fan of high fantasy, these are definitely the ones to check out. 5 The Crimson Queen by Alec Hutson First in our list is The Crimson Queen, by Alec Hutson.This is the first book in"The Raveling" trilogy, and it was a judges' favorite at the 2016 Ink and Insights competition as well as a strong competitor for the 2017 SPFBO. The synopsis alone promises a thrilling, epic world with a sophisticated magic system: "Long ago the world fell into twilight, when the great empires of old consumed each other in sorcerous cataclysms.In the south the Star Towers fell, swallowed by the sea, while the black glaciers descended upon the northern holdfasts, entombing the cities of Min-Ceruth in ice and sorcery. Then from the ancient empire of Menekar the paladins of Ama came, putting every surviving sorcerer to the sword and cleansing their taint from the land for the radiant glory of their lord. The pulse of magic slowed, fading like the heartbeat of a dying man.But after a thousand years it has begun to quicken again. In a small fishing village a boy with strange powers comes of age... A young queen rises in the west, fanning the long-smoldering embers of magic into a blaze once more... Something of great importance is stolen - or freed - from the mysterious Empire of Swords and Flowers...And the immortals who survived the ancient cataclysms bestir themselves, casting about for why the world is suddenly changing..." Reviewers praise The Crimson Queen for using familiar tropes in refreshing ways. While sorcery is an essential part of The Crimson Queen, it isn't battle-heavy, and Hutson does a phenomenal job of building a complex fantasy world. The prose is polished and lyrical, making this a joy to read.Reviewing The Lost War By Justin Lee AndersonThe Crimson Queen is available now from retailers like Amazon. 4 The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson Rated 4.18 on Goodreads but with less than 3,500 ratings, The Lost War has received mixed reviews from critics - but that actually makes the book all the more interesting, because they've actually been won over on rereading. One SFBO reviewer for The Fantasy Hive discussed her"complicated" relationship with the novel, criticizing it on a first read and then falling in love with it on the reread.This is an action-packed story inspired by a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and the synopsis alone gives a sense of the book's epic scale: The war is over, but something is rotten in the state of Eidyn. With a ragged peace in place, demons burn farmlands, violent Reivers roam the wilds and plague has spread beyond the Black Meadows. The country is on its knees.In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first magically-skilled draoidh to be named King's Envoy. Now, charged with restoring an exiled foreign queen to her throne, he leads a group of strangers across the ravaged country. But at every step, a new mystery complicates their mission. As bodies drop around them, new threats emerge and lies are revealed, can Aranok bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom?Strap in for this twisted fantasy road trip from award-winning author Justin Lee Anderson. Although The Lost War is a plot-driven story, it's praised for the sheer depth of its character-work. Even better, this is the first book in Anderson's"Eidyn" series, and every book receives more critical praise than the last.Examining Aching God By Mike ShelThe Lost War is available now from retailers like Amazon. 3 Aching God by Mike Shel The first book in Mike Shel's"Iconoclasts" trilogy, Aching God is a grim-dark fantasy novel praised for its psychological realism. Like The Lost War, it was inspired by a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, and it shows.According to Fantasy Book Review,"Somehow Shel was able to capture the essence of playing a thrilling role-playing game and transfer it into a rich and compelling narrative filled with likable heroes, horrifying villains, and surprising mysteries." The full synopsis gives a true sense of the scale: "Closer, mortal - let me tell you a story of how I killed your god. " In a world torn apart by war and religious strife, a new threat emerges from the depths of hell. Demons, led by the cunning and ambitious Sarcus, are plotting to break through the barriers and invade the mortal realm.Meanwhile, a ragtag band of adventurers, including the enigmatic sorcerer Nivek, the fearless warrior Vesper, and the conflicted cleric Liora, find themselves caught in the middle of a conspiracy far greater than they could have imagined. As they race to stop the demonic invasion, they must confront their own inner demons, question their beliefs, and make sacrifices that will haunt them forever.Analyzing The Scar-Blooded By D.F. McRaeAching God is a gripping tale of courage, betrayal, and redemption, where the line between good and evil is blurred, and the stakes are nothing less than the fate of the world. Aching God is available now from retailers like Amazon. 2 The Scar-Blooded by D.F. McRae Rated 4.28 on Goodreads, The Scar-Blooded is the first book in the"Scar-Blooded" trilogy, written by D.F. McRae.The story follows Caldan, a young mage with the ability to read memories from scars. This power is extremely dangerous in a world where people are constantly being wounded or dying; in this society, mages are feared. Because of this, Caldan is forced to conceal his identity as a mage, living as an exile.The synopsis reveals that Caldan will join a ragtag band of misfits fighting against a dark force, but the plot twists and turns in ways that readers won't expect. The Scar-Blooded is praised for its rich world-building and complex characters, particularly the depth of its antagonists. The novel is available now from retailers like Amazon. 1 The Last of the Sages by Robert M. Lee Rounding out our list is The Last of the Sages, by Robert Michael Lee.This book has been consistently praised for its unique approach to magic and its engaging plot. The story follows a young man named Arion, who must navigate a world filled with magic, conspiracies, and ancient secrets. The novel is noted for its fast-paced action and well-developed characters, making it a standout in the high fantasy genre. If you're looking for a new series to dive into, The Last of the Sages is definitely worth checking out.The Last of the Sages is available now from retailers like Amazon.