Looking for fantasy audiobooks? Here are the best fantasy audiobooks you won’t be able to stop listening to.
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Sound effects, a full cast of narrators and even music. Honestly, I don’t always have time to physically pick up a book and read. Audiobooks are super convenient.
On a long journey, dreary morning commute or even while you’re cleaning – you can listen to audiobooks anywhere. And the best audiobooks make you feel like you’re listening to a Netflix movie. So, I’ve compiled the 17 best fantasy audiobooks ( plus get my free printable reading journal).
In this post, I recommend the 17 best fantasy audiobooks to listen to on a road trip, while cleaning or on your morning commute.
The 20 best fantasy audiobooks to stream right now
The Original by Brandon Sanderson, narrated by Julia Whelan
If you’re looking for a short audiobook with a unique sci-fi concept
This audiobook is super short ( only 3 hours I believe) and would be easy to binge in one or two sittings.
While it’s more sci-fi, the concept is super original. It follows a clone. Her original has committed a horrific crime and she is tasked with killing her. If she succeeds – she will continue living instead of her original.
This audiobook was really immersive and engaging. It’s full of sound effects and a cast of narrators. The concept is so unique that you have to keep listening. The short length means it’s super satisfying and can be binged pretty quickly.
The Original on Audible
Good Reads
A dark and hollow star by Ashley Shuttleworth, narrated by a cast of narrators.
For fans of YA Fantasy and Crescent City
A Dark and Hollow Star is an urban fantasy, with fae, queer main characters and a wlw romance.
A series of gruesome murders threatens to expose the faerie world to humans. Four queer teens – Nausicaä, Arlo, Vehan, and Aurelian – each hold a piece of the truth. And they must track down the mysterious killer.
Shuttleworth’s writing was perfect. And it really bought the urban fantasy world to life.
But the characters are what makes this one of the best fantasy audiobooks. Nausicaä is a very sarcastic and chaotic lesbian. And I loved her instantly. It’s narrated by a full cast of narrators making it very immersive and one of the best fantasy audiobooks I’ve listened to.
A Dark and Hollow Star on Audible
Good Reads
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein, Narrated by Andy Serkis
A charming adventure story with cottagecore vibes
The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins. He is A Hobbit who lives in The Shire. One day he meets Gandalf and goes on an adventure.
The Hobbit the most charming adventure story. Also, the imagery in the hobbit – particularly around food is lovely. I want to be able to eat seven meals a day much like a hobbit. And hobbit holes sound adorable.
Andy Serkis narrates The Hobbit. Serkis is known for his voice acting and ability to portray multiple characters.
Good Reads
The Hobbit on Audible
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, narrated by Elizabeth Evans
If you want a badass female main character
Celaena Sardothien is imprisoned in a horrific prison called Endovier. She is an assassin. She is summoned by the Prince to fight in a competition. The winner will become the king’s personal assassin.
Throne of Glass features a badass female protagonist, an evil all-powerful enemy and a competition. The story opens with a bang and the plot moves along very quickly.
Throne of Glass on Audible
Good Reads
A Sky without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell, naratted by Vikas Adam, Joy Osmanski and Emily Woo Zeller
A Les Miserable retelling with a Sci-Fi Twist
A sky without stars is another pretty unique concept. It’s a Les miserable retelling set in a dystopian/sci-fi universe.
It follows Chatine, a street-savvy thief. She steals something belonging to Prince Marcellus. She will do anything to escape from LaTerre. And so she decides to spy on Prince.
The audiobook contains a cast of narrators which really helped me to engage with all the different characters in the universe. I loved the world-building and the relationship between the main characters. I disliked was the random French words – they just weren’t consistent enough to make sense to me.
A Sky Without Stars
Good Reads
We set the dark on fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, narrated by Kyla Garcia
A sapphic enemies-to lovers story in a dystopian world with dark academia vibes.
We Set the Dark on Fire is set in a world where each man gets two wives. A primera and a segunda. The Primera is calm, organised and in charge of the smooth running of the household. The Segunda is the mother figure. But what happens when the two wives fall in love?
I adored the enemies to lovers style romance and the dark dystopian elements to this storyline. The sunshine Segunda and the more serious Primera contrasted and played off each other perfectly.
We Set the Dark on Fire
Good Reads
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, narrated by Caitlin Kelly
For fans of fae, Sarah J Maas and the enemies-to-lovers trope.
When she is seven, Jude’s parents are brutally murdered. And she is stolen away to live in the High Court of Faerie. Years later, Jude desperately wants to belong there. But that’s difficult because she’s a human. And the faerie hate humans.
Prince Cardan is more beautiful than most fae. He also hates humans the most.
If you love enemies to lovers romance and YA fantasy then you will love this one. It has one of the best enemies to lovers romances.
Holly Black writes fantastic fantasy books. And here she creates a magical world full of bloodthirsty fae royals, court intrigue with a really twisty plot.
Good Reads summary
The Cruel Prince
Lore by Alexandra Bracken, narrated by Fryda Wolff
For Fans of Percy Jackon or Greek Mythology
Greek Mythology meets The Hunger Games. Lore features Greek mythology, an urban setting and a strong female lead.
Every seven years Greek Gods are hunted by descendants of ancient bloodlines. If the hunters succeed they seize their immortality. It follows Lore Perseus who has turned her back on this world. But as the next hunt dawns, two participants seek out her help.
The plot of Lore is quite complex but it’s executed perfectly. Bracken did a great job of building the concept. I was intrigued and hooked from the first chapter.
If you like the Percy Jackson series or the Hunger Games you will absolutely love this one.
Good Reads
Lore
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, narrated by Tatiana Maslany
For fans of Divergent and The Maze Runner
The Hunger Games follows Katniss. She lives in a dystopian world called Panem – a wealthy Capitol surrounded by twelve districts.
Every year the Capitol forces each district to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in a fight to the death on TV.
Chances are you’ve heard of the Hunger Games because it was so successful. But the audiobook is excellent and I had to include it in this post. Tatianna’s narration is incredible and adds real depth to Katniss.
The Hunger Games
Good Reads
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron, narrated by Jordan Cobb
If you’re looking for cottagecore sapphics, family secrets and magic
This Poison Heart follows Briseis. She has a magic gift where she can magic tiny seeds grow into rich blooms with a single touch.
Her aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York. And it’s there she must uncover her family’s heritage and secrets.
Greek mythology was woven seamlessly into the plot of this book. And the mysteries keep you intrigued until the end of the book. I especially loved the relationship between her moms.
This Poison Heart
Good reads
The Illuminae files by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff, Narrated by a full cast
I see the audiobook mentioned everywhere online and honestly, it’s for a good reason. The audiobook contains a full-cast and sound effects. It’s perfectly done.
It opens with Kady. She thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. But then her planet is invaded. A terrifying plague breaks out. And it’s clear the only person who can help is her ex-boyfriend.
Illuminae is an epistolary book. And the story is told through a dossier of documents such as emails and interviews.
The sound effects and full cast of narrators make this audiobook super engaging. It feels like you’re listening to a Netflix movie rather than an audiobook.
Illuminae Files
Good Reads
The Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand, Narrated by Lauren Ezzo
If you’re looking for an atmospheric and spooky halloween read
Sawkill island has never been safe for young girls. There is a local legend about a paranormal beast who hunts young girls.
We are introduced to three girls: Zoey, Val and Marion. They have the power to save the island. If they are willing to come together and try.
Sawkill Girls is a really dark fantasy audiobook. And it’s definitely not for everyone. The world-building is dark, moody and atmospheric. I love the idea of sapphic girls coming together and using magical powers to conquer evil.
Sawkill Girls
Good reads
Every heart a doorway by Seanan McGuire, Narrated by Cynthia Hopkins
For fans of dark fairytales and cottagecore world building
Every Heart a Doorway is about children who slipped through time or into another realm – through a rabbit hole, wardrobe or doorway and find themselves somewhere else. But nobody else believes them. Except for Eleanor West who runs a home for Wayward Children.
The concept sounds quite similar to Ms Peregrine’s home for peculiar children but they are quite different. The story is enchanting and the style of writing is perfectly eerie and strange but also full of wit. It also has a really diverse cast including an asexual protagonist.
Every Heart A Doorway
Good Reads
A Song below water
The Raven Boys
If you’re looking for a paranormal fantasy with unforgettable characters
Each year in the churchyard, Blue watches her psychic mother see those who are going to die that year. Blue never actually sees them herself. Until this year. When she speaks directly to a boy.
He is called Gansey and is a student at Aglionby school. The students there are known locally as Raven Boys.
I had so many recommendations to read this and for good reason. The characters and the relationships are what make this one of the best fantasy audiobooks.
Good Reads
Raven Boys
Children of Blood and Bone
If you’re looking for a fast paced action story with West Africa inspured world-building
There used to be magic in Orïsha. Zélie remembers how powerful her reaper mother was. But one-night magic disappears and Zelie is left without hope.
She now has to bring back the magic with the help of a runaway princess. Orïsha is full of danger everywhere. But Zeéie’s greatest danger is herself.
Children of Blood and Bone features many of my favourite YA Fantasy Tropes – a strong female lead, princesses and a quest. It also explores darker themes such as racially charged violence.
Good Reads
Children of Blood and Bone
Cinderella is Dead
If you’re looking for a Cinderella retelling with an LGBTQ+ twist
Cinderella is dead is a retelling of the classic story. But it features BIPOC characters and a f/f romance.
The premise is that teen girls are now required to appear at an annual ball. There, men select wives.
But Sophia wants to marry her childhood best friend Erin. And she isn’t a fan of the whole parade in front of male suitors thing. She decides to flee and take down the king once and for all.
A book about queer Black girls overthrowing the patriarchy. Sign me up. The romance is adorable, the pacing is good and the main character is very likeable.
Good Reads
Cinderella is dead
Conclusion
Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.
Whether you’re an avid bookworm, fantasy fan or just someone looking for audiobook recommendations –I sincerely hope you found a new book to read!
What are your thoughts? What do you think are the best fantasy audiobooks? Tell me in the comments what audiobooks you’d recommend
This post was all about the best fantasy audiobooks
Other posts you may like…
The best books with elves
This post on books with fae
Some books like The Hunger Games
Some recommendations for YA Fantasy books to read
This post with the best LGBTQ+ YA Books
The best books with witches
Some books like The Cruel Prince
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