The 10 Best Fantasy Hidden Gem Books of the Last 10 Years
The article recommends ten fantasy books published over the past decade that it says deserve more attention, from established authors and debut novelists to a self-published work and an illustrated art book. It highlights the range of fantasy, including epic and young adult stories, fantasy horror and a retro game-guide-style volume.
Among the examples described are Guy Gavriel Kay’s *A Brightness Long Ago*, Daniel T. Jackson’s *Illborn* and its two sequels, Justin Call’s *Master of Sorrows*, and *Vermis, Lost Dungeons and Forbidden Woods* by Plastiboo. *Illborn* follows four young people who develop supernatural powers in a world of religious persecution, while *Master of Sorrows* centres on a student who discovers he is tied to a prophecy about an evil god. The article also discusses *Dreams of the Dying*, inspired by the game *Enderal*.
- The article picks ten overlooked fantasy books from the past decade.
- Its selections span epic fantasy, YA, horror and illustrated art books.
- Featured works include *Illborn*, *Master of Sorrows* and *Dreams of the Dying*.
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Fantasy is a broad kind of fiction in which magic, invented worlds or supernatural forces shape the story. It ranges from long epic tales to books for younger readers, horror and illustrated works, so readers may have very different ideas about what a fantasy book looks like.
The books mentioned include work by established author Guy Gavriel Kay, debut novelist Daniel T. Jackson and self-published writer Justin Call, as well as an art book by Plastiboo. Their stories include young people gaining powers amid religious persecution and a student drawn into a prophecy about an evil god; Dreams of the Dying is connected to the game Enderal.
The “hidden gem” label is a judgement about which books merit more readers, rather than a formal category. The selection matters to readers looking for fantasy beyond the best-known titles and offers a snapshot of the range published over the past decade.