The 23 Best Fantasy Audiobooks to Stream Right Now

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Recently updated on August 7th, 2024 at 03:55 pm

Looking for fantasy audiobooks? Here are the best fantasy audiobooks you won’t be able to stop listening to.

This post contains affiliate links. That said, I won’t ever recommend a book I haven’t read and loved myself.

Sound effects, a full cast of narrators and even music. Honestly, I don’t always have time to pick up a book and read physically. Audiobooks are cheap and convenient.

You can listen to audiobooks everyone. On a long journey, dreary morning commute or even while you’re cleaning. And the best audiobooks make you feel like you’re listening to a Netflix movie. I’ve compiled the best fantasy audiobooks.

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

1. The Original by Brandon Sanderson

This audiobook is short at just over 3 hours long. The perfect length for a long journey.

While it’s more sci-fi, the concept is original. We follow 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 immersive and engaging. 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.

2. A dark and hollow star by Ashley Shuttleworth

A Dark and Hollow Star is an urban fantasy with an immersive audiobook featuring a full cast of narrators.

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.

The full cast of narrators brings the characters in this audiobook to life. The voice of Nausicaä is excellent and I loved her instantly. One of the best fantasy audiobooks.

3. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein

The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins. He is A Hobbit who lives in The Shire. One day he meets Gandalf and goes on an adventure.

Andy Serkis narrates The Hobbit. Serkis is known for his voice acting and ability to portray multiple characters.

This is a cozy and comforting audiobook. The perfect listen for a cozy autumnal day spent inside. The warming food imagery makes this feel so comforting and the cottagecore imagery in The Shire is lovely.

4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas

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.

Elizabeth Evans is a fantastic narrator. And she nails any audiobook she narrates. Throne of Glass is no exception.

5. A Sky without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

A Sky without Stars is a sci-fi retelling of Les Miserables in a dystopian world. The audiobook features multiple narrators, making it an engaging listen.

We follow 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. This helps you engage with the different characters. I loved the world-building and the relationship between the main characters.

 5. We set the dark on fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, narrated by Kyla Garcia

An engaging fantasy audiobook, ideal for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale.

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?

This is a compelling dystopian story with an excellent audiobook. The sunshine Segunda and the more serious Primera contrasted and played off each other perfectly.

6. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, narrated by Caitlin Kelly

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.

Holly Black writes fantastic fantasy books. And here she creates a magical world full of bloodthirsty fae royals, court intrigue with a twisty plot.

7. Lore by Alexandra Bracken, narrated by Fryda Wolff

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.

Are you a fan of the Percy Jackson Series? Or maybe the Hunger Games? Then you’ll love this book.

7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, narrated by Tatiana Maslany

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.

8. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron, narrated by Jordan Cobb

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.

Kalynn Bayron weaves Greek mythology seamlessly into the plot. And the mysteries keep you intrigued until the end of the book.

Highly recommend if you’re after fantasy audiobooks.

9. The Illuminae files by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff, Narrated by a full cast

this is a popular audiobook. And for a good reason. It contains a full-cast and engaging sound effects.

We follow 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.

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.

10. The Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand, Narrated by Lauren Ezzo

Sawkill island has never been safe for young girls. A local legend claims a paranormal beast 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.

The Sawkill Girls audiobook is dark, moody and atmospheric. The perfect spooky fantasy book for October.

11. Every heart a doorway by Seanan McGuire

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 diverse cast including an asexual protagonist.

12. The Raven Boys by maggie Stiefvater

Are you searching for fantasy audiobooks for Fall? You can’t beat listening to an audiobook indoors with the sound of rain outside. And the Raven Cycle is the perfect fantasy audiobook to listen to in Fall.

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.

13. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi adeyemi

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.

A strong female lead, princesses and a quest. This is one of the best fantasy audiobooks. Highly recommend.

14. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella is dead is a retelling of the classic story. The premise is that teen girls must 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 likeable.

15. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods is one of the all time best Urban Fantasy audiobooks. A full cast production make this an immersive listen. I’d recommend the audiobook over the physical book.

We follow Shadow. Days before his release, his wife dies in a mysterious car crash. He is released early and makes his way back home.

On the plane he encounters the strange yet enigmatic Mr Wednesday. A man who seems to know more about Shadow’s life than Shadow does.  Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.

16. Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh

Searching for short fantasy audiobooks? Then you’ll lover Silver in the wood. A cozy fantasy set in a magical forest.

We follow Tobias, a forest guardian who looks after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall. And everything changes.

This is a short and easy listen. You can listen to the whole duology in about 5 hours. An easy binge-read.

17. Crier’s War by Nina Varela

An epic urban fantasy with an immersive full cast audiobook.

Set in the Kingdom of Rabu, We follow Ayla. A War has ravaged the kingdom of Rabu. The Automae took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.

Ayla is a human servant rising the ranks at the House of Soverign.

She dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter – the beautiful Lady Crier.

18. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

This is more sci-fi but I had to include Gideon the Ninth. Moira Quirk is the perfect narrator. And she brings Gideon to life perfectly.

We follow Gideon.  Unfriendly nuns brought her up. And Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude. She packs up her sword and prepares to launch her daring escape.

But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

 19. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Neverwhere is a magical audiobook. Neil Gaiman is a wonderful narrator but the BBC radio version is also fantastic.

Under the Streets of London there is a city full of monsters, saints, murders, angels and knights. “Neverwhere” is the London of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

Do you enjoy a full cast audiobook? Then there is also a full cast production from BBC Radio. It includes Christopher Lee and is much shorter at just  over 3 hours. You can listen to it on Audible – check it out here.

20. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

A magical fantasy book about a band of misfits and a heist. The audiobook is also wonderfully atmospheric/

Young Locke Lamora is a leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastard. Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler.

But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.

21. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalo

Kingdom of the Wicked is an incredible audiobook. A great performance from the narrator. Plus, there is music.

We follow Emilia. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are witches living secretly among humans. One night, Emilia finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief.

Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

22. Powerless by Lauren Roberts

A dual narration with an excellent audio. The banter is much better in the audiobook version.

We follow Paedyn. She lives in the Kingdom of Ilya. Only the exceptional, powered Elites belong in the Kingdom. These powers were gifted to them by the Plague. Those born Ordinary are banished to preserve an Elite society.

When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites’ powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks.

23. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

The Atlas Six is one of the best produced audiobooks. It features a full cast and this helps you keep track of the many characters and plot details.

The Atlas Six is about a secret society of academics known as The Alexandrian Society. 

Each decade, the world’s six most uniquely talented magicians are selected for initiation. We follow six characters competing for entry into the society.

Conclusion

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

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