Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Louisa
From a young age, I’d always been interested in fantasy fiction. Whether that’s reading about vampires or werewolves, or fairies and witches. Something about being transported to a supernatural world is so captivating.
As an adult, one of my favorite fantasy tropes, though, is elves. Elf fantasy books reilluminate a world with a sense of magic and boundless possibilities. The way I saw the world as a child.
There is no better way to retrieve your belief in magic and tap into your inner child than to lose yourself in some excellent elf books.
Whether you want to explore the enchanting Middle-earth or fight side by side with the Witcher, we’ll ensure to fulfill your daydream appetite with these books about elves.
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What To Expect from Books About Elves
Elf books are typically high fantasy epics that transport readers to fantastical realms of enchantment, adventure, and danger.
They often feature sympathetic elven characters – from warriors to healers to spies – who embark on grand quests against powerful adversaries.
A typical book within this genre will be set in a mystical world full of wonders, where elves possess great powers, magical artifacts, and hidden knowledge.
They are usually not the only mystical being in the story and are often paired with dwarves, goblins, gnomes, witches, and other paranormal beings.
Readers can expect to be captivated by stories of heroic deeds, noble sacrifices, and thrilling battles against formidable foes. Elf books allow you to use your vivid imagination to create detailed settings, intricate plots, unexpected twists, and unforgettable characters.
Books about elves provide an escape into an exciting realm of mystery and discovery with themes of courage, loyalty, love, and friendship at its core.
The Best Books About Elves
Now you know a little bit about what to expect from books about elves, it’s time to show you the best of the best! Here they are…
1. Red Rope of Fate – K.M. Shea
The first book in the Elves of Lessa series, Red Rope of Fate, unites the best aspects of fantasy and romance.
The story follows the unusual partnership between Tari and Captain Arion, brought together to settle the tensions between their species. Namely, Tari is an elf, and Arion is a human military officer.
Soon enough, the pair finds themselves in danger due to those whose purpose is to maintain the strife between societies.
Their turbulent relationship might pay off and bring peace among their countries, but everything hangs in the air when suppressed emotions come into play.
This book is the perfect combination of action and romance. It has some funny scenes and humorous writing, and even though there are some fight scenes, it’s pretty clean with no graphic scenes.
The characters are all relatable and easy to like. If you love fantasy books like Sarah J. Maas or Cassandra Clare, then this might be right up your alley!
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Related post: Cassandra Clare Books in Order
2. The Goblin Emperor – Katherine Addison
Katherine Addison received a Goodreads Choice Award Best Fantasy nomination in 2014 for her high fantasy novel, The Goblin Emperor.
This book is brimming with elves and magical elements and is also the first entry in the Goblin Emperor series.
After the murder of his father, the Emperor, and his older brothers, the youngest child must return to the Imperial Court after spending his life in exile.
Following his coronation as the new Emperor, our protagonist must face the challenging court intrigues as he navigates his newfound role and environment.
With no one to trust or confide in, the naive Emperor yearns for love and friendship, things hard to acquire in a place like the Imperial Court.
This novel is easy to read and remains consistently enjoyable throughout with no filler scenes.
I would describe it as Game of Thrones meets Netflix’s The Crown. It’s something refreshingly different from traditional fantasy tropes.
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3. The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
One Ring to rule them all. Perhaps the greatest and most revered elf novels of all time undoubtedly deserves all the praise.
The first book in the now-famed The Lord of the Rings trilogy stands out until this day as a timeless testament to J.R.R. Tolkien’s boundless imagination.
Conveyed to the silver screen in 2001, The Lord of the Rings is a tale about the young hobbit Frodo Baggins whose aging uncle Bilbo mysteriously disappears, leaving Frodo with an unusual and dangerous quest.
In ancient times, the Dark Lord Sauron forged his Ring of Power that holds the might of his dark forces. After it was taken from him, the Ring vanished until it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins.
With Sauron determined to recover the Ring to complete his evil reign over Middle-earth, Frodo must outwit the Dark Lord with the help of his friends and save their beloved home.
If you have never read Lord of the Rings before, fair warning, it’s long. I wouldn’t say Tolkien was the best writer as there is a lot of waffling, and just like in The Hobbit, it takes a while for the action to begin.
HOWEVER, you cannot deny that he is a master of storytelling. Every little detail has been thought out, and while over-describing may slow down the pace, it certainly allows you to use the best of your imagination.
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4. Forsaken House – Richard Baker
The introduction to the elf fantasy series Forgotten Realms: The Last Mythal, Forsaken House is penned by the New York Times Best-Selling Author, Richard Baker.
This wonderfully-imaginative high-fantasy novel explores the captivating adventure inside the Forgotten Realms setting.
We follow Araevin, an elf mage, preparing himself for a decisive battle against the House of Dlardrageth, whose mission is to destroy and wreak havoc among the elven realms.
If you have a taste for gripping storytelling, detailed world-building, and memorable characters, Forsaken House might just become your new favorite.
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5. War for the Oaks – Emma Bull
War for the Oaks is a paranormal fiction novel that stands out as a defining moment in modern urban fantasy. Written by the immensely talented Emma Bull, the book garnered plenty of critical praise upon its release in 1987.
The story follows Eddi McCandry, who finds herself in an impossible situation. By chance, the rockstar becomes involved in the invisible war among the faerie people.
While forced to fight for survival, Eddi realizes that all her former misfortunes suddenly seem insignificant.
This urban fantasy novel emphasizes the importance of love, music, and imagination, shifting the reader’s perspective into being more open and appreciative of the magic of everyday life.
This is an angsty romance book that is imaginative, with plenty of magic to keep you hooked throughout.
The story is fast-paced but easy to put down when you need to. You are always wanting to know what happens at the end, but without rushing or devouring the story in one go.
War for the Oaks also holds the win for the Locus Award for Best First Novel.
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6. Dreams of the Ringed Vale – Robert Fanney
Luthiel could’ve never predicted the surprises that awaited her on her fifteenth birthday.
She receives a Wyrd Stone- a window into the world of dreams and nightmares, and the Blade Dancer, bearing a dark message. Soon enough, the celebration of her birthday withers as she now carries the burden of a difficult choice.
If she chooses not to intervene, someone close to her will die. On the other hand, if she decides to venture into the unknown, she will have to face the Vale of Mists on her own and race Othalas, the most feared of all the werewolves.
Dreams of the Ringed Vale is the first part of the Luthiel’s Song epic fantasy series, followed by another six novels that explore the incredible world of elves, dragons, werewolves, and never-ending adventures.
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7. The Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien
Penned by the brilliant mind behind The Lord of the Rings series, The Silmarillion is an equally important contribution to the elf fantasy genre.
Fair warning, I don’t know many people who have finished this book. It’s not so much a story but a textbook of how Middle Earth began and introduced all the characters. Only die-hard LOTR fans have made it through to the end.
If you’re an avid admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterful writing techniques and you’ve finished LOTR, then The Silmarillion should be on your reading list.
If you’re not familiar with the book, it takes us back to the Elder Days, an ancient time in Middle-earth when Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, goes to war with the High Elves.
The conflict arises because they set out to recover the Silmarils- jewels that hold the pure light of Valinor.
The Amazon series, Rings of Power, is loosely based on this story.
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8. Elvish – S.G. Prince
The first novel in the trilogy of the same name, Elvish is a real treat for all the lovers of elf fantasy, romance, and rapid action sequences.
S.G. Prince masterfully combines paranormal elements with a romantic storyline in this book, engaging the reader from the first page.
When an ordinary human Venick finds himself trapped inside the borders of the elf lands, he must lie about his true nature to save his life.
Further complications ensue when he confronts the beautiful Ellina, who remains immune to his charms. Shall we say, at least at first?
She demands that Venick learns their native tongue in exchange for his freedom, as lying is impossible within the Elvish language.
With time, their relationship becomes more complex as they start shedding their armor of pride.
This book is beautifully written, with characters that grow a lot. It highlights the ruthlessness of the elves, rather than their usual reputation of being light, powerful, and pure.
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9. Wondrous Strange – Lesley Livingston
‘Young adult fantasy meets the urban fae romance novel‘ is a fitting tagline for Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange.
The book cleverly combines the paranormal romance formula with the classic element of a protagonist that steps into the magical unknown.
We follow the seventeen-year-old actress Kelley who hopes to catch her lucky break by securing the role of the fairy queen Titania in the Midsummer Night’s Dream production.
The thin line between fantasy and reality blurs upon meeting the irresistible Sonny.
Suddenly, the mystical world of Faeries becomes all too real as Kelley must deal with her newfound heritage.
This book is not a story we haven’t seen before, but it has been done very well. It has beautiful writing and relatable characters.
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10. Tinker – Wen Spencer
In the near-future Pittsburgh, the world as we know it is gone, now existing inside the realm of the elves.
We meet Tinker, a genius inventor who manages to run a successful business until a pack of wargs chases an Elven noble into her backyard, disrupting her peaceful lifestyle.
The sparks of chemistry begin to fly, but Tinker and her prince charming have quite a few challenges to endure before they can give in to their love. One way or another, some butts are about to be kicked.
This book starts off pretty action-packed and it doesn’t dwindle throughout. The characters are thrown into the deep end and have to instantly navigate a new world.
Although it’s the first book of a series, each book is stand-alone and has no cliff hangers, so you can keep reading if you enjoy it or stop if you don’t.
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11. No Man Can Tame – Miranda Honfleur
The first book in the Dark-Elves of Nightbloom series introduces the turbulent romance between Princess Alessandra and Prince Veron. No Man Can Tame provides an ideal reading experience for all the enemies-to-lovers fantasy book enthusiasts.
The greatest love is the kind that blooms from the most harrowing hardships. The kind that slowly grows between the two protagonists.
Alessandra is a human royal known as the Beast Princess, coerced into a marriage with Prince Veron, a mysterious dark elf.
The two have no choice but to put their differences aside and flaunt their union as an example for the opposing species, currently under threat of war.
They must find love in each other to save their marriage and the crumbling world in which they both belong.
There are so many elements about this book that I love, but I do feel that Prince Veron is the ultimate book-boyfriend. He’s kind, a gentleman, and values the woman above all else – a feminist. A refreshing take from the usual bad boy romance novels.
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12. Blood of Elves – Andrzej Sapkowski
Chances are you’ve heard of the mega-popular video game-turned-Netflix series, The Witcher. And if you haven’t, you better go check it out. Or don’t, in case you’d prefer not to bask your eyes on Henry Cavill’s chiseled muscles.
Blood of Elves found its basis in the New York Times bestselling series The Witcher, written by the praised Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski and has now been translated into English.
The novel takes us into the enchanting world in which humans, elves, gnomes, and dwarves coexist in harmony for centuries. However, the passage of time brings changes and not always positive ones.
Now, Geralt of Rivia, an assassin known as The Witcher, awaits the birth of a child prophesized to bring forth change in the world- for better or worse.
This book is the third book in The Witcher series, and it’s recommended you start with the first novel, The Last Wish, if this sounds enticing to you.
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13. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
The enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, manages to warm the reader’s hearts by providing a peak behind the curtain of the past.
In this book, we follow our beloved heroes, Bilbo and Gandalf, as they venture into unknown territories.
Once again, we are scouring the grounds of Middle-earth along with our fearless protagonists, prepared for the perils that may lie ahead.
In this fantastic prequel, we meet our unexpected antagonist- the vicious dragon Smaug the Magnificent, who persists in pushing the limits of Bilbo’s tenacious courage.
Of all of Tolkein’s work, The Hobbit is my favorite. Although the quest doesn’t begin until around 60 pages in, it’s still one of my favorite stories ever written.
I love the characters, the quest is enticing, and there’s so much more to love in the book than the film.
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14. Path of a Novice – R.K. Lander
The best-selling author R.K. Lander delivers a masterful opening to her critically acclaimed The Silvan Series with the Path of a Novice.
If you’re yearning for an epic high fantasy with elves, you won’t be able to put this novel down.
The first installment of The Silvan Series is gripping and immensely engaging, checking off every item on your list for a perfect fantasy novel.
If you wish to lose yourself in an intricately constructed world led by memorable and compelling characters, put the Path of a Novice on your reading list as soon as possible.
It has great storytelling and so much action it’s tough to put down. Each chapter brings a new lesson to be learned and a new mystery to solve. The characters are fun and bold, and develop well throughout.
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15. Fierce Heart – Tara Grayce
When looking for an ideal elf fantasy romance, check out Fierce Heart by Tara Grayce.
This paranormal love tale aims to melt the coldest hearts and satisfy even the most demanding action-hungry readers.
An arranged marriage is rarely on any girl’s bucket list, but Essie is determined to go through with it, prepared to sacrifice everything out of love for her kingdom.
When she ties the knot with the elf prince and warrior Laesornysh, Essie must do her best to deal with the impending war that threatens her people. With the spice of a secret crush, her life is about to become more than interesting.
There is so much to love about this book. The progression of the relationship between Essie and Farrendel is beautiful and felt authentic.
Even though it’s an alpha male romance book, you can still see there is a soft and beautiful side to Farrendel, which I loved.
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Final Word on Books About Elves
Hopefully, you uncovered a few engaging titles to add to your reading list.
If you are crazy about elf fantasy books, elaborate world-building, and magical mysteries, check out these exciting suggestions and let us know which one you liked best!
In the end, if you notice there is an essential reading we failed to mention, let us know in the comments below!
