10 Captivating Christian Fantasy Books to Read

We’ve all heard of J. R. R Tolkien and C. S Lewis. What readers might not know is how much their Christian faith inspired what would eventually become The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.

If you’re looking for new fantasy stories with similar spiritual roots, look no further.

Here are 10 captivating Christian fantasy books to read:

Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adam
Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse
A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr
Daughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse
The Shock of Night by Patrick W. Carr
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck
Prophet by R. J Larson
King’s Folly by Jill Williamson
Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul
In the Hall of the Dragon King by Stephen Lawhead

But what is Christian fantasy?

Christian fantasy books have all the fantasy elements readers love along with a worldview influenced by Christian faith. Practically speaking, this usually means that the stories feature themes of forgiveness, redemption and faith.

They seem to come in two main flavors:

Books where spirituality informs the story themes but the story itself isn’t didactic (similar to Tolkien)
Books intended to teach a spiritual lesson through story and is direct in its message (closer on the spectrum to C. S Lewis)

If you’re a reader who prefers the first type but reads the second, the book might come across as preachy. At the same time, if you’re looking for the second type but read the first, you might be disappointed – a book that also has ‘something more’ to it than entertainment might what you’re looking for.

For each of the books on the list, I’ve included a comment on which camp readers’ felt like the books fell in so you can choose. Rating and price comparisons are at the bottom of the list!

Orphan’s Song by Gillian Bronte Adam

Description

Her solo is a death sentence.

Deep within the world of Leira flows a melody that was sung at the beginning of time by Emhran, the Master Singer. Now it is broken, buried, forgotten. But in each generation, a Songkeeper arises to uphold the memory of the Song against those who want it silenced forever.

When Birdie first hears the Song coming from her own mouth, her world shatters. She is no longer simply an orphan but the last of a hunted people. Forced to flee for her life, she must decide whom to trust–a traveling peddler, a streetwise thief, or a mysterious creature who claims to know her past.

With enemies at her heels and war threatening to tear her homeland apart, Birdie soon discovers an overwhelming truth: the fate of Leira may hinge on one orphan’s Song.

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.28

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

First on our list of Christian fantasy books is Orphan’s Song. Fans of this story mentioned that this is fun read for younger readers (the main characters are 13 and 14), with a moving character journey.

Negative Comments

What did critics say? Generally, readers who enjoy Orphan Song commented that the story had unanswered questions by the end, even for a first book in a trilogy.

Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse

Description

Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person’s dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family’s dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family’s legacy – a legacy that supports her people – or seeking the true reason behind her family’s gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.24

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Second on our list of Christian fantasy books is Mark of the Raven. Fans enthused that Selene’s dream-walking power was absolutely fascinating. They also mentioned that her internal struggles, often to do with questions of humanity and personal regret, were a refreshing difference from Young Adult Fantasy protagonists, who often focus on a love interest.

Negative Comments

On the other hand, readers who didn’t rate Mark of the Raven highly commented that the beginning was slow. However, they also said it picked up soon after.

A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr

Description

In the backwater village of Callowford, roustabout Errol Stone is enlisted by a church messenger arriving with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Eager for coin, Errol agrees to what he thinks will be an easy task, but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins.

Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he’s joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom’s dynasty nears its end and the selection of the new king begins–but in secret and shadow.

As danger mounts, Errol must leave behind the stains and griefs of the past, learn to fight, and discover who is hunting him and his companions and how far they will go to stop the reading of the stones.

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.23

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Next on our list of Christian fantasy books is A Cast of Stones. Fans praised this story, saying that Errol’s character growth and journey were strong and compelling. Many also mentioned the exciting fight scenes, saying they kept them on the edge of their seats.

Negative Comments

What about critics? These readers said they found A Cast of Stones‘ plot too predictable. Others said that they either found the female characters underdeveloped or felt they were missing in the cast.

Daughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse

Description

What if with one touch you could see inside the soul?

As the Shadonae rise in the west and war threatens the north, a young woman discovers she is not human . . .

Rowen Mar finds a strange mark on her hand, and she is banished from her village as a witch. She covers the mark with a leather glove and seeks sanctuary in the White City. She lives in fear that if she touches another person, the power inside her will trigger again, a terrifying power that allows her to see the darkness inside the human heart . . .

But the mark is a summons, and those called cannot hide forever. For the salvation of her people lies within her hand.

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.22

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Next on our list of Christian fantasy books is Daughter of Light. Fans praised the book for its portrayal of Rowan’s character development, which they said was strong and compelling.

In addition, they described the plot as engaging and fast-paced.

Negative Comments

Readers who didn’t rate Daughter of Light highly commented that the romance seemed sudden and that the six point of views made it harder to connect to all the characters.

*Readers said that this story has a clear spiritual and allegorical message, which some loved and others didn’t.

The Shock of Night by Patrick W. Carr

Description

The Darkwater Claims All Who Enter It.
All But One.

When one man is brutally murdered and the priest he works for mortally wounded, Willet Dura, reeve to the king of Bunard, is called to investigate. As he begins to question the dying priest, the man pulls Willet close and screams in a foreign tongue. Then he dies without another word.

Willet returns to his task, but the clues to the crime lead to contradictions and questions without answers, and his senses are skewed. People he touches appear to have a subtle shift, as though he can divine their deepest thoughts.

In a world divided between haves and have-nots, gifted and common, Willet soon learns he’s been passed the rarest gift of all – a gift that’s not supposed to exist.

Now Willet must pursue the murderer still on the loose in Bunard even as he’s pulled into a dangerous conflict that threatens not only his city, but his entire world – a conflict that will force him to come to terms with his inability to remember how he escaped the Darkwater Forest – and what happened to him inside it.

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.21

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Another story on our list of Christian fantasy books is The Shock of Night.

Readers who rated The Shock of Night highly appreciated the many twists, turns and intrigue. They found the story and its mystery plot highly entertaining!

Negative Comments

Readers who didn’t rate The Shock of Night highly said that the story was darker than they expected. Some readers also found the mystery plot complex.

The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

Description

Soccer mom in our world. Promised deliverer in another.

Susan Mitchell thought she was an ordinary homemaker. She was wrong. Pulled through a portal into another world, she finds a desperate nation waiting for a promised Restorer.

While she struggles to adapt to a foreign culture, she tackles an enemy that is poisoning the minds of the people, uncovers a corrupt ruling Council, and embraces a profound spiritual journey.

Will this adventure demand her life? Can she find a way back to her family? She has always longed to do something important for God, but can she fill this role?

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.15

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Next on our list of Christian fantasy books is The Restorer. First off, this novel delighted fans by having a married woman as a protagonist. In particular, they found her relatable and easy to connect with.

Others also mentioned that the relationship between Susan and her husband was sweet and engaging, another plus.

Negative Comments

Readers who didn’t rate The Restorer highly said that the story was slow at times. Some other readers said that they wanted more answers regarding the world-building.

*Readers said that this story has a clear spiritual and allegorical message, which some loved and others didn’t.

Prophet by R. J. Larson

Description

Close your eyes, Ela of Parne. Close your eyes and you will see.

Ela Roeh of Parne doesn’t understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She’s undignified, bad tempered, and only seventeen–not to mention that no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as the elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite’s prophet, Ela knows she will die young.

Istgard has turned their back on me. See the evil they do.

Yet after experiencing His presence, she can’t imagine living without Him. Determined to follow the Infinite’s voice, Ela accepts the sacred vinewood branch and is sent to bring the Infinite’s word to a nation torn apart by war.

Here she meets Kien, a young Traceland ambassador determined to bring his own justice for his oppressed people. As they form an unlikely partnership, Ela must surrender to her destiny…and determine how to balance the leading of her heart with the leading of the Infinite.

Will you accept the branch and speak my will? Will you be my prophet?

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.14

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Next on our list of Christian fantasy books is Prophet. Fans said that Ela is a relatable protagonist and the relationships between her, the Infinite and Kien was enjoyable.

Negative Comments

Readers who didn’t rate Prophet highly said that the fact that the Infinite continuously gave her answers and explanations was too convenient for both the plot and character development.

King’s Folly by Jill Williamson

Description

The gods are angry.

Volcanic eruptions, sinkholes, ground shakers – everything points to their unhappiness. At least that is what the king of Armania believes. His son, Prince Wilek, thinks his father’s superstitions are nonsense, though he remains the ever dutiful First Arm of Armania.

When a messenger arrives and claims that the town of Farway has been swallowed by the earth, the king sends Wilek to investigate. But what Wilek discovers is more cataclysmic than one lost city.

Even as the ground shifts beneath his feet, Wilek sets out on a desperate journey to save his people and his world. But can he do it before the entire land crumbles?

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 4.11

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Another entry on our list of Christian fantasy books is King’s Folly, an epic fantasy.

Fans felt it was epic in feel as well as in genre: they cited the epic scope and plot, multiple character point-of-views, cultures, subplots, prophecies and kingdoms at stake.

Negative Comments

Readers who didn’t rate King’s Folly highly mentioned that the multiple points of view made it difficult to keep track of the plot.

Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul

Description

One Dragon Egg Holds the Key to the Future

Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.

A Desperate Search Begins…

A small band of Paladin’s servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto.

First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fenworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect…

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 3.89

Most Common Rating: 5

Positive Comments

Another story on our list of Christian fantasy books is Dragonspell. Fans of this novel praised it as a great middle-grade fantasy book. Many of them mentioned it had an entertaining story and delightful characters.

Negative Comments

What did critics say?

Generally, these readers mentioned that they expected Dragonspell to be more complex with the characters and themes. However, my impression of this is that these were readers who expected Dragonspell to be written for adults.

*Readers said that this story has a clear spiritual and allegorical message, which some loved and others didn’t.

In the Hall of the Dragon King by Stephen Lawhead

Description

A kingdom hangs in the balance…and a young boy answers the call.

Carrying a sealed message from the war-hero Dragon King to the queen, Quentin and his outlaw companion, Theido, plunge headlong into a fantastic odyssey and mystic quest. Danger lurks everywhere in the brutal terrain, and particularly in the threats from merciless creatures, both human and not-so-human.

While at the castle, the wicked Prince Jaspin schemes to secure the crown for himself, and an evil sorcerer concocts his own monstrous plan. A plan that Quentin and Theido could never imagine.

In the youth’s valiant efforts to save the kingdom and fulfill his unique destiny, he will cross strange and wondrous lands; encounter brave knights, beautiful maidens, and a mysterious hermit; and battle a giant, deadly serpent.

In this first book of the Dragon King Trilogy, Stephen R. Lawhead has deftly woven a timeless epic of war, adventure, fantasy, and political intrigue.

What Do Readers Say?

Goodreads Rating: 3.75

Most Common Rating: 4

Positive Comments

And last on our list of Christian fantasy books is In the Hall of the Dragon King. Fans praised this story for how exciting it was, and said it jumped straight into the action.

Negative Comments

Readers who didn’t rate In the Hall of the Dragon King highly said that it was too standard a fantasy tale.

*Readers said that this story has a clear spiritual and allegorical message, which some loved and others didn’t.