20 Compelling Medieval Fantasy Books That Will Take You Back in Time

The stories of King Arthur steeped in magic and heroism have inspired countless generations of writers. 

In 1978, Thomas Berger published Arthur Rex: A Legendary Novel, in which he offers his own take on the life of King Arthur, right from his birth to his death at the hands of Mordred, his evil son. 

Well-known figures such as Sir Lancelot, Merlin, and even the Lady of the Lake all make an appearance, and while the story is set in the medieval world, Berger manages to put a modern spin on the tales.

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Published in 1976, Camber of Culdi is chronologically the first book in Kurtz’s Deryni novels. In Kurtz’s worldbuilding, the “Deryni” are a race of humans gifted with magical powers that set them apart from the rest. Camber is the greatest of the Deryni—the stuff of legend—and this novel throws light on his backstory. 

Filled with political intrigue, a dash of magic, and set against the backdrop of medieval Europe, Camber of Culdi is a great place to start if you’re new to Kurtz’s works.

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Hailed as an “electrifying journey into the past” (Booklist), Judith Koll Healey’s The Canterbury Papers “brims with authentic historical detail” (Minneapolis Star Tribune). 

The story follows Alais, sister to the king of France, whose mission in medieval England and France will place her in terrible danger even as she encounters actual figures from history and an intriguing leader of the Knights Templar in this “engaging medieval suspense debut” (Once Upon a Crime). Readers will be happy to know that more adventures of Alais are waiting once they’ve finished this one.

If you love swashbuckling fantasy with a Scottish twist, give Dave Duncan’s Demon Knight a try. 

Originally published in 1998, the novel tells the story of Longdirk, the Scottish outlaw who used dark magic to save Europe from the evil Fiend. But now he is facing newer threats, and must organize the quarreling city-states to prepare for the upcoming invasion.

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Hailed as “one of the most characteristic and delightful pieces of Renaissance literature” (Journal of Philosophy), this classic bit of humanist religious satire helped to lay the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation. 

Though originally written in 1509, this “delightful bit of forensic jugglery” has the “faculty of being perennially contemporary” (New York Times), and is now available in an approachable translation that will allow any modern reader to enjoy this “masterpiece of humor and wise irony” (Johan Huizinga, Dutch historian).

If you love medieval folktales, don’t miss out on this delightful Robin Hood retelling by Jenifer Robeson. This slow-burner follows the romance of Maid Marian and Robin Hood, set in the depths of Sherwood Forest. 

Lady Marian of Ravenskeep has just lost her father in the Crusades, and she decides to leave behind her sheltered life to join a band of outlaws. A sweeping tale of courage, adventure, and staying true to one’s ideals, the Lady of the Forest is a charming read.

In 1066, William the Conqueror led an army of Norman, French, Flemish, and Breton troops against what was then Anglo-Saxon England. The Norman Conquest of the island nation took years to complete and reshaped England forever, turning Norman soldiers into English aristocracy in the process. 

In The 1066 Norman Bruisers, historian Helen Kay offers readers “a different look at a well written about period of English history” in a “great book” that is a must-read for any medieval scholar (Medieval Sword School).

Lens of the World is a coming-of-age fantasy story, set in an alternate medieval world. The first of a series, it follows the escapades of Nazhuret, an outcast and  orphan who enrolls in military school and gradually rises up the ranks to become a warrior, philosopher, and even the King’s confidant. 

Nazhuret’s story is told in a series of letters, and the novel is wonderfully plotted, with appealing characters and an engaging writing style. Published over 30 years ago, this book is an underrated classic.

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What does it mean when we write about the past? Are we truly chronicling it, or are we inventing it from our own imaginings and biases? These are some of the questions posed by Jaume Aurell in this one-of-a-kind book that makes medieval Catalonian writings available to English-speaking audiences for the first time in a “remarkably lucid and beautifully argued study, which will undoubtedly be of enormous benefit to scholar and student alike” (The Medieval Review). 

The result is a “most thoughtful and engaging book” that “reflects Aurell’s deep knowledge” (American Historical Review) and provides an indispensable survey of medieval Catalonian historiography.

David Feintuch won the John W. Campbell Award for the Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1996. He wrote a science fiction series, the Seafort Saga, and then a fantasy series, Rodrigo of Caledon. 

The latter is a duology (The Still and The King) which chronicles the life of Rodrigo. Initially a selfish child, the young Prince is forced out of his kingdom when his uncle usurps his throne. 

To win back his crown, Rodrigo needs an alliance with the Council of State and also to channel the mystical powers of the “Still." In the second book, The King, Rodrigo must prove that he is indeed the crowned king of Caledon by protecting his kingdom from brutal invasions. 

If you love tales of epic heroism and books with queer main characters, these two books are sure to hold your attention. 

Known by many spellings of his name, Parsival was one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table, the original hero of the quest for the Holy Grail. In Richard Monaco’s most famous novel, the author engages in a modern retelling of the knight’s famous story, one that modern readers will find every bit as vivid and gritty as any contemporary novel. 

The beginning of a series of modern retellings of the Grail Quest, Monaco’s Parsival is an ideal introduction for contemporary readers to one of the most important stories of the Middle Ages.

Many books have been written about the life of Joan of Arc, the teenage girl who believed she heard the voice of God, led French soldiers to battle, and was burned at the stake for heresy. However, few others have shown so “vividly what Joan meant to those in her own time, politically and militarily” (New Yorker). 

In a “convincing and gripping” biography (New York Times Book Review), Helen Castor “recreates the heady atmosphere of the period” (Publishers Weekly) while telling the story of Joan of Arc as it must have felt at the time – when no one, not even Joan herself, knew how it was going to end.

The story of King Arthur is one of the most important and enduring myths of Western culture, despite the fact that it has no agreed-upon ur-text or starting point. 

In this “fascinating, authoritative analysis” (The Guardian), a “leading medievalist takes a clear-eyed look at the evidence for the existence of the legendary Arthur” (Sunday Times) in a work of “extraordinary erudition” (Choice) that examines whether King Arthur ever really existed, and what, if anything, we know about the truth behind the myth and the tales of his legendary Knights of the Round Table.

Alas, there was a time when Game of Thrones was one of the biggest things on television. If the much-anticipated finale left you disappointed, rest assured that the books are way better, packed with details the show only glossed over. 

Set in a medieval-inspired world where schemers and traitors lurk at every corner, A Song of Ice and Fire is epic fantasy at its finest. Filled with complex characters and a complicated plot that is still unraveling, you can slowly sift through the tomes as you wait for the sixth and seventh volumes to be published.

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Cazaril, once a noble, was sold into slavery. After many years, he is set to return to the royal household as a tutor to the princess. He also learns that the kingdom of Chalion is under a deadly curse, and circumstances repeatedly test his loyalty, patience, and commitment to do the right thing. 

The novel is somewhat based on the Spanish Reconquest and several characters have been inspired by actual historical figures. A classic medieval tale, The Curse of Chalion was nominated for the Hugo, Locus, and World Fantasy awards and won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature in 2002.

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The Bear and the Nightingale, the first book in Katherine Arden’s bestselling Winternight trilogy, begins in a medieval Russian village. 

The young Vasya Petrovna has the gift of seeing and communicating with the magical creatures of the forest. Naturally, that puts her at odds with society, and especially the Orthodox Church, which denounces her as a witch. 

The books follow Vasya’s adventures over the years and are steeped in Russian folklore. If you love your medieval fantasy with some slow-burn romance, this is a thoroughly satisfying, page-turning trilogy to check out.

As an illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, Coriel Halsing can only spend the summers at Castle Auburn with her older half-sister, and she dearly looks forward to them. But as she grows up, she slowly realizes the court is far from an idyllic place and every Prince Charming may be hiding an ugly secret…

A hidden gem of a fantasy novel, Summers at Castle Auburn is perfect for those who love court intrigue, romance, and a medieval flavor.

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All too often, our accounts of history are limited to wars and conquerors, kings and queens and castles. In this “fascinating account” (Books Monthly), professor of Scottish history Michael Brown casts light on a lesser-known aspect of medieval history – the formal gardens of the Middle Ages. 

The result? “A simply fascinating read and a singularly important, informative, unique and welcome addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university” libraries of all shapes and sizes (Midwest Book Review). 

Despite the number of books and movies that have been set in medieval castles, it can be difficult for us to imagine what life must have been like for those who actually lived there. Enter this classic book which was used as a source for Game of Thrones and succeeds in “making a remote and unfamiliar world accessible” (Kirkus Reviews), partly by allowing “medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books” (Time). 

By focusing on one specific castle which survived much of the violence of the era, the authors walk readers through the rhythms and idiosyncrasies of castle life and the patterns of a medieval year.

There are plenty of travel guides out there that will tell you how to get the most out of your trip to modern-day Japan, Germany, Brazil, you name it. But what about the travel guide for time travelers? That’s essentially what this book by Toni Mount is. 

If you were to suddenly find yourself in medieval England tomorrow, what would you need to know? Could you cook a meal? Would you know who to talk to – or how to talk to them? These questions and more are answered in this handy and approachable guide that will be indispensable should you ever find yourself in medieval England unexpectedly.