10 Enthralling Fantasy Novels by Australian Authors
Many readers associate fantasy with British authors like J.R.R. Tolkien or Americans like George R. R. Martin, but there are plenty of talented writers from other countries whose works deserve more attention. If you're a fantasy fan, the ten Australian novels listed here deserve a place on your shelf. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Works of Fantasy by Australian Authors: Our 10 Picks
| Title | Author | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alina Eternal | Debbie Behan |
| 2. | Delwyn of the Realms | Kelly Proudfoot |
| 3. | Songlines | Carolyn Denman |
| 4. | The Hunted | Kristy Berridge |
| 5. | City of Lies | Sam Hawke |
| 6. | The Lascar's Dagger | Glenda Larke |
| 7. | Enchant | Demelza Carlton |
| 8. | Kane's Mate | Hazel Gower |
| 9. | Destiny's Knight | Lexxie Couper |
| 10. | The Godless | Ben Peek |
Fun Activities For Fantasy Fans
- Host a magical movie night
- Enter a Magic: The Gathering tournament
- Play a fantasy video game with friends
- Use a Ouija board to contact the spirits
- Create a cosplay of your favorite character
- Have a board game night
- Podcast about your favorite show, movie, or book
- Decorate with fairy lights
- Host a Dungeons and Dragons campaign
Common Fantasy Tropes
The possibilities in this genre are endless, and no two authors create exactly the same world. Still, there are several common tropes that writers love to come back to again and again, sometimes adding their own unique twists. Here are a few beloved fantasy staples:
- Magic
- Hero
- Dragons
- Dark Lord
- The Epic Quest
- Medieval Setting & Folklore
- Fairies
- Giants
- The Chosen One
- Prophecies
Why Fantasy Matters
In Depth
Australia has produced an exceptional number of talented authors, especially in the genre of fantasy. Their enchanting works feature everything from sarcastic vampires to powerful sorcerers, and are sure to capture the imaginations of readers around the world, especially Aussies. Here, in no particular order, are ten enthralling novels from the land down under, showcasing the skills of writers who specialize in the magical and miraculous.
At #1 is Debbie Behan's "Alina Eternal." When Alina loses her husband of thirty years, she is left with no choice but to go on the run, fleeing a pursuer who wants to experiment on her. Alina has spent her life in hiding, concealing a secret: despite her youthful appearance, she is actually over a hundred years old. Now, she disguises herself as a young man and flees to Australia, where she meets two men who develop an instant interest in her. These men, however, have fantastical secrets of their own, and Alina's relentless follower remains on her trail.
In the #2 position is Kelly Proudfoot's "Delwyn of the Realms." Delwyn, who has the ability to astral travel, has always existed between two worlds. This mysterious power has taken its toll, and after her marriage breaks down, she goes to her aunt's house in the country to recuperate. While there, she discovers a magical mirror that allows her to enter the world of dreams. Now Delwyn must navigate her secret adventures in dreamland as well as an increasingly tempestuous waking life.
This mysterious power has taken its toll, and after her marriage breaks down, she goes to her aunt's house in the country to recuperate.
At #3 is "Songlines" by Carolyn Denman, the first book in her "Sentinels of Eden" series. As far as she knows, Lanie is just an ordinary girl living in rural Australia. But when a mining company starts sampling near her family's farm, an Aboriginal farmhand lets her in on a secret that seems impossible. Hidden in the arid heart of her ancestral land is a gateway to the garden of Eden, and it's Lanie's job to protect it, with astonishing powers she never knew she had.
Coming in at #4 is Kristy Berridge's "The Hunted." In a world of werewolves, magicians, and creatures of the night, Elena is a vampire, but she's also a sarcastic teenage girl who has a big problem with authority. When she meets the intriguing William Granville, she's inspired to question the things her family has told her about the world and her place in it. Elena strives to figure out the truth, while also grappling with coming of age and stumbling into battle against a fearsome enemy.
Taking the #5 spot is Sam Hawke's "City of Lies," book one of the "Poison Wars" series. Jovan has been trained his whole life in the art of poison, and can detect any toxin by smell or taste. He uses his talent to protect the Chancellor's heir from assassination. Disaster strikes when the Chancellor himself is killed by an unknown poison and an army lays siege to the city. Jovan and his sister Kalina must utilize all of their training to find out who is behind the murder plot and protect the home that they love.
He uses his talent to protect the Chancellor's heir from assassination.
At #6 is Glenda Larke's "The Lascar's Dagger." Saker is a priest of the Way of the Oak, with a side job as a spy for the head of his order. While working, he is injured by the blade of a Lascar sailor. Unfortunately for Saker, the knife goes on to mysteriously leave its owner and follow him wherever he goes. This leads him on a dangerous journey far from his home and into a web of shocking secrets.
Coming in at #7 is Demelza Carlton's "Enchant: Beauty and the Beast Retold," the first entry in the "Romance a Medieval Fairytale" series. Driven from her home by the evil King Thorn, the sorceress Zuleika wanders the world, seeking those who need aid. While searching for her father's lost ships, she discovers an island inhabited by Prince Vardan, Thorn's brother, who lives under a terrible curse. Zuleika must try to free him from his affliction, but it may take all the magic she has.
At the #8 position is "Kane's Mate" by Hazel Gower. When she was a child, Faith York's psychic powers led her to seek help from a family of werewolves who lived nearby. While learning how to control her abilities, she formed a friendship with Kane, the oldest son and heir apparent to the Alpha position. Now an adult, Faith returns home from two years abroad to find that Kane may not see her the same way he did when they were children. To make matters worse, she's starting to have visions of a demonic apocalypse.
While learning how to control her abilities, she formed a friendship with Kane, the oldest son and heir apparent to the Alpha position.
In the #9 slot is Lexxie Couper's "Destiny's Knight," first in the "Guarded Souls" series. Billie Sheridan is having a blast playing demon slayer Destiny Blaq on a popular TV show. Her life turns upside-down when a crazed fan escapes police custody and starts to stalk her. Now she can only rely on Nathaniel Knight, a bodyguard who also happens to be a fallen angel, to protect her from a man so obsessed that he may have sold his soul to the devil to have her.
Finally, at #10 is Ben Peek's "The Godless." Fifteen thousand years ago, the gods fought a civil war. Now their vast corpses lie strewn across the world. In a city built next to the body of the god Ger, a young cartographer's apprentice discovers that she has an immunity to fire. Not sure what to make of this, she turns to an enigmatic man named Zaifyr to help her understand her new ability. As she learns the secrets of magic, an army advances on the city, with a particular interest in her gift.
