7 Fantasy Books That Are as Funny as They Are Magical

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, by Patricia C. Wrede
What, exactly, do dragons want with princesses? This is one of the insightful questions posed by Dealing With Dragons, the first book in this clever and silly series. Few fairy tale tropes go unscathed. Wrede pokes each of them with a magic wand, asking, why, why, why? Then she answers her own questions with dry humor and smart twists on convention. So, what do dragons want with princesses? A housekeeper, a chef, an aide for all tasks better suited to human hands then dragon claws. Don’t feel bad for the princesses, though. There’s nothing eligible princes love more than rescuing.

Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell
It’s the details that make this book as funny as it is. While the world in Rowell’s book obviously began as homage to Hogwarts, she populates it with surprising species and characters that are often quite funny twists on fantasy clichés. Take Numpies, for instance, who are basically the archetypal trolls under the bridge, if the trolls were always cold and loved hot water bottles. Along with a delightfully clever magic system, these kinds of twists make Carry On cracking good fun, while still being chock-full of those good Rainbow Rowell feels.

Deep Secret, by Diana Wynne Jones
There’s a lot of humor in most of Diana Wynne Jones’s books, but I chose this one because I have clear memories of uncontrollably laughing the first time I read it. Deep Secret is an incredibly unique book, combining high fantasy with fan culture. It’s difficult to describe without telling the entire plot, but it manages to combine nursery rhymes, centaurs, travel between worlds, and Dutch computer hackers in one flawless package. The majority of the book takes place at a fantasy convention, and the clash of the magic readers with actual magic provides many of the book’s best laughs. As much as it teases us nerds, it ultimately has nothing but love and respect for fantasy readers and writers.

The Raven Cycle, by Maggie Stiefvater
Readers who know anything about this series may be questioning its inclusion on this list, as the main attractions of these beautiful books include gorgeous magic, terrifying horrors, hit men, yearning romance, and impending death. Not the stuff chuckles are made from. Readers who know everything about this series, however, know how funny it is. The jokes are the kind that form between best friends. They come from knowing the characters, and they get funnier the more you spend time with them. The Murder Squash Song in and of itself might not seem that funny, but sing squash one, squash two… to a fellow obsessed reader, and they’ll either laugh or start singing along with you.

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
Okay, so you’ve seen the movie, right? If you haven’t, I’m actually a little jealous you get to read this fantastic novel without the memory of a thousand viewings running through your head. Read the book, then immediately go watch the movie. You won’t regret it. This is one of the most unique books you will ever read. According to the introduction, the story you’re about to read is actually an abridged version of a novel by S. Morgenstern. However, there is no S. Morgenstern. There is no unabridged version. There is only this: a cynical, ironic, hysterical, and somehow stunningly romantic fantasy novel, peppered with quotable lines worthy of Oscar Wilde.

The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
Unlike some of the other books on this list, the magical elements of these books are taken very seriously. The humor comes instead from a very human place. Alanna of Trebond wants to become a knight. Her twin brother has no interest in fighting, he’d rather learn magic. So they switch places, and Alanna becomes “Alan” in order to follow her dreams. The gender swap, and a rich cast of characters, provide lots of good humor in this feminist fantasy classic, especially as Alanna grows up and her super handsome prince bestie discovers her secret.

 The Harry Potter Books, by J.K. Rowling
Even when the books are nowhere near my person, I’ve been known to laugh out loud at the mere memory of Arthur Weasley. Rowling is often lauded for her talent for world building and plotting, but personally I don’t think she gets enough credit for how funny she is. There’s humor threaded into every aspect of the book, from the deadpan delivery she uses to describe the crazy realities of the wizarding world, to the inventions of the Weasley twins (YOU-NO-POO, the constipation sensation that’s gripping the nation), to the sage “wisdom” of one Mr. Ron Weasley. Okay, so this is largely about the Weasleys. Here’s to the elderly wizard Archie and his floral nightgowns! We all could use a “healthy breeze” around our privates.