10 Best War Fantasy Books where Strategy Meets Magic!
Alright, if you are a die-hard fan of heart-pounding battles, mind-bending strategies, and nail-biting suspense, then boy, do we have a treat for you! We've gathered the cream of the crop in the seemingly limitless world of War Fantasy books—the thrilling spot where the grand spectacle of war collides with the world of magic.
We're talking about warfare where elven archers aim their arrows not just at enemy hearts, but at spell-shields. Commanders don't just manoeuvre infantry and cavalry—they deploy wizards too. Assassins aren't just lurking in the shadows with knives; they conjure dark magic too!
These stories don't just get you at the edge of your seat, they grab you by the collar and drag you through power struggles, epic sieges, legendary heroes, and heart-wrenching betrayals. And let's not forget, of course, the mind-blowing strategies that could turn the tides of war using a magical touch!
Still with us? Good, because if you're still here then this is your jam. Welcome to our list of the best War Fantasy books ever written, where mages meet military, spells meet swords, and where strategy truly meets magic! Buckle up; it's going to be an unforgettable ride.
『The Art of War』
Conflict is an inevitable part of life, according to this ancient Chinese classic of strategy, but everything necessary to deal with conflict wisely, honorably, victoriously, is already present within us. Compiled more than two thousand years ago by a mysterious warrior-philosopher, The Art of War is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world, as eagerly studied in Asia by modern politicians and executives as it has been by military leaders since ancient times. As a study of the anatomy of organizations in conflict, The Art of War applies to competition and conflict in general, on every level from the interpersonal to the international. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through understanding the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict.
Author | Sun Tzu |
---|---|
Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Shambhala Publications |
Release Date | Sep 17, 2002 |
Source | Google Books |
『History of the Peloponnesian War』
An Athenian general of the fifth century B.C. chronicles the disastrous 27-year conflict between Athens and Sparta. Thucydides traces the conflict's roots and provides detailed, knowledgeable analyses of battles and the political atmosphere.
Author | Thucydides |
---|---|
Price | $5.39 |
Publisher | Courier Corporation |
Release Date | Aug 25, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Persian Expedition』
In "The Persian Expedition", Xenophon, a young Athenian noble who sought his destiny abroad, provides an enthralling eyewitness account of the attempt by a Greek mercenary army - the Ten Thousand - to help Prince Cyrus overthrow his brother and take the Persian throne. When the Greeks were then betrayed by their Persian employers, they were forced to march home through hundreds of miles of difficult terrain - adrift in a hostile country and under constant attack from the unforgiving Persians and warlike tribes. In this outstanding description of endurance and individual bravery, Xenophon, one of those chosen to lead the retreating army, provides a vivid narrative of the campaign and its aftermath, and his account remains one of the best pictures we have of Greeks confronting a 'barbarian' world.
Author | Xenophon |
---|---|
Price | $1.99 |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | Nov 01, 2012 |
Source | Google Books |
『』
Author | |
---|---|
Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | |
Source | Google Books |
『On War』
Writing at the time of Napoleon's greatest campaigns, Prussian soldier and writer Carl von Clausewitz created this landmark treatise on the art of warfare, which presented war as part of a coherent system of political thought. In line with Napoleon's own military actions, he illustrated the need to annihilate the enemy and make a strong display of one's power in an 'absolute war' without compromise. But he was also careful to distinguish between war and politics, arguing that war could only be justified when debate was no longer adequate, and that if undertaken, its aim should ultimately be to improve the wellbeing of the nation.
Author | Carl Clausewitz |
---|---|
Price | $16.53 |
Publisher | Penguin UK |
Release Date | Jul 31, 2003 |
Source | Google Books |
『A Thousand Ships』
NATIONAL BESTSELLER "Gorgeous.... With her trademark passion, wit, and fierce feminism, Natalie Haynes gives much-needed voice to the silenced women of the Trojan War."--Madeline Miller, author of Circe Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, a gorgeous retelling of the Trojan War from the perspectives of the many women involved in its causes and consequences--for fans of Madeline Miller. This is the women's war, just as much as it is the men's. They have waited long enough for their turn . . . This was never the story of one woman, or two. It was the story of them all . . . In the middle of the night, a woman wakes to find her beloved city engulfed in flames. Ten seemingly endless years of conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans are over. Troy has fallen. From the Trojan women whose fates now lie in the hands of the Greeks, to the Amazon princess who fought Achilles on their behalf, to Penelope awaiting the return of Odysseus, to the three goddesses whose feud started it all, these are the stories of the women whose lives, loves, and rivalries were forever altered by this long and tragic war. A woman's epic, powerfully imbued with new life, A Thousand Ships puts the women, girls and goddesses at the center of the Western world's great tale ever told.
Author | Natalie Haynes |
---|---|
Price | unknown |
Publisher | Harper Paperbacks |
Release Date | Oct 19, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Troy』
The story of Troy speaks to all of us - the kidnapping of Helen, a queen celebrated for her beauty, sees the Greeks launch a thousand ships against the city of Troy, to which they will lay siege for ten whole years. It is a terrible war with casualties on all sides as well as strained relations between allies, whose consequences become tragedies. In Troy you will find heroism and hatred, love and loss, revenge and regret, desire and despair. It is these human passions, written bloodily in the sands of a distant shore, that still speak to us today.
Author | Stephen Fry |
---|---|
Price | unknown |
Publisher | Michael Joseph |
Release Date | Jul 20, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Countdown to Pearl Harbor』
"A Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter chronicles the 12 days leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, examining the miscommunications, clues, missteps and racist assumptions that may have been behind America's failure to safeguard against the tragedy, "--NoveList.
Author | Steve Twomey |
---|---|
Price | unknown |
Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Release Date | Nov 21, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Campaigns of Alexander』
Although written over four hundred years after Alexander's death, Arrian's account of the man and his achievements is the most reliable we have. Arrian's own experience as a military commander gave him unique insights into the life of the world's greatest conqueror. He tells of Alexander's violent suppression of the Theban rebellion, his defeat of Persia and campaigns through Egypt and Babylon - establishing new cities and destroying others in his path. While Alexander emerges as a charismatic leader, Arrian succeeds brilliantly in creating an objective portrait of a man of boundless ambition, who was exposed to the temptations of power.
Author | Arrian |
---|---|
Price | $12.72 |
Publisher | Penguin UK |
Release Date | Jul 31, 2003 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Defence of Duffer's Drift』
Ernest Dunlop Swinton is a military professional with experience in the Boer War who wrote this famous short book based on a series of thoughts he had on how an infantry unit with only 50 men could defend a river crossing. Through the perspective of a young Lieutenant, you are given the terrain features, the political situation, conflict with civilians and limits on your own military support. There is a brief history of the war with the "Dutch" and then your Lieutenant receives his assignment. With the use of maps, there are six scenarios of the Lieutenants approach to defending the crossing (drift). Each scenario is acted out and with each of the first five scenarios there are several lessons learned such as the effect of enfilading fire, the limitations of a simple trench, the use of the military crest versus being located on top of the hill, the effect the local sympathetic population may have on aiding guerrilla fighters, the effect of surprise, disguising your defense from view, proper posting of sentries and responsibilities, how to combat artillery, dealing with multiple directions of attack, using the terrain to advantage and on. As the Lieutenant in each scenario learns from his mistakes, he alters the outcome to his advantage but only incrementally. Only at the end and sixth scenario does he get it right but with realistic loss. The same map is introduced in each scenario with defense features matching the new defensive tactics. "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" is a fascinating book for all interested in basic infantry tactics, which has been used as a training manual for militaries worldwide. This is a very readable book that can be read in less than 2 hours time. Applicable to any war but this book would be interesting to read with an account of Rappahannock Station, which was a spearhead position held by Confederates in advance of Lee's line on November 7, 1863 where Meade's forces overwhelmed the defenders and took almost 3,000 prisoners. Duffer's Drift would be very applicable in that situation.
Author | Ernest Dunlop Swinton |
---|---|
Price | unknown |
Publisher | CreateSpace |
Release Date | Aug 22, 2013 |
Source | Google Books |
All right, there you have it! These ten exhilarating stories expertly blend the gritty realism of tactical warfare with the awe-inspiring wonder of magic. These aren't your typical "fight the dragon with a sword" fantasies - oh no! These books delve into the nuances of planning intricate wartime strategies and combine those tactics with the unpredictable blast of spellcasting. They're serious brain food for any strategist with a penchant for the fantastical. Each book stands as a testament to the creativity of its author, blending the rigors of war with the enchantment of the mystic. So get ready to lose yourself in these richly detailed worlds where the clash of swords meets the arcane, and remember: in these stories, not only might is right, but a good strategy can also have a touch of magic. Thanks for joining me on this list and happy reading!
The articles on this site are solely intended to create opportunities for encountering new books, and we do not guarantee the accuracy of the information. Therefore, we kindly ask that you thoroughly research the product information and details of each work on your own before making a purchase. We have no connection to the services provided by each e-commerce site, so please use them at your own responsibility.