what was the first fantasy novel

The first fantasy novel holds an important place in the literary world as it paved the way for countless imaginative tales that followed. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre and are curious to explore the roots of this realm of literature, you might be wondering: what was the first fantasy novel ever written?

The answer to this question takes us back to the year 1818 when Mary Shelley published her iconic novel, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." Although primarily known as a work of science fiction, "Frankenstein" also possesses many elements of fantasy. Shelley's novel introduced readers to the concept of creating life, as the protagonist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, fervently brings a creature to existence through unconventional means.

The novel showcases themes of supernatural events, the blurred line between life and death, and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge. These elements are key elements found in many fantasy novels today, making "Frankenstein" a groundbreaking work that contributed significantly to the development of the fantasy genre.

If you are interested in exploring more fantasy novels, there are several noteworthy works by renowned authors that I highly recommend. J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is an epic tale set in the fictional realm of Middle-earth, filled with complex characters, magnificent settings, and a richly detailed mythology. Another must-read is George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, a gripping and intricately woven narrative that has captivated readers worldwide, particularly due to its television adaptation, "Game of Thrones."

For those seeking a more contemporary fantasy experience, Patrick Rothfuss's "The Name of the Wind" is a beautifully written coming-of-age story set in a world of magic, music, and mystery. Alternatively, if you prefer a blend of fantasy and realism, Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" offers a unique take on mythical creatures in modern-day America.

To delve deeper into the world of fantasy literature, several online platforms provide valuable resources and recommendations. Goodreads.com is an excellent website where readers can discover new fantasy novels, track their reading progress, and join discussion groups. Additionally, Tor.com offers a wealth of articles, reviews, and recommendations for fans of the fantasy genre.

In conclusion, the first fantasy novel ever written was Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," which laid the foundation for the genre as we know it today. If you are eager to explore more mesmerizing tales, I encourage you to dive into the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Neil Gaiman, and numerous other talented authors. Happy reading!
Peerless Martial Soul Fiction
Peerless Martial Soul

The Dragon Vein Continent, a land of countless races and sects, where martial artists reign supreme. The strong destroy heavens and earth, while the weak crawl like ants. Chen Feng, a young man with an iron-like dantian, unable to cultivate, is subjected to disdainful gazes. By chance, he obtains the supreme Dragon Blood and a mysterious ancient cauldron, and from then on, he rises against the heavens, making a grand entrance into the world! Charming and alluring fox demons, cold and proud empresses, enchanting demonesses from the demonic sect, and princesses of the divine race, all fall into my embrace. With no inheritance to rely on, I cultivate the strongest martial spirit, surrounded by beauties, looking down upon the heavens.

410.17 Million words | 2022-09-16 02:35Update

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I created scientific magic. Fiction
I created scientific magic.

Lynn found herself in a magical world similar to medieval Europe, but where magic existed and had the ability to influence and control fundamental particles. In this world, scientific theories were regarded as magical formulas. The wizards, known as practitioners, were actually scientists, relentlessly exploring the truth of the world despite being chased and hindered by the religious authorities. Lynn joined them in their difficult pursuit of knowledge, seeking the ultimate truth of this world.

142.78 Million words | 2020-07-26 10:20Update

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This martial saint is overly generous. Fiction
This martial saint is overly generous.

【Transmigration】【Fierce】Qin Jinyang crosses the turbulent era, facing natural disasters and human calamities, where the people are struggling to survive.【In the year of great disaster, you gift crops to the people, with a compassionate heart, perfectly embodying the "Sacred Medical Heart Sutra"!】【You forcefully eliminate bandit dens, using thunderous means, providing a safe passage for villagers and caravans, perfectly embodying the "War God's Qi"!】【You overthrow the decadent dynasty, giving fertile land to the impoverished peasants, evolving your own foundation!】【Spirits, demons, gods, and immortals causing chaos, you pierce through the heavens, bestowing favorable weather upon all beings, breaking through your own limits!】... I'm greedier than all of you, but also more generous!...【Already signed the contract, rest assured to collect and read, with explosive updates once published, guaranteed quality】

142.85 Million words | 2021-10-12 02:26Update

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The Way of the System Fiction
The Way of the System

Li Hanya absorbed a soul from Earth and obtained a mentor-disciple system. From then on, upgrades were effortless, and skills relied solely on copying. Lineages, techniques, equipment, and pets, he could buy whatever he wanted. With virtue as his tool to persuade others,

563.16 Million words | 2020-10-07 17:32Update

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Kill the God Under Heaven Fiction
Kill the God Under Heaven

Slaying gods will shake the world, a sword mourns as it spreads across the land. The cycle of gods and demons changes, a single strike turns the azure into an endless sea. The balance of heaven's will, every thought ensnares all things in life and death. No gates in hell, one person stains love with blood. If you, dear readers

539.85 Million words | 2021-04-22 21:34Update

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Full-Time Lord Fiction
Full-Time Lord

Humans are born commanders, possessing great wisdom. Orcs are born warriors, courageous and tough. Elves are born archers, with beautiful appearances. And dragons have powerful magic immunity. Dak Evans, from a noble family with a long history, has a noble bloodline but lacks the inherited talents, earning him the title of a waste. However, after his soul is accidentally merged with that of a modern university student named Zhao Feng, he is reborn. Now, his talents are awakened: magic immunity talent, archer talent, berserker talent, combined with modern scientific knowledge and wisdom...

324.83 Million words | 2020-10-10 22:25Update

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The Way of Immortality Fiction
The Way of Immortality

The urban youth, due to a fortuitous encounter, arrives in an alternative realm of cultivation with a jade pendant containing the secrets of Taoist techniques and supernatural powers. What kind of turbulence will his arrival cause? Dear readers, if you think "The Path to Immortality" is good, please remember to recommend it to your friends in your QQ groups and on your Weibo!

116.31 Million words | 2022-01-19 16:33Update

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Six Realms of Martial Combat Fiction
Six Realms of Martial Combat

A teenager who emerged from the wilderness unexpectedly gains possession of an ancient book, which reveals the existence of a race that had long been extinct for thousands of years. Named Mingye, the boy harnesses the power of the ancient divine book from the era of creation, inadvertently awakening his Ming clan bloodline. Amidst the suppression from the other races in the Six Realms, will he be able to successfully lead the Ming clan to rise? This is a tale of an ordinary teenager's journey to become an incomparable powerhouse.

392.25 Million words | 2021-03-09 23:05Update

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Journey from Unreal to Real Creation Fiction
Journey from Unreal to Real Creation

From the physical reality to the imaginary world of the mind... From the illusory realm of the mind to the real world... From the primordial five elements... to the ancient world... Infinite gods and demons; gods and demons striving for enlightenment, shaping the destiny of all living beings and enlightening countless souls... Who comes first, who is the leader?... It all started as a purely technological world. Until a laboratory sought to open a dimensional wormhole... The art style of the real world suddenly shifted in another direction... This taught humanity a lesson... Curiosity and desire can be the staircase to human progress! But there is also a saying... No action, no death! Curiosity, sometimes more than just killing the cat, it can be a harbinger of doom that plunges all of humanity into despair... Group number: .

263.77 Million words | 2021-01-15 02:16Update

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Moon Goddess Melody Fiction
Moon Goddess Melody

Rolling red dust, concealing the world of the five elements. Beings lost in confusion, chasing the path to eternal life. Sun, moon, stars are but a grain of sand in the vast universe. Dancing on the moon, following the footsteps of immortals...

62.08 Million words | 2021-11-24 15:03Update

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Yellow Dragon's Journey to Another Realm Fiction
Yellow Dragon's Journey to Another Realm

After the Battle of Sealing Gods, Huanglong Zhenren, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Cānyú Religion, inexplicably traversed to a different realm. In this new world, Huanglong Zhenren, who was struggling in the Cānyú Religion, embarked on an extraordinary life. Are divine beasts formidable? I just need to summon a spiritual beast to guard me. Are the Twelve Archangels impressive? With a celestial binding rope, I'll bind them and let them serve me like birds. The Dragon Clan, those prideful lizards? Just a roar from me, and they'll tremble in fear, calling me their ancestor. This book promises absolute imagination, appropriate imagination, and passionate imagination.

290.80 Million words | 2023-02-18 06:34Update

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Witch Hunters from Another Realm Fiction
Witch Hunters from Another Realm

"Boss, why do we need titles?" "Boss, can titles make us powerful?" "Boss, it's up to you, I'll listen to you." "You're the boss, I don't mind." "Listen up, from now on, when you go out, don't embarrass me. One of you will be called Blood Emperor, the other Sword God. And there will also be the Divine Emperor and the Dark Sovereign." ... A modern college student, how will he lead his gang through battles using skills from the game after crossing over? Countless magical potions, various powerful puppets. Shattering conspiracies, ascending to the peak!"

209.14 Million words | 2022-05-17 07:14Update

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I never intended to save the entire Blue Star. Fiction
I never intended to save the entire Blue Star.

On the wasteland, order collapses and civilization rebuilds. The factions of Creation and Frontier rise successively, fighting to save the entire Blue Star. Above the wilderness, the Dawn Organization spreads like wildfire. Li Qingmu looks at

342.27 Million words | 2023-02-16 09:05Update

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Twin Demonic Cultivators Fiction
Twin Demonic Cultivators

A mysterious "Heaven's Wrath Sword," an unparalleled master, arrives at a continent known as Jiuzhou and possesses the body of a newborn baby. Mysterious soul techniques, formidable energy, originating from ancient mythical beasts. The veil of mystery over this continent slowly unveils... Note: This book is not a harem, purely fictional, please restrain Taoist priests from entering.

169.90 Million words | 2022-08-05 03:53Update

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Perfect Sword God Fiction
Perfect Sword God

New book "Ancient Divine Realm", please support and add to your collection!

521.67 Million words | 2023-01-20 04:50Update

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Zhuang Chun's years Fiction
Zhuang Chun's years

I randomly flipped through a book out of boredom, stumbled upon an allusion that annoyed me, and impulsively wrote this story. Fooling and entertaining myself, amusing and indulging myself. Initially, I intended to confound the world, but unexpectedly, I disturbed the mortal realm.

302.59 Million words | 2021-05-19 08:03Update

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Plant peas, kill zombies. Fiction
Plant peas, kill zombies.

Once I crossed over to the game, life became comfortable as a passerby!! Zombies!!! Puh! Puh-puh!! Puh-puh-puh! !! Little yam, little rice, don't cry, Plant a peashooter and fight those zombies! Plant peas, fight zombies, chaos ensues in the end times with chickens flying and dogs jumping.

350.83 Million words | 2022-11-15 22:13Update

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The Strongest Emperor. Fiction
The Strongest Emperor.

Crossing into a parallel world, possessing the body of a useless prince, I thought I would be subjected to humiliation and die, but instead I gained the Emperor System. From then on, I rose to power, suppressing all kinds of dissent, with the goal of becoming the strongest emperor in all the realms of heaven and earth.

3.52 Million words | 2022-11-27 08:17Update

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The Sword of Heaven Code. Fiction
The Sword of Heaven Code.

A teenage boy with a mysterious background, known as a spiritual waste, vows to defy fate. After enduring countless perilous trials, his cultivation of spiritual veins shocks the heavens, and his path of body refining makes ghosts and gods weep. In the end, the wheel of destiny pushes him onto a path of slaying gods and cutting through the heavens!

126.87 Million words | 2022-05-14 19:10Update

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Sacred Lord of the Reverse World: Playful Fox Spirit and its Various Pits Fiction
Sacred Lord of the Reverse World: Playful Fox Spirit and its Various Pits

【Next Idea Original Literature Award Entry】As the female protagonist, Diyang possesses a powerful golden finger, with skills in alchemy, refining tools, making talismans, and setting up formations, as well as a formidable group of beasts. She is never lacking loyal subordinates, and countless beautiful men continuously fall for her under her pomegranate skirt. Diyang: With so many beautiful men, should I pick one good one or keep them all? Antagonists and cannon fodders protest with resentment: If the female protagonist is so powerful, why do we need to do anything?! Mu Lian, pointing at her finger: So

334.86 Million words | 2020-09-29 01:10Update

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