Books About Epic Tales

The Best Epic Tales Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about epic tales? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Epic Tales

Sale price

$1045

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1937

The Hobbit

By J.R.R. Tolkien

A hobbit's unexpected journey to reclaim stolen treasure leads to a life-altering discovery.

305 pages· 95,428 words· Est. 9 hour read

6.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 4,584,638 ratings

$11.00Save 5%

Summary: Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit, is thrust into a perilous quest with dwarves to reclaim their stolen gold from the dragon Smaug. Alongside Gandalf, they face trolls, goblins, and more. As Bilbo uncovers hidden courage and cunning, he stumbles upon a mysterious ring in the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains. What secrets does this ring hold, and how will it shape Bilbo's destiny? Embark on an epic adventure from the serene Shire to the treacherous lands of Middle-earth, where every step brings new challenges and revelations.

Sale price

$2184

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2017

Strange the Dreamer

By Laini Taylor · Book #1 in the Strange the Dreamer series

A lost city, a haunting past, and a dreamer on a quest for truth.

532 pages· 149,477 words· Est. 14 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 138,773 ratings

$22.99Save 5%

Summary: Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and librarian, dreams of the lost city of Weep. When a chance arises to join the Godslayer and legendary warriors, he must confront the city's dark secrets. What severed Weep from the world two centuries ago? Who is the mysterious blue-skinned goddess haunting his dreams? As Lazlo embarks on this epic journey, he faces a world of nightmares and wonders, where love and carnage intertwine. Will he uncover the truth or lose his dream forever? The answers lie in the shadows of Weep.

Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015

An Ember in the Ashes

By Sabaa Tahir · Book #1 in the An Ember in the Ashes series

A slave and a soldier defy an empire, risking everything for freedom.

480 pages· 124,141 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 359,981 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Summary: In a brutal empire where defiance means death, Laia, a slave, must spy for rebels to save her brother. At the military academy, she meets Elias, a soldier yearning for freedom. Together, they face impossible choices that could alter the empire's fate. Will their intertwined destinies ignite hope or lead to destruction?

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$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2015

Red Queen

By Victoria Aveyard · Book #1 in the Red Queen series

A common girl with hidden powers must navigate a deadly royal intrigue where betrayal is the only certainty.

388 pages· 111,688 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,210,121 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: In a world divided by blood, Mare Barrow, a Red, discovers a hidden power that thrusts her into the Silver elite's dangerous world. Forced to pose as a lost Silver princess, Mare must navigate treacherous court politics while secretly aiding a Red rebellion. As she balances her new identity and her heart's desires, one misstep could mean her death. Can Mare survive the deadly game of power and betrayal, or will her secret be her undoing? The stakes are high, and the only certainty is that trust is a luxury she cannot afford.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2020

The Gilded Ones

By Namina Forna · Book #1 in the The Gilded Ones series

A girl's blood reveals her fate: exile or join a mystical army to save an empire.

432 pages

4.0/5 Goodreads · 56,922 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: Deka's world shatters when her blood runs gold, marking her as impure. Faced with a grim fate, she must choose between submission or joining an army of near-immortal girls to combat a looming threat. As she trains for battle, Deka uncovers secrets in the capital, challenging everything she knows about herself and her destiny. Will she find belonging in a world that fears her power?

Sale price

$1900

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1995

The Golden Compass

By Philip Pullman · Book #1 in the His Dark Materials series

A girl ventures north to rescue a friend, facing betrayal and parallel worlds.

399 pages· 116,792 words· Est. 11 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,639,235 ratings

$20.00Save 5%

Summary: In a world of animal familiars and parallel universes, young Lyra races north to rescue her friend from the sinister Gobblers. Amidst witch clans and armored bears, her uncle Asriel's dangerous quest to bridge worlds looms. Lyra's fierce determination may save or betray those she loves. Can she navigate the treacherous path between loyalty and betrayal? Discover the thrilling journey in 'The Golden Compass,' where one girl's courage could change everything.

Sale price

$1900

Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2011

Daughter of Smoke & Bone

By Laini Taylor · Book #1 in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series

A young artist's mysterious past ignites a war between worlds.

418 pages· 99,472 words· Est. 9 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 387,768 ratings

$20.00Save 5%

Summary: Karou, a blue-haired art student in Prague, sketches monsters that might be real and vanishes on secretive errands. When winged strangers leave black handprints on doorways, her life spirals into an otherworldly conflict. In Marrakesh, she meets Akiva, whose fiery gaze unravels secrets of blood, starlight, and a love entwined with violence. As Karou uncovers her true identity, she must confront a brutal past and decide if the truth is worth the cost. Will she survive the revelations that threaten to consume her?

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2012

Shadow and Bone

By Leigh Bardugo · Book #1 in the The Shadow and Bone Trilogy series

A soldier's hidden magic could save or doom her war-torn world.

358 pages· 81,309 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,141,773 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Summary: Alina Starkov, an orphaned soldier, discovers a hidden power during a perilous journey across the Shadow Fold, a monster-infested darkness. Thrust into the opulent world of the Grisha, she must master her magic under the watchful eye of the enigmatic Darkling. As threats to the kingdom rise, Alina's past reveals secrets that could endanger everything she holds dear. Can she harness her gift to save her nation, or will it lead to its destruction? Enter Ravka, where science and superstition blur, and nothing is as it seems.

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 1986

Redwall

By Brian Jacques, Gary Chalk (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Redwall series

A young mouse must find a legendary sword to save Redwall Abbey from a fearsome rat horde.

352 pages· 102,515 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 131,838 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Summary: In Mossflower Wood, peace is shattered by Cluny, a ruthless rat bent on conquering Redwall Abbey. The mice's only hope lies in the lost sword of Martin the Warrior. Young Matthias, an unlikely hero, embarks on a daring quest to reclaim the weapon and defend his home. Can he rise to the challenge and become a legend? Discover a world of riddles, humor, and adventure in this epic tale of courage and destiny.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1954

The Fellowship of the Ring

By J.R.R. Tolkien · Book #1 in the The Lord of the Rings series

A hobbit must destroy a powerful ring to stop evil from consuming the world.

458 pages· 177,227 words· Est. 16.5 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 3,218,000 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Frodo Baggins, a humble hobbit, inherits a ring with the power to destroy or save Middle-earth. Pursued by dark forces, he and his loyal friend Sam embark on a perilous journey to Mount Doom, the only place where the ring can be destroyed. As they navigate treacherous lands and face unimaginable dangers, the fate of all that is good hangs in the balance. Will Frodo succeed in his quest, or will the dark lord Sauron reclaim his power? The journey tests courage, friendship, and the very essence of good versus evil.

The Bookroo Book Club