High fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy, characterized by “secondary world” (non-real world) settings that are magical or governed by rules that are different from Earth’s. High fantasy is characterized by the epic nature of plots, characters, and themes. It often includes a heroic main character and an enormous cast of secondary characters entangled in large-scale plots of war or other world-endangering scenarios, and moral themes such as good versus evil (Stableford, Brian. The A to Z of Fantasy Literature. Scarecrow Press, Plymouth. 2005).

High fantasy has recognized tropes. For instance, high fantasy settings are often inspired by real historical places and events. The Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series by George R. R. Martin is heavily inspired by the medieval English Wars of the Roses (1455-1487). Similarly, The Will of the Many draws on the Roman Republic (509-27 BC). High fantasy plots often focus on a noble boy whose family dies or loses power, with the plot focusing on his maturation and heroic deeds, such Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune. This is often combined with the magical school trope, in which the main character attends a special school where they must compete and collaborate with other students.