Thefantasygenre is one of the biggest in speculative fiction, and with so many fantasy series to choose from, it can be hard to find one where every book is a guaranteed satisfying read from start to finish. More often than not, many popular fantasy book series will have one novel that is widely considered to be better than the others — oftentimes referred to assecond-book syndrome for trilogies or quartets. This can be frustrating for many readers, as a series may start off promising, only to fail to meet expectations in its latter novels.
Thankfully,severalamazing fantasy booksdefythis trend, keeping pace with its initially phenomenal world-building and storytelling throughout. This isn’t an easy feat either, as most novels will experience a lull in the narrative at some point throughout the series' run. While many of these popular fantasy authors have more than one successful series, I feel that certain fantasy novels represent the best of the best in terms of overall reading experience, character development, and a compelling narrative.
8Mistborn Era One
Written By Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn Era 1is a three-book epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, starting withThe Final Empire, followed byThe Well of AscensionandThe Hero of Ages. The series is also a common starting point for readers to begin exploring the author’s24-book interconnected universe known as the Cosmere. Brandon Sanderson’sMistbornseries is a 10/10 across the board, andthe overall narrative told throughout all three books is nothing short of brilliant.
Every Brandon Sanderson Book, Ranked
Brandon Sanderson is one of the premiere contemporary fantasy authors, known best for the Mistborn series. Here’s how we rank his works.
The world Sanderson builds inMistbornis full of compelling, well-developed characters and a deeply immersive magic system, and it incorporates themes of tyrannical governments, unjust class systems, and overall faith in one another.Mistborn’s protagonists, Kelsier and Vin, are incredibly likable, and the character relationships that develop are well-thought-out—which is a great feat given how large the cast of the series is. This series' magic system of allomancy, a metal-based magic, also continues to evolve throughout each book and makes the novels even more unputdownable as the high-stakes action builds.
7The First Law Series
Written By Joe Abercrombie
The First Lawtrilogy by Joe Abercrombie is one of thebest grimdark fantasy novels— meaning the story is set in a harsh, brutal environment and is quite cynical and nihilistic in nature. The series is very character-driven, and while many of its characters are often morally ambiguous or deeply flawed, Abercrombie’s writing helps readers to understand their motives and own perspectives of the world. The first book in the series,The Blade Itself, acts as a deep dive into its characters and ultimately sets up the enticing narrative found inBefore They Are HangedandLast Argument of Kings.
The story focuses on three different protagonists: Logan Ninefingers, an expert warrior; Jezel dan Luthar, a wealthy nobleman; and Sand dan Glokta, a former champion swordsman turned torturer. Each of these characters challenges the typical archetypes seen in fantasy novels, andthe way in which Abercrombie develops them over time lends to the success of the series overall. The narrative throughout all three books is captivating and will prove itself to be a five-star read across the board.
6The Green Bone Saga
Written By Fonda Lee
The Green Bone Saga, by Fonda Lee, is a three-book series best described as a godfather-esque gangster drama set in a unique urban fantasy setting. The story follows the Kaul family, who are the leaders of the No Peak clan — one of two rivaling clans in the city of Kekon — and have the ability to wield power through Jade stones, a magical substance that will grant its wearers enhanced martial fighting abilities.The narrative perfectly blends its traditional fantastical elements with its gang-like clan dynamics, giving the series an almost “real world” feel.
Lee’s storytelling is nothing short of amazing, and all three books prove themselves to be exceptional.
All three books in the series,Jade City,Jade War, andJade Legacy, tell the story of the Kaul family over the course of thirty years, and by the end of the series, readers have experienced its characters make several mistakes and have watched them grow and evolve.The Green Bone Saga’s endingis just as good as its start, andJade Legacy’s conclusion is incredibly unpredictable and emotionally charged. Lee’s storytelling is nothing short of amazing, and all three books prove themselves to be exceptional.
5Liveship Traders Trilogy
Written By Robin Hobb
Honestly, any of Robin Hobb’s books from theRealm of the Elderlingscould fit on this list, but I think readers can unanimously agree that theLiveship Traderstrilogy is her most-loved and easily a 10/10 series from start to finish. TheLiveship Tradersis the second trilogy in Hobb’sRealm of the Elderlingsand follows Althea Vestrit, who sets off to reclaim her family’s liveship and her birthright after it has been unjustly given to another. A liveship is a ship made of Wizardwood, which contains a magical substance that gives the ship powers and a sentience.
10 Underrated Fantasy Book Series That Should Be On Everyone’s Radar
Not every fantasy book series can be The Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire, but there are 10 underrated fantasy sagas worth reading anyway.
TheLiveship Traderstrilogy is so highly regarded not only because of its one-of-a-kind magic system but also for its vastly complex characters. There are several characters throughout this series who are either deeply loved or deeply hated, and it’s impressive that Hobb’s writing is able to draw out such strong emotions in her readers. The storytelling throughout is phenomenal and explores themes of gender equality, political turmoil, slavery, and the toxicity of abuse, and in my opinion,there’s no part of the series that lets the reader down.
4Red Rising Series
Written By Pierce Brown
While Pierce Brown’s seven-book saga is still unfinished,Red Risingas a whole is already set up to become a faultless series. TheRed Rising Sagais technically split into two parts, with the original trilogy,Red Rising,Golden Sun, andMorning Star,following the early escapades of Darrow’s life and the beginning of a decades-long uprising that will continue into the latter half of the series. In a series so long, it can be easy for readers to lose interest or find a lull in the narrative, but such is not the case forRed Rising.
Brown’s narrative throughoutall six of the currently publishedRed Risingnovels is engaging and nonrepetitive, keeping readers on their toes and unsuspecting of many ofRed Rising’s plot twists. Its strong cast of characters, thrilling — and incredibly well-written — action sequences, and vivid world-building make the series so easy to digest. Given that the series thus far has checked every box in what makes a truly fantastic series, I have no doubt thatRed God, the seventh and final novel, will easily match the standards its predecessors have set.
3The Faithful And The Fallen
Written By John Gwynne
John Gwynne’sThe Faithful and the Fallenis a four-book series that draws heavily upon Norse mythology.Each book in this series serves a purpose in developing and stretching the main narrative, and Gwynne does an excellent job of keeping readers engaged and grasping for more with every book’s conclusion. The plot, centering around the Banished Lands and a looming prophecy that foretells the end of the world, is full of high-stakes— and rather cinematic — action sequences, emotionally evocative storytelling, and easily beloved characters.
The series incorporates many elements found in a classic epic fantasy, similar to that ofJ.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringstrilogy, in which Gwynne builds out intriguing world-building lore and includes a magic system that rests upon magical objects rather than an innate power gifted to its characters.The four-book series, made up ofMalice,Valor,Ruin, andWrath, is, in my opinion, near perfect, and each book is deserving of a five-star rating.
2Broken Earth Trilogy
Written By N.K. Jemisin
N.K. Jemisin’sBroken Earthtrilogy is one of the best genre-defyingsci-fi fantasy book seriesand is totally worth reading. Some readers have a hard time getting into this series because the story is told in the second person, which understandably can be confusing, but pushing through the initial shock is more than rewarding by the end. The first novel in the series,The Fifth Season, kicks off as a cataclysmic event — known as the fifth season — propels readers into a post-apocalyptic world that is covered in darkness.
The story then follows the lives of three strong women who must fight not only to survive in a dying world but also against those who wish for dominance over what little remains in the land.Jemisin’s world-building can be rather intense and take a minute to fully understand, but the creative storytelling is what truly keeps readers engaged and makes the reading experience for each book in the series a 10/10.
1The Bloodsworn Saga
Another example of John Gwynne’s superior storytelling skills comes fromThe Bloodsworn Saga, which has rightfully received a lot of hype in recent months — especially as the final novel in the series,The Fury of the Gods, was considered to be one of thebest fantasy book releases of 2024. The series, once again, takes inspiration from Norse mythology, andGwynne vividly paints a story about vengeance, betrayal, and survivalin a world shadowed by its dead gods.
While each book in the series just continues to get better than the last, each novel deserves to be praised for its unprecedented reading experience. Each book is a faultless read, but its superbly executed character arcs, cinematic battle scenes, and compelling revenge plot play a major role in the series' success. If you enjoy reading about imperfect characters and mythical creatures, this series should definitely be at the top of yourfantasyTBR.
