35 Best Fantasy Book Series, According to a Librarian
Updated: Jul. 05, 2024
Magical worlds, mythical beasts and fan-favorite characters—you'll find them all in the best fantasy book series
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Escape into the best fantasy series
Fantasy is one of the most well-known—and well-loved—book genres, so it’s no great surprise that many of the best fantasy book series have become part of pop culture. Admit it: Even if you haven’t read Lord of the Rings, you’ve heard that “one does not simply walk into Mordor.”
It’s easy to understand the appeal of fantasy book series: Much of the genre provides an outlet through which readers can escape their realities and explore a new one. The best books may see you journeying across Middle-earth with hobbits, finding a gem in the center of a clan war or even destroying some ghosts—there’s no shortage of magical moments to be found in these pages.
Choosing only a handful of incredible fantasy book series to recommend was no easy task. We looked through bestsellers, award winners, record breakers, long-standing fantasy classics, underrated gems and emerging favorites that pull from diverse cultures and experiences—but there were still too many books on the list! So we narrowed down our recommendations further based on world-building quality, strong and complex characters, fascinating magic systems, compelling narratives and representation.
As a librarian and avid reader, I had to include a few of my favorites in hopes that magic will find its way into your heart and onto your bookshelves. You can also look for the Reader’s Digest Editor’s Pick badge to spot some of the fantasy books that Reader’s Digest editors especially loved. These series are all incredible picks for spending a day (or days) in a make-believe world.
Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.
-
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Read More -
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Read More -
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
Read More -
The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin
Read More -
Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Read More -
Earthsinger Chronicles by L. Penelope
Read More -
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Read More -
Riddle-Master by Patricia A. McKillip
Read More -
The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin
Read More -
The Convergence Saga by Cadwell Turnbull
Read More -
The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo
Read More -
The Alamaxa Duology by Hadeer Elsbai
Read More -
The Drowning Empire by Andrea Stewart
Read More -
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Read More -
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Read More -
Bone Street Rumba by Daniel José Older
Read More -
The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros
Read More -
Patternist by Octavia E. Butler
Read More -
Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan
Read More -
The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu
Read More -
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Read More -
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
Read More -
Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi
Read More -
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Read More -
The Burning by Evan Winter
Read More -
Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Read More -
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Read More -
Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
Read More -
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
Read More -
Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse
Read More -
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Read More -
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Read More -
Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore
Read More -
The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk
Read More -
The Radiant Emperor Duology by Shelley Parker-Chan
Read More
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Series starter: The Fellowship of the Ring
For fans of: Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
It’s hard to imagine a time without The Lord of the Rings, but before 1954, the world had never heard of hobbits, Mordor or the One Ring to rule them all. This isn’t simply one of the best fantasy book series; it’s the defining fantasy series of the past century. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a young hobbit entrusted with the One Ring, which was forged and fueled by the Dark Lord Sauron, granting him dominion over Middle-earth. On his perilous journey to destroy the ring, Frodo joins forces with a trio of hobbits, a wizard, an elf, a dwarf and a human ranger who’s more than he seems. All the while, the merry band of travelers must avoid orcs, giant spiders and a creature who desires the ring for itself. Go ahead and watch the prequel Amazon Prime TV show, but read the book series first.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Series starter: The Poppy War
For fans of: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
This remarkable trilogy, which began in 2018, finds inspiration in the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War and the rise of Mao Zedong. It opens with Rin, who’s on her way to the elite military school Sinegard, despite the odds stacked against her. (She’s a dark-skinned war orphan who managed to escape her guardians by passing an empire-wide test called the Keju.) A rare gift for the art of shamanism further separates Rin from her classmates and sets her up as a key player in the Third Poppy War that lurks in the near future. But saving her people will come at a steep cost.
There’s a running joke that in young adult fiction, many characters “let out a breath they didn’t realize they were holding.” And that’s my exact experience here—so many times, I held my breath, waiting for the next page and going on a desperately emotional journey. I don’t reread a ton, just because there are so many books and so little time, but this series, especially Book One, is one I’ve reread several times. If you’re into audiobooks, Emily Woo Zeller’s narration of this one further cements its status as one of the best fantasy book series around.
Looking for your next great book? Read four of today’s most compelling novels in the time it takes to read one with Fiction Favorites. And be sure to join the community!
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
Series starter: Jade City
For fans of: The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
Jade City hit shelves in 2017, kicking off a must-read fantasy book series and nabbing a World Fantasy Award in the process. Green Bone Warriors have long protected the island of Kekon from invaders, using the island’s jade to enhance their magic. Now, with no war to fight, warrior families such as the Kauls have turned their attention to new battles—namely fighting for control of both the capital city and the jade market. With a new drug giving everyone the power to wield jade, a clan war quickly brews between the Kauls and a rival family. An Asia-inspired fantasy world sets the stage for an unputdownable read that made Fonda Lee an author to watch.
The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin
Series starter: A Wizard of Earthsea
For fans of: The Sorceress and the Cygnet by Patricia A. McKillip
Ursula K. Le Guin is widely regarded as a pillar in science fiction and fantasy, and if you’ve never read one of her books, 1968’s A Wizard of Earthsea is a good place to start. The series starter tells the story of Sparrowhawk, a young and cocky boy who grows into the great sorcerer Ged. But between the first and last pages of this coming-of-age story, there are adventures with a dragon and that whole business of unleashing a shadow creature into the world. If you’re really committed to the world, invest instead in The Books of Earthsea, a gorgeously illustrated tome containing all the Earthsea Cycle books.
Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Series starter: A Darker Shade of Magic
For fans of: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
One of the best fiction books of 2015, V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic spawned a string of bestselling fantasy novels and now includes a comic book prequel series and a sequel series that was released at the end of 2023. Its beating heart is Kell, who was raised alongside the royal family of Red London and serves as an ambassador. As an Antari, he possesses the magical ability to travel through parallel Londons, which he uses to his benefit as a smuggler. In magic-less Grey London, he collides with thief Delilah Bard, kicking off a worlds-saving adventure full of richly crafted characters and fascinating settings.
This book practically consumed Reader’s Digest Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, who picked it up for a road trip. “The prospect of a mind-numbingly boring drive had me downloading a few audiobooks recently—an entertaining alternative to the license plate game,” she says. “For 11 hours, I was sucked into the world of A Darker Shade of Magic. Set in four parallel Londons, some more magical than others, the story is a fantasy lover’s dream: inventive world-building, well-crafted characters, prose that sings and a plot that skips along. You better believe I downloaded the sequel to this before I even made it home.”
Earthsinger Chronicles by L. Penelope
Series starter: Song of Blood & Stone
For fans of: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
L. Penelope’s 2015 fantasy book series follows Jasminda, who lives on a farm in Elsira, shunned for both the Earthsong abilities that live within her and the color of her skin. When soldiers from neighboring Lagrimar pass through her valley—a seemingly impossible feat considering the magical veil separating the two countries—Jasminda learns that the veil is cracking. Should it fall, newly mobilized Lagrimari forces will head her way. Tossed headfirst into a brewing conflict, Jasminda joins forces with an Elsirian spy to unravel the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps and save her people.
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Series starter: The Color of Magic
For fans of: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Terry Pratchett’s sweeping world began in 1983 and spanned 41 volumes over his lifetime. Dive in to The Color of Magic to meet Rincewind, a wizard—though not necessarily a talented one. He lives within the Discworld, an alternate dimension on the back of a giant turtle that is not the No. 1 tourist destination in the universe. And yet here is Twoflower, Discworld’s first visitor, who’s determined to see everything and who has arrived with his own multi-legged luggage. A lot of fantasy series books are as imaginative as Pratchett’s, but few are as genuinely funny as these books.
Riddle-Master by Patricia A. McKillip
Series starter: The Riddle-Master of Hed
For fans of: Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
No “best fantasy series” list could be complete without the renowned Riddle-Master trilogy from World Fantasy Award Winner Patricia A. McKillip. Her gorgeous work mesmerizes new and seasoned fantasy readers with its lore, mythology and lyrical prose. Starting with The Riddle-Master of Hed, McKillip transports readers into a world apparently bereft of wizards and left in riddles. There, a young peasant named Morgon sets out to meet his destiny, claim a crown and solve the riddle that could change everything for him. As captivating as the first book is, the series gets even better with each sequel—and includes a dazzlingly fierce and fabulous female protagonist, Raederle, who some say steals the show. Decide for yourself by picking up this high-fantasy classic from 1985.
The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin
Series starter: The Fifth Season
For fans of: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Making history as the first series ever to have every single installment win the Hugo Award for Best Novel (making N.K. Jemisin the first author to win the Hugo three years running), The Broken Earth trilogy is widely regarded among fantasy fans as one of the best fantasy book series of all time. This skillfully constructed 2015 science fantasy takes place in a land called the Stillness, the only continent on a planet that goes through cataclysmic climate change (referred to as a “fifth season”) every few centuries. Following a young girl learning to harness her earth-based powers, a woman attempting to save her daughter from her murderous husband and a gifted woman with immense power, Jemisin’s tale is one you desperately need to read. When you’re done, make sure to check out even more books from incredible Black authors.
The Convergence Saga by Cadwell Turnbull
Series Starter: No Gods, No Monsters
For fans of: The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor and The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
From the award-winning U.S. Virgin Islands–based author of The Lesson comes The Convergence Saga, a horrifyingly good fantasy that brings monsters into our world (or maybe they were always among us). First published in 2021, Cadwell Turnbull’s action-packed No Gods, No Monsters starts with a body and follows with a revelation—and the twists, turns and shocks don’t stop in this Caribbean-inspired supernatural fantasy. Exploring questions of humanity, identity and otherness, this is a must-read first book, and Turnbull follows it up with an equally powerful sequel, 2023’s We Are the Crisis.
The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo
Series starter: The Empress of Salt and Fortune
For fans of: The Night Tiger and The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
How’s this for a fun and original way to read a fantasy book series: The cleric Chih links all the books in this collection of novellas, but you can read them in any order. From the rise of an empress traveling toward a political marriage to near-immortal martial artists to the love story between a tiger and a scholar, the tales in The Singing Hills Cycle, which began in 2020, make this a good fantasy series for readers who love stories about stories. As an added bonus, all are short-and-sweet reads.
As someone who has loved stories her whole life, I get a special thrill from stories about storytellers and story collectors, and this set of connected stand-alone novellas is truly one of my favorites. It echoes the feeling of collecting books and assembling a variety of stories on a shelf, and each new addition is a complete joy to read.
The Alamaxa Duology by Hadeer Elsbai
Series starter: The Daughters of Izdihar
For fans of: Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
Hadeer Elsbai’s The Daughters of Izdihar marks the beginning of an enchanting duology from 2023 and 2024 that merges feminist themes with lush Middle Eastern–inspired fantasy. This intricately woven novel introduces readers to Nehal and Giorgina, two women brought together through complicated circumstances who navigate a world boiling with political intrigue, personal peril, secrets and magic. Elsbai’s fantasy novel is a beautiful and thought-provoking must-read, a tale of sisterhood, social revolution, intrigue and indomitable strength.
The Drowning Empire by Andrea Stewart
Series starter: The Bone Shard Daughter
For fans of: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
The Drowning Empire is a fresh entry into the best fantasy book series, featuring a world filled with bone-shard magic. Kicking off with 2020’s The Bone Shard Daughter, the series tracks the emperor’s daughter, Lin, in her attempt to make a name for herself. Snubbed as heir to the throne and trapped in the palace, she turns to the costly art of bone-shard magic. Equally as compelling are Jovis, who’s on a quest to find his missing wife, and Phalue, who’s contemplating the vast circumstantial differences between her upbringing and beliefs and her partner’s.
I think this trilogy is absolutely beautiful. Not only is the world-building spectacular, but each of the leading characters has a delicious arc that I loved delving into. The first book, in particular, feels like it would be perfect for a stop-motion animation film in the style of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, which is a major compliment. The highly anticipated epic finale was released in April 2023, but I won’t give you any spoilers; just add it to your TBR list if you have not read it yet.
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Series starter: Gardens of the Moon
For fans of: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen is not your average fantasy tale. It’s a complex and sprawling 10-volume series that started out in 1999 as a role-playing element and grew into a story of epic proportions. The fantasy series features a diverse cast of mages, dragons, multitiered gods and humans, along with an array of other good, bad and morally gray or fantastical characters. The series’ title is almost a spoiler for the books, giving would-be readers a heads up that this is not a tale for the fainthearted. It’s a series for the seasoned epic fantasy reader, offering a highly detailed new world with deep texturing, fascinating systems and a whole array of nonlinear subplots and perspectives. If you’re a fan of the Witcher series, you’re going to want to snap this one up. It’s a rich, multicourse, not-to-be-missed fantasy feast that you’ll want to slowly savor over several days.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Series starter: The Lightning Thief
For fans of: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Rick Riordan introduced the world to Percy Jackson in 2005, and the lovable character has since appeared in the original five fantasy series books, a sequel series and a set of graphic novel adaptations. The books have spawned a world of spin-offs (as well as two film adaptations and a new, author-involved TV show on Disney+). It all starts with The Lightning Thief: Percy is the prime suspect in a theft, but to his shock, he’s accused of nabbing Zeus’s legendary lightning bolt. Reeling from the discovery that his father is the Greek god Poseidon, he has 10 days to return the bolt to its owner—and no idea where it might be.
Bone Street Rumba by Daniel José Older
Series starter: Half-Resurrection Blues
For fans of: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Carlos Delacruz may have died, but that doesn’t stop him from leading this highly underrated urban fantasy series, which began in 2015. Resurrected and now living as a “halfie” who belongs to both the living and the dead, he works as an agent for the New York City Council of the Dead. In the process of eliminating the city’s ghostly inhabitants, he discovers that he’s not the only halfie walking around. And one of them is seeking to open up the underworld.
Having read and loved Daniel José Older’s YA series Shadowshaper, I bought this trilogy in advance of a trip to Italy and remember sitting on a train to Florence reading Midnight Taxi Tango after finishing Half-Resurrection Blues the night before. It takes quite a talent to draw me away from people-watching on a train, especially in a country that is not my own, and that talent is Daniel José Older.
The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros
Series starter: Fourth Wing
For fans of: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Are you the sort of fantasy reader who best appreciates an action-packed plot and magic-fueled world when it’s topped with loads of heart-pounding romance? Let me introduce you to Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, the electrifying start of the Empyrean fantasy book series. First published in 2023, it quickly skyrocketed to bestsellerdom, thanks in no small part to BookTok’s rave reviews.
In a world where dragon riders are the elite warriors, a young woman named Violet must prove herself amid political intrigue and dangerous alliances. Exploring themes of power, betrayal and romance, Yarros relies on inventive storytelling and vivid world-building to make this novel a thrilling ride from start to finish.
Patternist by Octavia E. Butler
Series starter: Wild Seed
For fans of: Shadow & Claw by Gene Wolfe
Octavia E. Butler is a name all speculative fiction fans should know—as is this series. It began with 1977’s Patternmaster, but don’t start there. As noted on the late author’s website, to read in chronological order, start with Wild Seed. Doro is an ancient spirit who can’t survive without a human host, so he jumps from body to body, killing each to stay alive. Everything changes when he meets an entity named Anyanwu, who has the ability to heal with a bite. Their relationship, and the resulting power struggle, spans centuries and continents. When you’re done, pick up Butler’s Fledgling, a thoughtful and engrossing vampire novel that’ll appeal to fans of the author’s distinctive prose.
Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan
Series starter: Daughter of the Moon Goddess
For fans of: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
This gorgeous retelling of Chinese mythology is a must-read. Packed with action and adventure, full of danger and dragons, and led by interesting and dynamic characters, the tale of the daughter of the moon goddess takes you back through time and across universes. Sue Lynn Tan’s beautiful duology, the first book of which hit shelves in 2022, is inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess. It follows the journey of Xingyin, who seeks to free her mother from exile on the moon and discovers her own tumultuous destiny in the process, along with the love—or loves—of her life.
Loved it? Then we have some good news: Tan released Tales of the Celestial Kingdom in February 2024, a collection of nine short stories that takes readers back to the Celestial Kingdom—and includes the duology’s grand epilogue.
The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu
Series starter: The Grace of Kings
For fans of: The Dragon’s Path by Daniel Abraham
The first entry in this quartet arrived in 2015, launching readers into a historical fantasy based on China’s Han Dynasty. In the uprising against the emperor, bandit Kuni Garu and onetime noble Mata Zyndu toss aside their differences to take part in the fight. But that kinship dissolves once the emperor is overthrown, and they end up leading opposing factions with two very different ideas of rule. If you love historical fiction or political fantasy, don’t miss this series.
Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
Series starter: Blood Like Magic
For fans of: The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Looking for a young adult fantasy with a Caribbean influence? You’ll want to pick up the first book in Liselle Sambury’s Blood Like Magic series, a compelling urban fantasy from 2021 that entwines family, magic and destiny in a vibrant near-future Toronto. Voya Thomas is a young witch called upon by her ancestors to complete a terrible task: sacrifice her first love or lose her family’s magic. Sambury beautifully blends contemporary issues with magical realism, inviting readers into a world where ancestral powers and futuristic tech coexist. With a narrative driven by tough choices and deep familial bonds, the Blood Like Magic series is fresh, powerful and spellbinding—and it would make a great TV show or film.
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
Series starter: The Eye of the World
For fans of: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
You may be familiar with this title from Amazon’s TV adaptation, but before it busted Prime Video records, it hit bestseller lists as one of the best fantasy book series for high-fantasy fans. Told over 14 volumes, starting with 1990’s The Eye of the World, the story begins as powerful channeler Moiraine Damodred journeys to find a prophesized hero who may be able to battle the Dark One. The series is the brainchild of Robert Jordan, who wrote all but the final books. Before his death, he passed plans for the series’ end to fantasy titan Brandon Sanderson, who cowrote the last three books.
Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi
Series starter: Inuyasha, Vol. 1
For fans of: Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 by Ryoko Kui
This one’s for manga lovers, graphic novel fans and, well, anyone who appreciates expansive fantasy novels. The first volume launched in 1997, and both the manga and its anime adaptation have been highly influential in the fantasy world. The story kicks off with a time travel adventure: The well that resides on the site of Kagome’s family shrine is something she barely thought about—until she learns it’s actually a gate to feudal Japan. Pulled into a world in which demons battle for a magical gem of great power, Kagome finds an ally in Inuyasha, a half-demon who she accidentally freed from his imprisonment.
Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Series starter: Heaven Official’s Blessing, Vol. 1
For fans of: The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
First published in the United States in 2021, the English translation of Chinese author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s Heaven Official’s Blessing made a big splash, immediately hitting the New York Times bestseller list. (By then, it was already a smash hit in China.) The next seven volumes followed quickly on its heels, and fortunately, all of them were released by the end of 2023, so no waiting in agony for the next volume necessary! Now is definitely the time to pick up the story of Xie Lian, whose mortal life ended several centuries ago. On the ground after ascending to godhood (again), he must work to pay back his debts and stay godly.
The Burning by Evan Winter
Series starter: The Rage of Dragons
For fans of: Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
Get ready for a revenge fantasy of epic proportions with 2019’s The Rage of Dragons, the first in Evan Winter’s brilliant The Burning fantasy series. Once you start, you might not be able to stop, though. Dragons, war, murder, colonialism, magic and curses—this action-heavy, brutal fantasy series has it all.
Meet Tau, a giftless young man bent on revenge after his family is destroyed. He trains to become an elite warrior in a society where war seems unending, and he won’t let anything get in his way. With both Caribbean and African cultural influences throughout, the book is a breathtaking, visceral and riveting fantasy as well as an insightful and challenging commentary on the real world we inhabit.
Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Series starter: His Majesty’s Dragon
For fans of: The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series, beginning with 2006’s His Majesty’s Dragon, is a fresh fantasy reimagining of the Napoleonic Wars. Rather than aircraft, Britain’s defense relies on dragon warriors. Once a captain of the high seas, Will Laurence takes to the skies after seizing an unhatched dragon egg from a French ship. He joins the Aerial Corps and enters a world he’s wildly unfamiliar with, forging an unforgettable bond as master of the dragon Temeraire.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Series starter: An Ember in the Ashes
For fans of: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
In Sabaa Tahir’s bestselling 2015 YA novel, An Ember in the Ashes, two teens living in the brutal Martial Empire have little in common. Laia is undercover at the empire’s military academy, spying for the rebels in exchange for her imprisoned brother’s rescue. Elias is the son of a commander, dreaming of escaping the empire. When their paths collide, their world will never be the same.
Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
Series starter: The Bear and the Nightingale
For fans of: Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Launching in 2017 with the bestselling The Bear and the Nightingale, this series follows Vasya and her siblings, who live in a nearly year-round winter. They spend their nights listening to stories by the fire, with Vasya’s favorite being that of Frost, a fearful demon who claims the souls of the unwary. When Vasya’s new stepmother forbids them from honoring the spirits that guard against evil, she’ll need to reach deep inside herself to restore the safety they once felt by the fire. Pick this one up when you’re craving a lyrical modern fairy tale to read by the fire.
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
Series starter: Assassin’s Apprentice
For fans of: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Robin Hobb’s expansive world covers 13 books and multiple series, but the first trilogy set within the Realm of the Elderlings starts with Assassin’s Apprentice, which came out in 1995. Fitz may have been raised apart from royalty, but he still has a powerful destiny. As the bastard of a prince, he’s treated more as a threat than a son. Luckily, there is one who hasn’t cast him away, a devious king who’s spent years secretly training Fitz to become an assassin. With magic in his veins and a life lived in the shadow of a court where he’s never quite belonged, he embarks on his very first mission. Pick this one up to find out why so many fantasy fans say Hobb is one of their all-time favorite authors.
Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse
Series starter: Black Sun
For fans of: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
With the third book just released in June 2024, there is no time like the present to immerse yourself in Rebecca Roanhorse’s outstanding world, starting with 2020’s Black Sun. Tova’s annual celebration of the winter solstice is one filled with joy … normally. But this year, two things threaten the celebration: a solar eclipse, bringing with it a prophesied unbalanced world, and the arrival of a ship from distant lands. It carries only two beings, a captain with magical abilities and a blind young man who has a bone to pick with the Sun Priest. If you’re looking to read more Native American books (and you should!) this is a good place to begin.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Series starter: Mistborn
For fans of: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
With legions of fans, Brandon Sanderson is a must-read when it comes to fantasy novels. And there’s no better place to start reading this massively prolific author than with his 2006 book, Mistborn. “My husband, who has read this series more than once, finally convinced me to give it a try, and boy am I glad he said the magic words: It has a heist. Apart from one of my favorite tropes, the series also has a rich fantasy world and a pace that zips along,” says Neithercott. Dive into the intrigue with this action-packed, twist-filled series.
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Series starter: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1
For fans of: Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
This manga series, originally published in Japan in 2002 and released in the United States in 2005, is a classic for a reason. It’s been adapted into two separate anime series and spans 27 glorious volumes. Eric and Alphonse Elric were experimenting with an alchemical ritual to bring their mother back to life when it failed, tearing them apart, leaving Eric with only one arm and leg, and sending Alphonse’s soul into a suit of armor. Now, the two must journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone to restore their bodies. Even if you’ve never read a manga before, the storytelling in this one makes it well worth your time. (That’s doubly true for readers who love graphic novels.)
Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore
Series starter: Graceling
For fans of: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
With her 2008 blockbuster, Graceling, Kristin Cashore introduced readers to an expansive world filled with strong-willed characters and a fascinating magic system. While Graceling Realm is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy book series for teens, it’ll appeal to adult readers with its highly imaginative magic: In the Seven Realms, there are those who are born graced, possessing two different-color eyes and a skill of great power. Graceling introduces us to Katsa, a graced assassin serving as the king’s enforcer. Fire takes us across the mountains and decades into the past to meet Fire, the last remaining human monster. Bitterblue sees its titular character struggling with the sins of her father, while Winterkeep and Seasparrow, published about a decade after the initial trilogy, continue the breathtaking story.
In all my years of recommending books, I’ve found that sometimes, the books that you love the most are actually the most difficult to explain. I’m not sure if it’s because I get too excited or because there just isn’t a proper way to distill a masterpiece down to a quick and easy pitch. Fire is one of those books (my most reread and favorite book of all time), and I switch back and forth between recommending reading it or Graceling first. Each book in this series reinvents the pathway and unleashes something new into the world in a way that is just a joy to watch people discover.
The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk
Series starter: Witchmark
For fans of: Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Whether you gobble up romance novels, prefer historical fiction or gravitate toward fantasy, you’ll find a new favorite in C.L. Polk’s Kingston Cycle. This series of romantic LGBTQ books began with 2018’s Witchmark, winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Miles Singer was low on options from the moment of his birth. To escape two equally unsavory fates—enslavement or a witches’ asylum—he opts to fight in a war. After faking his death and taking a job as a doctor, Miles inadvertently reveals his magical ability while tending to a poisoned patient. Throwing caution to the wind, he risks everything and depends on a handsome stranger to discover the truth behind his patient’s murder.
The Radiant Emperor Duology by Shelley Parker-Chan
Series starter: She Who Became the Sun
For fans of: The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
A fantastic reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a 2021, gender-bending, luminous narrative that blends history and fantasy. Set in 14th-century China, it follows Zhu Chongba, a girl who refuses her fated nothingness to claim her brother’s discarded identity and strive for greatness. Parker-Chan’s evocative prose and deeply complex characters ensure this series starter is an unforgettable journey into a richly detailed world. The first installment of The Radiant Emperor Duology captivates readers with its powerful themes of identity, ambition and destiny, and its sequel, published in 2023, does not disappoint.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more books, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite books for over 100 years. We’ve worked with bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, Janet Evanovich and Alex Haley, whose Pulitzer Prize–winning Roots grew out of a project funded by and originally published in the magazine. Through Fiction Favorites (formerly Select Editions and Condensed Books), Reader’s Digest has been publishing anthologies of abridged novels for decades. We’ve worked with some of the biggest names in fiction, including James Patterson, Ruth Ware, Kristin Hannah and more. The Reader’s Digest Book Club, helmed by Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, introduces readers to even more of today’s best fiction by upcoming, bestselling and award-winning authors. For this piece on the best fantasy book series, Rachel Strolle tapped her experience as a full-time librarian, book journalist and book festival organizer to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Octavia E. Butler: “Frequently Asked Questions”
- Los Angeles Times: “N.K. Jemisin makes history at the Hugo Awards with third win in a row for best novel”
Originally Published: March 11, 2024
