What's the best fantasy series?

Sage Kay

Writer, reader, outfit repeater.

As a genre that dominates top genre lists year after year, fantasy is chock-full of book series set in magical worlds with painstakingly developed lore and fantastical races of people. But with so many authors saturating the market, who’s come out on top? 
From classics in the genre to up-and-coming pop culture phenomena, here are the top ten fantasy book series in no particular order!
Top fantasy book series﻿
1. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. TolkienAs a pioneer in the fantasy genre, Tolkien delivered exactly what keeps fantasy readers coming back for more: finely detailed worlds with rich lore and a world-altering war for the planet’s fate. Following a classic hero’s journey format, The Lord of the Rings hits every mark of the fantasy genre and certainly paved the way for works of fantasy in the future.
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2. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. MartinA series with a few books still on the way (we say with our hands pressed to our hearts and prayers cast to the night sky), George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy following a continent filled with power-hungry monarchs vying for their seat on the Iron Throne took the world by storm after its release and subsequent TV show deal. While the end of the show took Martin’s fandom and throttled it, many still eagerly await the conclusion of the book series because well… surely, he’ll correct the show’s mistakes. Regardless of its controversy, these books stand as a big name in pop culture and a huge source of inspiration for others!
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3. The Stormlight Archives by Brandon SandersonLikely the most prolific writer in the fantasy genre today, Brandon Sanderson has his work cut out for him with The Stormlight Archives—an ambitious ten book series with two major arcs, each book well over a thousand pages long set in a magical world with secrets as ancient as society itself. In it, a wide, diverse cast of characters find their fates intertwined as a forgotten war between mystical beings suddenly reemerges, forcing them to settle differences and band together against a looming threat. This series is also ongoing but the fifth book was just released at the end of 2024, which wrapped up the first major arc—and with the way Sanderson can’t seem to keep himself away from his keyboard, you’re probably safe to hold your breath until the next release!
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4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick RiordanA series as formative to kids growing up in the early 2000s as it is foundational for so many Greek mythology hyperfixations, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a must read for young adults and on. This series is not only five books of lovable characters, exciting quests, and a huge source of representation for queer and disabled people, but it’s also a fun spin on mythology in the modern world that only grows with its many spin-off series’.
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5. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasI would be remiss if I didn’t include a fantasy series that I’ve been hearing about constantly for the last five years. ACOTAR is a high fantasy romance series set in a world of fae and foes. With detailed world-building, some fae political intrigue, and a little bit of fairy smut, Maas has claimed her stake in the fantasy genre!
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6. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. LewisThis high fantasy series is a classic in children’s fiction and as such, holds a special place in many hearts across generations. Originally published in the 1950s, it clung to its relevancy well into the early 2000s with film releases of the first three books. Join the gaggle of the Pevensies as they flee a war torn England only to find themselves at the center of a war between good and evil in the magical land of Narnia.
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7. The Poppy War by R. F. KuangThe Poppy War trilogy is a stunning, immediately critically-acclaimed debut set in a fantastical version of mid-20th century China amid the Second Sino-Japanese War. With a degree in Chinese Studies and much methodical research, Kuang crafts a grim-dark narrative that is as close to historical accuracy as it is ripe with vengeful gods and destructive magic.
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8. The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick RothfussAnother ongoing series with multitudes of dedicated fans eagerly awaiting more installments (and we haven’t given up hope, we swear), The Kingkiller Chronicle is a planned trilogy that tells the story of a man with many names and just as many hobbies (magic, thievery, and killing kings to name a few)—and how he came to be known for these pastimes. His debut novel and the first book in this series, The Name of the Wind, has almost single-handedly earned him his spot on this list so go check it out!
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9. Broken Earth by N. K. JemisinToeing the line between sci-fi and fantasy, Broken Earth is as topical as ever with its plot revolving around a future Earth that is continuously torn apart by natural disasters and continuously rebuilt by the enduring survivors through which it explores themes of systemic racism, climate change, and corrupt rulers. I won’t blame you if you deem this not escape-y enough for your escapism as long as you know what you’re missing out on—a story of the indomitable human spirit and what people are willing to sacrifice in a world where they already have so little.
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10. The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin HobbAnd finally, if you’re sick of waiting for the next release of an ongoing beloved series and just want an epic fantasy that you can lose yourself in from start to finish, look no further than The Realm of the Elderlings. This series weighs in at a whopping 16 titles if you include each of the four trilogies and one tetralogy that make up the series in its entirety. Hobb’s characters bring each story to life with deep internal conflicts and real-world struggles that make getting lost in her fantasy land easy. Each series is entirely unique—with some being first person coming-of-age stories and others being multi-POV epics—while being set in the same world with conflicts interwoven between the five series. This is an undertaking for only the most dedicated of fantasy fans, but hey, maybe that’s you!
And there you have it, some of the best and most influential fantasy book series! With these series, your reading list will be filled up for years to come.Looking to make your mark in the fantasy genre? The NovelPad blog covers everything from $ editing tips$  to $ publishing tricks$  to $ epic battle scene$  treats. Check ‘em out to be the next name in fantasy!