Fantasy series can be the best thing you read all year or the reason you stop reading for three months. The difference is usually what you start with.
I made the mistake of starting with Wheel of Time when my reading time was maybe 20 minutes before bed. Bad call. When I switched to Mistborn, I finished it in a week and actually wanted the next one.
This list is organized by how much you want to commit. Every series here is worth your time, but not every series is right for where you are right now.
How to pick in 30 seconds
- New to fantasy entirely: start with Harry Potter or Mistborn.
- Want something completed: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Mistborn, or Wheel of Time.
- Want darker tone: The Blade Itself or The Poppy War.
- Want humor: Discworld.
- Short on time: skip anything over 5 books until your habit is stable.
Easy-entry fantasy series
Best starting points when someone says they “want fantasy” but does not want homework. Each series here is finished, the first book stands on its own, and none of them requires a glossary to get through the opening chapters.
If you have kids, start here. Not because it is simple, but because reading it together changes the experience. My kids and I read the series over two years. The early books are short and fast. By Goblet of Fire, you are in deep and nobody wants to stop. Works as a solo read too, but the family angle is what makes it a fantasy starter that actually sticks.
Sanderson built a magic system where people swallow metals to gain powers, then dropped a heist crew into a world ruled by an immortal tyrant. It reads like a thriller disguised as fantasy. The trilogy is complete, so you will never be left waiting for a sequel that does not come. Best modern starting point for people who bounced off Tolkien.
Greek mythology meets a kid who cannot stay out of trouble. Rick Riordan wrote this as an entry drug for reluctant readers, and it works. The books are short, funny, and teach mythology better than most textbooks. Good for reading with a younger teen or as a palate cleanser between heavier fantasy.
Tolkien wrote this for his children before Lord of the Rings existed. It reads like an adventure novel wrapped in a fantasy world. Shorter, lighter, and faster than anything else with his name on it. If you want to know whether Tolkien is for you without committing to a 1,000-page trilogy, start here.
Best first pick in this section: Mistborn: The Final Empire. It explains its world clearly and pays off in book one.
Epic commitment picks
These are for readers ready to invest time. Start here only if long arcs sound exciting, not exhausting. Two of these series are unfinished, so check the status table below before committing.
Political scheming, brutal consequences, and characters who die when you do not expect it. Martin rewrote what fantasy could be. The TV show covered the first five books (roughly), but the reading experience is different and better. The series is not finished. If unfinished arcs bother you, be warned. If you can handle the uncertainty, the first three books are some of the best fantasy ever written.
14 books. Finished. The biggest completed fantasy epic you can read. Robert Jordan built a world so detailed it has its own encyclopedia. The middle books slow down, but the ending (completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan passed) delivers. If you want one world to live in for six months or more, this is it.
Sanderson’s most ambitious project. Each book is 1,000+ pages with an intricate magic system and a sprawling cast. The first book is a slow burn that pays off massively. If you loved Mistborn and want something bigger, this is the next step. The series is ongoing but each book has enough resolution to feel satisfying.
Beautiful prose, a magic university, and a narrator who may not be telling the whole truth. Rothfuss writes sentences you want to read twice. The problem: the trilogy is unfinished and has been for over a decade. If you can enjoy two extraordinary books without needing closure, read it. If unfinished series make you angry, skip it.
Important: two major picks here (A Song of Ice and Fire, Kingkiller Chronicle) are unfinished. If that bothers you, choose Wheel of Time or Stormlight Archive instead.
Gritty and modern fantasy
Character-forward fantasy with darker tone, sharper dialogue, and less “chosen one” energy. These are for readers who find most fantasy too clean or too optimistic.
Abercrombie writes fantasy for people who find most fantasy too clean. The heroes are damaged, the fights are ugly, and nobody gives inspirational speeches. If you like gritty crime fiction or dark dramas, this is your fantasy entry point. The trilogy is complete and the standalone sequels (Age of Madness) are even better.
A heist novel set in a fantasy Venice. Locke Lamora is a con artist, and watching him work is half the fun. The book switches between the present-day heist and flashbacks to how Locke learned his craft. If you prefer clever characters over powerful ones, start here instead of The Blade Itself.
A military academy in a fantasy world inspired by 20th-century China. The first book reads like a dark coming-of-age story. The sequels escalate into something much larger and much harder. This is not escapist fantasy. It is intense, sometimes brutal, and deals with real historical parallels. Not for younger readers.
Jemisin won the Hugo Award three years in a row for this trilogy. The world is constantly ending, and the people who can prevent it are persecuted for their power. Told in an unusual second-person perspective that takes a chapter to adjust to, then clicks hard. The trilogy is complete and stands as one of the most acclaimed fantasy works of the past decade.
Best first dark pick: The Blade Itself for voice, or The Lies of Locke Lamora if you want heist structure.
Special flavors: satire, myths, and standalone epic
Use this when you want fantasy outside standard trilogy pacing. These three offer different reading experiences than anything above.
Short stories about a monster hunter with a moral code. The Netflix show made Geralt famous, but the books came first and the writing is sharper. Start with The Last Wish (short stories), then move to the novels. The short stories are some of the best fantasy writing of the past 30 years, and they work as standalone reads.
Terry Pratchett wrote 41 Discworld novels. They are funny, wise, and sneakily profound. You do not need to read them in order. Guards! Guards! is the best starting point for adults because it introduces the City Watch, Pratchett’s strongest character set. If you want fantasy that makes you laugh and think at the same time, nothing else comes close.
One book. 800+ pages, but one book. No series commitment. Samantha Shannon built a world with dragons, magic, multiple cultures, and a sprawling cast, then wrapped it all up in a single volume. Pick this if you want the epic fantasy experience without signing up for ten installments.
Series completion status
| Series | Books | Status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter | 7 | Complete | Family reading, new to fantasy |
| Mistborn (Era 1) | 3 | Complete | Modern fantasy starter |
| Percy Jackson | 5 | Complete | Younger readers, mythology fans |
| The Hobbit + LOTR | 4 | Complete | Classic epic fantasy |
| Wheel of Time | 14 | Complete | Longest completed epic |
| The First Law | 3 + 3 standalones + 3 | Complete | Grimdark, character-driven |
| Broken Earth | 3 | Complete | Literary fantasy, Hugo winner |
| Discworld | 41 | Complete | Humor, any-order reading |
| The Witcher | 2 story + 5 novel | Complete | Short stories, dark fairy tales |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | 1 (standalone) | Complete | One-book epic |
| Stormlight Archive | 4 of 10 | Ongoing | Epic scope, Sanderson fans |
| A Song of Ice and Fire | 5 of 7 | Unfinished | Political fantasy, if you can wait |
| Kingkiller Chronicle | 2 of 3 | Unfinished | Beautiful prose, if you can wait |
| The Poppy War | 3 | Complete | Military fantasy, dark themes |
| Gentleman Bastard | 3 of 7 | Ongoing | Heist fantasy, clever plots |
Reading paths by mood
- Fast and fun path: Percy Jackson, then Harry Potter, then Mistborn
- Dark path: The Blade Itself, then The Lies of Locke Lamora, then The Poppy War
- Epic world path: The Eye of the World, then The Way of Kings, then A Game of Thrones
- One-big-book path: The Last Wish, then The Priory of the Orange Tree
- Dad-and-kids path: The Hobbit, then Harry Potter, then Percy Jackson
What’s Next
About These Recommendations
I’m George. I read to my kids for 10+ years before they started reading on their own. My wife’s a therapist who helped pick books that actually matter for development. Everything on this site got tested on our family first.
FAQ
Mistborn: The Final Empire is usually the safest first pick. It has clear rules, fast pacing, and a strong first-book ending. If you want something lighter, Harry Potter still works for adults and has the advantage of being widely discussed.
Harry Potter, Mistborn (Era 1), Percy Jackson, Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, The First Law, Broken Earth, Discworld, The Witcher, The Poppy War, and The Priory of the Orange Tree are all complete. A Song of Ice and Fire and Kingkiller Chronicle remain unfinished. Stormlight Archive and Gentleman Bastard are ongoing.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie for voice and character. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch if you prefer heist plots. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang if you want military fantasy with real historical weight. All three trilogies are complete.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon is over 800 pages with dragons, magic, multiple cultures, and a complete story arc in one volume. It gives the epic fantasy experience without series commitment.
Harry Potter is the strongest family reading option because the books grow in complexity as kids age. Percy Jackson works for younger readers who are into mythology. The Hobbit is a good one-off for kids who want Tolkien without the full Lord of the Rings commitment.
Yes, if you have the patience. It is 14 books and some middle volumes are slower, but the ending (completed by Brandon Sanderson) delivers. It is the biggest completed fantasy epic available. Start only if long arcs sound exciting to you, not exhausting.
The first three books (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords) are some of the best fantasy ever written. Books 4 and 5 are slower. The series may never be finished. If you can enjoy the journey without guaranteed closure, read it. If unfinished arcs frustrate you, choose Wheel of Time or Mistborn instead.
Guards! Guards! is the best starting point for adults. It introduces the City Watch, Pratchett’s strongest character group. You do not need to read Discworld in publication order. The Colour of Magic (book 1) is one of the weakest entries and not representative of the series at its best.