Magical worlds, mythical beasts and fan-favorite characters—you’ll find them all in the best fantasy book series of all time
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The best fantasy book series ever written
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 in which readers can escape their reality 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.
Whether bestsellers, award winners, record breakers, classics or underrated gems, these book series are all incredible picks for spending a day (or days) in a make-believe world. We rounded up dozens of book recommendations for incredible fantasy series with the hope that magic will find its way into your heart and onto your bookshelves.
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1. The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
Series starter: Jade City
What you’re in for: A war between rival gangster families
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. Looking for more enthralling books by Asian authors? Our list has you covered.
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2. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Series starter: The Poppy War
What you’re in for: Crushing choices in battle, forbidden magic and a descent into villainy
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. 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.
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