Summary
While most book genres include worldbuilding and complex storytelling,fantasyparticularly lends itself to writing that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the literary world. When it comes to fantasy and sci-fi, to a certain extent, often an entirely new universe must be created from scratch by the author. This style means thatthe early parts of a fantasy series will be heavy with exposition.In addition, there will be dialogue explaining how the culture, magic systems, and political machine work. If the author is skilled, there will also be character-building and compelling incidents to keep the reader engaged.
When a fantasy series is written well, it should create an enormous payoff for the audience and an enjoyable experience reading the stories.
There are manyfantasy book series that never get old, but for some longer and more dense novels, reading them once is enough. This is typically the case with book universes that span decades and begin to reach double digits. It’s undeniable that the early slough of reading fantasy isn’t for every reader, butwhen the story clicks for the audience and the world is fully understood, there’s nothing more satisfying.When a fantasy series is written well, it should create an enormous payoff for the audience and an enjoyable experience reading the stories.
8 Books That Perfectly Blend Fantasy & Sci-Fi
The sci-fi and fantasy genres frequently go hand in hand, but only a few books blend them so well that the line between story types is blurred.
10The Stormlight Archive (2010–Present)
Written by Brandon Sanderson
The Stormlight Archiveis so prolific that it includes some ofBrandon Sanderson’s best books, as Sanderson is one of the most consistent fantasy writers of the contemporary era.AlthoughThe Stormlight Archiveis yet to be completed, Sanderson has been working diligentlyto complete his original plan for the series since its inception in 2010 withThe Way of Kings. However, Sanderson’s other popular works have often gotten in the way of the series' completion. Despite this, it can’t be argued that Sanderson hasn’t outdone himself withThe Stormlight Archive.
Like much of Sanderson’s work,The Stormlight Archiveis long and is no beach read.
The Way of Kingscould be criticized for how much time it spends on exposition, but without this, the following novels wouldn’t be as compelling or make as much sense. Like much of Sanderson’s work,The Stormlight Archiveis long and is no beach read. However,once the reader becomes attached to the characters, it’s impossible to put down.From the epic battle sequences to the moments of comedic relief, there’s no corner of fantasy thatThe Stormlight Archiveleaves unexplored.
9The Realm Of The Elderlings (1995–2017)
Written by Robin Hobb
The Realm of the Elderlingswas released over several decades, but it’s more of an all-encompassing universe rather than a single storyline.It’s comprised of several trilogies and smaller series that all take place in the same worldand have similar themes. However, there are characters and conflicts that appear in multiple editions of the overarching series, which give the audience the sense that everything’s connected. There are also shorter novellas that look deeply into specific aspects of worldbuilding for readers who are interested in this aspect.
Though there is some debate about how to best readThe Realm of the Elderlings, the most straightforward way to approach Robin Hobb’s epic series is to start from the beginning.Going from the earliest publication date to the most recent gives the reader a sense of how Hobb imagined the storyand is simple to follow. However, it’s also possible to startThe Realm of the Elderlingsat any point in the universe, as long as it’s the beginning of a discreet trilogy or series. In this way, despite its length,The Realm of Elderlingsis fairly user-friendly.
8Malazan Book Of The Fallen (1999–2011)
Written by Steven Erikson
There’s no one particular character or time that can define theMalazan Book of the Fallen, as the series spans thousands of years and incorporates the stories of many characters.
With a total of ten volumes in the main series, it’s easy to get lost in Steven Erikson’sMalazan Book of the Fallenbooks,which began withGardens of the Moonin 1999. There’s no one particular character or time that can define theMalazan Book of the Fallen, as the series spans thousands of years and incorporates the stories of many characters. The novel incorporates many of the traditional structures of fantasy, like magic and warfare, and is clearly inspired by the great works of high fantasy, like J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Rings.
The companion books,The Novels of the Malazan Empireseries, were written by Erikson’s collaborator, Ian C. Esslemont,and are part of the series' canon. Erikson also wroteThe Kharkanas Trilogy, which takes place before the events of theMalazan Book of the Fallen. Despite there being plenty of additional material, the best way to begin is by reading the first ten books in order and then exploring the universe more fully. It might take more than one read-through to glean everything from the series, but even the most basic elements of the story are thrilling.
7The Bone Season (2013–Present)
Written by Samantha Shannon
Though she’s best known for her epic work,The Priory of the Orange Tree, Samantha Shannon began her journey into rich and complex fantasy long before the landmark novel. Her earlier series,The Bone Season, is just as incredible and well-realized asThe Priory of the Orange Treeand should get the recognition it deserves. The series is ongoing and follows the story of Paige Mahoney, a young woman who’s clairvoyant in a world where people like her are persecuted to the point of extinction. However, this is only the beginning of her journey.
The Bone Seasonis often compared to other works of fantasy that involve chosen-one narratives and dystopian elements, but the series is something completely unique.The series is expected to conclude with the seventh novel,and interest in Paige and her story has never slowed or grown stale throughout the waiting time between new installments. With each book,The Bone Seasongrows more intricate and expansive than the first novel would have the audience believe, drawing them in deeper with every page.
6The Wheel Of Time (1990–2013)
Written by Robert Jordan
Recently,The Wheel of Timehas taken fantasy television by storm, with two seasons available to watch on Amazon Prime. It’s safe to say that there will be no shortage of material for the show to draw from. Robert Jordan’s series includes fourteen novels and one prequel for a total of fifteen books, all with their own individual thrusts and plots. Though Jordan passed away before the final books were written,Brandon Sanderson helped complete the last few installments with help from Jordan’s notes and the plot threadsalready laid in previous novels.
There’s no question that readingThe Wheel of Timeis an undertaking, but it’s the kind of fantasy story that you never want to end.
Many individuals pop in and out ofThe Wheel of Timebooks, and it’s exciting to contemplatewhat characters will return forThe Wheel of Timeseason 3. It’s difficult to readThe Wheel of Timeand keep up with the many narratives and characters that are each uniquely developed and realized. However, it’s even more impressive to contemplate thatJordan kept all of these elements balanced in his mind while writing the works.There’s no question that readingThe Wheel of Timeis an undertaking, but it’s the kind of fantasy story that you never want to end.
5Avalon (1982–2000)
Written by Marion Zimmer Bradley
When it comes to adaptations of the iconic legend of Camelot, almostevery King Arthur moviefocuses on Arthur, his knights, or some other man that populates the story. However, Marion Zimmer Bradley changed this in the literary sphere with theAvalonseries.She retold the myth of King Arthur from the perspective of the womenin the story, beginning with Morgaine inThe Mists of Avalon. Morgaine is typically portrayed as an evil sorcerer who plays a major role in Arthur’s undoing, butThe Mists of Avalonsee her as much more than this.
Today, modern retelling of myths from a female perspective has never been more popular, especially in the realm of Greek mythology. However, theAvalonseries was at the forefront of this trend in the 1980s and cannot be overlooked in the impact it had on feminist literature.TheAvalonnovels are also in deep conversation with religion and spirituality,particularly neo-Paganism. Though learning about religious practices can be a lot of new information for audiences, understanding this aspect of the books is vital to understanding the characters.
4The First Law (2006–2008)
Written by Joe Abercrombie
Abercrombie successfully sets the story in a world not unlike our own but with significant enough changes that the audience is transported somewhere new.
Beginning withThe Blade Itself,The First Lawtrilogy was what kicked off Joe Abercrombie’s careerand highlighted him as an author to watch in fantasy. From the start, Abercrombie balances many characters within his twisting world, challenging the reader to keep up and pay attention to the subtle clues and nuances of the story. It’s a darker fantasy series that breaks out of the pitfalls that can bog down new fantasy authors. Additionally, Abercrombie successfully sets the story in a world not unlike our own but with significant enough changes that the audience is transported somewhere new.
ThoughThe First Lawtrilogy is a series unto itself, there are a few standalone novels set in the universe, as well asThe Age of Madnesstrilogy, which is loosely connected to the original books.The First Lawbooks came at the perfect time when readers were asking their fantasy to be gorierand to include aspects of additional genres. Juggling the characters and their many devious plots can be difficult when first picking upThe First Law, but it’s well worth it to see where their scheming gets them.
3The Broken Earth (2015–2017)
Written by N.K. Jemisin
It’s easy to see the real world reflected inThe Broken Earthtrilogy, as the catastrophic fifth season the characters face is reminiscent of the climate disasters happening around the world. The unique twist in the first book,The Fifth Season, is one of the best payoffs of the series, but the remaining two books still hold just as many secrets.It’s the twist that immediately sets apartThe Broken Earthas something differentamidst the wide array of offerings in the fantasy dystopian genre. N.K. Jemisin creates a complicated universe, but it’s one the audience can handle.
The thematic overtones of the story are seamlessly woven throughout the narrative, and this encourages the reader to think deeply about the hidden meanings layered within the narrative.The Broken Earthtrilogy is a great example of where fantasy is going and how high fantasy can still be grounded and relatable for a reader.Jemisin won the Hugo Award for each book inThe Broken Earthtrilogy,demonstrating how there is no dip in quality or excitement as the novels progress.
2The Poppy War (2018–2020)
Written by R.F. Kuang
The last few years have seen R.F. Kuang try her hand at many different genres and receive acclaim and success in all of them. However, her earliest series,The Poppy War, still stands out as a masterclass in fantasy and worldbuilding,as well as historical and cultural commentary. The fictional worldThe Poppy Waris set in holds magic, dragons, and gods. However, it’s irrevocably tied to the history of China, which Kuang drew from as an influence for the societal structures and international conflicts that color the novel’s story.
She’s stubborn and imperfect but relentlessly compelling and relatable to the audience, who is just as lost in this world of gods and monsters as she is.
In this way, much ofThe Poppy Warsubtly teaches the reader about a pivotal period of history.What keeps the reader grounded throughout the trilogy is the protagonist, Rin. She’s stubborn and imperfect but relentlessly compelling and relatable to the audience, who is just as lost in this world of gods and monsters as she is. Rin and her closest confidants are fully realized and nuanced characters that ensure the reader is never alienated by the wealth of information they take in in every chapter.
10 Books That Perfectly Blend Fantasy & Romance
While the draw of fantasy books is the worldbuilding & magic, the plots within these novels are elevated by great romances & love stories.
1A Song Of Ice And Fire (1996–Present)
Written by George R.R. Martin
There’s still a good chance that George R.R. Martin will return toA Song of Ice and Fireand give it an alternate ending to the polarizing finale ofGame of Thrones. So far, Martin has only completed the first five books in the series, beginning withA Game of Thronesin 1996. This meansthe TV series had to extrapolate what would happen next in the plotbased on Martin’s existing work. Hopefully, Martin won’t be swayed by how writers and showrunners concluded the story, asGame of Thronesseason 8 is considered the worstof the entire show.
Like most high fantasy novel series,A Song of Ice and Fireis a marathon, not a sprint.Martin spends long passages discussing the intricacies of the houses, their sworn men,and how they all connect. It’s immersive but a touch dense for new readers unfamiliar with the style. However, it doesn’t get wrapped up in the plot, as from the first chapters, it’s impossible to envision the explosive results of the interconnected storylines finally weaving together. The next book,The Winds of Winter, will surely make good on Martin’s promise to continue the series on a high note.
