Best Books, Fantasy, Fiction & Literature, Literature

The Best Epic Fantasy Books & Series

“What are the best Epic Fantasy Books Of All-Time??” We looked at 201 of the top books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 37 titles, all appearing on 4 or more “Best Epic Fantasy” book lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 150+ books, as well as the lists we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!



Top 37 Epic Fantasy Book Series



37 .) His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist

“These thrilling adventures tell the story of Lyra and Will—two ordinary children on a perilous journey through shimmering haunted otherworlds. They will meet witches and armored bears, fallen angels and soul-eating specters. And in the end, the fate of both the living—and the dead—will rely on them.

Phillip Pullman’s spellbinding His Dark Materials trilogy has captivated readers for over twenty years and won acclaim at every turn. It will have you questioning everything you know about your world and wondering what really lies just out of reach.”

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36 .) Memory, Sorrow, And Thorn by Tad Williams

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Tickld

“A war fueled by the powers of dark sorcery is about to engulf the peaceful land of Osten Ard—for Prester John, the High King, lies dying. And with his death, the Storm King, the undead ruler of the elf-like Sithi, seizes the chance to regain his lost realm through a pact with the newly ascended king. Knowing the consequences of this bargain, the king’s younger brother joins with a small, scattered group of scholars, the League of the Scroll, to confront the true danger threatening Osten Ard.

Simon, a kitchen boy from the royal castle unknowingly apprenticed to a member of this League, will be sent on a quest that offers the only hope of salvation, a deadly riddle concerning long-lost swords of power. Compelled by fate and perilous magics, he must leave the only home he’s ever known and face enemies more terrifying than Osten Ard has ever seen, even as the land itself begins to die.”

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35 .) The Chronicles Of Amber by Roger Zelazny

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • The Ranting Dragon

One of the most revered names in sf and fantasy, the incomparable Roger Zelazny was honored with numerous prizes—including six Hugo and three Nebula Awards—over the course of his legendary career. Among his more than fifty books, arguably Zelazny’s most popular literary creations were his extraordinary Amber novels. The Great Book of Amber is a collection of the complete Amber chronicles—featuring volumes one through ten—a treasure trove of the ingenious imagination and phenomenal storytelling that inspired a generation of fantasists, from Neil Gaiman to George R.R. Martin.

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34 .) The Dark Elf Saga by R.A. Salvatore

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Goodreads
  • The Daily Dot

Drow ranger Drizzt Do’Urden, first introduced in The Icewind Dale Trilogy, quickly became one of the fantasy genre’s standout characters. But Homeland first reveals the startling tale of how this one lone drow walked out of the shadowy depths of the Underdark, leaving behind a society of evil and a family who want him dead. It is here that the story of this amazing dark elf truly began.

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33 .) The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • The Portalist

“Will Stanton’s ordinary life is shattered with the dreadful revelation that the Dark—the source of all evil—is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. He finds that he is no ordinary boy, but the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping mankind free from the Dark. Soon Will is swept up in the great battle, along with his ageless master, Merriman; the three Drew children, who are mortal but have their own vital part to play; and a strange boy named Bran. These six fight fear and death in a quest through time and space interwoven with the most ancient myths of the islands of Britain—until, at last, Will and Bran find the weapon that will ultimately vanquish the Dark.

One of the most celebrated fantasy sequences of all time, The Dark Is Rising is a searing, epic rendering of the eternal conflict between good and evil. This complete collection includes Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark Is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; and Silver on the Tree.”

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32 .) The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads

For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards—symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile. It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms, but those days are gone. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault. Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past. Together, they will stand against the night.

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31 .) The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Listly
  • The Daily Dot

On a beautiful world called Pern, an ancient way of life is about to come under attack. Lessa is an outcast survivor—her parents murdered, her birthright stolen—a strong young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat reemerges, Lessa will rise—upon the back of a great dragon with whom she shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together, dragon and rider will fly, and Pern will be changed forever.

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30 .) The Drenai Novels by David Gemmell

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • The Portalist
  • The Ranting Dragon

Druss, Captain of the Axe, was the stuff of legends. But even as the stories grew in the telling, Druss himself grew older. He turned his back on his own legend and retreated to a mountain lair to await his old enemy, death. Meanwhile, barbarian hordes were on the march. Nothing could stand in their way. Druss reluctantly agreed to come out of retirement. But could even Druss live up to his own legends?

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29 .) The Inheritance Cycle Series by Christopher Paolini

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • The Portalist
  • The Top Tens

The Inheritance cycle is the unforgettable, worldwide bestselling saga of one boy, one dragon, and a world of adventure. When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he and his dragon, Saphira, are thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. . .

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28 .) The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Lists It Appears On:

  • Affinity Magazine
  • BuzzFeed
  • The Daily Dot
  • The Ranting Dragon

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle.

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27 .) The Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • The Portalist

“Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams may have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined . . .

The Magicians is one of the most daring and inventive works of literary fantasy in years. No one who has escaped into the worlds of Narnia and Harry Potter should miss this breathtaking return to the landscape of the imagination.”

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26 .) The Prince Of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Skorks
  • Tickld

In a world scarred by an apocalyptic past, four people are swept up in the launch of an imminent crusade, during which they are ensnared by mysterious traveler Anasûrimbor Kellhus, whose magical, philosophical, and military talents have origins in a distant time.

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25 .) The Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Listly

For over twenty years, Patricia A. McKillip has captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands of readers. And although her renowned Riddle-Master trilogy–The Riddle-Master of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind–has been long out of print, it is considered her most enduring and beloved work. Now it is collected in one volume for the first time–the epic journeys of a young prince in a strange land, where wizards have long since vanished…but where magic is waiting to be reborn.

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24 .) The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads

Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan. Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni. While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir. Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival. But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy. Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all–in his own impregnable stronghold. An epic tale of adventure and intrigue. Daughter of the Empire is fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field today.

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23 .) The Belgariad by David Eddings

Lists It Appears On:

  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • LGA McIntyre
  • The Ranting Dragon
  • The Top Tens
  • Goodreads

It all begins with the theft of the Orb that for so long protected the West from an evil god. As long as the Orb was at Riva, the prophecy went, its people would be safe from this corrupting power. Garion, a simple farm boy, is familiar with the legend of the Orb, but skeptical in matters of magic. Until, through a twist of fate, he learns not only that the story of the Orb is true, but that he must set out on a quest of unparalleled magic and danger to help recover it. For Garion is a child of destiny, and fate itself is leading him far from his home, sweeping him irrevocably toward a distant tower—and a cataclysmic confrontation with a master of the darkest magic.

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22 .) The Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • The Top Tens
  • Tickld

“When he was nine, he watched as his mother and brother were killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king…

It’s time for Prince Honorous Jorg Ancrath to return to the castle he turned his back on, to take what’s rightfully his. Since the day he hung pinned on the thorns of a briar patch and watched Count Renar’s men slaughter his mother and young brother, Jorg has been driven to vent his rage. Life and death are no more than a game to him—and he has nothing left to lose.

But treachery awaits him in his father’s castle. Treachery and dark magic. No matter how fierce his will, can one young man conquer enemies with power beyond his imagining?”

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21 .) The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • The Ranting Dragon

“The first book in one of the most remarkable epic fantasies ever written, the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Unbeliever.
He called himself Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself. Yet he was tempted to believe, to fight for the Land, to be the reincarnation of its greatest hero…”

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20 .) The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • Time

“Lifelong friends, they went their separate ways. Now they are together again, though each holds secrets from the others in his heart. They speak of a world shadowed with rumors of war. They speak of tales of strange monsters, creatures of myth, creatures of legend. They do not speak of their secrets. Not then. Not until a chance encounter with a beautiful, sorrowful woman, who bears a magical crystal staff, draws the companions deeper into the shadows, forever changing their lives and shaping the fate of the world.

No one expected them to be heroes.

Least of all, them.”

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19 .) The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books HQ
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Popsugar
  • Tickld

“As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put it mildly, stinks.

So when the Chicago P.D. bring him in to consult on a double homicide committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name…”

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18 .) The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • Tickld

An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.

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17 .) The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • The Ranting Dragon
  • The Top Tens

Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil ruined the world. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles. But the supposedly dead Warlock Lord is plotting to destroy everything in his wake. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara, which can be used only by a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline, rests the hope of all the races.

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16 .) Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • Tickld

“Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.

Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her…

So begins one of the greatest fantasy epics of our age―Glen Cook’s Chronicles of the Black Company.”

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15 .) The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • The Daily Dot
  • The Top Tens

A #1 national bestseller, The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake.

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14 .) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist
  • The Top Tens

All seven eBooks in the multi-award winning, internationally bestselling Harry Potter series, available as one download with stunning cover art by Olly Moss. Enjoy the stories that have captured the imagination of millions worldwide.

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13 .) The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • Popsugar
  • The Top Tens

“In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher’s forest sanctuary seeking help … and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword– to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed … or that their time has run out.”

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12 .) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Lists It Appears On:

  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Popsugar
  • The Top Tens
  • Goodreads
  • The Portalist

The Chronicles of Narnia has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into magical lands with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world.

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11 .) The Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • The Daily Dot
  • The Portalist

“The beginning of the hilarious and irreverent series that has more than 80 million copies worldwide, The Color of Magic is where we meet tourist Twoflower and wizard guide Ricewind, and follow them on their always-bizarre journeys.

A writer who has been compared to Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams, Sir Terry Pratchett has created a complex, yet zany world filled with a host of unforgettable characters who navigate around a profound fantasy universe, complete with its own set of cultures and rules.”

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10 .) The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Goodreads
  • The Ranting Dragon
  • Tickld

Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, the First Law trilogy is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

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9 .) The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • Best Fantasy Books HQ
  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • The Top Tens
  • Tickld

“Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.”

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8 .) The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • Goodreads
  • Listly
  • The Daily Dot

Originally published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea marks the first of the six now beloved Earthsea titles. Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death’s threshold to restore the balance.

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7 .) The Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist
  • The Ranting Dragon

“For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the “”Sliver of Infinity,”” reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler’s most hellish prison. Kelsier “”snapped”” and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld’s elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel’s plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she’s a half-Skaa orphan, but she’s lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.”

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6 .) The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Goodreads
  • Listly
  • The Daily Dot
  • The Portalist
  • The Ranting Dragon
  • Tickld

“Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.”

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5 .) Malazan Book Of The Fallen by Steven Erikson

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • Best Fantasy Books HQ
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • Popsugar
  • The Ranting Dragon
  • The Top Tens
  • Tickld

“The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand . . .

Conceived and written on a panoramic scale, Gardens of the Moon is epic fantasy of the highest order–an enthralling adventure by an outstanding new voice.”

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4 .) The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss

Lists It Appears On:

  • Affinity Magazine
  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Goodreads
  • Goodreads
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist
  • Tickld

The riveting first-person narrative of a young man who grows to be the most notorious magician his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime- ridden city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard. It is a high-action novel written with a poet’s hand, a powerful coming-of-age story of a magically gifted young man, told through his eyes: to read this book is to be the hero.

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3 .) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • Best Fantasy Books HQ
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist
  • The Top Tens
  • Tickld

“Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King’s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert’s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse—unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.

Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen’s brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister—the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.

Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki—whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.”

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2 .) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • BuzzFeed
  • Den Of Geek!
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist
  • The Ranting Dragon
  • The Top Tens
  • Tickld

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

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1 .) The Wheel Of Time by Robert Jordan

Lists It Appears On:

  • Best Epic Fantasy
  • Best Fantasy Books
  • Best Fantasy Books HQ
  • BuzzFeed
  • Fantasy Book Review Blog
  • Goodreads
  • LGA McIntyre
  • Popsugar
  • The Portalist
  • The Top Tens
  • Tickld
  • Time

“The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

When The Two Rivers is attacked by Trollocs―a savage tribe of half-men, half-beasts― five villagers flee that night into a world they barely imagined, with new dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.”

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The 150+ Additional Best Epic Fantasy Books



 

#BookAuthorLists
(Titles Appear On 3 Lists Each)
38Codex AleraJim Butcher
Best Fantasy Books
Goodreads
Skorks
39Phèdre’s TrilogyJacqueline CareyGoodreads
Listly
The Ranting Dragon
40The Abhorsen TrilogyGarth Nix
Best Fantasy Books
BuzzFeed
Goodreads
41The Avalon SeriesMarion Zimmer BradleyBuzzFeed
Fantasy Book Review Blog
Goodreads
42The Bartimaeus SequenceJonathan StroudBuzzFeed
Goodreads
Tickld
43The Chronicles Of PrydainLloyd Alexander
Best Fantasy Books
LGA McIntyre
Goodreads
44The Deed Of PaksenarrionElizabeth Moon
Best Fantasy Books
Skorks
Goodreads
45The Elric SagaMichael MoorcockBuzzFeed
Goodreads
LGA McIntyre
46The Empire TrilogyRaymond E. FeistGoodreads
The Ranting Dragon
Tickld
47The Fionavar TapestryGuy Gavriel Kay
Best Fantasy Books
BuzzFeed
Goodreads
48The Gormenghast SeriesMervyn PeakeBuzzFeed
Goodreads
Tickld
49The ImmortalsTamora PierceGoodreads
LGA McIntyre
Time
50The Lightbringer SeriesBrent Weeks
Best Fantasy Books
BuzzFeed
Goodreads
51The Night Angel TrilogyBrent Weeks
Best Epic Fantasy
Goodreads
The Ranting Dragon
52The Riyria RevelationsMichael J. SullivanBuzzFeed
Fantasy Book Review Blog
Goodreads
53The Temeraire SeriesNaomi NovikBuzzFeed
Goodreads
The Portalist
(Titles Appear On 2 Lists Each)
54A Land Fit For HeroesRichard K. Morgan
Best Fantasy Books
BuzzFeed
55American GodsNeil Gaiman
Best Epic Fantasy
Tickld
56Cold Fire TrilogyC.S. Friedman
Best Fantasy Books
Tickld
57Deathgate CycleMargaret Weis
Best Fantasy Books
Goodreads
58DreambloodN. K. Jemisin
Best Fantasy Books
BuzzFeed
59Green Rider seriesKristen BritainGoodreads
Fantasy Book Review Blog
60Incarnations of ImmortalityPiers AnthonyGoodreads
Skorks
61Lyonesse SeriesJack Vance
Best Fantasy Books
The Portalist
62Outlander seriesDiana GabaldonBuzzFeed
Popsugar
63Raven’s ShadowAnthony RyanBuzzFeed
Goodreads
64RedwallBrian JacquesBuzzFeed
Goodreads
65Saga of RecluseL.E. Modesitt Jr.Goodreads
Skorks
66Tales of Alvin MakerOrson Scott CardGoodreads
Skorks
67The Acacia TrilogyDavid Anthony Durham
Best Fantasy Books
The Portalist
68The Black Jewels TrilogyAnne Bishop
The Ranting Dragon
Goodreads
69The Curse of Chalion (Chalion series)Lois McMaster BujoldListly
Goodreads
70The Dagger and the Coin SeriesDaniel Abraham
Best Fantasy Books
The Portalist
71The Dragon Prince TrilogyMelanie RawnGoodreads
Time
72The Hero and the CrownRobin Mckinley
Early Bird Books
Goodreads
73The Icewind Dale TrilogyR.A. Salvatore
The Ranting Dragon
Goodreads
74The Lyra NovelsPatricia Wrede
Early Bird Books
The Portalist
75The Merlin QuintetMary StewartBuzzFeed
Listly
76The Once And Future KingT.H. WhiteBuzzFeed
Goodreads
77The Traitor Son CycleMiles Cameron
Best Fantasy Books
BuzzFeed
78Thursday NextJasper Fforde
Fantasy Book Review Blog
Popsugar
(Titles Appear On 1 List Each)
79A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)George R.R. MartinGoodreads
80A Man Of His WordDave Duncan
Best Fantasy Books
81A Memory of FlamesStephen Deas
The Ranting Dragon
82A Sword Of ShadowsJ. V. Jones
Best Fantasy Books
83A Tale of EinarinnJuliet E McKenna
Fantasy Book Review Blog
84Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, #1)Lian HearnGoodreads
85Age of MythMichael Sullivan
Affinity Magazine
86Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)Tamora PierceGoodreads
87An overview of The Deverry CycleSarah Palmer
Fantasy Book Review Blog
88Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar, #1)Mercedes LackeyGoodreads
89Best Served ColdJoe AbercrombieGoodreads
90Boreal Moon TrilogyJulian May
Best Fantasy Books
91
Carol Berg – Transformation (Rai Kirah)
Listly
92Crown of Stars sagaJean Plaidy
Best Fantasy Books
93Darkover SeriesMarion Zimmer BradleyPopsugar
94Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters, #1)Juliet MarillierGoodreads
95DeerskinRobin Mckinley
Early Bird Books
96Dune (Dune Chronicles #1)Frank HerbertGoodreads
97Elantris (Elantris, #1)Brandon SandersonGoodreads
98Elemental LogicLaurie J. MarksBuzzFeed
99Engineer TrilogyK.J. ParkerTickld
100Fallen Blade NovelsKelly McCullough
Fantasy Book Review Blog
101FarsideJohn DalmasSkorks
102Fool’s Errand (Tawny Man, #1)Robin HobbGoodreads
103Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, WitchTerry PratchettGoodreads
104Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)Kristin CashoreGoodreads
105Heroes DieMatthew Woodring StoverTickld
106Heroes of OlympusRick Riordan
The Top Tens
107Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)Diana Wynne JonesGoodreads
108HyddenworldWilliam Horwood
Fantasy Book Review Blog
109ImajicaClive Barker
Best Fantasy Books
110J.R.R. Tolkien 4-Book Boxed Set: The Hobbit and The Lord of the RingsJ.R.R. TolkienGoodreads
111Jhereg (Vlad Taltos, #1)Steven BrustGoodreads
112Jonathan Strange & MrSusanna ClarkeTickld
113King of Thorns (The Broken Empire, #2)Mark LawrenceGoodreads
114Lion of MacedonDavid GemmellSkorks
115Liveship Traders TrilogyRobin HobbBuzzFeed
116Lockwood & CoJonathan Stroud
Fantasy Book Review Blog
117Lord Foul’s BaneStephen R. DonaldsonTickld
118Magic’s Pawn (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage #1)Mercedes LackeyGoodreads
119Monarchies Of GodPaul Kearney
Best Fantasy Books
120Oath Of Empires SagaThomas Harlan
Best Fantasy Books
121Obernewtyn ChroniclesIsobelle Carmody
Fantasy Book Review Blog
122Percy Jackson and The Olympians SeriesRick Riordan
The Top Tens
123Peter and the StarcatchersRidley Pearson and Dave Barry
The Top Tens
124Rhapsody: Child of Blood (Symphony of Ages, #1)Elizabeth HaydonGoodreads
125Riddle Of StarsPatricia A. McKillip
Best Fantasy Books
126Robert E. Howard PresentsRobert E. Howard
Den Of Geek!
127Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas FlamelMicheal Scott
The Top Tens
128ShadowmarchTad Williams
Best Fantasy Books
129
Sheepfarmer’s Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion Trilogy, Book 1)
Listly
130Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders, #1)Robin HobbGoodreads
131Six of CrowsLeigh Bardugo
Affinity Magazine
132Soldier SonRobin HobbSkorks
133Stones of PowerDavid GemmellSkorks
134Sword and Circlet SeriesCarole Nelson Douglas
LGA McIntyre
135The Age of Unreason SeriesGreg Keyes
The Portalist
136The Axe and the ThroneM. D. Ireman
Best Epic Fantasy
137The Axis Trilogy/The Wayfarer RedemptionSara Douglass
The Ranting Dragon
138The Bitterbynde TrilogyCecilia Dart-Thornton
The Portalist
139The Blue Sword (Damar, #1)Robin McKinleyGoodreads
140The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword, Book 1)Michelle WestListly
141The Bruce TrilogyNigel Tranter
Early Bird Books
142The Children of HúrinJ.R.R. TolkienGoodreads
143The Chronicles Of The Unhewn ThroneBrian St…
Best Fantasy Books
144The Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga, #1)Mary StewartGoodreads
145The Crystal GryphonAndre Norton
Early Bird Books
146The Dagger and the Coin SeriesDaniel Abraham
Early Bird Books
147The Deryni SeriesKatherine Kurtz
The Portalist
148The Deverry CycleKatherine Kerr
Fantasy Book Review Blog
149The Diamond Throne (The Elenium, #1)David EddingsGoodreads
150The Duncton ChroniclesWilliam Horwood
Fantasy Book Review Blog
151The Edge ChroniclesPaul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Fantasy Book Review Blog
152The Eyes of the DragonStephen KingGoodreads
153The Fafhrd and the Gray MouserSeriesFritz Leiber
The Portalist
154The Faithful and The FallenJohn Gwynne
Fantasy Book Review Blog
155The Folding KnifeK. J. Parker
Best Fantasy Books
156The Glasswrights’ Guild SeriesMindy Klasky
The Portalist
157The HobbitJ.R.R. TolkienGoodreads
158The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins
The Top Tens
159The Iron KingMaurice Druon
Early Bird Books
160The Keys to the KingdomGarth Nix
Fantasy Book Review Blog
161The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1)Peter S. BeagleGoodreads
162The Lions of Al-RassanGuy Gavriel KayGoodreads
163The Long Price QuartetDaniel Abraham
Best Fantasy Books
164The Long Price QuartetDaniel AbrahamTickld
165The Magicians’ Guild (Black Magician Trilogy, #1)Trudi CanavanGoodreads
166The Mythago CycleRobert Holdstock
Fantasy Book Review Blog
167The Neverending StoryMichael EndeGoodreads
168The OdysseyHomerGoodreads
169The Orb of Truth (The Horn King, #1)Brae WyckoffGoodreads
170The Path TrilogyDiana Francis
The Portalist
171The Pendragon SeriesD. J. MacHale
The Top Tens
172The Powder Mage TrilogyBrian McClellanBuzzFeed
173The Princess BrideWilliam GoldmanGoodreads
174The Raven Cycle SeriesMaggie Stiefvater
The Portalist
175The Ravens seriesJames Barclay
Fantasy Book Review Blog
176The Realm of the ElderlingsRobin Hobb
Fantasy Book Review Blog
177The Reluctant SwordsmanDave Duncan
Early Bird Books
178The Rigante NovelsDavid Gemmell
Fantasy Book Review Blog
179The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice, #1)John FlanaganGoodreads
180The Sandman seriesNeil Gaiman
The Daily Dot
181The Shadow CampaignsDjango Wexler
Fantasy Book Review Blog
182The SilmarillionJ.R.R. TolkienGoodreads
183The Spellsinger AdventuresSeriesAlan Foster
The Portalist
184The Spiderwick ChroniclesHolly Black
The Top Tens
185The Sun Wolf & Starhawk SeriesBarbara Hambly
The Portalist
186The Swan’s WarSean Russell
Best Fantasy Books
187The Time of the DarkBarbara Hambly
Early Bird Books
188The Tribe of One TrilogySimon HawkeTime
189The TroupeRobert Jackson BennettTickld
190The View from the MirrorIan Irvine
The Ranting Dragon
191The Wardstone ChroniclesJoseph Delaney
Fantasy Book Review Blog
192The Witcher SagaAndrzej Sapkowski
Best Fantasy Books
193The Wolfblade Trilogy (The Hythrun Chronicles)Jennifer Fallon
The Ranting Dragon
194The World of Riverside seriesEllen Kushner
The Daily Dot
195The Worm OuroborosE. Eddison
Early Bird Books
196Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2)Michael J. SullivanGoodreads
197TiganaGuy Gavriel KayGoodreads
198Warbreaker (Warbreaker, #1)Brandon SandersonGoodreads
199WeaveworldClive Barker
Den Of Geek!
200What Remains of HeroesDavid Benem
Best Epic Fantasy
201Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2)Brandon SandersonGoodreads


19 Best Fantasy Series Book Sources/Lists



SourceArticle
Affinity Magazine EPIC FANTASY BOOKS THAT YOU SHOULD READ
Best Epic Fantasy BEST EPIC FANTASY
Best Fantasy Books Top 50 Best Epic Fantasy
Best Fantasy Books HQ THE MOST EPIC FANTASY BOOK SERIES OF ALL TIME
BuzzFeed The 51 Best Fantasy Series Ever Written
Den Of Geek! 10 Fantasy Book Series That Could Rival Game of Thrones on TV
Early Bird Books 10 Epic Fantasy Books Like Game of Thrones
Fantasy Book Review Blog OUR TOP FANTASY BOOK SERIES RECOMMENDATIONS
Goodreads The Best Epic Fantasy
LGA McIntyre Top 14 Epic High Fantasy Series of All Time
Listly Best Epic Fantasy Books by Women Writers
Popsugar The 14 Fantasy Series Every Bookworm Must Read
Skorks 10 Awesome Fantasy Series That Are Not Potter or LOTR
The Daily Dot The 9 best fantasy book series
The Portalist 28 Must-Read Fantasy Book Series
The Ranting Dragon Twenty Must-read Finished Fantasy Epics – An Introduction to the Genre
The Top Tens Best Epic/Fantasy Book Series of All Time
Tickld 25 Of The Greatest Fantasy Books Ever Written. Number 5 Is An All Time Favourite.
Time Five Fantasy Epics That Would Have Made for Better TV Than Game of Thrones