20 Fantasy Book Series To Take You On Any Adventure

The Dark Tower – Stephen King

7 Book Series

“An impressive work of mythic magnitude that may turn out to be Stephen King’s greatest literary achievement” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution), The Gunslinger is the first volume in the epic Dark Tower Series.

The Dark Tower series is inspired by the poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning. Referred to as Stephen King’s magnum opus, The Dark Tower series is an epic fantasy adventure that you don’t want to miss out on. There has also been a film adaption starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. So join Roland of Gilead tracking The Man in Black on a spellbinding journey into good and evil and the enticing characters they meet along the way.

The Wheel Of Time – Robert Jordan

14 Book Series

Known as one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever published, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. Brandon Sanderson joined as a co-author for the final three novels – is a series you don’t want to miss out on. The series sold 90 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling epic fantasy series since The Lord of the Rings. As a result of it’s popularity, there’s been a collectable card game, a video game, a roleplaying game, soundtrack album, and a TV series adaption. But, start where it all began with the books and lose yourself in the world of Rand al’Thor.

The TV series is available to watch on Amazon Prime, starring Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney.

Lord Of The Rings – JRR Tolkien

3 Book Series

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

JRR Tolkien’s epic series has now become a classic. The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring. Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.

Over the years there have been three different movie adaptions. The most recent the very successful Peter Jackson Lord Of The Rings Trilogy starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and an all star cast. There is also an Amazon exclusive TV series coming up soon (which will be a prequel to the book series). If you haven’t yet read these classics then now is the time to catch up!

A Song Of Ice And Fire- George RR Martin

5 Book Series (Ongoing)

“One of the best series in the history of fantasy.”—Los Angeles Times

The Game of Thrones book series, also known as A Song of Ice And Fire, by George R. R. Martin is the inspiration behind the hit TV show. As of April 2019, the series has sold 90 million copies and it has been translated into 47 languages. The fourth and fifth volumes reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller lists upon their releases.

In the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon, Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules with his family. But to the north, there lie unnatural beings that are a myth in summer but are all too deadly in the turning of the season. And in the far south, Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert and his family are heading for Winterfell, where there waits a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki.

“Long live George Martin . . . a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers.”—The New York Times

Malazan Book Of The Fallen – Steven Erikson

10 Book Series

Malazan Book of the Fallen is a series of epic fantasy novels written by the Canadian author Steven Erikson. There are ten books in the series. It kicks off with Gardens of the Moon and concludes with The Crippled God. The series is very complex with a wide scope and presents the narratives of a large cast of characters spanning thousands of years across multiple continents.

The plot presents a complicated series of events in the world upon which the Malazan Empire is located. Each of the first five novels is relatively self-contained, in that each resolves its respective primary conflict; but many underlying characters and events are interwoven throughout the works of the series, binding it together. The series has received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praise the epic scope, plot complexity, and characterizations. This series is definitely well worth a read. 

The Witcher – Andrzej Sapkowski

8 Book Series

The Witcher Books series consists of 6 fantasy novels and 15 short stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.  The series is set in an unnamed continent and revolves around the protagonist, renowned monster-slayer-for-hire Geralt of Rivia, a powerful sorceress Yennefer of Venderburg and Ciri, a girl who is described as Geralt’s destiny.

After obtaining something of a cult following in Central and Eastern European countries, the series was successfully adapted into a trilogy of Video Games by CD Projekt Red (with the third title in the series Witcher: Wild Hunt selling over 50 million copies).  The most recent addition to the franchise is the Netflix TV show which released in 2019 with a second series released at the end of 2021.

So join Geralt in a world where everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

Six Of Crows Duology – Leigh Bardugo

2 Book Series

The Six Of Crows Duology from Leigh Bardugo consists of two fantasy novels and the series has now been successfully adapted into a Netflix original series.

The books are set in the same Grishaverse as Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series but in a new country with new characters.

In Ketterdam, a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price. Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity—and the adventure—of a lifetime.

“Six of Crows is a twisty and elegantly crafted masterpiece that thrilled me from the beginning to end.” –New York Times-bestselling author Holly Black

The Earthsea Cycle – Ursula K. Le Guin

6 Book Series

Originally published in 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin’s high fantasy Earthsea cycle consists of six novels and nine short stories. The books are set in a fictional archipelago known as Earthsea. The first book focuses on a young mage called Ged who was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. The Earthsea Cycle 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.

Every book in the series has been the recipient of a prestigious award and in 2004 the sci-fi channel aired a three hour series loosely based on the series. Also, in 2006 Studio Ghibli produced the animated film, Tales from Earthsea, which is loosely based in the Earthsea mythology.

Discworld – Terry Pratchett

41 Book Series

Terry Pratchett’s profoundly irreverent, bestselling novels have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody next to the likes of Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen. The Color of Magic is Terry Pratchett’s maiden voyage through the now-legendary land of Discworld. This is where it all begins — with the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind.

The Discworld is the fictional setting of Terry Pratchett’s most iconic series. All the Discworld novels take place on a flat, circular world which sits on the back of four elephants, which stand on the back of a giant star turtle. Although this world may look and sound completely different to our own, the Discworld novels explore a multitude of very human issues.

There are 41 Discworld novels and they are each a standalone so therefore they can be read in any order. To date more than 80 million Discworld novels have been sold and they have featured in many must read fantasy top 100s. They have also have received numerous prestigious awards.

His Dark Materials – Phillip Pullman

3 Book Series

His Dark Materials is a fantasy young adult trilogy from Phillip Pullman. The series has been made into a successful HBO TV series. The books follow two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry coming of age as they wander through a series of parallel universes. The trilogy is set in a multi world with witches and armoured polar bears. The books also uses concepts from physics, philosophy, and theology.

The modern fantasy classic that Entertainment Weekly named an “All-Time Greatest Novel” and Newsweek hailed as a “Top 100 Book of All Time.” Philip Pullman takes readers to a world where humans have animal familiars and where parallel universes are within reach.

Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis

7 Book Series

Originally published between 1950 and 1956 by British author CS Lewis the series is now a well known classic. The Chronicles of Narnia has been adapted many times for radio, tv, movie, stage and computer games. The series has sold over 100 million copies and has been translated into 47 languages.

The books are set in the fictional realm of Narnia, which is a world of magic and talking animals. In each novel a different child is transported into the Narnian world where they are asked for help from the lion Aslan.

Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson

7 Book Series (ongoing)

The Mistborn series from Brandon Sanderson consists (so far) of the original trilogy, with four more books following. There are then four more books set to be released in the series.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action. In a region called The Final Empire the Lord Ruler reigns with power and terror. One Skaa, Kelsier, who was trapped in prison finds in himself the powers of a Mistborn. With the intent to take down the Lord Ruler Kelsier recruits the underworld’s elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, in his ultimate heist. This saga dares to ask a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails?

The Kingkiller Chronicle – Patrick Rothfuss

2 Book Series

“I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda
“He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” —George R. R. Martin
“Rothfuss has real talent.” —Terry Brooks

Currently two books have been released in this planned trilogy from fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss. The Kingkiller Chronicle follows the life story of Kvothe. We first meet him in the present day where he is a rural innkeeper living under a pseudonym. But we find that he has a very interesting past – he was a wandering musician who came to a be notorious arcanist (wizard). He became known as the infamous Kingkiller and these books tell his story.

Since it’s release the series has received critical acclaim and the books so far have sold over 10 million copies. There have also been several proposed TV and film adaptions but none of them have yet materialized into anything as yet.

The Sword of Shannara Trilogy – Terry Brooks

3 Book Series

The Sword of Shannara  Trilogy is a classic series that has become one of the most popular fantasy tales of all time.

There are three books in the series from Terry Brooks – The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. The titles were not originally intended to be a trilogy, but came to be published as The Sword of Shannara Trilogy.

Book two in the series was adapted in a TV series, known as The Shannara Chronicles but the show was canceled after two seasons.

In the first book of the trilogy we follow the adventures of brothers Shea and Flick Ohmsford. The brothers are in a quest to retrieve the Sword of Shannara so that they can then defeat the Warlock Lord who threatens the Four Lands. The rest of the series then continues to follow Shea’s grandson, Wil Ohmsford. Then the children of Wil and Etetria as they continue to try to save their lands from demons and evil magic.

The Magicians Trilogy – Lev Grossman

3 Book Series

The Magicians is a new adult series from Lev Grossman, which is now a successful TV series. The series tells the story of Quentin Coldwater, a young man who discovers and then attends a secret college of magic in New York. 

‘The Magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a glass of weak tea . . . dark and dangerous and full of twists’ – GEORGE R. R. MARTIN

The Dresden Files – Jim Butcher

17 Book Series

The Dresden Files is a contemporary urban mystery/fantasy series of novels from Jim Butcher. They are told in first person narrative by the human wizard and private investigator Harry Dresden, who tells of his investigations into supernatural disturbances in modern-day Chicago. In the Dresden Files world magic is real and vampires, demons, werewolves, faeries and other monsters also exist. Each species have their own societies, organisations and politics. The White Council is an organization of human wizards. Harry Dresden is a consulting wizards who accepts cases from human and non human clients who ends up finding himself facing off against a variety of creatures and finding that his cases may be more linked than they initially seem and his role may be bigger than he realises.

‘The Dresden Files is my favourite series ever.’ Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind

The Riftwar Saga – Raymond E. Feist

4 Book Series

The Riftwar Saga is set in the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan who have been involved in a war and the worlds connected by a rift or magical gateway.

A worthy pupil . . . A dangerous quest. The orphan Pug studies with the master magician Kulgan. But though his courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess. He was still ill at ease with the normal ways of wizardry. Yet Pug’s strange sort of magic would one day change forever the fates of two worlds. For dark beings from another world had opened a rift in the fabric of spacetime to begin again the age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos.

“Totally gripping . . . A fantasy of epic scope, fast-moving action and vivid imagination.”—The Washington Post Book World

The Stormlight Archive – Brandon Sanderson

4 Book Series (ongoing)

The Stormlight Archive is a series of epic fantasy novels from Brandon Sanderson. The series is ongoing and there are currently four novels (and several novellas) released. It is anticipated that there will take ten novels once the series is complete. The fifth novel is speculated to be released in 2023.

One 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, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders.

Inheritance Cycle – Christopher Paolini

4 Book Series

The Inheritance Cycle is a series consisting of 4 high fantasy young adult novels from American author Christopher Paolini. The series was originally meant to be a trilogy but in 2007 Paolini decided the the story was too complex to be condensed into three novels. The titles in the series are Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance. In 2006 a movie adaption of the first novel Eragon was released to mostly negative reviews but the movie still went on to become the 13th highest grossing fantasy-live action film within the United States.

The series tells the story of a farm boy called Eragon. He finds a mysterious stone in the mountains whilst he is out hunting. The stone turns out to be a dragon egg and when a dragon hatches from it he names her Saphira. Eragon then takes on the responsibilities of the Dragon Riders. His uncle was killed by the Ra’zac so Eragon sets out on a quest to avenge his uncle’s death and to take on the evil tyrant who rules Alagaësia.

The First Law Trilogy- Joe Abercrombie

3 Book Series

The First Law is written by British author Joe Abercrombie. The series is made up of the original trilogy, three stand-alone novels, a number of short stories. Also a second trilogy, titled The Age of Madness (the third book was published in late 2021).

Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

The plot of the original trilogy involves three major powers: The Union, the Gurkish Empire, and the North, recently united under King Bethod.

There are two major threats of war. The first takes place in the north between the Union and the Northmen, who invade the Union’s northern province of Angland. The second is in the south between the Union and the Gurkish Empire, who attempt to annex the Union city of Dagoska. The trilogy centers on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate through these and other conflicts. The trilogy follows the stories of six point-of-view characters, whose paths often intersect.

The Sword Of Truth – Terry Goodkind

21 Book Series

The Sword Of Truth is a series that has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and been translated in 20 languages from American author Terry Goodkind (1948-2020). The series consists of 21 epic fantasy novels. But Goodkind considered them to be different to traditional fantasy novels because of their focus on philosophical and human themes.

The books were written as standalones (with the exception of the final three which were intended to be a trilogy). Despite this the books are linked by a common timeline and ongoing events that occur throughout the series. In the books we follow Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell, Nicci, Cara, and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander. There are oppressors who seek to control the world and those who wish to unleash evil upon the world of the living and the protagonists are on a quest to vanquish them.

The first book, Wizard’s First Rule was released in 1994 and the last in the series, Heart of Black Ice concluded the series in 2020. There was a television adaption aired in 2008, entitled Legend Of The Seeker.