14 Best Epic Fantasy Novel Series to Read in 2025
Looking for the next epic fantasy novel series? We’ve got you covered! These adventures have magic, monsters, and twists that’ll keep you hooked.
14 Best Epic Fantasy Novel Series to Lose Sleep Over: Finding a great epic fantasy novel series is like searching for socks in a dryer—tricky, but so worth it. We focus on books with big worlds, wild plots, and characters who feel like old friends (or annoying cousins). Each pick in our list has adventure, magic, and enough drama to make your popcorn jealous. Whether you’re new to reading or just tired of waiting for the next book in your favorite series, our choices will help you start your next epic journey. We also looked for stories that keep you guessing, plus a few that made us laugh out loud or nearly cry in public. So grab a blanket, maybe a snack, and get ready to find your next epic fantasy novel series obsession!
On this list:
- The Wheel of Time
- The Stormlight Archive
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- The Lord of the Rings
- Malazan Book of the Fallen
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Broken Empire Trilogy
- Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
- The Faithful and the Fallen
- Lightbringer Series
- The First Law Trilogy
- The Inheritance Trilogy
- The Riyria Revelations
- The Kingkiller Chronicle
14 The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
If you like lots of pages, epic quests, and a world map that looks like a spilled bowl of spaghetti, this one is for you. We love how each character feels real, even when they make the worst choices possible. Prepare to yell at the book and cheer a lot.
13 The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
If you want magic systems so detailed you need a spreadsheet, this epic fantasy novel series has you covered. The battles are wild, the emotional punches hurt, and the worldbuilding will ruin you for lesser books. Bonus: there is a talking sword.
12 A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
We can’t mention epic fantasy novel series without this spicy meatball. Dragons, betrayals, and enough backstabbing to make us question trusting our own family. The unpredictability is half the fun—if you can handle heartbreak.
11 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The OG. We learned walking can be epic if you’re being chased by a flaming eyeball. If you like friendship, poetry, and monsters that live in caves, you can’t go wrong here.
10 Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Do you like feeling both confused and amazed? This epic fantasy novel series is a mental workout. It’s huge, complex, and everyone has at least three names. But if you make it, you’ll brag for years.
9 The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
We read this one as kids and now as adults just to find out if we missed anything. It’s got talking animals, magic wardrobes, and the most suspicious Turkish delight ever.
8 The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence
Not for the faint of heart, this series is dark, bloody, and brutal. We both cringed and laughed at the main character’s awful sense of humor. Perfect for fans who like their fantasy with a sharp edge.
7 Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams
This epic fantasy novel series does slow burn better than marshmallows on a campfire. It’s got castles, blades, and elves who are a lot less jolly than we expected.
6 The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
If you want action fast, this is your epic fantasy novel series. There’s sword fights, betrayals, and giants who probably need a lesson in personal space.
5 Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
Magic is color-coded here, which almost made us buy better crayons. It’s a wild ride with lots of twists. Expect clever plots and some wild action scenes.
4 The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
Full of sarcasm, grit, and zero-nonsense heroes. We love how no one is safe and bad things happen to good (and bad) people all the time.
3 The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Jaw-dropping gods, wild magic, and plot twists that slapped us right in the face. Plus, the writing is smooth. Highly original epic fantasy novel series.
2 The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan
Great for people who like witty banter and want to start an epic fantasy novel series that won’t leave you weeping for years. There’s mystery, heists, and real friendship.
1 The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
This is our pick for the top epic fantasy novel series. Why? Because it’s magic, music, heartbreak, and cleverness all wrapped up in one. You’ll fall in love with the writing—it’s so good that we actually forgot to check our phones. Kvothe is a legend we want to have a drink with, even though he’d probably talk our ears off. The world is alive with danger, beauty, and odd characters (looking at you, Elodin). Each scene feels like a memory from a dream you don’t want to end. Some people grumble about the wait for the last book, but trust us, the first two are worth it. This series made us laugh, gasp, and sometimes even sleep with the lights on. We guarantee, for new readers, this is where you want to start.
