10 Best Epic Fantasy Novel Series to Read in 2025
Finding the perfect epic fantasy novel series is tough, but we’ve tried them all with friends. Here are our top picks.
Finding the perfect epic fantasy novel series is a bit like trying to find your other sock after laundry—frustrating, but oh so rewarding when you do. In this post, we focus on series with worlds big enough to get lost in, magic that actually makes sense, plots thicker than a bowl of oatmeal, and characters you want to invite to dinner (or maybe avoid). We gave extra points for dragons, twisty politics, and the sort of jaw-dropping moments that make you yell at your book. If you want a new epic fantasy novel series to sweep you off your feet—or just hide you from laundry duty—our picks have you covered.
On this list:
10 The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
This epic fantasy novel series is so long it needs its own shelf. We spent two months reading it and nearly forgot how daylight looks. But the world-building is top-notch and the magic system is as twisty as my cousin’s fishing stories. Only downside: sometimes it feels like characters walk more than Frodo.
9 A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
This epic fantasy novel series inspired a TV show that ended… well, let’s just say not everyone’s happy. But the books? Full of dragons, politics, and surprises. We kept losing track of who was still alive. The only con: the last books aren’t out yet. We may finish them before George does.
8 The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
If epic fantasy novel series had a caffeine rating, this would be an espresso shot. The fights are big, the magic is clever, and we loved the unpredictable story. It’s a thick read—literally, you could use them as doorstops. Sometimes info dumps make us glaze over, but soo worth it.
7 The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
Reading this epic fantasy series is like doing a mental obstacle race—except there’s more magic and fewer scraped knees. We loved the wild ideas and mind-bending plot, even though it confused us more than once. Warning: you’ll need a notebook or three.
6 Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
We picked up this epic fantasy novel series expecting a regular hero. We got magic powered by swallowing metal and a crew of thieves instead! It’s fun, fast, and the twists made us spill our popcorn. A little lighter than others here, but still epic.
5 The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence
If you like your epic fantasy novel series with a side of darkness and sarcasm, this is for you. Jorg is a hero you’ll love to hate. The humor is as black as our morning coffee. But wow, this one is violent—maybe don’t read it before breakfast.
4 The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
These epic fantasy books serve up action, grit, and enough swearing to make a sailor blush. The characters are interesting and so very human. Not really for folks who want classic heroes, but we couldn’t stop laughing… and sometimes wincing.
3 The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
This epic fantasy novel series brings gods, magic, and big ideas you can snack on. Jemisin’s world feels fresh and alive. We liked the unique style, but the shifting points of view may confuse some readers (it confused us after three cookies too many).
2 The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
This epic fantasy novel series hits like a sugar rush: fast, colorful, and full of twists. The magic system is a blast, and the plot moves quick. If you want action and don’t mind a bit of cheese, this is for you. Some plot threads are a little uneven, but we still had a blast.
1 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The best epic fantasy novel series, hands down. We read it, and honestly, it changed everything for us. Tolkien’s world feels real—like you could step into it and trip over a hobbit. The adventure is classic, and the friendship and hope shine brighter than Gandalf’s staff after too much Red Bull. Sure, the language is old-fashioned, and there are a few too many songs, but that’s part of its magic. No other fantasy series sets the bar quite like this one.
